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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015

Learn to play `ohe hano ihu tomorrow in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. See more below. Photo from NPS
IT’S STILL TO SOON TO TELL if Adventist Health is a good fit for Hawai`i Health System Corp.’s East Hawai`i Region, Robert Beehler, Adventist’s vice president for market development, mergers and acquisitions, told Colin M. Stewart, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald.
      Adventist operates Castle Medical Center on O'ahu and 40 rural medical centers in California. Ka`u Hospital is one of HHSC East Hawai`i Region’s facilities where Castle could assume management.
Robert Beehler
      Regarding the status of East Hawai`i system’s union Civil Service employees under such an arrangement, Beehler told Stewart, “Adventist prefers to have a direct relationship with its employees.”
      He said an independent review mandated by the state Legislature in 2009 identified HHSC’s employment costs as the primary factor causing financial losses. “It said that if you continue with this current model, with Civil Service driving an expense base, with pensions, benefits and these work rules, it creates a lack of flexibility that becomes an equation that’s difficult to balance if you’re in a market that isn’t that great with demographics,” Beehler said. “It’s going to be not sustainable.”
      He said an arrangement like the one currently being pursued by Maui Region and Kaiser Permanente could also work in East Hawai`i, as long as legislators acknowledge that “some level of reduced subsidy will be necessary, because the demographics (in East Hawai`i) are not as good as Maui.”
      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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UH Pres. David Lassner
THIRTY METER TELESCOPE will be the last telescope site on Mauna Kea. In a letter to Department of Land and Natural Resources Chair Suzanne Case, University of Hawai`i President David Lassner confirmed that the Thirty Meter Telescope project site is the last new area on the mountain where a telescope project will be contemplated or sought. 
      Lassner’s letter stated that it “shall constitute a legally binding commitment and may be regarded as a condition of the University of Hawai`i’s current lease(s) and of any lease renewal or extension proposed by the University.”
      The commitment fulfills the second point of Gov. David Ige’s 10-point “Way Forward” plan that addresses future management and stewardship of Mauna Kea. UH has also fulfilled the third point of the plan, officially identifying three telescopes that will be decommissioned and permanently removed before TMT begins operations.
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HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH reported one more confirmed case of dengue fever on Hawai`i Island today. Of the 93 cases, 80 are residents, and 13 are visitors.
      According to the Centers for Disease Control, dengue is endemic in environments housing about one third of the world’s population, mostly tropical and subtropical places that spawn about 400 million cases annually. Unusual amounts of rain this year has made the Ka`u climate more tropical and more friendly to mosquitoes that can spread the disease.
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Did you feel it? Map from USGS/HVO
AN EARTHQUAKE AWAKENED SOME KA`U residents in the middle of last night. The magnitude-2.8 quake struck at 3:26 a.m. in the mountains mauka of Pahala. According to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, low levels of seismic activity continue on Kilauea.
      Those who felt the quake can report it at hvo.wr.usgs.gov.
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THE SEASON FOR `AMA`AMA (striped mullet) closes on Tuesday, Dec. 1 and re-opens on Friday, April 1 of next year. `Ama`ama are about to enter their peak spawning season, which increases their vulnerability to fishing pressure. The annual winter closure is designed to help the fish reproduce successfully and protect the species from overfishing.
      Criminal and civil penalties apply to seasonal violations. Criminal penalties are a petty misdemeanor punishable by fines of up to $500 per violation and/or 30 days in jail. There is no per specimen fine. First offense civil penalties are up to $1,000 per specimen and $1,000 per violation.
      “We ask the public’s compliance with the closed season,” DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources administrator Bruce Anderson said. “While it’s DLNR’s job to protect our marine resources, everyone shares in the responsibility to take care of important fish species like `ama`ama to ensure their survival into the future.”
      Copies of statewide fishing regulations for ‘ama‘ama and all other marine species are available in Honolulu at DAR offices. Fishing regulations can also be found on the DAR website at dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar. To report violations of fish catch size or net use, call DLNR’s enforcement hotline at (808) 643-DLNR (643-3567). 
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Sen. Brian Schatz met with refugees in Germany and Jordan.
Photo from Office of Sen. Schatz
U.S. SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ TRAVELED to Germany and Jordan on a fact-finding mission to meet with German and Jordanian government leaders and non-governmental officials over the weekend. He discussed regional and international efforts to combat the threat of terrorism and address the growing refugee crisis affecting Europe and the Middle East. 
      During his visit to the two counties, Schatz toured German relocation and Jordanian refugee facilities and met with German, Jordanian and UN officials to discuss daily operations of the centers and challenges they face in assisting the growing number of families seeking refuge and asylum. During his tours, Schatz also met with refugee families and listened to their experiences of coping with being displaced in Jordan and Germany.
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U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD MET with Egypt President el-Sisi and other leaders in Cairo. After conducting meetings in Paris with senior level government leaders in the wake of recent terrorist attacks there, Gabbard, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, traveled to Cairo to discuss the threat of ISIS and Islamic extremist groups, how to strengthen the U.S.-Egypt relationship to ensure stability in Egypt and the importance of religious freedom.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard met with Egypt Pres. el-Sisi, at her left, and other
government leaders in Cairo. Photo from Office of Rep. Gabbard
      Gabbard had a discussion with President el-Sisi about how important Egypt’s stability and success is for the region and for the world. President el-Sisi “would like to strengthen and restore U.S.-Egypt relations so that we may work together urgently to ‘decimate’ ISIS and other Islamic extremist groups who pose a threat to us and to the world,” Gabbard said. “The recent attacks in Paris and Mali are just two examples of the devastation these groups have caused. President el-Sisi has shown great courage and leadership in taking on this extreme Islamist ideology, while also fighting against ISIS militarily to keep them from gaining a foothold in Egypt. The U.S. must take action to recognize President el-Sisi and his leadership, support Egypt’s progress and stability, and stand with him in this fight against ISIS, al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, and other Islamic extremists who are our common enemy.”
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

LEARN TO PLAY `OHE HANO IHU tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Participants learn about traditional uses of `ohe (bamboo), including its use in creating musical instruments like the Hawaiian nose flute.
      Free; park entrance fees apply.

Rubberband Turkey Shoot is tomorrow.
EVERYONE IS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN Pahala Community Center’s annual Rubberband Turkey Shoot tomorrow from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Register today at 928-3102. 

THANKSGIVING DINNER OPTIONS are bountiful in Ka`u.
      In Na`alehu, Shaka’s Restaurant offers a special for lunch that starts at 11 a.m. with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, yams, cranberries and pie for $16.95. Dinner for $19.95 starts at 5 p.m. and adds soup or tossed green salad. For more information or reservations, call 929-7404.
      Hana Hou Restaurant is preparing its annual “all ya can stuff in” feast for $18 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The buffet includes turkey, spiral ham and salad bar. Reservations are suggested. Call 929-9717.
      Ocean View Community Center’s annual Thanksgiving Dinner takes place from 1 pm. to 5 p.m. Turkey and all the fixings are free; donations appreciated. For more, call 939-7033.
      Thanksgiving Buffet is available from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Menu items include roasted turkey, pineapple honey-glazed ham, sweet and mashed potatoes, steamed rice, green bean casserole, corn chowder, salad bar, desserts and a beverage. Cost is $19.95 for adults and $9.95 for children six to 11 years old. No reservations required. KMC is open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. Call 967-8356 for more information.

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



See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.
See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.





Monday, November 23, 2015

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Monday, Nov. 23, 2015

Pahala Community Center holds its annual Rubberband Turkey Shoot Wednesday. See more below.
A TRAVEL ALERT FOR THE THE UNITED STATES was issued today by the State Department, saying, “U.S. citizens should exercise vigilance when in public places or using transportation. Be aware of immediate surroundings, and avoid large crowds or crowded places. Exercise particular caution during the holiday season and at holiday festivals or events.” The alert comes after 130 people were killed in terrorist attacks in Paris on Nov. 13. The U.S. alert follows the city of Brussells announcing today another week of highest level of alert, as terrorists believed to be responsible for the Paris attacks are sought in Belgium. The U.S. has received numerous threats of terrorism coming here in the near future.
Susan Condie Jennings' Ka`u Landing won first
in Sculpture at Ka`u Chamber of Commerce's
annual art show. Photos by Peter Anderson
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FOUR MORE CASES OF DENGUE FEVER have been confirmed on Hawai`i Island, Hawai`i state Department of Health reported. The count today is 92, up four from Friday. Of the total, 79 are residents, and 13 are visitors. Onset of illness has ranged from Sept. 11 to Nov. 17.
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

HAWAI`I STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH will deploy a web-based system that will provide 24/7 access to real-time data on medical marijuana inventory, sales and other tracking information required of dispensary licensees statewide, according to Keith Ridley, Chief of the Department of Health’s Office of Health Care Assurance.
      The Office of Health Care Assurance performs all state licensing activities on healthcare facilities, agencies and organizations in Hawai`i and is tasked with implementing Act 241, which was signed into law by Gov. David Ige in July and became section 329D, HRS. Under the new program, a dispensary licensee may begin dispensing medical marijuana and manufactured marijuana products to qualifying patients or primary caregivers no earlier than July 15, 2016, with the department’s approval.
      A Request for Proposals was issued on Nov. 19. The notice of award of contract for the computer software tracking system is expected to be made by Dec. 23.
      “This is another major step forward to implement the medical marijuana program to ensure access for Hawai`i patients and caregivers,” Ridley said. “After researching various options, the department determined a web-based software system would be the most effective and user-friendly way for licensees and state officials to collect and report seed-to-sale tracking information to ensure public safety and patient safety, and licensees will be required to utilize a tracking system. We are also exploring how other entities such as law enforcement officers or laboratories can also securely access the information.”
Jewels of the Beach, by Ann Snow, placed
first in the Jewelry Division.
      The system will collect detailed inventory and sales information such as the total amount of marijuana at each dispensary, in the form of seeds or plants, including all plants that are derived from cuttings or cloning, until the marijuana, marijuana plants or manufactured marijuana products are sold or destroyed; the total amount of manufactured marijuana product inventory, including the equivalent physical weight of marijuana that is used to manufacture marijuana products or purchased by a qualifying patient and primary caregiver from all retail dispensing locations in any 15-day day period; the amount of unused plant material produced by each plant at harvest; and the transport of marijuana and manufactured marijuana products between production centers and retail dispensing locations, including tracking identification issued by the tracking system, identity of the person transporting the marijuana or manufactured marijuana products and how the products are transported.
      Under the new law, a total of eight licenses may be awarded, including two dispensary licenses for Hawai`i County. Each dispensary licensee will be allowed to operate up to two production centers and two retail stations for a total of 16 production centers and 16 retail dispensaries statewide. Each production center may have up to 3,000 marijuana plants.
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KA`U ARTISTS DISPLAYED THEIR TALENTS at Ka`u Chamber of Commerce’s annual Art Show earlier this month. Along with Peter Anderson’s Red Caldera, which won People’s Choice and will grace the cover of The Directory 2016, the chamber’s community and business index, a panel of judges chose Best of Show and first- through third-place winners as well as honorable mentions. Anderson donated his $100 winnings to the chamber’s scholarship program. Other winners follow.
      Best of Show: Suzanne Dix Kaliko, Aunty Shows Her Quilt.
Anela Angel, by Jeannette Howard, placed
first in Weaving.
      Photography: First Place Peter Anderson, Red Caldera; Second Place Ed Bruneau, Throw Net Fishing; Third Place Lee McIntosh, Pink Petaled Path.
      Sculpture: First Place Susan Condie Jennings, Ka`u Landing, Ni`ihau-technique gourd; Second Place Scott Manley, Navigational Fishhook, hand-engraved slate; Third Place Dave Golston, Honus and Manta, Koa wood.
      Woodworking: First Place Thomas King, Milo Loveseat; Second Place Dave Golston, Whales on Koa.
      Quilting: First Place Teri Jensen Phillips, The Reef; Second Place Nadine Ebert, Ron’s Seascape; Third Place Alice Hosticka, Proof of Concept.
      Jewelry: First Place Ann Snow, Jewels of the Beach; Second Place Toni Santana, Nene and Shells; Third Place Kathie Griffeth, Beauty and the Beans.
      Lei: First Place Elizabeth Kuluwaimaka, Liko Lehua.
      Graphics: First Place Dave Golston, Honu with Honu, image on wood; Second Place Nancy Lake, untitled block print; Third Place Marla McCasland, untitled block print.
      Painting: First Place Suzanne Dix Kaliko, Aunty Shows Her Quilt; Second Place Lynn Van Leeuwen, Punalu`u Palms; Third Place Tanya Ibarra, Girls of Kawa.
      Weaving: Jeannette Howard, Anela Angel.
      Youth: First Place Grace Smith, Ku Kae Kolea, lei: Second Place Lorilee Lorenzo, Ka`u Kountry Keiki, photograph.
      Keiki: First Place Audrey Meyer, Fin the Gecko, drawing; Second Place Kamali Compehos, untitled drawing; Third Place Nalu Compehos, untitled drawing.
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`OLELO COMMUNITY TELEVISION PLANS to televise Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission’s evidentiary hearings on the proposed merger of Hawaiian Electric Co. and NextEra Energy. The meetings are scheduled Monday through Friday from Nov. 30 to Dec. 16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
      Proceedings begin with witnesses from the two companies. Intervenors and other parties begin their testimony on Dec. 10.
      See olelo.org.
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Grace Smith won first place in Youth Division with Ku Kae Kolea
BRIAN SCHATZ CO-INTRODUCED LEGISLATION to help prevent youth homelessness, improve support services and housing for youth and families, and help ensure children are raised in supportive, stable households. The Family Unification, Preservation and Modernization Act would improve supportive housing – programs that integrate housing with social services – and policies for children and families at risk of homelessness, keeping families together who might otherwise enter the child welfare system. It would also increase access to social services for youth aging out of the foster care system as they transition to adulthood.
      “It is our moral obligation to make sure the most vulnerable in our communities, especially children, have the resources and services they need to lead productive lives,” Schatz said. “The sensible changes in this bill will make the Family Unification Program work better for families on the verge of homelessness, as well as young people in Hawai`i who are aging out of the foster care system and need some help to secure safe, affordable housing.”
      Studies have shown that housing instability is linked to poor outcomes for children. Unsafe housing conditions and homelessness can threaten the safety of a child and can lead to an investigation by the local child welfare agency, out-of-home placement or a delay in family reunification. Homelessness may also lead families to voluntarily place their children in foster care while searching for housing, and families may be separated because of policies that exclude teenagers, especially boys, from shelters.
      Children aging out of the foster care system are particularly vulnerable to homelessness because they must make the transition to adulthood without support, financial or otherwise, from parents or other trusted guardians.
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

Audrey Meyer placed first in Keiki division
with Fin the Gecko.
AFTER DARK IN THE PARK EXAMINES amazing birds and megafauna in Botswana tomorrow. Park Ranger Jay Robinson and Biologist Jack Jeffrey offer a fun-filled photo safari through the national parks and World Heritage Site, ending at Victoria Falls in nearby Zimbabwe.
      The vast expanse of the Kalahari Desert is punctured at its heart by the Okavango River, forming the largest inland delta in the world. These waterways and wetlands support one the most amazing collection of birds, bugs and brawling beasts on our planet.
      The free program begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Park entrance fees apply.

LEARN TO PLAY `OHE HANO IHU Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Participants learn about traditional uses of `ohe (bamboo), including its use in creating musical instruments like the Hawaiian nose flute.
      Free; park entrance fees apply.

ANNUAL RUBBERBAND TURKEY SHOOT takes place Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. All ages can register by tomorrow. Call 928-3102.

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




See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2105.pdf.
See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.




Sunday, November 22, 2015

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015

After Dark in the Park offers a photo safari of Botswana's national parks and World Heritage Site on Tuesday. See more below.
Image from NPS
TO PREVENT DENGUE FEVER in the homeless, Longs Drugs is providing insect repellant and repellant wipes to community outreach groups, including Hope Services, according to a story in this morning’s Hawai`i Tribune Herald. The county is also reaching out at community events.
Hawai`i County Civil Defense Chief Darryl Oliveira
      Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira told reporter Colin M. Stewart that the county is attempting to “reach every segment of the population. We know there are some segments that may not be aware or be privy to the information, including the homeless and migrant workers and immigrant populations. They may not have access to the info, and we’re trying to address that.”
      Hawai`i County Fire Department personnel have attended community events to discuss with underserved people dengue prevention and symptoms. Batallion Chief Lance Uchida was quoted in the story as saying, “We’ve been tasked by the Department of Health and the Civil Defense office with doing these screenings for the vulnerable population. Many of them don’t have the means to protect themselves.”
      Informational fliers about dengue have been translated, printed and distributed to firehouses and other community locations in Ilocano, Tagalog, Spanish, Chuukese and Marshallese.
      Symptoms of dengue are two or more of the following: fever, severe headaches, pain behind eyes, body and bone pain, vomiting and rash.
      For more on dengue, see http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/dengue-outbreak.
      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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MORE THAN 300 TIRES landed in Wai`ohinu Transfer Station in a week, according to reports from the county. All transfer stations are accepting tires, at no charge, to help prevent dengue fever, which is spread by mosquitoes that breed in tires that collect water during rain. Tires can also be removed by private companies for a fee. The county collects tires from transfer stations and stores them in shipping containers, which will be shipped to a recycler.
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Duane Kurisu, at right, came to Ka`u for the opening of Punalu`u Bake Shop's
Cookie Kitchen. Photo by Pamela Taylor
DUANE KURISU, OWNER of Punalu`u Bakeshop and a product of growing up in a plantation community, is offering to create a plantation-style village for the homeless and women with children in need of housing. 
      “Those of us who grew up in plantation towns probably would have faced the same situation as a number of these homeless families do - if it wasn’t for the benevolent plantation owners who provided housing, water, sewer, built schools and churches,” Kurisu told Rui Kaneya, of Civil Beat. “So that’s what I hope to do. That’s what my heart tells me — to replicate it for those who are less fortunate.”
      Kurisu told Kaneya that the project on 13 acres near Honolulu International Airport will not use public funds “because we don’t want to be pigeonholed into a position where we’re mandated to give free access to all the people in need. We want to be prejudiced in a good way — to make sure that the priority is to help children.”
      See civilbeat.com.
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DEMOCRATIC U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD voted in favor of a bill that would require refugees from Iraq and Syria to receive background checks from the FBI. Republicans introduced the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015, also known as the SAFE Act, following terrorist attacks in Paris, France that may have involved refugees. The House of Representatives approved the bill 289-137 on Thursday. One hundred and thirty-five of Gabbard’s Democratic colleagues voted against it.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard offered condolences and lei at a memorial in Paris
following terrorist attacks on Friday, Nov. 13.
Photo from Office of Rep. Gabbard
      “True to our history and values as a nation, I believe we must offer refuge to the most vulnerable and those in need, while simultaneously ensuring the safety of the American people,” Gabbard said. “In this regard, this bill is not meant to keep Syrian refugees from entering into the United States. This was a vote to make sure the program to vet these refugees is sufficient to protect Americans.
      “

In other words, voting for this bill was not a vote against refugees. Rather, it was a vote for bringing refugees into our country safely. …
      “Originally, like many Democrats, I was going to vote against the bill because I was inclined to give the benefit of the doubt to the Department of Homeland Security and the Administration – I was ready to accept their claims that the vetting process is thorough, and that this bill would be impossible to implement.
 But on the morning of the vote, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough failed to answer simple questions about why they were opposed to the bill, which led me to change my mind. …
      “If this bill comes before the House again (if the Senate passes it and the President vetoes it), and the Administration can come up with a better argument than, ‘We’ll have to increase staff,’ I will listen with an open mind and consider voting to uphold the President’s veto. But ‘lack of staff’ is not a legitimate reason for them to refuse certifying that the refugee vetting process is thorough and complete.”
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HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY scientists discuss Rainbows on the Ground: How Satellite Radar Helps Us Monitor Volcano Deformation in the current issue of Volcano Watch.
      “The surface of Kilauea Volcano is rarely stationary,” the article states. “There are a variety of processes that each move or change the shape of the volcano and, when active at the same time, create a complex pattern of ground deformation. Satellite-based Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar has become a key tool during the last two decades to illuminate this complexity.
      “For example, InSAR recently proved important in understanding the various episodes of Kilauea’s south caldera intrusion this past spring. In April 2015, the shallow reservoir beneath Kilauea Caldera began to rapidly inflate, causing the lava lake within the Overlook crater to rise to the point where it overtopped its rim and spilled onto the floor of Halema`uma`u. It was during this time that scores of visitors crowded into the viewing area at the Jaggar Museum to catch the spectacular display of spattering.
A bullseye pattern of rainbow fringes resulted from about four inches
of ground deformation. Interferogram from USGS
      “On May 11, tiltmeters began recording rapid deflation, the lava lake level dropped and earthquakes in the south caldera increased in rate and magnitude. Within a day, inflation in the south caldera was clear from our network of continuous GPS instruments and tiltmeters.
      “InSAR images spanning the beginning of this event show the uplift associated with the initial inflation in great detail, revealing a complexity to the shape of the reservoir that we previously only suspected. The images also capture the transition to deflation at Halema`uma`u and south caldera inflation.
      “As shown in the accompanying image, the rainbow pattern seen in the interferogram beautifully captured the shape and extent of ground uplift during this event. This image shows that the uplift coincides with the location of a known south caldera storage reservoir. This is the first evidence that we have ever had suggesting rapid magma transfer between storage reservoirs.
      “So where do these rainbow patterns come from? The rainbow colors represent the change in distance between the ground and the satellite in the time between two orbits of the InSAR satellite. Each cycle of colors, from magenta to blue (analagous to the red to purple progression in a rainbow in the sky), indicates motion equal to half the satellite’s radar’s wavelength, or about 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches) for the interferogram in the figure. The pattern repeats and by counting up all the rainbows, called ‘fringes,’ you get the total amount of motion.
      “Over the past two decades, the increasing number of available satellites has improved our InSAR capabilities by providing a variety of wavelengths that allow for improved resolution at short wavelengths and better penetration through vegetation at longer wavelengths. HVO has used data from many different InSAR satellites to investigate motion on Hawai`i’s volcanoes, including satellites launched by the European Space Agency, Canada, Germany and Japan. 
      “The United States is working toward launching its first InSAR satellite. In 2014, NASA announced a joint project with the Indian Space Research Organization to build and launch a multi-wavelength InSAR satellite, dubbed the NISAR satellite, specifically designed for studying natural hazards. The groundbreaking project is currently scheduled for a 2020 launch. This and other upcoming satellites promise to provide even better and more frequent views of Kilauea and Mauna Loa’s deformation field, and we expect even more new insights to come.”
      See hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch.
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

AMAZING BIRDS AND MEGAFAUNA Adventures in Botswana is the title of Tuesday’s After Dark in the Park program. Park Ranger Jay Robinson and Biologist Jack Jeffrey offer a fun-filled photo safari through the national parks and World Heritage Site, ending at Victoria Falls in nearby Zimbabwe.
      The free program begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Park entrance fees apply.

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





See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.