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Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015


A tangle of downed power lines and tree limbs prompted caution tape to be placed in front of Wood Valley Temple until HELCO crews could repair lines going into the valley, where many residents spend several days and nights without electricity. Photo by Julia Neal
ELECTRIC COMPANY CREWS WORKED through the night to restore service to customers affected by a storm system that passed through the islands last Friday and Saturday. As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Hawai`i Electric Light Co. reported 120 customers remained without power primary in Wood Valley and Hamakua.
Miguel Schwab drives his equipment to fix a water line after last weekend's storm
in Wood Valley. Photo by Julia Neal
      About 46,000 customers were without power at one time or another during the storm, according to HELCO. When the storm passed through Hawai`i Island, the company received about 6,700 outage calls over a two-day period. The company normally receives an average of 50 calls daily. Some employees from around the island were reassigned to help answer phones, manage outage reports and follow up with customers.
      “Hawaii Electric Light employees are committed to safely restoring service as quickly as possible,” said spokesperson Rhea Lee. “We live here, we work here, and we raise our families here. We understand the responsibility we have to our community, and we will do our best to serve our customers.”
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

WITH THE APPROACH 2015’s state Legislative Session opening on Wednesday, Jan. 21, the Legislature’s Public Access Room has information to share.
Albizia, eucalyptus silver oak and a few cedar were the
majority of trees that fell in Wood Valley. Native koa
and `ohi`a stood strong. Photo by Julia Neal
      The Senate Ways and Means and House Finance Committees have scheduled informational briefings over the next few weeks to explore the Executive departments’ budget requests. Most of them will be scheduled for broadcast. Meeting notices for the briefings appear under Current Hearings in the central column of the Legislature’s home page at capitol.hawaii.gov.
      For video information, use the Broadcasts link. Then select Capitol TV Broadcasts for the schedule of upcoming broadcasts.
      Select Senate Webstreaming or House Webstreaming to watch previously televised events. Contact the Public Access Room with any questions.
      Applications and instructions for 2015 Grant-in-Aid requests have been posted. A link currently appears under Recent Updates on the Legislature’s home page or by clicking on the Legislative Information bar.
      Ka`u residents can contact PAR with questions relating to the Legislature at par@capitol.hawaii.gov or toll-free at 974-4000 ext. 7-0478.
      More information about the upcoming Legislative session is available at capitol.hawaii.gov.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Piles of tree trunks fill the front yard of Wood Valley Temple. Photo by Julia Neal
USDA HAS FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES for small businesses and farmers/ranchers for energy efficiency and renewable energy. 
      The Rural Energy for America Program has two funding deadlines for Fiscal Year 2015. For applicants requesting $20,000 or less who wish to have their applications compete in the Grants of $20,000 or less set aside, complete applications must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. local time on April 30. For applicants requesting grant funds over $20,000 (unrestricted), complete applications must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on April 30 or 4:30 p.m. on June 30, 2015.
      For guaranteed loan only projects, applications will be reviewed and processed when received with monthly competitions on the first business day of each month for those applications ready to be funded.  
      Eligible entities are agricultural producers directly engaged in the production of agricultural products that obtain at least 50 percent or of their gross income from their agriculture business, or a rural small business. SBA small size standards can be found at http://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/Size_Standards_Table(1).pdf. Also, the business headquarters must be in a rural area.
Shallowly rooted eucalyptus, albizia and silver oak toppled along
Wood Valley roads, taking out electric lines. Photo by Julia Neal
      Nonprofit organizations and public entities are not eligible.
      For proposed projects to be eligible, they must:
  • Be for the purchase of a renewable energy system or to make energy efficiency improvements; 
  • Be for a pre-commercial or commercially available and replicable technology (no Research and Development, demonstration or pre-demonstration projects); 
  • Have technical merit; and 
  • Be located in a rural area. 
      Applicants must be owners of the projects (no leasing of systems).
      Technologies that are eligible for funding include biomass, anaerobic digester, geothermal – electric generation, geothermal – direct use, hydrogen, small and large wind, small and large solar, ocean (including tidal, wave, current, and thermal), hydroelectric and energy efficiency improvements.
      See more at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_ReapResEei_Eligibility. East Hawai`i residents may contact Lori Nekoba at 933-8312 or lori.nekoba@hi.usda.gov, and West Hawai`i residents may contact Denise Oda at 933-8323 or denise.oda@hi.usda.gov.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Sunset did not keep HELCO crews from
continuing to work on downed lines in
Wood Valley. Photo by Julia Neal
HAWAI`I’S U.S. SENATORS ARE APPLAUDING President Barack Obama’s intention to nominate former Bank of Hawai`i Chief Executive Officer Allan R. Landon to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 
      “The Federal Reserve is responsible for regulating nearly every aspect of our banking industry, and it is critical that its members reflect the diversity in the industry,” Sen. Brian Schatz said. “I am thrilled that President Obama has nominated … Mr. Landon to serve on the Federal Reserve Board. Drawing on his experience at Bank of Hawai`i, Mr. Landon will bring an essential community banking perspective to the Board. This perspective will be very important for states like Hawai`i that depend on a vibrant sector of community banks to serve their banking needs.”


      Sen. Mazie Hirono said, “Our nation’s economic policy should be focused on growing strong local economies that support local businesses, middle class families and vibrant communities. Allan Landon’s experience as a community banker and his record of service in the community make him a solid choice to serve on the Federal Reserve Board. His leadership at Bank of Hawai`i came at a time when our country went through the financial crisis, and he ensured the bank remained secure and sound. Allan Landon’s nomination demonstrates President Obama’s continued focus on strengthening the middle class.”
      In April 2014, Hirono joined a bipartisan group of senators in urging Obama to nominate someone with community banking experience to the Federal Reserve Board. She has also supported legislative efforts to ensure that one seat on the Federal Reserve Board be held by someone with community banking experience.
HELCO crews worked through last night to restore power
to Wood Valley residents. Photo by Julia Neal
      Landon served as Chairman and CEO of Bank of Hawai`i from 2004 to 2010. He also served on University of Hawai`i’s Board of Regents from 2005 through 2009 and was board chair from 2007 to 2009. After retiring in 2010, he served as a lecturer at UH-Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law.
      The Federal Reserve Board of Governors oversees the Federal Reserve System, which is made up of 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks. Hawai`i is served by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. The Board is made up of seven governors who are nominated by the President and must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Governors are confirmed to 14-year terms of service.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

ALOHA KIDNEY OFFERS FREE KIDNEY CLASSES online to Ka`u residents through Ka`u Rural Health Community Association, Inc. and University of Hawai`i TASI Scopia Desktop. The goal is for chronic kidney disease patients to understand the condition and allow them to work better with doctors, family and friends. Participants learn what their kidneys do, what happens if they fail and how they affect health of the heart, brain and circulation and immune systems.
      Contact Heanu at KRHCAI at 928-0101 if interested in signing up.

A volunteer participates in Stewardship at the Summit, continuing in 2015.
Photo from NPS
KA`U RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO RESOLVE to protect the Hawaiian ecosystem from invasive, non-native plant species by volunteering for continuing Stewardship at the Summit programs in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. 
      Programs begin at 9 a.m. and end at 12 p.m. Scheduled dates are Jan. 9, 15, 24 and 31; Feb. 7, 11, 20 and 28; and March 6, 14, 21 and 27.
      Participants meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kilauea Visitor Center. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, raingear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools are provided. No advance registration is required, and there is no cost to participate. Park entrance fees apply.
      Volunteers spent more than 2,000 hours restoring more than 15 acres of native rainforest within the national park last year. Countless Himalayan ginger, faya, strawberry guava and other invasive, non-native plants that threaten the native understory have been removed. In their place, once-shaded `ama`u and hapu`u tree ferns have re-emerged, and pa`iniu, kawa`u and other important native plants are returning to the stewardship plots.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.





Tuesday, January 06, 2015

Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015

Kona winds on Jan. 3 created spectacular geysers at South Point blowhole. Areas of Ka`u are still recovering from the storm.
Photo by Peter Anderson
VOLCANO, WOOD VALLEY AND DISCOVERY HARBOUR are on the list of places Hawaiian Electric Light Co. will be working at to restore power to about 360 customers still without power following recent severe weather conditions.
      HELCO encourages residents to treat downed power lines as energized and dangerous. Do not handle or move any fallen or damaged utility equipment. If someone is injured by a downed power line, do not approach them. Call 9-1-1 for assistance.
      Customers who remain with power and have not reported it are asked to call 969-6666. Due to the high call volume, customers may experience a longer wait time before speaking with a representative.
      According to HELCO, during storms, strong winds can blow tree branches and other debris into power lines and cause short circuits. Lightning also can strike near power lines and cause short circuits. This can create very high currents, and the power lines must be turned off very quickly to prevent damage or further disruption to the rest of the power system.
      HELCO uses automatic sensing devices to detect these short circuits and turn off power to lines in a fraction of a second; this is when customers see a power interruption. In many cases, once the power is turned off, the line can be turned back on because the tree branch that caused the short circuit clears the line or the lightning strike dissipates. The automatic devices wait a few seconds and then turn on the power to the line; this is when customers see their power restored after a short time. Customers can experience multiple brief power interruptions during a storm because of frequent lightning strikes or trees and debris being blown into lines.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

GOV. DAVID IGE HAS ANNOUNCED more new directors. Elizabeth Kim will serve as director for the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, and Cindy McMillan as director of Communications. 
      Kim currently serves in President Obama’s Administration as Director of the Office of the Executive Secretariat at the U.S. Department of Labor. She is a member of the senior leadership team advising the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Labor. Prior to that she served as the White House Liaison for the Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Defense and as Administrator of the Business and Professional Licensing Administration at District of Columbia’s Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs.
      “Elizabeth brings executive management experience in federal, state and local level policy formation,” Ige said. “She is a proven leader that has demonstrated success in managing a large staff as well as implementing major programs and initiatives at a high level. Elizabeth’s wealth of knowledge, national experience and leadership equips her to lead the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.”
      Kim earned a BA degree from Pomona College and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Arizona College of Law. A graduate of Kaiser High School, Kim was also President of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Greater Washington, D.C. and Chair of the D.C. Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs.
      Cindy McMillan has most recently led advocacy and communication efforts for Pacific Resource Partnership. Prior to this, she was executive vice president at Communications Pacific, where she led the firm’s community relations and public affairs team, which assisted a wide range of clients. McMillan’s previous experience also includes serving as a legislative aide to members of Honolulu City Council, where she helped develop legislative strategies and worked closely with city and state agencies, neighborhood boards, the Legislature, the media and constituents.
      “Cindy brings superior organizational skills along with a wealth of experience in strategic communication planning and implementation,” Ige said. “Her experience in the public and private sector along with her demonstrated commitment to our community make her a valuable asset to our team.”
      McMillan moved to Hawai`i in 1996 from Washington, D.C., where she was assistant director of the Joint National Committee for Languages and the National Council for Languages and International Studies. She holds a master’s degree in English from the University of Maryland and a bachelor’s degree in English from Columbia Union College.
      “I’m enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with Gov. Ige to ensure that his priorities are communicated accurately and the public is informed about the administration’s decisions,” McMillan said.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.  

U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD HAS RETURNED from a tour of India and is now in Washington, D.C., where the 114th Congress begins today. Her trip was prompted by a personal invitation from India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the U.S. last September.
      During nearly three weeks of meetings with India’s top government, military and business leaders, Gabbard sought to “introduce the people of India to Hawai`i — to share with them the aloha spirit and plant seeds for closer cultural and economic ties between the people of India and Hawai`i.
      “I feel this trip was a great success,” said Gabbard. “I went to India hoping to introduce and familiarize people with Hawai`i and to help warm the relationship between our two countries. I think we accomplished both goals, and I am optimistic that there will be increased collaboration between the world’s oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy.”
U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Photo from Office of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard
      Visiting five major cities, Gabbard was received by several high-level Indian officials and the country’s most respected and progressive leaders. Gabbard met again with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to further explore topics of mutual interest to America and India, focusing on enhanced cooperation in the fight against Islamic terrorism, working together to protect the environment and maximizing economic opportunities between the two countries. Gabbard met separately with India’s Minister of Finance Arun Jaitley, Minister of Defense Manohar Parrikar, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of External Affairs (Secretary of State) Srimati Sushma Swaraj to discuss challenges facing the international community.
      She also met with General Dalbir Singh, Chief of the Indian Army. Gabbard, a captain in Hawai`i Army National Guard, discussed with Singh the need for the U.S. and India to increase collaboration in the fight against terrorists and the importance of partner-building, military-to-military engagements between the U.S. Pacific Command and the Indian military.
      Gabbard discussed strengthening tourism and cultural exchange opportunities between the U.S. and India with India’s Minister for Tourism, Mahesh Chandra Sharma.
      Srimati Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State of Commerce and Industry, and Gabbard discussed ideas to increase commerce between India and the U.S. and minimize barriers to greater foreign investment. She also met with several prominent figures in India's film industry to encourage increased cross-collaboration between those in the industries in India and Hawai`i.
      Establishing a sister state relationship between Hawai`i and Goa, India’s most popular beach tourism destination, was the topic of conversations with Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Gov. Mridula Sinha. The aim would be to increase economic and cultural exchanges between Goa and Hawai`i, as well as promote tourism.
      Gabbard also toured several sites of spiritual and cultural significance, including the memorial temple of Mahatma Gandhi.
      Gabbard’s tour of India was conducted while Congress was in recess, and no U.S. taxpayer dollars were expended for any portion of the trip.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

The first of four After Dark in the Park programs tonight during Volcano Awareness Month focuses on Halema`uma`u's lava lake, at left, and Pu`u O`o's current eruption. Photos from USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
THIS EVENING, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Matt Patrick talks about Halema`uma`u lava lake and presents a brief overview on the first 30 years of Pu`u `O`o’s eruption and the lava flow that has advanced toward Pahoa over the past six months.
Geologist Matt Patrick Photo from USGS/HVO
      After Dark in the Park begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Free; park entrance fees apply.

KA`U SCENIC BYWAY COMMITTEE has cancelled its meeting scheduled for this Thursday, Jan. 8. Next meeting is Thursday, Feb. 12 at 5 p.m. at Na`alehu Methodist Church.

REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE for New Year’s recreation programs in Ka`u.
      At Pahala Community Center, New Year’s Wall Hanging on Wednesday, Jan. 14 from 3:30 – 5 p.m. is open to children in grades kindergarten to eight. Adult Volleyball takes place Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Age Group Basketball on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. is for ages 11 to 12 and 13 to 14. Also on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Track & Field Practice for ages six to 14 starts at 3:30 for 1.5 hours.
      To register, call Nona at 928-3102.
      Na`alehu Community Center offers many sports activities Mondays through Thursdays. Registration for T-Ball for ages five and six and Coach Pitch for ages seven and eight is available now for programs at 4 p.m. beginning Jan. 20. Track & Field Practice for ages six to 14 begins Jan. 13 at 3:30 p.m. Instruction for grades three through 12 in tennis begins at 3:30 p.m., and ages 14 and above can learn basketball beginning at 5 p.m.
      Register with Richard at 939-2510.
      Kahuku Park is also now accepting registration for T-Ball for ages five and six on Mondays and Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. and Coach Pitch for ages seven and eight on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:30 p.m. Track & Field Practice is also available for ages six to 14 Mondays through Fridays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
      Call Teresa at 929-9113.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.







Monday, January 05, 2015

Ka`u News Briefs Monday, Jan. 5, 2015

Coffee farmer Francis Marques removes huge albizia and eucalyptus trees from the road to Moa`ula to help growers reach 
their orchards. Photo by Trini Marques
KA`U COFFEE FARMERS were able to clear the way to their orchards at Moa`ula yesterday after more than a day of cutting through fallen trees on the roads. On Saturday, after the powerful windstorm subsided, Francis Marques began clearing the old cane haul road from Pahala side, and Bill Lorenzo started making a driving path from Aikane Plantation side. Up the road to Moa`ula, farmers met early yesterday morning with their chain saws and Marques’ equipment to clear tall eucalyptus and albizia trees that isolated the farms and kept away coffee pickers for all of Saturday and Sunday during the heaviest picking season in Ka`u Coffee history. When they reached the farms, the growers found most coffee trees intact, with some windbreak trees and branches down. One Norfolk Pine fell but missed the historic Pahala mill weigh station building that Francis and Trini Marques moved to their coffee farm after the sugar company shut down in 1996.
Farm families found their coffee orchards isolated by fallen trees and went to work 
cutting and pushing them off the roads. Photo by Trini Marques
      Up the steep side of Moa`ula gulch, shredded albizia trees appeared trashed in the forest, some down and many broken by the warm winds that hit Ka`u over the weekend. Toward Na`alehu, cattle grazed in broken stands of eucalyptus. 
      Closer to Pahala, trees blocked numerous roads to pastures and agricultural plots, including the one to the Hester family farm.
      University of Hawai`i Agricultural Extension Service urged farmers and ranchers to document damage and make reports to the agency and insurance companies.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

WINDSTORM TOOK OUT POWER over the weekend for some homes and businesses. Midday Sunday, there were about 17,000 customers without electricity islandwide. Hawai`i Electric Light Co.’s statement named isolated areas of Volcano, Ocean View, Lorenzo Road and Wai`ohinu as places where electricity was restored yesterday evening.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

A WATER RESTRICTION ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT for Wai`ohinu area customers, according to Kanani Aton, of the county Department of Water Supply. Due to a main break on South Point Road and reduced source water output, customers in Wai`ohinu mauka, Discovery Harbour mauka and along South Point Road have no water service.
Ka`u Coffee growers stand on tree trunks to cut through downed trees to get them
off the roads. Photo by Trini Marques 
      Until further notice, Wai`ohinu area customers are advised to restrict water use to essential needs only.
  • Keep water use to an absolute minimum. 
  • Water should be used for essentials only (cooking, drinking and sanitation). 
  • Do not wash cars or water lawns. 
  • Turn off or disconnect any devices or fixtures that regularly draw water. Such devices include automatic icemakers and irrigation systems. 
      An emergency water spigot is available at Wai`ohinu Park for customers while main repairs are completed.
      For any emergency water concerns, call 961-8790.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I’S DRY SEASON LAST YEAR was the wettest in the last 30 years despite late August and early September dryness, according to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Most of the state had near to above average rainfall

 from May through September, and the Big Island had near to above average at most locations.
      NOAA said this is one of the rare cases in recent years where the state is in relatively good shape in an El Nino wet season, which usually allows some heavy rain events to impact the state.
      El Nino is projected to be weak.

 Probabilities favor below average rainfall through spring but not as dry as 2009 – 2010 and 1997 – 1998.
      Some drought development expected early this year and will mainly affect the agriculture sector and those with catchment systems.
Fallen trees blocked numerous roads throughout the district, including the one
to the Hester family farm above Pahala. Photo by Julia Neal
      For more information, see www.weather.gov/hawaii, www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov and droughtmonitor.unl.edu.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I IS MOVING FROM THE CENTRALIZED utility model of electricity generation toward the decentralized micro-grid and building-grid paradigms, according to Life of the Land director Henry Curtis. However, “large centralized utilities like NextEra are attempting to create a backlash, to return to the glory days of centralized power,” Curtis says on his blog at ililanimedia.blogspot.com. NextEra is the mainland company that is purchasing Hawaiian Electric and its subsidiaries.
      Curtis describes various future energy scenarios. One he calls the “Utility Knows Best Scenario,” in which some utility consultants assert that upgrading the entire system into one massively complex creature will lower costs, increase reliability and make customers safer. Curtis likens these schemes with names such as Smart Meters, Smart Grids, Grid Modernization, Grid Intelligence, Advanced Metering Infrastructure and Distribution Automation to the National Security Agency. The utilities would develop computer, telecommunication and surveillance technology “so they can receive messages from and send controlling messages back to every single electric device connected anywhere and everywhere on the electric grid at the transmission, distribution and household level.”
Cattle graze among downed eucalyptus trees along the cane haul road between Pahala and Na`alehu yesterday after the windstorm.
Photo by Julia Neal

      Another paradigm is “Innovators Know Best.” According to Curtis, “it makes more sense to have entrepreneurs, innovators and venture capitalists develop small smart micro-grids. These can be net metered to the utility transmission spine. The micro-grids cannot only export and import to the utility grid, but they can also supply voltage and frequency support. In Hawai`i micro-grids are being planned by the military and Parker Ranch.
      Building-based smart grids is the third, and to Curtis, most logical, paradigm.
      “Global solar installations have grown at over 40 percent per year for over a dozen years,” Curtis states. “This rapid deployment is leading to massive innovation and sharply lower prices. The battery revolution is now being launched. Each year it is and will continue to become cheaper and cheaper to install solar and batteries. Tesla is building a massive battery factory. Technology currently exists to interlink the power in buildings and batteries in vehicles.
      “On the Neighbor Islands it is cheaper to rely on solar and batteries than to remain attached to the grid. Many people don’t take the chance. But what happens in five or ten years when the prices off solar and batteries have dropped by 70 percent and Costco offers standardized ‘utility-in-a-box’ packages that homeowners can install without middlemen? The traditional utility will cease to exist.
      “Sides of buildings and window panes will be coated with thin micro-scale and nano-scale solar energy devices. Utilities will be relegated to the same realm occupied by faxes, microfiche and land-lines,” Curtis concludes.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Mud Alley. After the storm, blocked from going to coffee lands, the Rodney Freitas
family had fun in the mud.
KA`U RESIDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE in Hawai`i County Council’s first meetings of the New Year via videoconferencing at Ocean View Community Center. Committees meet tomorrow, and the full council meets Wednesday at 9 a.m. All meetings take place at council chambers in Hilo.
      Committees meetings are 9 a.m., Governmental Relations and Economic Development; 10 a.m., Public Works and Parks and Recreation; 11 a.m., Planning; 1:30 p.m., Finance; and 2:30 p.m., Environmental Management.

WALK INTO THE PAST tomorrow at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., beginning at Kīlauea Visitor Center and entering the Whitney Vault in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Ka`u resident Dick Hershberger brings Hawaiian Volcano Observatory founder Thomas Jaggar to life every other Tuesday.

AFTER DARK IN THE PARK offers updates on Kilauea’s two eruptions at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Matt Patrick talks about Halema`uma`u lava lake and presents a brief overview on the first 30 years of Pu`u `O`o’s eruption and the lava flow that has advanced toward Pahoa over the past six months. Free; park entrance fees apply.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.