Ka‘ū News Briefs, Friday, February 7, 2020

A USGS HVO geologist measures the height of the growing tephra cone around fissure 8 during Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption. See Volcano Watch below. USGS photo by A. Klesh

A WATER BOTTLING PLANT NEAR WAILOA RIVER in Hilo received a "No go" for the second time from the Windward Planning Commission on Thursday. The plan came back before the commission after the developers went to court with new findings and the court sent the proposal back for reconsideration. The water bottling plant would have been located near the Wailoa River State Recreation Area.

     Another water bottling plant was proposed for the old sugar mill site in Pāhala but the property purchasers have yet to move on their tentative approval from the Planning Commission.

     Leading the charge against the Hilo bottling plant is Kaʻū's Planning Commissioner John Replogle. During the earlier proceedings, Replogle joined public opposition and moved that the Windward Planning Commission kill the request for a Special Management Area permit for the developers, Piʻilani Partners. Commissioners voted five to one to deny the SMA. The developers appealed the decision to the courts, providing what they called new, supportive information for their plan.

John Replogle, Kaʻū's Planning Commissioner, expresses his opinions
on water bottling plant. Photo from Big Island Video News

     Replogle said, "Giving private business access to our water, so they can enrich themselves, is not reasonable or beneficial use to our natural resource or to our people. I see nothing in the application that is in the public trust or interest." Replogle contended that drilling into the aquifer would introduce risks to the water supply. He also noted that worldwide there is "a scrambling by corporate business and wealthy individuals to grab up and control all remaining natural resources at the expensive of people who live in the region."

     See more on the Hilo and Kaʻū bottling plant plans at kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/search?q=water+bottling.

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PROTECTING COMMUNITY TELEVISION is the goal of legislation supported by U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono. The Protecting Community Television Act, S. 3218, would preseve funding for community television stations, "which educate and inform viewers across Hawaiʻi," according to a statement from Hirono's office.

     In Hawaiʻi, community television stations Nā Leo, Hōʻike, Akakū, and ʻŌlelo broadcast across Hawaiʻi Island, Kauaʻi, Maui County, and Oʻahu, respectively. These stations rely on franchise fees paid by cable companies "to provide invaluable coverage of local news and other content," Hirono said. Examples of programming are: live streaming of official State of Hawaiʻi governmental meetings, county meetings, cultural events and festivals, cooking shows, sports, and other programs.

     In August 2019, the Federal Communications Commission changed long-standing rules to allow cable companies to subtract the value of certain "in-kind" contributions from the total amount the cable operator pays in franchise fees to the local community—fees used to support community television stations.

     Hirono contends:  "This change will force local governments to choose between funding these community television stations and other vital community resources like libraries or schools, a result that will almost certainly decrease the funding available to community television stations. S. 3218 reverses this harmful FCC decision by reaffirming that franchise fees that cable companies pay to local governments can only be collected in monetary form, and cannot include in-kind contributions.

     "Local programming allows everyone from students to seniors to broadcast their stories. Olelo has certified over 19,000 community members as local producers, ensuring that community members can tell their own stories in their own way."

     Said Hirono, "Community television stations provide an opportunity for diverse voices across our community to be heard. From students interviewing their elected officials to streaming local cultural festivals, community television provides an essential outlet for Hawaiʻi residents to engage directly with their neighbors. I support the Protecting Community Television Act because storytelling and recording our history is essential, and we must protect our local programs accordingly."

     Last month, ʻŌlelo organized the 14th annual Youth Capitol Commentary during the State Legislature's opening day. This year, 60 students from 14 Oʻahu schools conducted 131 interviews of lawmakers, the public, the Governor, and the Lieutenant Governor. The student interviews will air for five hours across ʻŌlelo platforms.

      Jaylee Canoy, a junior leader at ʻŌlelo's Nanakuli Media Center said, said, "As a youth who's been involved with ʻŌlelo Community Media since second grade, I've been empowered with the knowledge, skills and more importantly the confidence to make a difference in my community through public access. Now in the 8th grade, I'm equipped to be an access producer, a mentor, and a leader to other students while giving back to my community in assisting my elders technically so they, like me, have the confidence to stand for their beliefs to make a difference on important issues that matter to them and our community via ʻŌlelo Community Media."

     Sanford Inouye, President and CEO of ʻŌlelo, said, "Under the new FCC rule, thousands of community access media organizations across the nation may have their operating budgets slashed. Olelo has taught keiki and kūpuna how to use new technology for decades, empowering communities to create and distribute programs that inform and engage. This rule can effectively kill hyper-local media, and the ability for local voices to share stories and coverage by and for their own communities. The Protecting Community Television Act will allow stations like Olelo to continue to provide government accessibility and community engagement."

     J Robertson, Hōʻke: Kauaʻi Community Television Managing Director, said, "Hōʻike provides our island residents with classes, equipment, and educational programs with expert advice so that everyone has the ability and the right to share and tell their stories on the cable system. These are the intimate stories – featuring arts and entertainment, spiritual guidance, health and wellness, sports, public affairs, environmental issues, and, most importantly, as a spotlight on the showcase of cultural activities and entities on our island. Protection and support for community television is critical."

     Jay April, Akakū CEO, said, "For nearly fifty years, public access community television stations like Akakū have been a beacon of free speech where anyone can come talk story, most of it local. Public access television keeps us informed, educated and meaningfully engaged with one another, even with many communities in Hawaiʻi separated by water. On behalf of many thousands of supporters of public access television in Maui Nui and Hawaiʻi, we applaud Senator Hirono for her sponsorship of S.3218, the Protecting Community Television Act, which ensures public television can continue to be the vital resource it has been for decades to come."

     The Protecting Community Television Act has received endorsements from numerous national organizations, including the National Association of Counties, National League of Cities, United States Conference of Mayors, National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, Alliance for Community Media, TeleCommUnity, and others.

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Kathleen Ho

KATHLEEN HO IS APPOINTED DIRECTOR of the Office of Environmental Quality Control in the state Department of Health by Gov. David Ige.

     Ho has extensive experience as deputy attorney general in environmental law and served as deputy attorney general in the Health Division from 1992. In addition, Ho was adjunct professor at William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and deputy corporation counsel for the City and County of Honolulu. She has also worked in private practice in Honolulu, and served as advisor to OEQC and the Environmental Council.

     Ho is a graduate of the University of San Francisco where she earned a B.S. in Biology. She also earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of California Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco and her LLM in Environmental Law from Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon.

     Ige said, "Kathleen has years of experience working in environmental law alongside a wide range of stakeholders. She is highly qualified and will serve the state well in leading and managing the OEQC."

     Ho said, "I am honored and grateful that Governor Ige has nominated me to serve as the Director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control. I look forward to continuing my service to the people of Hawaiʻi."

     Ho's appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. Her start date has not yet been determined. If confirmed, Ho replaces Scott Glenn who has been appointed as chief executive officer of the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office.

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LOVE THE ARTS FUNDRAISER GALA for Volcano Art Center will be held tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 8, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The theme of the 12th annual event is The Roaring 2020s, highlighted by unique decorations, decadent food, fine wines and beer, and dancing. The evening also features appearances by members of Harmony on Tap and opera singer D'Andrea Pelletier. Live and silent auctions will provide attendees an opportunity to bid on artwork, jewelry, hotel stays, restaurants, local products, services, and gift certificates to businesses and attractions.

     Tickets are $70, $65 for VAC Members, and can be purchased at VAC's Niʻaulani Campus in the village or Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, online at volcanoartcenter.org/classes-and-workshops/purchase-tickets-to-vac-events, or by calling (808) 967-8222. Gala tickets also provide free admission to the LTA Valentine's Day Dance held the following weekend on Saturday, Feb. 15, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Learn the Charleston, the Lindy Hop, and more.

     See volcanoartcenter.org.

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GEOLOGISTS are the focus of this week's Volcano Watch written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Carolyn Parcheta. This is a fifth installment of the People and Jobs at HVO series from Volcano Awareness Month:

     Geologists rock!

     Continuing with the Volcano Awareness Month theme of people and their work at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, we move on to another role at HVO – that of "geologist."

     A geologist studies the Earth. This includes the study of rocks and the ways in which they form. Specifically, HVO geologists specialize in the numerous forms of volcanic rocks – liquid and solid lava flows and explosive deposits, such as ash. 

     As lava cools and solidifies, it can take the form of ʻaʻā or pāhoehoe – Hawaiian words used worldwide by volcanologists. Solid volcanic rock can also occur as particles, ranging from fine ash and Pele's hair to vehicle-sized lava bombs and blocks. In between, there are Pele's tears (droplets of volcanic glass), scoria and reticulite (forms of basaltic pumice), and spatter (clots of molten lava).

Instruments on the edge of Puʻu ʻŌʻō gather important information for monitoring volcanic activity but "feet on the ground" geologists are also required. USGS photo

     Geologists also try to understand the past to better anticipate the future. As liquid lava turns to solid volcanic rock, it records the processes that formed the rock. Through field observations and petrologic and petrographic analyses, physical and chemical information can be found in the rock at various scales, from micro-sized crystals to lava flows that are kilometers (miles) long.

     The HVO geology team studies how volcanic rocks form, how lava erupts and solidifies, and how explosions are triggered. We study how and when the surface of a volcano is created and how and why disturbances such as faulting and collapses happen. We also assess the hazards of eruptions and rock breakage.
     The general approach to using geologic data on a volcano is to reconstruct how the volcano formed. We then use this information to model or forecast how the volcano could behave in the future.

     Maintaining HVO's camera network is one of the geology team's critical jobs. HVO's current network consists of 22 live web cameras and 1 time-lapse camera covering 45 percent of the Kīlauea lava-flow hazard zone 1 area and 36 percent of the Mauna Loa lava-flow hazard zone 1 area. The camera network provides real-time monitoring of areas that cannot be staffed 24/7. This allows us to track changes in critical areas so that we always know what the volcano is doing.
     HVO's geology group is responsible for the camera network, but it takes many others to keep the network running. HVO engineers help build the camera systems and provide the power systems that keep them running. HVO IT staff ensure that our cameras can transmit images to the website.

     Cameras cannot, however, replace "boots on the ground" observations by geologists in the field. How much time we spend in the field depends on volcanic activity. During this relatively quiet time on Kīlauea, we're in the field 1-2 days per month. During the 2018 eruption, HVO geologists were in the field 7 days per week.

     During an active eruption, our field work tasks include collecting lava samples, tracking a lava flow's growth and advance rate, and assessing if hazards in the affected area have increased or decreased. In both eruptive and non-eruptive times, we also examine older deposits in a continuing study of the island’s volcanic history.

     There is no "typical" field day for HVO geologists – our work is determined by what information is needed. For instance, prior to 2018, we tracked Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō lava flows, as well as the growth of lava deltas, looking for signs of impending collapses or potential explosions. During the 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption, we measured how fast lava flowed through the fissure 8 channel and checked the boundaries of the lava channel to assess their stability.

     Our field work produces many detailed measurements, enabling us to accurately assess volcanic hazards. Examples include monitoring how heat is progressing away from the 2018 dike in lower Puna and measuring the rise of water in the Halemaʻumaʻu crater lake with a laser rangefinder.

Working on the edge as a geologist or other HVO scientist. USGS photo

     HVO geologists also spend time in the office. That's when we analyze and interpret data collected in the field and write reports that are ultimately published. To help interpret geologic data, we use several computer programs, some of which help us create the maps posted on HVO's public website. Other programs help us create 3-dimensional models of volcanic features, or help us calculate and model lava flow behavior, explosion behavior, and collapse processes.

     There's rarely a dull moment for HVO's geology team, which is why we enjoy our work. The job of a geologist definitely rocks!

     This is the final article about HVO people and jobs in the Volcano Awareness Month 2020 series, but additional HVO teams may write about their work in future Volcano Watch articles.

     Volcano Activity Updates

     Kīlauea Volcano is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at NORMAL. Monitoring data over the past month showed no significant changes. Rates of seismicity were variable but within long-term values. Sulfur dioxide emission rates were low at the summit and below detection limits at Puʻu ʻŌʻō and the lower East Rift Zone. The water lake at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u continued to slowly expand and deepen.

     Areas of elevated ground temperatures and minor gas release are still found in the vicinity of the 2018 lower East Rift Zone fissures. Gases include steam (water) and small amounts of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide. These conditions are expected to be long-term. Similar conditions after the 1955 eruption continued for years to decades.

     Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at ADVISORY. This alert level does not mean that an eruption is imminent or that progression to an eruption is certain.

     Four earthquakes with three or more felt reports occurred in the Hawaiian Islands this past week: a magnitude-3.3 quake 3 km (2 mi) southeast of Fern Acres at 39 km (24 mi) depth on Feb. 5 at 8:32 p.m., a magnitude-2.8 quake 8 km (5 mi) northeast of Pāhala at 32 km (20 mi) depth on Feb. 4 at 8:37 p.m., a magnitude-4.2 quake 7 km (4 mi) south of Volcano at 8 km (5 mi) depth on Feb. 2 at 8:37 p.m., and a magnitude-3.0 quake 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Volcano at 7 km (4 mi) depth on Jan. 30 at 1:51 a.m.

     Visit volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

See Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. See Kaʻū exercise,
meditation, daily, bi-weekly, and weekly recurring events. 

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 6,250 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

See daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more at kaucalendar.com.

Kaʻū Winter Sports Schedule

Boys Basketball

Thu. thru Sat., Feb. 13-15 HHSAA on Oʻahu

Wrestling

Fri., Feb. 21 HHSAA

Swimming

Fri. and Sat., Feb. 14 and 15 on Maui

Kaʻū Spring Sports Schedule

Girls Softball

Saturday, Feb. 8, 11 a.m., JV Jamboree at Konawaena

Saturday, Feb. 15, 11 a.m., JV Jamboree at Konawaena

Boys Baseball

Wednesday, March 4, 3 p.m., host HPA

Saturday, March 7, 1 p.m.. @Waiakea

Boys Volleyball

Friday, Feb. 21, 4:30 p.m., Preseason at Christian Liberty

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 6 p.m., host Christian Liberty

Judo

Saturday, Feb. 29, 10:30 a.m., @Kealakehe

Saturday, March 7, 10:30 a.m.. @Kealakehe

Track

Saturday, March 14, 9 a.m., @Waiakea

Saturday, March 21, 2 p.m., @Konawaena

UPCOMING

SATURDAY, FEB. 8

16th Annual Love the Arts Volcano Arts Center Fundraiser Gala, Saturday, Feb. 8, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Theme is The Roaring 2020s, highlighted by unique decorations, decadent food, fine wines and beer, and dancing. Features appearances by members of Harmony on Tap and opera singer D'Andrea Pelletier. Live and silent auctions: bid on artwork, jewelry, hotel stays, restaurants, local products, services, and gift certificates to businesses and attractions. Tickets $70, $65 VAC Members. Purchase at VAC's Niʻaulani Campus in the village or Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, online at volcanoartcenter.org/classes-and-workshops/purchase-tickets-to-vac-events, or (808) 967-8222. Gala tickets provide free admission to LTA Valentine's Day Dance on Saturday, Feb. 15. volcanoartcenter.org

SUNDAY, FEB. 9

Kaʻū Clean-Up with Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund, Sunday, Feb. 9, and Saturday, March 21. Volunteer spaces limited. RSVP to kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

TUESDAY, FEB. 11

Music in the American Wild, Tuesday, Feb. 11; seating begins at 6:30 p.m., concert starts at 7 p.m. at Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. The American Wild Ensemble was formed to celebrate and tour America's national parks. They've performed in unconventional venues, from caves to mountaintops, commissioning new works and performing them in site-inspired and site-specific locations. Attend an evening concert with ensemble directors Emlyn Johnson (flute) and Daniel Ketter (cello) as they present a contemporary classical program featuring new works by Hawai‘i resident and Hawai‘i-born composers. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ongoing After Dark in the Park series. Free; Park entrance fees apply. 985-6101, nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12
O Kaʻū Kākou Nāʻālehu  Market, Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the site of the old Nāʻālehu Fruit Stand, mauka of Hwy 11. Vending focuses on Kaʻū products, including mushrooms from the new farm in Nāʻālehu, fresh breads, vegetables, fruits, and other products. The market may offer music in the future, and there are plans to acquire picnic tables for market goers. Call Manager Sue Barnett at 345-9374 to sign up.

Ki‘i Carving Demonstration, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 10 a.m. to noon at Kīlauea Visitor Center lanai. Hawaiians carved ki‘i (statues) to represent forces of nature, gods, guardians and the spirit world. Acclaimed artist James Kanani Kaulukukui, Jr. will share his expertise and the essential role these ki‘i played in Hawaiian society. With a carrot, you'll learn how to make your own ki‘i. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ‘Ike Hana No‘eau, Experience the Skillful Work, workshops. Free; Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

FRIDAY, FEB. 14 – Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day Buffet, Friday, Feb. 14, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Crater Rim Café at Kīlauea Military Camp. Main entrees are Prime Rib Au Jus, Lemon Butter Fish with Tropical Salsa and Vegetable Alfredo Pasta Bake. Adults $35.95, $17.95 children 6 to 11 years old. Military ID card holders and in-house guests: Adults $28.76, $14.36 children 6 to 11 years old. No reservations required. Located in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. For more information call 967-8365 after 4 p.m.

ONGOING

Beginning Improv for Adults, Thursday, through Feb. 13, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. "Learn to live more in the moment, think on your feet, let go of self-judgment, bring more joy in your life, and recapture your playful spirit in the 6-week workshop series with improv legend Keli Semelsberger." Attendance to all 6 classes is not required – classes may be attended individually. No prior experience is necessary. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Fill Out the Survey for Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan 2020, from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense, by Friday, Feb. 14. The survey is anonymous and will be used to develop portions of the plan, which is the County's hazard and risk assessment for natural disasters. The Plan will include proposed projects to mitigate potential loss of life and property. Fill out the survey at  surveymonkey.com/r/HawaiiCountyHMP. Learn more at hawaiicounty.gov/departments/civil-defense/multi-hazard-mitigation-plan-2020. For further information, call the Civil Defense Agency at 935-0031.

RSVP for the Bicentennial Celebration of Kauahaʻao Congregational Church, Sunday, Feb. 16 at the Henry ‘Opukahaʻia Memorial Chapel, Hokuloa Church, in Punaluʻu. Celebration begins at 10 a.m., followed by pot-luck fellowship at 11:30 a.m. in the large pavilion at Punaluʻu Black Sands Beach Park. For more information and to RSVP With the number of people attending, contact Debbie Wong Yuen, Kahu at Kauahaʻao Church, at 808-928-8039.

Sharp Turns – The Creative Art of Woodturning, Volcano Art Center Gallery exhibit, featuring the works of Aaron Hammer and Mark and Karen Stebbins, continues daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Feb. 16. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Aloha Kidney in Kaʻū, Thursday afternoons, 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., through Feb 20, Kaʻū Resource Center, 96-3126 Puahala St. in Pāhala. The free class series on Chronic Kidney Disease lead by retired kidney doctor Ramona Wong. Bring a pen and whomever cares/cooks/shops for the person(s) with CKD. See alohakidney.com. Call (808) 585-8404 to enroll.

Register for a Free CERT Basic Training Course, four Saturdays starting Feb. 22 through March 14 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team encourages community participation and provides support to emergency response organizations when the need arises. Four consecutive classes are a 27-hour FEMA certification course. Sign up by emailing hawaiicert@gmail.com. Bill Hanson, 808-937-2181, hawaiicounty.gov/departments/civil-defense/hawai-i-county-cert.

Register for ʻO Kaʻū Kākou's 12th Annual Keiki Fishing Tournament and Canned Food Drive through Wednesday, Feb. 19 at noon. Event takes place Saturday, Feb. 22, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Poles, gear, and bait, and lunch for all, provided. Each child receives a prize, chosen during registration, in the order they register; register early. Keiki one to 14 years old register online at okaukakou.org, or pick up form at Nāʻālehu Elementary School, Nāʻālehu Ace Hardware, PāhalaElementary School, Mizuno Superette in Pāhala, Wiki Wiki Mart in Nāʻālehu, Kahuku Country Market in Ocean View, and Ocean View Auto Parts. Bring one can per person for food drive. For more information, contact Guy Enriques at 808-217-2253 or Wayne Kawachi at 808-937-4773. okaukakou.org

Clay – High Fire!, Sunday, through Feb. 23, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or 2:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. 8-week morning or afternoon pottery series with Erik Wold. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

PETFIX Spay and Neuter Free Clinic for Cats and Dogs, Thursday and Friday, March 5 and 6, Ocean View Ranchos. Registration: contact Bridget at (808)990-3548 or petfixbigisland@gmail.com.

Hawaiʻi International Music Festival, Sunday March 8, 6:30 p.m., Pāhala Plantation House. The concert will feature music that will celebrate native plants of the Kaʻū Dryland Forest and will raise funds for Hoʻomalu Kaʻū.

     Performers will include: Maya Hoover, Hawaiʻi based Mezzo-Soprano at Professor at Universityof Hawaiʻi at Mānoa; Jonathan Korth, Hawaiʻi based Pianist and Professor at UH-Mānoa; and Joshua Nakazawa, Cellist from Hawaiʻi Symphony. They will be joined by the three HIMF co-founders: Amy Shoremount-Obra, Internationally Acclaimed Metropolitan Opera Soprano; Eric Silberger, Internationally Acclaimed Prize-Winning Virutuoso Violinist; and Carlin Ma, Multi-Media Artist and Pianist.

     Tickets are $30 and are available at kauconcert.bpt.me. See himusicfestival.com for more.

Sign Up to Vend at the New ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Nāʻālehu Market, Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the site of the old Fruit Stand, mauka of Hwy 11 in Nāʻālehu. Vending focuses on Kaʻū products, including mushrooms from the new farm in Nāʻālehu, fresh breads, vegetables, fruits, and other products. The market may offer music in the future, and there are plans to acquire picnic tables for market goers. Call Manager Sue Barnett at 345-9374 to sign up.

Cultural Understanding Through Art & the Environment, features classes on block printing, lauhala weaving, ti leaf lei making, and more. A free guided Cultural Forest Tour, and a Mele and Hula ‘Auana performance are also slated. Visit the website events calendar for the full lineup. volcanoartcenter.org

T-Ball and Coach Pitch Baseball League: Ocean View Team - Mondays and Wednesdays, Kahuku Park. Nā‘ālehu Team - Tuesdays and Thursdays, Nā‘ālehu Park. Pāhala Team (seeking coaches) - attend Nā‘ālehu practice. T-Ball, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 pm, ages 5-6. Coach Pitch, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., ages 7-8. Programs take place through April 16. Wear cleats or tennis shoes, bring a glove if possible. Extras gloves available for use. All skills and genders welcome. $35 per teammate. See Ka‘ū Youth Baseball on Facebook. Josh or Elizabeth Crook, 345-0511

Tūtū & Me Home Visiting Program is a free service to Pāhala families with keiki, birth to five years old. This caregiver support program offers those taking care of young keiki "a compassionate listening ear, helpful parenting tips and strategies, fun and exciting activities, and wonderful educational resources" from Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool. Home visits are one hour in length, two to four times per month, for 12 to 15 visits. Snacks are provided. See pidfoundation.org or call 808-938-1088.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

   

    

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Thursday, February 6, 2020

King Kamehameha's Golf Ball, the Doppler Radome along Kalaʻaiki Road between Nāʻālehu and Pāhala,
on the ground today for replacement of its pedestal. Photo by Julia Neal

THE SOUTH SHORE HAWAIʻI DOPPLER RADAR IN KAʻŪ that collects critical information for NOAA weather forecasts, FAA flight management, and the Department of Defense, received a major upgrade today. The radome was lifted by a giant crane from its pedestal and lowered to the ground. A crew from TSS Solutions and Hawaiian Crane replaced the pedestal and lifted the radome back on its perch in the paturelands along Kalaʻaiki Road between Nāʻālehu and Pāhala on the slopes of Mauna Loa.

Young Brothers shipped the crane from 
Honolulu to work for one day to drop and lift 
the Radome and pedestal at the Doppler site 
between Nāʻālehu and Pāhala. 
Photo by Julia Neal

     A message from the National Weather Service said that starting on Monday, Feb. 3, the Nāʻālehu Radar "will be down for an extended period. The outage involves the replacement of the pedestal or the stem that holds the antenna dish, and other associated hardware components. To get to the pedestal, the protective covering, or the radome, will be removed first. This is a labor intensive and delicate process. At this time, the return-to-service date is slated for [Saturday] Feb. 22."
     National Weather Service noted that inclement weather could delay the return-to-service date for the doppler radar in Kaʻū. However, the dropping of the radome, the replacement of the pedestal and the lifting of the radome into position went smoothly this morning, with barely a breeze under misty skies.

An oiler and crane operator from Hawaiian
 Crane assisted with the operation today at the
Doppler site in Kaʻū. Photo by Julia Neal

     The giant Hawaiian Crane will be on its way to Hilo on Friday to ride a Young Brothers barge to return to its home base on Oʻahu and the old pedestal will be shipped to the mainland for refurbishment.
     NOAA, FAA, and the Department of Defense are cooperating to refurbish and upgrade Doppler sites around the nation and in foreign countries where the U.S. operates them. Replacing the pedestals with refurbished ones and upgrading the electronics, communications, and other Doppler site components are expected to give the Doppler units at least another 20 years of service at a much lower cost than installing new ones.

A crew from TSS Solutions, which is refurbishing Doppler
sites operated by the federal government, removed the old
pedestal and installed the new one along Kalaaiki 
Road in Kaʻū today. Photo by Julia Neal

     Following completion of the renovation of the Kaʻū Doppler system over the next two weeks: the crews will move to the Kohala site and on to Doppler stations on Kauaʻi and Molokaʻi. Once the Kaʻū Doppler is returned to service, its work can be seen at radar.weather.gov/ridge/radar.php?rid=hwa.

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THE END OF THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL of Pres. Donald Trump led to both of Hawaiʻi's senators making statements. Trump was acquitted Wednesday by the U.S. Senate, with votes of 52 to 48 on charges of abuse of power and 53 to 47 on charges of obstruction of Congress.
   Voting stayed mostly to party lines. Independent
 Sen. Bernie Sanders, running for Democratic nominee in the 2020 Presidential race, voted Trump "guilty" on both articles of impeachment. All Democrats voted Trump guilty. Sen. Mitt Romney was the only Republican to vote Trump "guilty" of the abuse of power accusation. Romney said, "With my vote I will tell my children and their children that I did my duty. What the president did was wrong. Grievously wrong."

     Before the vote, Sen. Brian Schatz spoke of "The American experiment" as a "radical" notion for its promise of "equal justice" and "equal protection" under the law. "It imagined a cumbersome system in which tyranny could be avoided by the constant struggle between elected and appointed leaders, and it intentionally sacrificed speed, efficiency, and convenience to avoid abuses of power.

Sen. Brian Schatz

     "And so it is with unending regret that I see what is happening. I grieve for the Senate, an institution both hallowed and flawed, an elite place in the worst sense of the word, and yet still the main place where American problems are to be solved."
     He said millions of Americans "have formed a basic expectation about how a trial is to function, based on hundreds of years of law, and based on commonsense. And so, make no mistake, what the Senate did was an affront to the basic idea of a trial." He accused Republicans in the Senate trial of turning the impeachment process  into "a cover-up."
     Said Schatz, "As I look at the Republican side of the Chamber, I know this moment in history has made their particular jobs extraordinarily difficult – requiring uncommon courage. They have to risk the scorn of their voters, their social circle, their colleagues, and their president, in order to do the right thing. And they didn't.
     "On one level, I knew this would be the likely outcome. But the bitter taste of injustice lingers in my mouth. And on behalf of everyone who couldn't get away with an unpaid traffic fine, is in jail for stealing groceries to eat, who can't get a job because of medical debt – I say – shame on anyone who places this president – any president – above the law. The president is not above the law, no one is above the law. The president is guilty on both counts."
     He said the Constitution "gives extraordinary powers to the President under Article II – and that makes sense because without a powerful magistrate the government couldn't function," but that the president "could be controlled, to greater or lesser degrees, by the legislature, the judiciary, and the voters. But the framers [of the Constitution] didn't contemplate this level of polarization, when even in the face of the overwhelming evidence of high crimes, one party would not just exonerate him for it but in fact ratify these crimes.

Sen. Mazie Hirono

     "I do not think we are in danger of the impeachment process becoming routine. I think we are in much greater danger of making the impeachment process moot. And if so, God help us all. But all is not lost. We remain a government of, by, and for the people. If people across the country find this as odious to our basic values as we do, in eight months, the American public can render its own verdict on the United States Senate."

     After the vote, Schatz said, "Thank you, Mitt. You have restored my faith in the Senate and the idea that putting country over party is still possible." Schatz remarked that Romney "reminds us that it is not impossible to do the right thing, it's just hard. That putting country over party isn't just a slogan, it's our solemn obligation. That individuals who have courage and conviction can change history, and have an obligation to try.
     Schatz said he is "Proud to be a Democratic Senator today. Grateful to the people of Hawaiʻi for letting me perform these duties. Happy that Mitt Romney was a profile in courage. For everyone out there feeling awful – I understand, and I do too. We just need to win the election. It was always that."
     Watch his whole speech here: facebook.com/SenBrianSchatz/videos/483458019271358/.
     Sen. Mazie Hirono said, in a speech on the floor of the United States Senate, before the vote, " I will vote to convict and remove President Donald Trump for abusing his power and obstructing Congress. It's time for the Senate to uphold its Constitutional responsibility by convicting this president and holding him accountable.

Sen. Mitt Romney

     "Donald Trump was already a danger to this country. We've seen it in his policy decisions – from taking away health care from millions of Americans – to threatening painful cuts to Social Security and Medicare – to engaging in an all-out assault on immigrants in this country.
     "Today, we're called to confront a completely different type of danger – one that goes well beyond the significant policy differences I have with this president. If we let Donald Trump get away with extorting the president of another country for his own personal, political benefit, the Senate will be complicit in his next corrupt scheme. Which country will he bully or invite to interfere in our elections next? Which pot of taxpayer money will he use as a bribe to further his political schemes?"
     She said that, in normal times, "the Senate – conscious of its awesome responsibility – would meet this moment with the appropriate sobriety and responsibility to conduct a full and fair trial. That includes calling appropriate witnesses and subpoenaing relevant documents – none of which happened here. In normal times, the Senate would have weighed the evidence presented by both sides and rendered impartial justice. And in normal times, having been presented with overwhelming evidence of impeachable acts, the Senate would have embraced its Constitutional responsibility to convict the president and remove him or her from office.
     "But as we've learned too often over the past three years, these are not normal times. Instead of fulfilling its duty later today, the United States Senate will fail its test at a crucial moment for our country by voting to acquit Donald J. Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress."
     Watch her whole speech here: twitter.com/maziehirono.

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Concrete helps protect native soil and plants from being swept away with flood waters. Photo from Kaʻū Soil & Water

KEEP DEBRIS OUT OF WATERWAYS is the message from Kaʻū Soil & Water Conservation District. Kaʻū Soil & Water recently conducted its annual inspection of the Nāʻālehu Flood Control Watershed Project. Kaʻū Soil & Water works in partnership with Hawaiʻi County Department of Public Works Highways Division and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

     The flood structure was constructed to convey floodwaters through the village of Nāʻālehu to a disposal area on the porous lava formations in the range lands below the highway. Before this watershed project was constructed, "devastating flash flooding" was seen throughout the Nāʻālehu community, Jennifer Lopez Reavis, District Supervisor and Conservation Aide of Kaʻū Soil & Water, told The Kaʻū Calendar.

Members of Kaʻū Soil & Water Conservation District inspect the Nāʻālehu
Flood Control Watershed Project. Photo from Kaʻū Soil & Water

     "This project not only protects the homes in the community, but also prevents soil erosion and washing out of agricultural crops and infrastructure that are important to the farming and ranching community of Kaʻū," said Reavis.

     Kaʻū Soil & Water conducts annual inspections of the project to reassure the community of its safety and asks citizens to "be mindful of where they dispose their trash, green waste cuttings, logs, and any other waste. Unlawful dumping in any intermittent waterway – gulch, stream, etc. – will likely cause obstruction in the watercourse and could potentially accumulate at culverts and bridges, resulting in the clogging of these water control structures, therefore preventing the natural water flow and further resulting in flooding and erosion."

This dry gulch helps direct flood waters away from homes and businesses.
Photo from Kaʻū Soil & Water

     The flood control structure was developed in the mid 1960s. It is located mauka of Highway 11, above Punaluʻu Bake Shop off of Kaʻalaiki Road, and makes its way down between the lower Nāʻālehu subdivision and Nāʻālehu Park. The project consists of a concrete chute, debris basin, reinforced concrete-lined channel, transition section, and 840 feet of unlined channel.

     Reavis said she would like to  thank the Department of Public Works Highways Division, USDA National Resources Conservation Service and Kaʻū Soil & Water Conservation District directors and staff "for their dedication, support, and annual operations and maintenance of this watershed project."

     Contact Reavis at 808-933-8350 with questions.

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NEW COMMUNITY GROUP FRIENDS OF THE KAʻŪ BATS will hold a Count Our Bats to Save Our Bats potluck party on Saturday, Feb. 29, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Manuka State Park. The bat monitoring party's purpose is to count endangered Hawaiian Hoary Bats at dusk, when they are active and visible. In a recent email, Kaʻū Resident Sandra Demoruelle stated the count will help save the endangered species.

     Open to the public, for all ages. Bring potluck dish. BBQ refreshments, "batty" games, and door prizes on offer. Contact Linda Morgan, Friends of the Kaʻū Bats Community Coordinator, at 808-785-2058.

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A BROCHURE ADDRESSING CORONAVIRUS FOR HAWAIʻI ISLAND, expected Friday, was released early by county officials. Download a PDF of the four-page brochure at hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/coronavirus.

     The brochure details information already addressed by official channels, like what the 2019-nCoV virus is - as far as is known, as it is a newly identified virus. How the virus spreads, symptoms, how to protect from getting the virus, and what to do if showing symptoms is detailed. Also included is what the government is doing to protect the community.

     New information addresses the virus' vaccine status: there is no vaccine, as the virus is too new to science.

     Also addressed is if pets are susceptible to or able to carry 2019-nCoV. The virus, states the brochure, is believed to have originated with animals, crossed to humans, and is now being transmitted between humans. "There is no reason to believe animals or pets in Hawaiʻi or elsewhere in the U.S. might be spreading the virus."

     Addresses of online resources, and the 211 Aloha United Way info line, are also provided.

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MAUNA LOA VOLCANO is not erupting. The mauna's Alert Level is ADVISORY, Aviation Code is YELLOW. Rates of deformation and seismicity have not changed significantly over the past week and remain above long-term background levels.
     During the past week, HVO seismometers recorded 134 small magnitude earthquakes beneath the upper elevations of the volcano; the strongest was a magnitude-2.4 earthquake on Feb. 3. Most earthquakes occurred at shallow depths of less than 5 km (~3 miles) beneath the volcano's surface.
     Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements show continued slow summit inflation, consistent with magma supply to the volcano's shallow storage system. Gas concentrations at the Sulphur Cone monitoring site on the Southwest Rift Zone remain stable. Fumarole temperatures as measured at both Sulphur Cone and the summit have not changed significantly.
     For more information on current monitoring of Mauna Loa Volcano, see volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna_loa/monitoring_summary.html.

Mauna Loa's Southeast Rift Zone this afternoon. USGS webcam image

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See Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. See Kaʻū exercise,
meditation, daily, bi-weekly, and weekly recurring events. 

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 6,250 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

See daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more at kaucalendar.com.

Kaʻū Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball

Wed. thru Sat., Feb. 5-8 HHSAA

Boys Basketball

Thu. thru Sat., Feb. 13-15 HHSAA on Oʻahu

Wrestling

Sat., Feb. 8 BIIF @Konawaena

Fri., Feb. 21 HHSAA

Swimming

Fri. and Sat., Feb. 14 and 15 on Maui

Kaʻū Spring Sports Schedule

Girls Softball

Saturday, Feb. 8, 11 a.m., JV Jamboree at Konawaena

Saturday, Feb. 15, 11 a.m., JV Jamboree at Konawaena

Boys Volleyball

Friday, Feb. 21, 4:30 p.m., Preseason at Christian Liberty

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 6 p.m., host Christian Liberty

Judo

Saturday, Feb. 29, 10:30 a.m., @Kealakehe

UPCOMING

FRIDAY, FEB. 7

Hana Laulima Lāhui O Kaʻū - Community Mtg. and Membership Drive, Friday, Feb. 7, 6:30 p.m. at the Nāʻālehu Community Center. Topics include revival of annual Prince Kūhio Day Hoʻolauleʻa, to be held Saturday, March 28 at Nāʻālehu Park, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will feature music and hula, food, arts and crafts, and Hawaiian cultural activities. Anyone wanting to be a vendor, host a booth, and become a member should also come to the meeting. The annual membership dues are $10 per person or organization. Contact Terry-Lee Shibuya at terrylshibuya@gmail.com or treasurer Kehau Ke at hunneygurl15@gmail.com.

SATURDAY, FEB. 8

16th Annual Love the Arts Volcano Arts Center Fundraiser Gala, Saturday, Feb. 8, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Theme is The Roaring 2020s, highlighted by unique decorations, decadent food, fine wines and beer, and dancing. Features appearances by members of Harmony on Tap and opera singer D'Andrea Pelletier. Live and silent auctions: bid on artwork, jewelry, hotel stays, restaurants, local products, services, and gift certificates to businesses and attractions.

     Tickets $70, $65 VAC Members. Purchase at VAC's Niʻaulani Campus in the village or Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, online at volcanoartcenter.org/classes-and-workshops/purchase-tickets-to-vac-events, or (808) 967-8222. Gala tickets provide free admission to LTA Valentine's Day Dance on Saturday, Feb. 15. volcanoartcenter.org

SUNDAY, FEB. 9

Kaʻū Clean-Up with Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund, Sunday, Feb. 9, and Saturday, March 21. Volunteer spaces limited. RSVP to kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

TUESDAY, FEB. 11

Music in the American Wild, Tuesday, Feb. 11; seating begins at 6:30 p.m., concert starts at 7 p.m. at Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. The American Wild Ensemble was formed to celebrate and tour America's national parks. They've performed in unconventional venues, from caves to mountaintops, commissioning new works and performing them in site-inspired and site-specific locations. Attend an evening concert with ensemble directors Emlyn Johnson (flute) and Daniel Ketter (cello) as they present a contemporary classical program featuring new works by Hawai‘i resident and Hawai‘i-born composers. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ongoing After Dark in the Park series. Free; Park entrance fees apply. 985-6101, nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12

Ki‘i Carving Demonstration, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 10 a.m. to noon at Kīlauea Visitor Center lanai. Hawaiians carved ki‘i (statues) to represent forces of nature, gods, guardians and the spirit world. Acclaimed artist James Kanani Kaulukukui, Jr. will share his expertise and the essential role these ki‘i played in Hawaiian society. With a carrot, you'll learn how to make your own ki‘i. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ‘Ike Hana No‘eau, Experience the Skillful Work, workshops. Free; Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

ONGOING

Beginning Improv for Adults, Thursday, through Feb. 13, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. "Learn to live more in the moment, think on your feet, let go of self-judgment, bring more joy in your life, and recapture your playful spirit in the 6-week workshop series with improv legend Keli Semelsberger." Attendance to all 6 classes is not required – classes may be attended individually. No prior experience is necessary. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Sharp Turns – The Creative Art of Woodturning, Volcano Art Center Gallery exhibit, featuring the works of Aaron Hammer and Mark and Karen Stebbins, continues daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Feb. 16. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Aloha Kidney in Kaʻū, Thursday afternoons, 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., through Feb 20, Kaʻū Resource Center, 96-3126 Puahala St. in Pāhala. The free class series on Chronic Kidney Disease lead by retired kidney doctor Ramona Wong. Bring a pen and whomever cares/cooks/shops for the person(s) with CKD. See alohakidney.com. Call (808) 585-8404 to enroll.

Register for a Free CERT Basic Training Course, four Saturdays starting Feb. 22 through March 14 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team encourages community participation and provides support to emergency response organizations when the need arises. Four consecutive classes are a 27-hour FEMA certification course. Sign up by emailing hawaiicert@gmail.com. Bill Hanson, 808-937-2181, hawaiicounty.gov/departments/civil-defense/hawai-i-county-cert.

Register for ʻO Kaʻū Kākou's 12th Annual Keiki Fishing Tournament and Canned Food Drive through Wednesday, Feb. 19 at noon. Event takes place Saturday, Feb. 22, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Poles, gear, and bait, and lunch for all, provided. Each child receives a prize, chosen during registration, in the order they register; register early. Keiki one to 14 years old register online at okaukakou.org, or pick up form at Nāʻālehu Elementary School, Nāʻālehu Ace Hardware, PāhalaElementary School, Mizuno Superette in Pāhala, Wiki Wiki Mart in Nāʻālehu, Kahuku Country Market in Ocean View, and Ocean View Auto Parts. Bring one can per person for food drive. For more information, contact Guy Enriques at 808-217-2253 or Wayne Kawachi at 808-937-4773. okaukakou.org

Clay – High Fire!, Sunday, through Feb. 23, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or 2:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. 8-week morning or afternoon pottery series with Erik Wold. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

PETFIX Spay and Neuter Free Clinic for Cats and Dogs, Thursday and Friday, March 5 and 6, Ocean View Ranchos. Registration: contact Bridget at (808)990-3548 or petfixbigisland@gmail.com.

Hawaiʻi International Music Festival, Sunday March 8, 6:30 p.m., Pāhala Plantation House. The concert will feature music that will celebrate native plants of the Kaʻū Dryland Forest and will raise funds for Hoʻomalu Kaʻū.

     Performers will include: Maya Hoover, Hawaiʻi based Mezzo-Soprano at Professor at Universityof Hawaiʻi at Mānoa; Jonathan Korth, Hawaiʻi based Pianist and Professor at UH-Mānoa; and Joshua Nakazawa, Cellist from Hawaiʻi Symphony. They will be joined by the three HIMF co-founders: Amy Shoremount-Obra, Internationally Acclaimed Metropolitan Opera Soprano; Eric Silberger, Internationally Acclaimed Prize-Winning Virutuoso Violinist; and Carlin Ma, Multi-Media Artist and Pianist.

     Tickets are $30 and are available at kauconcert.bpt.me. See himusicfestival.com for more.

Cultural Understanding Through Art & the Environment, features classes on block printing, lauhala weaving, ti leaf lei making, and more. A free guided Cultural Forest Tour, and a Mele and Hula ‘Auana performance are also slated. Visit the website events calendar for the full lineup. volcanoartcenter.org

T-Ball and Coach Pitch Baseball League: Ocean View Team - Mondays and Wednesdays, Kahuku Park. Nā‘ālehu Team - Tuesdays and Thursdays, Nā‘ālehu Park. Pāhala Team (seeking coaches) - attend Nā‘ālehu practice. T-Ball, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., ages 5-6. Coach Pitch, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., ages 7-8. Programs take place through April 16. Wear cleats or tennis shoes, bring a glove if possible. Extras gloves available for use. All skills and genders welcome. $35 per teammate. See Ka‘ū Youth Baseball on Facebook. Josh or Elizabeth Crook, 345-0511

Tūtū & Me Home Visiting Program is a free service to Pāhala families with keiki, birth to five years old. This caregiver support program offers those taking care of young keiki "a compassionate listening ear, helpful parenting tips and strategies, fun and exciting activities, and wonderful educational resources" from Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool. Home visits are one hour in length, two to four times per month, for 12 to 15 visits. Snacks are provided. See pidfoundation.org or call 808-938-1088.

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