Kaʻū News Briefs Dec.19, 2024

The last full moon over Kaʻū and Volcano before Christmas and dawn of 2025 came and went this past week
and was captured in this photo by Janice Wei of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

HAWAI'I FOOD PRODUCERS ARE RECEIVING MUCH FUNDING to help bridge the gap from growing to processing and making more locally grown food available to purchase locally. The grants help assist production of new food products for market through USDA Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure. Applications for new grants will be available. See https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/rfsi 

    Seventeen projects were recently funded $2.6 million in Hawai'i under the Resilient Food System Infrastructure program. USDA reports that "The RFSI program is aimed at strengthening middle-of-the-supply chain operations and local food systems by supporting processing, manufacturing, storing, transportation, wholesaling and distribution of agricultural products."

     Through this program, the Hawai'i Department of Agriculture will fund four infrastructure grants and 13 equipment grants to support middle-of-the-supply-chain infrastructure.
    "This RFSI initiative offers Hawai'i a unique opportunity to strengthen processing capacity across our island state, while adding value to locally grown products," said Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawai'i Board of Agriculture. "Through this grant program, agricultural businesses in both rural and urban areas will receive support to scale up their new and existing products, open up market opportunities, create jobs and generate new revenue streams." 

        Hawai'i companies and organizations receiving funding include:

Ahualoa Family Farms, Hawai'i Island – $498,141
Kumano I Ke Ala o Makaweli, Kaua'i – $478,167
Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Producers Cooperative, Hawai'i Island – $311,899
Farm Link Hawaiʻi, O'ahu – $296,224
Tea Hawai'i & Company, Hawai'i Island – $100,000

Kawamata Farms LLC – Hawai'i Island – $100,000
Punahele Provisions, PBC, O'ahu – $100,000
Purdyco Ltd dba Island Princess, statewide operations –              $97,434.96
Kupu Place Aquaponics LLC, O'ahu – $93.970
OCR Inc. dba Small Kine Farm, O'ahu – $91,339
Alternate Structures International/Kahumana Food Hub,              O'ahu – $83,795.38
Maui Breadfruit Co. LLC, Maui – $77,896
Ahiki Acres LLC, O'ahu — $67,409
NH Properties, LLC dba Haiku Organic Farm, Maui –               $59,058.43
JYY Inc., Maui – $48,135.63
Kamiya Gold, Inc., O'ahu – $40,866
Hawaiian Chip Company, O'ahu – $36,376

    This awarded funding is part of the $420 million available through the RFSI grant program to build capacity within the middle of the supply chain and support local and regional producers. It is funded by President Biden's American Rescue Plan. Through this program, USDA has entered into cooperative agreements with state agencies, commissions, or departments responsible for agriculture, commercial food processing, seafood, or food system and distribution activities or commerce activities in states or U.S. territories.
    For more information, visit the USDA Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure webpage. The status of each state and territory's RFSI program is available on the program's State Grant Webpage.

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WHAT'S TRUE? THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD USED BY USGS. That is the focus of this week's Volcano Watch called U.S. Geological Survey’s review process: checking and verifying our information — The article is written by Natalia Deligne, a geologist at HVO:

    Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is part of the U.S. Geological Survey, the science agency of the U.S. Department of Interior. Our job is to obtain and share science-based information about the volcanoes of Hawaii and American Samoa and earthquakes across the state. What are the different types of information that HVO provides and how do we ensure its accuracy? 

    We start with HVO's volcano and earthquake monitoring network, scientific research, and other techniques, such as field work, lab work, and other analyses. These form the basis of science-based information we provide through briefings with our partners and public meetings, written publications, maps, presentations at conferences, and more. 

  Examples of information that the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory provides, including data of current activity, scientific publications, maps, and summaries (such as fact-sheets), and eruption response information. All have been part of the USGS review process.  USGS images

    A critical step we take before sharing information is the "scientific review process." The USGS review process ensures our scientific approach is sound (how we got and interpreted the data) and that we are providing information that is as accurate as possible. This is different from public consultation that is part of some government policy initiatives. 

    What does the review process entail? There are many details, but in general we can think of three types of information that HVO provides, each of which have a different review process. 

    The first type of information is data from our monitoring instruments, such as a seismometer or a webcam. Here, how the data is collected has been signed-off on. Data collection is automatic (for example, a webcam photo every two minutes) and follows a specific procedure for computer processing and archiving. We share monitoring data on the HVO website and global repositories without further review. 

    The second type of information is based on research and often years of work. These include findings from research our scientists are leading or contributing to—such as scientific papers, geologic maps, and scientific conference presentations—and the compilation and interpretation of knowledge in a useful and useable format—such as fact-sheets, eruption chronologies, and other map types. All publications are reviewed by (usually) two subject matter experts who were not part of the study or project. Authors then make changes as needed and document how they addressed the experts' questions, comments, and feedback. 

    After revisions have been made, most publications then require sign-off from the author's supervisor, the Volcano Science Center director, and a dedicated approval official within the USGS; some of these steps are delegated for short publications. The review process takes anywhere from a day or two to months (or longer!). At times it is a back-and-forth process. USGS review is required even when USGS scientists are not leading a project—if the USGS is involved, the review process ensures the data, interpretation, and resulting knowledge meets the USGS's scientific standard. 

    The third type of information is an interpretation of what the volcanoes (and earthquake activity) are doing right now. This information is included in USGS volcano alert-level system official notices that describe current conditions: volcano activity notices announcing a volcano alert level change (for example, an eruption starting), information statements, status reports, and updates. Maps showing where magma is moving or lava is advancing are also in this category. As this information is immediately required, HVO (and other USGS volcano observatories) have special authorization to share it promptly, as long as those involved have received required training, are operating within their area of expertise, and are following agreed upon practices. 

    While some products in this category are developed, edited, and published by one person, many are developed by a small team of staff who ensure everything is as accurate and clear as possible. Even HVO's lava flow mapping data—directly published in an interactive map on our website—is a collaborative process with checks built into the process. 

    While the review process takes time, it is in some ways the most important step: it double (and sometimes triple) checks our information before it is made public. HVO and the USGS confidently stands behind the science-based information we provide, secure in the knowledge it is based on quality scientific methods and approaches and verified by experts. After the review process, the information is ready to be shared and can support decision-making, raise community awareness, and increase knowledge and understanding of our volcanic environment. 

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VOLCANO ACTIVITY UDATES: 

      Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY. Over the past week, earthquake rates beneath Kīlauea summit increased and were more than double that of the previous week. About 270 earthquakes were located beneath the summit. Earthquake rates in the upper to middle East Rift Zone remained comparable to the previous week. Ground deformation rates in the summit region showed steady inflation over the past week, while ground deformation rates near the September 15-20 middle East Rift Zone eruption site have slowed. Future intrusive episodes and eruptions could occur with continued magma supply. 

    Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL. No earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week. HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. Please visit HVO's website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

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Volcano Art Center Gallery inside Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.