The 1790 Footprints Trail where travelers were caught in ashfall, leaving permanent footprints on the ground. This is one of the historic places in Kaʻū recognized by the state, which is seeking input on its next five-year Statewide Historic Preservation Plan. John Dawson illustration from Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
THE STATEWIDE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN goes to a virtual public meeting from 5 :30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15. According to an announcement from the state Department of Land & Natural Resources, the State Historic Preservation Division is creating the next five-year strategic plan for 2022-2027. The planning aims to help create goals for historic preservation in the state and inform the activities of the State Historic Preservation Division. Completion of this plan is required for Hawaiʻi to remain eligible to receive federal funds from the National Park Service. The plan’s purpose is to bring together historic preservation professionals and interested community members to craft ways to better manage historic properties in the state. The plan assesses historic preservation needs, priorities, goals, challenges, and opportunities and will highlight recommendations for future management of historic properties in Hawaiʻi. Historic properties include, but are not limited to: historic buildings, archaeological sites, heiau and traditional cultural properties, fishponds, lo'i, burials, cultural landscapes, historic districts and aviation artifacts.
Mauna Loa Road is listed on the register of Hawai'i Historic Places. NPS photo
Historic places in Volcano already recognized on the Hawai'i Register of Historic Palaces include: Kilauea Lodge, Hale Ohia, Crater Rim Drive, the Whitney Seismograph Vault #29 under Volcano House, and Old Volcano House. In Kaʻū they include Puna-Ka'u Historic District, Mauna Loa Road, Wilkes Campsite, 1790 Footprints, Ainapo Trail, Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary and Nāʻālehu Elementary.
See the 2017-2021 Statewide Historic Preservation plan at
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/shpd/files/2022/01/hawaii.state_.preservation.plan_.2012.2017.pdf The DLNR statement says, "Community input is essential to effective historic preservation planning and this plan will be informed by the overall comments from these meetings. All comments related to historic preservation are welcome during these meetings." The comments will be used to help develop future-focused and topical public meetings. The link to the March 15 meeting will be available on the SHPD website. Those who would like to provide public testimony, RSVP via the SHPD Preservation Plan email dlnr.hp.preservationplan@hawaii.gov by 5:30 p.m. on March 14. While SHPD staff will be unable to answer questions during the meeting, those who write to SHPD with questions ahead of time will likely receive a response. Those who do not wish to testify and wish to listen, are not required to RSVP.
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN HAWAI'I WAS 4.4 PERCENT for January,
compared to 4.3 percent in December. Statewide, 644,150 were employed and 29,500 unemployed in January for a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 673,700. Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.0 percent in January, up from 3.9 percent in December. The state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism made the announcement Friday.
NAOMI KUWAYE IS THE LATEST PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION NOMINEE. Gov David Ige made the announcement on Friday. If confirmed, she will fill the seat currently held by PUC chairman James (Jay) Griffin, who announced he will step down at the end of his term, which expires on June 30. Kuwaye is an attorney at Ashford & Wriston, LLP where she has practiced since 2012. She has worked in private practice since 1988. Previously, Kuwaye worked as a law clerk in Oregon and was also an intern and legislative aide for then Honolulu City Councilmember Donna Mercado Kim.
Naomi Kuwaye is nominated to serve on the Public Utilities Commission
Kuwaye earned her juris doctorate/certificate in environmental and natural resources law from Lewis & Clark Northwestern School of Law and her BA in journalism and political science from the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa. Her appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. If confirmed, Kuwaye’s six-year term will run from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2028.
The PUC oversees regulations and rates for companies charing for delivering electricity by lines and gas by pipes; companies offering interisland shipping, telcom, private water and sewer; as well as motor transportation for humans and for goods. It approves such contracts as windmill, geothermal, hydroelectric, biofuel and solar farm owners selling power to Hawaiian Electric. An ongoing case involves the proposed use of eucalyptus growing in Ka'u to help power a biofuel plant on the coast north of Hilo.
KA LAE QUILTERS RECENTLY PRESENTED $2,000 to O Kaʻū Kakou President Wayne Kawachi during its monthly gathering at Discovery Harbour Community Association meeting hall. Funds were earned by the quilters through craft sales in the Kaʻū District and by donations. These funds are intended for the OKK scholarship fund. Ka Lae Quilters have a history of supporting community needs such as: quilts for people experiencing trauma, distributed by the Kaʻū unit of the Hawai'i Police Department; Kaʻū Hospital Emergency Room Equipment; Camp Erin Quilts; Pink Pouches to Hilo Medical Center for patients recovering from breast cancer surgery. This dedicated group of ladies continue to support the community.
Ka Lae Quilters present $2,000 to O Kaʻū Kakou President Wayne Kawachi and OKK's Nadine Ebert.
Storm Clouds Burst Over Kīlauea Lava is not the only spectacular natural event at Kilauea Crater. Storm Clouds seem to burst over Kīlauea on Thursday. See more at https://www.facebook.com/hawaiivolcanoesnps NPS photo by Janice Wei
WITH ELECTRIC BILLS EXPECTED TO SOAR IN NEXT FEW MONTHS, Hawaiian Electric launched its Shared Solar Program on Friday. A statement from Hawaiian Electric says it is, "the latest phase of community-based renewable energy" for developers of small and large projects – including those tailored to low- and moderate-income customers. It is available for small projects (up to 250 kilowatts). Projects that qualify will be accepted in a four-month application window on a first-come basis up to the program’s capacity limit for each island. “We’re excited to launch shared solar, designed to bring savings and a chance to participate in the renewable energy movement to many more customers, especially those who aren’t able to install a private rooftop solar system,” said Lani Shinsato, director of customer energy resources, programs. “To get the most out of shared solar, we need subscriber organizations – including nonprofits, homeowner associations and churches – to get involved so that these groups and those they serve can share in the benefits."
Shared solar provides a way for subscribers to benefit from the electricity generated by a solar energy facility located on the same island. Electricity from a shared solar project will enter the island grid to help the state achieve its renewable energy goals. Once a shared solar project is complete, tested and approved to begin sending electricity to the grid, subscribers will get credit on their monthly electric bill based on their level of participation in the project. The available solar capacity of the shared solar program is over 250 megawatts, potentially including energy storage, across the five islands Hawaiian Electric serves. Some project sizes are limited in capacity. But mid-tier and large projects tailored for low- and moderate-income customers are not capped. Organizations that primarily serve such customers can apply to be a subscriber organization, which will recruit participants, and/or anchor tenants that participate directly in the solar savings. Details of the program can be found on our CBRE Resources page. A program guide for subscriber organizations that outlines the small project process can be found at hawaiianelectric.com/sharedsolar.
Non-profits, churches, community groups can sponsor shared solar through Hawaiian Electric. Image from Hawaiian Electric
Larger projects (250 kW and above) will be procured through a formal RFP process. More details can be found on our Competitive Bidding for New Generation page. Potential solar developers and subscriber organizations that are able to recruit customers to be “subscribers” in a small project should register at https://communityenergyhawaii.com, the shared solar portal. Potential subscribers do not need to register until projects are approved. "After listening to community concerns about renewable energy project siting, regulators approved Hawaiian Electric’s request to allow residents who live near a large shared solar project the first chance at becoming subscribers," says the Hawaiian Electric statement.
WHILE COVID MAY APPEAR TO BE IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROW, Sen. Mazie Hirono issued a statement today on the one-year anniversary of President Biden signing the American Rescue Plan: "The devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected communities in Hawai'i and across the country. The American Rescue Plan allocated crucial funding to help lower costs for families, address the housing crisis, and provide resources and support to respond to this public health emergency. In Hawai'i, the ARP provided $4.6 billion in aid to help our schools provide safe, in-person learning and address
learning loss, distribute vaccines, expand access to health care, and provide immediate and long-term relief to our state. Additionally, thanks to the advance Child Tax Credit payments, more than 150,000 families in Hawaii received $393 million between July and December of last year—with an average payment of $449 a month, per household. "All of this would not have been possible without Democrats passing and President Biden signing the American Rescue Plan," said Hirono. She noted that Republican declined from voting "for this bill that helped American families. While this bill was a down payment to help families recover from COVID-19, there is still a lot of work to do. Families are still struggling with the impact of a global pandemic and a geopolitical crisis."To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.
MAGMA CHAMBER MUSIC CAN TELL A REVEALING TALE, according to Volcano Watch, the weekly column by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. This week’s article was written by California Volcano Observatory research geophysicist Josh Crozier: In a lava lake, such as the one present from 2008–2018 in Kīlauea’s summit Halema‘uma‘u crater, we can sometimes visually observe these fluid motions as ripples or sloshing of the surface following disturbances from rockfalls or gas bursts. We can also detect deeper magma motion by using seismometers to measure ground vibrations. The seismic signals generated by magma motion, such as the example shown in the figure, are often distinct from other types of seismic signals. Compared to normal earthquakes, magma motion usually produces relatively slow vibrations, where the ground rises and falls over several seconds or tens of seconds.
The top plot shows a 2013 seismic recording of a normal shallow magnitude-2 earthquake that occurred a few miles south of the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. The bottom plot shows a 2013 seismic recording of magma resonance after a large rock broke off the Halema‘uma‘u crater walls at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano and then impacted the lava lake surface. Note the different timescales; the normal earthquake only lasted for about 20 seconds in total, whereas each magma oscillation cycle lasted for 40 seconds and the vibrations continued for over 20 minutes in total.
For decades scientists have been interpreting these seismic signals at volcanoes in Hawaiʻi and around the world as evidence of underground magma migration or accumulation, which can be used to look for signs that might indicate an impending eruption. In recent years, scientists have been learning new methods to use these seismic signals to resolve properties of underground magma systems that might not otherwise be measurable. Magma or lava bodies vibrate most strongly at certain frequencies, called resonant frequencies, that depend on the body’s geometry and the properties of the magma or lava it contains, such as temperature and gas content. This is similar to how the musical notes produced by an instrument like a pan flute, bell, or a kāʻekeʻeke depend on the instrument’s shape and the properties of the air in it. If a magma or lava is very fluid, for example like water rather than maple syrup, then a single perturbation can cause the magma body to resonate (vibrate or slosh at its strongest frequencies) for tens of minutes, such as the example shown in the figure.
Magma or lava bodies vibrate like musical notes. Photo from Friends of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Changes in the resonance frequencies can indicate changes in the amount of gas contained within the magma or lava, which is important for understanding its eruptive potential. Additionally, changes in the resonance duration (how long vibrations last) can indicate changes in the magma or lava temperature, which tells us if fresh hot magma is being brought up from deeper in the earth. Such resonance has helped to reveal Kīlauea’s shallow summit magma system geometry, for example suggesting that the conduit connecting its shallow summit magma reservoir with the overlying lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u from 2008–2018 was more than 50 feet wide. It has also revealed complex magma dynamics over the past decade, including convective overturns and melt supply pulses, which inform the restless nature of Kīlauea Volcano. If you have a chance to stand near one of Hawaii’s active volcanoes, remember that the magma several kilometers beneath your feet could be subtly vibrating. And if visiting a volcano isn’t convenient, just tap on the side of a glass of water and watch the fluid resonance that results.
Halema'uma'u Lava Lake Lights the Sky Halema'uma'u lights up the sky from its lava lake on Wednesday at a lookout in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. See www.facebook.com/hawaiivolcanoesnps NPS photo by Janice Wei
The statement from Hawaiian Electric says: "Customers should be prepared to see a sharp increase in electric bills because of the instability in the world energy market caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In solidarity with the Ukrainian people, the U.S. and other nations are isolating Russia economically and refusing to buy Russian oil.
"We’re telling you now so you can plan your budget and take steps to reduce your energy use." Hawaiian Electric explains that "two years ago, at the start of the pandemic, the cost of a barrel of oil fell to $18. It’s now close to $120. These bill increases are on top of inflation driven by the post-pandemic economic recovery and higher oil prices. "The international community’s support for Ukraine, including the decision by the U.S. and other countries to suspend the purchases of Russian oil, and the economic sanctions placed on Russia are leading to higher prices at the gas pump and in your electric bill." Hawaiian Electric informs customers that "You shouldn’t worry about our fuel supply for generating electricity. Our fuel supplier is no longer buying Russian oil but there are plenty of places to buy oil on the world market, so supply isn’t an issue. The utility notes that "Fuel costs are passed through to customers, Hawaiian Electric makes no profit on it. Under a fuel-cost risk-sharing regulatory mechanism, the company’s shareholders may be required to pay some of the cost when oil prices rise, resulting in a slightly lower rate for customers."
Hawaiian Electric advises that it can not "say with certainty when prices will stabilize. In the best case, we may see some reduction starting this summer. But that’s difficult to predict given the uncertainty of the international situation. If the war in Ukraine continues and more countries choose not to buy Russian oil, the price could surge higher." Production of electricity on this island is far from total dependence on imported oil. Hawai'i Island reached a high level of independence in 2021 with a full year of using geothermal power, following its shutdown during the 2018 lava flows. Wind, hydroelectric and solar also contribute to the island's growing energy independence. Last year, Hawai'i Island recached a 60 percent Renewable Portfolio Standard - RPS, which measures independence from fossil fuels, but there remains partial dependence on oil. Regarding prices on the other islands, Hawaiian Electric announced a likely increase of 20 percent for Maui, Lana'i and Moloka'i, which have an RPS of 38 percent. A price increase of 10 percent is expected on O'ahu where RPS is 32.8 percent. Kaua'i's electricity is provided by the community run Kaua'i Island Utility Cooperative, which has not yet forecast an increase.
Joe Viola, senior vice president of customer, legal and regulatory affairs for Hawaiian Electric said, “The increases we’re anticipating are more abrupt than we’ve seen before and, on top of the inflation we’ve all experienced in recent months, I know they will impact the budgets of many households. We hope that by letting customers know what’s coming this helps households and businesses plan budgets and reduce energy use.” Hawaiian Electric encouraged customers to consider options available to help manage energy bills. Links to resources are available at hawaiianelectric.com. Hawaii Energy is another resource that offers rebates and practical energy-saving tips at hawaiienergy.com. A statement from Hawaiian Electric recommended the following actions now: Reduce the use of anything that generates heat – water heater, oven, clothes dryer, stove. Consider a heat pump water heater, now available with a $500 rebate from Hawaii Energy – it could cut your the energy bill by up to 40%. Turn off air conditioning or set it at 78 degrees. Even turning it off for an hour helps. Use smart plugs or unplug electronics when not in use, including computers, printers, cable boxes, game devices, chargers.
Consider rooftop solar. Shared solar will soon be available for customers who can’t put panels on their own roof but want to share in the savings and contribute to Hawaii’s clean energy transformation. When gas prices are high, electric vehicles can help reduce overall energy spending, especially if with special rates that provide incentives to charge at certain times of the day with lower rates. Power Partnerships are a way residential and commercial customers can get financial rewards for signing up with independent companies called “grid-service aggregators” under contract with the utility. These companies recruit customers with solar, batteries, electric vehicles and other load flexibility devices to combine or “aggregate” their services to support the grid. Customers are rewarded, generally with credits that reduce their monthly bills, says the Hawaiian Electric statement.
JOSH GREEN HAS WON THE ENDORSEMENT OF HGEA, THE LARGEST OF THE HAWAI'I PUBLIC WORKERS UNIONS. Hawai'i Government Employees Union made the announcement today. Green said, "Throughout the pandemic, HGEA members showed up every day to keep our state running, and I am so thankful to have their support!" The union said Green, a physician and the Lieutenant Governor, is the HGEA choice for a governor to lead the state out of the pandemic. HGEA pointed to his experience as Lt. Governor. He also served in the state Senate and state House of Representatives.
Hawai'i Government Employees Association, the public workers union, endorsed Lt. Gov. Josh Green for governor on Thursday. HGEA photo
He started his medical career in Kaʻū after finishing his residency to become a doctor. Regarding Covid 19, HGEA Executive Director Randy Perreira said, “Josh Green was out there volunteering his time, making sure that we were taking precautions as necessary and doing what was necessary to keep us as a community safe. The other thing that I can say about Josh is that at the time when we were facing the worst of the crisis — the fear, the anxiety — Josh Green was often the voice of reason publicly.”
Affordable housing and shelter for the homeless are two of his causes. Already in the race are former Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, former Hawaii First Lady Vicky Cayetano, Aloha Freedom Coalition Organizer Gary Cordero and City Councilwoman Heidi Tsuneyoshi.
HALA PEPE IS THE PLANT OF THE MONTH for the March Lāʻau Letters: Native Plants of Kaʻū, the column by Jodie Rosam and artist Joan Yoshioka that explains their moʻolelo (stories), uses, preferred habitats, and opportunities to adopt them for stewardship. This column seeks to encourage making new plant friends and to reunite with others. Hala pepe is Dracaena konaensis. Description: There are six endemic species in the Agavaceae family, each either island- or region-specific. Only one species, Dracaena konaensis, is endemic to Hawaiʻi Island, and it is listed as endangered. Easily mistaken for the "Money Tree" (a cousin to hala pepe) to the untrained eye, hala pepe have an interesting appearance, with simple and slender leaves clustered near the top of a branch. The
abundant and showy yellow flowers appear dangling on a long inflorescence, giving way to reddish berries once pollinated. Hala pepe are dioecious, meaning their flowers contain both male and female parts. In ideal conditions, hala pepe can reach 10 meters tall (~33 feet) and have multiple trunks. However, due to fire and grazing pressures by both feral and pastured ungulates, many remaining wild plants show signs of damage, and natural recruitment is little to non-existent (rodents love to eat the ripe fruits). Uses: Medicinally, hala pepe bark and leaves are combined with several other lāʻau (including ʻuhaloa root bark, pōpolo, and a section of kō kea) to treat fever and chills, and combined with others to treat asthma and breathing troubles. Hala pepe trunks were traditionally used to make kiʻi, and branches were used to decorate altars, including those for Laka. Hala pepe is a significant hula lāʻau, representing Kapo (a Goddess of Hula), and its flowers are strung in lei. Habitat: Kaʻū is one of the of only three moku on Hawaiʻi Island in which D. konaensis remain, in addition to the Hōlei Pali in Puna, and Puʻu Waʻa Waʻa and Kaʻūpūlehu in North Kona. Hala pepe prefer dry forests on old ʻaʻā flows in full sun and open canopies, at elevations between 300-860 meters (~985-2,800 feet). This habitat preference suggests parts of Ocean View and Ranchos are ideal conditions for hala pepe (where it was undoubtedly more abundant historically). Although one of Kaʻū's beloved hala pepe (located just makai of the highway in Kahuku) died several years ago, there are still several remaining - keep your eyes peeled!
Hala Pepe growing at Sustainable Bioresources in Discovery Harbour. Photo from Ed Rau
Growing and Purchasing: Because Hawaiʻi Island's hala pepe is endangered, collection of hala pepe seeds and materials requires special permits through the State, and it is best to seek adoption opportunities from registered nurseries like Future Forests. Although hala pepe are not common in the home landscape, they should be! Requiring virtually no maintenance other than a location with full sun and well-draining soil, preferably on ʻaʻā, these plants are extremely drought and wind tolerant, and do not require much (if any) fertilization treatments. Consider making hala pepe a landscape accent on your property if you have the proper elevation, rainfall, and drainage conditions for it to thrive.
HALA PEPE BLOOMS IN DISCOVERY HARBOUR. Ed Rau, founder of Sustainable Bioresources, reports growing two of the rare plants from seedlings obtained several years ago from the Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden. One has reached maturity and is now in full bloom. If it is pollinated, "seeds should form and be ready for planting and starting new seedlings in the fall," said Rau. See www.sustainablebioresources.com.
HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES is live at KMC's Kilauea Theatre on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. through March 20. Tickets are $15 at the door. For reservations and more, call 808-982-7344. The comedy by Alan Ayckbourn is presented by Kilauea Drama & Entertainment Network, which explains: Set in the autumn of 1969, the show centers around three couples. Fiona Foster and Bob Phillips are having an affair unbeknownst to their spouses Frank Foster and Teresa Phillips. To cover it up they invent cover stories that involve a third couple, William and Mary Detweiler. which leads to farcical misunderstandings, conflicts and revelations. How the Other Half Loves has a single set, which represents two separate but over-lapping living rooms which allows the action to take place in both rooms simultaneously. Six veteran Hilo actors take the stage to portray the three couples. Mark Rawlings and Celaney Carpenter are Frank and Fiona Foster, Ray Ryan and Joanne Pocsidio are Bob and Teresa Phillips, and Murphy Bierman and Joy Bierman are William and Mary Detweiler. They are under the direction of Suzi Bond. Don Lawrence is set designer, Helie Rock is costuming and John Kea is light and sound designer.
The cast of How the Other Half Loves, now playing at KMC's Kilauea Theatre. Photo from KDEN.org
The director said, “This is one of the first shows I worked on 50 years ago. I was the prop master and this show has a lot of props. It has been a blast to revisit the show and see how well it holds up. From the first rehearsal there has been lots of laughter. We spent the first three rehearsals just reading through the play so that everyone had a clear understanding of how the flow of the show works. Once we started blocking it was kinda slow going making sure that we were able to keep the action flowing. We have such a small stage it has been a challenge. I think people will be amazed at how much is on the stage and how everyone moves freely in the space."
How the Other Half Loves is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. (www.concordtheatricals.com). Also see KDEN.org.