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illustrated by Joan Yoshioka. The feature, Lāʻau Letters: Native Plants of Kaʻū, printed monthly in The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper, focuses on native plants and 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.
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| 'Auhuhu image by Joan Yoshioka |
Uses: Why was ʻauhuhu brought to Hawaiʻi, you may be wondering? Because the plants were used to intoxicate fish in tidepools, estuaries, and fishponds to make them easier to catch! The plants naturally contain a chemical called tephrosin (a rotenoid), which stuns fish when enough of it is added to water. The entire plant can be crushed and placed into pools, and the mild toxins will cause the fish to swim to the surface to gulp air
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| 'Auhuhu is a canoe plant, brought to Hawai'i by Polynesians for its fish stunning properties that helped them to to catch fish. Its traditional use has helped reduce invasive species in anchialine ponds. Photo from Wikipedia |
(somewhat stupefied). The stunned fish can then be harvested, and those who escaped the effects are left behind. This traditional use now requires permits from the state and permission from the landowners, so please don’t try it at home, so to speak! However, conservationists are happy to report that ʻauhuhu was successfully used in 2022 to remove invasive guppies and tilapia from coastal anchialine pool ecosystems. The leaves and leaf buds can also be ground and mixed with paʻakai (sea salt) and niu (coconut) as a salve to topically treat cuts and to soothe itchy skin.
Habitat: ʻAuhuhu is found across the pantropics. Its introduction to Hawaiʻi brought it to all of the main Hawaiian Islands, particularly near loko iʻa (fishponds) and coastal tidepools. It thrives in extremely dry locations on lava fields, dry ridges, coastlines, and open areas between 5-600m elevation. In Kaʻū, you can find ʻauhuhu along the lowlands and coastlines of the ahupuaʻas of Kiolakaʻa, Waiʻōhinu, and Wailau. It is also scattered around Puʻuloa within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park.
MAGMA INTRUDED BENEATH THE SUMMIT OF KILAUEA VOLCANO on Saturday between 11 a.m. and midnight , according to Geophysical signals recorded by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. The intrusion was preceded by an increase in seismic activity but seismicity has returned to background levels, ground deformation has stabilized, and no lava has been observed at the surface, according to the USGS statement."Resumption of eruptive activity at Kīlauea summit no longer appears to be imminent, although it is possible that another intrusion or resumption may occur in the near future with little or no warning."
Habitat: ʻAuhuhu is found across the pantropics. Its introduction to Hawaiʻi brought it to all of the main Hawaiian Islands, particularly near loko iʻa (fishponds) and coastal tidepools. It thrives in extremely dry locations on lava fields, dry ridges, coastlines, and open areas between 5-600m elevation. In Kaʻū, you can find ʻauhuhu along the lowlands and coastlines of the ahupuaʻas of Kiolakaʻa, Waiʻōhinu, and Wailau. It is also scattered around Puʻuloa within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park.
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Magma intruded beneath Kīlauea Crater summit but no lava breakout so far. USGS Webcam image from Sunday morning |
A shallow earthquake swarm was detected beneath the summit of Kīlauea Volcano between 10:30 and 11 a.m.on Saturday. The swarm was followed by a Magnitude-3.4 earthquake located 4 km SW of Volcano at a depth of approximately 1 km (0.6 miles) at 11:50 a.m. This earthquake was felt locally and triggered a rockfall near Uēaloha (Byron Ledge) in Hawai’I Volcanoes National Park. Seismicity diminished at approximately noon and returned to background levels.
HVO tiltmeters have been recording an inflationary signal at Kīlauea summit since March 7, indicating that magma has been accumulating beneath the surface. Tilt excursions also coincided with Saturday morning’s earthquake swarm.
"Summit tilt stabilized although slow inflation continues. The pause in eruptive activity that began approximately last week continues and Kīlauea remains at Alert Level WATCH and Aviation Code ORANGE. No unusual activity has been noted along the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone."
HVO tiltmeters have been recording an inflationary signal at Kīlauea summit since March 7, indicating that magma has been accumulating beneath the surface. Tilt excursions also coincided with Saturday morning’s earthquake swarm.
"Summit tilt stabilized although slow inflation continues. The pause in eruptive activity that began approximately last week continues and Kīlauea remains at Alert Level WATCH and Aviation Code ORANGE. No unusual activity has been noted along the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone."
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.
OCEAN VIEW RESIDENT RONALD PATRICK KEAHONUI KAHIHIKOLO is in jail awaiting court appearance Monday morning in Hilo, his bail set at $263,000. Kahihikolo was charged on Saturday.
Hawai'i Police Department listed the charges as: Second-degree attempted murder; abuse of a family/household member; ownership and possession of a firearm prohibited; carrying a firearm in the commission of a separate felony; unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle; first-degree theft; resisting an order to stop; contempt of court; two counts of violations of conditions of release on bail, recognizance, or supervised release; and two counts of discharge of sureties.
"A wanted fugitive with numerous outstanding bench warrants, Kahihikolo has been the subject of a five-day manhunt after police initiated an attempted murder investigation following a domestic disturbance shooting on Tuesday morning, March 7, 2023, in Ocean View." He was arrested just before 11 a.m. on Saturday in the Hāmākua district.
Hawai‘i Island police also charged 26-year-old Jacqueline Keana‘aina, of Kailua-Kona, with a litany of criminal felony and misdemeanor offenses following an officer-involved-shooting incident on Friday in Kona.
"On Friday morning, plainclothes Area II Vice detectives received information that Ronald Kahihikolo was in the Kona area and in the company of individuals who were in possession of two stolen vehicles, a silver Chevy Malibu and a white Dodge sedan.
"As Vice detectives began canvassing the area, officers observed the Chevy Malibu, containing a male driver, later identified as 32-year-old Kainoa Kahele-Bishop, of Kailua-Kona, and a female passenger, later identified as Keana‘aina, traveling southbound on Kamakaeha Avenue.
"When detectives attempted to contact the pair as the Malibu came to a stop at the intersection of Kamakaeha Avenue and Palani Road, Kahele-Bishop ignored the officers’ lawful commands to show them his hands and began reaching for an object. Fearing for their safety, two detectives discharged their duty weapons, striking Kahele-Bishop, who unfortunately died at the scene.
"After executing a search warrant on the Chevy Malibu, detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section recovered two firearms—a loaded sawed-off shotgun and an unloaded bolt-action rifle, more than 25 rounds of ammunition, one spent round of ammunition, and eight credit cards (not belonging to either of the occupants).
According to HPD, Kahele-Bishop had an outstanding parole violation with the Hawai‘i Paroling Authority. He was also a person of interest in an attempted burglary investigation that occurred on Sunday, Feb. 26 in the 92-8000 block of Tiki Lane in Ocean View.
Keana‘aina suffered minor injuries in the traffic crash and was treated at the scene by Hawai'i Fire Department medics. She was then arrested for an outstanding warrant and transported to the Kealakehe Police Station.
The police statement reports; "As the shooting incident was occurring, the white Dodge sedan, believed to be driven by Kahihikolo, was seen traveling northbound towards Waimea. Kahihikolo abandoned the vehicle less than two hours later in the area of Highway 19 near the 40 mile marker in the Hāmākua district.
"Following an extensive multi-agency search by land and air that included HPD’s Special Response Team, HPD K9 scent-detection dogs, air assets from Hawai‘i Fire Department, as well as assistance from FBI personnel, Kahihikolo was arrested Saturday morning, March 11, just before 11 a.m., in the same vicinity where he abandoned the Dodge sedan. Investigators with Area II Juvenile Aid Section and Area I Criminal Investigation Section subsequently executed a search warrant on the recovered stolen Dodge.
"After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office on Saturday afternoon, Kahihikolo was charged."
Keana‘aina was also charged with first-degree attempted burglary stemming from an attempted residential break-in on Sunday, February 26, on Tiki Lane in Ocean View. Kahele-Bishop was a person of interest in that investigation.
Keana‘aina’s bail was set at $323,000. She remains in police custody at the Kealakehe Police Station pending her initial court appearance on Monday morning, March 13, at Kona District Court.
FREE FOOD
St. Jude's Hot Meals are free to those in need on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until food runs out, no later than noon. Volunteers from the community are welcome to help and can contact Karen at pooch53@gmail.com. Location is 96-8606 Paradise Circle Drive in Ocean View. Those in need can also take hot showers from 9 a.m. to noon and use the computer lab from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Free Meals Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are served from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Nā'ālehu Hongwanji. Volunteers prepare the food provided by 'O Ka'ū Kākou with fresh produce from its gardens on the farm of Eva Liu, who supports the project. Other community members also make donations and approximately 150 meals are served each day.
OUTDOOR MARKETS
Volcano Evening Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village, Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with live music, artisan crafts, ono grinds, and fresh produce. See facebook.com.
Volcano Swap Meet, fourth Saturday of the month from 8 a.m. to noon. Large variety of vendors with numerous products. Tools, clothes, books, toys, local made healing extract and creams, antiques, jewelry, gemstones, crystals, food, music, plants, fruits, and vegetables. Also offered are cakes, coffee, and shave ice. Live music. Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village on Sundays, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with local produce, baked goods, food to go, island beef and Ka'ū Coffee. EBT is used for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Call 808-967-7800.
O Ka'ū Kākou Market, Nā'ālehu, Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Nadine Ebert at 808-938-5124 or June Domondon 808-938-4875. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.
Ocean View Community Market, Saturdays and Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., corner Kona Dr. Drive and Hwy 11, near Thai Grindz. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no rez needed. Parking in the upper lot. Vendors must provide their own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling is encouraged.
OCEAN VIEW RESIDENT RONALD PATRICK KEAHONUI KAHIHIKOLO is in jail awaiting court appearance Monday morning in Hilo, his bail set at $263,000. Kahihikolo was charged on Saturday.
Hawai'i Police Department listed the charges as: Second-degree attempted murder; abuse of a family/household member; ownership and possession of a firearm prohibited; carrying a firearm in the commission of a separate felony; unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle; first-degree theft; resisting an order to stop; contempt of court; two counts of violations of conditions of release on bail, recognizance, or supervised release; and two counts of discharge of sureties.
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| Kahihikolo is known for a facial tattoo "Greed" on his right cheek. |
Hawai‘i Island police also charged 26-year-old Jacqueline Keana‘aina, of Kailua-Kona, with a litany of criminal felony and misdemeanor offenses following an officer-involved-shooting incident on Friday in Kona.
"On Friday morning, plainclothes Area II Vice detectives received information that Ronald Kahihikolo was in the Kona area and in the company of individuals who were in possession of two stolen vehicles, a silver Chevy Malibu and a white Dodge sedan.
"As Vice detectives began canvassing the area, officers observed the Chevy Malibu, containing a male driver, later identified as 32-year-old Kainoa Kahele-Bishop, of Kailua-Kona, and a female passenger, later identified as Keana‘aina, traveling southbound on Kamakaeha Avenue.
"When detectives attempted to contact the pair as the Malibu came to a stop at the intersection of Kamakaeha Avenue and Palani Road, Kahele-Bishop ignored the officers’ lawful commands to show them his hands and began reaching for an object. Fearing for their safety, two detectives discharged their duty weapons, striking Kahele-Bishop, who unfortunately died at the scene.
"After executing a search warrant on the Chevy Malibu, detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section recovered two firearms—a loaded sawed-off shotgun and an unloaded bolt-action rifle, more than 25 rounds of ammunition, one spent round of ammunition, and eight credit cards (not belonging to either of the occupants).
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Keana'aina is charged with breaking into a house on Tiki Land in Ocean View and other offenses. Photo from HPD |
Keana‘aina suffered minor injuries in the traffic crash and was treated at the scene by Hawai'i Fire Department medics. She was then arrested for an outstanding warrant and transported to the Kealakehe Police Station.
The police statement reports; "As the shooting incident was occurring, the white Dodge sedan, believed to be driven by Kahihikolo, was seen traveling northbound towards Waimea. Kahihikolo abandoned the vehicle less than two hours later in the area of Highway 19 near the 40 mile marker in the Hāmākua district.
"Following an extensive multi-agency search by land and air that included HPD’s Special Response Team, HPD K9 scent-detection dogs, air assets from Hawai‘i Fire Department, as well as assistance from FBI personnel, Kahihikolo was arrested Saturday morning, March 11, just before 11 a.m., in the same vicinity where he abandoned the Dodge sedan. Investigators with Area II Juvenile Aid Section and Area I Criminal Investigation Section subsequently executed a search warrant on the recovered stolen Dodge.
"After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office on Saturday afternoon, Kahihikolo was charged."
Keana‘aina was also charged with first-degree attempted burglary stemming from an attempted residential break-in on Sunday, February 26, on Tiki Lane in Ocean View. Kahele-Bishop was a person of interest in that investigation.
Keana‘aina’s bail was set at $323,000. She remains in police custody at the Kealakehe Police Station pending her initial court appearance on Monday morning, March 13, at Kona District Court.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and
 |
| In the mail and on stands. |
St. Jude's Hot Meals are free to those in need on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until food runs out, no later than noon. Volunteers from the community are welcome to help and can contact Karen at pooch53@gmail.com. Location is 96-8606 Paradise Circle Drive in Ocean View. Those in need can also take hot showers from 9 a.m. to noon and use the computer lab from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Free Meals Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are served from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Nā'ālehu Hongwanji. Volunteers prepare the food provided by 'O Ka'ū Kākou with fresh produce from its gardens on the farm of Eva Liu, who supports the project. Other community members also make donations and approximately 150 meals are served each day.
OUTDOOR MARKETS
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| https://www.okaukakou.org/scholarships -for-local-students |
Volcano Swap Meet, fourth Saturday of the month from 8 a.m. to noon. Large variety of vendors with numerous products. Tools, clothes, books, toys, local made healing extract and creams, antiques, jewelry, gemstones, crystals, food, music, plants, fruits, and vegetables. Also offered are cakes, coffee, and shave ice. Live music. Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village on Sundays, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with local produce, baked goods, food to go, island beef and Ka'ū Coffee. EBT is used for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Call 808-967-7800.
O Ka'ū Kākou Market, Nā'ālehu, Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Nadine Ebert at 808-938-5124 or June Domondon 808-938-4875. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.
Ocean View Community Market, Saturdays and Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., corner Kona Dr. Drive and Hwy 11, near Thai Grindz. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no rez needed. Parking in the upper lot. Vendors must provide their own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling is encouraged.
