Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017

The Miloli`i Canoe Club, once again on the water for the past three years, after a long history
of canoe culture and competition over the decades, is getting ready for paddling season and
inviting new members to join from Ka`u into Kona, keiki to kupuna.
See story below. Photo from Miloli`i Canoe Club

REP. TULSI GABBARD has been traveling. Foreign Policy broke a story today, revealing Gabbard has been on an unannounced trip to the Middle East where she visited the Syrian capital city of Damascus and the war torn city of Aleppo, with Lebanon also on her her agenda. It was unclear whether she met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Atlantic magazine pointed out today that "her visit to Syria, in theory, may constitute a violation of the Logan Act, which prohibits unauthorized individuals from contacting a foreign government that's engaged in a dispute with the U.S. It's worth pointing out, however, that no one has ever been prosecuted for alleged violations of the act," wrote The Atlantic reporter Krishnadev Calamur.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard met with Trump in November and took an
announced trip to Syria in the last few days, after promoting her
bill to stop U.S. regime change operations that could wind up
funding terrorists.

     A statement from Gabbard spokesperson Emily Latimer, who called the trip a fact-finding mission, said: "As a member of the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees, and as an individual committed to doing all she can to promote and work for peace, she felt it was important to meet with a number of individuals and groups including religious leaders, humanitarian workers, refugees and government and community leaders."

     Gabbard has been testifying in Congress and going on national television to support her legislation that would attempt to prevent the U.S. from regime change operations, particularly those that can lead to weapons ending up in the hands of terrorists and death to civilians. She said she told Trump during their meeting in Trump Tower that a no-fly zone in Syria, which some in the the Trump team have suggested, could push the U.S. into a war with Russia and possibly a nuclear war. She said that some half million people have already died in the nearly six years of war in Syria and that the U.S. has been quietly supporting allies of terrorists in its Syrian efforts.
    Gabbard also called the war expenditures unfair to Americans and tweeted yesterday, "We’ve spent trillions on regime change wars while communities across our nation face a severe lack of resources and dire need."

    Gabbard is a veteran of Middle East wars and a Major in the Army National Guard. She was the Veterans Day speaker on Nov. 11 at Kilauea Military Camp in Volcano and recently met with Ka`u farmers about promoting their agricultural agenda in Congress this year.
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RANKING MEMBER OF THE U.S. SENATE ARMED SERVICES Subcommittee on Seapower is a title that will remain for Sen. Mazie Hirono during the 115th Congress. Armed Services Committee Chair John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) made the announcement today.
    Said Hirono:  “Hawai`i continues to be the center of America’s strategic interests in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. As Ranking Member of the Seapower Subcommittee, I will continue to advocate for a strong Navy and Marine Corps, and in support of our service members and their families.” The Subcommittee on Seapower is responsible for overseeing the vast majority of Navy and Marine Corps programs, Marine Corps ground forces, Navy and Marine Corps helicopters, Navy and Marine Corps research and development, and strategic sealift and airlift research and development programs.

Rep. John Lewis and Sen. Mazie Hirono, who tweeted that
President-elect Donald Trump could learn from Lewis' example.
Photo from Office of Sen. Mazie Hirono

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SEN. MAZIE HIRONO PUSHED BACK ON PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP'S comments on civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis this past weekend. Lewis said he would not attend the Trump Inauguration and declared the Trump presidency illegitimate.
     Trump tweeted: "Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district which is in horrible shape and falling apart."
    Hirono came to Lewis' defense and tweeted, "My friend @repjohnlewis is an American hero. A champion for justice and reconciliation.
@realDonaldTrump could learn something from his example." On Martin Luther King Day, Hirono tweeted "Everybody can be great....because anybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." #MLKDAY".

     One reaction to Trump's tweet about Lewis, who represents Atlanta, with one of the world's busiest airports and a booming economy, was for more than 60 members of Congress to announce they will also refrain from attending the Inauguration ceremony for Trump in Washington, D.C. on Friday. 

      Ka`u's congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has traveled to Syria and Lebanon and it remains unclear as to whether she will attend. Hawai`i's U.S. Senators Hirono and Brian Schatz are expected to attend as is Hillary Clinton, who lost the electoral college vote to Trump.
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The Hawai`i Legislature opened today in Honolulu
with programs in Hawaiian and English.
Photo from Sen. Kai`ali`i Kahele

MAYOR HARRY KIM traveled to Honolulu for today's opening of the 2017 Hawai`i Legislature. In Harry Kim style, he takes the bus to and from the airport and the Capitol to save money.
      Kim said he also wants to keep more money in Hawai`i County by joining other mayors in asking for a higher retention of Transient Accommodations Tax. The TAT, which will fuel about  $19.5 million of Hawai`i County's budget, could bring in more money to each county government, if the state would take less of the total taxes raised from visitor accommodation rentals. The Legislature voted to take a higher percentage of the TAT from each county when times were hard. With a strong economy now, Kim reasoned, the counties should receive the  higher percentage again.
     However, Gov. David Ige, with a proposed statewide budget of $278.7 million, is asking the counties, and the Legislature, to let the state keep its current share of the TAT revenues. Said the governor, the TAT helps to pay for roads, bridges, airports, parks and other facilities across the state, which are used by visitors paying the TAT.

   

Mayor Harry Kim

  The TAT is 9.5 percent of the room, condo, cottage or house price charged by hoteliers, innkeepers, condo and homeowner who rent out units for less than six months at a time. The owners of the transient accommodation are responsible for collecting the TAT and the additional 4 percent sales tax and turning them over to the state.

     At the Legislature, the Hawai`i County Mayor made the rounds to Big Island state Senators and members of the House of Representatives, as well as leaders of various committees and state departments.

     The mayor, who is known for befriending houseless people and spending time with them, said he is also looking for solutions to homelessness. While not as big a problem as in Honolulu, where homeless people have lived on beaches and taken over parks and the sides of streets, homelessness in Kim’s view, could grow on this island and local government needs to get ahead of the problem, said the mayor.
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THE STATEWIDE HAWAI`I CHAMBER OF COMMERCE is camping out at the Hawai`i Legislature, testifying on many bills. A letter from its President and CEO, Sherry Menor-McNamara, says that the Chamber will promote its agenda “focusing on spurring economic development, investing in our future and lowering the cost of doing business. In addition, we will be reviewing more than 2,000 bills that will get introduced and identifying those that impact business.”
     Menor-McNamara said Chamber presidents are working across the country on “attracting, retaining and marketing to millennials, tax reform and improving state Chamber operations, with deep discussions on economic blueprint vision programs that focus on Chambers serving a 'futurist' role in this dynamic, challenging and ever-changing environment.” The Chamber is holding a legislative meet and greet function at SALT in Honolulu tomorrow. It also will sponsor a session “on the impact the new Trump administration and Congress will have on business priorities in Hawai`i and nationwide," on Friday in Honolulu. See more at http://cochawaii.org.

    The Ka`u Chamber of Commerce holds its annual meeting on Thursday, Jan. 26 at Discovery Harbour Community Center at 6 p.m.

     The Ka`u Chamber hosts an annual art show, essay contest and the production of The Directory, the annual business and community guide for Ka`u. It raises scholarship money for Ka`u residents in higher education.
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Trojan Soccer Team at Ka`u High is comprised of front row- Rowlie Flores, Kyle Calumpit, Kun Monkeya,
Ryan Ah Yee, Mark Galacio, Brennan Nishimura, Ezra Ramores and Daryl Moreira;back row - Chaunalisa Velez,
Jamal Buyuan, Trevor Taylor, Brandon Ecalas, Jacob Wren, Josiah Barrios, Chadwick Pajimola and Chloe Gan.
Missing is Koby Moses. Photo by Pam Taylor

KA`U HIGH'S TROJAN SOCCER TEAM stood for its school photo this week. Head Coach is Crystalee Mandaguit. Assistant Coaches are Joenell Nullar-Freitas, Kayla Nishimura and Gennifer Shibuya. Athletic Trainer is Moses Whitcomb and Athletic Director is Kalae Nomohala. 

The Malolo, a koa canoe built in the 1920s was returned to

Miloli`i Canoe Club last April when she was welcomed 

by Rep. Richard Creagan, Sen. Kaiali`i Kahele and County

Council member Maile David. The club welcomes new 

members, young and old to start the 2017 season.

   Photo from Maile David     

MILOLI`I CANOE CLUB is gearing up for paddling season and invites Ka`u and South Kona residents to travel for practice and races. The canoe club will meet for recreational practices now and officially on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4 p.m. and on Saturdays at 8 a.m., beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at the Awa in Miloli`i Village.
      The Moku o Hawai`i race season begins in May and ends the second weekend of September with a long distance race in the waters near Miloli'i.
     A statement from the club says, "We are seeking energetic, steadfast, team spirited paddlers."

    Keiki teams are planned for ages 8 and over. Parental supervision is required during practice and race days for those age 8-14. All must know how to swim.

     "Our purpose is to perpetuate the ancient art and culture of Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling as traditionally practiced. We welcome new and experienced paddlers of any age to join us on some of the most pristine and splendid waters in all of Hawai`i. Come and see just how fun and exciting this sport of Outrigger Canoe Racing can be. Bring a smile, a positive attitude, and a water bottle. Paddles are available for those who cannot afford their own," says a statement from Miloli`i Canoe Club. 

     All paddlers join and pay dues, sign a waiver, fill out a registration form with age verification, get a club t-shirt, insurance and Hawai`i Canoe Racing Association cards to make them eligible to race in regattas. Those who choose not to race will be asked to support the team in other ways and will be given opportunities to paddle recreationally." 

     Hoe wa`a, canoe paddling, is a longtime tradition in Miloli`i, dating back to the time when many launched their canoes daily to fish for `opelu to feed their families. Last Spring, the club's koa wa`a, the canoe called Malolo, crafted in koa in the 1920s, was restored and returned to Miloli`i Canoe Club.  Historically, Malolo helped give Miloli`i Canoe Club a winning tradition, with many titles, including the Moloka`i Channel race.

     For more information, call Patricia Mullen at 707-479-2659. Messages will be greeted with a return call.

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FAMILY READING NIGHT, Thursday, Jan. 19 at 5 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033.

OVCA Board Meeting, Thirsday, Jan. 19 at 6 pm. Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033.

Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017

O Ka`u Kakou volunteers for the annual Keiki Fishing Tournament at Punalu`u are busy organizing the event for this Saturday.
Photo by Peter Anderson

HAWAI`I'S TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE 2017 OPENS WEDNESDAY, Jan. 18 with House of Representatives and Senate members representing Ka`u in good positions. Sen. Josh Green chairs the Senate Human Services Committee. Sen. Russell Ruderman is Vice-Chair of the Government Operations Committee, Rep. Richard Creagan chairs the House Agriculture Committee and Rep. Richard Onishi chairs the House Tourism Committee.

The 2nd State Senate district  includes a large territory in Ka`u
from Volcano toward Miloli`i for Sen. Russell Ruderman to
cover. Map from Hawai`i State Legislature

     Most legislators are prepared with their new bills, with the deadline for non-administrative bills, grants and subsidies this Friday, Jan. 20.
     As the Legislature begins, the State of the State address will be given by Gov. David Ige on Monday, Jan. 23. and the State of the Judiciary address will be given by the Hawai`i Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald next Wednesday.
     On Thursday, major issues will be taken up in briefings to the House Finance Committee, including the funding and future of the Hawai`i Health Systems Corporation, which includes Ka`u Hospital. Whether to privatize elements of the quasi-state run hospital system has been an issue in many recent legislative sessions. On Thursday, many state departments will provide briefings on responsibilities from environmental protection, to disease outbreak control, child protective services and vocational rehabilitation.
     Representing Ka`u in the Hawai`i Legislature are two Senators and two members of the House of Representatives:

Th 3rd Senate District, includes a vast expanse
in Ka`u around the south end of the island to
Honu`apo for Sen. Josh Green to cover.
Map from Hawai`i State Legislature

     Sen. Josh Green, representing West Ka`u, chairs the Human Services Committee and serves on the Hawaiian Affairs Committee. He can be reached by phoning 808-586-9385, emailing sengreen@captiol.hawaii.gov, or writing to or visiting him in Room 407 in the Hawai`i State Capitol, 415 South Beretania St. Honolulu, HI 96813.
     Sen. Russell Ruderman, representing East Ka`u,  serves on the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee and is Vice-Chair of Government Operations Committee and serves on the Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health Committee. He can be reached by phoning 808-586-6890, emailing senruderman@capitol.hawaii.gov, or writing to or visiting him in Room 203 in the Hawai`i State Capitol, 415 South Beretania St. Honolulu, HI 96813.
     Rep. Richard Creagan, representing West Ka`u,  chairs the House Agriculture Committee. He serves on the Education Committee, Higher Education Committee, the Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs Committee and Public Safety Committee. He can be reached  by phoning 808-586-9605, emailing repcreagan@Capitol.hawaii.gov,  or writing or visiting him in Room 331 in the Hawai`i State Capitol, 415 South Beretania St. Honolulu, HI 96813.

Top scorer for Ka`u in Tuesday's win over
Hawai`i Preparatory Academy is Raishlyn
Jara. Photo by Pam Taylor

     Rep. Richard Onishi, representing East Ka`u, chairs the House Tourism Committee, serves on the Education Committee, Higher Education Committee, Interstate Commerce Committee and Veterans, Military, & international Affairs, & Culture and the Arts. He can be reached by phoning 808-586-612, emailing reponishi@Capitol.hawaii.gov or writing or visiting him in Room 441 in the Hawai`i State Capitol, 415 South Beretania St. Honolulu, HI 96813.
     Visit http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov to submit testimony, sign up to receive a public hearing notifications, follow legislation and to read more about legislators, committees and reports
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KA`U BEAT HAWAI`I PREPARATORY ACADEMY IN Big Island Interscholastic Federation girl's basketball on Monday. Top scorer for the Trojans was Raishy Jara. Final score was Ka`u 37 and HPA 31.

THE ANNUAL KEIKI FISHING TOURNAMENT AT PUNALU`U Beach Park has organizers hoping for good weather as families sign up for this Saturday, Jan. 21. Open to all keiki, from one to 14 years of age, the ninth annual event, sponsored by O Ka`u Kakou, is a catch and release event. Preregistration ends at noon on Wednesday, with applications at Pahala Elementary School, Mizuno Superette, Pahala Gas Station, Na`alehu Elementary School, Na`alehu Wiki Wiki Mart, Wong Yuen Store and Na`alehu -Ace Hardware,  as well as Kahuku Country Market and Ocean View Auto Parts.

Family watches the keiki fishing off the shore at Punalu`u. The annual OKK Keiki Fishing
Tournament is this Saturday. Photo by Peter Anderson

     The family affair requires parent or legal guardian with all children who are fishing. Hand-poles without reels are allowed. Barbless hooks for the catch and release are a must. For those without their own hand-poles, gear and bait, the tournament will provide them, while supplies last.
    Children and families are asked to bring non-perishable food - at least one item per fisherman to the tournament for its food drive.
     Check-in is at 8 a.m. with a welcome and review of the guidelines at 9 a.m. Distribution of fishing equipment is at 9:30 a.m. and the tournament is from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. A free lunch and shaved ice are served at noon and awards and prizes are presented from 1 p.m. For more information contact Wayne Kawachi at 937-4773 or Guy Enriques at 217-2253.
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A HILO SISTER MARCH IN SUPORT OF THE WOMEN'S MARCH IN WASHINGTON, D.C. will be held this Saturday, Jan. 21, the day after the Inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. The Hilo event will begin with a Women's Initiative Gathering at Mo'oheau Bandstand, Downtown Hilo at 10 a.m. The March will begin at 11:30 a.m. and the bandstand talks and other events will continue until 3 p.m. A statement from organizers said, "This is a Pro Peace Movement - a family-friendly, non-partisan event and all peaceful marchers are welcome.  Gather together in solidarity ​with partners and children for the protection of women's rights, safety, health, and our families -- recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country."  For complete information visit: http://bigislandwomensmarch.com/index.html

A KA`U FARM SCHOOL IS BEING ORGANIZED and classes begin on Saturday, Jan. 29 at Earth Matters Farm on the corner of South Point Road and Kamaoa Road. The session, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. is free and features speakers Gabriel Howearth, founder of Seeds of Change; Greg Smith, owner of Earth Matters and Marla McCasland, owner of Hawaiian Flowers. Attendess can learn about propagation and seed saving, different ways to grow food and what grows well in Ka`u. The class is both on concepts and hands-on learning. It is sponsored by Hawai`i Farmers Union United. To sign up, visit https://goo.gl/y87XtZ, call 808-721-6977 or call 808-721-6977. Leave name, email and contact number.

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Ka`u News Briefs Monday, Jan. 16, 2017

HI-SEAS dome welcomes eight crew members for an eight-month stay beginning this Thursday on
Mauna Loa. The goal is to simulate life confined to long-distance space exploration. See story below.
 Photo from HI-SEAS

THE NEW OCEAN VIEW PETITION FOR LOCAL POLICING can be signed by area residents at Ocean View Community Center daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and also at South Point U Cart and at Kahuku Gift and Garden Shop. The petition calls for more policing in Ocean View and a new police station there.

The petition calls for replacing the mini station with
 a larger Ocean View Police Station next to 
the fire station. Photo by Ann Bosted

    A supporter of the petition is Ocean View Community Association's newly elected President, Ron Gall, who met with the recently appointed Community Policing Officer Aron Tomota. Gall praised the Community Policing Officer, saying that Tomota has a “real initiative, and a good attitude. He is going to do well. He is not one to pass the buck.” Gall reported that when Tomota first took the Community Policing Officer position in Ka`u,  “The first thing on his desk was all the abandoned vehicles on our streets.  He quickly had seven hauled out of here, and now all ten are gone." Gall reported that Tomota is in favor of the localized policing, as called for in the petition.

     The petition calls for the new police station to be built next to the fire station in Ocean View where communications would be better for police officers, who could file their reports without driving to Na`alehu.

     Gall recommends: “The police officers should have input about the design of the new police station.  Among other needs - they would require a holding cell, where suspects can be kept before being transported to Kona. The County owns property in Ocean View – I have been told they have upwards of 20 one-acre lots." 

Community Policing Officer
Aron Tomota

      Gall said one of the problems with remote communities is that “the Police Dispatch is based in Hilo, and they know nothing about Ocean View. They could use electronic maps, which have been in use on the mainland since the early eighties. There, dispatch officers punch in the address and a dispatcher can tell the police officer where to go. As an example, the dispatch staff in Hilo have no idea where Lotus Blossom is,” exclaimed Gall. “Localized policing would end that problem.”

Ron Gall, President of
Ocean View Community
Association

      Debbie Dubois, one of the organizers of the petition drive, said that having police more often in Ocean View would help with the following: “The criminals can get scanners and tune into the police channels, and know exactly where the police are and what they are doing.”

     Dubois also described interaction with the police and community: “We go to Neighborhood Watch meetings with the police, but they are very unsatisfactory. Key information is missing, and they won’t share stuff with us. Localized policing is crucial and this petition is a start."

     She gave an example of the long wait time in Ocean View for some victims of crime. “A few days ago, a resident saw his neighbor being robbed. He immediately phoned in the crime, and the police told him that under no circumstances should he interfere. Only after the burglary was over and his neighbor had been cleaned out, did the the cops show up. They took about 45 minutes to arrive. This is totally unacceptable, yet it happens over and over again. We need to take action. Every one knows who the repeat criminals are. But they are almost never arrested, and if they are nabbed, they are let go again. We have to stop this ‘catch and release’ pattern,” said Dubois.
       Concerning the petition drive, over 200 signatures have already been collected, and the team expects to collect about 500, Dubois reported.

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Dr. Martin Luther King was remembered in the writings of
Hawai`i Gov. David Ige today. Photo from Gov. Ige

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING was the focus of a message from Gov. David Ige on Martin Luther King Day, celebrated in Hawai`i and around the country.

    Wrote the governor: "Today, we honor the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, a mortal man with an immortal dream. Some will honor him with public service, some through quiet reflection.

     "While much may have changed since the time of Dr. King, inequality remains one of the primary issues that we must work together to resolve. Dr. King once wrote that  'Life's most persistent and urgent question is what are you doing for others?'
     "Here in Hawai’i we believe in lifting up our fellow citizens by helping to raise the standard of living for all our residents. We have committed millions to ease the homelessness crisis and make housing affordable. We have worked to bring meaningful job opportunities to Hawai’i, jobs that pay well enough so people can live without being burdened with a life time of debt. We are 17th in the nation in personal income growth and we have the 3rd lowest unemployment rate in the country. For Dr. King economic equality was just as important as racial equality.
     "I want to encourage all our citizens, as we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, to ask themselves how we can work to make our communities stronger for everyone and what can we do as individuals to make someone’s life better.
     "So I would like to end with the same call to action that Dr. King made so clear that night in Memphis: 'Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better nation.'”

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At 8,000 feet, astronaut-like crew members in the HI-SEAS dome will live together in
close quarters, simulating long-distance space travel. Photo from HI-SEAS

SIX ASTRONAUT-LIKE CREW MEMBERS WILL ENTER THE HI-SEAS GEODESIC DOME ON MAUNA LOA this Thursday for an eight-month mission of isolation to simulate space exploration.

HI-SEAS crew member Samuel Payler, a doctoral candidate at UK 

Centre for Astrobiology, University of Edinburgh. He has been involved 

in NASA’s BASALT program, the MINAR project and BISAL,  the 

world’s first deep subsurface astrobiology laboratory. He has an MSci 

from University of Birmingham and prior to HI-SEAS was 

researching life in hypersaline deep subsurface environments.

     The Mission V crew has been selected, and research confirmed to study human behavior and performance in such a remote and confined environment.
     The NASA-funded project, in partnership with University of Hawai`i and its Hawai`i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation - HI-SEAS, aims to help determine the individual and team requirements for long-duration space exploration missions including travel to Mars. The HI-SEAS dome is located at the 8,000 feet elevation in an abandoned quarry on Mauna Loa. There are two stories within the dome. Ground floor is 993 square feet and second floor loft is 424 square feet. Another 160 square-fee of space is created by a shipping container attached to the dome.

      HI-SEAS principal investigator and UH Mānoa Professor Kim Binsted said she is proud of the project’s contribution to understanding human behavior and performance in space.

     “Since 2012, HI-SEAS has been contributing to NASA’s plans for long-duration space exploration. We are an international collaboration of crew, researchers and mission support, and I’m proud of the part we play in helping reduce the barriers to a human journey to Mars.”

Joshua Ehrlich is a systems engineer for 

Lockheed Martin working on test and 

verification of the Orion European Service 

Module. He has a BS in aerospace engineering 

from University of Florida, an MS in 

mechanical engineering from Embry-Riddle

 Aeronautical University. Experience includes 

integration and testing on the SpaceX Falcon

 9 launch vehicle and Veggie and Advanced 

Plant Habitat payloads at NASA’s

 Kennedy Space Centre.

Ansley Barnard is an engineer from Reno,
Nevada who has worked for NASA and
Boeing on advanced composite structures and
has designed aerodynamic bodywork for cars
 racing in the100th Indy 500. She has a BS in
aeronautics and astronautics from University
of Washington. Prior to HI-SEAS, she
worked in engineering optimization
 for Ford Motor Company.

    During the eight-month HI-SEAS Mission V the crew will perform exploration tasks such as geological fieldwork and life systems management. The isolated and confined conditions of the mission, including 20-minutes of delayed communication and partial self-sufficiency, have been designed to be similar to those of a planetary surface exploration mission.

James Bevington is a freelance

researcher with a passion for space.

He has a BSC from the University 

of Tennessee, an MSc from

University of Georgia and an MSc

from International Space University. 

Prior to HI-SEAS he was a researcher 

at International Space University and 

consulted for Northwestern University.

Daily routines include food preparation from only shelf-stable ingredients, exercise, research and fieldwork aligned with NASA’s planetary exploration expectations.

     Under watchful eyes of the research team and supported by experienced mission control, the crew will participate in eight primary and three opportunistic research studies. 

Brian Ramos is a Portuguese-

American with dual engineering

 degrees in biomedical and 

electrical engineering. He has 

a master’s degree in international

 space studies from  International

 Space University. Prior to joining 

HI-SEAS his experience included

 project work at NASA’s Johnson

 Space Centre and Engineering 

World Health to repair media 

equipment in Rwanda.

   The NASA-funded primary research will be conducted by scientists from across the U.S. and Europe who are at the forefront of their fields.

     The primary behavioral research includes a shared social behavioral task for team building, continuous monitoring of face-to-face interactions with sociometric badges, a virtual reality team-based collaborative exercise to predict individual and team behavioral health and performance and multiple stress, cognitive countermeasure and monitoring studies.

     HI-SEAS Mission V follows the successful 12-month Mission IV that was completed in August 2016. That mission placed HI-SEAS in the company of a small group of analogs capable of operating very long duration missions in isolated and confined environments similar to Mars500, Concordia and the International Space Station.

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Laura Lark grew up on a small farm

in Whatcom County, Washington. 

She has a BS in computer science 

from Brown University and, prior 

to joining the HI-SEAS crew, 

she spent five years as a software 

engineer at Google working on 

search serving and indexing 

infrastructure. 

Photos from HI-SEAS

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF HALEMA`UMA`U CRATER is the topic of After Dark in the Park at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Kilauea Theater Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Don Swanson, a geologist with USGS makes the presentation with history and personal anecdotes about his encounter with the crater. Free. Park entrance fees apply.To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.