The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island

Friday, August 05, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Friday, Aug. 5, 2022

Kahuku-Pōhue parcel skirts Pōhue Bay and the Kaʻū Coast, attached to 16,451 acres, recently
acquired by Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and subject of a public input meeting Aug. 13.
NPS Photo

THE MEETING ON THE PŌHUE BAY LANDS just acquired by Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is subject of a call for public participation on Saturday, Aug. 13, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center, 92-8924 Leilani circle. National Park Service has sent out an invite to the public regarding the session on "protection and potential future use of the remote 16,451-acre Kahuku-Pōhue parcel the park acquired last month."
Park managers are "seeking feedback from the community about the natural and cultural resources of the area, and wish to explore suggestions for public use that are compatible with resource protection," says the invite.

Brackish water pond that connects to the ocean at high tide.
NPS Photo by Jessica Ferracane

A second meeting will be offered via virtual webinar on Wednesday, August 17 at 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Zoom, https://zoom.us/j/97789413155; or call in to (346) 248-7799, webinar ID: 977 8941 3155. The park, Trust for Public Land and the Hawaiʻi Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development will participate in both meetings.
The Park statement says that before the land transfer, the park met with community members in partnership with Trust for Public Land and Hawaiʻi Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development "to better understand the land's cultural, historical and ecological significance. Community engagement will continue over the next few months. Until Pōhue interim operating procedures can be worked out, and safe access protective of cultural and natural resources can be ensured, public access to the Kahuku-Pōhue parcel is temporarily restricted.
"There are no restroom facilities or capacity for trash removal, and emergency response is very limited. Portions of the current jeep trail and pedestrian routes to the coastline pass through private lands not managed by the park."

Pōhue is one of the few white sand beaches found on the southern part
of the island of Hawaiʻi. NPS Photo by Jessica Ferracane

The Park calls the new section the Kahuku-Pōhue parcel in reference to the Hawaiian place name, Kahuku. Kahuku is the mauka-to-makai (inland to ocean) ahupuaʻa (historic land division), in which Pōhue is located. In addition, many Kaʻū locals refer to the bay as Pōhue Bay and its adjacent beach as Kahuku Beach. The park welcomes additional information about other ʻinoa ʻāina (Native Hawaiian or indigenous) place names for Kahuku-Pōhue.

The Park website includes a section on Kahuku-Pōhu'e at www.nps.gov/havo/learn/historyculture/kahuku-pohue.htm It includes the following:

Pōhue holds a network of culturally and historically significant trails.
NPS Photo by Jessica Ferracane

"Located on the southern flank of Mauna Loa, the Kahuku-Pōhue parcel is home to numerous well-preserved and significant Hawaiian cultural sites, including the largest recorded abrader quarry in Hawaiʻi, lava tubes, burial site, mauka-makai (mountain to sea) trails, fishing shrines, remains of once-thriving coastal villages, and petroglyphs.

A well-preserved portion of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail or Ala Loa, an ancient coastal trail system, hugs the coastline. The Pōhue coastline is also critical habitat for federally listed endangered Hawaiian species, including honu‘ea (Hawaiian hawksbill turtle) and ʻīlioholoikauaua (Hawaiian monk seal). Rare endemic ʻōpaeʻula (red shrimp) live in the area’s anchialine ponds, and the bay is often frequented by native and migratory birds, including ʻiwa (frigate bird), koaʻe kea (white tailed tropic bird), kōlea (golden plover), ʻūlili (wandering tattler) and ʻaukuʻu (black crowned night heron).
The statement notes that "On July 12, 2022, the Trust for Public Land transferred ownership and stewardship of Kahuku-Pōhue to the National Park Service. The 16,451-acre parcel—from Māmalahoa Highway to the shoreline—is now part of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Trust for Public Land has also donated $800,000 to the Friends of Volcanoes National Park to support the National Park Service’s management of Pōhue Bay."
Park Superintendent Rhonda Loh said, “Pōhue is an incredibly precious and culturally significant landscape that needs to be protected.... the park is working to develop an interim operating plan for Pōhue that explores opportunities for public use compatible with resource protection. We thank the community for your patience and for the manaʻo shared so far."

Puʻu Kī, the large cinder cone along the coastline of Pōhue. NPS Photo by Jessica Ferracane

Aiea. Photo from DLNR

WAIEA IS NOW A STATE NATURAL AREA RESERVE, north of Miloliʻi and inland from Hoʻokena Beach Road. State Department of Land & Natural Resources released a statement this week saying, "A roughly 1,260-acre parcel in Waiea, on Hawai‘i island has been designated as part of the State Natural Area Reserve System managed by the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife."
Waiea NAR contains moist koa and ‘ōhi‘a dominated forests on the western flank of Mauna Loa within the South Kona district. "It is great habitat for rare forest birds and plants. In fact, wild ʻalalā (Hawaiian crow) were last observed in Waiea," says the DLNR statement.
The new reserve is approximately 1.5 miles mauka (upland) of where Highway 11 (Mamalahoa Hwy) intersects with Ho‘okena Beach Road. While NARs are generally open to everyone for hiking and nature study, this area is currently landlocked by adjacent private land, so currently there is no access.

Waiea understory. Photo from DLNR

DLNR says Waiea is unique, "because it has distinct seasonality compared to other forests in the NARs system. It evolved under a summer wet season, while most wet forests in Hawaiʻi evolved with a winter wet season."
The NAR system "seeks to keep these forests as intact as possible, to preserve plants and wildlife that evolved over millennia to become unique to the islands. Protection of these species perpetuates the cultural practices that evolved with these ancient landscapes.
"These native Hawaiian forests absorb rain, providing life-giving water, while reducing erosion onto beaches and reefs below. NARs have the highest levels of protection in the state to ensure that current and future generations can continue to experience these incredible places that make Hawaiʻi so unique."
Individuals interested in learning more and giving back to the NAR system can take an online tour and make donations which will support planting native trees or removing invasive species like rats or feral goats, that can wipe out the last known individuals of extremely rare species. "This support is critical for local conservation work," says the DLNR statement.

Waiea fenceline. Photo from DLNR

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Thursday, August 04, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022

Gov. David Ige and First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige with Miloli'i residents as the new Community Based Subsistence Fishing Area is established with the stroke of a pen. Photo from DLNR

A VISIT TO MILOLI'I BY THE GOVERNOR THIS WEEK CELEBRATES THE NEW COMMUNITY BASED SUBSISTENCE FISHING AREA. On Tuesday, with the stroke of a pen in front of Miloli'i residents, Gov. David Ige signed administrative rules to make the coastline bordering this remote village the second Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area in the state. A long time in the making and supported by the persistence of residents, the Miloli‘i CBSFA aims to protect and conserve fish populations and their habitats, by combining traditional Hawaiian fishing practices with modern approaches to conservation.

First Lady Dawn Ige and Gov. David Ige at Miloli'i to make
the Community Based Subsistence Fishing Area official.
Photo from DLNR

Act 271, enacted by the Hawaiʻi Legislature in 1994, led to the designation of 18-miles of coastal waters along the rugged coastline on either side of the small community as the first permanent, legislatively designated CBSFA. Years of work by dedicated community members, with support from biologists and staff at the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources and research and non-governmental organizations, led to the development of a set of administrative rules designed to ensure abundant stocks of priority species and high-quality fishing now and into the future.
Laila Kaupu, a fifth generation Miloli‘i fisher, was one of the prime movers behind the CBSFA initiative and headed up the community group, Kalanihale, which was instrumental in the development of the rules.
On Tuesday, following a boat tour and snorkel with the Governor and First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige, Kaupu let out a happy sigh and said, “That’s my feeling and I’ve got a feeling our kupunas are feeling the same. Just a lot of relief knowing that the community came together in its efforts, with the support of state and federal agencies. We can be that shining light that the governor mentioned for other coastal communities.”
In remarks before signing the administrative rules into law, the Governor said, “We need young people to carry this work forward and encourage other communities to create community-based subsistence fishing areas for the benefit and future of the entire state. Miloli‘i is a shining example of how we can all work together for the benefit of our marine resources, our keiki and our kupuna.”

State Division of Aquatic Resources staff joined Miloli'i residents, including
Laila Kaupu, to take Gov. David Ige and First Lady Dawn Ige snorkeling
during their Tuesday visit. Photo from DLNR

State Department of Land & Natural Resources Chair Suzanne Case added, “This has indeed been a long road for Miloli‘i, but you all have persevered. We join you today in celebrating this tremendous achievement and remind us all, that the work has just begun in implementing these rules to manage Miloli'i’s resources. Here, and across the state we face immense challenges due to climate change, over-fishing and other ecosystem stressors. This is a giant step in the right direction, and we are grateful for such dedicated partners, rooted in tradition, with the goal of co-management of nearshore resources.”
In 2015, also during the Ige Administration, the Hāʻena CBSFA was established on Kauaʻi. In 2016 the Kaʻūpūlehu “Try Wait” community-led marine rules on Hawaiʻi Island were passed. These communities, with Miloliʻi, "have inspired communities statewide to propose rules with the DAR to sustain Hawaiʻi’s marine resources," says a statement from DLNR.
After his snorkeling expedition at Miloli'i, the Governor said, “It’s beautiful being out in the ocean and being able to see the coral colonies. It’s a spectacular day.”

HIGH PATIENT CENSUS AT KAʻŪ HOSPITAL'S SISTER FACILITY IN HILO is the word from spokesperson Elena Cabatu. She sent out a report on Thursday saying that for the past two to three months, Hilo Medical Center has been experiencing high patient census and "operating above our capacity. Today, we started with a very full hospital with 13 holds in the Emergency Department, 13 patients in our overflow areas and 37 waitlisted patients."

She said she will provide updates on the hospital two to three times per week "to keep our staff and community informed."

Cabatu said multiple factors "are causing our hospital to be very full." They include: a continuous flow of sicker patients seeking care for a variety of issues, including COVID; long-term care facilities on island with limited capacity to accept hospital patients due to staffing shortage and COVID outbreaks; difficulty in discharging patients resulting in high number of waitlisted patients remaining in hospital beds; and fewer open beds leading to holding patients in the Emergency Department waiting for a bed to open.
To accommodate the high patient census, Hilo Medical Center has opened additional beds in the Extended Care Facility; uses overflow beds in other patient care areas such as OB Unit, Short Stay and Recovery; offers overtime to staff and brings in traveler to staff additional beds; has doubled enrollment for its Nurse Residency Program to train 45 new nurses; has launched a paid Nurse Aide Training Program; and encourages staff to enroll in a Critical Care Nurse Training Program to help care for sicker patients. View a Town Hall Meeting on the subject at https://youtu.be/lePA4Cpev80. Learn about opportunities to enroll in the paid Nurse Aid Training Program at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022_07_26_archive.html

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.htm

THE COUNTY INVITES THE PUBLIC TO AN UPDATE ON CLOSURE OF PĀHALA AND NĀ’ALEHU LARGE-CAPACITY CESSPOOLS. The public informational meeting will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31 at Nā‘ālehu Community Center, 95-5635 Māmalahoa Highway.
The meeting will cover the Administrative Order on Consent recently signed by the County and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which is posted at https://www.epa.gov/uic/closure-cesspools-pahala-and-naalehu-administrative-order-consent-county-hawaii, and answer questions about potential impacts to residents resulting from compliance with the order. See a story on the evolution of the plans at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022_07_30_archive.html.

The county's Deputy Director of Environmental Management, Brenda Iokepa-Moses, said the public gathering will include "updates since our meeting in Pāhala on March 16, 2022, on the different options under consideration for wastewater treatment as a result of the cesspool closures. County representatives will explain requirements of the Administrative Order on Consent, and also provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions and provide comment." See story on the March 16 meeting at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022_03_16_archive.html.
The county is expected to present its idea of switching from lagoon style wastewater treatment to individual wastewater systems.

Coffee leaf rusts devastates crops.
Photo from CTHAR

A NEW PRUNING METHOD PUBLICATION FOR COFFEE LEAF BORER AND LEAF RUST has come from University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources. The pruning methods for Hawaiʻi coffee growers aim to to mitigate the effects and further spread of these devastating stressors. Coffee Leaf Rust and the Coffee Berry Borer were identified in Hawaiʻi in October 2020 and August 2010, respectively. See the U.H. publication. The updated publication can be found at: at https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/PD-126.pdf.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at

wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at

https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.htm

A POLICE OFFICER'S RESPONSE IN VOLCANO netted him an Officer of the Month Award. Officer Michael Sailer is honored "for his exceptional investigative police work and lifesaving efforts during an incident involving the kidnapping and torture of a male victim," says the statement from Hawaiʻi Police Department. He received the Officer of the Month commendation from the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawai‘i during a ceremony Thursday, July 14.
A four-year veteran of the department, Sailer responded to a report of a dispute at a residence in Volcano on Tuesday, June 7. According to the statement from HPD: Upon arrival, the officer began
searching the area initially making a loud announcement of police presence. "He heard a male yelling for help one time then it became quiet. Officer Sailer continued calling out 'police!' for several minutes with no response. In the quiet, Officer Sailer could hear heavy breathing coming from inside the residence.

Aloha Exchange Club's Raymond Hasegawa with Officer
Michael Sailer, who is honored for rescuing a kidnap victim
in Volcano from two culprits who may have planned murder.
Photo from HPD

"Officer Sailer again called out 'police!' and observed what appeared to be a small amount of blood on the front door. While at the front door, he called out “police!” again and a teenage male answered the door. The officer noted that the male was wearing gloves and could hear a man yell for help from inside the residence.
"Asking the teen to step out from the residence, Officer Sailer entered the front room and discovered a man lying on the floor handcuffed with his feet zip-tied and a second man kneeling on top of the male victim. In addition to having his hands and feet restrained, the victim had a rag partially stuffed in his mouth and duct taped. The man kneeling on the victim told officers that there was a restraining order and that the tied up male had broken the law."
After securing the residence, Sailer found tactical gear, an assault rifle, a pistol, ammunition, and evidence of a kidnapping and assault that had taken place in the residence. "In the course of investigation, the officer officer discovered that the victim had been held against his will within the residence and assaulted. It appeared that the two males in the residence may have intended on killing the victim and covering up the incident." Police charged both with a variety of crimes, including kidnapping and assault.
The HPD statement says, "Sailer’s perseverance to uncover what had transpired that evening in Volcano resulted in him interrupting a potential homicide in the making. Through his efforts, a life was saved, two violent suspects were apprehended, and multiple firearms were safely recovered."
Every month Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawai‘i honors a Police Officer of the Month. Officers are nominated by their supervisors. All officers selected for Officer of the Month are eligible to be selected as the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawai‘i Officer of the Year.

See www.kaucalendar.com

Wednesday, August 03, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022

A hatchling comes out of its nest during a hawksbill hatchling season and scurries to the ocean on a remote Kaʻū beach.

Photo by Amy Krommes/Hawai'i Island Hawksbill Project

IT'S NESTING SEASON IN KAʻŪ FOR CRITICALLY ENDANGERED HAWKSBILL TURTLES. "Our first hatchling scurried to the ocean on July 3," says Amy Krommes, volunteer for the Hawaiʻi Island Hawksbill Project for seven turtle seasons. She said the nest was in a remote beach location.

Krommes explains that nesting season begins in May when the female turtles start to lay their nests into late December when the last nest hatches. A female may lay three to five nests in one season. A nest on average contains 180 eggs. The eggs usually take 50 to 60 days to incubate depending on the temperature. Incubation temperature of the nest determines a hatchling's gender. Warmer nests produce females and

A hatchling from a nest on Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach makes its way
to the Pacific Ocean on Oct. 2, 2018. The latest nesting
at Punaluʻu was later that year. Photo by Peter Bosted

cooler nests produce males.

"Honuʻea, the Hawaiian Hawksbill Turtles, love Kaʻū," says Krommes. They are listed as critically endangered. These turtles do not travel around the world nor do other Hawksbill Turtles come to Hawaiʻi. Hawaiian Hawksbill Turtles are a unique population that nest on the Big Island, Maui and Molokaʻi. Roughly 90 percent of Hawaiian Islands nests are in Kaʻū. Nine Kaʻū beaches have been documented with nests over the last 30 years of monitoring. Two of these beaches have returning nesting turtles every year.

Before hawksbill turtles were protected under the 1973 Endangered Species Act, their numbers dramatically declined from harvesting their beautiful shells. Even though protected, these turtles are still struggling to rebound and are considered critically endangered. Even though their numbers are extremely low, nesting habitat is being lost due to people expanding their impact on beaches. Beach erosion also impacts their ability to come ashore and nest.

The exodus. Dogged determination and strong instincts motivate the

hatchlings to get off the Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach and into the water.

Photo by Annie Bosted at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach in 2018

Five to 25 female Hawksbill turtles may nest in the Hawaiian Islands during one season, far fewer than the number of green sea turtles. The green sea turtles that bask on the beaches at Punaluʻu and elsewhere in the Hawaiian Islands swim some 700 miles to the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, including French Frigate Shoals, where 400 to 600 nest annually.

Since 1989, the Hawaiʻi Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project has monitored the hawksbills, tagging them since 1991. In the past 30 years, 178 female turtles have been individually identified and tagged. In 2021, the Hawksbill Turtle Project documented 53 Hawksbill nests.

Why do the Hawksbill love Kaʻū? "I believe it is the lack of artificial light and people activity at night," says Krommes. "Turtles usually return to the beach where they were born and imprinted as hatchlings. At night the nesting mother turtle leaves the ocean and searches the beach along the vegetation edge in search of a non-rocky area to dig her approximately 20-inch-deep nest. These turtles evolved to recognize their ocean home by the light reflecting off of the ocean. Both the mother turtles and baby hatchlings are hardwired to go towards the light.

Volunteers with the Turtle Recovery Project release tiny hatchlings onto the

beach. They instinctively scurry towards the water, where they will spend the

rest of their lives, save for infrequent visits to the sand for egg-laying females.

Photo by Annie Bosted at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach in 2018.

"After laying her eggs, covering up the nest the mother makes a direct line to the light. Similar to a moth being attracted to light. Stranded mothers have been found beneath lit porches and along streets. Baby turtles typically hatch as a team and leave the nest at night, they can sense when the sand is cooler. These hatchlings are also attracted by light and have been found going towards the light and away from the ocean."

Krommes explains that mother turtles are also very sensitive to movement on the beach. "They recognize motion and if she feels vulnerable, she will not come up to lay her eggs. The mother turtle is carrying a heavy load of eggs and may watch for three days assessing the safety of the beach, she may find another beach close by to nest or she may release her eggs in the ocean.

"Non-native plants such as coconut and haole koa create root barriers that prevent nesting turtles from digging suitable egg chambers and trap hatchlings from emerging. Introduced predators: mongooses, rats, and cats dig up turtle nests and eat eggs and hatchlings."

In 2018, Punalu'u hosted five nests from two different mothers. One of the nesting females was tagged #H99 and last observed nine years earlier. It has been established that hawksbills do not nest every season. They return to the same shoreline from two to more than eight years for the next nesting.

Lifeguard stand area was the site of the latest hawksbill nest at Punaluʻu
where Turtle Recovery Project volunteers, in 2018, carefully excavated to
free hatchlings unable to dig their way to the surface Photo by Annie Bosted

Krommes recalls, "The last hatchlings at Punaluʻu emerged two weeks before Christmas. Over a few nights hatchlings trickled out of the nest. A nest excavation to assist the last straggling turtles occurred with a crowd of people building. Folks were able to witness the two-inch hatchlings scurrying across the beach, building up their muscles, charging their adrenaline, imprinting on the beach and marching in a parade-like manner to the ocean. Then being washed back a few times by the waves. Folks cheered, gave words of encouragement and waved goodbye."

Krommes offers the following recommendations on helping the hawksbills survive:

No white light at night. Use wildlife friendly lighting near the coast (red, yellow, amber and shielded lights.

Limit beach fires. The light will keep turtles from coming up to lay a nest and the heat may be damaging nests that are present.

Avoid beach driving. Off-road vehicles crush nests, compact the sand impeding nest building and create tire ruts that trap hatchlings.

Prevent debris and rubbish from entering the ocean.

Volunteer with a monitoring and conservation program. Contact the Hawaii Island Hawksbill project: info@hawaiiislandhawksbillproject.org.

What to do when finding hatchlings? Krommes recommends: Assist them by smoothing a path to the ocean. Call 808-985-6090.

A group of people at an overlook watch an erupting lava lake in the distance reflect a beautiful palette of pink, orange,
purple and red hues into the dark sky. Photo by Janice Wei

ENTRANCE FEES ARE WAVED ON THURSDAY AT HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES AND OTHER NATIONAL PARKS. It's Great American Outdoors Day.
In honor of the two-year anniversary of the signing of the #GreatAmericanOutdoorsAct, National Park Service entrance fees will be waived at all fee-collecting parks on Thursday, Aug. 4th.
The Great American Outdoors Act, passed in August 2020, improves infrastructure and expanding recreation opportunities in national parks and other public lands. The legislation established the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund and guaranteed permanent funding for the existing Land and Water Conservation Fund. Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/infrastructure/gaoa.htm

Mauna Loa Road has reopened in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
National Park. Photo by J.W. Frank

MAUNA LOA ROAD in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has reopened. It has been closed to all vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians) past the gate at Kīpukapuaulu due to strong and hazardous winds. There were dead trees along the road, and snags from the 2018 Keauhou Fire that posed a threat to anyone in the area, said a statement from the Park.

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About The Kaʻū Calendar

Friday, August 05, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Friday, Aug. 5, 2022

Thursday, August 04, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022

Wednesday, August 03, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022