Ka‘ū News Briefs, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022

Mauna Loa, a massive mountain which is also earth's most massive active volcano, is bathed in pink and gold light. Its summit

 is off limits and it is subject to daily updates from USGS due to increased seismicity. Photo by A Lavalle/USGS

VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS ON MAUNA LOA are the focus of this week's Volcano Watch, written by scientists and affiliates of USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory: 
    The last eruption of Mauna Loa occurred in 1984 and began in a style typical of the volcano. At 10:55 p.m. on March 24, 1984, the rate of earthquakes under Mauna Loa started to rapidly pick up. While rates of earthquakes were already above normal, they quickly rose to two to three earthquakes per minute.
    By 11:30 p.m., strong seismic tremor had begun, indicating that magma was moving underground and getting close to the surface. The eruption began at Mauna Loa’s summit at 1:30 a.m. on March 25.
   The rapid onset of extreme unrest leading to eruption in 1984 is typical of the Mauna Loa eruptions that have been observed in the last two centuries. In addition to rapid onset, eruptions that migrate down either of Mauna Loa’s rift zones tend to be high volume and resulting lava flows can move quickly from their eruptive vents downslope toward the ocean. As described in a March 11, 2022 Volcano Watch article, lava flows moving down the steep slopes of South Kona can reach the ocean as soon as three to four hours after the start of a rift eruption. The combination of rapid onset, large lava volumes, and fast lava flows can make Mauna Loa eruptions particularly hazardous.
    The technology we use to monitor volcanoes has changed a lot since 1984. Paper seismograms, hand-collected survey data, and visual observations have given way to digital broadband seismic data, continuous GPS measurements, and a network of webcams. This means we have a lot more detail about Mauna Loa’s current period of unrest than has ever been possible before. Nonetheless, it is still possible for the situation to change rapidly and it is difficult to forecast when that might happen.
     Mauna Loa’s current episode of unrest began in late 2014 with an increase in the rates of inflationary deformation and seismicity. These rates waned in 2017-2018, but began increasing again in 2019 and have remained somewhat steady since then, with earthquake rates of about 20 per day. A noticeable seismic swarm occurred from late January through mid-April 2021 and was accompanied by changes by ground surface tilt recorded by a summit tiltmeter. This was an unprecedented observation that indicated magma had been getting closer to the surface. Another short swarm and tilt event was observed in early August 2022.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Mauna Loa monitoring data showing increased ground deformation rates (top) and earthquake rates (bottom) from August 8 through October 5, 2022. The distance (line length) between GPS stations MOKP and MLES (blue circles) lengthened by about 2 cm (less than 1 inch), indicating that Mauna Loa is expanding as more magma accumulates beneath the surface. MOKP is located just Northwest of Mokuʻāweoweo (Mauna Loa’s summit caldera) and MLES is located on Mauna Loa’s upper southeast flank. Tiltmeter measurements (green line) also show increased ground motions (the daily oscillations in tilt are due to local heating and cooling cycles). There were less than 20 earthquakes per day (blue bars) from early August through mid-September. The rate increased to about 40-50 earthquakes per day over the past two weeks, with peaks of over 100 earthquakes per day on September 23rd and 29th. USGS plots

    The current and ongoing swarm began on Sept. 22 and marked the start of a persistent increase in earthquake rate at Mauna Loa’s summit. It rose from about 20 per day to 40-50 per day, with two days getting as high as 100 per day. Shallow (less than about two miles or three kilometers depth) opening of magma pathways has also been detected as an inflationary tilt event. However, the bulk of Mauna Loa’s deformation is still due to deeper processes (greater than about 2 miles or 3 kilometers depth) that have been occurring since 2019.
    Other signals, such as seismic tremor, that would indicate that an eruption is imminent, have not been

On June 1, 1950, a fissure erupted high on Mauna Loa's Southwest Rift Zone, and within 3 hours, ‘a‘ā lava flows had crossed the main highway on the west coast of the Island of Hawai‘i. The flows soon inundated the coastal village of Ho‘okena-mauka and reached the ocean, creating billowy clouds of steam that rose 10,000 feet into the into the air. All the villagers reached safety unharmed, but lava flows destroyed about two-dozen structures and cut the highway in three places before the eruption ended on June 23. Photo from USGS

observed. However, due to the sustained high level of earthquakes, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has begun issuing daily updates on Mauna Loa’s status that are available on the USGS website (https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/volcano-updates).
    This uptick in activity is a good reminder to be prepared for a volcanic eruption, whether you live on the flanks of Mauna Loa or anywhere else on the Island of Hawaiʻi.
    The steps to be prepared for a volcanic eruption are the same as for many other hazards and is part of All Hazards preparedness. It includes putting together a go bag with essentials in the case of quick evacuation, as well as a communication plan among your family members, and knowing how to get updated emergency information. More information is available in a March 11, 2021, Volcano Watch article

The 1984 Mauna Loa eruption as seen from Hilo.
Photo from Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

that focused on lava flow hazards from Mauna Loa (https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/volcano-watch-failing-prepare-you-are-preparing-fail-benjamin-franklin). Additionally, Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense has resources on their website (https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/departments/civil-defense/emergency-preparedness) to help you create an All Hazards plan for your family.
     Volcano Activity Updates: Kīlauea volcano is erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is at WATCH (https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/volcano-hazards/about-alert-levels). Kīlauea updates are issued daily.
    Over the past week, lava has continued to erupt from the western vent within Halemaʻumaʻu crater in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Sulfur dioxide emission rates remain elevated and were last measured at approximately 1,800 tonnes per day (t/d) on Sept. 30. Seismicity is elevated but stable, with few earthquakes and ongoing volcanic tremor. Over the past week, summit tiltmeters recorded several minor deflation-inflation (DI) events. For more information on the current eruption of Kīlauea, see https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/recent-eruption.
    Mauna Loa is not erupting and remains at Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY. This alert level does not mean that an eruption is imminent or that progression to an eruption from the current level of unrest is certain. Mauna Loa updates are issued daily. This past week, about 430 small-magnitude earthquakes were recorded below the summit and upper elevation flanks of Mauna Loa—the majority of these occurred at shallow depths less than 15 kilometers (9 miles) below sea level. Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements show continued ground deformation consistent with inflation of a magma chamber beneath the summit. Gas concentrations and fumarole temperatures at both the summit and at Sulphur Cone on the Southwest Rift Zone have remained stable over the past week.
    Webcams show no changes to the landscape. For more information on current monitoring of Mauna Loa, see: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/monitoring.
    One earthquake was reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.4 earthquake 10 km (6 mi) NE of Pāhala at 32 km (20 mi) depth on Oct. 4 at 10:38 p.m. HST.
    HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea's ongoing eruption and Mauna Loa for any signs of increased activity.
    Visit HVO’s website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

A job greeting visitors as a Recreation Fee Clerk is available at
 Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park at https://go.nps.gov/HAVOjobs

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

A WORK POSITION AT HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK IS AVAILABLE as a Temporary Recreation Fee Clerk at the entrance station. A message from HVNP says, "Apply if you are passionate about helping visitors start their experience at the national park. Check out the listing under the Work With Us section of the website: https://go.nps.gov/HAVOjobs
Position closes this Monday, Oct. 10  and is not available through USAJOBS.


THE U.S AND HAWAI'I STATE FLAGS WILL BE FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF to honor fallen

Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Md.

firefighters at the direction of the President of the United States and Gov. David Ige this Sunday, Oct. 9, the day of the annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
    "With every fire related disaster, our firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency medical first responders risk their lives to keep our communities safe. Let us all take the time to honor the selflessness and bravery of these individuals and reflect on the importance of practicing fire prevention and safety," said Hawai'i's governor.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

In the mail, on stands and at www.kaucalendar.com

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022

The inaugural Hawk Week begins Sunday, celebrating the life and conservation of 'Io.
Photo from DLNR

HAWK WEEK BEGINS ON SUNDAY. Conservation agencies made the announcement this week. The first-ever Hawk Week in Hawai'i is Oct. 9-15. Intended to bring attention to the plight of the state's native hawk, the 'Io, and to raise awareness about threats it faces, the week includes numerous opportunities for involvement and education.
    The 'Io named Makaʻio is the ambassador for his species and for Hawk Week. He lives in the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Center in north Kohala, after numerous injuries in the wild. The three-year-old male bird came to the center in 2019 and is under the care of veterinarian Dr. Juan Guerra and his team. “His main problems were an eye injury and a soft-tissue wing injury,” Guerra explained while putting Maka‘io through a daily series of exercises to keep him healthy. “His wing injury healed fine, but he can’t see out of his right eye anymore. As a birds of prey, ‘Io don’t do well out in the wild if they’re unable to see with both eyes.”             The center applied for permits from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and DLNR Division of Forestry & Wildlife to keep Maka‘io as an education bird. Guerra said, “He’s here for people in the local community to learn more about his species, about their natural history, their cultural importance, and the work we do at the wildlife center.”
    Those are exactly some of issues and subjects, Hawk Week covers during seven-days of ‘Io appreciation online presentations.

The native Hawaiian hawk, the 'Io is celebrated in Hawk Week starting Sunday.
Photo by Julia Neal

    Ande Buskirk, Education & Outreach Specialist for the DOFAW Hawai‘i Island branch, conceived the week-long series of virtual talks as a way to honor and celebrate the native hawk. “Each day, starting this Sunday, new content will be added to the Hawk Week page according to each day’s theme,” Buskirk said. Sunday, Oct. 9, learn about Biology and Natural History. On Monday, Oct. 10 learn about Cultural Connections involving 'Io. Tuesday, Oct. 1, hear about Conservation Actions. On Wednesday, Oct. 12, find out about Public Appreciation. On Thursday, Oct. 13 listen to stories of Care and Rehabilitation. On Friday, Oct. 14, study Co-existence. On Saturday, Oct. 15 understand the future for hawks in Hawai'i with the slogans Holomua! Onward!

    In addition to Hawk Week virtual events, DOFAW education specialists have been offering programs to interested public schools on Hawai‘i Island to provide information about ‘Io and particularly the threats they face from people.
    Ray McGuire, a DOFAW Wildlife Biologist commented, “Protecting our native wildlife is huge. If people know there is a community that cares about these birds, perhaps that will stop some people from shooting at them. We want to remind people that ‘Io and many other native birds are protected under both federal and state laws.”
    In addition to DLNR's DOFAW and Hawai'i Wildlife Center, Office of Hawaiian Affairs is a primary supporter of Hawk Week. US Fish & Wildlife Service, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the 'Alala Project provided expertise in developing Hawai Week programming.  Find links to the programs at http://birdfesthawaii.org/

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

AG THEFT IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE, WITH A SMALLER COFFEE AND AVOCADO CROP THIS YEAR, says a message from University of Hawai'i Agricultural Extension Service. Agent Andrea Kawabata reports that agricultural thefts occurred on at least two fruit farms on the Big Island and on several properties on Maui. A lower than usual coffee and avocado crop is expected making these targets as well. Agricultural theft can be considered theft in the second degree and a class C felony. Kawabata urges: "Protect yourself and your fruit or other agricultural commodities, and be aware of the following law which was created to protect farmers."

    The Hawai'i State Law requires: "For the transport and sale of all agricultural commodities exceeding 200 pounds or with a value of at least $100, the Hawaii Revised Statutes section 145-22 requires that (DL-22) records shall include the following: The seller's name, residence address, telephone number, and license plate number of any vehicle used by the seller to deliver the commodity to the place of purchase; name of the farm owner and address of origin; name of the buyer or consignee, and destination; and signature of the seller and, upon sale, the signature of the buyer or consignee."
    See the HDOA Certificate of Ownership/Movement of Agricultural Commodities (DL-22).
    In addition, sales over $300 also require the seller to present the buyer with a valid photo ID card or license, issued by a federal or state government agency.
    Kawabata recommends farmers to "Take precautions to safeguard your fruit and ag commodities and report any thefts or possible thefts to the police. If you would like ideas on how to protect your farm and property from agricultural theft, click here.
"For your safety and those around you, avoid intervening while a crime is in progress and call 911. If a theft has already been committed and for non-emergency situations, call your island's non-emergency number. Once the police arrive, provide them with photographs, videos, written documentation, and serial/identification numbers of stolen items, if possible. The more details and evidence provided, the more it might help the officer make an arrest."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

THE TROJANS  STOOD UP TO KONAWA'ENA on Wednesday, but Ka‘ū lost in JV and Varsity play. In JV, the scores were 20-25, 25-14 and 12-15. Taijah Beck came up with 8 kills and 1 ace. Tyra Wong Yuen nailed 2 kills

and 3 aces. Waileia Kainoa Haili-Barawis pulled off 1 ace. Cherish Gravela-Mareko pounded 1 kill and 4 aces and Ha'ale'a Freitas Hashimoto scored 1 kill.
    In Varsity play, the scores were 19 - 25, 11 - 25 and 17 - 25. Jazmyn Navarro nailed 4 kills and 1 ace. Kyia Hashimoto had 3 kills 1 ace. Kamalyn Jara managed 3 kills and Tehani-Mae Espejo-Navarro 1 kill 2 aces.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

USGS MAUNA LOA VOLCANO UPDATE: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported on Thursday that during the past 24 hours, HVO seismometers recorded approximately 44 small-magnitude (below M3.0) earthquakes below the summit and upper-elevation flanks of Mauna Loa. The majority of these earthquakes occurred at shallow depths less than 15 kilometers (9 miles) below sea level.

    The summit trail on Mauna Loa remains closed by Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park due to the increased seismicity. Global Positioning System measurements show continued steady rates of deformation consistent with inflation in the volcano's summit region. Tiltmeters at the summit show no significant changes over the last 24 hours.
    Concentrations of SO2), hydrogen sulfide, and CO2, as well as fumarole temperatures, remain stable at both the summit and at Sulphur Cone on the upper Southwest Rift Zone.
    Webcam views have shown no changes to the volcanic landscape on Mauna Loa over the past week.
HVO plans to closely monitor Mauna Loa for changes and issue daily Mauna Loa Volcano updates until further notice. 
    Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on the planet, rising gradually to 13,681 feet above sea level. Its long submarine flanks descend an additional three miles below sea level to the ocean floor. The ocean

HVO geochemist Tamar Elias collected a gas sample at Sulphur Cone on Mauna Loa.
 in 2000. Inset picture shows an approximately 1.4 ft. thick section of emplaced
 sulfur flow. USGS photo

floor directly beneath Mauna Loa is, in turn, depressed by the volcano's great mass another five miles. This places Mauna Loa's summit about 56,000 feet above its base. The enormous volcano covers half of the Island of Hawaiʻi and by itself amounts to about 85 percent of all the other Hawaiian Islands combined.
    Eruptions typically start at the summit and, within minutes to months of eruption onset, about half of the eruptions migrate into either the Northeast or Southwest Rift Zone. Since its first well-documented eruption in 1843, the volcano has erupted 33 times with intervals between eruptions ranging from months to decades. Mauna Loa last erupted in 1984.
    Mauna Loa eruptions tend to produce voluminous, fast-moving lava flows that can impact communities on the east and west sides of the Island of Hawaiʻi. Since the mid-19th century, the city of Hilo in east Hawaiʻi has been threatened by seven Mauna Loa lava flows. Mauna Loa lava flows have reached the south and west coasts of the island eight times: in 1859, 1868, 1887, 1926, 1919, and three times in 1950.

        For more information on current monitoring of Mauna Loa volcano, see: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/monitoring.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

In the mail, on stands and at www.kaucalendar.com

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022

Seismic activity since June has increased to 40 to 50 earthquakes per day at the summit of 
Mauna Loa, leading Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park to close the trail for hiking there.
NPS photo by A. Lavele

MAUNA LOA SEISMIC ACTIVITY HAS LED TO CLOSURE OF THE SUMMIT. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park announced on Thursday that Mauna Loa Road and Mauna Loa Lookout at 6,662 feet remain open to the public. Taking the trail to the summit is forbidden for now. Mauna Loa is not erupting. The volcanic alert level remains at advisory, and the aviation color code remains at yellow.

The last Mauna Loa eruption was in 1984. USGS photo by J.D. Griggs

    The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory advisory at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday says, "Mauna Loa is currently experiencing heightened unrest." USGS reported an increase to 40 to 50 earthquakes per day over the past two weeks, up from five to ten per day in June and ten to 20 earthquakes per day in July and August. Peak numbers of over 100 earthquakes per day occurred on Sept. 23 and 29.

    USGS reports "Inflation or expansion of Mauna Loa's summit is accompanying the earthquake activity and has also increased in the past two weeks. The last time Mauna Loa displayed similar

elevated earthquake activity and expansion of the summit region was late-January to late-March of 2021. Additional periods of increased earthquake activity have also occurred during the 38 years since the last eruption of Mauna Loa in 1984."

    Beginning Thursday, Oct. 6, HVO will change is Updates for Mauna Loa from weekly to daily, , "reflecting the heightened level of unrest. HVO is continuing to monitor conditions carefully and will issue appropriate updates if conditions change. See updated maps and graphs of earthquake activity at Mauna Loa at Past Week Monitoring Data for Mauna Loa | U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov). See Mauna Loa FAQs: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/faqs
    Study: Preparing for Mauna Loa: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/volcano-watch-failing-prepare-you-are-preparing-fail-benjamin-franklin

     U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists will notify the park if conditions change. For more information, refer to HVO's latest Status Report.www.nps.gov/havo.

    Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawaiʻi and American Samoa.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

HAWAI'I BOOK & MUSIC FESTIVAL IS UNDERWAY through Oct. 31. It offers 75 free zoom events, including international, national and Hawaiʻi authors and sessions on musical compositions, fiction,

poetry, memoir, Native Hawaiian culture, sustainability, wellness, and more. Among the featured writers are many from Hawai'i and internationally famed authors of best sellers Seth Godin, John Irving, and Noam Chomsky.
    To attend any of the sessions, register once here.

    Hawai'i books and music are wide ranging in their subjects, with such titles as Indigenous Pacific Islander Ecopoetry, The Eddie Kamae Songbook: A Musical Journey, and Life on the Rocks: Building a Future for Coral Reefs. 

    One of the Special Presentations with Author Giulio Boccletti is Water & Civilization: A Planetary Experiment with D. Kapua'ala Sproat and Boccaletti. Another presentation is Fower of Hawai'i - an anthology of plays by Lee Cataluna with John Wat and Lee Cataluna. 

    Presentations also include books and songs for keiki and many scientific and technical subjects. See the entire schedule at https://hawaiibookandmusicfestival.com/2022-schedule

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at 

Patterns of the honu shell drawn by Volcano
PreK student learning the letter t.

https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

VOLCANO SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES PreK recently studied green sea turtles during a week focused on the the letter t. PreK teachers Michelle Buck and Taylor Hamilton said that students learned that the green sea turtle is called honu. During the Week of t, students engaged in reading about, observing, and counting turtles. They learned poems and mele about turtles and created their own honu. "Students brought t objects from home and learned to write the letter t," said Buck.
    Jodie Rosam, an environmental consultant and author of The Ka‘ū Calendar column on Native Plants of Ka‘ū, visited the classroom to read a turtle book, The Adventures of Gary and Harry, and to teach PreK keiki all about honu. She shared a Fun Fact: "Did you know that honu can hold their breath for over 3 hours?" Keiki and teacher pledged to help keep beaches and oceans clean and help save the turtles, and said, "Hooray for letter t."

The honu Hawaiian green sea turtle became the focus for a week of learning the letter t at Volcano
School of Arts & Sciences with a reading by Jodie Rosam of the Gary & Harry honu book.
Photo from Volcano School

In the mail, on stands and at www.kaucalendar.com