Kaʻū News Briefs Dec. 2, 2024

Dr. Christian Kimo Alameda becomes new Hawai'i County Mayor on Monday. Third Circuit Chief Judge Wendy DeWeese leads the swearing in ceremonies for public officials. Photo by Julia Neal

DR. KIMO ALAMEDA TOOK THE OATH AND BECAME MAYOR OF HAWAI'I COUNTY on Monday, while Kelden Waltjen, JD recommitted to another term as County Prosecuting Attorney and Kaʻū's  Dr. Michelle Galimba was sworn in with eight other County Council members. Third Circuit Chief Judge Wendy DeWeese presided.

Hunnay Demello, of Ka'ū, dances at Monday's

ceremony with County Council Chair Dr. Holeko Goro

Inaba at left and Ka'ū Council member Dr. Michelle

 Galimba at right. Photo by Julia Neal

Alameda said the inauguration was held on Kona side in light of his commitment to geographic equity in county government; the venue Kaleiopapa Convention Center at Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa. He promised to work for the populace in every district of Hawai'i County.

Guests who quietly attended included Kaʻū's former representative in the U.S. Congress and recently elected Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Kai Kahele, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and Gov. Josh Green.

The opening featured Kumu Hula Keala Ching's Oli, presentation of flags, the U.S. National Anthem, singing the island's national anthem Hawai'i Pono'ī, Kamehameha School Chaplain Brian Boshard's invocation and the emcee throughout, Lorna Lim.

    Alameda talked about being born and raised on this island and the strength drawn from his immediate family, with seven children and his late wife Star. He thanked his many relatives who live on island and hundreds who worked on his campaign. He said he celebrates the diversity of this island's population and talked about the many celebrations from Hawaiian Makahiki and Christmas to Hannukkah, Kawanzaa and special days for Buddhism and Islam.
    He said he is in the mayorship to support the labor force, including the county workers. "We have to love on our County workers." He talked about a caring approach to folks working and living together in Hawai'i County and said, "Nobody cares how much we know until they know how much we care." He said he wants to reduce divisiveness and said it's not about the "left Shaka or the Right Shaka." It's about "the Double Shaka."

County Prosecuting Attorney
Kelden Waltjen, JD

    The mayor said he celebrates protecting the people and also their recreation and mentioned getting the new lighting  up and on at Nāʻālehu ballpark soon.

    Chair of the County Council Dr. Holeka Goro Inaba began his presentation in 'Ōlelo Hawa'i, the Hawaiian language. He called the County Council, mayoral and administrative transition "a new tide." He said the work is grounded in the 'āina - the land. He said the 'aāina is the kupuna - the elder. Aloha is the model.

     County Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen noted that he, the new Mayor and County Council Chair are all part Hawaiian and are committed to preserving the way of life here. He quoted IZ, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole singing, "Be strong, know who you are, no be shame, stand up, E Ala E." A good number of the people attending the ceremonies are Hawaiian.

     Waltjen bemoaned the saying of "Our keiki is our greatest export," and talked about a way to keep them home, from moving away for jobs and affordability when they grow up. He said the Big Island is the place that should be seen as "the mainland," where young people work and live. 

Raylene Auli'i Fujikawa Moses
led Alameda's Kaʻū campaign.
She is a leader in establishing
 the first Hawaiian language
immersion school in Kaʻū.

     He said his department is comprised of 108 employees and that their way of work is to "surrender the me for the we."  He said their mission includes the following:

           Accountability - Hold offenders responsible for their actions, crimes.

           Support - Give assistance, help to victims of crime.

           Care - Help heal offenders and reduce recidivism as they work back into the community.

           Prevention - Programs to help deter people from committing crimes.

     Waltjen noted that Hawai'i County has the only Restorative Justice Program in the state and one of the few in the country. Restorative Justice aims to restore the harm done to victims and to help offenders understand harm they cause and assist in providing a chance at redeeming themselves.

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KAʻŪ WON A NAIL-BITER IN GIRLS BASKETBALL Monday evening

at Kaʻū Herkes District Gym. Varsity beat Honoka‘a 44-40. Coach Troy Gacayan said, "It was a very tough and close game but the girls never gave up and kept battling until the end. It was definitely an entire team effort." He said, "I am so proud of these girls for learning early in the season to keep playing hard until the final buzzer. These lessons on grit and tenacity will go a long way not just in basketball but in life as well. Keep up the hard work girls!"

     The next game is at home this Thursday, Dec. 5 with JV at 5:30 p.m. and Varsity to follow. Trojans will host Kamehameha, which is the defending champion of the BIIF D2 Division.

      Trojans are 2-0 for the season, defeating D2 Honoka'a and D1 Kea'au.

Trojan Girls Basketball team wins again. Photo by Gerald Gacayan

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Kaʻū News Briefs Dec. 1, 2024

Three fulltime jobs are open at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park for this kind of outdoor work.
This fence crew repairs fencing on Mauna Loa Road. Photo by Janice Wei/NPS

JOBS CLOSE TO HOME: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park natural resources team announces three full-time jobs open for wildlife/botanical assistants on the park’s fence and vegetation crew. Among requirements are: Ability to hike and camp in remote areas and rugged terrain under inclement weather conditions for up to five consecutive days. Ability to backpack, lift, and carry up to 40 pounds unassisted. Must be able to use a compass and map, and able to drive a 4-wheel drive vehicle. Needs drivers license and must have graduated from high school or achieved a GED. Fence building and team leadership skills are valued.
    See all of the qualifications and more at: https://hr.rcuh.com/psp/hcmprd_exapp/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?FOCUS=Applicant. Application period closes Dec. 6 and National Park Service urges persons to apply immediately if interested. The pay is $3,525 per month.
    Go to https://www.rcuh.com/work/careers/ to upload cover letter, resume and three supervisory reference. The posting is ID#224825.
    The job is described as follows: "Inspects, repairs, and constructs feral ungulate control fences. Drives to access field sites and occasionally travels to Hilo to make purchases. Will work in and around helicopters. Controls alien plants manually or with herbicides. Monitors pig activity transects and alien plant transects. Records field data on control and monitoring projects. May assist in native plant restoration and endangered sea turtle, nēnē, or petrel restoration programs, as assigned."

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Pōhue Bay is an endangered Honuea, hawksbill turtle nesting site, with its small white sand beach. Public access is part of the planning with a virtual meeting on Tuesday. NPS photo

THE VIRTUAL MEETING FOR THE SITE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR KAHUKU unit of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is this Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sign in at https://swca.zoom.us/j/91799290126. The plan covers Upper Kahuku , Lower Kahuku , and Kahuku-Pōhue, which includes the coastline and land around Pōhue Bay.

Two hikers walk on an uncrowded trail through the koa forest in Kahuku.
NPS photo

    The invitation to the public to join in the virtual meeting says, "Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park invites the community to provide input as it develops a plan to manage 132,000-plus acres in the Kahuku ahupuaʻa (traditional land division) in Kaʻū. The meeting format includes a presentation at 6 p.m., followed by time for comments.
"Description: During civic engagement for the site management plan, we will present ideas intended to balance the protection of cultural and natural resources with visitor access and recreation, and to nurture the connection generations of Kaʻū families have to these special places ma uka to ma kai."
In person public meetings were held on Nov. 14 at Pāhala Community Center and on Nov. 16 at Kahuku Visitor Contact Station.
A statement from National Park Service says, "The Site Management Plan (SMP) and the process of civic engagement are essential to define the types of visitor uses and functions for the Kahuku Unit. Called for in the 2016 General Management Plan, the SMP will refine the vision for the unit by assessing the facilities and access needs. The plan will also provide recommendations on implementing additional facilities and improving access."
Comments on the draft plan can be made through Dec. 6, online and at the virtual meeting. See maps, reports and make comments at https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/b644878ad55a4f75bac61f0098a93782

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Mauna Loa Road is a two-lane paved road, winding through tall koa trees. NPS photo

MAUNA LOA ROAD REOPENED  LAST WEEK after drilling and sampling material below the road. "That means motorists, hikers and cyclists can again enjoy the historic roadway from Kīpukapuaulu to Mauna Loa Lookout seven days a week," says the statement from Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. "Surveyors will continue to work along the road and motorists are urged to drive slowly, safely and to obey all signs."

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KAʻŪ SLAMMED PARKER in Boys Basketball 75-38 on Saturday. The game was held at Kaʻū Herkes District Gym. The next Trojan high school Boys Basketball game will be Hilo at Kaʻū on Tuesday, Dec. 10. Earlier in the season, on Nov. 21, Kaʻū lost to Kohala, 41-61.

    For Girls Trojan Basketball, next two games are at home on Monday, Dec. 2, with varsity only, hosting Honoka‘a at 6 p.m.; and  on Thursday, Dec. 5 with JV at 5:30 p.m. and varsity to follow, hosting Kamehameha.

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Kaʻū News Briefs Nov. 30, 2024

County Council member Michelle
Galimba invites the public to ceremonies
on Monday.

A PUBLIC INVITATION FROM KAʻŪ COUNCIL MEMBER MICHELLE GALIMBA TO SWEARING IN CEREMONIES on MONDAY, Dec. 2 says, "Our office would like to extend a warm invitation to attend the Inauguration ceremonies for the Mayor, Prosecuting Attorney, and County Council members."

    The event is a noon at Outrigger Keauhou Resort, 78-128 Ehukai Street, Kailua-Kona. "All are welcome to attend!" says her message. 

    Galimba also noted several grant opportunities open or opening up in early December. The County Department of Research & Developmentʻs Impact program has opened with a deadline of Jan. 8. The intent of the grant program is to support research, programs, or projects that positively impact the areas of agriculture and food systems, business and industry development, community well-being, energy, film and creative industries, and regenerative tourism, within Hawaiʻi Island communities. 

     See more information on the County 's Impact grant at
https://www.rd.hawaiicounty.gov/funding-grant-
resources/impact-grants. Call 808-961-8366.
    The County Councilʻs Waiwai grants are also open with a submission deadline of Jan. 31. The purpose of these County of Hawai‘i Nonprofit Grants-in-Aid is to support qualified nonprofit organizations to carry out programs or services that yield direct benefits to the public and accomplish public purposes within the County of Hawai‘i. Each organization is permitted to submit a total of two applications. Each application is limited to a request of up to $50,000.
See https:/haiicounty.gov/Forms/NPGrantApplication.
    Also available is the second round of the Expanding Agroforestry Project grant program, co-managed in Hawai'i by The Nature Conservancy and the Ulu Cooperative. See https://ulu.coop/eap

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Planting ulu is one of the possible elements of an agroforestry plan. Funding is possible through the Expanding Agroforestry Project, managed in Hawai'i by The Nature Conservancy and the Ulu Cooperative. Photo from Ulu Cooperative

THE EXPANDING AGROFORESTRY PROJECT, co-managed by The Nature Conservancy and the Ulu Cooperative throughout Hawai'i, is open for applications, with the first round deadline Dec. 31.
    The program is funded through the USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative. 

Food from trees and plants on the ground grow
together in agroforestry. Photo from Ulu Coop

    In 2022, the USDA announced more than $3.1 billion in funding for 141 projects, including $60 million for this national agroforestry project. The overarching project goal is to add 30,000 new acres of agroforestry across 30 states while creating a network of demonstration sites. The project is also prioritizing a portion of funds to help producers from under-served populations.
    TNC, which is responsible for grant administration, has selected the Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Co-op to be its lead partner managing projects in the Hawaiʻi region. There are five other regions on the Continental U.S. which each have their own lead partner helping to expand financing and develop markets for agroforestry commodities.
    An in formational Webinar held on Friday can be viewed at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/componentpage\action=viewdetailpage&sharelevel=meeting&useWhichPasswd=meeting&clusterId=us02&componentName=need-password&meetingId=ubF8L4PE7Sf4S8-Td1Lf7SXqBH8BvXcYvuiZWwEcapptVFFhKz1QzvDeeNbK6w.uT0Jvl9VydoO5UCF&originRequestUrl=https%3A%2F%. Use code q.doy3Mi.

Agroforestry is distinguished from monocropping. It has a variety of trees and accompanying plants.
Photo from the Ulu Cooperative

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THE WINTER SHOWCASE AT KAʻŪ HIGH & PĀHALA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL will be held Wednesday, Dec. 11 from 9:15 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. Program Coordinator Jennifer Makuakāne said, "Weʻre excited to announce the return of our 2nd Annual K-12 Winter Showcase here at Kaʻū High Pāhala Elementary School! Please join us as our students proudly present their work, projects and

achievements across all grade levels."
Here is the schedule: From 9:15 a.m. - 9:45.a.m., check in at Herkes Kaʻū District Gym Multipurpose Room. From 9:45 a.m. - 11:35 a.m,. visit Grade 7-12 Showcase Classrooms. From 11:35 a.m. - 12:25 p.m., visit K-6 Showcase Classrooms.
Makuakāne shared that the Showcase Learning Intentions are to:
Provide students an opportunity to practice their presentation skills and demonstrate their learning.
Create opportunities for students to share their class projects with other students, community partners, and family.
Build pride students, school, and community by showcasing student and school projects done in collaboration with the community such as project-based learning, technology integration, and other real-world projects.
Practice and prepare for Capstone presentations in grades 6, 8, and 12.
To RSVP, complete the sign-up form by Monday, Dec. 9 at: bit.l.y/24SSCOM. The school encourages its community partners and members to extend the invitation to three or more individuals to attend the Showcase. Contact Makuakāne at (808) 313-4141.

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VOLCANO WATCH: WHAT SOUNDS THE AUTOMATED ALARMS AT HVO? That's the focus of
this week's column written by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:
    The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) keeps its eyes on active volcanoes in many ways. While old fashioned eyes and a notebook are used when field teams are near a volcano, modern volcano observatories also utilize rapidly collected data and computers to support monitoring.
Because it can be very expensive to have scientists watch the volcano data streams on a 24-hour basis, HVO computers are ‘trained’ to look for activity and alert when the volcano is changing or becoming active. They look at a wide array of observations including seismic (ground shaking), infrasound data (air pressure), ground deformation, as well as camera image assessments.
    As the data from these systems enter a computer, they can be assessed as close to the time of collection as possible. If an observation is unusual, the computer can send a message to make a scientist aware at any time of the day or night.
    At the core of many alarm systems is an often-simple computer program which looks for a change in energy from shaking of a seismometer or a burst of sound on an acoustic sensor. If the sensor is usually quiet and then the burst of energy occurs, then this can be detected by the computer which can send an automated message to a scientist. This type of energy burst detector is called a short-term average/long-term average (STA/LTA) detector.

Example plots of STA/LTA alarm on infrasound data for four possible alarm scenarios.
 A shows detection of a real eruption, B shows a false detection of non-volcanic change,
 C shows failure to detect a real eruption amid noisy data, and D shows no
 detection of any event of interest. USGS images

   During eruptions, changes in the air pressure are recorded on sound detecting sensors (like microphones), called an infrasound or acoustic array. The figure shows how a successful detection of an eruption might work using infrasound data and how the system may fail to detect an eruption.
    The first image (A) shows an eruption that creates pressure changes recorded by the sensor. The detection (marked by a red arrow) would be easy to determine using an STA/LTA method, discussed above and shown as the grey and red bar at the bottom of panel A. The long-term average (grey bar) is a period before the eruption and the short-term average (red bar) shows when the eruption energy is strong. In this case, the STA is much bigger than the LTA and we can set the computer to send a message when this specific condition occurs.
    If we next consider the same sensor which has detected another burst (B), but this burst came from a non-eruption source (say a car, a helicopter or another event away from our volcano). In this case, the volcano scientist might be alerted by an event that wasn’t volcanic (a false detection). Next, we show a cartoon example where we have introduced wind noise (C) into the same eruption recorded in (A). In this case, the wind would be so strong that the eruption can only just be seen in the data by the naked eye but may not be visible to the computer’s STA/LTA detector. In the final example wind noise was added to the example which may have been a car or helicopter but not an eruption (D); in this case the non-eruption can only barely be seen in the data and was not detected by the STA/LTA detector.
    The cartoon figures show four possible outcomes that can be used to assess how good an alarming system performs. They include: 1) detection of a real eruption (A), 2) a false detection of non-volcanic change (B), 3) failure to detect a real eruption (C) and, 4) not detecting any event of interest (D).
    These four examples show how HVO scientists can assess the performance of our alarm systems to improve detection of volcanic events and minimize the detection of noise or other activity. The four examples coincide with the concepts of test conditions for alarms using the terms: true-positive (A), false-positive (B), false-negative (C) and true-negative (D). A good alarm system should include true-positives (volcanic events) and true negatives (non-volcanic events) and try to minimize false-positives and false-negatives. Too many false alerts equate to unnecessary loss of sleep during quiet periods for a volcano. In summary, alarm systems are an important and evolving part of HVO operations and are an example of how computers and technology are incorporated in monitoring.

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Volcano Activity Updates: Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY.
   Over the past week, earthquake rates beneath Kīlauea summit and upper East Rift Zone were more than double that of the previous week. About 100 earthquakes were located beneath the summit, and about 226 were located in the upper East Rift Zone. Earthquake rates beneath the middle East Rift Zone were on par with the previous week. Ground deformation rates in the summit region showed increased inflation over the past week, while ground deformation rates near the September 15-20 middle East Rift Zone eruption site have slowed. 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 past week: a M3.1 earthquake 6 km (3 mi) SSW of Volcano at 1 km (1 mi) depth on Nov. 27 at 2:19 p.m. HST, a M3.5 earthquake 75 km (46 mi) ENE of Honomū at 32 km (20 mi) depth on Nov. 27 at 12:29 a.m. HST, a M3.1 earthquake 2 km (1 mi) SSW of Pāhala at 30 km (18 mi) depth on Nov. 22 at 2:02 p.m. HST.
    HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.
    Visit HVO’s website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

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