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Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Sept.17, 2024

This USGS photo by A. Ellis is a south-facing view showing activity from the north side of Nāpau Crater on Tuesday morning.
NĀPAU CRATER IS ERUPTING with fountaining and lava spilling from fissures onto the crater floor. On Tuesday morning, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists flew above the crater by helicopter and observed "bright red fountaining eruptive fissures in a line in the middle of the Nāpau Crater with active lava flows on the floor surrounded by green trees and vegetation around the crater rim. This location is just downrift (northeast) of the September 15 eruptive fissure."
    USGS field teams hiked in to Nāpau Crater and set up a webcam, mapped lava, generated GIS, collected samples, and analyzed data, tracking monitoring feeds.
    Geologists put molten lava into a metal bucket and rapidly quenched it with water. The fast quench is needed to preserve the geochemistry of the fresh sample and prevent changes that would result from the formation of crystals during slow cooling. The samples were taken to the lab for analysis, providing scientists with information about conditions in the magma chamber and magma's path to the surface.
    The eruption appeared on and off and on again on Tuesday. Heavy rain in the evening left the crater steaming. For those wanting to see it, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park issued a statement, saying: "This is a remote wilderness area over six miles from the nearest road. No public viewing is possible at this time. We are currently evaluating hazards such as wildland fire, gas emissions, and flow direction with our Hawaiian Volcano Observatory partners." Chain of Craters Road remains closed.
A geologist with a bucket for collecting samples during the eruption on Tuesday at Nāpau Crater.
USGS image by A. Ellis 
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HAUMANA ARE BACK IN HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, which released a statement on Tuesday inviting teachers, families and students to check out the Park's redesigned education webpage - https://go.nps.gov/havoeducation - to choose from ranger-led, distance learning, or classroom visit programs. Click on each tile on the webpage to learn how to register.
    To save teachers time – Fill out the new Education Program Request form on the Ranger-led/Self-guided field trip tile on the webpage. Any school planning a visit, with or without rangers, must use this
form. For students ages 16 and over, a section of this form includes the new fee waiver application.
    A statement from the Park says, "We're thrilled to report that we have once again received funding from the National Park Foundation to continue the popular Earth, Sea, Sky program! The program is a series of learning opportunities offered through the park and its partners, ʻImiloa Astronomy Center and NOAA's Mokupāpapa Discovery Center. 
    "Through participation in field trips with each organization, students learn how interconnected and interdependent life is on the island of Hawaiʻi, as well as how we can mālama ʻāina, care for the world around us. The Earth, Sea, Sky program is for grades 3-8, and Title I schools on Hawaiʻi Island can apply for transportation funding. Entrance to the park and Mokupāpapa is free, and schools can apply for a fee waiver from 'Imiloa Astronomy Center.
     Calling all fourth graders, the Every Kid Outdoors is available. Go to everykidoutdoors.gov to answer a couple of fun questions, print out a voucher, and bring it to the park to exchange it for a plastic pass. This pass will allow fourth graders and their families free entry into all national parks until the end of August 2025. Fourth grade teachers visiting the park can inquire about getting passes for the entire class.
Students above a rainbow in Kīlauea Iki crater at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. NPS photo

THURSDAY, SEPT. 19 IS THE NEXT KAʻŪ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING. It will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Herkes Kaʻū District Gym Multi-Purpose Room.

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Kaʻū Trojan Football Highlight
    In these Tim Wright photos, Kaʻū Trojan Isaiah Manila-Louis goes airborne for a deep pass with Kamehameha's Kainalu Kaku rising to stop it during last Friday's game with Warriors on their home turf.     At left, Kaʻū quarterback Adahdiyah Ellis-Reyes scrambles for yardage during Friday's game.
   Trojans head this Friday to Honoka'a with 6 p.m. start time. Kaʻū travels to Pahoa on Thursday, Sept. 26. Kohala comes to Kaʻū on Saturday, Oct. 5. Kaʻū goes to Hawai'i Preparatory Academy on Saturday, Oct. 12 and Kamehameha comes to Kaʻū on Saturday, Oct. 19. Honoka'a travels to Kaʻū on Saturday, Oct. 26, followed by BIIF Division Championships.
    Athletic Director is Jaime Guerpo. Head coach is Connor Norton. Assistant Coachis Mark Peters. Coaching staff includes Greg Rush, Ray Mayzack, Duane Pua, Time Drafaul, Ted Blanco and Walter Parada. Athletic Trainer is Moses Whitcomb. 

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.
September 2024, 5,000 in the mail, 2,500 on the streets.