Kaʻū News Briefs July 20, 2024

 

Pacific Islands Cousins Meet for Hula

    Halau Hula O Leionalani joined dancers from Huahine and Turereura in Tahiti and E-Suite 

from Hamilton, New Zealand on Saturday at Ke Ola Pu'uhonua in Nāʻālehu for a free public event organized by Kumu Hula Debbie Ryder. The next free event at Ke Ola, produced by Ryder, is a  Back to School concert with Wehilei at 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 28.

                                                Photo by Brenda Iokepa-Moses

KAʻŪ COFFEE SHOWED OFF ITS QUALITY at Hawai'i Coffee Association's 15th Annual Cupping Competition this weekend. The cupping was held during the annual conference and meeting of the HCA at Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu.

    In the Kaʻū District competition, Miranda's Farms took first with a score of 85.63 for its parchment-

The Miranda family took first in cupping competition for the Ka'u District.
Photo from Miranda's Farms

dried Geisha. Rusty's Hawaiian Farm took second with 85.42 for its fruit-dried Yellow Bourbon, Red Bourbon. Kaʻū Coffee Mill, LLC took third with 84.55 for its pulp-dried Red Bourbon.
    In the Commercial Division, Kaʻū Coffee Mill, LLC took third in the state with 81.63 points for its pulp-dried Typica. Second was a tie between Mauka Meadows, Mountain with 82.63 for its parchment-dried Typica and Kopiko Farm with 82.63 for its parchment-dried Red Bourbon. First went to Hula Daddy Kona Coffee with 84.29 for its parchment-dried Typica.
    In the Creative Division, Miranda's Farms took ninth with 85.63 for it parchment-dried Geisha and Rusty's Hawaiian Farm took tenth with 85.42 with its fruit-dried Yellow Bourbon, Red Bourbon. First in Creative was Geisha Kona Coffee with 87.83 for its fruit-dried Geisha. Second was Monarch Coffee Farm, of Kona, with 87.40 for its parchment-dried Geisha.
    Other Kaʻū Coffee farms that participated with scores above 80 were A Coffee Farm, Elepoki, Aroma Coffee Farm, Green Turtle Estate Coffee Farm, Navarro Farms, LLC, R&G Farms/ Ka'u Royal, JN Coffee Farm and DMCA Coffee Farm.

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DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF HAWAI'I ISSUED A STATEMENT WITH A "PROFOUND CONCERN" following Donald Trump's speech this week at the 2024 Republican National Convention. Hawai'i's Democratic Party called the speech "a troubling display of incoherence, falsehoods, and his alignment with undemocratic principles, highlighting the urgent need for responsible leadership."    

    Donald Trump’s speech at the RNC Thursday "was both chaotic and troubling,” said Derek Turbin, Chair of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i. “For an unheard of 93-minutes, Trump rambled without presenting a clear vision for our country’s future. Instead, despite his claims of ‘changing’ due to the events of last Saturday, he continued his baseless attacks on prominent figures such as Nancy Pelosi and President Biden.”
    The Democratic Party statement said that "Adding to the confusion, Trump referenced the fictional character Hannibal Lecter and praised North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. These bizarre inclusions emphasized the unhinged nature of his remarks and highlighted his troubling admiration for foreign powers and dictators, which runs counter to our democratic values." 

     Hawai'i's Democratic Party reported that "Following the conclusion of Trump’s speech, fact checkers identified 22 false statements made, which ranged from economic distortions to outright lies about his record and that of his opponents. These falsehoods were promptly debunked, reflecting his concerning pattern of misinformation and falsehoods."
    Turbin said, “The speech not only demonstrated Trump’s lack of coherent leadership but also highlighted the dangerous path he advocates In these critical times, we need to rally behind the vision of progress and inclusivity championed by the Biden-Harris administration. We must reject the regressive policies and false narratives propagated by Trump and the Republican Party.”
    The Democratic Party of Hawai’i stated that it "reaffirms its commitment to protecting our democracy and urges all to strongly consider the impact the upcoming election will have on our country’s future."

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Gov. Josh Green said Pres. Biden was fit during their visit to the
Lahaina fire devastation. Photo from The Hill

GOV. JOSH GREEN SUPPORTS THE CONTINUED CANDIDACY OF PRES. JOE BIDEN while U.S. Congressman Ed Case, former Hawai'i Governors Neil Abercrombie, John Waihee and Ben Cayetano recommended that Biden cease his campaign, following accusations that he is unfit to serve a second term.
    Green said that Biden was "quite sharp" at the recent NATO summit, and top shape when he came to Lahaina to promise aid to victims of fire, holding up well in hot weather while meeting hundreds of people. Green, who is a physician, told The Hill: “Look, an 81-year-old gentleman is going to have moments where they skip a word, where they feel exhausted — that was the case when we had Ronald Reagan (R) as president, and he went on to two terms that are viewed as particularly successful by many.”
    Green is scheduled to co-host a Biden-Harris campaign fundraiser July 29 in Martha's Vineyard on the mainland. The other co-host is television celebrity David Letterman.

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Kaʻū News Briefs July 19, 2024

Pahala Elderly is one of two affordable housing projects in Ka'u. There are none listed as 
in the pipeline. Photo from Hawai'i County

TRACK AND FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THIS ISLAND is the call from  County of Hawaiʻi, with the launch of a new online tool to help residents track and find affordable housing projects. In Kaʻū there are two existing affordable projects - for the aged and disabled. Kaʻū and South Kona are the only two Districts with no new affordable housing in the pipeline according to the Dashboard.
    The aim of the County of Hawaiʻi Affordable Housing Dashboard is to provide a user-friendly interface where residents can easily view details such as project location and income limits, as well as status updates for the over 8,100 units in the affordable housing pipeline and thousands of existing rental units. "This information is crucial for residents interested in understanding the availability and accessibility of housing options within their communities," says a statement from the county.

    One of two projects listed in Kaʻū as affordable housing is Pahala Elderly senior housing with 24 units for those applicants for housing with up to 80 percent of the Average Medium Income. Operated by Hawai'i Public Housing, units are available to income-qualified seniors ages 63 years and older. Applicant household income "must not exceed the limits provided by the property manager," says the description on the dashboard. To apply, contact 808-333-0474. It shows no units available.

Weinberg Hale Kupaa, for Special Needs residents is one of two 
affordable housing projects in Ka'u listed by the County.

    The other affordable housing in Kaʻū listed on the Dashboard is Weinberg Hale Kupaa, with five units of Special Needs Housing. The apartments are subsidized by the federal government Housing & Urban Development Agency. Residents usually pay 30 percent of their income for rent.  It is located at 94-6733 Kamaoa Road near Na'alehu. The property manager is Steadfast Housing Development Corp, with contact number 808-828-7171
    "Our commitment to enhancing housing opportunities for all residents of Hawaiʻi Island is unwavering. This new online tool reflects our dedication to transparency and accountability, ensuring that residents have the information they need to participate in the dialogue about housing development in our County," said Housing Administrator Susan Kunz.
    The landing page of the two-page dashboard presents an affordable housing overview of the County's existing affordable housing units and projects planned for future development. Drop-down menus allow the user to choose the data they want to see for each property. The second page uses graphics to present additional project metrics in a clear and simplified way.

    Explore the County of Hawaiʻi Affordable Housing Dashboard by clicking here.
    Built entirely in-house by staff from the Department of Information Technology and Office of Housing and Community Development, the County of Hawaiʻi Affordable Housing Dashboard utilizes an array of information provided by various County and State agencies and non-profit and for-profit developer partners.
    Future phases will incorporate additional data that will provide the opportunity for more detailed conversation with the community regarding affordable housing to support residents as the County works to build a stronger, vibrant community where all can work and play, and thrive together.
    "Our team has worked tirelessly to fulfill our promise of creating affordable housing opportunities for local families," said Mayor Mitch Roth. "This dashboard showcases our progress, increasing the housing pipeline from just over 1,200 homes to over 8,100. We hope residents use this technology to track our

projects, learn about nearby opportunities, and, most importantly, hold us accountable for ensuring that our keiki can thrive and succeed for generations to come."
   According to the 2019 Hawai'i Housing Planning Study, the County of Hawai'i needed to add 10,796 affordable housing units by 2025 to meet the community's needs.
    Since taking office in late 2020, Roth's administration through the Office of Housing and Community Development has worked with partner developers to increase the number of units in the affordable housing pipeline from about 1,200 units to over 8,100 units. By the end of 2024, the administration will have overseen the completion of over 500 affordable housing units for local families.
    The County of Hawaiʻi Office of Housing and Community Development is responsible for the planning, administration, and operation of all County of Hawai'i housing programs. Its mission is to provide for the development of viable communities through decent housing, suitable living environments and expanded economic opportunities.
    More information on the Office of Housing and Community Development and its programs can be found online at www.housing.hawaiicounty.gov. To receive news alerts and OHCD's quarterly newsletter, click here. Also connect with OHCD on Facebook and Instagram.

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Michelle Galimba

THE TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS BILL is the main focus of County Council member Michelle Galimba's recent newsletter. She notes that the Council is considering and amending Bill 121. A number of amendments that addressed concerns passed the Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and 
Development. Some amendments clarified language but many addressed substantive concerns, such as the need for a notarized affidavit of meeting health, safety and code requirements. Instead of the notarized affidavit, a simple declaration will be required. Find the amendments put forward by co-author Council Chair Heather Kimball at https://www.hawaiicountytar.com/
    At the end of its meeting, the Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use and Development postponed further consideration of Bill 121 until Aug. 20, when more amendments will be taken up. Galimba advised her constituents "Please do let me know if you have specific concerns that can be addressed by amendments to Bill 121. This is an important piece of legislation and we want to hear your feedback and to answer any questions you may have. As always please do not hesitate to contact us at the District 6 office!."

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Kaʻū News Briefs July 18, 2024

National Weather Service has issued a minor coastal flood warning for the entire Ka'u Coast and beyond due to a series of high
tides, with the peaks in the afternoons through Sunday. Hawai'i County Civil Devfense urges securing of surfboards, canoes and other watercraft on the coast where the water could rise and to watch for overwash at boat ramps. Remove electronics and
vehicles to higher grounds. South Point photo by Bob Martin

THE STEWARDSHIP OF HOTSPOTS IN KAʻŪ is eligible for funding from Hawai'i Tourism Authority, with deadline to apply on Wednesday, July 31 at 4:30 p.m. The Hotspots named in the Kaʻū area by HTA on its DMAP are Punalu'u, South Point - Kalae, Papakolea/Green Sands Beach, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and Miloli'i. 

    The funding and training are for the two newest Community Tourism Collaborative programs from HTA: the Community Stewardship Program and the Regenerative Experiences Program. Modeled after the traditional regenerative water system of Hawaiʻi, these programs aim to support and enhance the efforts of organizations dedicated to revitalizing and preserving Hawaiʻi's sacred spaces and creating sustainable visitor experiences.

    A statement from the HTA says that "The vision for a regenerative visitor industry in Hawaiʻi depends on community stewardship organizations who are committed to revitalizing ‘āina that has been overtaxed by the impacts of tourism. The CTC - Community Stewardship program recognizes the kuleana of maintaining these wahi pana, the literal foundation upon which our community and industry is built."

     Organizations selected for the program are invited to join a cohort of mission-aligned organizations for specialized workshop opportunities and professional services and consultation in selected areas specifically focused on the needs of those stewarding DMAP identified tourism hotspots throughout Hawaiʻi. In addition to the capacity building opportunities, cohort members may apply for one-time direct funding that will allow them to grow their stewardship efforts, expand their capacity, and seed their growth.

    To read more and apply, see https://regenerativetourismhawaii.info/

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MEASURING VOLCANIC GASES BLOWING IN THE WIND is th subject of the latest 
Volcano Watch, the weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. This week's article is by Research Corporation of the University of Hawaiʻi gas technician Christine Sealing:
    Measurement of volcanic gases is critical for both public safety and understanding volcanic activity—and everything we measure relies on the wind.

Cartoon schematic of a volcanic plume from Halemaʻumaʻu blowing over permanent gas monitoring stations (diamonds) southwest of Kīlauea summit during normal trade wind conditions. Red is a Multi-GAS station; orange are high-resolution stations; yellow are Flyspec Array stations. 

USGS image with satellite imagery from Google Earth

    The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory currently operates 19 permanent gas monitoring stations, and 7 portable instruments for eruption response. These can be divided into two categories based on what they measure: (1) gas concentrations; and (2) emission rates.
    Gas concentration instruments include multi-GAS stations that measure a combination of gases (CO2, H2O, SO2, and H2S) and high-resolution stations that can measure a single gas (SO2) down to very low concentrations. These instruments draw in or 'sip' samples of volcanic plume to tell us which gases are present and the ratios of these gases to each other, which is important for understanding the volcanic system.
    Emission rate instrumentation, which includes the innovative Flyspec Array, UV-camera, and the vehicle-mounted DOAS, measures the plume's absorption of ultraviolet light from the sun via remote sensing. This allows us to determine how much SO2 is coming out of the volcano, though only during daylight hours.
    All these instruments require cooperation from the gases themselves: the plume must pass by or over the instrument for a measurement to be made.
    The volcanic plume, however, doesn't move on its own. It relies on the wind to carry it in any given direction. The job of volcano gas scientists is to chase around and measure this shifting, transient blob of gas—this is not an easy task!

Flyspec Array of instruments helps measure the output
of volcanic plumes. USGS photo

    Imagine a scenario where seismometers didn't work every time it rained. Perhaps because the ground becomes too squishy and dampens the seismic signals. That's not really what happens, but let's pretend. In this scenario, we'd be able to feel an earthquake and know when it happened, but we'd have no way of measuring its magnitude just because the ground is wet. Thankfully, in the real-world, seismometers work no matter the weather condition—but gas instruments do not. They need the wind to be in right direction and the right speed to make a useful measurement.
    At Kīlauea volcano, the dominant trade winds mean that near-surface winds blow from the northeast most of the year. For this reason, HVO's permanent gas monitoring stations are positioned to the southwest (downwind) of Halemaʻumaʻu, Kīlauea's summit crater.
    If the wind direction is reversed relative to normal trade winds (a condition we call "Kona winds") then although we can see the plume, smell it, and even taste it, we have no easy way of measuring it because the wind is blowing the gas away from our permanent sensors.
    Similarly, if the wind is too slow (below about 4 m/s, which is 9 mph or 8 knots), then the plume can loft straight up and once again miss our sensors. Alternatively, if the wind is too strong then it effectively dilutes the plume, spreading it thin and making it difficult for our sensors to measure. How strong is too strong depends on how much gas is in the plume, but during inter-eruptive periods with relatively little gas the cut-off is around 12 m/s, which is 27 mph or 23 knots.
    Another complication is that volcanoes don't always erupt from the same location. In the most recent eruption at Kīlauea, fissures opened in the upper Southwest Rift Zone—downwind of nearly the entire gas monitoring network. Only one instrument, a high-resolution station called HRPKE, was located near the eruptive vents, a few hundred meters to the west/northwest of the fissures. However, the winds were northerly that day, and were blowing the thick eruptive plume to the south, away from HRPKE. It didn't record a wisp of gas until several hours into the eruption when the wind turned more easterly, finally blowing the plume to the station.

A permanent UV camera at Kilauea. Photo by Tom Perling

    Effective gas measurements require an alignment of four things: wind direction, wind speed, sometimes daylight, and always luck. Volcano gas researchers at the USGS continue to develop new technologies to help us win this sophisticated game of chase, so that we can inform the public about this ever-shifting volcanic hazard. So, if you check the public webpage and it looks like there isn't any gas reported, it may just mean the wind is not cooperating and we're still chasing down the plume.
Volcano Activity Updates
    Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY.
    Elevated earthquake activity and inflationary ground deformation rates continue in Kīlauea's summit region, indicating that magma is repressurizing the storage system. Over the past week, about 650 events (most were smaller than M2) occurred beneath Kīlauea's summit region and extending southeast into the upper East Rift Zone. Unrest may continue to wax and wane with changes to the input of magma; changes can occur quickly, as can the potential for eruption. The most recent summit sulfur dioxide emission rate measured was approximately 100 tonnes per day on July 17, 2024.
    Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.
    Two earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M2.8 earthquake 6 km (3 mi) S of Volcano at 1 km (1 mi) depth on July 16 at 3:33 a.m. HST and a M3.0 earthquake 2 km (1 mi) SSE of Pāhala at 33 km (20 mi) depth on July 12 at 5:50 p.m. HST.
    HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

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HAWAI'I FARMERS UNION UNITED IS HIRING a Chief Operative Officer. The COO will 
lead the Farmers Union growing network of farmers, organizations, and communities supporting Hawaii's family farmers and local food production. The COO is responsible for overseeing the HFUU operations, including financial, programming and organizational oversight. To learn more, visit the job posting. To apply for this position, submit a resume and cover letter to employment@hfuu.org.

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5,500 in the mail, 2,000 on the streets Volcano to Miloli'i
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