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Friday, December 22, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs December 22, 2023

Wisdom, at 73, is known as the oldest egg laying bird in the world. She is back on Midway, courting again.
Photo from Friends of Midway Atoll

WISDOM, THE MŌLĪ, LAYSAN ALBATROSS, often called the eldest egg laying bird in the world, is at least 73-years-old, and has arrived for the mating season on Kuaihilani, Midway Atoll in the northern Hawaiian Islands.
    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Supervisory Wildlife Biologist Jon Plissner said she was spotted on Midway, doing all the synchronized dance moves with a handsome mōlī! Click here for the most recent video of Wisdom on Friends of Midway Atoll YouTube page at https://friendsofmidway.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b8cabfa570ef39a5d368d3c15&id=648a661c48&e=50f5b9353a.
Midway Atoll. Photo by John Brack

HAWAI'I COUNTY LEADS THE STATE IN BUILDING NEW HOMES. According to data from University of Hawai'i Economic Research Organization, Hawai'i County leads in issuing building permits for new single-family residential homes. In the period from January to April 2023, the county granted 930 permits for new single-family homes, surpassing Honolulu with 303, Maui with 235, and Kaua'i with 185 permits during the same timeframe. From 2019 to April2023, Hawai's County issued a total of 3,884 permits for single-family homes, outpacing Honolulu (3,181), Maui (1,969), and Kauaʻi (873) over the 5-year period."We believe wholeheartedly that every local family deserves a place to call home here on Hawai'i Island," said Mayor Mitch Roth. "Our top priority is simplifying the homebuilding process for residents to meet the growing housing demand. We have diligently worked on enhancing our permitting process, addressing issues with our EPIC system, and amending County ordinances to streamline procedures and reduce government oversight safely. Although we haven't reached our goal yet, the data reflects significant progress."
   Prior to the Roth Administration, the County issued 619 building permits for single-family homes in 2019 and 654 in 2020.
    In 2021, after the launch of the County's Electronic Processing and Permitting System (EPIC), the County issued 838 permits, followed by 857 in 2022.
    This year, the County of Hawaiʻi has issued 1,059 new single-family residential permits and counting.
    While the number of single-family building permits is just one aspect of addressing the State's housing shortage, it serves as an important indicator of potential housing inventory that plays a crucial role in accommodating residents amid population growth, said the statement from the county, issued on Friday.


MARKETING HAWAI'I GROWN CROPS AND CONTRIBUTING TO SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTURE will be taught in a spring 2024 Kāpili ʻOihana internship program marketing internship via Kamehameha Schools' Kāpili ʻOihana Program. This 60-hour remote internship will empower Native Hawaiian students through immersive experiences such as marketing Hawaiʻi-grown crops and contributing to sustainable agriculture. To apply, create an IMUA Xchange (IX) profile at https://ksbe-csm.symplicity.com/students and submit resume and cover letter to kenta@eatbreadfruit.com before January 5, 2024.

USDA FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM REQUESTS APPLICANTS. The USDA Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program is designed to help implement farm to school programming to increase access to local food in eligible schools, connect children with agriculture for improved health, and inspire youth to consider careers in agriculture. For more
U.H. AgConnect program is open
for applications.
information and to apply, visit the program's website at https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/350548. Applications are due by Jan. 12.

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I AGCONNECT PROJECT is designed to match interns/apprentices with agricultural producers to help them grow their existing businesses or perhaps even take it over one day. This is a Hawai'i Community College 16-week (maximum) non-credit course that can be completed in as little as eight weeks. Apply to be an intern/apprentice or a host. at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfvqr9stX3gjVEo3xfz9LCTS6MnHIufMG5S3NWqc7fEvC1Jw/viewform .

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A PUPU PLATTER OF EARTHQUAKES is the title of this week's Volcano Watch, written by scientists and affiliates of Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. The column notes that a pūpū platter is an assortment of appetizers commonly served at social gatherings in Hawai'i. 
Seismic hazard for the State of Hawaii based on past earthquakes an...
Seismic hazard across the State of Hawaii based on past earthquakes and corresponding ground shaking. Areas with high seismic hazards depicted with warm colors (red-orange) and relatively low seismic hazards depicted with cool colors (green). Quantitatively, the different colored-areas are defined by the maximum ground-motion acceleration (in percentage of gravity) over the next 50 years that have a 2% chance of exceedance. The southeast part of the Island of Hawai'i has the highest expected ground acceleration (195 percent of gravity) that has a 2% chance of occurrence during a 50-year time period. For source data description, see Klein et al (2001) plus associated published online data.USGS image

    Thousands of earthquakes occur every year in Hawai'i. These earthquakes are monitored by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) and fall into three main classes: volcanic, tectonic, and mantle.
Volcanic earthquakes are associated with magma moving within, and erupting from, active volcanoes. Tectonic earthquakes are associated with slippage along faults within the volcanoes, and along the décollement which separates the volcanoes from the underlying oceanic crust. Mantle earthquakes are associated with bending of the Earth's crust and upper mantle due to the weight of the islands above.
    During one week in December 2023, Island of Hawaiʻi residents and visitors were treated to an assortment of earthquakes resulting from a variety of different geologic processes, like a pūpū platter of earthquakes!
    The first earthquake in our pūpū platter was a magnitude-5.1 event that occurred on Monday, December 4, 2023, at 5:54 p.m. HST. It was located 9 miles (14 km) southeast of Volcano at a depth of 1 mile (2 km) below sea level. This was a tectonic earthquake related to shallow movement on the pali system of Kīlauea volcano's south flank.  HVO received 1,180 felt reports from around the Island of Hawaiʻi and a handful from Maui, Oʻahu and even Kauaʻi islands. Fortunately, no damage was reported. A magnitude-3.1 aftershock occurred four minutes later.
    A magnitude-4.4 event then occurred on Wednesday, December 6, at 5:17 p.m. HST. It was located 1 mile (2 km) west-northwest of Volcano at a depth of 14 miles (23 km) below sea level. It was likely a mantle earthquake related to flexing of the oceanic crust buried deep below the island. HVO received 383 felt reports for this event.
    A magnitude-3.6 event then occurred on Thursday, December 7, at 7:13 a.m. HST. It was located east of Pāhala at a depth of 20 miles (33 km). The size, location and mechanism indicate that it likely was a mantle earthquake associated with the ongoing Pāhala seismic swarm. This event got 69 felt reports.
    Two days later, two different earthquakes occurred within one minute of each other. A magnitude-3.6 event occurred on Friday, December 8 at 9:21 p.m. HST. It was located 2 miles (3 km) west-southwest of Hōlualoa at a depth of 8 miles (13 km) below sea level. This was likely a tectonic earthquake associated with slippage on a fault within Hualālai volcano. HVO received 464 felt reports, primarily from the Kona side of the Island of Hawaiʻi.
    One minute later, a magnitude-3.4 event occurred 12 miles (19 km) north of Pāhala at a depth of 4 miles (7 km) below sea level. This earthquake was likely a tectonic earthquake associated with slippage on the Ka'ōiki fault system between Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes on the Island of Hawaiʻi. There were 44 felt reports for this event.
    A magnitude-3.1 event occurred on Monday, December 11 at 3:08 p.m. HST. It was located 13 miles (21 km) southwest of Laupāhoehoe at a depth of 19 miles (31 km) below sea level. It was likely a mantle earthquake related to flexing of the oceanic crust deep below Mauna Kea. This event had 29 felt reports.
Remnants of Volcanic Display
"While Kīlauea volcano is taking a breather, the aftermath of its last eruption on September 10, 2023, continues to captivate us!" says a posting from Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. "Even without the fiery views, the remnants of this volcanic display are breathtaking. The vivid hues created by the precipitation of native sulfur crystals and the fascinating oxidization around the steaming vents paint a surreal picture of the volcanic landscape. Nature's artistry at its finest! For a deeper dive into the last eruption's details, head to the official park website: 
    In addition to the widely felt tectonic and mantle earthquakes above, more than 400 volcanic earthquakes occurred beneath the summit of Kīlauea from December 4 through 11, with a peak of more than 200 events on December 7. While numerous, these earthquakes were small and not felt. All were below magnitude-3.0 and most were below magnitude-2.0. These events were associated with the intrusion of magma beneath Kīlauea summit.
    This was a fascinating assortment of earthquakes from all around the Island of Hawaiʻi that, within the span of just one week, demonstrated different ways that earthquakes can be generated in Hawaii. As always, HVO encourages you to submit a "Did You Feel It?" report if you feel an earthquake. Your felt reports contribute to earthquake intensity assessments generated by the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and help us better understand the many processes that generate earthquakes in Hawai'i.
    Volcano Activity Updates: Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY.
The unrest associated with the intrusion that began in early October southwest of Kīlauea's summit continues. Earthquake activity in Kīlauea's summit region over the past week remained relatively low. The Uēkahuna tiltmeter—located northwest of the caldera—showed little net tilt over the past week, as did the Sand Hill tiltmeter—located southwest of the caldera. Unrest may continue to wax and wane with changes to the input of magma into the area and eruptive activity could occur in the near future with little or no warning. The most recent sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rate for the summit—approximately 70 tonnes per day—was measured on December 5.
    Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.
    Webcams show no signs of activity on Mauna Loa. Summit seismicity has remained at low levels over the past month. Ground deformation indicates continuing slow inflation as magma replenishes the reservoir system following the 2022 eruption. SO2 emission rates are at background levels.
    Two earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M2.7 earthquake 2 km (1 mi) SSW of Pāhala at 31 km (19 mi) depth on Dec. 19 at 6:46 a.m. HST and a M3.0 earthquake 21 km (13 mi) SSE of Pāhala at 33 km (20 mi) depth on Dec. 14 at 5:51 p.m. HST.
    HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.
Visit HVO's website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCES HOLIDAY CLOSURES: County of Hawaiʻi Department of Environmental Management Solid Waste Division announces upcoming annual closures of all facilities on the following holidays: Monday, December 25, Christmas Day and Monday, January 1, New Year's Day. "Please kōkua, plan ahead, and refrain from littering outside the transfer station gates."


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Thursday, December 21, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs December 21, 2023

Quieter skies over Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park are expected with a reduction of air tours and and implementing no-fly days.
NPS photo by Janice Wei

REDUCING AIR TOURS FROM 11,300 TO 1,548 A YEAR OVER HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK and the implementation of no-fly days are the main takeaways from the new National Park Service and Federal Aviation Administration Air Tour Management Plan. The plan for HVNP, released on Dec. 20, provides for continuation of air tours at reduced levels over the park and within a half-mile of its boundary to protect natural and cultural resources, wilderness, the integrity of Native Hawaiian sacred sites and ceremonial areas, and visitor experiences.  
    Operators will be permitted to continue to conduct air tours within the Air Tour Management Plan boundary up to the limit of Interim Operating Authority and until their Operation Specifications are amended, which will occur no later than 180 days after the date the plan takes effect.  The plan does the following:
    Authorizes up to 1,548 air tours per year on three specific routes within the plan's boundary. This is a significant reduction from existing levels of more than 11,300 flights per year.  
    The air tours can occur between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. local time on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Qualifying air tours using quiet technology may fly from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on those days, as well as on Wednesdays.  
    Designates three air tour routes that avoid the summit of Kīlauea and protect key cultural and natural resources, visitor use areas, and park wilderness. Air tours will be limited to these routes. 
    Identifies no-fly days to include:  Sundays;  Six traditional Hawaiian holidays-  End of Makahiki (typically in January);   Zenith Noon (typically in May);  Summer Solstice (June),   Zenith Noon (typically in July);  Start of Makahiki (typically in October) and  Winter Solstice (December). Other no fly-days are two dates that honor and acknowledge important Hawai'i Island aliʻi, people of traditional nobility - Ruth Ke'elikōlani on Feb. 9 and  Bernice Pauahi Bishop on Dec. 19.
    Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Rhonda Loh said, "The Air Tour Management Plan is more than 20 years in the making. It significantly reduces the number of low-flying air tours over the park to protect the natural and cultural resources, the wilderness character and general visitor experience,. We deeply appreciate everyone's input throughout this long process with us." 
     The Plan was developed in cooperation with stakeholders representing a variety of interests, including Native Hawaiian organizations, other land management agencies, local communities, and recreation groups. The plan addresses and responds to concerns identified during these consultations and through public comment.  
    Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is one of several national parks for which the NPS and FAA have developed or are currently developing an air tour management plan or voluntary agreement to meet the requirements of the National Parks Air Tour Management Act. Each air tour management plan or agreement is developed to manage commercial air tours in a way that is consistent with the NPS's mission, the individual park's purposes, and the FAA's authority to regarding aviation safety, says the Park statement.   
     The final Air Tour Management Plan is available on the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/HawaiiVolcanoesATMP. Visit https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/airtours.htm for more info.

THREE TOP MUSICIANS WILL JOIN THE CHRISTMAS CONCERT BY SOUTH HAWAI'I SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA this Saturday.  The guest musicians from Kona, Barbara Coffman on flute, Robbie Brown on clarinet and Jessica Dahlke on French horn, will mix it up with the regular ensemble.              Under the baton of maestro Farley Sangels, the musicians will play a dozen Christmas pieces in a new and unique way. The guest musicians will be featured in some parts, the orchestra's ensemble of about 14 musicians will play other parts, and then all the musicians will play the remainder. The result promises to be a unique rendering of a mixture of well-known carols, lesser-known Christmas ballads, and ethnic offerings from Israel, Puerto Rico and Italy.
    This will be the third concert offered by the newly formed South Hawai'i Symphony Orchestra, which has drawn strong attendance, their concerts culminating in standing ovations.
    Following the South Hawai'i Symphony' Orchestra will be The  Jazz Gardeners, a group of four jazz musicians. Joining Sangels on stage will be Cheryl Cuevas performing multilingual vocals, Aaron Loesser on double bass and Gabriel Cuevas on drums.
   The concert will be held at the Ocean View Community Center, 92-8924 Leilani Circle, beginning at 2 p.m. The Jazz Gardeners will take the stage at 3 p.m. There is no charge for admission, but donations to cover expenses are always welcome.
    In keeping with the season's spirit and the Ka'u district's reputation for generosity, the audience is encouraged to bring popcorn, holiday cookies or other baked goods to share during the performances. "I would like our audience to have something to munch while they enjoy our music," explained Sangels. "We want to lift spirits in any way we can!"

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HAWAI'I TOURISM AUTHORITY IS PROMOTING AG TOURS TO BENEFIT THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND FOOD PRODUCERS. A promotional piece released this week asks, "Does chocolate really grow on trees? Is vanilla from an orchid? Find out these answers and more about our diverse Hawai'i Island agricultural commodities on a fun and engaging ag tour." The promotion says ag tours are "where both visitors and residents can get up close and personal with the folks producing our island-grown food products and taste and see what they're all about." 
    The promotion features Eva Lee and Chiu Leong's Tea Tasting and Farm Tour in Volcano and Ed Olson and Troy Keolanui's OK Farms with their food growing enterprises in Kaʻū and Hilo.
    According to a 2022 Visitor Satisfaction and Activity Survey by the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, 20 percent of domestic visitors to Hawai'i Island took a farm tour. "With the high cost of doing business in Hawai'i, local farms rely on ag-tourism to help their bottom line. During guided, on-site tours, farmers have the opportunity to direct-sell their local fresh and value-added products while employing residents," says HTA.
Tea Hawai'i and Company in Volcano offers a two-hour Tea Tasting
 and Farm Tour by demand. Guests walk through over two acres of
easy terrain and learn about growing tea, its processing and see
 any stages of production underway. Photo from HTA
    Pomai Weigert, ag business consultant with GoFarm Hawai'i, says opportunities like ag tours, which connect local farmers with residents and visitors, are important as the tourism and ag industries have shifted.
    "There is a labor shortage, a goods and housing crisis, and in Hawai'i, we don't have industries that can be siloed (left to work alone)," Weigert explains. "We need to try and weave more commerce into each industry because if we don't, the people who do the tourism jobs will move away and the people who grow food won't be as successful."
    Tea Hawai'i and Company in Volcano offers a two-hour Tea Tasting and Farm Tour by demand. For over two decades, Eva Lee and Chiu Leong have been giving tours of their operation that produces white, green, oolong and black teas. Guests walk through over two acres of easy terrain and learn about growing tea, its processing, see any stages of production underway (depending on season) and hear about the history of tea agriculture in Hawai'i.
    Lee says she appreciates the interest of guests during visits as "it's like sharing any other art form." Leong adds, "The whole world comes to us; we get people from so many countries, so we learn about their cultural understanding or relationship to tea and that's a big plus for us."
    The couple say they love sharing how tea is "good in so many ways." That includes how a tea plant can live for 1,000 years and so communities are endeared to the plant itself.
    "Something good to know is tea helps our climate and environment," continues Lee. "It has a great integration with native forests. Fresh tea leaf is used in culinary as you can pair tea with leafy greens for a salad and it can be used in place of basil to make a great pesto. These are all drivers to keep us inspired."
     Plans are in the works at Tea Hawai'i to launch a matcha tea by milling green tea into the fine powder needed for matcha. The company sells its tea after tours, online and through Hawai'i Island food hubs: Ho'ōla Farms and Adaptations. Lee notes the tours have enabled them to meet people involved in wholesale who want to sell their teas. Visits can be booked at http://teahawaii.com/about/tour/. 
Guests taste and see how tea is grown on customized experiences
 offered by Chiu Leong (pictured) and Eva Lee of Tea Hawaii and
 Company. The couple, who produce green, oolong, white and
 black teas, has been offering ag tours for two decades in Volcano.
Photo from HTA
     OK Farms offers a Rainbow Falls Farm Tour 15 times a week through Hawai'i Eco. In addition to touring Waiānuenue (Rainbow)and Kaimukanaka Waterfalls, the 1.5-hour tour introduces visitors to an abundance of tropical and exotic crops like lychee, longan, heart of palm, cacao and spices. OK employs four tour guides who drive guests to different crop plantings. Guests see food under cultivation, learn how it's harvested and processed, and sample three different seasonal fruits and mac nuts.
    Ala Keolanui, assistant manager, who helps with tours as needed, says while a goal is for tours to be fun and educational, they also strive to enable guests to make a connection to the land and people of Hawai'i.
    "All of us giving the tours get great satisfaction from the feedback of our guests," Keolanui details. "People are so grateful to learn about how food is grown."
    She cites how visitors marvel at how cinnamon comes from a tree. "It's that one-on-one connection with the guests...they are blown away when seeing spices in their natural state. Guests view what we farm and get a feeling of a family operation."
    OK Farms, which is also a food hub, has an on-site farm store selling produce and value-added products like jams and jellies direct to guests. Keolanui adds the farm tour "is a growing process and so far we have been doing well with people wanting to see and learn about what we do here. We strive to do our best." Book a tour at www.okfarmshawaii.com/tours-a.
    Summing up the importance of supporting local food producers, Weigert concludes, "If we don't start to pay into the people who live here, they are going to move away because they can't live here. When you buy from a local farmer they in turn can pay their land lease, buy what they need to live and ultimately continue growing food to increase our island's food security."
    Find 38 Hawai'i Island farm tours listed at www.hawaiifarmtrails.com/visit. Last updated in 2022, the directory will be updated in January 2024 per Kālisi Mausio, Hawai'i Farm Trails co-founder, and can be used as a resource for locating tours. She suggests confirming tour times with the tour provider.

Image from PBS
KAʻŪ GIRLS FROM FOURTH TO EIGHTH GRADE are invited to register and be among the first 50 girls from Hawai'i Island to sign up for the 8th Annual Amelia Earhart Girls in Engineering Day. It will be Saturday, Jan. 27 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Waiakea High School. Registration is open. This free program is underwritten by the Zonta Club of Hilo, whose mission is to build a better world for women and girls.  Funding support was  also provided by the County of Hawai'i.
    "Held annually, the Amelia Earhart Girls in Engineering Day supports girls grades 4-8 to continue STEM curriculum throughout middle school and high school, then pursue college degrees in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)," said Zonta event chair Deb Lewis.
    This annual event was launched in 2012. Instrumental in the program's success are organizers Dale Olive and Eric Hagiwara, dedicated science educators from Waiakea High School. Each year the day features a different science theme and attendees participate in hands-on science activities.
    "This year 'Flight' is our theme/ The girls will build two different models of gliders, one from foam plates and one from balsa. After building them, the girls will throw the gliders to see which have the longest distance flight and the longest time in the air," said Olive. "The girls will also learn how to fly Parrot Mambo drones in teams of two and race down the course and back."
    At Amelia Earhart Girls in Engineering Day, women professionals in STEM fields speak to and encourage middle school students, especially girls, to continue their STEM pathway.
 To download the registration form, visit https://zontahilo.org/event/amelia-earhart-girls-in-engineering-day-2024/ or email koolrainhotrocks@gmail.com.
    To support Zonta Club of Hilo's future STEM events and celebrate the legacy of Amelia Earhart, tax deductible donations can be made to the club's foundation at https://www.zontahilo.org/donate/.

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BUDDY BEHRENDT, OF OCEAN VIEW, IS SOUGHT BY HAWAI'I ISLAND POLICE. HPD requests
Buddy Behrendt
the public’s assistance in locating 44-year-old Dorson “Buddy” Behrendt, who is wanted for a $500,000 warrant after he was indicted for the shooting of a 53-year-old Ocean View man on Oct, 15.
    Behrendt, who also goes by the name “Buddy”, is described as 6 feet tall, 160 pounds, with blue eyes and blond hair. He is known to frequent the South Kona and Ocean View areas.
    Police caution members of the public not to approach Behrendt as he is considered armed and dangerous.
    Hawai‘i Police Department would also like to remind the public that harboring or concealing a wanted person can result in criminal charges being filed against the person who harbors or conceals the wanted person.
    Anyone with information on Behrendt’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact Detective Donovan Kohara at (808) 960-3118; or via email at donovan.kohara@hawaiicounty.gov. They may also contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.






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Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs December 20, 2023

The ability to prevent and fight wildfires like this one along the Kaʻū Coast will be greatly improved with funding included in the Governor's budget proposal to upgrade equipment, according to DLNR. Photo by Bob Martin
WILDFIRES ON HAWAI'I ISLAND, Maui and O‘ahu this year raised awareness about this threat to a new level. State Department of Land & Natural Resources released a statement this week saying that the wildfire challenge is reflected in the proposed budget Governor Josh Green, M.D., submitted to the Hawai'i Legislature this week.
    DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife has primary responsibility for fire pre-suppression and firefighting on the one million acres of state land under its jurisdiction. DOFAW wildland firefighters also provide mutual support for county fire departments and federal partners, on another million acres statewide. The need for more resources for wildfire response, recovery, and prevention is something natural resource leaders have been seeking for a long-time.
    DOFAW Administrator David Smith commented, “If the legislature approves the Governor’s proposed budget for statewide wildfire mitigation and response, it will go a long way toward making sure we have the resources to fight wildfire effectively. More importantly, the proposed budget includes significant funding for reducing fuels as one of the critical components of what we call, ‘pre-suppression.’"
    The Governor’s budget request includes $10 million for fire equipment, which according to DOFAW, is one of the greatest needs.
 
New fire equipment is one of DOFAW's greatest needs to prevent
and fight fires. Photo from DLNR
  At the DOFAW base yard in Hilo, Assistant Protection Forester Jordan ‘Kama’ Lee-Loy describes one of two 50-year-old tankers. “This one isn’t being used anymore. The clutch went out and that’s a big fix. Finding parts for this old, outdated vehicle is difficult.”
    DOFAW maintains firefighting forces on all the main Hawaiian Islands and each branch still has antique fire apparatus. Some vehicles still run, but even those trucks and pumpers require a lot of maintenance before and after fires and Lee-Loy says that gets expensive.
    It’s up to DOFAW mechanic Mike Yamachika and his co-workers to try and keep everything running and safe. Unfortunately, there’s no modern replacement for one especially useful piece of equipment, according to DOFAW.
    The Gama Goat is a Vietnam war-era, six-wheel drive, military vehicle that can basically traverse about anything. At the Leilani Fire on Hawai‘i Island in 2022, the gangly vehicles were critical in transporting firefighters across lava fields and unimproved roads to reach places where fire crews could effectively battle the flames.
    Yamachika said, “They require a lot of maintenance, and you can’t buy new ones. Mexico bought a bunch of Gama Goats from the U.S., and they also purchased a lot of the parts inventory, so parts are hard to come by. We were lucky enough to purchase some spare parts before that, so when one breaks, we can fix it. There will come a time, probably within the next 10 years, when we won’t have parts and the life span of these vehicles will come to an end.”
    The Governor's proposed budget also calls for $7.4 million in general funds for fire response, rehabilitation, and fuels reduction.
    Since the Maui fires in August, DOFAW State Protection Forester Mike Walker has repeatedly responded to questions about the approximately 250,000 acres of state land under the division’s control now covered by invasive grasses.
     “After a fire or other ground disturbance, invasive grasses, like Guinea grass are the first plants to sprout. They out compete native species and there’s no easy, effective way to control them once that happens,” Walker explained.
    Flying over the Mililani-Mauka fire on O‘ahu last month, Walker pointed out the location of a previous fire in the same area. Invasive grasses have overtaken the landscape in many places. During an interview with 60 Minutes, above Lahainaluna High School, Walker showed the crew acre upon acre of invasive grass that replaced sugarcane once that industry folded. “The issue of invasive grasses is not one with an easy, readily identifiable solution,” Walker said.
    In addition to trying to control invasive grasses and rehabilitating lands post-fire, pre-suppression includes activities like creating fire breaks and fuel reduction.
    DLNR Chair Dawn Chang said, “The funding Governor Green has proposed will provide DOFAW the necessary tools it needs to not only fight fire, but more importantly prevent them. The threat of wildfire, in our changing climate especially with extreme drought conditions, is real and we need to be prepared. Wildfires impact our natural and cultural resources and as we saw in Lahaina, can cause mass destruction and tremendous loss of life. It’s critical that we be maka‘ala, vigilant, and dedicate resources to prevent and control wildfires, and restore the forests in their aftermath, for our community today and future generations to come.”


ENSURING HAWAIIAN ISLANDS brand "remains strong and accurately and authentically represents the people, places, and culture of Hawai'i throughout the world." That is the stated aim of Hawai'i Tourism
Authority, which is seeking Hawai'i Tourism Global Support Services for Brand Management & Marketing. The program is intended to "support HTA's comprehensive pre- and post-arrival visitor education and destination management efforts, as well as HTA's Global Marketing Team throughout the U.S., Canada, Japan, Oceania, Korea, China, and Europe."
     The call for proposals says, "The support services will include providing market insights, management and development of creative and digital assets, social media, website management, including GoHawaii.com, and application development and maintenance. The resources are also shared broadly with the public for the community, visitor industry, businesses, media, travel trade, and meetings, conventions and incentives industry representatives to utilize in their respective areas. The contractor’s work will be guided by HTA, its 2020-2025 Strategic Plan, the community-based Destination Management Action Plans, and the HTA Board of Directors."
    The public can be involved with Hawai'i Tourism Authority by attending its zoom board meetings including one this Thursday, Dec. 21 at 9 a.m. See HawaiiTourismAuthority.org



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KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOL WARRIORS came from Kea'au to face Kaʻū on Tuesday and took home the win 75 to 35. However, the Trojans leading scorer Tyson Kuahia-Faafia racked up 20 points, more than any other player on both teams. Trojan Dominic Nurial-Dacalio came up with 4. Keaka McDonnel and Kaulana Aikona posted 3 points. Brayson Andrade, Triton Blanco, and Kayson Pagan each made 2.
    So far this season, Waiakea beat Kaʻū 52 -28, Kaʻū beat Pahoa JV 36-19, Kaʻū came close but lost to Pahoa Varsity who took the game 54-47. Kaʻū beat Christian Liberty Academy 76-32.
    The next Trojan Boys Basketball game, with coach Tolu Rasmussen is Kaʻū at Hilo High on Dec. 30 at 5 p.m. The next home game is Jan. 11 with Kaʻū welcoming Honoka'a at 5:30 p.m.,

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HPD ARRESTED 29 FOR DUI, Dec. 11 through Dec. 17. Hawai'i Police Department made the arrests for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Seven of the drivers were involved in a traffic collision. One was under the age of 21. So far this year, there have been 917 DUI arrests compared with 940 during the same period last year, a decrease of 2.5 percent.    
    Hawai‘i Police Department’s Traffic Services Section reviewed all updated crashes and found 817
 collisions so far this year compared with 809 during the same period last year, an increase of 0.99 percent.
    To date, there have been 15 fatal crashes, resulting in 16 fatalities, (one with multiple deaths); compared with 30 fatal crashes, resulting in 33 fatalities (one with multiple deaths, and one reclassified to a medical condition) for the same time last year. This represents a decrease of 50 percent for fatal crashes, and 51.5 percent for fatalities.
    To date, the non-traffic fatality count so far this year is 1 compared to 0 non-traffic fatalities (not on a public roadway) for the same time last year.
    HPD promises that DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.






CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS EVE LESSONS & CAROLS SERVICE will be held at First United Methodist Church in Nāʻālehu on Dec. 24. Minister Woodley White said, "Everyone is welcome to enjoy the sounds of handbells, 'ukulele, guitar and piano. Please join for a sacred experience of Christmas." It begins at 7 p.m.

A Christmas Eve service is open to all at Nāʻālehu United Methodist Church at 7 p.m. on Dec. 24.
Photo by Julia Neal
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