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Sunday, November 08, 2015

Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015

Ka`u's state Sen. Russell Ruderman supports imposing a rule to limit movement of `ohi`a material on Hawai`i Island to control the spread of Rapid `Ohi`a Death. Photo from UH-CTAHR
LANI CRAN PETRIE, OF KAPAPALA RANCH, is a Paniolo Hall of Fame inductee. The induction ceremony takes place at Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay on Saturday, Nov. 14. According to her Hall of Fame biography, Petrie, the second child of Gordon and Genevieve Cran, gained a wide perspective on raising livestock while growing up riding O`ahu’s Wai`anae mountain range, where the commercial cow herd grazed. By the time she attended high school, she had decided to pursue a career in animal husbandry.
Lani Cran Petrie
      When her father bought out Parker Ranch’s interest at Kapapala Ranch, Petrie had the opportunity to ride the ranch and take inventory of the cattle to be purchased from Parker. This gave her time to make lifelong friends with Parker Ranch cowboys and their families.
      During her years studying and working at Washington State University, Petrie competed on the school’s rodeo team and traveled the Pacific Northwest with team members competing in rodeos.
      After returning to Kapapala, Petrie organized the Hawai`i Cattle Producer’s Cooperative transportation division to assist ranchers transporting cattle to West Coast ports.
      Petrie’s father handed the ranch management reins over to her in 2004.
      See hicattle.org/2015inductees.aspx.
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

TOTUS AWARD WINNERS include farms and processors from Hawai`i, California and Mississippi. The Tea of the United States competition took place on ­­­­Wednesday, Nov. 4 at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village.
      Hawai`i-grown teas dominated the commercial division. First and third places for white tea went to Volcano Winery and grower Alex Wood. Hawai`i Rainforest Tea grown and processed by Bob Jacobson won second place. For green tea, grower/processor Longo Nunally, of Onomea Tea Co., took first and third places. Chiu Leong, of Tea Hawai`i in Volcano, won second place. Volcano Tea Garden and Mike Riley placed first in oolong tea. Second and third places in oolong and black categories went to Onomea Tea Co. First place in Black went to Tea Hawai`i and Chiu Leong.
TOTUS award winners included farms, growers and processors from California
and Mississippi as well as Hawai`i. Photo from TOTUS
      In the non-commercial division, Bai-Alla Finley took first and third for white tea. Tea from University of Hawai`i College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resource’s Volcano Experiment Station and processed by Tea Hawai`i won second place in white as well as third place for green tea. The Great Mississippi Tea Co. won first and second place, as well as first in oolong and black tea categories. Golden Feather Tea, from California, placed second in oolong, and Hawai`i’s Second Alarm Farm with Jim Chestnut place third. In the black tea category, Bai-Alla Finley took second and third places.
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

HAWAI`I PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION is not satisfied with Hawaiian Electric companies’ power supply improvement plans. HECO filed the plans in August 2014.
      “Several shortcomings need to be addressed, including changes in modeling methods, assumptions and constraints; several aspects of the PSIPs require further analytical support; and several assumptions and objectives need to be updated to reflect recent’ changes in laws and other circumstances,” the PUC concluded.
      According to the PUC, HECO’s “PSIP cost impacts and risks have not been demonstrated to be reasonable. PSIPs do not appear to aggressively seek lower-cost, new utility-scale renewable resources. PSIPs do not adequately address utilization and integration of distributed energy resources. Proposed plans for fossil-fueled power plants are not sufficiently justified. System security requirements appear costly and are not sufficiently justified. The proposed plan for provision of ancillary services lacks transparency and may not be the most cost-effective option. Analysis on inter-island transmission lacks sufficient detail. Customer and implementation risks are not adequately addressed.”
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

IN A UNANIMOUS FLOOR VOTE, members of the Hawai`i State Senate on Friday confirmed District Family Court judge Melvin H. Fujino to the Third Circuit on Hawai`i Island.
      Fujino has served as a presiding judge with the District Family Court of the Third Circuit since 2008. Since April 2015, he has been assigned to sit as a temporary Circuit Court Judge in Kona. Prior to his appointment to the District Family Court Bench, Fujino worked as Deputy Attorney General where he was a team leader responsible for the statewide Wiretap Review Unit and Asset Forfeiture program. Fujino was also a District Prosecuting Attorney for Hawai`i County. He is a 1981 graduate of the University of Washington and 1985 graduate of the Gonzaga University School of Law. Fujino will serve for a term of 10 years.
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

Sen. Josh Green, M.D.
DENGUE FEVER IS THE TOPIC at a public meeting on Tuesday, Nov.10 at 6 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. 
      Ka`u’s state Sen. Josh Green, M.D. said he is concerned not only about the immediate well-being and safety of residents and visitors, but also the real long-term health and economic impacts an outbreak like this can have on the state. “Unless people become aware of the seriousness of this virus and take action, I’m worried the infection will spread and impact will grow,” he said. “There may likely be more confirmed, as well as real but unconfirmed, clinical cases in the coming weeks. However, Dengue can be stopped if we all do our part to reverse the outbreak.”
      Green said anyone who believes they may have contracted Dengue should see a doctor immediately. He said people should take Tylenol for high fevers that may stem from dengue fever instead of aspirin or ibuprofen, which can add to complications of this disease.
      “Preventing dengue fever from becoming endemic in Hawai`i will require a prolonged response from Department of Health, the county and state, but most importantly, take good care now and call a healthcare provider if you feel sick,” Green said.
      He said anyone worried they may have contracted dengue fever should also contact DOH’s Disease Investigation Branch at 974-4000, extension 68362.
      For additional information on dengue fever and preventing its spread, see health.hawaii.gov.
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

KA`U’S STATE SEN. RUSSELL RUDERMAN supports limiting movement of `ohi`a material on Hawai`i Island. He spoke last week at a community meeting in Pahoa recorded by Big Island Video News. Responding to a question from an audience member, he said that having the state Department of Agriculture impose an administrative rule forbidding intra-island transportation of `ohi`a products “is a great idea” that would not require legislative action.
      The discussion comes in the wake of Rapid `Ohia` Death, a fungal infection that is wreaking havoc on `ohi`a forests in Puna and other areas of Hawai`i Island. In 2012, it had killed `ohi`a trees across about 1,000 hectares (nearly 2,500 acres). By the summer of 2014, that number had swollen to over 6,000 hectares.
      Hawai`i Board of Agriculture imposed a quarantine on intrastate movement of `ohi`a products in August as an attempt to keep the disease from spreading to other islands. Interim rules are valid for only one year and are meant to address emergency situations, which gives the department time to develop more permanent rules.
      See bigislandvideonews.com.
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

From the Ground, Up closes next Sunday. Image from VAC
FROM THE GROUND, UP is on display for one more week. Robert Weiss’ solo exhibit features a new collection of plein air oil paintings of landscapes within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Volcano Art Center Gallery in the park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

SENIOR ID CARDS ARE AVAILABLE tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Pahala Housing Center and from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Call 928-3100 for more information.

A WALK INTO THE PAST takes place this and every other Tuesday at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Ka`u resident Dick Hershberger brings Hawaiian Volcano Observatory founder Thomas Jaggar to life at Kilauea Visitor Center and Whitney Vault in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

FOR AFFORDABLE COMPUTER HELP, call John Derry at 936-1872.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for Retail Sales Associate: Full-Time, Competitive Wages, Medical & Dental Plans. Apply at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Call 928-0550 for an appointment.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.
See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.






Saturday, November 07, 2015

Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015

Miloli`i holds its second annual Fall Ocean Festival today. See more below. Photo from Pa`a Pono Miloli`i and Miloli`i Canoe Club
HAWAI`I COUNTY HAS SETTLED A LAWSUIT regarding a drowning at Punalu`u in 2008, Nancy Cook Lauer reported in West Hawai`i Today. Catherine Snevers will receive $20,000. Snevers sued the county for negligence, wrongful death and loss of spousal and parental consortium after her husband drowned in rough waters. Unspecified damages could have reached $1 million or more, according to Cook Lauer.
      At the time, no warning signs were posted at the private property where the newlywed couple entered the water. Third Circuit Court Judge Glenn Hara ruled that it was not the county’s duty to post signs on private property, but Snevers appealed the decision.
      Deputy Corporation Counsel Laureen Martin told Cook Lauer that the settlement avoided significant risks and uncertainty. “The amount is also far less than the costs the county would have incurred in order to defend the action,” Martin said.
      See westhawaiitoday.com.
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

Eliminating mosquito breeding sites can help control the spread of dengue fever.
Image from Hawai`i DOH
HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH urges residents to help control the spread of dengue fever by eliminating possible mosquito breeding sites. Change standing water at least twice a week in birdbaths, potted plants, fountains and animal troughs. Clear storm drains and other outdoor drains of leaves and lawn cuttings. Do not overwater plants and yards, and do not leave standing water in yards or paved areas. Clean clogged gutters to allow proper drainage. Spread mulch so water does not collect in fallen leaves. Use larvicide to kill mosquitoes in ponds and water-filled ditches. Repair torn window and door screens, and keep attic vents closed. Empty pool covers and tarps. Place toys and open containers under cover. Empty anything that holds standing water, like tires, wheelbarrows and trash cans. Fix leaky faucets and sprinklers.
      For more information, see health.hawaii.gov.
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR is looking for qualified and dedicated volunteers to fill vacancies on boards on Hawai`i Island.
      The governor makes appointments and nominations to more than 185 boards and commissions established by the state Constitution, state statutes and executive orders. Boards and commissions provide Hawai`i’s citizens with an opportunity to have a voice in their government and to influence decisions that shape the quality of life for Hawai`i’s residents.
      Vacancies must be filled on a wide range of boards, commissions and committees including Board of Taxation Review, Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants, Contractors Licensed Board, Defender Council, Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee and Island Burial Council.
      For a complete list of vacancies and more information, see boards.hawaii.gov.
      Those interested in helping to continue Hawai`i’s momentum toward a strong and sustainable future may apply online at boards.hawaii.gov.
      For more information, email Sharon Ibarra, director of Boards and Commissions, at sharon.s.ibarra@hawaii.gov.
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

Sen. Brian Schatz spoke in favor of the Restore Honor to Service Members Act.
Photo from Office of the Senator
AS VETERANS DAY APPROACHES, Sen. Brian Schatz and members of the LGBT Equality Caucus urge passage of the Restore Honor to Service Members Act. The legislation would help service members discharged solely due to their sexual orientation correct their military records to reflect their honorable service and reinstate the benefits they earned. 
      Since World War II, more than 100,000 Americans are estimated to have been discharged from the military because of their sexual orientation. Those forced out of the military may have left with discharge statuses of other than honorable, general discharge or dishonorable, depending on the circumstances. As a consequence, many of these service members may be disqualified from accessing certain benefits that they earned and are entitled to and may not be able to claim veteran status. The consequences of a negative discharge also include preventing some veterans from voting or making it more difficult for them to acquire civilian employment.
      “We have a sacred commitment to every American who serves in our military. But for the 100,000 brave Americans who were forced out for being gay, we have failed to honor that commitment,” Schatz said. “The Restore Honor to Service Members Act would give these veterans a chance to correct their military records – to remove an unwarranted discharge that was given to them for no other reason than being gay. It would remove the mark of shame they carry, give them access to benefits and finally give them the respect and honor they rightly deserve.”
      Supporters of the legislation include Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, VoteVets.org, OutServe-SLDN, the Human Rights Campaign, American Veterans for Equal Rights, Lambda Legal, Swords to Plowshares, the American Bar Association, Universal Unitarian Association and the American Humanist Association.
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

Star chart show's objects visible in Ka`u's November skies.
Chart from Lew Cook and Jerome Hudson
ASTRONOMER LEW COOK discusses Deep Sky objects in the current issue of Stars Over Ka`u, which he writes monthly for The Ka`u Calendar.
      “By ‘Deep Sky,’ we mean ‘outside the sun’s neighborhood,’ Cook explains. “Rising in the east is the Great Orion Nebula, shown on the chart as M42, a vast cloud of newly forming stars. Very young stars are there, too.
      “To get an understanding of what this area will look like in 100 million years, look at a neighboring cluster, the Pleiades (M45). The Pleiades are 1,300 light years away, and the Orion Nebula is around 320 light years distant. This means that the Pleiades are four times farther than the Orion Nebula. Any light the stars emit will be reduced by a factor of 16. Now, imagine the stars in the Pleiades appear 16 times brighter than at present, three magnitudes brighter than they appear now. This is how the stars in the Orion nebula will look in 100 million years. It is also how the Pleiades would look if it were at the distance of the Orion nebula.
      “Another interesting object is the double cluster that lies between Perseus and Cassiopeia. If you have a good pair of binoculars, this is a nice sight to behold! It is fainter than the Pleiades because it is 12 times further away. The double cluster formed from a gas and dust cloud that happened to be a twin cloud.
      “Every open cluster of stars had the same origin; they developed from a cloud of gas and dust similar to the Orion Nebula. There are several such areas in our galaxy. Many of them are in the direction of the galactic center because that is where we can find more stars in the galaxy than elsewhere. If we look at other galaxies, we find them distributed all over their spiral arms. M33 in Triangulum is a fine example. This galaxy is going through a period of intensive star formation, which is clearly visible on photographs. M33 is three million light years distant.
      “The last object we will discuss is our nearest large neighbor galaxy, the Andromeda Nebula. Except for the Magellanic clouds and several dwarf galaxies, this giant is our nearest sizable neighbor. It is about 2.6 million light years distant. And is it big! It contains about a trillion stars, nearly twice what our puny Milky Way has. And that’s not the end of the bad news. It is headed for us and will collide with us. There is no need to worry about it, though. Galaxies collide all the time with very few, if any, stellar collisions. There is time to prepare for the event; we’ve got four billion years.”
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

A BACKPACK FOUND BY TOURISTS at Punalu`u Beach has been turned in to the office of The Ka`u Calendar. Contents include notebooks and a calculator. Call 928-6471.

Funds raised at the Ocean Festival go toward
repairing the Keahonui.
MILOLI`I’S SECOND ANNUAL Fall Ocean Festival takes place today. The event is the last official regatta of the 2015 paddling season.
      Booths feature `opelu lunch plates with fish caught in Miloli`i as well as a craft fair.
      The event will serves as a fundraiser to restore the club’s koa canoe, the Keahonui, which was destroyed in a car accident in July.

HOLIDAY BAZAAR FUNDRAISER today and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Hall features handmade crafts and foods. Pit ham and beef sandwiches are on sale today.
      For more information, call Dina Shisler at 410-935-8087.

KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP’S Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park offers Mongolian BBQ today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Open to authorized patrons or sponsored guests. Park Entrance fees apply.

CHERYL GANSECKI LEADS AN EASY and accessible roundtrip walk exploring Keanakako`i Crater tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Free for Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park; non-members can join in order to attend. Registration required at admin@fhvnp.org or 985-7373.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

FOR AFFORDABLE COMPUTER HELP, call John Derry at 936-1872.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for Retail Sales Associate: Full-Time, Competitive Wages, Medical & Dental Plans. Apply at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Call 928-0550 for an appointment.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.
See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.





Friday, November 06, 2015

Ka`u News Briefs Friday, Nov. 6, 2015

The Directory 2016 will feature a photograph by Peter Anderson on the cover. Anderson's photo won the popular vote at The Beauty of Ka`u art show held this week. A meet-and-greet takes place tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at CU Hawai`i in Na`alehu.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER ANDERSON will once again grace the cover of The Directory, Ka`u Chamber of Commerce’s annual guide to businesses and the local community. Anderson’s photo of a tree on the rim of Halema`uma`u, silhouetted by Kilauea erupting in the background, won the popular vote at this year’s art contest held this week at CU Hawai`i Credit Union in Na`alehu. 
      A panel of judges chose Best of Show, first- through third-place, and honorable mention in several categories.
Suzanne Dix Kaliko's Aunty Shows Her Quilt won
Best in Show and first place in Painting.
      Suzanne Dix Kaliko won Best of Show and first place in Paintings with Auntie Shows Her Quilt.
      More first-place winners were Ka`u Landing, a Sculpture by Susan Condie Jennings; The Reef, a Quilt by Teri Jensen Phillips; a Graphic entitled Honu with Honu, by Dave Golston; Milo Love Seat, Tom King’s entry in the Woodworking category; and a Weaving by Jeannette Howard.
      See winners in more categories and other results in upcoming Ka`u News Briefs.
      Ka`u residents can join the artists and see the winning art at a meet-and-greet tomorrow morning from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

HAWAI`I ISLAND POLICE HAVE ARRESTED and charged a man in connection with the theft of a Jeep Wrangler stolen on Keaka Parkway in Ocean View on Aug. 24. The following day, a Ka`u police officer observed the Jeep being driven by 37-year-old Lawrence K. Baldonado, who was wanted on two bench warrants for contempt of court. When the officer attempted to stop Baldonado, he fled in a reckless manner, crashed into a metal gate and abandoned the vehicle.
      Baldonado was located at 5:45 p.m. yesterday in Pahala. He was arrested and charged with two counts of contempt of court with bail set at $4,000. He was also arrested on suspicion of other offenses connected to the stolen vehicle and taken to the Kona police cellblock while detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section continued their investigation.
      At 9 a.m. today, Baldonado was charged with second-degree theft, resisting an order to stop, reckless driving and driving without a license. His bail on those offenses was set at $26,000. He remains in the cellblock pending a court appearance on Monday.
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

The Reef, by Teri Jensen Phillips, won first in Quilting.
HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH has confirmed 23 cases of dengue fever on Hawai`i Island as of 1 p.m. today. Of the confirmed cases, 15 are Hawai`i residents, and eight are visitors. Twenty-one cases have been in adults; two have been pediatric. All are recovering. 
Onset of illness has ranged between Sept. 15 and Oct. 30. 
      According to DOH, mosquito control efforts are currently underway, and its investigation is proceeding.
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

LAST NIGHT, SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ, a member of the Senate Climate Action Task Force, spoke on the Senate floor to discuss solutions to climate change, including addressing deforestation and the Administration’s Clean Power Plan.
      “The Clean Power Plan has sent a signal to the rest of the world that the United States is serious about preventing catastrophic changes to our climate,” Schatz said. “This is the challenge of our generation. This is our obligation as the indispensable nation. The United States has to lead, and the United States Senate has to have a real debate on climate and energy policy.
      “We have at our disposal a wide range of solutions for reining in our emissions of carbon pollution. Addressing deforestation is one of the most effective, and cost-effective, ways to slow global warming, while enhancing the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people that rely on forests and the services they provide.”
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

Oct. 30 last year, active lava stalled about 170 yards from Pahoa Village Road.
Today, active breakouts are about 9.5 miles upslope. Photo from USGS
“WHAT'S HAPPENING AT PU`U `O`O?” Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists ask and answer in the current issue of Volcano Watch.    
      “A lot has changed over the past year on Kilauea Volcano. One year ago, the June 27th flow was threatening to cross Pahoa Village Road and, potentially, Highway 130. Lava destroyed one house on Nov. 10, 2014 and was moving downslope toward many others.
      “Now, there is no imminent threat to Pahoa, and life in the lower Puna District of Hawai`i Island has largely returned to normal.
      “So, what exactly happened to the Pu`u `O`o eruption over the past year? In a word: disruption. Pu`u `O`o has been erupting nearly continuously for over 32 years, but continuous does not imply steady. Instead, fluctuations in lava supply rate have been common, and these disruptions have changed the vigor and reach of the flow field activity over the past year.
      “Let’s use a car as an analogy. A drop in the lava supply rate is like easing your foot off the gas pedal. The lava flow, like the car, will slow down. If the lava supply rate drops enough, the flow can stall, similar to a car without enough gas. 
      “An increase in the lava supply rate is analogous to pressing down on the car’s gas pedal. The lava flow, like the car, will speed up. But, if the lava supply rate (or a car engine’s RPM – revolutions per minute) gets too high, their respective systems can rupture or fail. Very high lava supply rates can trigger breakouts of lava from the tube system, which rob lava from the flow front, causing it to stall – just as running an engine too high can trigger mechanical failure and cause the car to stop.
      “As with a car, a lava flow needs to operate within a certain ‘envelope’ of efficiency to continue advancing. Lava activity outside this envelope – too little or too much – causes the flow front to stall. Over the past year, major fluctuations in the lava supply rate have pushed the flow out of this envelope several times, disrupting the flow front advance.
Thomas King's Milo Love Seat won first place in Woodworking.
      “A simple way to track lava supply rate is to look at Kilauea’s summit tilt. Deflation of the summit magma reservoir is normally associated with a drop in lava supply rate, while inflation means an increase.
      “The day before Halloween in 2014, a rapid drop in the lava supply rate occurred, causing the tip of the June 27th flow to stall about 155 meters (170 yards) from Pahoa Village Road. About two weeks later, a major increase in lava supply rate triggered upslope breakouts from the tube, completely shutting off the flow front near Pahoa Village Road.
      “The lava supply rate held steady enough for the next two months that a new lobe of lava advanced downslope once again, this time toward the Pahoa Marketplace, in late December. Fortunately, the lava supply rate was low, and the flow front essentially stalled in January 2015.
      “Another increase in lava supply rate triggered breakouts upslope of Pahoa in mid-March. As in November 2014, these upslope breakouts robbed supply from the flow front near Pahoa Marketplace, causing it to shut down.
      “Since March 2015, surface flows have remained active but haven’t strayed too far from Pu`u `O`o, staying within about eight kilometers (five miles) of the vent. In fact, the farthest reach of Kilauea’s active breakouts has retreated slightly the past couple months, and, as of this week, was 6.4 km (four mi) northeast of Pu`u `O`o.
      “This is good news, of course. But why haven’t the flows advanced very far over the past six months? It is most likely due to a relatively low lava supply rate – or, in car terms, the gas pedal simply isn’t being pushed very hard at the moment.
      “With flows now closer to Pu`u `O`o and farther upslope from residential areas, there is no immediate threat to homes or roadways, as there was a year ago. But, as we’ve seen throughout this eruption, lava supply rates fluctuate, and future increases in lava supply could restart slow advancement of the flow front toward communities.
      “Changes in lava flow activity can occur abruptly and with little warning, so the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor the June 27th flow with on-site field visits, helicopter overflights, webcam imagery and satellite data.”
      See hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch.
      “Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.
Workshop is a week next Saturday instead
of tomorrow as originally announced.

KOREAN NATURAL FARMING Workshop is on Saturday, Nov. 14, rather than tomorrow, Nov. 7 as originally announced. Sponsored by Ka`u Specialty Coffee, the event takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 96-2384 Wood Valley Road above Pahala. 
      Ka`u News Briefs regrets the error.
      For more information, email malian@kauspecialtycoffee.com.

TOTUS Awards & Community Tea-In take place tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. The day features awards for Teas of the United States, the first national tea competition for U.S.-grown teas, as well as enlightening talks and presentations by professionals and an exhibition of TOTUS Award Competition. 

HOLIDAY BAZAAR FUNDRAISER tomorrow and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Hall features handmade crafts and foods. Pit ham and beef sandwiches are on sale Saturday. 
      For more information, call Dina Shisler at 410-935-8087.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

FOR AFFORDABLE COMPUTER HELP, call John Derry at 936-1872.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for Retail Sales Associate: Full-Time, Competitive Wages, Medical & Dental Plans. Apply at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Call 928-0550 for an appointment.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.
See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.