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Monday, September 11, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023

 An eruption-monitoring overflight on Monday showed  multiple minor fountains active in the eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor and on the downdropped block within Kīlauea's summit caldera. The line of vents stretched approximately 0.8 miles (1.4 km), from the eastern part of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor extending into the east wall of the downdropped block. Lava fountain heights were about 30 to 35 feet high Monday morning. USGS Photo by J. Schmith 

BE PREPARED FOR AIR QUALITY IMPACTS FROM THE ERUPTION OF Kīlauea, cautions state Department of Health. It reported Monday that permanent air quality monitoring stations registered some elevated poor air quality levels at Ocean View and Pāhala. The eruption has also caused vog conditions to return up the coast to Kona on the west side of Hawaiʻi Island. "Particulates in the air and levels of sulfur dioxide may increase and fluctuate in various localized areas on Hawai‘i Island, causing poor air quality," says the Department of Health statement.
    Air quality has been fluctuating and SO2 readings reached Unhealthy for Sensitive People and for a short time it was Hazardous on Monday before dawn in Ocean View but recovered. Good air quality lasted all day into late evening Monday in Ocean View and Pāhala as the breeze shifted the vog offshore and carried it toward Kona.
    USGS reported that volcanic gas emissions in the eruption area are elevated; between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday, HVO staff measured preliminary sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rates of up to 100,000 tonnes per day or more.
    At Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on Monday,  Keanakākoʻi viewing area was closed due to unsafe air quality. The Park posted, "That big plume you see contains sulfur dioxide, other gases and shards of volcanic glass that pose a significant risk to anyone if inhaled. Stay safe and stay out of closed areas."
  DOH advises "to be prepared for and aware of the surrounding conditions, and how they may react to poor air quality or vog. When in areas of vog, DOH suggests precautionary measures:
  • Reduce outdoor activities that cause heavy breathing. Avoiding outdoor activity and exercise during vog conditions can reduce exposure and minimize health risks. This is especially important for sensitive groups, such as children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions including asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic lung and heart disease.
  • People with asthma or other chronic respiratory disease should always have medications available. 
  • Daily prescribed medications should be taken on schedule.
    Vog rises out of Halema‘uma‘u on Sept. 11 and heads toward
    Kaʻū and Kona, sometimes missing Kaʻū as it travels offshore.
    USGS Photo by J. Schmith
  • People experiencing health effects should contact their medical provider as soon as possible if any symptoms develop, as respiratory conditions might worsen rapidly in heavy sulfur dioxide or vog conditions.
  • Stay indoors and close windows and doors. If an air conditioner is used, set it to recirculate. If you need to move out of an impacted area, turn on the car's air conditioner and set it to recirculate.
  • Face masks (surgical, cloth, KF94, KN95, N95) do not provide protection from sulfur dioxide or vog.         
  • However, they can be effective in outdoor environments in reducing inhaled hazardous particulates associated with falling ash and Pele's hair.
  • Do not smoke and avoid second-hand smoke.
  • Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
    Vog and air quality updates are available through the:Hawaiʻi Interagency Vog Information Dashboard, and through DOH Clean Air Branch.


Trojans Girls Volleyball continued a winning streak at home against the Cowgirls on Monday. Photo by Julia Neal
Ka‘ū beat Kohala at home on Monday, Sept. 11 Images by Jennifer Makuakani
TROJANS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL CONTINUED ITS WINNING STREAK at home on Monday, with Varsity beating Kohala 25-14, 25-15 and 25-18. The Kohala Cowgirls JV won in three sets 12-25, 25-16 and 15-7. 
      In the home opener on Aug. 30 against Pāhoa Daggers,  JV and Varsity both won in three sets. Kaʻū traveled to Lapahoehoe on Sept. 8 with varsity taking down the Seasiders in three sets.
     The next competition is at home again this Wednesday, Sept. 13 against the Makua Lani Lionesses at 5 p.m., followed by an away game against the Parker School Bulls in Waimea on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 10 a.m.


HAWAI‘I RANKS 39TH IN VACCINATING FOR COVID, according to a WalletHub study released Monday. Hawai‘i ranks 43rd for children and teenagers, 36th for adults and the elderly. Other states ranking in the bottom 13 for COVID vaccinations are: Mississippi, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Texas, Nevada, West Virginia, Louisiana and New Jersey. 
    Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green, MD encouraged everyone to get vaccinated with daily online and televised updates on the COVID pandemic during his tenure as Lt. Governor and now Governor.
    States with the highest rates of COVID vaccinations are: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Iowa, Vermont, Connecticut, Washington, North Dakota, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Colorado, Maine, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
    The WalletHub report narrative supports vaccinations, stating: "Vaccinations are some of the most valuable contributions to modern medicine. They have drastically reduced the prevalence of certain diseases, including polio, tetanus, measles and chicken pox. One disease, smallpox, has even been eradicated completely, with no natural cases since 1977. 
    "Most recently, we developed a vaccine for COVID-19, which drastically cut down cases and deaths, and allowed the country to get back to normalcy.
    "Vaccines are most effective when a large portion of the population gets them, so it’s important to make sure people are educated on the importance of vaccines and how much good they have done for public health. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that vaccines prevent around 4 to 5 million deaths per year. Vaccines are also very safe, and according to the WHO, 'so few deaths can plausibly be attributed to vaccines that it is hard to assess the risk statistically.'”

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A BON DANCE CLASS WILL BE HELD THIS WEDNESDAY, in preparation for the community Bon Dance this Saturday, Sept. 16 at Pāhala Hongwanji. The Wednesday practice will be at Pāhala Community
Center 11:30 a.m. and is free. It will be taught by Jane Heit from Puna Hongwanji and also by Tsukikage Odorikai.


FIREARMS, DRUG AND THEFT CHARGES AGAINST OCEAN VIEW RESIDENT Daniel James Lemaire have been made. Hawai‘i Police Department and Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen reported on Monday that they made the arrest this past Saturday, Sept. 9 and he was charged on Sunday, Sept. 10. Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged the 42-year-old, stemming from an incident in Kailua-Kona on Friday, Sept. 8, involving the stealing of a car at Kona Airport.
     Lemaire made his initial appearance in Kona District Court on Monday afternoon. Over Prosecutors’ objections, the District Court granted Lemaire’s request to reduce his bail from $288,250 to $10,000. Lemaire was ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 13 in Kona District Court. 
Danielle James Lemaire
    Around 11:20 a.m. on Friday morning, patrol officers observed a previously reported Saturn Vue exiting a parking lot in the 75-6000 block of Kuakini Highway in Kailua-Kona. Upon stopping the vehicle, officers identified the operator, and sole occupant, as Daniel James Lemaire.
    Lemaire was arrested without incident and transported to the Kealakehe Police Station while Kona patrol officers continued their investigation and recovered the stolen vehicle.
    A search of the stolen vehicle was conducted later in the day on Friday, resulting in the recovery of 51.53 grams of methamphetamine, 29.35 grams of marijuana, a loaded semi-automatic rifle, 12 rounds of ammunition, and drug paraphernalia consistent with methamphetamine distribution.
    After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office, police charged Lemaire Sunday morning, Sept. 10, with the following offenses: Unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle; Permits to acquire; First-degree theft; Driving without a license; two counts of ownership/possession prohibited; Place to keep a loaded firearm. First-degree attempted promotion of a dangerous drug; First-degree promoting a dangerous drug; Possession of a firearm with the intent to facilitate a felony drug offense; Carrying or possessing a loaded firearm on a public highway; Second-degree promoting a detrimental drug; and Prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia.
   Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact Kona patrol officer Justin Uresti, via email at Justin.Uresti@hawaiicounty.gov, or the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.

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Sunday, September 10, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023

Vog with sulphur gases coming from new eruption at Halema‘uma‘u as seen at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday from Honu‘apo Overlook. By 10 p.m. the air was Unhealthy for Sensitive People in Pāhala. See https://air.doh.hawaii.gov/home/map. Photo by Bob Martin
From the Uēkahuna overlook on Sunday, the new eruption at the summit of Kīlauea is
 visible. The farthest east fissure is near the margin of downdropped block that formed
during the 2018 summit collapse. The base of the main fissure, which is farthest
 west  (right on the image), is approximately 70 meters wide. USGS photo

A NEW SUMMIT ERUPTION at Kīlauea, with a Warning Alert Level issued by USGS and new vog coming from the Volcano, began on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 10 at about 3:15 p.m. The main fountain, which HVO geologists estimated at approximately 50 meters tall, was on the eastern margin of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. As of approximately 4:30 p.m. HST, the fissures extended
approximately 1350 meters to the northeast, onto the downdropped block that formed during the 2018 summit collapse.
   The eruption also carried with it an increase in sulfur gas emissions, which built slowly after 6 p.m. on Sunday to reach a level at 10 p.m. in Pāhala, measured by the state Department of Health, to be Unhealthy for Sensitive People.
    Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park posted: "Kīlauea began erupting this afternoon, serving as a solemn reminder of the sacredness ingrained in this landscape, symbolizing the presence of the akua, the spiritual forces of Hawaiʻi. 

View of Halema‘uma‘u Crater at 8:38 p.m. Sunday, with its new eruption and increased sulphur gas emissions and made Pāhala
 air Unhealthy for Sensitive People by 10 p.m. See https://air.doh.hawaii.gov/home/map. Image from USGS webcam

The privilege to witness the creative forces of a new eruption comes with a responsibility to approach this place with reverence.
     "We implore all visitors heading to the area to exercise the highest level of respect. While eruptions can spark excitement, it is imperative that observation occurs in silence, allowing the eruption's voice to reach you. Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners, who honor the legacy of this land, deserve unreserved respect for their customs."
    The last eruption ended in June without damage to life or property. The 2018 eruption saw lava destroying more than 700 homes in Puna and sending ash fall and poor air quality in all directions.
   With the new eruption, an increase in sulphur in the air began again this Sunday. At 9:15 p.m. Sunday, the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park air quality map showed good air quality at all of its monitors with the emissions going downslope from Halema‘uma‘u, south to the ocean, away from populated areas. However, the vog built up in Pāhala and by 10 p.m. was Unhealthy for Sensitive People. In the coming days, winds are expected to continue to push the vog southwest into Kaʻū. See https://air.doh.hawaii.gov/home/map https://air.doh.hawaii.gov/home/map? See Pāhala air quality graphic at  at fbclid=IwAR30q7ALHZ9D3xLJsFn9OS7t4P3vUiDIBu5t4NXs8jDCdHxA9DXR_q6ddWM. Also see the current Hawai‘i Volcanoes air quality map at https://www.nps.gov/havo/air-quality-alert.htm.

    For lava viewing at Halema‘uma‘u, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is open 24 hours a day.

Fountaining lava fissures of the new eruption inside Halemaʻumaʻu taken by a USGS webcam. See the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory webcam at  https://www.nps.gov/havo/air-quality-alert.htm.

INVASIVE WILDLIFE OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS IS THE AFTER DARK IN THE PARK 
Dr. Steve Hess
presentation this Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. in Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
    Dr. Steven Hess will explain that the terrestrial biota of the Central Pacific is primarily defined by its degree of isolation. "At the center are the Hawaiian Islands, almost 4,000 km (2,480 miles) from the closest continental land mass. Millions of years of evolutionary isolation created beautiful and unique native ecosystems," says the invitation to the event. "However, the Central Pacific islands were suddenly besieged by alien rodents, carnivores, ungulates, reptiles and diseases."
   Hess, research biologist with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, reveals how reversing the devastating effects of alien species has proven to be difficult, but limited successes have resulted in the dramatic recovery of native species. 
    The presentation is one of Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ongoing After Dark in the Park programs and is co-sponsored by the Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Free, but park entrance fees apply.


A HOME GAME FOR TROJANS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL is set for Monday evening at Herkes Kaʻū District Gym in Pāhala. The opponent is Kohala. Game time is 5 p.m.


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Saturday, September 09, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023

The Bon Dance is a Week Away
This Bon Dance enthusiast helps his granddaughter make a Hachimaki headband to wear at Pāhala Hongwanji Bon Dance. This year's ceremonies, food and Pāhala Taiko drumming are next Saturday, Sept. 16, with the opening service at 4 p.m., to be followed by music and the traditional dancing in the round. A mother and infant in the traditional dress in the background also enjoy the festivities to celebrate ancestors and the harvest, a long-held tradition in Japan that came to Hawai‘i with sugar workers moving here. Attendees will be able to make their headbands at no charge in the old Japanese School House on the grounds of the Hongwanji. Photo by Julia Neal

GOV. JOSH GREEN, M.D. TALKED ABOUT BEING A DOCTOR IN KAʻŪ on Saturday when he announced a new loan repayment program for the education of physicians and other healthcare professionals across the Hawaiian Islands. The Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program is called HELP and Green's statement describes it as "aggressive and far-reaching." Hawai‘i/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center joined Green to unveil the plan to address the growing shortages of physicians and other healthcare professionals in this state.
  Organizers of the new program estimate a shortage of about 4,000 healthcare professionals in Hawai‘i, most acutely affecting residents of rural areas and those with public insurance. The statewide shortage includes practitioners across medical, dental, and behavioral and mental health fields, with demand for primary care physicians, behavioral health providers, and particularly high demand for specialty physicians practicing in rural areas.
    To address the issue Hawai‘i Legislature appropriated $30 million for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 for the establishment of HELP. Licensed or certified for Hawai‘i, healthcare professionals, or those in training, may qualify for up to $50,000 in annual loan forgiveness in exchange for a two-year commitment to serve patients in Hawaiʻi.
    The Hawaiʻi/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center administers the program, and applications are accessible on its website. Applications are accepted twice a year in October and April, and AHEC will disburse awards in January and July.
    The program is developed by Hawai‘i's John A. Burns School of Medicine, Healthcare Association of Hawai‘i, and state Department of Health.
    Green said, "This announcement is the result of many years' worth of effort. I'm thinking back to my time working with colleagues in the state legislature on this loan repayment program and other ways to resolve the shortage of healthcare providers, so it is very rewarding to see it come to fruition so generously funded,"
    The Governor noted that he came to Hawai‘i through a similar program, the National Health Service Corps, and served Kaʻū. 
    The new program builds on the decade-old, federally funded Hawaiʻi State Loan Repayment Program by reaching a larger group of healthcare professionals. In exchange for two years of full-time or half-time service in Hawaiʻi, the following types of healthcare professionals will qualify for loan repayments starting at $12,500 and capped at $50,000. The eligible amount varies depending on the profession, location of practice, and educational indebtedness. All must provide care to, or work for organizations that provide care to, at least 30 percent of patients who are publicly insured.
    Eligible professions include: Audiologist and Behavior analyst, Certified physician assistant, Certified substance abuse counselor, Chiropractor, Clinical laboratory director, Clinical laboratory specialist, Community service dental hygienist, Community service dentist, Cytotechnologist, Dental hygienist, Dentist, Emergency Medical Technician, Industrial psychologist, Licensed bachelor social worker, Licensed clinical social worker, Licensed marriage and family therapist, Licensed practical nurse, Licensed social worker, Medical assistant, Medical laboratory technician, Medical technologist, Mental health counselor, Midwife, Naturopathic physician, Nurse aide. Nurse anesthetist, Nursing home administrator, Occupational therapist, Occupational therapy assistant, Optometrist, Osteopathic physician and surgeon, Paramedic. Pharmacist, Physical therapist, Physical therapist assistant, Physician, Physician assistant, Podiatrist, Psychologist, Radiology technician, Registered Dietician, Registered nurse, Respiratory therapist, Speech pathologist, Surgical assistant, Surgical technician, Surgical technologist
The statement from the Governor says that the state expects HELP to improve recruitment and retention of providers serving vulnerable populations, as well as those in medically underserved areas of Hawaiʻi, while lessening the burden of large educational debt.
    Hawaiʻi-Pacific Basin AHEC Director Dr. Kelley Withy said, "The current federally funded and state-matched Hawaiʻi State Loan Repayment Program has one of the highest retention rates in the country with

65% of loan repayers continuing to practice in their health professional shortage area and underserved community sites, and 80% of program completers still practicing in Hawai‘i. Our program works, and we are grateful to the 2023 legislature for continuing the matching funds for this federal program that targets the highest shortage areas and specialties. However, we know there is a severe shortage of multiple physician specialties, worse on the neighboring islands and rural Oʻahu, as well as critical nursing, allied health and behavioral health shortages."
    Interim Dean of John A. Burns School of Medicine, Dr. Lee Buenconsejo-Lum, said "These shortages were most evident during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but continue today. HELP expands loan repayment eligibility to so many working hard to keep the people of Hawaiʻi healthy. We hope that reducing their debt burden will help keep these professionals working here, and will also encourage our JABSOM graduates and others with Hawaiʻi ties to return home to practice."
NPS Photo by Janice Wei
The announcement was made at AHEC's annual Workforce Summit at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Nearly 1,000 attended to brainstorm ideas to boost the number of physicians in Hawaiʻi. The statement said that many believe HELP will be the driving force in bringing medical professionals home.
    While HELP is available to all qualifying healthcare professionals, the Governor said he especially encourages medical and behavioral health professionals practicing in Maui to apply.
    For more information and to apply for HELP, visit the AHEC website or call (808) 692-1060.


THIS IS NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FASHION WEEK and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes posted that it is "recognizing the unique look and style of the nēnē, the world's rarest goose! With our mock magazine cover, we wanted to highlight that nēnē nesting season is almost here, time to be on the lookout for nēnē while driving island roads and never, ever feed nēnē."
       The cover celebrates their feathers that "will leave you breathless." The mock magazine cover shows two geese posing and looking sideways at each other. Headlines read: "Hawaiʻi Volcanoes Magazine, best feather ideas, FREE ʻŌhelo Berry Voucher, New for Nesting Season, Nēnē mate for life but fashion is forever."


Verbesina once consumed available habitat for albatross to nest throughout all the islands on Midway Atoll
FRIENDS OF MIDWAY ATOLL has documented more than a decade of working to eradicate an invasive plant to help protect the nesting grounds for Laysan Albatrosses. "You can see the tremendous change in Midway's landscape after 12 years of Verbesina eradication efforts. It took persistent removal and treatment to exhaust the seedbank, but Verbesina is no longer a dominant land cover on Eastern and Sand Islands!' See more at https://friendsofmidway.org/verbesina-on-midway-before-and-after/
    Also see a Midway Albatross story at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2023_09_05_archive.html.
The albatross' wings caught on the branches and dense vegetation
 blocked the breeze, creating oven-like conditions for chicks.
Photos from U.S. Fish & Wildlife

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