The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island

Friday, August 09, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Aug. 9, 2024

Ballots Can be Cast 'til 7 p.m. in Nāʻālehu on Saturday

PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOTS CAN BE DROPPED OFF AT NĀ'ĀLEHU POLICE STATION

24/7 UNTIL 7 P.M. AUG. 10, which is Election Day. Nāʻālehu Police Station is at 95-5355 Māmalahoa Hwy 11. The ballot drop box is outside the police staton. See voter guides in English, 'Ōlelo Hawaiian, Ilokano, Tagalog and Chinese at https://elections.hawaii.gov/.../2024-primary-election.../

GROUND DEFORMATION SHOWS STEADY INFLATION, ever since the July 22–25 pulses of strong seismicity and deformation indicated magma intruding into the upper East Rift Zone of Kīlauea. According to a report Thursday evening from USGS, more than 1,700 earthquakes occurred during this intrusion, along with changes in ground deformation patterns—Kīlauea’s summit region deflated as magma moved underground into the UERZ, where inflation indicated magma was accumulating near Pauahi Crater.  During the intrusion, some earthquakes were located in the upper Middle East Rift Zone (MERZ) past Maunaulu to Makaopuhi Crater. Beginning on July 23, ground deformation patterns in the MERZ began to show extension and uplift. Over the past week, extension and uplift has continued but the rates have slowed over time. In total, the area across Makaopuhi Crater has extended approximately 12.5 cm (5 inches) and uplifted about 7 cm (2.8 inches) since July 23. Starting on August 8, the POC tiltmeter located on the north flank of Puʻuʻōʻō in the middle East Rift Zone also began to showed movement consistent with the ongoing MERZ inflation. Ground deformation signals recorded by POC and nearby GPS stations indicate the center of deformation remains west of Puʻuʻōʻō.

Earthquakes have also continued to occur in the UERZ and MERZ since the July 22–25 intrusion. In the UERZ, around 70 events have occurred per day on average, while in the MERZ, around 25 events have occurred per day on average. Most events have been smaller than magnitude-2 and located 2.5–3.5 km (1.5–2.2 miles) beneath the ground surface.
At Kīlauea’s summit, earthquake activity has remained low following the UERZ intrusion, while ground deformation patterns have shown steady inflation since July 26.

To read comments, add y o ur own, and l ike thi s story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.

HAWAI'I COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE shared an ADVISORY message on Friday, noting USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory 's Kīlauea Volcano's alert status.
ADVISORY means: the volcano is exhibiting signs of elevated unrest above known background level or, after a change from a higher level; or volcanic activity has decreased significantly but continues to be

closely monitored for possible renewed increase.
Civil Defense stated that due to Kīlauea's Volcano Advisory:
Conditions indicate that magma has moved into the Middle East Rift Zone (MERZ) near Makaopuhi Crater.
Kīlauea Volcano is NOT erupting.
The current volcanic activity is within the National Park boundaries and does NOT pose a threat outside of the Volcanoes National Park.
Civil Defense is coordinating with HVO who is monitoring the activity on Kīlauea Volcano around the clock.
"You will be informed as conditions change. This is your Hawai'i County Civil Defense Agency."
For more information: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea

PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPENED THIS WEEK in the Kaʻū-Kea'au-Pahoa Complex Area. It covers the rural

districts of Kaʻū and Puna, which is vast in geography, about 100 sq. mi. bigger than entire area of Maui and O'ahu combined. The Fall semester opened without school bus service, due to a lack of drivers, but restoration of service is promised by Monday.

See the August Complex Area newsletter for the local schools and community at https://online.fliphtml5.com/fxutw/imzl/#p=1.

It says that the theme for schools statewide is Ne'epapa: "To move as a whole unit, moving or working together in unison' combined, united."

The Kaʻū-Kea'au-Pahoa area theme is Ho'okahi wa'o ka like: "We are all made of the same water."

The area vision is Mohala i ka wai ka maka o ka pua: "Flowers thrive where there is water, as thriving people are found where living conditions are good."

The area mission is No na keiki mau a mau: "For the children, forever and ever."

Listed intentions for the area schools are to: Improve educational outcomes; Create thriving learning environments; Connect school to the community and beyond."

Succeeding with the intentions will be done with: High Quality Classrooms, People Development and Supportive Systems & Environments, and with Effective Instructional Leadership, says the newsletter.

The newsletter includes the following.

OVER 400 BOOKS WENT HOME WITH STUDENTS in Kaʻū and Pahoa to address summer learning loss. In Kaʻū, the local sponsor was O Kaʻū Kakou. In Pahoa it was Pahoa Promise Partnerships. More than 150 families were involved in this Summer Slide program.

KAʻŪ HIGH & PAHALA ELEMENTARY'S HAWAIIAN STUDIES SUMMER PROGRAM STUDENTS learned about and visited two culturally significant places, Kaiholena and Honu'apo. They also participated in the creation of Malama 'Aina Compostables and presented Zero Waste informaton to community members as part of their summer learning.

EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER RECEIVES A SCHOOL SUPPLIES YOOBI CLASSPACK for 30 students in a program sponsored by the Kids in Need Foundation's Rural Indigenous School Equity program, Yoobi, and Royal Hawaiian Movers. This year's outreach to Hawai'i Island is the first outside of the state of Minnesota, the home of Kids in Need Foundation.

Kamalani Fujikawa inspires the girls during the winning 2023 season.
2024 begins Thursday, Aug. 15 with a home game. Photo by Julia Neal

KAʻŪ TROJANS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL hosts the first game of the season at home next Thursday, Aug. 15 at the Herkes Kaʻū District Gym. Kaʻū travels to Kea'au on Tuesday., Aug. 20 and hosts Christian Liberty on Thursday, Aug. 22. Kaʻū is on the road to Ka Umeke on Wednesday, Aug. 28 and again to the Kamehameha Tournament, which runs from Thursday, Aug. 29 through Saturday, Aug. 31. LCPCS/SIS comes to Kaʻū on Tuesday, Sept. 3. and Pahoa comes to Kaʻū on Wednesday, Sept. 11. Trojans go on the road to Waiakea on Friday, Sept. 13 and again to Kamehameha on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Hilo comes to Kaʻū on Thursday, Sept. 19. Kea'au comes to Kaʻū on Tuesday, Sept. 24. Kaʻū travels to Christian Liberty on Saturday, Sept. 28 and again to LCPCS/SIS on Monday, Sept. 30. Ka Umeke comes to Kaʻū on Saturday, Oct. 5. Kaʻū travels to Hilo on Saturday, Oct. 12 and again to Pahoa on Monday, Oct. 13. Kamehameha comes to Kaʻū on Wednesday, Oct. 16, followed by Big Island Interscholastic Federation playoffs.

Trojan football begins with a home game on Saturday, Aug 23.
Photo by Mark Peters

KAʻŪ TROJANS FOOTBALL BEGINS with Pahoa at Kaʻū on Saturday, Aug 23. The next game is Hawai'i Preparatory Academy at Kaʻū at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31, followed by Kaʻū at Kohala on Saturday, Sept. 7, Kaʻū at Kamehameha in Kea'au on Friday, Sept. 13, and Kaʻū at Honoka'a at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. Kaʻū travels to Pahoa on Thursday, Sept. 26. Kohala comes to Kaʻū on Saturday, Oct. 5. Kaʻū goes to Hawai'i Preparatory Academy on Saturday, Oct. 12 and Kamehameha comes to Kaʻū on Saturday, Oct. 19. Honoka'a travels to Kaʻū on Saturday, Oct. 26, followed by BIIF Division Championships.

Five positions are open for fencing in
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. NPS Photo

HELP REPLACE 40 MILES OF FENCING IN HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK AND GET PAID $28.97 to $33.81 per hour to work in natural resources, managing invasive species.
The fencing is to keep ungulates out of areas in the Park. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is looking for five workers for the mission.
Deadline to apply is Aug. 19, but the Park will stop receiving new applications after 101 come in.
The Park statement says, "If you're ready to get down and dirty for conservation, apply here: https ://ow.ly/66kS50STuq8 #JobOpportunity #C o nservation #HAVO #JoinOurT eam #USAJOBS

To read comments, add y o ur own, and l ike thi s story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.co m. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.

The Reunion features the screening of a PBS film Ka'u Sugar,
A Town Remembers on the history of the sugar plantation
and the closing of the mill in 1996. It will also feature a film
on history of the local coffee industry.

Thursday, August 08, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Aug. 8, 2024

Still time to cast ballots, register to vote, online, in person

PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOTS CAN BE DROPPED OFF AT NĀ'ĀLEHU POLICE STATION

Roberts Hawai'i is under special contract
to provide additional school buses until
Ground Transport can find enough drivers.
School bus service resumes Monday.

PUBLIC SCHOOL BUS SERVICE WILL BE RESTORED IN KAʻŪ ON MONDAY. The state Department of Education announced on Thursday that 14 routes from Kaʻū into Hilo will restart, following no school buses the first week of school, due to a driver shortage.

The two public schools here that are dependent on the public school buses are Nāʻālehu Elementary and Pāhala High & Elementary.

Restoration of service was made through the state and current contractor, Ground Transport, Inc. bringing in Roberts Hawai'i bus company as an emergency contractor for the next two weeks. According to Gov. Josh Green, the service will continue until Ground Transport can hire enough drivers to do it on their own.

REMEMBERING THE LAKE IN HALEMA'UMA'U is the subject of this week's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:
Remember when a little puddle of green water was spotted in Halemaʻumaʻu? Time flies, because that was late July 2019—over five years ago! And because we've had multiple eruptions and intrusions since
then, the water lake sometimes feels forgotten in the larger history of Kīlauea.
Now that we've reached the five-year anniversary of that puddle of water showing up, we thought we'd take the opportunity to remind you about the lake and fill you in on what we learned over the course of its nearly 1.5-year existence. Monitoring and understanding the lake was important because the presence of water increased the possibility of violent phreatic (steam-driven) explosions once Kīlauea erupted again, as there have been such eruptions in Kīlauea's past. During the lake's lifetime, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) kept a close eye on the color, level, and temperature of the lake; at other volcanoes, phenomena like a sudden color change or boiling can be precursors to eruptions.
The water level measurements made by HVO staff revealed that the lake rose steadily and was not affected by rainfall, which meant that it was fed by groundwater. Measurements made by thermal camera also showed that the water was so warm (up to about 80°C, or 175°F) that at least half the groundwater flowing into the lake evaporated away rather than remaining in the lake itself.
The lake was inaccessible on foot, and using a helicopter to sample the water was deemed too hazardous. Instead, after careful planning and discussions with Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, HVO obtained water samples from the lake using uncrewed aircraft system (UAS, or drones)—first on October 26, 2019, and for a second time on January 17, 2020.

Color photographs of orange and brown water lake and alteration minerals

At left is a photo by M. Patrick of Kīlauea's water lake on Nov. 17, 2020. The orange and brown colors are caused by the presence of various oxygen- and sulfur-bearing iron minerals in the water. The green at the edges is caused by an influx of iron-bearing groundwater that has not yet had time to react with oxygen in the atmosphere. At right is a photo by T. Elias of alteration minerals near Sulphur Cone on Mauna Loa taken on Sept. 8, 2022. Similar minerals at Kīlauea would have been dissolved into the lake to cause the high sulfur concentrations in the water.
USGS images

Travel and fieldwork restrictions in 2020 due to COVID-19 prevented sampling again as quickly and as often as we would have liked, but eventually, a third sampling was conducted on the 1-year anniversary of the first sample, October 26, 2020. Interestingly, the chemical composition of the lake changed very little in the year between the first and third sampling campaigns.
The lake water was acidic (pH of approximately 4), but not as acidic as most acid volcanic lakes around the world (pH of about 1), and it contained large amounts of dissolved iron, magnesium, and sulfur.
We determined that the iron and magnesium were leached from Kīlauea's basaltic rocks. The iron also was responsible for the lake's many colors. The initial greenish color was due to the form of iron that exists in Kīlauea basalts. As that iron in the water spent more and more time in the lake and in contact with oxygen in the atmosphere, it transformed to another form of iron that creates orange- and brown-colored minerals, similar to rust that forms on metal objects. That explains why the lake changed color from green to brown over time; the green water that frequently reappeared at the lake's edges was another line of evidence that told us the lake was consistently being fed by groundwater with the green form of iron.
Initially, HVO thought that any sulfur in the water might be the result of the lake dissolving sulfur gases, like sulfur dioxide (SO2), being released from magma below—a process called 'scrubbing.' However, careful study of the type of sulfur in the water, along with the acidic-but-not-very-acidic pH mentioned above, revealed that the lake's sulfur was instead derived from sulfate alteration minerals—deposited on the nearby rocks for years and years—that had dissolved into the water.

Ultimately, the lake didn't show any changes before the December 2020 eruption and, luckily, lava erupted adjacent to the lake rather than through it, so no large phreatic explosions materialized. Instead, in just over an hour, all the water accumulated over the past year and a half was boiled away by lava flows!
Halemaʻumaʻu has since been largely filled by lava, and groundwater in the Kīlauea summit is significantly deeper than the current crater floor, well beneath the surface. So, though another water lake is not out of the question in Kīlauea's future, we're not expecting one any time soon. If we do get one though, we'll have a better understanding of it right away, based on our measurements of the 2019–2020 lake.

A) Top left, photo of Halemaʻumaʻu before the 2018 collapse events started with the decade-long active lava lake that formed in 2008. B) Top right, photoafter the 2018 collapse events had dropped the crater floor of Halemaʻumaʻu by more than 1,600 ft (500m) over the course of just 4 months. C) Bottom left, in July 2019 a water lake started to form in the newly deepened Halemaʻumaʻu, and this lake continued to grow over the next year and a half. D) Bottom right, the eruption in Dec. 2020 boiled away the water lake in a single night and continued until May 2021 before another eruption started in Sept. 2021, continuing to the present. All photos from U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

Volcano Activity Updates
Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY.
Seismic activity and ground deformation continues at Kīlauea's summit and upper-to-middle East Rift Zone following the July 22-25 intrusive event. Over the past week, about 525 earthquakes were detected beneath Kīlauea's upper East Rift Zone and about 125 events were detected between Maunaulu and Puʻuʻōʻō in the middle portion of the East Rift Zone within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Kīlauea's summit and middle East Rift Zone show slow inflation over the past week. Unrest may continue to wax and wane with changes to the input of magma in these areas; changes can occur quickly, as can the potential for eruption.
Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.
Three earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M4.0 earthquake 13 km (8 mi) NNE of Hawaiian Ocean View at 7 km (4 mi) depth on August 6 at 2:00 a.m. HST, a M3.4 earthquake 6 km (3 mi) S of Volcano at 1 km (1 mi) depth on August 4 at 2:35 p.m. HST, and a M3.8 earthquake 6 km (3 mi) S of Volcano at 1 km (1 mi) depth on August 2 at 11:49 p.m. HST.
HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.
Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

Wednesday, August 07, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Aug. 7, 2024

Still time to cast ballots, register to vote, online in person

PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOTS CAN BE DROPPED OFF AT NĀ'ĀLEHU POLICE STATION

24/7 UNTIL 7 P.M. AUG. 10, which is Election Day. Nāʻālehu Police Station is at 95-5355 Māmalahoa Hwy 11. See voter guides in English, 'Ōlelo Hawaiian, Ilokano, Tagalog and Chinese at https://elections.hawaii.gov/.../2024-primary-election.../

DACTHAL HERBICIDE ALSO KNOWN AS DCPA, WAS BANNED NATIONWIDE on Tuesday by the EPA, the first time the EPA has used its emergency suspension authority to stop the use of a pesticide in more than 40 years. The banned ingredient is dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate. It is used on athletic fields, golf courses and for growing vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and onions.

State of Hawai'i's Department of Agriculture's pesticide branch launched its notification to licensed retailers to stop selling it. The agency reported on Wednesday that "Preliminary responses from retailers are that there have not been sales of the product in Hawai‘i for several years."

Hawai'i Department of Agricultural sent out notification that Dacthal, DCPA,
is no longer legal nationally.

The risk includes exposure to pregnant women leading to thyroid damage in their babies. All pesticide products sold in the state must be licensed with the Pesticides Branch and one pesticide product containing DCPA as the active ingredient, DACTHAL FLOWABLE HERBICIDE (EPA Reg. No. 5481-487), was licensed in Hawai‘i, but no longer.
“DCPA is so dangerous that it needs to be removed from the market immediately,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff.
“It’s EPA’s job to protect people from exposure to dangerous chemicals. In this case, pregnant women who may never even know they were exposed could give birth to babies that experience irreversible lifelong health problems. That’s why for the first time in almost 40 years, EPA is using its emergency suspension authority to stop the use of a pesticide.”

According to the EPA, DCPA is a pesticide registered to control weeds in both agricultural and non-agricultural settings

In May 2023, EPA released its assessment on the risks of occupational and residential exposure to products containing DCPA. The assessment found health risks associated with DCPA use and application, even when personal protective equipment and engineering controls are used. The most serious risks are to the unborn babies of pregnant individuals. EPA estimates that some pregnant individuals handling DCPA products could be subjected to exposures four to 20 times greater than what EPA has estimated is safe for unborn babies.

"This emergency order, while rare, underscores the importance of proper disposal of all pesticides," says the EPA statement.
Questions regarding DCPA products and the proper disposal of pesticides in Hawai‘i may be addressed to the Pesticides Branch at 808-973-9402 or hdoa.pested@hawaii.gov.

More pelagic false killer whales are being taken by Hawai'i's longline fishing fleet, leading to notifications from Hawai'i Wildlife Fund, Center for Biological Diversityand other groups. Photo from Environment Hawai'i

THE HAWAI'I LONGLINE FISHING FLEET is unintentionally killing or injuring more pelagic false killer whales, according to conservation groups that have contacted National Marine Fisheries Service about their concerns. National Marine Fisheries scientists documented the cases of injury and death as part of their oversight of the industry.
Scientists at the National Marine Fisheries Service have documented a rise in the number of pelagic false killer whales that are killed or seriously injured as a result of interactions with the Hawaiʻi-based longline fishing fleet.
In July, Hawai'i Wildlife Fund, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Natural Resources Defense Council notified NMFS, contending that its failure to issue a rule to amend the Take Reduction Plan for false killer whales violates the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
The issue is basis for one of the stories in this month's Environment Hawai'i. See https://www.environment-hawaii.org/

To read comments, add y o ur own, and l ike thi s story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.

Keoki Sereno will teach intermediate finger style 'ukulele based on the interpretations of James Hill. Classes start at 3 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 14 at Nāʻālehu Methodist Church for three weeks. Photo by Julia Neal

Pastor Woodley White announced
'ukulele and music theory classes
at Nāʻālehu Methodist Church.
Photo by Julia Neal

LUTHIER, GUITARIST AND 'UKULELE INSTRUCTOR WOODLEY WHITE, who is also minister of Nāʻālehu Methodist Church, announces 'ukulele and music theory classes.
A free intermediate level finger style 'ukulele class on Wednesdays begins Aug. 14 at the church at 95-5668 Mamaloha Hwy. Classes are at 3:30 p.m. and will continue for eight weeks. Keoki Sereno will teach from Jumpin' Jim's Ukulele Masters / Duets for One by James Hill. For those with resources, White recommends a copy of this book for personal reference. See James Hill play 'ukulele hip hop and techno at Pahala Plantation House at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1j Gz2Uk mI0.
Beginning Sept. 4, additional weekly classes at 1:30 p.m. will be music theory and at 2:30 p.m. beginning 'ukulele for children and adults taught by Linda Flow.
Tenor 'ukulele that students may borrow are available for the duration of the classes.

To read comments, add y o ur own, and l ike thi s story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and

Melanie Oldfather will direct Volcano Festival
Chorus. She is shown here with jazz artist
JP Thoma. Photo from Volcano Art Center

archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.

VOLCANO FESTIVAL CHORUS will be gathering to review the music for the upcoming holiday season, starting Thursday, Sep. 5 at the New Hope Church in Volcano at 7 pm. The church is located at 11-3019A Volcano Road. This year the chorus will be led by Melanie Oldfather.
The chorus meets each Thursday evening from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., yjr concert tentatively set for Dec.

7. Music will be provided free of charge so there is no financial burden on anyone. All singers interested in joining the choir are encouraged. "There no auditions, just come join us. We are a friendly group of people that enjoy singing, sounding good is a bonus," says a statement from the group.
For more information call 808 982-7344. The Chorus is sponsored by the Kilauea Drama & Entertainment Network.

About The Kaʻū Calendar

Friday, August 09, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Aug. 9, 2024

Thursday, August 08, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Aug. 8, 2024

Wednesday, August 07, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Aug. 7, 2024