Ka‘ū News Briefs Sunday, September 24, 2017

Taiko Drums sounded the celebration for the fourth annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run.
Photo by Peter Anderson

THE COMPLETE RESULTS OF THE KA‘Ū COFFEE TRAIL RUN are out after yesterday’s sunny and sturdy trail conditions. Sponsored by ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou and the Edmund C. Olson Trust, the venue was Ka‘ū Coffee Mill and its trails through coffee fields and macadamia orchards into the rainforest above Wood Valley. Taiko drummers sounded the applause and community groups offered entertainment, food and information.
     In the Mens Half Marathon, Matt Peharda, 29, of Portland, Oregon, won in 1:41:40.9. Second was Alec Richardson. 27, in 1:48:34.4. Third was Lyman Perry, 50, in 1:48:51.0. Fourth was Joe Barica, 47, in 1:50:13:3. Fifth was Justin Young, 39, in 1:56:29:4.
     Dylan Saragosa, 19, took first in the 19 and under group, in 2:09:57.4. Kyle Ignacio, 10, came in second in 2:21:29.5. He was the youngest runner in the race.
     Some of the older runners did well, with 52-year old Shawn Mishler taking seventh overall, and 52 year-old Kai McBride taking tenth overall. 

Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run took competitors high into the forest

 above Wood Valley, past wooden water flumes that 

formerly served the sugar plantation. Photo by Peter Anderson

     The eldest runner in the Half Marathon was Don Zimbeck, 76, who came in ahead of six younger runners.
     First in the Women’s Half Marathon was Bree Wee, 37, of Kona, in 1:51:37. Second was Harmony Wayner, 20, in 2:12:06.8. Third was Sally Marrack, 46, in 2:19:00.9. Fourth was Christina Lundgren, 23, in 2:19:26.3. Fifth was Elda Carreon, 37, in 2:20:54.3. The eldest in the race was 63 year-old Lee Otani. The youngest was the second place finisher.
     The Mens 10K saw Kip Niewlse, 22, coming first across the finish line in 45.51.8, Zachary Hines, 35, second in 46.03.1 and Brian Shiro, 39, in third at 46.24.8. The eldest in the race was 74 year-old Donald Choquette, who beat three younger men. The youngest was the overall winner.
     The Womens 10K saw Megan Lamson, 34, take first in 1:01:04:7, Melissa Kunz, 31, in 1:04:20.9, and Michelle Young, 39, in 1:05:52.5. The eldest in the race was 71 year-old Linda Gross. The youngest was 22 year-old Sarah Bermingham, who finished 15th.
     The Mens 5K saw Troy Aukai, 17, coming in first in 22.08.7, followed by Sumuo Engichy, 17, in 32.25.2 and Alexander Keely, 16, in 23.43.7. The youngest competitor to finish, was Takami Munnerlyn, 4 years of age, who beat four other competitors, 12 to 16 times his age. The eldest in the race was Jay Cable, 74, who finished 20th.
     The 5K women’s competition saw 46 year-old Kendra Ignacio come in first in 25:56:4, and 65 year-old Janet Schleifer second in 27:43.5 and 25-year old Victoria Hines third in 29:19:5. The eldest to finish the race was Madalyn McWhite-Lamson, 73, who beat eight younger women. The youngest was eight-year old Anabella Anthony who placed 17th.
     See all the results at www.webscorer.com and look for the Sept. 23 race date and Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run.

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FriendRaiser welcomes community
support for the November event.
Photo from Nā‘ālehu School

RAFFLE PRIZES AND INFO BOOTHS ARE WELCOMED by Nāʻālehu Elementary Student Council for its second annual FriendRaiser to be held on Saturday, Nov. 18, on the school grounds. The event, runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to include games, food, booths, fun and, "most importantly, opportunities to build and strengthen friendships," says a statement from organizers. Community organizations are invited to host information booths.  For more information, contact Amber Keohuloa at ajavar@naalehu.org or 345-9283.

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HAWAI‘I PUBLIC RADIO, with two stations, HPR-1 and HPR-2 reaching Ka‘ū, begins its semi-annual, on-air fundraiser this Wednesday, Sept. 27. The nonprofit is supported by 14,000 member donors, as well as nearly 200 businesses and foundations. Its reach covers the inhabited Hawaiian Islands, with Ka‘ū being the most recent area added, when it obtained the KAHU community radio license. In Ka‘ū, HPR-1 is found at 89.1 FM and HPR-2 is at 91.3 FM.

     During the anticipated ten-day campaign, statewide, the station seeks to break its own pledge drive record by enrolling 1,000 new individual members and growing the rolls of those who contribute monthly from 45 to 50 percent.
     In the last three years, despite steadily increasing costs, according to HPR, it has been able to lower its fund drive goals as more of its donors have opted to become monthly Sustaining Members. This fall's target of $875,000 continues this downward trend, and returns the station to a goal level not seen since the fall of 2013.

HPR President and GM José Fajardo

     HPR President and General Manager José Fajardo states, "A larger base of donors is essential to weather the uncertain future of federal funding for public broadcasting. We are confident that more and more of HPR's listeners have come to realize how much they count on us for their news and entertainment and how HPR, in turn, counts on their support. It's a unique symbiotic relationship and listening to each other is at its core."
     The station's realignment in February, "while generally well-received, elicited suggestions from listeners," says a statement from HPR. "Various programming adjustments have been made when listener demand warranted. The most recent, on Sept.  18, includes a new lineup at 7 p.m. on HPR-1, including the return of the popular weekly wrap-up Left, Right & Center, billed as a "confrontation over politics, policy and popular culture." Other returning shows during this hour are On the Media (Mondays) and Freakonomics Radio (Tuesdays). Two new programs round out the week: Reveal (Wednesdays) is dedicated to investigative reporting and Hidden Brain (Thursdays, starting Oct. 12) uses social science to help people understand the world, current events and themselves.
    Last month, HPR received a top rating from Charity Navigator, the nation's largest charity evaluator. "Attaining a four-star rating verifies that Hawai‘i Public Radio exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in your area of work. Only 5 percent of the charities we evaluate have received at least six consecutive four-star evaluations, indicating that Hawai‘i Public Radio outperforms most other charities in America. This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator sets Hawai‘i Public Radio apart from its peers and demonstrates to the public its trustworthiness," states the letter from Charity Navigator.
     Contributions to HPR may be made online at hawaiipublicradio.org, as well as through the HPR mobile app. Fund drive phone lines open on September 27 in the station's two studios. Donations to HPR-1 may be made at (808) 944-8800, toll-free (888) 970-8800, and to HPR-2 at (808) 941-3689, toll-free (877) 941-3689.

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CELEBRATING THE HISTORY OF THEIR FAITH, Bahá’í’s of Ka‘ū have issued a statement about the the story of their founder and the 200th anniversary of his birth. They also invite the public to a dinner and open house on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center.

Bahá’í’s of Ka‘ū adopted a two-mile stretch

 of highway and volunteer to keep it clean. 

Photo from Bahá’í’s of Ka‘ū

     The Bahá'í faith “originated in Iran in the mid-19th century. In less than 200 years it became a universal faith “present in every country in the world with adherents from virtually every national, ethnic, religious and tribal background,” says the statement from Bahá’í’s of Ka'ū.
    The name of the founder, Bahá’u’lláh, who lived from 1817 to 1892, means "The Glory of God.” He is considered by millions of Bahá’í around the world as “the Divine Educator for this age whose coming was foretold by all of the Divine Messengers of the Past.”
     In his writings, Bahá’u’lláh outlines a framework for the development of a global civilization which takes into account both the spiritual and material dimensions of human life. His teachings center around the recognition of the oneness of humanity and “offer a compelling vision of a future world united in justice, peace and prosperity.”
    Bahá’u’lláh’s coming was heralded by the Báb who lived from 1819 to 1850. He was a prophet with the name Báb meaning “the Gate. The Báb declared His Divine Mission in 1844, which is considered the beginning of the Bahá’í Era – a new cycle of human history and social evolution,” say the Bahá’í’s of Ka'ū.
To read more about the Bahá’í faith, see      bahai.us/bicentenary-resources. To contact the Bahá’í’s of Ka‘ū and to R.S.V.P. for the Oct. 21 gathering, contact Sandra Demoruelle. Email naalehutheatre@yahoo.com or phone 929-9244.

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A youngster learns to weave lau hala bracelet

 at the 2017 Cultural Festival. NPS Photo/Janice Wei 

“LEARN ONE OF THE GREAT TRADITIONAL ARTS OF HAWAI‘I, ulana lau hala” says Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park regarding its free Lau Hala workshop set to take place Wednesday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai.
     Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ press release for the event says “Hawaiians have used the hala (pandanus) tree to create many useful and beautiful items for centuries. Learn to weave lau hala and take home your own piece of lau hala art,” from this Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ‘Ike Hana No‘eau “Experience the Skillful Work” workshop. Park entrance fees apply.

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Aunty Ka‘ohu Monfort demonstrates lā‘au lapa‘au at the 

2017 Cultural Festival.  NPS Photo/Jay Robinson

FAMILIES ARE INVITED FOR A DAY OF FUN, CULTURE AND DISCOVERY for Kahuku ‘Ohana Day in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Registration required by Friday, Oct. 13).
     Hawai‘i Volcanoes' press release promoting the event says “Learn about the hidden powers that plants have to keep us healthy through the teachings of Aunty Ka‘ohu Monfort, a practitioner of lā‘au lapa‘au (Hawaiian herbal medicine). Collect seeds from native plants and help park rangers bring new life to Kahuku.”
     Kids 17 and under and their families must sign up by October 13 to participate by calling 808-985-6019. Bring water, lunch and snacks, sunscreen, hat, long pants, shoes and reusable water bottle. Kahuku is located between the 70 and 71 mile markers on Highway 11.

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Pick up the September edition of The Ka'ū Calendar delivered
free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka'ū, from Miloli'i 
through Volcano. Also available on stands throughout
the district. See it online at kaucalendar.com

UPCOMING FALL TROJAN SPORTS:

Girls Volleyball 

Wednesday, Sept. 27, Ka'ū vs. Ehunui, home.
Friday, Sept. 29, Ka'ū vs. Pahoa, away.

Eight-Man Football
Saturday, Oct. 7, Ka'ū vs. Kohala, home.
Saturday, Oct. 21, Ka'ū vs. Pāhoa, home.

Cross Country
Saturday, Sept. 30, Ka'ū vs. Waiakea, away.
Saturday, Oct. 7, Ka'ū vs. Kea'au, away.

Bowling
Saturday, Sept. 30, Ka'ū vs. Kamehameha at Kona Bowl.

Cheerleading
Wednesday, Oct. 4, at Konawaena.
Wednesday, Oct. 18, at Kamehameha.

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A VOLLEYBALL CLINIC for five to 14 year-old youth, co-sponsored by the Hawai‘i Police Department, will be held at Ka‘ū District Gym from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, Monday, Sept. 25. The instructor will be Ka‘ū High School girls volleyball coach Joshua Ortega and coaching staff, assisted by the Ka‘ū High School Girls Volleyball team. Gym or court shoes required. Participants must turn in a signed registration waiver form. For more information, and to register, call Ka‘ū District Gym at 928-3102.

http://kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory_2017.swf

ART ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED TOMORROW, MONDAY, SEPT. 25, for the Ka‘ū Chamber of Commerce's Annual Art Show. The art show will be open for public viewing from Tuesday, Sept. 26, to Friday, Sept. 29, in the CU Hawai‘i Federal Credit Union Annex Building (behind CU) in Nā‘ālehu, during normal credit union business hours.
   An Artist Reception for distribution of prizes and art pickup will be the morning of Saturday, Sept. 30.
     Categories include: painting, graphics, photography, craft, lei, weaving, jewelry, quilting, sculpture, and woodworking. There will also be categories for Youth and Keiki entries, for which the entry fee is $1 per artwork - CU Hawai‘i has offered to sponsor any and all keiki who ask.
     The winning popular vote piece will be displayed on the cover of The Directory 2018, according to new Chamber co-chairs Alan Stafford and Allen Humble who describe the annual art show as a fundraiser for the Ka‘ū Chamber of Commerce scholarship program. For more details, visit the Chamber website at kauchamber.org or call 936-5288.

REGISTER KEIKI GRADES K-8 FOR ART: For Metal Stamped Bracelets, register until Tuesday, Sept. 26. The art class will take place at Pāhala Community Center on Wednesday, Sept. 27, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more, call 928-3102.

HOVE ROAD MAINTENANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS meet Tuesday, Sept. 26, starting at 10 a.m. at St. Jude's Episcopal Church. For more, call 929-9910.

KA‘Ū FOOD PANTRY OFFERS FREE FOOD FOR THOSE IN NEED on Tuesday, Sept. 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

A SPECIAL OPEN HOUSE FOR VETERANS TO PREVIEW the newly installed Telehealth Medical Equipment at Ocean View Community Center is planned for Thursday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to noon.
     For more information, read the Ka'ū News Briefs from September 10, or call 939-7033.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP. MEETS Friday, Sept. 29, at 5 p.m., at the Hawaiian Ranchos office.

THE ENDANGERED HAWAIIAN PETREL, ‘UA‘U, will be the subject of discussion at Coffee Talk on Friday, Sept. 29, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. inside the Visitor Center at the Kahuku Unit of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.
     Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park Avian Research Technician Charlotte Forbes-Perry will present a talk about the life of the ‘ua‘u and the National Park’s efforts to monitor and protect them.
    Ka‘ū coffee, tea and pastries will be available for purchase. Entrance to the event and park is free. Visit nps.gov/havo for more.

HAWAI‘I FARMERS UNION United has announced its annual Ka‘ū chapter meeting, to be held at Pāhala Plantation House, at 96-3209 Maile St., on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Members and friends are invited to participate in the Ka'ū Chapter business and Convention discussion, election of board members and a potluck dinner.

BIRTH OF KAHUKU a free hike within the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is offered Saturday, Sept. 30, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Explore the rich geologic history of Kahuku on this easy-to-moderate hike that traverses the vast 1868 lava flow, with different volcano features and formations. Learn about the Hawaiian hotspot and the creation of Kahuku. Visit nps.gov/HAVO for more details.

Ka'ū News Briefs Saturday, September 23, 2017

Pāhoehoe lava flows are common but a hazard to residents in their paths. See story below.
Photo by Alicia Burtner/USGS

RAINA WHITING ANNOUNCED HER BID FOR THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TODAY. The Nā‘ālehu school teacher is campaigning as a Democrat for the District 5 seat that covers the citizenry from Honu‘apo through Nā‘ālehu, Green Sands, Discovery Harbour, South Point and Ocean View through Miloli‘i and up to Holualoa in Kona. District V is currently being represented by Richard Creagan, MD, who has announced he is running for the west Ka‘ū state Senate seat being vacated by Senator Josh Green, MD.
     Whiting said she is committed to championing the issues that matter the most to the nearly 50,000 residents of District 5, including advocating for farmers, "working towards the schools our keiki deserve, infrastructure improvements particularly the state highways, clean elections and the needs of kupuna."

Raina Whiting announced her bid for
state House of Representative today.
Photo from the Friends of Raina Whiting

     She said she believes in coastal preservation and "making a sound plan for sustainable growth and economic development of our island home. This campaign is about building capacity in our community. I am one rural school teacher with a big desire to work hard for the future we desire on our islands - Together, our future is one to believe in!”
     Whiting is a kindergarten teacher at Nā‘ālehu Elementary School. She earned her B.A. in Literature with a Certificate in Latin American and Iberian Studies from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and her MS in Education from The Johns Hopkins University.
     A statement from her campaign says, Whiting "is focused on community advocacy, hosting events to feed the community and providing free school supplies; and leading events that engage children in crafting and agriculture. As a school teacher she received over $5,000 in grant funding for the 2017-18 school year. The grant funding will go towards environmental place-based education, musical instruments, new furniture and gardening resources for her students."
     Whiting is the co-founder of the Ka‘ū Farm School and is involved in supporting family farms. Whiting is also an active member of the Hawai‘i Farmers Union United’s Hawai‘i Island Chapter and a member of the Hawai‘i State Teacher’s Association’s Speakers Bureau, having contributed to its recent publication Schools Our Keiki Deserve: a blueprint for public education (hsta.org/index.php/news/schools-our-keiki-deserve-a-blueprint-for-public-education).

Whiting was the elected Democratic
party National Delegate for
Bernie Sanders.
Photo from Raina Whiting

     Whiting was previously a legal advocate for victims of domestic abuse at the Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i. She’s served as an AmeriCorps volunteer in legal services and in education as a Teach for America corps member. She has also been active at the state capitol lobbying the legislature on behalf of organizations that advocate for social justice issues such as education, human rights, death with dignity, labor rights, environment, coastal preservation, homelessness, child advocacy and public land access and open space issues.
     Whiting was the elected Democratic Party National Delegate for Bernie Sanders in 2016. She is the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i’s Hawai‘i County Secretary and is a State Senate District 3 representative on the State Central Committee. She is also a member of the Environmental Caucus, serving as an at-large elected officer.      She was recently selected to participate in the Rural School Leadership Academy. Participants in the program learn early school leadership skills and deepen their exposure to the power of the role of the school leader, while building a powerful national network of aspiring school leaders in rural communities. The 2017-18 program is a cohort of 39 teachers from Alabama, Appalachia, Arkansas, Delaware, Eastern North Carolina, Greater New Orleans–Louisiana Delta, Hawai‘i, Idaho, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rio Grande Valley, South Carolina, South Dakota, South Louisiana, and Washington.

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on Instagram and Twitter.

Long-view photograph of the Ka‘ū coastal fire from the Cane Haul Road above Nā‘ālehu. Photo by Richard Taylor

THE KA‘Ū COASTAL BRUSHFIRE CONTINUES WITH AROUND 1,600 ACRES BURNED says a Hawai‘i Fire Department press release issued today, Saturday, Sept. 23, around 9 p.m. The fire began near Waikapuna Bay with the first alarm raised at 5:24 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, according to and earlier press release issued by Hawai‘i Fire Department. Now three days in, fire crews are still battling the flames. By mid-morning today, the fire had grown "substantially" with "about 1400 acres" burned. The cause of the fire is "undetermined," says the Hawai`i Fire Department statement.

"This photograph was taken with a telephoto lens of the aircraft and
communications towers below Nā‘ālehu. Many firefighters on the scene
there. Fire is actually some distance from the towers, maybe 1000 feet,
foreshortened by the lens," says Richard Taylor who lives on a nearby ranch.

     The brushfire "is long, reaching from Waikapuna Bay to within .75 miles of Green Sands Subdivision, and has more than a dozen spot fires outside the main burn area." It has "continued to burn through uneven terrain with variable fuel/vegetation mixtures." The "spot fires range from 100 square feet to several acres. Air support by two helicopters using water drops assisted ground units who were extinguishing fires that had jumped fire breaks.
     "By nightfall, the fire was contained, with no further fires outside of 4-wheel roads widened by bull dozers, creating a perimeter for the approximately 1,600 acre fire."
     The location of the fire offers "rugged plains with limited 4x4 vehicle access" over "primarily cattle pasture, with some native trees and archeology of unknown periods," says the release.
     "No structures have burned or are in immediate danger."
     The release states their fire fighting efforts are manpowered by a total of 26 individuals - 14 Hawai‘i Fire Department personal, along with 12 volunteer firefighters - with four privately owned bulldozers, one engine, two tankers, one medic unit, five rescue boat related volunteer apparatuses, two choppers and seven other units being used.

An aerial view of the Ka‘ū coastal fire approaching Nā‘ālehu and Mark Twain. Photo by Shalan Crysdale

     Hawai‘i Fire Department "will remain on scene overnight, and operations will resume in the morning with choppers and ground fire fighting," says the statement.

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Matt Peharda won the Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run
half-marathon and was greeted at the finish line
with a wooden pendant lei presented by 
Miss Ka‘ū Coffee Jami Beck.
Photo by Trevor Goff

THE KA‘Ū COFFEE TRAIL RUN Half Marathon welcomed Matt Peharda, 29, of Portland, Oregon, as first across the finish line today at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill in 1 hour and 41 seconds. Peharda, who was hosted overnight by Pāhala Plantation Cottages, described his experience. "I've run several races across Oregon, Colorado and California and this was the most scenic one. The entertainment before and after the race was fun, as well as the emcee."
     Peharda is a senior financial analyst at Adidas and has written a book on running, available on Amazon, entitled Running with a Vengeance.
    The Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run's Mens 10K saw Kip Niewlse coming first across the finish line in 45.51.8, Zachary Hines second in 46.03.1 and Brian Shiro in 46.24.8.
   The Men's 5K saw Troy Aukai coming in first in 22.087.7, followed by Sumuo Engichi in 32.25.2 and Alexander Keely in 23.43.7.  See more results in tomorrow's Ka‘ū News Briefs.
    Today's was the fourth annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run, sponsored ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou and the Edmund C. Olson Trust, which provided the venue at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill and the trails through coffee fields and macadamia orchards into the rainforest above Wood Valley.

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KA‘Ū BEAT CHRISTIAN LIBERTY at home in girls volleyball Friday night. With only Varsity in contention, the Trojans won with scores of 25-21, 25-15, 20-25 and 25-17, under Coach Joshua Ortega.

Pick up the September edition of The Ka'ū Calendar delivered

free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka'ū, from Miloli`i 

through Volcano. Also available on stands throughout

the district. See it online at kaucalendar.com

UPCOMING FALL TROJAN SPORTS

Girls Volleyball 

Wednesday, Sept. 27, Ka'ū vs. Ehunui, home.

Friday, Sept. 29, Ka'ū vs. Pahoa, away.

Eight-Man Football

Saturday, Oct. 7, Ka'ū vs. Kohala, home.

Saturday, Oct. 21, Ka'ū vs. Pāhoa, home. 

Cross Country

Saturday, Sept. 30, Ka'ū vs. Waiakea, away.

Saturday, Oct. 7, Ka'ū vs. Kea'au, away.

Bowling

Saturday, Sept. 30, Ka'ū vs. Kamehameha at Kona Bowl.

Cheerleading

Wednesday, Oct. 4, at Konawaena. 

Wednesday, Oct. 18, at Kamehameha.

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THERMAL MAPS HELP WITH PĀHOEHOE CHALLENGES, says this week's Volcano Watch, written by scientists at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:

      Pāhoehoe lava flows are a common feature on Hawaiian volcanoes, and they have been a serious hazard to residential areas during the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō eruption over the past few decades. Pāhoehoe destroyed much of the town of Kalapana, buried most of the Royal Gardens subdivision, and most recently threatened the town of Pāhoa.
    A challenge with pāhoehoe flows is that they are difficult to track and forecast, in large part owing to how they spread out on the ground. As the surface of a pāhoehoe lava flow cools, lava tubes can develop and transport lava beneath the flow surface. This lava emerges at the active flow front, and on the flow surface in "breakouts" from the tube system. These lava breakouts can occur in many different areas along the length of a flow at any given time. On Kīlauea, lava breakouts are often scattered over areas spanning kilometers (miles).

An example of a thermal map, created on August 9, 2017. The thermal map is limited to the current flow
 (episode 61g flow), which runs along the center of the map. The blue and green colors correspond to lower
surface temperatures, areas of cooled, inactive lava. The orange and red colors show areas of hot, active
breakouts on the flow surface. USGS map

    The scattered nature of breakouts is the main challenge for monitoring and forecasting pāhoehoe flows. In some ways, monitoring pāhoehoe flows can be much more difficult than monitoring ‘a‘ā flows, which are often focused in a single, well-defined lava channel.
    Until recently, geologists at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory could only effectively map the margins of a pāhoehoe flow. The advance and expansion of the flow margins provided a picture of evolving behavior at the edge of the flow (and potential hazard), but it was difficult to map out exactly where all the breakouts on the flow surface were located.
    These breakouts are commonly positioned well away from the flow front and margins. Sometimes they advance to reach the flow margins, and drive the flow in a new direction. Knowing where breakouts are clustered, and how they are evolving, is valuable for anticipating where the advance of a pāhoehoe flow might become focused.
    Over the past few years, HVO geologists developed a new technique to map activity across the entire surface of a pāhoehoe flow. During our routine helicopter overflights, scientists use a handheld thermal camera to collect a series of overlapping, oblique images along the entire length of the lava flow, from the vent to the ocean entry. Scientists then use "structure-from-motion" computer software to stitch the individual images into a large mosaic.

Thermal web cam captures images for USGS scientists in Hawai‘i.
Photo from USGS

    This type of software uses the overlapping images to calculate the exact 3-dimensional position of each image pixel on the surface of the Earth. Scientists insert a handful of known coordinates in the image mosaic as "ground control" points, which provide "georeference" for the mosaic and orients it to its correct position on the Earth's surface.
    This mosaic of thermal images is basically a thermal map of the lava flow surface, and reveals the exact location of all the active surface breakouts. The map provides a highly accurate picture of surface activity, improving our ability to anticipate where lava might advance. The added benefit is that scientists can precisely map the path of the main lava tube, which produces a subtle line of warm temperatures on the surface.
    Structure-from-motion software has become much more accessible in the past 5-10 years, and geologists around the world use it to make accurate 3D ground surface models. This software is another example of how rapidly technology is changing. "It also shows how new techniques can overcome long-standing challenges and improve our ability to monitor Hawaiian volcanoes,"
says the Volcano Watch article.

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A FREE CONCERT FEATURING LOCAL RECORDING ARTIST MARK YAMANAKA will be hosted in the Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' National Park on Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
     Mark has been awarded multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards since the debut of his first album, Lei Puakenikeni. His next album, Lei Maile, has also received critical acclaim. A press release from Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ promoting the event says “Mark’s crisp, clear falsetto and rich baritone voice will mesmerize you.” This even is part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ongoing Nā Leo Manu “Heavenly Voices” presentations. Park entrance fees may apply.

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Stewardship at the Summit: a local resident removes invasive 

Himalayan ginger from the park. Photo from NPS Photo/Janice Wei

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO HELP REMOVE INVASIVE, NON-NATIVE PLANT SPECIES that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This Stewardship at the Summit event will take place four times in October - Saturdays, Oct. 7 and 21, and Fridays, Oct. 13 and 27, at 9 a.m.
     To join the efforts, meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. on any of the aforementioned dates. Volunteers should wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants and bring a hat, rain-gear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools will be provided. No advance registration is required, and there is no cost to participate, but park entrance fees apply. Visit the park website for additional planning details: nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/summit_stewardship.htm.

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JOIN A GUIDED HIKE ALONG THE PALM TRAIL TOMORROW, Sunday, Sept. 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. within the Kahuku Unit of Hawai'i Volcanoes' National Park. This moderately difficult 2.6-mile loop traverses scenic pastures along an ancient cinder cone, with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. Free. Visit nps.gov/havo for more.

A VOLLEYBALL CLINIC for five to 14 year-old youth, co-sponsored by the Hawai'i Police Department, will be held at Ka'ū District Gym from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 25. The instructor will be Ka'ū High School girls volleyball coach Joshua Ortega and coaching staff, assisted by the Ka'ū High School Girls Volleyball team. Gym or court shoes required. Participants must turn in a signed registration waiver form. For more information, and to register, call Ka'ū District Gym at 928-3102.

http://kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory_2017.swf

ART ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED ON MONDAY, SEPT. 25, for the Ka‘ū Chamber of Commerce's Annual Art Show. The art show will be open for public viewing from Tuesday, Sept. 26, to Friday, Sept. 29, in the CU Hawai‘i Federal Credit Union Annex Building (behind CU) in Nā‘ālehu, during normal credit union business hours.
   An Artist Reception for distribution of prizes and art pickup will be the morning of Saturday, Sept. 30.
     Categories include: painting, graphics, photography, craft, lei, weaving, jewelry, quilting, sculpture, and woodworking. There will also be categories for Youth and Keiki entries, for which the entry fee is $1 per artwork - CU Hawai‘i has offered to sponsor any and all keiki who ask.
     The winning popular vote piece will be displayed on the cover of The Directory 2018, according to new Chamber co-chairs Alan Stafford and Allen Humble who describe the annual art show as a fundraiser for the Ka‘ū Chamber of Commerce scholarship program. For more details, visit the Chamber website at kauchamber.org or call 936-5288.

REGISTER KEIKI GRADES K-8 FOR ART: For Metal Stamped Bracelets, register until Sept. 26. The art class will take place at Pāhala Community Center on Wednesday, Sept. 27 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more, call 928-3102.

HOVE ROAD MAINTENANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS meet Tuesday, Sept. 26, starting at 10 a.m. at St. Jude's Episcopal Church. For more, call 929-9910.

KA'Ū FOOD PANTRY OFFERS FREE FOOD FOR THOSE IN NEED on Tuesday, Sept. 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

A SPECIAL OPEN HOUSE FOR VETERANS TO PREVIEW the newly installed Telehealth Medical Equipment at Ocean View Community Center is planned for Thursday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to noon.
     For more information, read the Ka'ū News Briefs from September 10, or call 939-7033.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP. MEETS Friday, Sept. 29, at 5 p.m., at the Hawaiian Ranchos office.

THE ENDANGERED HAWAIIAN PETREL, ‘UA‘U, will be the subject of discussion at Coffee Talk on Friday, Sept. 29, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. inside the Visitor Center at the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' National Park.
     Hawai‘i Volcanoes' National Park Avian Research Technician Charlotte Forbes-Perry will present a talk about the life of the ‘ua‘u and the National Park’s efforts to monitor and protect them.
    Ka‘ū coffee, tea and pastries will be available for purchase. Entrance to the event and park is free. Visit nps.gov/havo for more.

Ka'ū News Briefs Friday, September 22, 2017

DA BUX supports local agriculture and encourages SNAP-EBT cardholders to eat healthy.
See story below. Photo from The Food Basket

BRENDA FORD WILL RUN FOR THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES representing west Ka‘ū and Kona. The District 5 seat, now held by Dr. Richard Creagan, serves the citizenry from Honu‘apo, through Nā‘ālehu, Discovery Harbor, Green Sands, Mark Twain, South Point, Ocean View and up through Miloli‘i and into Kona to Holualoa. In the 2018 election race, Creagan will run for the state Senate seat held by Dr. Josh Green, who is running for Lt. Governor.
    Ford made the announcement yesterday and said this morning that she is eager to work again on Ka‘ū issues. She served as a County Council member for four two-year terms, the maximum. During the last term, her territory included all of Ka‘ū, after the district lines were changed with reapportionment.
      Ford said that she is interested in working once again on infrastructure issues, including the construction of a second well for Ocean View. She said she would attempt to hold onto funding for the well that was approved during Rep. Richard Creagan's tenure in the House. Should the county move forward, she said that the National Guard may be able to volunteer to build it.

Brenda Ford said she supports truth in labeling
for Ka‘ū and Kona Coffee.

   While many water issues are solved at the local level, Ford said the Hawai‘i Legislature can often help with some of the funding. When she served on the County Council, she lobbied for additional water infrastructure for homes, farms and to fight fires. She advocated for more firefighting equipment and water stations for range fires at South Point and for water lines to extend from Hwy. 11 down to beach and residential communities. She lobbied for a waterline extension from Ho‘okena to Miloli‘i and for a new well around Miloli‘i and Papa Bay Road.
     She mentioned needed improvements to situations where spaghetti lines are running alongside roads to housing areas. She said water hydrants are needed. A million gallon water tank on the makai side of Hwy. 11 near the Ka‘alu‘alu Road intersection was one of her ideas when she served on the council.
    Ford also advocated for the new permanent transfer, reuse, recycling and mulch center for Ocean View. As a councilwoman she aimed to improve the Ocean View Police Station and to keep in place the Ka‘ū interactive communication site for giving testimony and witnessing County Council and other public meetings.

     In terms of state legislation, she said she supports allowing one extra dwelling on each farm, for long-term rental income, workers or family, but opposes using farms for vacation rentals. She said the extra housing on farms could be under the same roof as the house,  or a separate ‘ohana dwelling. She said that elder farmers often need workers and extra income.

    Ford said she also advocates for truth in labeling for Ka‘ū and Kona Coffee and other local produce.

    She and her husband Larry live on a small farm in South Kona where they are retired from growing coffee but still manage their fruit trees, she said.

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Ka‘ū coastal brushfire continues to burn as fire crews battle strong
trade winds and limited ground access to the scene.
Photo by Ka‘ū resident and Volunteer Firefighter Lizzy Stabo

COUNTY AND VOLUNTEER FIRE CREWS CONTINUE TO FIGHT A LARGE BRUSHFIRE that started yesterday in a “remote area of Ka‘ū coastline near Waikapuna Bay,” states a Hawai‘i Fire Department press release.
     The release states that an alarm was raised at 5:17 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, with "multiple units dispatched to reported fire." However, "due to [the] location of the fire" and "limited 4x4 access roads," when the first units were eventually able to arrive at the scene, almost two hours later, "approximately 5 acres of grass and brush [was] actively burning." The release also said that "strong trade winds" caused the fire to continue spreading "throughout [the] day. Dozers were utilized to establish fire breaks and choppers carried out water drops. Much of [the] area [was unaccessible] to ground vehicles." As of 6 p.m. Thursday, 840 acres had burned. Spreading of the fire "slowed down throughout nighttime hours", though "much of [the] area [was] still actively burning" today, said the release.
     As of 4:30 p.m. today, Sept. 22, Hawai‘i Fire Department dispatch reported that firefighters were still battling the flames. Read yesterday’s Ka‘ū News Briefs for more.

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DA BUX, A HAWAI‘I FOOD BASKET PARTNERSHIP with KTA, farmers markets and other food sellers, rolled out its new promotion this week to help hungry people eat healthily. KTA promoted local foods, such as Rainbow Papayas for $1.39 a lb., bananas for $1.29 a lb. and red leaf lettuce for $1.19 a lb. for needy families who qualify and use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Local papayas promoted at KTA to low-income families
through Da Bux. Photo from Hawai‘i Food Basket

SNAP-EBT cards. 

     The program, subsidized by the USDA, started Wednesday at the Hilo downtown and Punainako KTAs. During the third week of each month through the end of 2017 SNAP-EBT customers will receive 50 percent of their total purchase (up to $20) back on their purchase of Hawai‘i Island produce. "It helps low income families and local farmers," says the post on Hawai‘i Food Basket's Facebook.
    Volcano Farmers' Market will implement the DA BUX incentive on the third Sunday of the month: Oct. 15, Nov. 19, and Dec. 17 with support from County Councilwoman Maile David.

     See more in the Sept. 20 Ka‘ū News Briefs.

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THE 4TH ANNUAL KA‘Ū COFFEE TRAIL RUN with races starting and ending at the Ka‘ū Coffee Mill will take place tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 23. Staggered gun starts begin at 7 a.m. Runners will receive a race goodie bag, including a T-shirt and more. Each registered participant will also be entered into a door prize drawing valued at $700.

Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run is Saturday morning at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill.
Photo by Vernon Harvey

     Trail terrains vary between races: the 5K is a family-friendly, run/walk trail through macadamia nut groves and coffee fields; the 10K is a moderate run through macadamia nut groves and coffee fields; and the Half Marathon follows the 5K & 10K course, then continues up to an elevation of 3,100 feet, traverses onto a 4-wheel drive access road, marked trails undulating through grazing pastures. 

      Free music and entertainment and post-race massages will also be available for $1.00/Minute at the event.
      Race day registration ends at 6:30 a.m. For more details about the event visit okaukakou.org/kau-coffee-trail-run/. 

KA‘Ū TROJANS beat Pāhoa, 18-12 in Eight-Man Football, Thursday on Pāhoa's home turf. The Trojan wining touchdowns all came in the fourth quarter. Trojan Z. Kai ran a 31-yard touchdown to tie the game at 12-12. The final score came when I. Pilanca-Emmsley intercepted the ball and ran for 95-yard across the goal line.
     The second and third quarters were scoreless and halftime saw Pāhoa ahead 12-6, after the home team scored two touchdowns in the first quarter. Ka‘ū also scored in the first quarter when Pilanca-Emmsley passed to J. Badua.

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Pick up the September edition of The Ka'ū Calendar delivered
free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka'ū, from Miloli`i 
through Volcano. Also available on stands throughout
the district. See it online at kaucalendar.com

UPCOMING FALL TROJAN SPORTS:

Girls Volleyball 

Wednesday, Sept. 27, Ka'ū vs. Ehunui, home.
Friday, Sept. 29, Ka'ū vs. Pahoa, away.

Eight-Man Football
Saturday, Oct. 7, Ka'ū vs. Kohala, home.
Saturday, Oct. 21, Ka'ū vs. Pāhoa, home.

Cross Country
 Saturday, Sept. 23, Ka'ū vs. Hawai'i Prep, away.
Saturday, Sept. 30, Ka'ū vs. Waiakea, away.

Bowling
 Saturday, Sept. 23, Ka'ū vs. Kealakehe at Kona Bowl.
Saturday, Sept. 30, Ka'ū vs. Kamehameha at Kona Bowl.

Cheerleading
Wednesday, Oct. 4, at Konawaena.
Wednesday, Oct. 18, at Kamehameha.

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THE NATURE CONSERVANCY HOSTS A VOLUNTEER DAY TOMORROW, Saturday, Sept. 23, at its Kona Hema Preserve in South Kona from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

     Space is limited so those wanting to volunteer must contact Schubert in advance to reserve a spot on one of the trucks. For more, read the Ka'ū News Briefs from September 8. To contact Schubert, email lschubert@tnc.org or call 443-5401.

For more details, see the Ka'ū News Briefs from Aug. 30, 2017.

HAWAI’I SEED FEST: LOCAL SEEDS FOR LOCAL NEEDS, sponsored by The Kohala Center and Hawai‘i Seed Growers Network, is scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 23, from 9 a.m. to noon in Pāhoa and Honalō.
     "Check out variety trials in progress, learn how to conduct successful trials in your garden, enjoy refreshments and tastings of crops being grown from local seed, talk story with a local seed grower, and meet others in your community interested in improving local food security," says an announcement from The Kohala Center. Attendance is free but space is limited. Reserve online at localseeds.eventbrite.com or call The Kohala Center at 808-887-6411. Visit Hawai'i Seed Growers Network.

NATURE & CULTURE: AN UNSEVERABLE RELATIONSHIP, a moderate hike approximately 2 miles takes place tomorrow, Saturday, September 23, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Kahuku Unit of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Palm Trail hikers visit a place where catastrophic change (hulihia) and subsequent restoration (kulia) can be observed as the land transitions from the 1868 lava flow with its pioneer plants to deeper soil with more diverse and older flora. Learn about native plants that play a vital role in Hawaiian culture. Free. Visit nps.gov/havo for more.

ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENT PLAYERS, DRUMMERS, SINGERS AND DANCERS ARE WELCOMED for Kanikapila tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 23, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Nā‘ālehu Methodist Church Hall. For more, call Desmond at 937-6305.

THE KOHALA CENTER’S DEMONSTRATION FARM HOSTS A FIELD DAY TOMORROW, Saturday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (45-434 Lehua St, Honoka’a).
     The Kohala Center’s event description offers "a farm tour, hands-on training, and planting of an agroforestry system designed to diversify crops, control weeds naturally, and improve soil health."
    This event is open to the public, with high school students and teachers encouraged to learn about the upcoming fall High School Sustainable Agriculture Program.
      Contact Dave Sansone at sansone@kohalacenter.org or 808-887-6411 for more information.

JOIN A GUIDED HIKE ALONG THE PALM TRAIL on Sunday, Sept. 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. within the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. This moderately difficult 2.6-mile loop traverses scenic pastures along an ancient cinder cone, with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. Free. Visit nps.gov/havo for more.

kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory_2017.swf

ART ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED ON MONDAY, SEPT. 25 for the Ka‘ū Chamber of Commerce's Annual Art Show. The art show will be open for public viewing from Tuesday, Sept. 26, to Friday, Sept. 29, in the CU Hawai'i Federal Credit Union Annex Building (behind CU) in Nā‘ālehu, during normal credit union business hours.
   An Artist Reception for distribution of prizes and art pickup will be the morning of Saturday, Sept. 30.
     Categories include: painting, graphics, photography, craft, lei, weaving, jewelry, quilting, sculpture, and woodworking. There will also be categories for Youth and Keiki entries, for which the entry fee is $1 per artwork - CU Hawai‘i has offered to sponsor any and all keiki who ask.
     The winning popular vote piece will be displayed on the cover of The Directory 2018, according to new Chamber co-chairs Alan Stafford and Allen Humble who describe the annual art show as a fundraiser for the Ka‘ū Chamber of Commerce scholarship program. For more details, visit the Chamber website at kauchamber.org or call 936-5288.

REGISTER KEIKI GRADES K-8 FOR ART: For Metal Stamped Bracelets, register until Sept. 26. The art class will take place at Pāhala Community Center on Wednesday, Sept. 27 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more, call 928-3102.

A VOLLEYBALL CLINIC for five to 14 year-old youth, co-sponsored by the Hawai'i Police Department, will be held at Ka'ū District Gym from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday Sept. 25. The instructor will be Ka'ū High School girls volleyball coach Joshua Ortega and coaching staff, assisted by the Ka'ū High School Girls Volleyball team. Gym or court shoes required. Participants must turn in a signed registration waiver form. For more information, and to register, call Ka'ū District Gym at 928-3102.

HOVE ROAD MAINTENANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS meet Tuesday, Sept. 26, starting at 10 a.m. at St. Jude's Episcopal Church. For more, call 929-9910.

KA'Ū FOOD PANTRY OFFERS FREE FOOD FOR THOSE IN NEED on Tuesday, Sept. 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

LEARN ABOUT KA‘Ū DESERT’S FOOTPRINTS IN THE ASH with Park Ranger Jay Robinson during Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s After Dark in the Park on Tuesday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium.
     Hawaiians once traversed Kīlauea on foot to travel between Puna and Ka‘ū, and during the 18th century, explosions from the volcano rained volcanic ash down on the people, preserving their footprints in the sands of “Keonehelelei.” Robinson will discuss new interpretive displays in the Ka‘ū Desert and explain what is known today about the impact of these explosive eruptions on native society. The event is free, park entrance fees apply.