Kaʻū News Briefs Sept. 23, 2024

The eruption between Sept. 15 and 20 produced some night skies with red glows on on the horizon reflecting off of clouds, as
 seen from Chain of Craters Road. USGS photo by K. Mulliken

THE ERUPTION THAT STOPPED on Friday at Kīlauea volcano in and near Nāpau Crater showed only a couple of intermittent small spots of residual glow on Sunday night, according to reports from USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. "Weak degassing from the vent continues with the gas plume moving to the southwest," said the Monday morning update. "Geophysical signatures of eruptive activity have all returned to background levels. The Volcano Alert Level/Aviation Color Code was lowered from WATCH/ORANGE to ADVISORY/YELLOW Monday morning. No changes have been detected in the lower East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. "
    The middle East Rift Zone eruption near Nāpau Crater lived through four eruptive phases between Sept.

15 and Sept. 20. Lava flows from this eruption covered about 2/3 (500,000 square meters or 125 acres) of the floor of Nāpau Crater. Approximate effusion rates of roughly 5-15 cubic meters per second (6-16 cubic yards) were estimated during the most active part of the fissure eruption on Sept. 19.  A webpage with eruption-related resources is available at: Eruption on Kīlauea middle East Rift Zone | U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov) 
    USGS cautions that near the recent middle East Rift Zone eruption site, minor to severe ground fractures and subsidence features may continue to widen and offset, may have unstable overhanging edges, and should be avoided. Hazards associated with the recent lava flows include glassy (sharp) surfaces that can cause serious abrasions, and lacerations upon contact with unprotected or exposed skin; uneven and rough terrain that can lead to falls and other injuries; or, locally elevated levels of volcanic gases that can lead to breathing difficulty.
    Hazards remain around Kīlauea caldera from Halemaʻumaʻu crater wall instability, ground cracking, and rockfalls that can be enhanced by earthquakes within the area closed to the public. This underscores the extremely hazardous nature of the rim surrounding Halemaʻumaʻu crater, an area that has been closed to the public since early 2008.  
    For discussion of Kīlauea hazards, see: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/hazards.  

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Some electric lines will be replaced, their locations changed, according to a plan by Hawai'i Volcanoes
National Park and Hawaiian Electric. The public is welcome to comment on the EA. HVNP photo

MAKING THE ELECTRICAL LINE SYSTEM MORE RESILIENT TO EXTREME WEATHER within Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is a plan that welcomes public input. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, in coordination with Hawaiian Electric, seeks the public input on their environmental assessment of the proposed electrical line relocation project.

    The project will relocate the sub-transmission electric utility poles and power lines and improve reliability and resilience in the area between Piʻi Mauna Drive and the Hilo-side park boundary near Old Volcano Road, says the announcement from the partners. The project is Phase 3 of HECO's efforts to upgrade its transmission line that spans from Puna to just outside the park's Kaʻū boundary.
    Comments received during public scoping for Phase 3 were considered for the environmental assessment. Phase 1 and 2, completed in 2020, included the area between the Kīlauea Switching Station outside the Kaʻū-side boundary to Piʻi Mauna Drive within the park.
    Existing poles and lines are located along a corridor within hazardous terrain, including earth cracks and lava tubes. Maintenance and repairs are currently difficult and unsafe. Relocating the line along the highway will also help reduce potential impacts to forested areas in the park.
    HVNP worked with HECO and Tetra Tech, Inc. to develop and analyze alternatives, develop mitigation measures, and conduct consultations. Two main actions are proposed:

    1. Relocate the existing power line by installing new poles and transmission and distribution lines along 2.6 miles of Highway 11; and
    2. Remove and/or decommission approximately 2.6 miles of existing poles and transmission and distribution lines within the current power line alignment in HVNP.
    The park encourages the community to provide input during the 30-day comment period which started Sept. 23, 2024. There are three ways to provide input:
    Online: Visit https://parkplanning.nps.gov/Phase3 for project information to submit comments online.
    Email: Send comments to havo_planning@nps.gov. Hard copy: Mail written comments to:
    Attention: 3400 Phase 3 Power Line Relocation
    Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
    P.O. Box 52
    Hawai'i National Park, HI 96718-0052
    Comments must be submitted online, via email, or postmarked by Oct. 23, 2024 to be considered.

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Isaiah "Hano" Manila-Louis gets lined up as the offense gets ready to run another play. Photo by Mark Peters

Senior Vladimir Fedoruk takes on a Honoka'a 
blocker during Friday night's game. 
Photo by Mark Peters

   Kaʻū Trojan Football Highlight
     In these Mark Peters photos, Kaʻū Trojans are on the road last Friday in Honoka'a  where they left 64 points and brought home 34.
   Trojans travel to Pahoa this Thursday, Sept. 26.             Kohala comes to Kaʻū on Saturday, Oct. 5. 

   Kaʻū goes to Hawai'i Preparatory Academy on Saturday, Oct. 12.

   Kamehameha comes to Kaʻū on Saturday, Oct. 19.       Honoka'a travels to Kaʻū on Saturday, Oct. 26, followed by BIIF Division Championships.
    Athletic Director is Jaime Guerpo. 

    Head coach is Connor Norton. Assistant Coachis Mark Peters.                

    Coaching staff includes Greg Rush, Ray Mayzack, Duane Pua, Time Drafaul, Ted Blanco and Walter Parada. Athletic Trainer is Moses Whitcomb.

Freshman Haku Hashimoto lines up for a snap against the Honoka'a defense. Photo by Mark Peters

Quarterback Adahdiyah Ellis-Reyes takes a snap. Photo by Mark Peters

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September 2024, 5,000 in the mail, 2,500 on the streets.

Kaʻū News Briefs Sept. 22, 2024

Alan Moorse, Doris "Deedee" Davis and Kerry Pitcher welcomed folks to sign a peace pole on Saturday in

Pāhala to encourage Peace to Prevail on Earth. Those who signed enjoyed a fresh musubi. Photo by Julia Neal

Signing the Peace Pole in Pāhala.

Photo by Julia Neal

PEACE POLE SIGNING for everyone was offered by members of Kaʻū's Baha'i Community in Pāhala on Saturday.                     

    According to the Peace Pole Project, "A Peace Pole is an internationally-recognized symbol of the hopes and dreams of the entire human family, standing vigil in silent prayer for peace on earth." Many Peace Poles bear the message May Peace Prevail on Earth and many Peace Poles are put up each year with signatures from people of their communities.
     There are estimated over 250,000 Peace Poles in every country in the world dedicated as monuments to peace, according to the Peace Pole Project.
     The Baha'i community in Kaʻū is among the entities that initiate Peace Pole celebrations here. Those who signed the Peace Pole were offered a fresh misubi.

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PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED NEW NĀ’ĀLEHU WASTEWATER SYSTEM to serve the old sugar camp community that is on gang cesspools is open through Oct. 21. See the draft of the plan at dem.hawaiicounty.gov/projects and at Nā'ālehu Public Library.
    The public meeting to gather community input on the Draft Environmental Information Document is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10 at Nā'ālehu Community Center, 95-5635 Māmalahoa Highway. Attending remotely is also available via Zoom: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/16031058165. Phone: (669) 254-5252 (Meeting ID: 160 3105 8165). Those not attending the meeting can email comments to the consultant: publiccomment@wilsonokamoto.com.

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THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION of Hawai'i County will hold its meeting this Wednesday at 9 a.m. on zoom and live at the County Building in Hilo.                          Commissioner for Kaʻū is Lee McIntosh. On the agenda are such items as determining a new distance from all public and private sewer lines and properties that would require owners of properties to connect. The current distance is 300 feet. 

    The commission will also discuss the refinement of new agreements where there are public/private partnerships for county wastewater projects. 

    Another item is a proposal to create a county Sewer Connection Special Fund to help homeowners who cannot afford to hook up to sewers. 

    Another is to look into  EPA Technical Assistance Program to address innovative financing strategies such as enterprise funds, franchise organizations, Energy Saving Performance Contracts, and Service Contracts.
   

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PĀHALA RESIDENTS ARE REMINDED TO MAIL BACK RIGHT-OF-ENTRY AGREEMENTS FOR NEW SEWER LINES FOR OLD PLANTATION PROPERTIES. The project to hook up to a new wastewater treatment system will begin soon. County Department of Environmental Management sent out letters with Construction Right-of-Entry Agreements for the New

Sewer Collection System for property owners to sign. Most of the homes are from the old days of the sugar plantation and are on a system that leads to gang cesspools, which are now illegal under federal wastewater laws.
    The letter from Deputy Director of Environmental Management Brenda Iokepa-Moses says, the agency "is moving forward with the construction of a new sewer collection system that will connect or make your parcel accessible to a package wastewater treatment plant. DEM is requesting permission for a Right-of-Entry onto your property, for the purpose of planning, design, and constructing the sewer system improvements, closing out the existing large capacity cesspool (LCC), and restoration of impacted site features. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2025 and the County has entered into an administrative order on consent (AOC) to complete these works and close out the LCC in 2027.
    "The County has successfully secured a $12 million federal grant and additional funding for this project that will provide wastewater treatment that is protective of surface water and underground sources of drinking water for 174 properties in Pāhala. The ability to access your property is necessary for the County to remain in compliance with the AOC."
    Questions can be directed to Mark Grant – Wastewater Division Project Coordinator and (TA) Deputy Chief at (808) 961-8589 or via email at MarkJ.Grant@hawaiicounty.gov.
    See www.dem.hawaiicounty.gov/projects for more information and status updates on both the Pāhala and Nā'ālehu  sewer projects.

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September 2024, 5,000 in the mail, 2,500 on the streets.

Kaʻū News Briefs Sept. 21, 2024

First lap completed for this 50K runner as others finish the 5K on Saturday at Kaʻū Coffee Trail Run. Based at Kaʻū Coffee Mill,
it is a fundraiser for O Kaʻū Kakou. It also features a 10K and Half-Marathon. Photo by Julia Neal

KAʻŪ COFFEE TRAIL RUNNERS described the course as beautiful on Saturday, with competitors running as far as 50K through coffee orchards into the rainforest up Wood Valley Road.
    Sean Warner of Pepeekeo won the 50K in 4:59, followed by Ryan Cochran of
Volcano in 5:38:03, Adam Adler of Hilo in 6:31:59 and David Bozarth of Kealakekua in 6:33:06.

A 50K wahine winner Leah Stickels of Kailua in the Kaʻū Coffee Trail Run on Saturday. 
Photo by Julia Neal

   The 50K women's winner was Leah Stickels of Kailua in 6:38:29, followed by Wendy Neupauer of St. Louis Park in 6:29:24, Jolene Giles, of Lahaina in 7:18:43 and Kristi Ota of Kihei in 9:27:50.
    Top Half-Marathon male finisher from Kaʻū-Volcano was Lyman Perry of Volcano who took second overall in 2:10:45. Morgan Gerdale of Volcano  took sixth overall in 2:19:18. Another top finisher from Kaʻū was Elton Wilson of Ocean View in 2:50:42.
    Daniel Hill of Waikoloa won the men's Half-Marathon in 1:55:43. Third was Sean Bingham of Pearl

Michelle Chacon, of Pāhala, was top woman finisher
in Kaʻū for the Half-Marathon. Photo by Laura Diaz

City in 2:14:34. Fifth was Tim Heaton of Kealakekua in 2:47:17.
    Top Half-Marathon woman finisher from Kaʻū was Michelle Chacon of Pāhala in 2:56:32. Another Kaʻū finisher was Yuko White of Ocean View in 3:24:18.
    County Council woman Ashley Kierkiewicz of Kea'au finished the Half-Marathon in the 30-39 division in 4:08:44.
    The women's Half Marathon was taken by Cora Olson of Temont, MN in 2:20:25, followed by Sahe Massie of Pepeekeo in 2:20:25, Blair Southworth of Mountain View in 2:44:23, Tamara Hynd of Kamuela in 2:45:32 and Candus Debus of Pāhoa in 2:47:17.
    Top male finisher in Kaʻū in the 10K was John Desfor of Ocean View in 57:35 who took first in the 20-29 division. Drew White of Ocean View in the 50-59 division finished in 1:22:07. Joe Kent of Volcano in the 30-39 division finished in 1:25:12.

Medals for local finishers at the Kaʻū Coffee Trail Run for Kaweni Ibarra and
Jaysha Alonzo-Estrada. Photo by Julia Neal

    John Kolander of Kailua-Kona won the 10K in 44:05, followed by Sean LePouttre of Kailua-Kona in 47:25, Caitlyn Tateishi of Pāhoa in 49:1 and Joel Andrychowiz, of San Diego in 50:04.
    Top women 10K finishers from Kaʻū were Nāʻālehu residents Christie Nittrouer in 1:03:28 and Anjulie Morales in 1:04:01. Volcano finishers were Ellen Dunkle in 1:28:39 and Jennifer Harshorn in 1:29:19, both from Hawai'i National Park.
    The 10K winner was Caitlyn Tateishi of Pāhoa in 49:16, followed by Carrie Kaare of Pāhoa in 52:16, Kaylee Wooten of Vancouver, WA in 56:54, Hollie Saplan of Hilo in 58:42 and Ellen
Cordeiro of Hilo in 58:43.

County Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz
 of Kea'au completes the Half-Marathon.
Photo by Julia Neal 

    Five Kaʻū residents won their age group divisions in the 5K. In the 40 to 49 male division, Matthew Patrick of Hawai'i National Park won in 37:32. In the 20-29 female division, Mekhia Desfor won in 41:40. In the 70 and older men's division, Clement Hirae of Pāhala, won in 45:38. Nadine Ebert of Punalu'u won the 70 and older female division in 1:39:31. In the male 19 and under division Kaiden Kaluahine-Salmo of Pāhala won in 46:57. In the female 19 and under, Nia Pule of Nāʻālehu won in 1:32:15.
    Among the local women, Jaysha Alonzo-Estrada of Pāhala finished in the 20-29 division with 59:29 and Tiffany Clark of Nāʻālehu finished in the 30-39 division in 1:32:13. Jessica Gerdel of Volcano finished in the 40-49 division in 56:36 and Marie Hernandez of Nāʻālehu finished in 59:25. Kathy Baxter of Ocean View finished in the 50-59 division in 45:38. Shirley Sarbay of Volcano finished in 1:22:04.
    Among the local men in the 5K, Kaweni Ibarra of Pāhala finished in 59:16 and Noeau Pule of Nāʻālehu finished in 1:32:14.
    Nick Muragin of Hilo won the 5K in 23:05, followed by Collin Saxby of Kailua-Kona in 25:21, Gary Beuschel of Papaaloa in 29:13 and Naga Nakata of Pāhoa, in 30:21 and Dylan Garrison of Pāhoa in 36:41.

Long run ahead for this 50 K competitor. Kaʻū Coffee Trail Run also includes a 5K, 10K and Half Marathon. Photo by Julia Neal

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THE SPORTS CARDIOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF KAʻŪ HOSPITAL, which is headquartered in Hilo, came to Kaʻū on Saturday to meet with athletes and everyone who wants better heart health through fitness. Representatives of the group, including sports cardiology doctor Thomas Sawyer, MD, FACC, set up at the Kaʻū Coffee Trail Run at Kaʻū Coffee Mill. 

   According to the team, the Sports Cardiology program is the only one in the state dedicated to the care of the athlete’s heart. It offers screening, evaluation, and treatment to high school, college, professional, masters, tactical, and recreational athletes at all levels of ability and stages of life.
    "We work with every athlete individually to understand their unique goals and needs and provide targeted evaluation and treatment recommendations to enhance performance and safety," says literature about the Sports Cardiology Program.
   "All patients receive a detailed medical and athletic history, physical examination, and ECG. Further testing and treatment is tailored to the specific needs of each athlete. Advanced diagnostic techniques such as echocardiography (including 3D imaging), stress testing, coronary angiography, cardiac MRI or CT, extended rhythm monitoring, and genetic testing are available as necessary." See more at https://www.easthawaiihealthclinics.org/sports-cardiology/#1655770470286-f51d9e62-d0ec.

Sports Cardiology Program, a Department of Kaʻū Hospital, came to the Ka'u Coffee Trail Run on Saturday to meet athletes and others of all ages planning to improve fitness through sporting activities. Photo by Julia Neal

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Sister volunteers for fentanyl  education
 Hailey de la Torre, RN and Andi
 Pawasarl-Losario. Photo by Julia Neal

 
HAWAI'I ISLAND FENTANYL TASK FORCE representatives came to Pahala on Saturday to educate folks about the drug becoming a problem with kupuna, as they deal with the aches and pains of growing older. Andy Pawasaral-Losario, who is Executive Director of Bridge House, and her sister and nurse Haile De la Torree talked to residents in front of Mizuno Superette about fentanyl.
   The sisters also gave out free Narcan units that can be used during a fentanyl overdose. They said they empathize with families who have drug problems since they have experienced the challenge in their own family.
    They noted that Hawai'i Island suffers fentanyl overdose death every seven days, with the numbers totaling 52 in 2023. They said that fentanyl is the number one cause of death for Americans, ages 18-45 and is growing in the kupuna population.
    See more on Hawai'i Island Fentanyl Task Force at www.hiftf.org.
    Learn about the Bridge House at https://bridgehousehawaii.org/.                                            

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September 2024, 5,000 in the mail, 2,500 on the streets.