Kaʻū News Briefs Nov. 25, 2024

Mr. & Mrs. Santa will be back at the Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade on Dec. 14 after the
first Kaʻū Taro Festival. Photo by Stacyn Lopez Sakuma

ORGANIZERS OF THE PĀHALA TOWN TREE LIGHTING & CHRISTMAS PARADE have given the latest on their events, Friday Dec. 13 and Saturday, Dec. 14 along with a map of the parade.
    Committee President Shai Lopez-Castaneda said, "We are blessed with the help of many individuals and businesses around the island who help make these events a success. I want to personally thank them all for their contribution towards the tree lighting and parade."

Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade Committee after last year's
event. This year it will be on Dec. 14. Photo from the Committee

    On Friday Dec, 13 the tree lighting starts at 6 p.m. at the lawn of Pāhala
Plantation Cottages above the gas station. Lopez-Castaneda advised, "We do ask that the community bring their own chairs/mats to watch our spectacular event, when you arrive at our event please check in at our information booth.
    "We will have hula performances, food trucks and vendors on site during the tree lighting. On Saturday, Dec. 14 we will be having our Lighted Christmas Parade starting at 6 p.m. Please plan ahead as parking is very limited along the route, food trucks and vendors will be on site during the parade."
    Public parking for both days will be at the Pāhala Community Center. Friday night a portion of Kamani street will be closed from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. and on Saturday night Pikake and Kamani Streets will be closed 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
   At Pāhala Community Center after the parade, the parade committee will serve free chili bowls, hotdogs and refreshments to the community. Bring children to visit Santa and take photos. "We can't wait to see you at our festive Christmas events!" said Lopez-Castaneda.

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

South Hawai'i Symphony musicians gather after the Christmas concert in Ocean View last year. 
This year they play at Holidays in Kahuku and Kaʻū Taro Festival. Photo by Annie Bosted

THE HOLIDAY SEASON BRINGS LIVE SYMPHONY MUSIC to Kaʻū this year with two appearances of South Hawai‘i Symphony. This community orchestra, composed of about 20 musicians and directed by top musician, Farley Sangels, will be opening one popular family holiday event, and also closing another, both in December. 

    On Dec. 7, the orchestra opens the crafts and entertainment fair Holidays in Kahuku, which will be held at the Kahuku Unit of the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Holidays in Kahuku is a free outdoor family event that draws many artists offering hand-made crafts for sale. Santa is a popular visitor. South Hawai‘i Symphony will play from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. The entrance to the Kahuku Unit is on Highway 11 at mile marker 70.5. 

    On Dec. 14, the orchestra will present the grand finale of Taro Festival from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Herkes Kaʻū District Gym complex in Pāhala. The orchestra's concert is followed by the Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade. 

    At both performances, the orchestra will play holiday favorites from the classic and modern era including Gesu Bambino, White Christmas, Let it Snow, Hansel and Gretel, Do You Hear What I Hear and much more. Both events are free to the public.

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

BUCKLE UP FOR SAFETY AS THANKSGIVING APPROACHES, urges Hawai'i Police Department. HPD, in collaboration with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is reminding drivers that seat belts save lives. Whether driving across town or across island during the long Thanksgiving weekend, everyone in a vehicle should Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time. In addition to being required by law, buckling up is the best defense against injury or death in a crash.
    Hawai‘i Island police along with state and local law enforcement agencies across the country will be issuing tickets to drivers who choose not to buckle up. In Hawai‘i County, the fine for not wearing a seatbelt is $102 per person.

    “Wearing your seat belt is one of the easiest ways to stay safe while out on the road,” said Torey Keltner, program manager of Hawai‘i Police Department’s Traffic Services Section.

    “We want everyone to have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Please, make sure everyone in your vehicle is buckled before you ever turn on the car — and that includes children being in the correct car seats, too,” he said. “Far too often our officers see the horrific results of traffic crashes where the occupants were not wearing seat belts. There’s no good excuse…Just wear a seat belt.”
    Last year in Hawai‘i County, 31 percent, five of the 16 people killed as a result of a vehicle crash in which they were not wearing a seatbelt. As of Nov. 20, 2024, 22 percent, five of the 23 people killed on Hawai‘i Island as a result of vehicle crashes were not wearing their seatbelts. "These deaths represent needless tragedies for families across our island and could have been prevented with the simple click of a seat belt," says the HPD statement.

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

 

 

Kaʻū News Briefs Nov. 24, 2024

MORE DETAIL ON THE FIRST TARO FEST IN Kaʻū is released for the Saturday, Dec. 14 event.
The first Kaʻū Taro Festival will be held at Herkes Kaʻū District Gym Complex in Pāhala. See www.okaukakou.org/kau-taro-festival. The event is free and open to the public from noon to 5 p.m. Its major organizing sponsor is 'O Ka'ū Kākou. It will be followed by the Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. All money raised from this festival by 'O Ka'ū Kākou will fund its 2025 Scholarships for Kaʻū residents.
    Pāhala Kupuna will conduct the opening protocol. An Ali'i Court of Ka'u youth will be coronated to oversee the event. Pāhala Youth Taiko Drummers will present their premiere performance, followed by

One of the many art pieces depicting taro, this one with an
internal poi pounder by Alan Moores will be on display
and for sale at O Ka'ū Kākou's Kaʻū Taro Festival.

Pāhala Adult Taiko Drummers.
    Keoki Sereno will sing and play 'ukulele. Na'a'alil'i will dance hula. Pāhala Seniors will play 'ukulele. South Hawai'i Symphony will play.
    Prospective vendors and presenters can apply through Nov. 26. Sign up for a booth online at www.okaukakou.org/kau-taro-festival.
    Alan Moores will present his kalo paintings and prints. Ka Lae Quilters will offer their fabric crafts. Kamakanaokalani's will present kalo crocks, jewelry and apparel. Paradise Preserved will offer kalo hummus, freeze dried pa'i'ai. Wong Yuen Hui will have kalo mochi and kulolo. Fused Fragments will sell kalo sun catchers and nightlights.
    Kaʻū Hospital Charitable Foundation will offer salad greens with taro chips. Sugar Sweet will present its freeze dried poi. Flyin Hawaiian Coffee will create peanut butter banana taro smoothies. Taylor's Bears will be featuring kalo themed stuffed teddy bears.
    Hana Hou Restaurant will offer poi ahi poke bowls. Kaʻū Civic Club will sell chicken laulau stew. Lacy's Food Trailer will sell laulaus. Lynda Nolte Watercolors will show her kalo watercolor images. Tools for Quantum Living will sell taro popsicles and laulau seasoning. Ku'u Ihi Flowers will offer kalo boba drinks and poi balls. Pohaku Coffee will make taro smoothies.
    Pua'ala LLC will sell its kalo bags, towels, clothes and coasters. Sel's Lunch Wagon will prepare laing (kalo w/coconut milk, meat and seafood). Ka'ū Creations Boutique will offer kalo key fobs, pouches and bags. Ohia Creations will sell its kalo tiki lights and magnets (carved in wood).
Looking Glass Art will display will feature kalo stained glassworks. Woods of Hawai'i will present kalo wood carvings and boxes. The Artist Vei will sell kalo cards, portraits and images. O Ka'ū Kākou will be selling festival t-shirts and live taro plants. 'Aina University will have an informational booth.
    In addition to the taro-related products listed above, vendors will offer a wide variety of other non-taro items. Note that many vendors aren't equipped to accept electronic payment.

    Lucky number drawing prizes will occur throughout the festival and include a round of golf at Volcano Golf Course, gift cards from HPM Building Supply, Don's Grill Hilo, KTA Superstores, Ono Café Volcano, Ocean View Pizza, Locovore Store Hilo, Flyin' Hawaiian Coffee, Polished Pina Nail Salon, Wyatt's Place Hawai'i and A Unique Boutique. Other prizes include gift bags from Elizabeth Crook doTerra, gift baskets from Aikane Coffee and a keiki taro patch tool kit from Tractor Supply Hilo.
    Games will include Corn Hole Toss by 'O Ka'ū Kākou, a Taro Patch challenge game by Hawaiian Telecom and a Taro Spin the Wheel game by CU Hawai'i. Hawai'i Police Dept. Community Police Officers will offer Free Keiki IDs at their festival booth. Opala management will be handled by Kaʻū's Malama 'Aina Compostables and PA system is courtesy of Netcom Enterprises.
    Sponsors include: Kaʻū Coffee Mill, Olson Trust, 'Ohana Foods Hilo and Nāʻālehu, Mizuno Superette. CU Hawaii Federal Credit Union, Luana Hospitality Group with Huggo's, On the Rocks, Lava Lava Beach Club and Kai Eats, Drinks, Kaʻū Auto Repair, Punalu'u Bakery, Malama Kaʻū Foundation, Gone Fishing, Inc., Backyard Monkey LLC Tree & Yard Service and The Club at Discovery Harbour.

    For more, see http://www.okaukakou.org/kau-taro-festival or call Tim DeLozier at 808-582-2342.

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

HAWAI'I GAP WILL LAUNCH ITS ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM in 2025. Hawaiʻi Gap, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering environmental stewardship, is a subsidiary of Science Camps of America, which hosts students for two ten-day sessions every summer in Pahala.

Developing environmental leaders is a mission of Hawai'i Gap.
Photo from Hawai'i Gap

     The additional ten-week gap year program will begin next September, "offering a powerful opportunity for recent high school graduates or those taking a gap year to immerse themselves in the breathtaking Hawaiian environment while developing critical leadership skills to champion environmental causes," says the statement from Hawai'i Gap. Like Science Camps, it will be held in Ka'ū.
    "We are passionate about inspiring the next generation to protect our planet," says Michael Richards, founder of Science Camps and Co-founder and Executive Director at Hawaiʻi Gap. "This program offers a unique opportunity for young adults to gain a deep understanding of environmental challenges while developing critical leadership skills so they can effectively create positive change."
    Designed for recent high school graduates or those taking a gap year before or during college, the program immerses participants in the diverse landscapes of Hawai'i Island. Through interactive learning, hands-on experiences, and expert guidance, participants will:
   Gain a comprehensive understanding of environmental science: Explore topics like climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable practices.
    Take action through hands-on conservation efforts: Participate in beach cleanups, invasive species removal, and coral and native plant restoration projects.

Hawai'i Gap will begin in 2025 in Ka'ū for students taking time between
high school and college or during higher education to do some 
environmental field work. Photo from Hawai'i Gap

    Develop critical leadership skills: Learn effective communication, collaboration, and problem-solving techniques to advocate for environmental solutions.
    Build a supportive community: Live alongside fellow passionate individuals and experienced instructors, fostering lifelong connections and shared experiences.
    Dr. Floyd McCoy, University of Hawaiʻi Professor Emeritus in Geoscience and Oceanography, is also a co-founder of Hawaiʻi Gap. "The highlight of every semester I taught was when we went out to do field work. In the field the students gained perspective and an understanding of nature, of history, and of the human impact. With this gap program those five day field courses are expanded to ten weeks - the students spend the entire semester immersed in the environment. The experience will be transformative."
    Richards adds, "We have created this Environmental Leadership gap year program to be an unforgettable journey that goes beyond academics. Our goal is to provide participants with the tools and confidence to become active environmental stewards and leaders towards a more sustainable future."
    Applications for the upcoming semester are open. To learn more about the program, eligibility requirements, and the application process, visit https://HawaiiGap.org or contact Hawai'i Gap at info@hawaiigap.org or (808) 235-3612. Follow Hawaiʻi Gap on Facebook and Instagram. See more on Science Camps of America, including its program next summer, at https://ScienceCampsAmerica.com.

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

 

Kaʻū News Briefs Nov. 23, 2024

After a long wait over the years, a kupuna signs the document to receive a parcel of Hawaiian Home Lands on Saturday with
many more lots around the island promised. DHHL photo

NATIVE HAWAIIANS WERE ABLE TO ACQUIRE 68 FARM LOTS on Saturday at Honomu north of Hilo and Maku'u in Puna. The event was laced with promises of offering additional lots in the near future. Kaʻū is one of the places with Hawaiian Home Lands but no awards are planned in near future due to lack of infrastructure.
    Saturday marked the largest agricultural lot offering by Department of Hawaiian Home Lands since the late-1980s. Homestead lots range in size from one to five acres. In Honomū, 16 one-acre subsistence agricultural lots were offered. In Makuʻu, 20 five-acre agricultural lots and 32 two-acre subsistence agricultural lots were offered.
    A DHHL statement says that nearly 200 beneficiaries and their 'ohana celebrated the occasion at Keaukaha Elementary School.
    "ʻOhana are built on the ʻāina and it is the department's commitment to keeping our families in Hawaiʻi

Generations gathered on Saturday to witness the transfer
of farm and subsistence-ag lots to Hawaiian families.
DHHL photo

and on the land," said DHHL Director Kali Watson. "It is DHHL's goal to offer diverse homesteading options and these agricultural lots serve as solutions to addressing the waitlist."
    Subsistence-ag lots are less than three acres in size and near existing infrastructure. This homestead model allows beneficiaries to live and grow food on their lots for home consumption or small-scale economic agricultural activity, says the DHHL statement.
    Beneficiaries who opt to grow produce and other crops commercially must create a farm plan, like a business plan, as part of their lease, and lessees must cultivate at least two-thirds of the land.
    With both lot types, beneficiaries have the option of constructing a single-family home or supplemental dwelling unit.
    "This momentous occasion marks an exciting milestone for DHHL beneficiaries, providing not only the opportunity to build homes but also to cultivate a future grounded in food sovereignty and self-sustainability," said Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke.
    In the near term, an additional 40 subsistence agricultural lots are slated for development in Honomū within the next two years. More than 1,600 lots are planned for various homesteads across Hawaiʻi Island including Laʻi ʻŌpua, Kaumana, Honokaʻa, Palamanui and Panaʻewa.

    Jeffrey Kekoa, President of Kaʻū Hawaiian Home Land Association, explained that when beneficiaries sign up for a DHHL agriculture award, they can specify which island. They can specify one district on that island, or islandwide. He said he signed up just to be awarded a lot in Kaʻū. However, there won't be any awards of ag in Kaʻū, Kekoa predicted. He said the ag lots do not have any infrastructure. The ag lots at Ka Lae and mauka Wai‘ōhinu do not have roads or water service. 

    He noted that the DHHL chair said last year during a commissioners' meeting in Hilo that he would rather spend elsewhere.

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

Kaʻū Trojans Girls Basketball team started the season with a pre-season winning record on O'ahu this week.
Photo by Assistant Coach Precious Jara

KAʻŪ TROJAN GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM returned home victorious on Saturday, beating big schools, including Division I's McKinley High and also Kaimuki, but losing to the host team at Sacred Hearts Preseason Invitational Tournament on O'ahu.
    Under the guidance of Head Coach Troy Gacayan and Assistant Coaches Tyra Wong Yuen and Precious Jara, Trojan Girls

Victorious Kaʻū Trojans Girls Basketball team beat McKinley
 and Kaimuki on O'ahu at the Sacred Hearts Invitational
 Tournament. Photo from Coach Gacayan

team won its first game Thursday against Kaimuki 45-27. Trojans lost to the host team Sacred Hearts 24-43 on Friday night. Trojans beat McKinley 49-16 on Saturday afternoon.
    Gacayan noted that this is his first year coaching Trojan Girls Basketball after coaching Trojan Boys JV and Varsity for two seasons several years ago. "It is my simple way of giving back to the community," he said. "Thank you to all the parents, school administration, donors and residents for all your support in helping make this trip happen for these girls from the small country community of the District of Kaʻū." He said the team came home with a 2-1 record and "with a lot of opportunities to gain a lot of experience and lessons learned. Great job girls!"
    The Trojan Girls' first regular season game is Tuesday at Kea'au. It is followed by three home games, Monday, Dec. 2 hosting Honoka'a, Saturday, Dec. 7 hosting Konawaena and Monday, Dec. 9 hosting Kamehameha.
    Trojans go on the road Thursday, Dec. 12 to Waiakea and host Kealakehe at home Tuesday, Dec. 17. The team hits the road again on Saturday, Dec. 21 traveling to Kohala, and to Christian Liberty Academy on Tuesday, Dec. 23. The play resumes in January.

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

    

Scientists with USGS and GNS Science install coupons at DESD seismic station on Dec. 9, 2022.

Photo by Carol Stewart of Massey University

QUANTIFYING CORROSION DOWNWIND OF KILAUEA is the subject of this week's Volcano Watch, the weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. This week's article is by scientists from Aotearoa, New Zealand. The authors are Carol Stewart of Massey University, Zhengwei Li and Anna de Raadt of BRANZ Ltd., and Graham Leonard of GNS Science:
    In December 2022, a team of scientists from Aotearoa New Zealand teamed up with scientists from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory to carry out a small pilot study of atmospheric corrosion rates on the Island of Hawai'i. The purpose was to expand our knowledge base of how metal corrodes in different environments—specifically metal that is often used as building and roofing material.
    In New Zealand we have carried out studies in extreme coastal environments (exposed to high rates of marine aerosol deposition) and in geothermal environments (exposed to hydrogen sulfide and minor amounts of sulfur dioxide), but we do not have access to sites exposed to moderate to high concentrations of sulfur dioxide. This is of particular interest for future volcanic eruptions in New Zealand, such as an eruption in the Auckland Volcanic Field, which is overlain by the city of Auckland. Study findings will also have applicability to other parts of the world, including in Hawaii, downwind of volcanic eruptions.
    With permission from the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and landowners, we mounted specially prepared rectangular metal samples (150 by 100 mm; just under 6 by 4 inches), called coupons, of mild steel, copper, zinc, and hot-dip galvanized (HDG) zinc coating, at three locations downwind and one upwind of Kaluapele, Kīlauea's summit crater. Mild steel is the base material for many steel structures and its corrosion rate is fundamental to estimating the service life of such structures. Copper is widely used in power distribution systems and HDG is used to protect steel structures, claddings, and fastenings.
    A year later, the coupons were retrieved and returned to the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ)'s corrosion laboratory for analysis. Corrosion products were removed and then the cleaned coupons weighed to determine their mass losses over the year they were exposed. These results were used to calculate first-year corrosion rates. These can be used to assess the resistance of these materials to atmospheric corrosion under the influence of volcanic emissions. We also classified the corrosivity of each site according to the accepted international classification scheme (ISO 9223).

Progression of corrosion after approximately six months' deployment time. Coupons of copper (on left), mild steel (center) and zinc (right) on 21 June 2023. Photo by Carol Stewart of Massey University

.   Our results indicate that all sites are classified as 'Medium' over the study period. This is similar to inland coastal regions of New Zealand with moderate exposure to wind-driven marine aerosol and geothermal regions not immediately adjacent to geothermal features such as hot springs and fumaroles. We note that our study period coincided with a period of mostly low SO2 emissions from Kīlauea and thus we likely underestimate corrosivity at other times with higher emissions.
    We were particularly interested in the relatively high corrosion rates of copper and zinc at Site 1, which was the closest to Kīlauea's summit vent but upwind relative to the prevailing trade wind field. Our previous work in the Rotorua geothermal field has suggested that copper, in particular, is highly susceptible to relatively low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide. Potential explanations include the presence of hydrogen sulfide at Site 1, and the influence of other environmental factors such as the higher rainfall at this site.
    We thank HVO and the landowners who hosted the corrosion test rigs as well as everyone who has been supportive of and interested in this study. We will continue to share new findings and insights, and we welcome expressions of interest from any parties interested in progressing this work. This could include areas such as understanding the variability of atmospheric corrosivity across the island of Hawai'i, assessing corrosivity rates during heightened activity from Kīlauea, and assessing the durability of materials that are commonly used for buildings and construction on the island.

Volcano Activity Updates
Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY. Over the week ending on Thursday, earthquake rates beneath Kīlauea summit and upper-to-middle East Rift Zone were about double that of the previous week. About 10 earthquakes were located beneath the summit, and about 70 were located in the upper-to-middle East Rift Zone. Ground deformation rates continue to show slow inflation at the summit and near the September 15-20 middle East Rift Zone eruption site. Future intrusive episodes and eruptions could occur with continued magma supply.
Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL. Three earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the week ending Thursday: a M1.7 earthquake 13 km (8 mi) ENE of Honaunau-Napoopoo at 9 km (6 mi) depth on Nov. 15 at 9:26 p.m. HST, a M4.1 earthquake 19 km (11 mi) SE of Pāhala at 33 km (20 mi) depth on Nov. 14 at 12:42 p.m. HST, and a M3.2 earthquake 0 km (0 mi) N of Volcano at 28 km (17 mi) depth on Nov. 14 at 6:09 a.m. HST.
The HVO report says the team continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

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