Ka‘ū News Briefs, Sunday, May 3, 2020

Kumu Debbie Ryder, singing with maile lei, Ty Chun, Makana Kamahele, and Terry Lewis, accompanied the students 
at May Day for Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School in 2019. This year, the pandemic put a pause on all May Day
 activities. See more in The Way We Were story, below. Photo by Julia Neal

       See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar directory for farms, ranches, takeout.

WILL THE INTERISLAND BAN ON TRAVEL without 14 days of quarantine be lifted soon, giving Hawaiʻi residents almost exclusive air travel within the state?
     Not sure. In the meantime, this week, Hawaiian Airlines rolls out protocol for distancing and for cleaning its fleet of planes, and will require everyone to wear face masks. Hawaiian Air released a statement on new standards.
     Hawaiian Airlines enhances health measures by requiring travelers to wear face coverings starting Friday, May 8 and creating more personal space at check-in, boarding, and during flights. Airport employees and flight attendants wear face masks. Last month, Hawaiian Air began electrostatic spraying of cabins for more protection against coronaviruses.
     Peter Ingram, president and CEO at Hawaiian Airlines, said, "Taking care of our guests and employees has always been our primary focus, and these new health measures will help us maintain a safe travel experience, from our lobbies to our cabins, as Hawaiʻi continues to make progress in containing COVID-19. We appreciate our guests' understanding and flexibility as we adapt our operations with their wellbeing guiding every decision we make."
     Effective May 8, passengers will be required to effectively cover the mouth and nose. The coverings are required from check-in at the airport to deplaning at destination. Young children unable to keep a face covering on, or guests with a medical condition or disability preventing its use, will be exempted from the policy.
     More personal space is provided between passengers at check-in, boarding, and during the flight.
The airline will modify boarding by asking guests to remain seated at the gate area until rows are called. Main Cabin guests will board from the rear of the aircraft, in groups of three to five rows at a time, and agents will pause boarding as needed to prevent congestion. Guests who require special assistance and those seated in First Class will be able to pre-board.

Hawaiian Airlines electrostatically sprays the interiors of its interisland planed every night and its
transpacific planes between flights. The chemicals used are approved for disinfecting hospitals.
Photo from Hawaiian Airlines

     Beginning next week, the airline - which has been manually assigning seats to increase personal space onboard - will begin blocking middle seats on its jets, adjoining seats on ATR 42 turboprop aircraft, and other, select seats to continue to provide more space for guests and flight attendants. Depending on load factors, seating may need to be adjusted at the gate to maximize spacing throughout the cabin, and meet weight and balance restrictions.
     Hawaiian will make efforts to seat families and guests traveling in the same party together, whenever possible, and encourages guests who prefer to sit together to contact the airline ahead of the flight or see an airport agent.
     Keeping Spaces Clean: Last month, Hawaiian began using electrostatic spraying to comprehensively and evenly clean aircraft cabins with hospital-grade disinfectants, registered with the Environmental Protection Agency, that coat hidden and hard-to-reach surfaces. Electrostatic treatment dries in five minutes. Hawaiian sprays it nightly on Boeing 717 aircraft it operates on flights between the islands, and prior to each departure from Hawai‘i on Airbus A330s that serve transpacific routes. The airline's A321 neo fleet is currently not in service due to a reduced flying schedule.
     Hawaiian's fleet is equipped with HEPA air filters that create a dry and essentially sterile environment inhospitable to viruses. In addition, the airline intensified detailed cleaning and disinfecting protocols, paying special attention to high-touch areas such as seats, seatbacks, headrests, monitors, tray tables, overhead bins, walls, windows, and shades, as well as galleys and lavatories.
     Hawaiian also distributes sanitizing wipes to passengers and has temporarily adjusted certain in-flight services, such as suspending the refilling of beverages in cups or personal bottles, and hot towel service.

Face coverings will be required from airport check-in to leaving the airport when flying Hawaiian Airlines.
Photo from Hawaiian Airlines

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MARSHALLESE ETHNICITY INVOLVING THE COVID-19 MCDONALD'S outbreak among employees and their families at three Kona restaurants was mentioned in recent state legislative hearings. The identity by ethnic group drew criticism from a Marshallese community organization, according to a story by Chelsea Jensen in Sunday's West Hawaiʻi Today. She reported on a joint statement from Big Island Marshallese Community Association President Taruo Abner, Vice President Charles Kelan, and member Meetu Kelen. They wrote that identifying the victims of the McDonald's outbreak was discriminatory because no other reporting on ethnicity occurred during the pandemic.
     Dr. Bruce Anderson, Director of the state Department of Health, revealed the ethnicity, apparently when pressed by the state Senate Special Committee on COVID-19. He mentioned Marshallese employees and their families living in two places becoming ill. "This Marshallese community in the Kona area... basically were in living situations where they couldn't effectively isolate themselves," said the health director.
     West Hawaiʻi Today reported that Association member Meetu Kelen said, "Now everybody is looking at us, and we're feeling small, but we don't want our community to feel that. We want to be part of this community." Kelen said the community is target to prejudice from the public. "They think we don't  know anything, that we're spreading the virus." She said the Marshallese are practicing distancing and washing hands like others.

Dr. Neal Palafox and Marshallese leader in Ocean View, Johnathan Jackson, work on health care for
the Marshallese community. Photo by Julia Neal

     Department of Health responded: "The Hawaiʻi Department of Health sincerely apologizes for any offense that may have been taken when race and ethnicity was mentioned related to those affected by COVID-19. The department was apprised of these concerns and will strive to use sensitivity when mentioning race. Please know that the intent was to express concern for those groups or populations that are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and the need to build awareness about protecting those who may be at greater risk." The statement emphasized that "recent outbreaks were described to emphasize the need to physically and socially distance ourselves when we are sick.
     "We've seen from national data that Pacific Islanders are affected by COVID-19 at higher rates than other groups, and this is a high concern in Hawaiʻi. We need to protect those at higher risk and ensure they have the knowledge and tools to protect themselves."
     Both the community association and health department said they are working with the Marshallese community to spread more education about the disease.
     In Ocean View, outreach workers are also communicating with Marshallese residents, who often live in large family groups. Ocean View Marshallese leader Johnathan Jackson and U.H. Medical School professor, Dr. Neal Palafox, who specializes in Marshallese health, are working on improving health care. They both spoke at last year's Kaʻū Rural Health Community Association's annual meeting. There have been no reported cases of COVID-19 in the Marshallese community in Kaʻū.
     See a story on the high rate of infection of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, as described by University of Hawaiʻi Medical School, in Saturday's Kaʻū News Briefs.

Ocean View youth signed up with Boys & Girls Club Big Island are
receiving deliveries of food on weekdays. BGCBI photo

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BOYS & GIRLS CLUB'S FEEDING PROGRAM for students and kūpuna received statewide television coverage during the past week. See the KHON2 story. The program feeds many Marshallese and Native Hawaiian children who are members of the Boys & Girls Club in Ocean View. They are fed five days a week, as school campuses are closed and the weekday meetings at Ocean View Community Center are called off until after the pandemic.

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AN UPTICK IN READING during the Stay-At-Home requirement for the pandemic has prompted Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries to provide a free book exchange so Kaʻū readers can access reading material. Currently, free books are available at the laundromat in Nāʻālehu. Patrons are invited to take the books they want and pass them on to another reader or return them to the laundromat when finished reading them. The book selection will be replenished frequently. Soon, Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries will provide another free book exchange site in Ocean View, said its President, Linda Morgan.

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FOURTEEN DAYS OF FOOD for those in need will be available at Nāʻālehu Shopping Center tomorrow, Monday, May 4 from 10 a.m. to noon. Distributed by The Food Basket, those who attend are asked to stay in their cars. Call The Food Basket, 933-6030.

No COVID-19 cases so far in the zip code areas of Volcano, 

Pāhala, and Ocean View. White indicates zero cases, light 

yellow indicates one to five cases. The 96772 area in 

Kaʻū has one case recorded. Map from DOH

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ONE NEW CASE OF COVID-19 was reported for Hawaiʻi Island today. Of 74 victims, as counted by the state Department of Health, 63 were released from isolation. The remainder are quarantined at home and monitored by DOH. There was one overnight hospitalization and no one died on this island.

     In the daily message from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense, Director Talmadge Magno said, "For your information, The Food Basket will be conducting a food drop off service tomorrow, May 4th at the Nāʻālehu Shopping Center. To the multitude of people and organizations contributed to this statewide food drop off program, Mahalo Nui Loa. This is the specialness of Hawaiʻi." He also thanked the organizations that are conducting free COVID-19 testing around the island.

     "Be reminded the policies of stay at home, physical distancing, and gatherings remains in effect. These policies all have one major goal, that is to help stop the spreading of the virus or from getting it. This is why, you are asked to please wear a mask. Thank you for listening and have a safe Sunday. This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense," said Magno.

     Statewide, two new cases were reported today by DOH, bringing the state's case count to 620. The state death toll remains 16: 11 on Oʻahu and five on Maui. The recovery rate is about 88 percent, with 544 people released from isolation.

     In the United States, more than 1.18 million cases have been confirmed. Recovery is about 153,000. The death toll is 68,276.
     Worldwide, more than 3.5 million have contracted COVID-19. Recovery has exceeded 1.12 million people. The death toll is 247,497.

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Pāhala Elementary students performed a Hukilau Hula, throwing nets to the sea, at last year's May Day celebration. 

Photo by Julia Neal

Kaʻū Life: The Way We Were Last Year

     This time last year, Kaʻū District Gym was filled with families and the public, entertained by the school's classes and May Day Court and attendants. The May Day Court and attendants were comprised of Kaʻū High

Keiki from Pāhala Elementary School sang for the public at the
May Day celebration last year. Photo by Julia Neal

School students. Hula and song were presented by Pāhala Elementary School students. The program was directed by Pāhala Kumu Hula Debbie Ryder with assistance from local musicians Makana Kamahele, Ty Chun, and Terry Lewis.

     During the event, the May Day Court welcomed the Queen and King. A Hukilau Hula featured keiki throwing nets to the sea.             When school is open on campus, Ryder teaches hula in all of the preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school grades in Pāhala.
     At the May Day celebration last year, preschool students performed a sitting Baby Doll Hula. Another young class of students performed a sitting hula as the May Day court watched.

     May Day has been a tradition for many generations of students attending school on the Pāhala campus. This year's May Day was canceled due to COVID-19 spread mitigation.

Pāhala preschool students performed a sitting Baby Doll Hula at last year's May Day celebration. Photo by Julia Neal

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Read online at kaucalendar.com. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar 

directory for farms, ranches, takeout. Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is 

free, with 7,500 distributed on stands and to all postal addresses throughout 

Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano throughout the district. Read online at 

kaucalendar.com and facebook.com/kaucalendar. To advertise your 

business or your social cause, contact kaucalendarads@gmail.com.

Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com. However, all non-essential activities are canceled through the end of May.

MOST EVENTS ARE CANCELLED to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. The state is under a stay-at-home order, with l4 days of quarantine required for anyone coming into the state. Interisland travel is restricted. Those in Hawaiʻi should stay at home unless needing to obtain food or medical care.

ONGOING

Free COVID-19 Screenings are at Bay Clinic during business hours, with appointment. Call 333-3600.

     Beginning Wednesday, May 6, a testing team from Aloha Critical Care in Kona will provide testing at St. Jude's every other Wednesday.
     The next drive-thru screening  at Nāʻālehu Community Center will be held Wednesday, May 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Screening will be carried out by Aliʻi Health, with support from County of Hawai‘i COVID-19 Task Force, Premier Medical Group and Pathways Telehealth.
     Wearing masks is required for everyone.

     To bypass the screening queue at community test sites, patients can call ahead to Pathways Telehealth, option 5 at 808-747-8321. The free clinic will also offer on-site screening to meet testing criteria. Physicians qualify those for testing, under the guidance of Center for Disease Control and Hawaiʻi's COVID-19 Response Task Force.
     Those visiting screening clinics will be asked to show photo ID, and any health insurance cards – though health insurance is not required to be tested. They are also asked to bring their own pen to fill in forms.

     For further information, call Civil Defense at 935-0031.

Free Breakfast and Lunch for Anyone Eighteen and Under is available at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary and at Nāʻālehu Elementary weekdays through May. Each youth must be present to receive a meal. Service is drive-up or walk-up, and social distancing rules (at least six feet away) are observed. Breakfast is served 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Food is being delivered to Ocean View.

St. Jude's Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen is open, with a modified menu and increased health & safety standards, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended. Services are posted online on Sundays at stjudeshawaii.org.

The Food Basket Food Pantries Distribution, where families can receive 14 days of food per family:

     The Ocean View location for May is Kahuku Park on Monday, May 11, 10 a.m. to noon. Call The Food Basket, 933-6030.
     The Nāʻālehu location is Nāʻālehu Shopping Center Monday, May 4, 10 a.m. to noon. Call The Food Basket, 933-6030. The next distribution is Sacred Heart Church at 95-558 Mamālahoa Hwy, under their Loaves and Fishes program, on Thursday, May 28 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Call 928-8208.

     The Pāhala location is Kaʻū District Gym at 96-1149 Kamani Street, distributed by the ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Pantry, on Thursday, May 28 at 11:30 a.m. Call The Food Basket, 933-6030.

     The Volcano location is Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road Wednesday, May 27 from 11 a.m. until food runs out. Call Kehau at 443-4130.

On Call Emergency Box Food Pantry is open at Cooper Center Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon. Call 967-7800 to confirm.

The Next Learning Packet and Student Resource Distribution for Nāʻālehu Elementary School Students will be Monday, May 11. The packets are designed for learning at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and can be picked up every two weeks. One family member may pick up for several students in the same family. Students need not be present for the learning resources to be retrieved. Please note the grade of each child. Distribution times are organized by the first letter of the student's last name at the site closest to their home. Supplies will be given out simultaneously.

     Everyone is asked to observe social distancing rules, staying 6 feet away from others during pick-up. See the school website, naalehuel.hidoe.us, for more information and updates.

     Distribution at Nāʻālehu Elementary has pick-up from 8 a.m - 8:20 a.m. for A-H; 8:20 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. for I-P, and 8:40 a.m. - 9 a.m. for Q-Z.

     Distribution at Discovery Harbour Community Center has pick-up from 8 a.m - 8:20 a.m. for A-H; 8:20 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. for I-P, and 8:40 a.m. - 9 a.m. for Q-Z.

     Distribution at Ocean View Mālama Market has pick-up from 9:30 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. for A-H, 9:50 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. for I-P, and 10:10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. for Q-Z.

     Distribution at Ocean View Community Center has pick-up from 5 p.m. - 5:20 p.m. for A-H, 5:20 p.m. - 5:40 p.m. for I-P, and 5:40 p.m. - 6 p.m. for Q-Z.

     Those who come to campus to pick up free student breakfasts are encouraged to also pick up their packets at the same time.

Register for Volcano's ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, and Keiki Dash by Wednesday, July 22. The second annual event will be held on Saturday, July 25. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to University of Hawaiʻi for furthering research of Rapid ‘Ōhiʻa Death and The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences. See webscorer.com to register.

     Half Marathon registration is $70 through May 24, $80 May 25 through July 22, and $90 for late registration. Registration for the 10K is $50 through May 24, $55 May 25 through Jul 22, and $60 for late registration. Registration for the 5K is $35 through May 24, $40 May 25 through July 22, and $45 for late registration. Keiki Dash registration is $10. All registrations are non-transferable and non-refundable.
     Late registration is only available at packet pickup or race day morning. Shirts are not guaranteed for late registration.  Race Shirts will be included for Half Marathon and 10K participants only. For all other participants, shirts are available to purchase online.
     Packet pick-up is scheduled for Thursday, July 23 in Hilo; Friday, July 26 in Volcano; and Saturday, July 27, 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. at the race start.

     Half Marathon will start at 7 a.m. Other distances follow shortly after. Keiki Dash will begin at 10 a.m. on VSAS grounds, with the option of one or two laps – about 300 meters or 600 meters. Race cut-off time for the Half Marathon is four hours. The races will begin and end in Volcano Village at VSAS.
     See ohialehuahalf.com.

Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium Closed for Renovation through June 30. The Park is closed until further notice due to COVID-19 spread mitigation. A popular seven-and-a-half minute 2018 eruption video will be shown on a television in the exhibits area, once the Park and center reopen, and is available online for free download.

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Ka‘ū News Briefs, Saturday, May 2, 2020

See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar directory for farms, ranches, takeout.

University of Hawaiʻi's John A. Burns School of Medicine is studying the high rate and impact of COVID-19 on 

Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. Photo from University of Hawaiʻi

NATIVE HAWAIIANS AND OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDERS ARE HIT HARDEST BY COVID-19, says a new study from the University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine. It shows a high rate of testing positive in Hawaiʻi and on the mainland. Authors of the study, Professor Keaweʻaimoku Kaholokula and Assistant Professor Robin Miyamoto, released the following:

     It has been six weeks since the first COVID-19 positive patient was identified in the State of Hawai‘i. As the data accumulates, several states in the U.S., in which there are a large number of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) residents, report the highest rate of COVID-19 positive cases among these Indigenous peoples of the Pacific than other racial and ethnic groups. In some cases, as high as 217.7 cases per 100,000, more than other ethnic groups. It is important to highlight that the rates of COVID-19 positive cases within these states are greater than those reported for African Americans and American Indians, two racial/ethnic groups receiving much of the national attention regarding COVID-19 risk.

     All Indigenous peoples share similar concerns that put them at an increased risk for COVID-19 and other related problems. These include limited access to healthcare services, more chronic and infectious diseases, and poorer economic and living conditions. These are all long-standing health concerns for Indigenous people that predate the arrival of COVID-19, but they are even more concerning now. The higher risk of infection among NHPI is linked to preexisting and underlying inequities in the social determinants of health across racial and ethnic groups that are ubiquitous in the U.S. The following is a list of issues hypothesized to impact the extremely high rates of COVID-19 in Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (NHPI).
     High rates of chronic disease: NHPI have among the highest rates of  chronic medical conditions, and associated mortality rates, among ethnic groups in Hawai‘i as well as the larger U.S., and among the highest in the world for those in the Pacific nations and territories, such as the Marshall Islands and Guam. These rates put them in the highly vulnerable category in the event they are infected.

Professor Keaweʻaimoku Kaholokula

     High rates of smoking and vaping: NHPI, especially adolescents and young adults, have the highest rates of smoking and vaping compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Smoking and vaping thicken the air sacs and cause inflammation of the lungs, which makes a person highly susceptible to severe symptoms should they contract COVID-19.
     Poor access to quality health care: About 20 percent of NHPI are uninsured compared to 11.4 percent of non-Hispanic whites.
     Overrepresentation in category of essential worker: A large percentage of the NHPI community is comprised of essential workers, with heavy representation in the military, security, service, and healthcare industry, who are at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 due to greater face-to-face interaction with patrons and co-workers.
     Lower wages and poorer economic and living conditions: Service-related jobs often do not provide a livable wage. NHPI are more likely than many other ethnic groups to have fewer financial resources and live in larger multi-generational households and densely populated neighborhoods.
     Overrepresentation in incarcerated and homeless population: Native Hawaiians alone comprise 43 percent of the prison population and, on Oʻahu alone, 39 percent of the homeless population. It is difficult to practice social distancing in prison or while living on the streets, and the conditions are unsanitary in these environments.
     Although an issue not directly linked to the medical side of the COVID-19 crisis, the "shelter at home" and "social distancing" measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 are placing a heavy emotional toll on NHPI communities. In particular are the psychosocial and financial stressors caused by the COVID-19 crisis leading to elevated levels of interpersonal violence and substance abuse in our NHPI communities. Before COVID-19, the prevalence of interpersonal violence and substance abuse were already high among many NHPI communities so any increases will surely have detrimental and long-term repercussions, making recovery efforts more challenging.

Assistant Professor Robin Miyamoto

     Despite the higher COVID-19 risk among NHPI, it is important to remember and recognize the resiliency and fortitude of NHPI communities and their cultural assets that can be leveraged to reduce the adverse impact of COVID-19. Despite two centuries of colonization, occupation, and exploitation by Western powers, NHPI communities continue to flourish while maintaining their unique cultural values, perspectives, practices, and aspirations. The value and practice of Aloha (compassion), Mālama (caring), and Lōkahi (unity), although said differently across the different NHPI languages, provide the guiding principles to overcome any challenge.
     This data compels us to act immediately to develop a plan in Hawai‘i and across the continental U.S. that includes ongoing data collection, ensure essential workers are protected (e.g., provided with personal protective equipment), free COVID-19 testing, paid sick leave, and hazard pay. The COVID crisis has brought clarity to the structural racism that has created these inequities and we need to engage in the critical conversations while we have the opportunity. We are partnering with the American Psychological Association in their initiative Equity Flattens the Curve #EquityFlattensTheCurve. We are hopeful that we can shine a light and begin to make meaningful changes, write the authors from U.H Medical School.

     Kaholokula is Chair of Native Hawaiian Health.

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A NEW DIGITAL TOOL TRACKS THOSE IN CONTACT WITH COVID-19 VICTIMS to trace the disease and check on their health. The state Department of Health uses it to follow up with people who had close contact with a person identified by DOH as having COVID-19. The tool "will improve the efficiency of data collection by public health staff," says the statement from DOH.

     Previously, DOH employees made daily phone calls to monitor those at risk for infection. The new program relies on those monitored to input and upload information on their health status on their own. The online survey takes less than five-minutes and transmits responses directly and securely to DOH. All information is encrypted to protect the privacy of the individual.
     Bruce Anderson, Director of the Department of Health, said, "Having a well-developed contact tracing and monitoring system with timely investigations, especially in underserved areas, is one of the criteria for reopening our state. The efficiency of this new system will increase our capacity to identify new cases and their contacts. We estimate this tool may allow us to monitor up to five times more new contacts than previously and thereby enhance our efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19."

Bruce Anderson

     DOH notifies those identified as a close contact of a person with COVID-19 and requires them to remain at home and monitor their health for 14 days from the last time they made contact. DOH emails or texts the daily survey to the quarantined. The survey asks about fever, cough, shortness of breath, and other symptoms of COVID-19.
     Those without internet, or who prefer to answer by voice, receive calls to collect their health information, daily.
     The online survey does not collect location information and is viewed only by DOH staff, without sharing it with any other organization.

     The tool was developed by HealthSpace, a cloud-based platform with more than 20 years of experience in offering data solutions to local and state public health agencies in the US and Canada. DOH contracted HealthSpace for the tool, which serves more than 500 health departments, many of them using this tool in their fight against COVID-19.
     The statement says the portal protects an individual's privacy by providing each person a unique link that expires after 24 hours. The information is then stored on a secure HIPAA-compliant server. Once an individual uploads their health information, surge capacity workers, who may serve as an extension of DOH staff, are allowed limited access to the contacts assigned to them. Surge capacity staff include DOH employees who have been redirected to support the Disease Outbreak Control Division as well as persons with appropriate experience and vetted by DOCD.

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THE WILDFIRE LOOKOUT! CAMPAIGN IS LAUNCHED FOR MAY by Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization. It aims to inform Hawaiʻi residents about fire and drought conditions, and provide tips to protect life and property from wildfires. It also gives advice on dealing with prolonged drought. More than three dozen federal, state, and county government agencies and supporting organizations partner in the effort.

     A message from Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization says, "May is that crucial time just before we usually see the biggest and hottest wildfires of the year. With fire-prone summer months ahead, we must Learn, Plan, and Take Action to prepare for the added wildfire risks!... Wildfires are a frequent and significant hazard across Hawaiʻi. Wildfires impact drinking water, coral reefs, fisheries, recreation, traffic, native forests, and human lives, homes, safety, and health! These are under publicized and need attention. Spread the word!"
     The campaign says "nearly all" wildfires are started by people, and that "Taking simple steps around your home, yard, and community can protect you and your family."

     Wildfire LOOKOUT! prevention tips include: Clear vegetation ten feet around campfires and BBQs, keep a shovel and water nearby, and put them out COLD before walking away. Be sure machinery (chainsaws, weed trimmers) and recreational vehicles have operating spark arrestors and are maintained regularly. Heat from vehicle exhaust systems can ignite dry grass – park cars on areas that are paved or where vegetation is trimmed and cleared. Avoid these activities when it's windy or grass and brush are dry.

     Wildfire Preparedness Action Ideas from Wildfire LOOKOUT! Include:

     Harden Your Home by clearing leaves and debris from gutters and roof; maintaining six inches between siding and ground; covering eaves and vents with 1/8" mesh; clearing combustible materials next to and under home and lanai; and protecting windows by clearing vegetation, close them when the fire comes.

     Lighten Your Landscape by creating defensible space within 100 feet of home or up to boundary line; keeping grass short and tree branches high off ground; and clearing brush and leaf piles.

     Plan Ahead by creating and practicing a family evacuation plan, including assisting neighbors with special needs in evacuation plans; making sure fire vehicles and personnel can defend your home from all sides; making sure hydrants, pools, and water tanks are accessible; and working with neighbors or community association to become better prepared for wildfire.

     More preparation can include gathering a group of volunteers to clear weeds along village boundaries and in communal areas; inviting HWMO to offer a community Firewise workshop; or gathering neighbors to discuss and address wildfire safety.

     Resources available to the public include Ready, Set, Go! Hawaiʻi Wildland Fire Action Guide from Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization at hawaiiwildfire.org/fire-resource-library-blog/rsg-your-personal-wildland-fire-ac4on-guide.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

No COVID-19 cases so far in the zip code areas of Volcano, 

Pāhala, and Ocean View. White indicates zero cases, light 

yellow indicates one to five cases. The 96772 area in 
Kaʻū has one case recorded. Map from DOH

NO NEW CASES OF COVID-19 were reported for Hawaiʻi Island today. Of 73 cases, as counted by the state Department of Health, 60 have been released from isolation. The remainder are quarantined at home and monitored by DOH. No one is currently hospitalized and no one has died on-island.

     The daily message from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno says, "This Island and State are doing very well in minimizing the spread and impact of COVID-19. It is so very important to follow the policies of distancing, gatherings, face coverings, cleanliness, and personal health of physical and emotional care. All of these policies have one goal in common: help stop the spread of this virus. Thank you for your help. Thank you for listening and did you know this is National Fitness Day? This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense."

     Statewide, one new case was reported today by DOH, bringing the state's case count to 620. The state death toll remains 16: 11 on Oʻahu and five on Maui. The recovery rate is about 87 percent, with 541 people released from isolation.

     In the United States, more than 1.16 million cases have been confirmed. Recovery is about 152,000. The death toll is over 67,060.

     Worldwide, more than 3.42 million have contracted COVID-19. Recovery has exceeded one million people. The death toll is 243,831.

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Portion of the Geologic map of the lower east rift zone of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaiʻi by Moore and Trusdell (1991), 

showing the southeastern part of the Leilani Estates subdivision. Some geologic units depicted here are now buried by 

2018 lava flows; a red star marks the location of fissure 8. The large pink area depicts lava flows and vents from 

an eruption in CE 1790. Labels correspond to geologic units described on the full map sheet.

WHERE TO FIND MAP AND DATA INFO on the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website is the subject of this week's Volcano Watch, written by USGS HVO scientists and affiliates:

     Many messages to askHVO@usgs.gov request resources relating to geologic maps and geographic information systems (GIS) data. "Is there a map of a certain lava flow?" "Where can I find the associated GIS data?" All HVO and USGS publications are searchable at pubs.er.usgs.gov, but this service is most effective if you already know what to look for.

     HVO has its own list of publications available online. Another way to find this page is by clicking "Publications" in the "Quick Links" section on the right side of the HVO homepage. This list includes selected publications relating to Hawaiian volcanism. Recently, it has been updated with geologic map and GIS products of interest to citizen-scientists.

     These products are compiled at varying scales and cover different regions of the State, so it may be difficult to determine quickly which is best for your specific interest. To help, here we review some of these maps and data sets, from larger (State-wide) to smaller (sectors of a volcano). Use the list of publications on the HVO web site to find links to each product.

Lava flow map from during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. USGS map

     The Geologic map of the State of Hawaiʻi was prepared by Dave Sherrod and others (2007; scale 1:100,000); this publication also includes GIS data. Most of their mapping for the Island of Hawaiʻi was borrowed from the important island-wide geologic map by Edward Wolfe and Jean Morris (1996; 1:100,000) and the digital database by Frank Trusdell and others (2005; 1:100,000). However, these maps are coarser than the finer-scale products discussed below. Only lava flows from the modern historical period – CE 1790 through the publication date – were identified individually, with older lavas being grouped into broader age ranges.

     For volcanoes on the other islands, such as Haleakalā on Maui, the Sherrod and others publication remains the definitive source.

     Several geologic maps cover the Island of Hawaiʻi and individual volcanoes. For Mauna Kea, Wolfe and others (1997; scales vary by region) mapped from the summit to the Kohala coast as part of a report on the geology of the volcano. A map of Hualālai was prepared by Richard Moore and David Clague (1991; 1:50,000), with a finer-scale inset of the summit region (1:24,000).

     For Mauna Loa, there are very recent products for the northeast, central-southeast, and southern flanks by Frank Trusdell and John Lockwood (2017, 2019, and 2020, respectively), which include both detailed geologic maps (1:50,000) and GIS data (1:24,000). Two more geologic map publications will cover the remainder of the volcano. Additionally, maps and GIS data for lava inundation zones on Mauna Loa were published by Frank Trusdell and Michael Zoeller (2017; scales vary by region).

Lava flow map from after the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. USGS map

     Geologic map products for Kīlauea are more fragmented, since there has been no recent map or series of maps dedicated to the entire volcano. 1980s geologic mapping by Robin Holcomb was incorporated into the work of Wolfe and Morris (1996) and subsequent products; maps with finer detail have only been published for certain sectors of Kīlauea.

     For the summit region, there is a map by Christina Neal and John Lockwood (2003; 1:24,000) and a GIS database by Dillon Dutton and others (2007; 1:24,000). For middle East Rift Zone, Trusdell and Moore (2006; 1:24,000) published the Geologic map of the middle East Rift geothermal subzone; Zoeller and others (2019; 1:24,000) produced the associated digital database. For the lower East Rift Zone – including areas buried by lava in 2018 – there is a map by Moore and Trusdell (1991; 1:24,000).

     Importantly, more than 35 years of eruptive activity from 1983 to 2018 mean that most of these Kīlauea maps are in serious need of revision!

     HVO's publication list also includes several standalone GIS datasets. James Kauahikaua and others (2016) calculated steepest descent lines for Kīlauea, Mauna Loa, Hualālai, and Mauna Kea which enable us to visualize plausible, topographically influenced lava flow paths. Tim Orr (2018) published GIS shapefiles for historical Kīlauea lava flows from CE 1790 through 1982. There are also GIS shapefiles depicting progression of two Puʻu ʻŌʻō lava flows: the episode 61g flow from May 2016 through May 2017, by Orr and others (2017), and the June 27th flow from June 2014 through June 2016, by Orr and Patrick (2019).

USGS map

     As HVO's bibliography of maps and other geospatial data sets grows, our online publications list will be updated accordingly. We will keep you posted!

     Volcano Activity Updates

     Kīlauea Volcano is not erupting and remains at Volcano Alert Level NORMAL (volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/about_alerts.html). Kīlauea updates are issued monthly. Monitoring data show no significant changes in seismicity, sulfur dioxide emission rates, or deformation.
     The water lake at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u continues to slowly expand and deepen. For the most current information regarding the depth of the lake, see volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/summit_water_resources.html.
     Mauna Loa is not erupting and remains at Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY. This alert level does not mean that an eruption is imminent or that progression to eruption from current level of unrest is certain. Mauna Loa updates are issued weekly.
     During the past week, HVO seismometers recorded 62 small earthquakes beneath the volcano's summit and high-elevation. Most of these occurred less than 8 kilometers (~5 miles). Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements show continued slow summit inflation, consistent with ongoing 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. This week, a new multi-gas monitoring station was installed in the summit caldera.
     For more information on current monitoring of Mauna Loa Volcano, see volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna_loa/monitoring_summary.html.
     HVO continues to closely monitor both Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

     There was one event with three or more felt earthquake reports in the Hawaiian islands during the past week. A magnitude-2.5 earthquake 8 km (5 mi) SW of Kahaluu-Keauhou occurred on April 23, 2020 at 06:15 p.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.

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Kaʻū Trojans culinary students presented their chocolatier skills at last year's Big Island Chocolate Festival in Kohala. 

Photo by Fern Gavalek

Kaʻū Life: The Way We Were Last Year

     Last year, Kaʻū High culinary students made a splash on the Kohala Coast over the final weekend of April 2019. They shared their skills with a sold-out crowd of 700 attendees at the eighth annual Big Island Chocolate Festival gala, which benefited seven island non-profits, including high school and college culinary programs. The Kaʻū Trojans team, mentored by Aina Akamu, offered Smoked Meat with Kaʻū Coffee Chocolate Barbecue Sauce and Chinese Pretzel with Kaʻū Gold Orange Chocolate Drizzle.

     Indoors and outdoors, the event spread throughout the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, showcasing chocolate recipes by chefs, chocolatiers, and culinary students. The foods were critiqued on taste, texture, appearance, and creativity by a team of celebrity judges. Competitions spanned the annual two-day festival.

Food made with chocolate. Photo from konacacaoassociation.com

     In addition to culinary contests, farmers entered competitions for their production of the beans that are processed into chocolate. Ken Melrose of Primavera Farm bested 13 other entries for the Best Cacao Bean while Kealia Ranch earned Best Criollo Bean. 

     Kaʻū students, as first time competitors at the Chocolate Festival, were in the mix with famous chefs and food creators, including Mike Winder of Kailua-Kona's Loko Wraps for Best Savory, who offered a vegan dish, and Anna Hohenberger of Puna Chocolate Company for Best Plated Dessert. Pastry Chef Kalani Garcia of Four Seasons Resort Hualalai took Best Bonbon while Michelle Yamaguchi of Oʻahu's Waialua Estate Chocolate won Best Bean-to-Bar Chocolate.

     Those who best dazzled the crowd with their creations earned the People's Choice Awards: Chef Dayne Tanabe of Hilton Waikoloa Village for Best Savory and Pastry Chef Daniel Sampson of the Fairmont Orchid, Hawaiʻi for Best Sweet.

     Kaʻū, at the festival for the first time, was one of four Hawaiʻi Island high school culinary teams that vied for the People's Choice Awards. Kealakehe High culinarians took top honors for both savory and sweet offerings, a dual repeat winner from last year. The event theme, Black and White, was depicted at culinary stations and Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory of Kona was tapped Best Decorated Booth.

     The festival also offered knowledge on planting to plating: a Kona cacao farm tour, cacao growing and processing seminars, how-to culinary demonstrations by chocolate industry experts, and a unique chocolate and tequila pairing.
     Farsheed Bonakdar, president of the Kona Cacao Association, the organization that produces the festival noted, "It's great the field of competition is growing in the bean division, which basically critiques the quality of beans after fermentation and drying. Proper fermentation optimizes the flavor profile of chocolate."

      Visit bigislandchocolatefestival.com or follow @BIChocoFest for updates on the next event, scheduled for Aug. 14 and 15.

Read online at kaucalendar.com. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar 
directory for farms, ranches, takeout. Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is 
free, with 7,500 distributed on stands and to all postal addresses throughout 
Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano throughout the district. Read online at 
kaucalendar.com and facebook.com/kaucalendar. To advertise your 
business or your social cause, contact kaucalendarads@gmail.com.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com. However, all non-essential activities are canceled through the end of May.

MOST EVENTS ARE CANCELLED to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. The state is under a stay-at-home order, with l4 days of quarantine required for anyone coming into the state. Interisland travel is restricted. Those in Hawaiʻi should stay at home unless needing to obtain food or medical care.

ONGOING

Free COVID-19 Screenings are at Bay Clinic during business hours, with appointment. Call 333-3600.

     Beginning Wednesday, May 6, a testing team from Aloha Critical Care in Kona will provide testing at St. Jude's every other Wednesday.
     The next drive-thru screening  at Nāʻālehu Community Center will be held Wednesday, May 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Screening will be carried out by Aliʻi Health, with support from County of Hawai‘i COVID-19 Task Force, Premier Medical Group and Pathways Telehealth.
     Wearing masks is required for everyone.

     To bypass the screening queue at community test sites, patients can call ahead to Pathways Telehealth, option 5 at 808-747-8321. The free clinic will also offer on-site screening to meet testing criteria. Physicians qualify those for testing, under the guidance of Center for Disease Control and Hawaiʻi's COVID-19 Response Task Force.
     Those visiting screening clinics will be asked to show photo ID, and any health insurance cards – though health insurance is not required to be tested. They are also asked to bring their own pen to fill in forms.

     For further information, call Civil Defense at 935-0031.

Free Breakfast and Lunch for Anyone Eighteen and Under is available at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary and at Nāʻālehu Elementary weekdays through May. Each youth must be present to receive a meal. Service is drive-up or walk-up, and social distancing rules (at least six feet away) are observed. Breakfast is served 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Food is being delivered to Ocean View.

St. Jude's Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen is open, with a modified menu and increased health & safety standards, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended. Services are posted online on Sundays at stjudeshawaii.org.

The Food Basket Food Pantries Distribution, where families can receive 14 days of food per family:

     The Ocean View location for May is to be announced.

     The Nāʻālehu location is Sacred Heart Church at 95-558 Mamālahoa Hwy, under their Loaves and Fishes program, on Thursday, May 28 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Call 928-8208.

     The Pāhala location is Kaʻū District Gym at 96-1149 Kamani Street, distributed by the ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Pantry, on Thursday, May 28 at 11:30 a.m. Call The Food Basket, 933-6030.

     The Volcano location is Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road Wednesday, May 27 from 11 a.m. until food runs out. Call Kehau at 443-4130.

On Call Emergency Box Food Pantry is open at Cooper Center Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon. Call 967-7800 to confirm.

The Next Learning Packet and Student Resource Distribution for Nāʻālehu Elementary School Students will be Monday, May 11. The packets are designed for learning at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and can be picked up every two weeks. One family member may pick up for several students in the same family. Students need not be present for the learning resources to be retrieved. Please note the grade of each child. Distribution times are organized by the first letter of the student's last name at the site closest to their home. Supplies will be given out simultaneously.

     Everyone is asked to observe social distancing rules, staying 6 feet away from others during pick-up. See the school website, naalehuel.hidoe.us, for more information and updates.

     Distribution at Nāʻālehu Elementary has pick-up from 8 a.m - 8:20 a.m. for A-H; 8:20 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. for I-P, and 8:40 a.m. - 9 a.m. for Q-Z.

     Distribution at Discovery Harbour Community Center has pick-up from 8 a.m - 8:20 a.m. for A-H; 8:20 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. for I-P, and 8:40 a.m. - 9 a.m. for Q-Z.

     Distribution at Ocean View Mālama Market has pick-up from 9:30 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. for A-H, 9:50 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. for I-P, and 10:10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. for Q-Z.

     Distribution at Ocean View Community Center has pick-up from 5 p.m. - 5:20 p.m. for A-H, 5:20 p.m. - 5:40 p.m. for I-P, and 5:40 p.m. - 6 p.m. for Q-Z.

     Those who come to campus to pick up free student breakfasts are encouraged to also pick up their packets at the same time.

Register for Volcano's ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, and Keiki Dash by Wednesday, July 22. The second annual event will be held on Saturday, July 25. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to University of Hawaiʻi for furthering research of Rapid ‘Ōhiʻa Death and The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences. See webscorer.com to register.

     Half Marathon registration is $70 through May 24, $80 May 25 through July 22, and $90 for late registration. Registration for the 10K is $50 through May 24, $55 May 25 through Jul 22, and $60 for late registration. Registration for the 5K is $35 through May 24, $40 May 25 through July 22, and $45 for late registration. Keiki Dash registration is $10. All registrations are non-transferable and non-refundable.
     Late registration is only available at packet pickup or race day morning. Shirts are not guaranteed for late registration.  Race Shirts will be included for Half Marathon and 10K participants only. For all other participants, shirts are available to purchase online.
     Packet pick-up is scheduled for Thursday, July 23 in Hilo; Friday, July 26 in Volcano; and Saturday, July 27, 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. at the race start.

     Half Marathon will start at 7 a.m. Other distances follow shortly after. Keiki Dash will begin at 10 a.m. on VSAS grounds, with the option of one or two laps – about 300 meters or 600 meters. Race cut-off time for the Half Marathon is four hours. The races will begin and end in Volcano Village at VSAS.
     See ohialehuahalf.com.

Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium Closed for Renovation through June 30. The Park is closed until further notice due to COVID-19 spread mitigation. A popular seven-and-a-half minute 2018 eruption video will be shown on a television in the exhibits area, once the Park and center reopen, and is available online for free download.

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