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Monday, July 17, 2017

Ka`u News Briefs Monday, July 17, 2017

The Nature Conservancy preserve in Ka`u. Photo by John Replogle
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY PRESERVES IN KA`U and South Kona are receiving assistance this summer from high school students through its Leaders in Environmental Action Future. LEAF chose inner city youth from Los Angeles to give them the "opportunity to spend extensive time in nature learning about conservation, science, and green jobs," says a Conservancy statement. This is the second year the Conservancy has hosted LEAF interns in Hawai‘i.
    In addition to their work adventure in Ka`u, interns will greet the wa‘a (canoes) of the organization Nā Pe‘a as they land at the Conservancy’s Kīholo fish pond and help with intertidal water quality sampling in collaboration with Hui Aloha Kīholo. Then they move mauka to plant native vegetation and restore aquaponics with the Kailapa Community Association in Kohala.
Hawai`i Island LEAF Interns Nicolas Bell-Andrade, 
front left; Pedro Aguilera, back left; Chayne
Connor, back right; Bucgikas Muribm
front right. Photo from The Nature Conservancy
     “Exposing youth from urban communities to nature and conservation careers helps them understand and value the environment,” said Ulalia Woodside, Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy in Hawai‘i. “Hosting LEAF interns augments our ongoing efforts to engage young people in experiences that connect them with our unique and irreplaceable natural and cultural resources.”
     Over the last five years, the Conservancy has hosted or supported more than 2,500 youth across the state to train the next generation of conservation leaders. Some examples:
     The Marine Fellowship Program has launched four cohorts of new conservation leaders. This program for recent college graduates is made possible through a partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The two-year intensive training has graduated 10 students to date; 3 more are about halfway through their fellowship.
     The Conservancy has hired more than 22 interns through KUPU, a local nonprofit that provides environmental programs and career opportunities for Hawai‘i’s young adults. KUPU interns have supported strategic communications and have worked in Conservancy preserves doing forest restoration and marine conservation.
     Other internship and volunteer activities with youth in Hawaiʻi have included: High school and college students from Hilo and Kaʻu learning about nature and conservation and helping at Kaʻu and Kona Hema Preserves; high school students removing invasive algae using the Super Sucker; young adults and kids of all ages visiting Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi to learn about local agriculture, taro lo‘i, and fish pond restoration; high school students visiting Waikamoi Preserve to learn about native forests, birds,
Interns come from the inner city to Ka`u for a work adventure
with The Nature Conservancy.
and restoration; students from fourth grade and up helping with beach cleanups, preserve and trail maintenance, weed removal, seed collection, and native plant growing; youth of all ages learning about nature and conservation at the annual Earth Day celebration; and young adults and high school students participating in Kīholo fish pond restoration.
     “We value youth engagement in Hawaiʻi. With continued donor support, we hope to be able to continue, or even expand, these kinds of programs,” said Woodside.
     Surveys of conservation interns indicate that many find work as park rangers, environmental engineers, environmental science teachers, and in careers helping to connect future generations to nature at some of the world’s largest environmental organizations. Over 30 percent of surveyed LEAF alumni go on to pursue environmental careers, and over 50 percent volunteer for environmental causes in their communities.
     National conservation activities created by LEAF and The Nature Conservancy's Youth Engagement Programs are made possible through support from Lowe's. The company has supported the Conservancy’s work for more than a decade, contributing more than $11 million to protect freshwater and forest lands across North America, and to advance environmental youth programs and help build the next generation of conservationists. 

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Huricane Fernanda is projected to deteriorate to a depression by
Saturday, before reaching Hawai`i. Image from Island MAX Weather.
HURRICANE FERNANDA IS LIKELY TO BE DOWNGRADED TO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION before she reaches Hawai`i, according to the National Hurricane Center. The National Weather Service reported mid day that Hurricane Fernanda was located more than 1,500 miles east southeast of Hilo moving west northwest at approximately 9 mph. The county issued a message, stating, "It is too early to know what effects, if any, Hurricane Fernanda will have on our island or state. Civil Defense will continue to monitor this system. Should any threat develop, you will be informed."

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PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER reported today a 7.4 magnitude earthquake at 1:34 p.m., off Kamchatka, in the Komandorskiye Ostrova Russia Region, between Siberia and Alaska. No tsunami reached Hawai`i, Alaska, nor the west coast of the U.S. Their was a brief tsunami alert for the Aleutian Islands.

SECURITY CLEARANCE SHOULD BE SUSPENDED for White House Senior Advisor Jared Kushner, announced Ka`u Senators Mazie Hirono, Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Al Franken (D-Minn.) Today, they demanded that his security clearance of be immediately suspended, pending a review of newly revealed information about Kushner’s contacts with Russian lobbyists and government-linked agents.
Jared Kushner
Photo from Wikipedia
    "Following the revelation of a meeting Kushner, along with Donald Trump Jr. and Trump Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort, held with Russian government-linked agents, Kushner’s very presence in the White House – including his significant access to some of our nation’s most highly classified information – may pose a danger to this country," says a statement from the three Senators.
     Their letter to Marcia Lee Kelly, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of White House Management and Office of Administration, says “Mr. Kushner attended a meeting which was held with the stated purpose to receive Russian government information intended to influence a U.S. election. Mr. Kushner omitted this fact on his security clearance reform. Most disturbingly, Mr. Kushner sought a secret channel to communicate with the Kremlin. Given the enormity of the outstanding national security concerns regarding his conduct, Mr. Kushner should not retain access to our nation’s most critical secrets.”
     The letter follows a June request by Hirono, Blumenthal and Franken for a review of Kushner’s security clearance "after troubling allegations Kushner had concealed meetings with Russian officials – among them Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, and VEB Chairman Sergey Gorkov – on his security clearance application," the statement says. The full letter is available here.

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ALLOWING VISITORS FROM INDIA expedited customs clearance is supported by Sen. Mazie Hirono. She coordinated the writing of a bipartisan letter to encourage the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to add India to the Global Entry Program. "India's inclusion in the Global Entry Program further deepens U.S. ties to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, and allows Customs and Boarder Protection to direct security resources to where they are needed most," said Hirono. "I appreciate the action by CBP to finalize India's participation in the Global Entry Program, which will benefit Hawaii's visitor industry in time for Hawaii's busy summer travel season."
Dr. Mukesh Aghi, President of
the U.S,-India Business Council
     According to the U.S. Commerce Department, approximately 1.2 million citizens of India visited the United States in 2016 and spent $13 billion, making India among the top ten markets for U.S. travel and tourism exports.
     The letter was co-signed by Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Bob Casey (D-Pa.).
     Hirono is a longtime advocate of expanding the Global Entry and other trusted traveler programs to grow Hawai`i's international visitor industry. She led similar efforts in support of Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore's inclusion in the Global Entry Program. Singapore's inclusion was finalized in June 2016.
     India joins Canada, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, South Korea, Germany, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Colombia, Switzerland, and Argentina in CBP's Global Entry and other trusted traveler programs.
Sherry Menor-McNamara, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Hawai`i, said the organization "supports initiatives that encourage economic growth in our state, particularly with international markets like India that are projected to continue to grow in the immediate and long-term, with direct and indirect contributions to our GDP and employment."
     Mufi Hannemann, one of the founders of Punalu`u Sweetbread line and Punalu`u Bake Shop, said,
Mufi Hannemann, President of
Hawai`i Lodging & Tourism
Association. Photo by Julia Neal 
"India presents an exciting new opportunity for Hawai`i to benefit from travel and trade between our nations. Just as we've done with Japan and Korea, and more recently with Taiwan and Singapore, this proposed expansion of the federal government's Global Entry program would come as welcome news as we seek to find promising travel and trade markets. With its rapidly expanding economy, India has the potential to emerge as an important source of leisure and business travel, and entry into the Global Entry program will stimulate and support this growth as well as bolster the security cooperation between our two countries." Hannemann is President and CEO of the Hawai`i Lodging & Tourism Association.
     Mukesh Aghi, President of the U.S.- India Business Council said his organization applauds Senator Hirono's leadership and efforts to urge the Department of Homeland Security to expedite India's participation in the Global Entry program. "India's entry into the Global Entry program is a meaningful opportunity to further elevate the U.S.-India relationship.           "India is one of the world's fastest growing outbound travel and tourism markets, with over one million Indian tourists visiting the U.S. since 2015 and spending over $10 billion to support the U.S. travel and tourism export market. For a growing Indian diaspora in the U.S. -- currently over three million -- this is a welcome move to solidify people-to-people ties as well. Allowing an expedited clearance for pre-approved Indian travelers will provide a big boost to the U.S.-India 2017 Travel and Tourism Partnership."

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Drawing in the Park, Tue, July 18, 11a.m., Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Ken Charon Free. 967-8222

Finian's Rainbow continues its run at Kilauea Military Camp's Kilauea Theater next Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 general, $15 for seniors 60 plus and students and $12 for children 12 and under, available at the door. For more information or to make a reservation, contact KDEN at 982-7344 or kden73@aol.com.

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, July 16, 2017

Geologic Map of the Northeast Flank of Mauna Loa Volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi,” shows distribution of lava flows and other deposits covering an area from Pu‘u‘ula‘ula (Red Hill) on the southwest to Hilo on the northeast. Ages of geologic units are indicated by color:  reds and oranges are younger, blues and purples are older. The largest salmon-colored lava flow on the map is the Pana‘ewa flow, which erupted from Mauna Loa about 1,470 years ago. 
This USGS map is freely available at https://doi.org/10.3133/sim2932A.  See more detailed map below.
FEDERAL JUDGE DERRICK KAHALA WATSON on Thursday ordered the U.S. government to allow entry into the country of those refugees from the six Muslim majority countries, previously denied by the Trump Travel Ban, who work with a U.S. resettlement agency. He also ordered permitting U.S. entry to grandparents and grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins of those already approved for entry into the U.S.
Hawai`i Attorney General Doug Chin won another round in court against
the Trump travel ban and the Trump administration is appealing to
the U.S. Supreme Court. Photo from Honolulu Museum
       Hawai`i Attorney General Doug Chin, who asked Watson's federal District Court for the decision, said that it “makes clear that the U.S. government may not ignore the scope of the partial travel ban as it sees fit. Family members have been separated and real people have suffered enough,” Chin said.
     However, the Trump administration filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday night and asked the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for a hold on Watson's ruling on Saturday. The Trump appeal states that Watson's ruling “empties the court’s decision of meaning, as it encompasses not just ‘close’ family members, but virtually all family members. Treating all of these relationships as ‘close familial relationship(s)’ reads the term ‘close’ out of the Court’s decision.”
      Trump administration attorneys also contended that neither Watson nor other federal district judges can rule on the travel ban, arguing that only Supreme Court has the means to rule in this case. “Only this Court can definitively settle whether the government’s reasonable implementation is consistent with this Court’s stay,” says the appeal.
Judge Derrick Kahala Watson
     Travel Wire News reports Becca Heller, director of the International Refugee Assistance Project, a resettlement agency, saying, "Watson’s ruling could help more than 24,000 refugees already vetted and approved by the United States but barred by the 120-day freeze on refugee admissions. Many of them had already sold all of their belongings to start their new lives in safety. This decision gives back hope to so many who would otherwise be stranded indefinitely.”
     According to Travel Wire News, "Citing a need to review its vetting process to ensure national security, the administration capped refugee admissions at 50,000 for the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, a ceiling it hit this week.       "The federal budget can accommodate up to 75,000 refugees, but admissions have slowed under Trump, and the government could hold them to a trickle, resettlement agencies say."
    Speaking about the Hawai`i federal judge's ruling, Travel Wire News also quotes Melanie Nezer, spokeswoman for HIAS, another resettlement agency, saying, “Absolutely this is good news for refugees, but there’s a lot of uncertainty. It’s really going to depend on how the administration reacts to this.”
Attorney General Jeff Sessions
Photo by Gage Skidmore
      U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said, “Once again, we are faced with a situation in which a single federal district court has undertaken by a nationwide injunction to micromanage decisions of the co-equal executive branch related to our national security. By this decision, the district court has improperly substituted its policy preferences for the national security judgments of the executive branch in a time of grave threats.”

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NEW MAP REVEALS HISTORY OF MAUNA LOA VOLCANO'S NORTHEAST FLANK. The
new Geologic Map of the Northeast Flank of Mauna Loa Volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi is the culmination of many years of work by Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists. It was recently published by the U.S. Geological Survey. The work was spearheaded by John P. Lockwood (affectionately known as "Mr. Mauna Loa"), who is now retired from USGS and HVO, and Frank Trusdell, HVO’s current Mauna Loa Project geologist.
      Volcano Watch, written weekly by USGS scientists at Hawaiian Volcano Obeservator, writes:
      For the northeast region of Mauna Loa, this updated map supersedes the “Geologic Map of the Island of Hawai‘i" (1996) and the “Geologic Map of the State of Hawai‘i" (2007).
     Encompassing 440 square miles (1,140 sq km) of the northeast flank of Mauna Loa, the new map comprises an area equivalent to the islands of Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i combined. The mapped area extends from an elevation of 10,880 feet (3316 m) to sea level, from Pu‘u‘ula‘ula (“Red Hill”) on the southwest to Hilo on the northeast.
      Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano on Earth, is known to have erupted 33 times since written descriptions became available in 1832. Some eruptions were preceded by only brief seismic unrest, while others followed several months to a year of increased seismicity. Since 1832, seven eruptions occurred within the area covered by the map: 1852, 1855–56, 1880–81, 1899, 1935–36, 1942, and 1984.
      The Northeast Rift Zone (NERZ) of Mauna Loa is about 25 miles (40 km) long and 1.2–2.5 miles (2–4 km) wide. It narrows at Moku‘āweoweo, the volcano’s summit caldera, but becomes diffuse (3.4–4.3 miles, or 6–7 km, wide) down rift near Pu‘umaka‘ala Cone, about 7.4 miles (12 km) west of Mountain View. The rift zone is marked by low spatter ramparts and spatter cones as high as 197 ft (60 m).
Showing slightly closer view of geologic units thann the image above,this map published by the U.S. Geological
Survey shows lava flows over time on Mauna Loa. Reds and oranges are younger, blues and purples are older,
with the salmon 
being about 1,470 years old. See https://doi.org/10.3133/sim2932A
      Eruptive fissures and ground cracks cut volcanic deposits and flows in and near the crest of the rift zone. Lava typically flows from the NERZ to the north, east, or south, depending on vent location relative to the rift crest. For instance, during the 1880–1881 eruption of Mauna Loa, flows initially traveled south towards Kīlauea, but later, northeast towards Hilo.
      Although most of the NERZ source vents are more than 19 miles (30 km) from Hilo, one branch of the 1880–1881 flow nearly reached Hilo Bay. In fact, Hilo is built entirely on lava flows erupted from the NERZ, most of them older than 1852.
      The map shows the distribution of 105 eruptive units (flows)—separated into 15 age groups ranging from more than 30,000 years before present to 1984 CE—as well as the relations of volcanic and surficial sedimentary deposits. The color scheme adopted for the map is based on the age of the volcanic deposits. Warm colors (red, pink, and orange) represent deposits from recent epochs of time, while cool colors (blue and purple) represent older deposits.
      From the geologic record, we can deduce several facts about the geologic history of the NERZ. For example, in the past 4,000 years, the middle to uppermost sections of the rift zone were more active than the lower section, perhaps due to buttressing (compression) of the lower northeast rift zone by the adjacent Mauna Kea and Kīlauea volcanoes.
      Other interesting tidbits gleaned from the new map include: The Hāla‘i Hills near Hilo High School are 15,000- to 20,000-year-old eruptive cones from Mauna Loa, which are among the oldest geologic units found in Hilo. The lava flow at the top of Rainbow Falls is 10,000 years old! The largest flow in the map area is called the Pana‘ewa picrite, an olivine-rich lava flow that erupted from a vent near the Kūlani Correctional Facility, and which, at the coast, extends from Hā‘ena (Shipman Estate property) through Keaukaha to Mokuola (Coconut Island). 
     The geologic map provides fundamental information on the long-term eruptive behavior of Mauna Loa Volcano. In addition, it offers a valuable foundation from which collaborative studies in geology and biology can be launched. 
     The map can be viewed or freely downloaded from USGS Publications at https://doi.org/10.3133/sim2932A.

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CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE FERNANDA was moving west-northwest at 2 p.m. on Sunday, after a strengthening eyewall replacement,  but is expected to weaken to 40 miles an hour or less before reaching Hawaiian waters on Friday or Saturday.
Category Four Hurricane Fernanda making her way toward Hawai`i is
expected to weaken before reaching here. Photo from NASA
      The Major Hurricane, with winds of 125 mph, continues to move at 10 kt near the southwestern periphery of a mid-level high pressure system centered over the southwestern United States. The National Hurricane Center reports that its "track forecast philosophy remains unchanged from the past several advisories. A trough to the northeast of the Hawaiian Islands is expected to erode the
western portion of the ridge during the next few days. This pattern change should cause Fernanda to slow down and gain more latitude than it has in previous days. The trough is expected to lift out later in the week allowing the ridge to rebuild to the the north of the tropical cyclone in about 4 days. This should cause Fernanda to turn back toward the west in the four-to five-day period. The models are in good agreement on this overall scenario, and the NHC track forecast is near the middle of the guidance envelope."
See our month long calendar at www.kaucalendar.com
     National Hurricane Center reports that "the hurricane is still over warm water and in a favorable atmospheric environment, and it is forecast to remain in those conditions for another day or so. Therefore, little change in strength is expected in the short term. After that time, however, cooler waters, drier air, and an increase in wind shear should cause Fernanda to steadily weaken" into a weak tropical storm or depression by the time it reaches the Big Island.

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Celebration of Health, Mon, July 17, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Hongwanji Mission. A gathering of oneness of groups practicing Good Health activities. Meditation with Velvet Replogle, Yoga with Stephanie Pepper, Tai Chi with Phillip Hema & Qi Gong with Shary Crocker. Nutritious snacks and dishes. Everyone welcome. 929-7647

Drawing in the Park
, Tue, July 18, 11a.m., Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Ken Charon Free. 967-8222

Finian's Rainbow continues its run at Kilauea Military Camp's Kilauea Theater next Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 general, $15 for seniors 60 plus and students and $12 for children 12 and under, available at the door. For more information or to make a reservation, contact KDEN at 982-7344 or kden73@aol.com.

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, July 15, 2017

Internationally renowned violinist and co-founder of the Hawai`i International Music Festival Eric Silberger
will return to Ka`u with a team of master singers and musicians for a performance on Wednesday, Aug. 16
at Pahala Plantation House. Photo by Carlin Ma
HAWAI`I INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL has announced its return to Pahala Plantation House on Wednesday, Aug. 16, for a 7 p.m. performance.  Entitlied Thrill of the Senses, the concert will raise awareness of the Pahala Historic Properties Alliance and efforts to to restore buildings to host a living heritage and education center and to curate and honor the history of Pahala. This concert will feature Metropolitan Opera Soprano Amy Shoremount Obra, who is the daughter-in-law of Lorie Obra, of Rusty’s Hawaiian Coffee, a famous Ka`u Coffee brand. 
     Also performing will be Virtuoso Violinist Eric Silberger, Esteemed Pianist Carlin Ma, Hawai`i Symphony Orchestra Cellist Sun Chang Yang, Mexican Tenor Manuel Castillo, Young Artist Mexican Soprano Sandra Aldaz Meraz, and World Renowned Argentinean Bandoneon Player JP Jofre. 
    Jofre, a native of San Juan, Argentina, is an award winning bandoneon player and composer. His music has been recorded by 16 Grammy winner Paquito D’ Rivera, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and choreographed and performed by ballet-star Herman Cornejo (Principal Dancer of the American Ballet Theatre) among others. A recipient of the National Prize of the Arts grant in Argentina, Jofre has taken his form of contemporary tango to some of the most important venues in Asia, Europe, America and the Caribbean as soloist and composer. 
The bandoneon will one featured instrument at the Hawai`i International
 Music Festival performance on Wednesday, Aug. 16 in Pahala. The master
is Argentinian JP Jofre who creates a contemporary tango.
Photo from Hawai`i International Music Festival
     Jofre has been part of many festivals including the Celebrity Series of Boston, Google Talks, TEDtalks, Umbria Jazz Festival, Great Performers at Lincoln Center, Seattle Town, Belgorod Music Festival in Russia, Sudtirol Jazz Festival, and Bachanalia Taiwan, Lorin Maazel's Castleton Festival among others. For the world premiere of his Bandoneon Concerto, the Mercury News wrote: “…he is an electrifying composer-bandoneon player.”
     Shoremount-Obra made her much anticipated Metropolitan Opera Debut in October 2014 as “First Lady” in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, singing all nine performances of the opera, three of which were Sirius XM Satellite Broadcasts. Recent operatic engagements have included Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with Opera Las Vegas, The Savannah Voice Festival, and NYC's new Venture Opera, Machessa in Verdi’s Un Giorno di Regno with Odyssey Opera of Boston, Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte with Annapolis Opera, and most recently, Leonore in Beethoven’s Fidelio with Grand Harmonie.
Amy Shoremount Obra brings internationally acclaimed
musicians, including her own Metropolitan Opera
voice to perform in Pahala.
Photo from Hawai`i International Music Festival
     Shoremount-Obra has appeared at Carnegie Hall as the Soprano soloist in Fauré ‘s Requiem, Brahms’ Requiem, and Schubert’s Mass in G and at David Geffen Hall as the Soprano Soloist in Verdi’s Requiem. She was a National Semi-Finalist and New York Regional Winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and holds degrees from Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School. 
    Hawai`i International Music Festival will also offer performances in Hilo and Honolulu.
   This marks the third Pahala performance of internationally renowned musicians and singers organized by Shoremount-Obra.
See https://www.himusicfestival.com/concerts.
   See more biographies of performers in upcoming Ka`u News Briefs and the August edition of The Ka`u Calendar newspaper.
     
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A FOREST RESTORATION PROJECT on Friday, July 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. welcomes volunteers for invasive Faya tree removal in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Learn about the park's native forest restoration program the important role volunteers play in protecting important and threatened native ecosystems.
Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is sending
out a call for volunteers to help with restoration.
Photo from FHVNP
    Volunteers should be at least 12 years old, and be able to hike at least one mile over rough, uneven ground. Sturdy walking shoes and long pants are required, along with gear for variable weather conditions (be prepared for sun or rain with a hat, raincoat, sunscreen, etc.) plus drinking water and lunch.
    Also imperative is scrubbing the soles of one's shoes prior to arrival on site, in order to ensure outside dirt/soil and invasive species aren't tracked in. Clothing, tools, and gloves, etc. should be clean before entering the park to protect against seeds, Rapid Ohia Death fungus and other invasives.
    The goal of sponsoring organization Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is a crew of 17 people, and pre-registration is required. All participants will need to sign a Friends release form and a park volunteer form. For those under 18, an adult will need to co-sign.
     To reserve a spot, contact Patty Kupchak at 352-1402, or email forest@fhvnp.org.

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Fernanda is expected to weaken as she swirls northwest to Hawai`i.
Map from Island MAX Weather
HURRICANE FERNANDA IS EXPECTED to weaken before reaching Hawaiian waters next weekend. On Saturday Fernanda was showing in inner eye about 20 nautical miles across and an outer eye about 60 nautical miles across.
     The long-term weakening is expected as Fernanda enters cooler water and in into a drier and more stable air mass near Hawai`i.


Finian's Rainbow continues its run at Kilauea Military Camp's Kilauea Theater this and next Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and next Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.Tickets are $20 general, $15 for seniors 60 plus and students and $12 for children 12 and under, available at the door. For more information or to make a reservation, contact KDEN at 982-7344 or kden73@aol.com.

Celebration of Health, Mon, July 17, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Hongwanji Mission. A gathering of oneness of groups practicing Good Health activities. Meditation with Velvet Replogle, Yoga with Stephanie Pepper, Tai Chi with Phillip Hema & Qi Gong with Shary Crocker. Nutritious snacks and dishes. Everyone welcome. 929-7647

Drawing in the Park, Tue, July 18, 11a.m., Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Ken Charon Free. 967-8222