Kaʻū News Briefs July 25, 2024

Catimor Hybrid trees are available from U.H. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to coffee farmers.
The hybrid is resistant to Coffee Leaf Rust and is sold first come, first serve. Photo from CTAHR

COFFEE LEAF RUST RESISTANT COFFEE TREES are offered by University of Hawai'i  to help farmers recover from the devastating pest. The College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources says the prices are set at market value with grafted Catimor Hybrid Trees #2 and #4 at $15 each and ungrafted seedlings $10 each. "CTAHR shall not compete with industry growers," says the statement. Preorders are being taken the plants are conventionally grown and not certified organic.
    Catimor Hybrid Tree #2 and #4 will be available as seedlings and grafted trees on (coffee root-knot nematode-tolerant) liberica rootstock. Distribution of plants will be organized according to availability of

plant materials and on a first come, first serve basis.
    Email mail andreak@hawaii.edu to express interest in Catimor hybrids and to receive a waiver and release to be completed and returned prior to purchase. The waiver advises that seeds from Catimor Hybrid Tree #2 and #4 shall not be used for propagation as there is likely genetic variability from cross pollination with non-CLR resistant trees that can reduce or eliminate CLR resistance. The Catimor Hybrid plant materials are to be used solely for the purpose of production of coffee cherry and berries and not for propagating for the use of harvesting, selling, and/or distribution of seeds, cuttings, air layers, or other propagative plant materials by the recipient or anyone else.
    The minimum number of plants for an order is 12. Depending on plant availability, orders may be received in incremental batches. Payment is expected at pick-up. "Please be sure to water, fertilize, inspect and treat for disease and pests, and plant quickly after receipt," says the announcement.
Review a presentation on the Catimor Hybrid CLR-resistant Coffee Project at Kona Research Station presentation at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11-ytPT2jFU.

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THE LIVE PERFORMANCE OF YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN is coming to Ocean View this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, instead of Volcano, as the original Kilauea MIlitary Camp venue is

being renovated. The musical is based on the comic strip and is produced by Kilauea Drama & Entertainment Network which normally stages musical and operetta productions at Kilauea Theater in the park. However, since the theater is getting a new roof, it is not available for performances.
KDEN is bringing its production to Ocean View. "That's really good news for those of us who value live music in our town. You really won't want to miss such a rare opportunity," says music and play enthusiast Annie Bosted.
   The musical was originally produced off Broadway from 1967, making it a classic. Though considered a "good man" by his friends, Charlie Brown can't seem to win the heart of the Little Red-Haired Girl, nor his friend Lucy, her crush, the piano-playing Schroeder. Meanwhile Snoopy and Linus daydream and the rest of the friends battle with kites, school, baseball and misunderstandings before finally coming to realize what makes them truly happy.
    As usual for this theatrical company, they do three shows a weekend - Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The dates are this weekend July 26 - 28.
"The prices are very reasonable, considering the very professional shows they have put on over the past few decades. You can book ahead or just show up at the door. Come early for the best seats," said Bosted.

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WHAT'S BEEN A MOVIN' AND A SHAKIN' IN KILAUEA'S UPPER EAST RIFT ZONE? That's the title of this week's U.S. Geological Survey Hawai'i Volcano Observatory's Volcano/ Watch. The weekly article and activity update is written by USGS scientists and affiliates:

The upper East Rift Zone (UERZ) of Kīlauea has been shaking more than normal, with nearly 1,500 earthquakes between July 22 and 25. The activity is being closely monitored by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) staff and prompted closures in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. What is causing it and what should we expect to see happen if itcontinues?     Kīlauea's UERZ extends southeast of the summit to Maunaulu. Chain of Craters Road in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park parallels the UERZ and is aptly named for the numerous craters that it passes by. These craters, as well as the nearby lava flows, tell us that the area has been volcanically active in the past. Earthquakes began at a low rate in the UERZ within a few days after the June 3 eruption. Between June 27 and July 1, seismicity increased drastically with 1,500 earthquakes beneath the UERZ. That swarm was related to pressurization of the magma storage areas beneath Kīlauea's summit, which were inflating following the June 3 eruption. This reference map depicts recent unrest along Kīlauea's upper East Rift Zone. Earthquakes that occurred between July 22–25, 2024, are shown as yellow circles. Recent ground deformation in this region, over the timeframe of July 15-24, 2024, is shown as colored fringes; data were recorded by the Italian Space Agency's (ASI) Cosmo-SkyMED satellite. More fringes indicate more deformation, and each color cycle represents 1.5 cm (0.6 in) of ground motion. The bullseye feature southeast of Pauahi Crater on the upper East Rift Zone indicates inflation over this time period due to magma accumulation underground. USGS map continues?     On July 22, another swarm of earthquakes began in Kīlauea's UERZ and is ongoing. Earthquake locations have shifted, first being distributed along the UERZ, then concentrated near Pauahi Crater on July 23–24, and clustering to the northwest near Koʻoloʻolau Crater the morning of July 25.     Pulses of intense earthquake activity have been accompanied by changing patterns of ground motion, first in just the UERZ, then also in Kīlauea's summit region. As earthquakes increased in the UERZ, Kīlauea's summit began to deflate. This indicates that magma is moving from the summit storage regions into the UERZ, likely being intruded upwards into planar crack systems called dikes in the area between Pauahi Crater and Maunaulu.     This type of activity isn't surprising for Kīlauea. During the past 50 years, there have been about 50 intrusive episodes like this in the UERZ. In each case, magma moved underground in the UERZ, causing earthquakes and ground deformation. Only five of the events resulted in UERZ eruptions: in 1968, May 1973, November 1973, 1974, and 1979. These eruptions were relatively brief, each lasting for hours to about a month.     The most recent significant intrusion in this area started on Father's Day in 2007. An earthquake swarm near Maunaulu was accompanied by changing ground deformation rates. Over the following days, earthquakes moved downrift towards Puʻuʻōʻō in the middle portion of Kīlauea's East Rift Zone. Cracks and steam vents formed, and a small amount of lava erupted in the middle East Rift Zone, downrift of Maunaulu.     Kīlauea's UERZ also connects with the Koaʻe fault system, which is between Kīlauea's Southwest and East Rift Zones south of the summit. It's a complicated area—with deep cracks and vertical pali (cliffs)—that magma can sometimes move into, though eruptions have been rare. Deformation related to the ongoing swarm is localized along a strand of the Koaʻe fault zone, which is something that can occur when the fault zone is stressed.     These examples of past activity give us clues as to what could happen in the coming days and weeks. The Kāne Nui O Hamo during Upper East Rift Zone eruption in 2011.  Photo by Alan Cressler UERZ intrusion could continue to grow underground, which has been the most common scenario in this area in the past.     The intrusion could result in a brief eruption in the UERZ, which has happened just a handful of times in the past 200 years.     The intrusion could also migrate to the east, farther down the East Rift Zone of Kīlauea, which in turn may or may not result in an eruption. If this occurs, HVO expects to see earthquake locations migrate to the east, past Maunaulu. Features on the middle East Rift Zone of Kīlauea, such as the lava shields of Maunaulu, Kāne Nui O Hamo, and Puʻuʻōʻō, are examples of long-lived eruptions in this area (months to years) but shorter duration eruptions are also possible.     Intrusions are common processes at active volcanoes, and at Kīlauea. Whereas lava flows on the surface are how shield volcanoes grow externally, they also grow internally via intrusions. The UERZ has not produced many intrusions in the near past, so this event is a unique opportunity to learn more about magma transport along the East Rift Zone. HVO will continue to closely monitor Kīlauea during this dynamic phase of UERZ activity. Volcano Activity Updates      Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY. Elevated earthquake activity and local ground deformation patterns in Kīlauea's upper East Rift Zone indicate that an intrusion is ongoing in this area. Over the past week, approximately 2,000 earthquakes were detected beneath Kīlauea's upper East Rift Zone, the area immediately southeast of the summit caldera. Unrest may continue to wax and wane with changes to the input of magma; changes can occur quickly, as can the potential for eruption. The most recent summit sulfur dioxide emission rate measured was approximately 65 tonnes per day on July 13, 2024.     Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.     Nine earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.9 earthquake 7 km (4 mi) S of Volcano at 1 km (0 mi) depth on July 25 at 4:33 a.m. HST, a M3.4 earthquake 13 km (8 mi) ESE of Pāhala at 27 km (17 mi) depth on July 24 at 3:48 p.m. HST, a M3.1 earthquake 8 km (4 mi) S of Volcano at 2 km (1 mi) depth on July 23 at 9:18 p.m. HST, a M3.0 earthquake 8 km (4 mi) SSE of Volcano at 2 km (1 mi) depth on July 23 at 6:42 p.m. HST, a M3.4 earthquake 8 km (4 mi) SSE of Volcano at 1 km (1 mi) depth on July 23 at 6:33 p.m. HST, a M3.1 earthquake 8 km (4 mi) SSE of Volcano at 1 km (1 mi) depth on July 23 at 8:58 a.m. HST, a M3.6 earthquake 8 km (4 mi) SSE of Volcano at 1 km (0 mi) depth on July 23 at 3:33 a.m. HST, a M3.0 earthquake 5 km (3 mi) S of Volcano at 1 km (0 mi) depth on July 22 at 10:24 a.m. HST, and a M3.5 earthquake 6 km (3 mi) SSW of Volcano at 1 km (0 mi) depth on July 20 at 11:45 a.m. HST.     HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. 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