The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island

West Kaʻū to Kona state Senate candidates Dru Kanuha and Brenda Ford. See story below and
the forum at naleo.tv/vod/

KAʻŪ LEARNING ACADEMY IS NO MORE, UNLESS THERE IS A SUCCESSFUL APPEAL, according to a statement from the Hawaiʻi State Public Charter School Commission, which was issued on Monday.
It says that today the Charter School Commission "voted to revoke the charter contract for Kaʻū Learning Academy (KLA) due to multiple contract violations. A total of 22 violations, including financial and operational irregularities, enrollment discrepancies, failure to properly maintain student and employee records, and the determination that the charter school’s purported governing board was improperly constituted and did not meet statutory legal requirements.
"Additionally, on June 21, the Commission was informed by the Hawaiʻi Department of Education that after completing an investigation of possible test breaches at KLA, the 2017 assessment scores of all students tested at the school cannot be considered valid or trustworthy and will be invalidated.
"The decision to revoke the charter contract was rendered during a special hearing that had been requested by the charter school’s purported governing board after the Commission initiated the revocation process in April.

Kaʻū Learning Academy lost its charter today. If appealed, the state Board of Education will make a
final decision. Photo from KLA

"Kaʻū Learning Academy opened its doors in 2015 serving students in grades 3-7. The projected student count for the 2018-19 school year was 93. The revocation of the charter contract means the school closes its doors immediately. Closure notifications will be sent to parents, staff and state agencies. The Commission will secure both student and financial records and conduct an inventory of school property. Within 15 days of the closure decision, the Commission will notify the charter contract holder in writing of the closure decision and transmit a copy of the notification to the Board of Education. Within 21 days of the closure decision, the contract holder may file an appeal of the decision to the BOE. The BOE will issue a final decision within 60 calendar days of the filing of the appeal.

Endangered species tag and release
programs at KLA.
Photo from KLA

"The Commission will work closely with the school’s students and their families to assist in the transition for students to their new schools. The Commission will also work closely with the Hawaiʻi Department of Education for any students and their families who wish to transition to a Department Public School."

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PRES. DONALD TRUMP NOMINATED BRETT KAVANAUGH TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TODAY. SEN. MAZIE HIRONO issued a statement. As the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Hirono wrote:

“Today, Donald Trump selected Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court from a list hand-picked by two organizations with a far-right ideology – the Federalist Society and Heritage Foundation.

“As a federal appellate court Judge, Brett Kavanaugh’s record is replete with decisions favoring the privileged and powerful. His writings and rulings show a determination to restrict women’s reproductive freedom and strip federal agencies of their power to protect our water, air, and safety.

Judge Brett Cavanaugh, nominee to the
Supreme Court. Photo from Wikipedia

“Significantly, Judge Kavanaugh has advocated that Congress legislate to exempt U.S.presidents from civil and criminal actions while in office. This is of deep concern at a time when Donald Trump is a defendant in numerous civil lawsuits and is the subject of a significant criminal investigation.

“Judge Kavanaugh has not earned the benefit of the doubt. He has the burden of proof to demonstrate his ability to be independent of the President and exercise unbiased and independent judgment.

“No one should forget that the Majority Leader changed Senate rules for the expressed purpose of confirming Donald Trump’s ideologically-driven nominees with the barest majority rather than the 60 votes required for previous Supreme Court nominees. Judge Kavanaugh will have an opportunity to show the American people what kind of Justice he might be.”

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HERE IS MORE ON THE KANUHA-FORD FORUM, Decision 2018, sponsored by Hawaiʻi County Democrats and Nā Leo TV. During the hour-long question and answer session, the Democratic candidates aiming to serve west Kaʻū and Kona, District 3 in the state Senate, shared goals and views. Watch the forum at naleo.tv/vod/, with moderator Stacy Higa. See Sunday’s Kaʻū News Briefs for the opening of the forum.

When asked about emergency preparedness, Ford praised Civil Defense, and the Community Emergency Response Teams. As a County Council member, she helped fund CERT training through the Fire Department, leading to 32 CERT organizations throughout the county. “Every community should have CERT team in it,” she said. “Everybody needs to be trained; it’s a life skill.”

Kanuha said that Civil Defense and first responders like CERT should have more tools to help with community in case of emergency. Preparedness maps for all over the island and community education are needed, he said. “We live on an island… in the middle of the ocean, where we deal with tsunamis, hurricanes… earthquakes, volcanoes… It’s important to make sure (people) are well prepared,” he said.

Candidate Dru Kanuha, in Kona, with his ʻohana.
Photo from drukanuha.nationbuilder.com

Regarding the false missile attack on Hawaiʻi last January, Kanuha said there “is always room for improvement. The missile crisis was a disaster. We weren’t prepared.” Every disaster is going to be different; preparation needs to be improved, he said.

Ford called it a “SNAFU” and “a complete disaster.” She said there needs to be better communication with Civil Defense and the EmergencyOperationsCenters on each island. Every cell tower, radio, TV, etc. transmitter needs a backup generator, said Ford. “You’re never prepared enough.”

When asked about the role of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, Kanuha said the state depends “hugely” on tourism. He said there should be more promotion of Hawaiʻi Island to “come here, enjoy, and ultimately, spend their money, and stay as long as they can.” He said there needs to be more communication about dangers of hiking in mountain and lava areas, about bringing in invasive species, and about living aloha when here and taking that export back with them.

Ford said the Tourism Authority is “Doing a great job advertising,” but needs to educate. She said the island offers aloha, but also “every known disaster that can be here,” referring specifically to waves, rip tides, steep hiking trails, and lava. She said that “every pest on the planet” seems to arrive on island, referring to invasive species that arrive on planes and boats. She said videos and signage could help visitors learn safety for the environment. An example: “Don’t stand on the coral; it’s an animal, it’s not a rock.”

Candidate Brenda Ford at the 2018 Women's Day
March in Kona.
Photo from votebrendaford.com

She called for more education of visitors so they don't have accidents, even fatal ones. “One guy went out onto a lava bench, years ago. The bench broke – it wasn’t because of him, it was just ready to go; never found his body.” She said she wants to make sure that locals aren’t unhappy with visitors, and that visitors are happy, too. She called for more pre-education of people coming here, particularly concerning ecotourism. She said ecotourism is great, with its learning component, but that visitors need to learn before landing here. “It’s our responsibility.”

Kanuha called for more promotion of ecotourism – “to its highest point,” saying these visitors somewhat understand Hawaiʻi. He also said the sustainability of forests, beaches, and corals is important for this “growing segment of our tourism.” He advocates for education: “I think that ecotourism can be a great thing for our state.”

When asked about higher education facilities for West Hawaiʻi, Ford said she is “Not happy.” She said she has been working for 20 years to land a four-year college in Kona. “I’m not happy with just a learning center - it’s not enough. Our kids are just as smart as anybody else’s,” she said. She told of how her son took science classes at the existing community college in Kona, where there were no labs, and none of his credits were transferable. She talked about reaching out beyond the University of Hawaiʻi system to University of Washington, where she has already reached out for training of physicians’ assistants. She also said that those who want a four-year college education either have to drive to Hilo or leave the island. “If they go to the mainland, they are not coming back. We have got to improve our higher education on this island, in the state, dramatically,” proclaimed Ford.

Kanuha, who graduated from a college in San Diego, called for a free four-year college in West Hawaiʻi. He said the community college wants to expand, have more specialized instructors. “If we can build upon the existing community college,” he said, that would be a step in the right direction. “Hopefully our kids can look forward to going – and staying – at UH,” he said.

Brenda Ford on Decision 2018, running for state Senate.
Image from Na Leo TV

When asked about prisons, Kanuha said the prison system needs to be built upon education, which would serve a better purpose than just incarceration in the long run. It gets inmates off the criminal pathway, he said. Overcrowding, services for inmates, and getting to a point of being “a member of society, where they have a job, have a family, build a home,” off the in-and-out cycle, he said, is important.

Ford recommended putting vocational arts back into the schools. She said it would help keep young people from falling “into this mischief.” She said she opposes both privately owned prisons and sending the incarcerated out of state. She said she recommends more prison education and more therapy, and keeping families closer, which lessens isolation, which in turn can lead to more aggression. She also advocates for some former prisoners being allowed to vote again.

When asked about traffic in Kona, Ford said, “It’s bad.” She stated the new state highway to the airport is under construction, but “way overdue, way over cost.” She said there should be more mauka-makai connectors to the main highway around the island, which would also help with tsunami evacuation. “We need to get those (mauka-makai connectors) done as quickly as we possibly can,” she said.

Dru Kanuha on Decision 2018, running for state Senate.
Image from Na Leo TV

Kahuna said Kona has been struggling way too long with traffic, and said the completion of Queen Kauhumkanu Highway extension and adding those mauka-makai connectors was important. One cul-de-sac subdivision, he said, was recently connected to a mauka-makai thoroughfare. He said the "pinch point" between Lako Street and Kamehameha III – which would be managed by the Kuakini Highwayextension, which was taken off the priority list last year – “desperately” needs to move forward.

In his closing statement, Kahuha said he is running for state Senate because he was born and raised in West Hawaiʻi – schooled at Mokuaikawa church, Kahakai, and Kealakehe. He noted that his family has lived in Kona for generations. “I know the community; I want my kids to grown up in a community where they can afford to live in a place where we've been for generations.” He said its becoming tough to live there affordably, which helps drive him to advocate for affordable housing in West Hawaiʻi and the state. He said he has a passion and respect for taking care of community. He said he loves Hawaiʻi and wants his family to stay here. He also said he brings leadership, with his council and chair positions, and collaborating, bringing everybody to the table.

In her closing statement, Ford commented that she and Kanuha had many similar goals, which “bodes well for West Hawaiʻi.” She said she will work to help the homeless, and to build a new hospital and university. She said she also will work for civil rights and to prevent gerrymandering. She said as a state Senator, she would be able to work with people on the County Council where she served, and people in the state Senate and House, even on controversial issues, even if it takes some time. She pointed to her track record. “All the different islands are facing the exact same problems; not one of us is an island in and of itself. We have to work together,” she said. Ford stated that she has proven herself when serving on the County Council.

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Lava from Fissure 8, heading south, creeps ever closer to the presently empty Kua O Ka Lā Charter School, and Ahalanui warm ponds. Photo from Tropical Visions Video

LAVA THREATENS KUA O KA LĀ PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL AND AHALANUI COUNTY BEACH PARK, home of lower Puna’s beloved warm ponds. Lava on the south side of the 14km-long channel near Kapoho, shown in a July 8 video from Mick Kalber of Tropical Visions Video aboard a Paradise Helicopter flight, is closing in on the park and school.

Janet Babb of USGS Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory said the flow front, as of this morning’s overflight, is 600 meters from the ponds. They do not have figures as to how fast the front is moving, but Tina Neal, Scientist in Charge at USGS HVO, said it is “slow.”

USGS HVO has a seismic, GPS, and infrasound equipment installation at the school, said Neal, “which we are concerned about – we’re watching (the flow) carefully as well.” She said that if the situation gets “past the point of being safe,” they may “mount an expedition to retrieve their equipment.”

Thick laze from the ocean entry of lava from Fissure 8 hangs heavy over Kua O Ka Lā Charter School and Ahalanui warm ponds. The locations are less than 600 meters from active lava flow. Photo from Tropical Visions Video

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KUA O KA LĀ PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, INACCESSIBLE AND THREATENED BY LAVA, SEEKS FUNDING to relocate to Hilo for the 2018-19 school year starting August 8. A GoFund Me Campaign seeks $15,000.

Says the GoFund Me page, “We have identified a location, but the facility needs a lot of work. We have four weeks to prepare the facility for the upcoming school year for our K through 6th students. We are looking for assistance to purchase materials and labor to get this critical renovation completed. We humbly ask for your kokua. Mahalo!”

Buildings and gardens at Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School,
smothered in laze. Photo from Tropical Visions Video

Susie Obsorne, co-founder of the school, who lost her home to lava May 25, told The Kaʻū Calendar the challenge is putting the facility in shape. She is in final negotiations with Nani Mau Botanical Gardens in Hilo, with quotes from contractors, and hopes to start renovations next week.
Many Rotary Clubs have “pulled together in tremendous support, both financially and with labor,” said Osborne.

The Kapoho campus, evacuated during the second week of May due to the eruption in lower Puna, temporarily moved to the Boys and Girls Club in Hilo, where middle and high school students will be placed for the upcoming school year. Classes for K through 6th will be at Nani Mau Botanical Gardens, once renovations are completed. Preschool is staying at Puʻula Church Hall in Nanawale.

Lava flows from Fissure 8 have cut off access to school grounds across from Ahalanui ponds. Though the school buildings and gardens for the culinary program still stand, lava is moving closer and laze blankets the school grounds.

Students and instructors work in the gardens at Kua O Ka Lā,
which provide food for the K through 6th culinary program.
Photo from kuaokala.org

The Pre-K through 12th Hawaiian-focused school’s charter was established in 2000. Kua O Ka Lā is located on 600 acres at Puʻalaʻa, next to Ahalanui warm pond, “an intact ancient Hawaiian village complete with historical sites, fishponds, and native habitat that affords an ideal outdoor learning environment for our project-based curriculum.” The school services 230 students in Kindergarten through 12th grade at its campus.

Through the school’s Hīpuʻu Program, Kua O Ka Lā’s Kumu, Kaimi Kaupiko, of Miloliʻi, and Sheri Jumalon, of Ocean View, have instructed students in Kaʻū on hands-on conservation, and cultural and environmental restoration projects, including at a heiau directly above Pāhala, and the forestry conservation area nearby.

Osborne said the lower Puna campus “is the most magical, beautiful place… and wondrous scientific learning lab.” She said she hopes to establish classes in Hilo for the 2018-19 school year, taking day trips back to the Puna location, “and then next year, go back home, ultimately.”
Enrollment is open now, for classes at the Hilo and Nanawale locations, and for the Hīpuʻu Program, a hybrid, online school for students island-wide. See kuaokala.org.

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NEW and UPCOMING

KAʻŪ HIGH SCHOOL IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for Varsity Baseball Head Coach, Pep Squad Head, Coach, Girls Soccer Head Coach, and Boys/Girls Judo Coach for the 2018-19 school year. Anyone interested can pick up an application form at the school's main office. Deadline is July 14.

Last year's heaviest boar was captured by Team 12, led by Tyrell

Mason of Kaʻū, weighing in at 150 lbs. Photo by Guy Sesson

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SECOND ANNUAL PIG HUNT HOSTED BY KAʻŪ MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY Saturday, July 21, at the parking lot adjacent to 96-3258 Maile Street, near the old Radio Station Building. Location provided by Olson Trust.
The scale for the weigh-ins for the wild pigs will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be food booths and a variety of contests. Contact Kalani Vierra at 938-2005, Darlyne Vierra at 640-8740, or Liz Kuluwaimaka at 339-0289.
The categories include: Over-All Pua‘a prize for heaviest pig; Heaviest Boar/Laho‘ole; Heaviest Sow; Biggest Tusk; The Packing Contest, in which the hunter runs while carrying the pig; and the Smoke Meat Contest.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

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TUESDAY, JULY 10

Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, beginning at 9 a.m., Tue/Wed, July 10(Committees)/11 (Council), Hilo, Tue/Wed, July 24 (Committees)/25 (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

C.E.R.T. Discovery Harbour/Nā‘ālehu, Tue, July 10, 4-6pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Public invited to see what Community Emergency Response Team is about, and participate in training scenarios. Dina Shisler, dinashisler24@yahoo.com, 410-935-8087

The Wonderful World of Wine and Watercolor, Tue, July 10, 4-7pm, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Learn how to transfer a photo onto watercolor paper through basic techniques. $30/VAC Member, $35/non-Member, plus $17 supply fee. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11

Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, beginning at 9 a.m., Wed, July 11 (Council), Hilo, Tue/Wed, July 24 (Committees)/25 (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

THURSDAY, JULY 12

Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū and Me, Thu, July 12, 10:30-noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. 929-8571

Thursday Night at the Center - Witnesses in Words: The Literature of Kīlauea, Thu, July 12, 7-8pm, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. A reenactment of first Western visitors to Kīlauea and their perspectives: William Ellis, Titus Coan, Mark Twain and Isabella Bird. Free; $5 donation suggested. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

FRIDAY, JULY 13

Oliver!, a KDEN Production, July 13-29; Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30pm, Sundays 2:30pm. Shows moved to UH Hilo Performing Arts Center. Tickets: $20 general, $15 seniors 60+ and students, $12 keiki 12 and under. Tickets available from July 2 at Kīlauea General Store, Kea‘au Natural Foods, Basically Books, and The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo. Info and reservations: 982-7344, kden73@aol.com

Exhibit, Birds of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park: The Hawai‘i Nei Invitational Daily, July 13-Aug 4, 9-5pm, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Free. Opening reception: Fri, July 13, 5-7pm. Artists: John Dawson, Reyn Ojiri, Sarah Koh, Wendy Barske, Maria Macias, Cody Yamaguchi, Ann Guth, and John Mydoock. Art represents endemic bird species. volcanoartcenter.org

2nd Annual Bi-Annual Quilt Show, Quilts In The Forest - Where the Path May Lead, Opening reception: Fri, July 13, 5-7pm. Then daily, Tue-Sat, 10-4pm, through Aug 3, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Free. Workshops and demonstrations planned in conjunction with show. Fia Mattice, 967-8222, quiltshow2018@volcanoartcenter
.org. volcanoartcenter.org

SATURDAY, JULY 14

Pancake Breakfast and Raffle, Sat, July 14, 8-11am, Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Kāwā Volunteer Day, Sat, July 14, 9:30am, Kāwā. Sign up with James Akau, Nā Mamo o Kāwā, at namamookawa@gmail.com, jakau@nmok.org, or 561-9111. nmok.org

Realms and Divisions of Kahuku, Sat, July 14, 9:30-11:30am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately difficult, two-mile, guided hike on Kahuku Unit's newest trail, Pu‘u Kahuku, explores the traditional Hawaiian classification system. Bring snack. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Zentangle: Ink-Blown ‘Ōhi‘a w/Dina Wood Kageler, Sat, July 14, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Celebrating Volcano’s premier rainforest tree, Ke Kumu ‘Ōhi‘a. Loaner pens, pencils and watercolors available. Bring Zentangle supplies, if able. No artistic experience necessary. $30/VAC Member, $35/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Bring light refreshment to share. Register online, volcanoartcenter.org, or call 967-8222

SUNDAY, JULY 15

Nature and Culture: An Unseverable Relationship, Sun, July 15, 9:30-11:30am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderate guided hike along the Palm Trail, approx. 2 miles. Learn about native plants that play a vital role in Hawaiian culture, and observe the catastrophic change and restoration of the land as it transitions from the 1868 lava flow to deeper soils with more diversity and older flora. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

MONDAY, JULY 16

Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Mon, July 16, 5-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

ONGOING

Some of last year's Volcano Rain Forest Run participants.
Photo from VRFR

Paid Intern sought by The Nature Conservancy, to work from October 2018 through August 2019 with their Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program, which has native forest preserves located in Ka‘ū and South Kona. Benefits offered include: a $1,600 monthly living allowance (before taxes); a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefits (if eligible); and receive an entry-level conservation career experience. Applicants must be at least 17 years old by the program start date, October 2018, and possess or be working towards a high school diploma or equivalent. Applications must also have their own housing and transportation, a drivers license, and be able to pass a criminal history check.
The internship is offered through Kupu Hawai‘i. Those interested are asked to fill out an online application at kupuhawaii.org under Conservation Leaders Program as soon as possible, as spaces are limited; kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy at 443-5401 or call Kupu Hawai‘i at 808-735-1221.

Find Your Park, invites Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Kamaʻaina and tourist alike are encouraged to experience authentic Hawaiian cultural programs, guided hikes, After Dark events, and more from Ka‘ū to Volcano to Hilo. “While Kīlauea continues to shake the ground and blast ash from its ever-changing summit crater – causing the partial closure of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on May 11 – park rangers continue to enlighten and engage visitors from other locations,” says a release from HVNP staff.

Rangers offer new and familiar programs – free of charge, with no entry fees – for visitors at the park’s Kahuku Unit, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center in Hilo, and at the Grand Naniloa Hotel in downtown Hilo.

Kahuku Unit

In addition to regularly scheduled Guided Hikes and the monthly Coffee Talk, Kahuku Unit has added daily Ranger Talks, and cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.

Visitor Contact Station hosts Ike Hana Noe ʻAu, Cultural Demonstrations and Activities, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, made possible by Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association.

Visitor Contact Station hosts Ranger Talks on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

Guided Hikes begin at 9:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday in June and July. Meet the ranger at the welcome tent.

Coffee Talk, in the Visitor Contact Station is held the last Friday of the month, 9:30-11 a.m.

Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.

Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus

You can also find your park rangers in Volcano at the Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus at 19-4074 Old Volcano Rd., in Volcano Village. Rangers are there most days from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to provide talks and answer questions about the current eruption.

The return of After Dark …near the park at the Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus. TBA

Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

Find you park rangers at Mokupāpapa Discovery Center in downtown Hilo, Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rangers provide daily eruption updates, and at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., give a talk about all five of Hawai‘i Island’s volcanoes –including Kīlauea. Get your NPS Passport Book stamped. Located at 76 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo. Please note, the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center will be closed on Wednesday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.

Grand Naniloa Hotel

Two Park Rangers are stationed at the Grand Naniloa Hotel in downtown Hilo, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., every Sunday and Monday, in the Willie K Crown Room - as long as nothing else is scheduled in the space. The rangers will be doing daily talks at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. about the eruption. They will show the park film that is normally available to visitors to see at the Kilauea Visitor’s Center at the Summit, Born of Fire, Born in the Sea, every half-hour beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Kona Vet Center visits to Ocean View Community Center are Suspended until further notice. Veterans may call 329-0574 for VA benefit information. ovcahi.org

Tūtū and Me Offers Home Visits to those with keiki zero to five years old: home visits to aid with helpful parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Home visits are free, last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, for a total of 12 visits, and snacks are provided. For info and to register, call Linda Bong 464-9634.

St. Jude's Episcopal Church Calls For More Volunteers for the Saturday community outreach. Especially needed are cooks for the soup served to those in need, and organizers for the hot showers. "Volunteering for St. Jude's Saturday Shower and Soup ministry is an opportunity to serve God in a powerful way," states St. Jude's April newsletter. Volunteer by contacting Dave Breskin at 319-8333.

Gov. David Ige signed eight bills into law yesterday to tackle opioids, guns, ammunition, and marine events.
See story below. Image from the governor's Flickr

WHETHER TO APPEAL THE REVOCATION OF KAʻŪ LEARNING ACADEMY'S CHARTER will soon be taken up by the KLA board, according to Executive Director Josh DeWeerd. Kaʻū Learning Academy's charter was revoked on Monday by the State Public Charter School Commission. DeWeerd and members of the school’s Governing Board spoke at the Honolulumeeting, before the Commission finalized the revocation decision. The school has 21 days to file an appeal with the state Board of Education. A decision would be made within 60 days. DeWeerd called the revocation “a gut wrencher.”

DeWeerd said, “We’re working on our options, with our Governing Board, to help every family and student here in Kaʻū. We won’t leave a rock unturned to try and help our kids. This is a school for our community. Every decision that we do here has to be in the best interest of kids.”

In April, DeWeerd became acting Executive Director for KLA; in June, he officially took over the position. During the meeting with the Commission, which lasted about four hours on Monday, “they gave us as much time as needed to answer each and every question on the revocation, as well as any questions they had,” said DeWeerd. The commission reported there were 22 violations involved with the decision.

KLA was issued a notice of possible revocation in late 2017, after an audit showed accounting irregularities, which the school administration promised to repair. The commission said that some work was done for the school by people not allowed to be paid, including family members of those associated with the school. Also, allegations were made of deficiencies in the school building. The school administration described the problems as start up issues and said they were all being fixed as soon as the school could get them done.

Kaʻū Learning Academy students in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
National Park. Photo from kaulearning.com

In late January, the commission held a community meeting, where most residents supported the continued operation of the school. The commission shut down the meeting of vocal supporters before most of the community and parents had a chance to speak. By the beginning of April, the KLA board had reorganized, with new officers and some new members.

DeWeerd said every effort has been made by the administrators, board, teachers, and involved parents and community members to resolve any problems with “the best interests of kids” in mind. “It's about the students of Kaʻū, and the families of Kaʻū.” DeWeerd said the meeting with the commission in Honoluluwas “a great opportunity to talk about all the great things we accomplished during these three months. I was involved with all of those 22 issues – and those, we rectified or put policies into place, procedures into place.” He said administrative action plans were enacted “to run a better school for our community, as well as reach our families on a much better level.”

As to why the revocation decision was made despite all their efforts, DeWeerd said the Commission “was actually thankful – they were very excited that we were able to get as much done as we did. But I think it was a lot of stuff prior to myself coming here that went to the decision they had. I believe wholeheartedly that we fixed everything, but the decision they made superseded that.

Kaʻū Learning Academy students. Photo from kaulearning.com

“I understand where they’re coming from, but I’m saddened for our families here in Kaʻū.”

The commission, DeWeerd said, stated it wasn’t enough to look forward; they also had to look back. “We really did work hard. We tried to do what was best for kids – that was our driving factor. Even though we completely changed the ship, and pointed that boat in the right direction, it still wasn’t enough.

“I will do whatever I can to try to help the students and families here in Kaʻū,” said DeWeerd, “in a positive way. If that means we have to go through the application system as a new school… but we are looking at all options. Trying to turn over every lava rock. Let that new growth come through.

“We will do everything possible to give quality education to the families and students of Kaʻū,” said DeWeerd. He said the KLA board will soon take up the issue of whether to appeal the revocation of the charter.

KLA is located at 94-1581 Kaulua Circle, in the old Discovery Golf Course Clubhouse. The school serves 93 students in grades 3 through 7.

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BILLS BECAME LAWS REGARDING OPIODS, FIREARMS, AMMUNITION, WORKERS COMP, AND MARINE EVENTS. On Thursday, Gov. David Ige signed these bills passed by the 2018 Hawaiʻi Legislature. Read each new law, linked below.

– Opioid Warning Label, HB 1602: Requires the inclusion of a label warning of the risks of addiction and death on the packaging of any opioid drug dispensed by a health care professional or pharmacist.

– Uniform Controlled Substances Act, HB 2384: Updates Uniform Controlled Substances Act for consistency with federal law. Allows prescription of drugs to patients undergoing medically managed withdrawal, also known as detoxification treatment and maintenance treatment, by practitioners who are properly registered.

– Prescription Drugs, SB 2646: Requires prescribers of certain controlled substances to consult the State's Electronic Prescription Accountability System before issuing a prescription for the controlled substance, under certain circumstances. Provides that a violation by a prescriber shall not be subject to criminal penalty provisions but that a violation may be grounds for professional discipline. Repeals on 6/30/2023.
– Opioid Antagonists, SB 2247: Authorizes pharmacists to prescribe, dispense, and provide related education on opioid antagonists to individuals at risk of opioid overdose and to family members and caregivers of individuals at risk of opioid overdose without the need for a written, approved collaborative agreement; subject to certain conditions.
– Workers’ Comp & Opiods, SB 2244: Requires health care providers in the workers' compensation system who are authorized to prescribe opioids to adopt and maintain policies for informed consent to opioid therapy in circumstances that carry elevated risk of dependency. Establishes limits for concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions.

– Bump Stocks Ban, Act 157, SB 2046: Prohibits manufacture, importation, sale, transfer, and possession of bump fire stocks, multiburst trigger activators, and trigger cranks.

Ige posted to Facebook: “I’m proud that Hawai‘i has one of the lowest rates of gun violence in the nation thanks to our strict gun laws. At the same time, we must protect the rights of gun owners and hunters to own and use guns safely. This legislation will help us uphold the rights of gun owners while keeping guns out of the hands of mentally unfit individuals.

“During the bill signing ceremony at the Hawai‘i State Capitol, Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard announced a 30-day amnesty program that allows bump stock owners to turn in the firearm at any police station or to call 9-1-1 for officers to pick it up.”

– Voluntary Surrender, Act 158, SB 2436: Requires voluntary surrender of firearms and ammunition, upon disqualification from ownership, possession, or control, within seven days of disqualification. Shortens the time period after failing to voluntarily surrender or dispose of all firearms and ammunition upon disqualification, after which the chief of police may seize all firearms and ammunition, from thirty days to seven days.

Ige posted to Facebook: “The ban of bump stocks and voluntary surrender of firearms will collectively improve the health and safety of our community. In domestic violence situations, the period following the threat is critical. Shortening the time period to 7 days will further help to ensure the safety of our families and our communities.”

–Marine Events, HB 2259: Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to allow applications for marine event permits up to one year in advance and authorizes the Department to adopt rules to mitigate hazards posed by vessels, thrill craft, drones, and other means used by spectators to observe or record marine events. Requires a report to the 2019 Legislature.

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NEW and UPCOMING

WRITING FROM THE HEART WITH FRANCES KAI-HWA WANG takes place Saturday, July 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village.

Photo from volcanoartcenter.org

“The most powerful writing comes from the heart. What do you care about? What inspires you? What is special in your life?… Write about the people, places, and memories that matter to you. Write to touch, inspire, move, persuade, and provoke readers. Write with emotion, write with spirit. Write from your own truest self to help others find theirs. This course explores the kind of writing that changes people, oneself included. And it begins honestly, one word, one day at a time,” states the event description on volcanoartcenter.org.
The class fee is $65 for Volcano Art Center Members or $75 for non-Members. Participants are asked to bring a notebook, pen, and lunch. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-8222.
Wang is a journalist, essayist, speaker, educator, and poet focused on issues of diversity, race, culture, and the arts. The child of immigrants, she was born in Los Angeles, raised in Silicon Valley, and now divides her time between Michigan and the Big Island of Hawai‘i. She has worked in philosophy, ethnic new media, anthropology, international development, nonprofits, and small business start-ups. Her writing has appeared at NBC News Asian America, PRI Global Nation, New America Media, Pacific Citizen, Angry Asian Man, Cha Asian Literary Journal, Kartika Review, and several anthologies, journals, and art exhibitions. Wang teaches courses on Asian/Pacific Islander American media and civil rights law at the University of Michigan, and teaches creative writing at University of Hawai‘i Hilo and Washtenaw Community College. She co-created a multimedia artwork for the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center Indian American Heritage Project - online and a traveling art exhibition. Visit franceskaihwawang.com.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11

THURSDAY, JULY 12

Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū and Me, Thu, July 12, 10:30-noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. 929-8571

Thursday Night at the Center - Witnesses in Words: The Literature of Kīlauea, Thu, July 12, 7-8pm, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. A reenactment of first Western visitors to Kīlauea and their perspectives: William Ellis, Titus Coan, Mark Twain and Isabella Bird. Free; $5 donation suggested. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

FRIDAY, JULY 13

SATURDAY, JULY 14

Pancake Breakfast and Raffle, Sat, July 14, 8-11am, Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Kāwā Volunteer Day, Sat, July 14, 9:30am, Kāwā. Sign up with James Akau, Nā Mamo o Kāwā, at namamookawa@gmail.com, jakau@nmok.org, or 561-9111. nmok.org

SUNDAY, JULY 15

MONDAY, JULY 16

Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Mon, July 16, 5-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

ONGOING

Libraries Rock Summer Reading Program: Hawai‘i State Public Library System, through Saturday, July 14, statewide and online. Register and log reading at librarieshawaii.beanstack.org or at a local library. Free. Reading rewards, activities, and programs for children, teens, and adults. 2018 participants have a chance to win a Roundtrip for four to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.

25th Annual Hawai’i Conservation Conference, Ulu Ka Lāiā I Ke Kumu: From a Strong Foundation Grows an Abundant Future, Tue-Thu, July 24-26, Hawai’i Convention Center, Honolulu. Registration ongoing, $80+. hawaiiconservation.org

The internship is offered through Kupu Hawai‘i. Those interested are asked to fill out an online application at kupuhawaii.org under Conservation Leaders Program as soon as possible, as spaces are limited; kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy at 443-5401 or call Kupu Hawai‘i at 808-735-1221.

Kahuku Unit

In addition to regularly scheduled Guided Hikes and the monthly Coffee Talk, Kahuku Unit has added daily Ranger Talks, and cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.

Visitor Contact Station hosts Ike Hana Noe ʻAu, Cultural Demonstrations and Activities, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, made possible by Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association.

Visitor Contact Station hosts Ranger Talks on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

Guided Hikes begin at 9:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday in June and July. Meet the ranger at the welcome tent.

Coffee Talk, in the Visitor Contact Station is held the last Friday of the month, 9:30-11 a.m.

Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.

Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus

The return of After Dark …near the park at the Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus. TBA

Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

Grand Naniloa Hotel

Kona Vet Center visits to Ocean View Community Center are Suspended until further notice. Veterans may call 329-0574 for VA benefit information. ovcahi.org

Tūtū and Me Offers Home Visits to those with keiki zero to five years old: home visits to aid with helpful parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Home visits are free, last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, for a total of 12 visits, and snacks are provided. For info and to register, call Linda Bong 464-9634.

This year, the bulls won, as no rider could keep their seat at the 41st Annual Buckle July 4 Rodeo.
See story below. Photo by Richard Taylor

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO IS ON THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE for fiscal year 2019, her office announced today. The committee will resolve differences between Senate and House versions of the bill.

Sen. Mazie Hirono, part of the committee to resolve differences
between the Senate and House versions of the NDAA.

Hirono said the Senate version includes a number of critical Hawaiʻi priorities, "and I will fight to ensure that they are preserved in conference. I will also continue to advocate for measures that will benefit our service members and our country, such as supporting Department of Defense employees who travel to meet critical workforce needs, continuing our nation's engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, and strengthening energy resilience.”

As the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Hirono authored and supported provisions in the Senate-passed NDAA that authorizes military construction projects in Hawaiʻi, prevents per diem reductions for Department of Defense employees, closes “a dangerous loophole that allows convicted abusers to purchase firearms,” and promotes sustainable energy assurance and resiliency across the Armed Forces.

Hirono also voted in favor of a motion offered by Senate Armed Service Committee Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) to instruct conferees to reaffirm the importance of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and the United States' commitment to meeting its obligations under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

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HAWAIʻI HAS THE LOWEST CONSUMPTION OF ELECTRICITY per consumer and the highest rate in the country, according to a WalletHub study released today. Hawaiʻi resident's monthly consumption averages 481 kWh per consumer, paying $0.2747 per kWh. Louisiana, with the highest usage, averages 1,475 kWh per consumer, paying $0.0934 per kWh. Hawaiʻi ranks 21^st in monthly electricity costs, averaging $132 per consumer.

For motor fuel, Hawaiʻi has the highest price, ranks 16^th in usage, and averages $154 per consumer per month.

Natural gas, though rarely used in Hawaiʻi, which ranks 51^st in national usage, averages $4 per month per consumer, tying with Florida. However, Hawaiʻi’s natural gas costs are also the highest in the nation.
Overall, Hawaiʻi ranks 40^th in total energy costs. See the full report at wallethub.com/edu/energy-costs-by-state/4833.

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THE FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL BUCKLE JULY 4 RODEO drew families, paniolo music and lots of competition to the Kaʻū Roping & Riding Association arena in Nāʻālehu on July 7 and 8. Veteran rodeo announcer Al Cabral called the competition. In an unusual outcome, the bulls won the bull riding competition, as no paniolo could stay on board. Rodeo Queen Molly Akana of Ocean View reigned over the event, and folks prayed and praised at CowboyChurch on Sunday. Here are the results:

Rodeo Queen Molly Akana of Ocean View.

Open Dally - First Go first place team was comprised of Bronson Branco and Kahiau Onaka, followed by Nolan Nobriga and Nicky Boy Rapoza, with third place going to Westin Joseph and Trisyn Kalawaia. The Second Go saw Kevin Hill and Bronson Branco in first, Macey Loando and Matthew Loando in second, and Dusty Miranda and Nicky Boy Rapoza in third. The overall winners were Macey Loando and Matthew Loando, followed by Nicky Boy Rapoza and Kelly Medeiros, Geno Glaser and Kevin Hill, and Westin Joseph and Trisyn Kalawaia.

Kane Wahine Dally - First Go first place team was comprised of Chelsey Fuerte and Ethan Awa, second was Makayla Awa and Ethan Awa, and third was Chelsey Fuerte and Lexis Andrade. Second Go first place team was Makayla Awa and Ethan Awa, followed by Kent Onaka and Hailey Onaka, and Kahiau Onaka and Hailey Onaka. Overall winners were Makayla Awa and Ethan Awa, followed by Chelsey Fuerte and Lexis Andrade, Kent Onaka and Hailey Onaka, and Kahiau Onaka and Hailey Onaka.

Century Roping - With ages of the team members adding up to 100 years or more, First Go winners were Gilbert Smith and Roger Kaiwi, followed by Audwin Aiwohi and Rodney Wilbur. Second Go winners were Mike Smith and Bob Hamilton, followed by Gilbert Smith and Roger Kaiwi. Overall winners were Gilbert Smith and Roger Kaiwi, followed by Bob Hamilton and Mike Smith, and Danny Joseph and Bob Hamilton.

A calf gets friendly with the paniolo during the
41st Annual Buckle July 4 Rodeo in Nāʻālehu
last weekend. Photo by Richard Talyor

Breakaway - Nahe Nobriga took first, followed by Kalyssa Hamilton, Nahea Brenneman, and Hailey Onaka.

Youth Dally - Lexis Andrade and Kalia Medeiros were the winners.

Poʻowaiʻu - First went to Bronson Branco, followed by Lexis Andrade, and Bill Delima, Sr.

Kane-Wahine Ribbon Mugging - First went to Makayla Awa and Bronson Branco, followed by Denicia Derason and Dustin Galapir, followed by Bill Benevides and Kalaʻa Andrade, and Bronson Branco and Nahe Nobriga.

Double Mugging - First was the team of Bronson Branco and , followed by Bronson Branco and Dallas Medeiros, and Rodney Kuahiwinui and Kimo Dacalio.

Wahine Mugging - First went to Macey Loando and Makayla Awa. Second was Shannon Benevides and Daphnee Joseph.

Tie Down - Bronson Branco took the win.

The photographer wrote: "A great time was had by all, especially the little boy on the fence." Photo by Richard Taylor

Calf Riding - Keegan Malicki took the win.

Youth Barrels - Clancy Aku took first and Kasha Joseph took second.

Dummy Roping for children four and under - Tayze Sinenci took the win.

Dummy Roping for children five to eight - Ryder Tavares took the win.

Goats, four and under - Tayze Sinenci took the win.

Goats, five to eight - Ryder Tavares took the win.

Paniolo is a dirty job, but some wahine have got to wrangle those calves. Photo by Richard Taylor

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GOV. DAVID IGE ALLOWED THREE BILLS passed by the 2018 Hawaiʻi Legislature to become law yesterday without signing them. They are:

Relating to Preschools,HB2507 removes preschools from the superintendent’s scope of authority. It addition to moving much of the oversight to the Executive Office on Early Learning it also clarifies that the director of the Executive Office on Early Learning may authorize preschool personnel to access a student’s immunization registry information. The bill also requires the DOE to administer special education and Title I funded programs at the prekindergarten level.

Sometimes, body weight is the only way to get that rope tight.
Photo by Richard Taylor

Ige said: “After the administration completed its due diligence, it was determined that no services would be jeopardized and all preschools can continue to operate with no interruption.

Relating to Law Enforcement Standards,HB2071 appropriates funds to establish a Law Enforcement Standards Board for the certification of county police officers, state public safety officers, and all state agency employees at Departments of Transportation, Land and Natural Resources, Taxation, and Attorney General with police powers. The board will be responsible for developing minimum standards, establishing training programs, and providing continuing education programs for all law enforcement officers. Establishes and appropriates funds for the Law Enforcement Standards Board Special Fund.

Ige said: “I’m allowing this bill to become law without my signature because I support the intent of the bill and recognize the need for accountability and public confidence in law enforcement. After meeting with the police chiefs and conducting a thorough review, I agree that more resources are needed, and have concerns about the timeline. There are also many questions about implementation. I am committed to working with state and county law enforcement officials to successfully implement the measure.

Horses, paniolo, and calf travel at great speed at the 41st Annual Buckle July 4 Rodeo. Photo by Richard Taylor

“I want to thank the men and women of our law enforcement agencies for their efforts to keep our communities safe. I know the majority of them want to meet the highest standards of professional conduct, and we want to help them succeed.”

Relating to Motorcycles,HB2589 authorizes the Department of Transportation to allow two-wheeled motorcycles to drive in designated shoulder lanes. Takes effect on 1/1/2019. Repeals on 12/31/2020. Ige said: “I’m allowing this bill to become law without my signature. Although I believe safety concerns remain, I will work with the Department of Transportation to properly vet which shoulder lanes will be accessible to motorcycles.”

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GOV. DAVID IGE WILL VETO EIGHT OUT OF 11 bills on his intent to veto list, according to a release from his office:

Dust gets kicked up as two paniolo subdue a feisty calf.
Photo by Richard Taylor

Relating to the Transient Accommodations Tax, SB 2699 would have included resort fees in gross rental proceeds that are subject to the TAT.

Ige’s rationale for veto: “This measure creates an extensive and ambiguous expansion of the TAT. The vague language could subject restaurants, spas, and other businesses located in hotels to add the TAT to their services. Currently, the Department of Taxation imposes the TAT on mandatory resort fees. The additional taxes imposed by this measure would result in significant increases in accommodation costs for our residents and visitors staying in Hawai‘i hotel properties.”

Relating to the Environment, SB 2519 would have authorized the Agribusiness Development Corporation to enter into contracts with private businesses to remove select municipal solid waste, glass, and food/green waste from the waste stream for use in other businesses, provided that it benefits agriculture and agriculture-related projects.

Ige’s rationale for veto: “This measure will interfere with the counties’ authority to direct the disposal of municipal solid waste to specific locations under Section 340A-3, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes. The statute authorizes counties to require that solid waste be disposed of at designated facilities or areas. It is unclear whether ADC’s or the counties’ authority would have priority when determining control over the municipal waste disposal.”

Relating to Consumer Protection, HB 1621 would have prohibited merchants from charging any fee to repair, replace, or refund damaged or defective goods. Part 2 requires high turnover restaurant franchises to disclose their non-participation in national advertising campaigns and prohibits the franchisor/restaurant chain from limiting or restricting the disclosure.

Landed by two paniolo, this bovine is secured.
Photo by Richard Taylor

Ige’s rationale for veto: “Part 2 of the measure provides a vague definition of “high turnover restaurant.” As written, the law would be unenforceable as the measure does not provide explicit standards to measure conditions such as the average duration of a customer’s stay or determine a menu’s price range. The measure also exempts fast food restaurants, which runs counter to current consumer protections as the majority of complaints received by the Office of Consumer Protection regarding this issue involve fast food chains.”

Relating to Campaign Finance, SB 2992 would have exempted signs and banners from certain election law disclaimer requirements relating to advertisements with the exception of signs and banners advocating the passage or defeat of a ballot issue, which are still required to contain the name and address of the candidate, candidate committee, or non-candidate committee paying for the sign or banner.

Ige’s rationale for veto: “The Campaign Spending Commission is concerned that exempting signs and banners from certain election law disclaimer requirements will reduce transparency in campaign finance.”

Relating to Medical Cannabis, SB 2407 would have authorized the use of medical cannabis as a treatment for opioid addiction, substance use, and withdrawal symptoms resulting from the treatment of these conditions.

No matter how much the cow says no, the paniolo insist yes.
Photo by Richard Taylor

Ige’s rationale for veto: “The Department of Health already has a formal evidenced-based petition process, made available annually to patients and physicians, so patients and physicians can apply to add qualifying conditions to the list of uses for medical cannabis.”

Relating to Technology, SB 48 would have merged the Hawai‘i Strategic Development Corp. and the Hawai‘i Technology Development Corp. into the Hawai‘i Innovation, Technology, and Research Corp.

Ige’s rationale for veto: It "creates operational issues and disrupts the core functions of HTDC. First, it eliminates 1.5 permanent positions and 6.25 temporary positions from HTDC. It appropriates general funds to convert these positions from special funds, but does not create the new positions to replace those eliminated. Second, the additional amendments to HTDC’s budget, when combined with the amendments in the supplemental appropriations bill,
create a net reduction in HTDC’s core resources that will adversely impact its operations.”

Relating to CountyLand Use Requirements, SB 2524 would have required the owner of any parcel of land subdivided as a condominium property regime in agricultural or preservation lands, to provide public notice of sale no later than ninety days after the sale of the parcel. This measure also prohibits residential use of sheds or other structures on agricultural lands unless permitted under county ordinances and rules.

A calf leaps in to the air as two paniolo on horseback rope it. Photo by Richard Taylor

Ige’s rationale for veto: “This measure creates a loophole that would allow residential uses of agricultural land that has been subdivided via subdivision or condo property regime. This could result in urban sprawl and is in direct contradiction with state land use policy that seeks to preserve agricultural land for agricultural use. This bill could result in large, viable agricultural land being broken up and taken out of agricultural production.”

Relating to Public Libraries, SB 2919 would have established a pilot program to generate revenue through the lease of public library lands to support the mission of the public library system.\

Ige’s rationale for veto: “In general, executive orders set aside public trust lands for public purposes. If those lands are no longer needed for library purposes, executive orders should be withdrawn and the lands returned to the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). Further, the Hawai‘i State Public Library System does not have the resources and expertise to undertake the leasing of public lands for purely income generating purposes.”

Image from volcanoartcenter.org

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

NEW and UPCOMING

MARIAH BATH TEACHES A SYLVIA PIPPIN CLASS, Tropical Florals Sashiko and Applique Quilting, on Saturday, July 21, at Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Bath will also lead the class on a walk-through of 2nd bi-annual quilt show, Quilts in the Forest - Where the Path May Lead, Volcano Art Center. Julie Williams, Volcano Art Center board member and nature trail guide, takes the class on a tour of the old growth forest trail at Ni‘aulani, introducing them to a number of native plants, which can be seen in the quilts of this year’s show.
To register and for more information, call 967-8222 or go to volcanoartcenter.org/classes-and-workshops/. Class fee is $58.50 for Volcano Art Center Members and $65.00 for non-Members. Brown bag lunch.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

THURSDAY, JULY 12

Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū and Me, Thu, July 12, 10:30-noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. 929-8571

FRIDAY, JULY 13

SATURDAY, JULY 14

Pancake Breakfast and Raffle, Sat, July 14, 8-11am, Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Kāwā Volunteer Day, Sat, July 14, 9:30am, Kāwā. Sign up with James Akau, Nā Mamo o Kāwā, at namamookawa@gmail.com, jakau@nmok.org, or 561-9111. nmok.org

SUNDAY, JULY 15

MONDAY, JULY 16

Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Mon, July 16, 5-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18

Ocean View Community Association Board Meeting, Wed, July 18, 12:30pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

ONGOING

25th Annual Hawai’i Conservation Conference, Ulu Ka Lāiā I Ke Kumu: From a Strong Foundation Grows an Abundant Future, Tue-Thu, July 24-26, Hawai’i Convention Center, Honolulu. Registration ongoing, $80+. hawaiiconservation.org

Paid Intern sought by The Nature Conservancy, to work from October 2018 through August 2019 with their Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program, which has native forest preserves located in Ka‘ū and South Kona. Benefits offered include: a $1,600 monthly living allowance (before taxes); a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefits (if eligible); and receive an entry-level conservation career experience. Applicants must be at least 17 years old by the program start date, October 2018, and possess or be working towards a high school diploma or equivalent. Applications must also have their own housing and transportation, a drivers license, and be able to pass a criminal history check.

Disaster Recovery Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Keaʻau High School Gym. Buses run to and from Keaʻau Armory every 20 minutes and Pāhoa Community Center Shelter every hour; see full bus schedule on the Civil Defense Website at HawaiiCounty.gov/Active-Alerts. For a list of the information applicants need to bring to the DRC, or to register online, go to DisasterAssistance.gov. The Salvation Army continues to operate a distribution center at the Pāhoa Community Center on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. To donate, please coordinate with the Salvation Army at (808) 756-0306.

Find Your Park, invites Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Kamaʻaina and tourist alike are encouraged to experience authentic Hawaiian cultural programs, guided hikes, After Dark events, and more from Ka‘ū to Volcano to Hilo. “While Kīlauea continues to shake the ground and blast ash from its ever-changing summit crater – causing the partial closure of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on May 11 – park rangers continue to enlighten and engage visitors from other locations,” says a release from HVNP staff.

Rangers offer new and familiar programs – free of charge, with no entry fees – for visitors at the park’s Kahuku Unit, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, and Mokupāpapa Discovery Center, Prince Kūhio Plaza, and Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo.

Kahuku Unit

In addition to regularly scheduled Guided Hikes and the monthly Coffee Talk, Kahuku Unit has added daily Ranger Talks, and cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.
Visitor Contact Station hosts Ike Hana Noe ʻAu: Experience the Skillful Work Cultural Demonstrations and Activities, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.
Visitor Contact Station hosts Ranger Talks on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

Guided Hikes begin at 9:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday in June and July. Meet the ranger at the welcome tent.
Coffee Talk, in the Visitor Contact Station is held the last Friday of the month, 9:30-11 a.m.
Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.
Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus

The return of After Dark …near the park at the Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus. Each event will have a different subject matter, TBA.
Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

Find Park Rangers alongside the park’s non-profit partners, Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.
Grand Naniloa Hotel

Ahalanui Beach Park, inundated with lava yesterday, is marked by the robust ocean entry plume just north of it.
The beloved warm ponds were subsumed by lava shortly after Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School, buildings just inland.
The diffuse plume from the ocean entry at Kapoho is in the background. USGS photo

THE CAMPUS AND HEADQUARTERS FOR KUA O KA LĀ PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL in lower Puna was taken by the volcano yesterday morning, July 11. Also covered with lava is AhalanuiCountyBeachParkand warm ponds, taken yesterday in the early evening. Susie Osborne, co-founder of the school in 2000, also lost her home. She has moved students to the Boys & Girls Club in Hilo and plans to renovate space at NaniMauGardens for additional classrooms. See gofundme.com/relocate-school-displaced-by-lava. Osborne said that one of the weaknesses in the state CharterSchoolsystem is a lack of any disaster funds.

Keiki performing at the school in March.
Photo from Kua O Ka Lā Facebook

Makana Kamahele, musician, Hilo radio personality, and emcee of the annual Kaʻū Coffee Festival and many other events in Kaʻū, is a graduate of the school. He gives credit for his work in music to Kua O Ka Lā Hawaiian immersion school, where he started his education in the Hawaiian language. He told Kaʻū News Briefs, a day before the school was lost to the lava, “I just wanna thank Kua O Ka Lā for helping me find my passion – which is music. Through music, I got to do all these other great things. It’s been, for me, an awesome experience. Going to school there and getting more in touch with the culture side, of the area, and the school – and the mission statement of the school (Ke Ala Pono) – it’s just hard to take in that we might lose this school. To see it being on the verge of being taken by Madame Pele; it’s heart breaking, but at the same time, it’s a humbling experience.

Makana Kamahele, playing ʻukulele at
Pāhala Plantation House.
Photo by Eric Einweller

“If it wasn’t for Kua O Ka Lā, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I wouldn’t be involved in the community out there and here in Hilo. They were successful with everything they do down there – from culture based to academic learning. To me, that’s like THE school to go to.”

Of “Auntie Susie”, Kamahele said, “She’s a really hard-working person, year after year, looking for and writing grants for the school, and she does a lot.” He said right now, it’s very overwhelming. He said he’s spoken with her about the alternative locations in Hilo for the upcoming school year.

Kamahele said he was part of the first graduating class, attending Kua O Ka Lā from eight through twelfth grade. His brother also attended, and their mother Noe, who now lives in Kaʻū, was heavily involved with the school, said Kamahele. “The only school I know of in Puna that runs fully by solar,” he said, remarking on how far the school has come in the 18 years since he began there.

The lava that destroyed the school and nearby ponds now sends a “new, very robust” ocean entry at Ahalanui, said Janet Babb of USGS Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory. The flow front at the ocean is about 3.7 miles wide, she said.

The sign at the school.
Photo from Kua O Ka Lā Facebook

Mike Zoeller, geologistCenter for the Study of Active Volcanoes at UH-Hilo, said there was an attempt to retrieve batteries and the monitoring installation HVO stationed at the school, which Tina Neal, Scientist in Charge at HVO, mentioned earlier this week. The retrieval effort, said Zoeller, “was ultimately unsuccessful because the flow moved in too fast and destroyed our monitoring station around the same time as the school was destroyed.” The installation was made up of a seismometer, EPS instrument, infrasound instrument, and the associated solar panels and power system, he said.

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A misty image of the buildings of Kua O Ka Lā,
now forever buried under Pele’s hand.
Photo from Kua O Ka Lā Facebook

SO2 LEVELS FROM THE FISSURES IN LOWER PUNA are now so high, scientists do not have accurate figures. Janet Babb, geologist at USGS Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory, said, “The emissions are high enough so that it presents a real challenge. Our instruments can basically be swamped, and we’re looking at new and different ways to get a measurement of these gasses. But they’re on the order of tens of thousands of tons of sulfur dioxide per day.”

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OVERFLIGHTS OF KĪLAUEA SUMMITARE NOW BEING DONE BY HELICOPTER. Janet Babb, geologist at USGS Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory, said Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, also know as drones, have been used, but were “having difficulty with wind.” Scientists at USGS HVO replaced the drones this week, said Babb, with helicopters equipped with LIDAR, a laser-based system, to build a digital elevation model of the summit. From those models, scientists can study current readings of deformation and changes on the summit collapses, said Babb, and “look for any new cracks that might be developing in the summit area.” Babb said USGS HVO plans to release images when the models are ready, as they have previously.

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Halema‘uma‘u and Kīlauea Caldera as seen from USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. The video shows roughly one image for every day between April 14 and July 11. Volume of Halema‘uma‘u is now more than seven times larger
than it was before the onset of this subsidence. USGS video

DAILY DAMAGE AT HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK summit areas continues, said Jessica Ferracane, Public Affairs Officer at HVNP, on day 66 of the partial park closure.

“Damage continues on a daily basis; we’ve been noticing a lot of sinkholes in the park, as well as on Highway 11,” she said. Additional cracking has been seen by employees of the park on the highway and on trails. Crater Rim Trail, between Kīlauea Military Camp and JaggarMuseum, said Ferracane, has “some pretty significant sinkholes and cracking along the paved part of that trail, in addition to other locations in the park. Park employees are working on trying to get a list going of that damage and collating photography.”

View of the eastern edge of Halema‘uma‘u, two minutes after the July 11,
5:45 a.m., collapse explosion event. Steam is intermixed with minor ash
that imparts a pinkish-brown color to the plume. The energy released
by the event was equivalent to a magnitude-5.3 earthquake. USGS photo

In response to a question from the press today about who decides whether to close Highway 11 if needed, and who is in charge of that stretch of highway, Ferracane said, “Highway 11, where it runs through Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, is in the exclusive jurisdiction of the National Park Service.” She said Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation does maintenance and repairs, as it did last week with the sinkhole near the golf course.
Regarding possible closures, Ferracane said, “The ultimate decision is made jointly between HDOT, the park, as well as Civil Defense. Those three agencies are working concurrently right now to determine what should happen if Highway 11 is compromised further.”

Consider yourself one of us! Oliver (Quin Scheetz) and the Artful Dodger
(Hayden Konanui-Tucker) and the rest of the cast invite you to come see
Lionel Bart's Oliver! at UHH Performing Arts Center July 13 - 29,
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 and Sundays at 2:30, no matinee July 15th.

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NEW and UPCOMING

Oliver!, a KDEN Production, July 13-29; Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30pm, Sundays 2:30pm. No matinee July 15. Shows moved to UH Hilo Performing Arts Center. Tickets: $20 general, $15 seniors 60+ and students, $12 keiki 12 and under. Tickets available at Kīlauea General Store, Kea‘au Natural Foods, Basically Books, and The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo. Info and reservations: 982-7344, kden73@aol.com.

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Kumu Hula Kaho‘okele Crabbe and Halauokalani perform
Hula Kahiko June 21. Photo from volcanoartcenter.org

KUMU HULA KAHO‘OKELE CRABBE AND HALAUOKALANI perform Hula Kahiko on Saturday, June 21, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m, at Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village. The performance is part of a year-round series sponsored by Volcano Art Center, in which hula hālau from across Hawai‘i are invited to perform each month.
After graduating in 1995 at Puʻupueokapu, Waikane, Oʻahu, with traditional ʻuniki ceremonies under kumu hula Robert Cazimero, Crabbe founded Halauolaokalani in 1999. He is an educator, advocate and “support for our greatest community asset – our beloved keiki o ka ‘āina,” states the event description on volcanoartcenter.org. The description says Crabbe’s moto is “Aloha trumps everything in man’s world because God is love.”
The performance is presented authentically in an outdoor setting, rain or shine, without electronic amplification. Audience members are encouraged to bring sun/rain gear and sitting mats.
Volcano Art Center’s Hula Kahiko performances typically take place inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park; however, recent closures have led the center to change locations. These monthly free events are supported in part by a grant from the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, the County of Hawaiʻi Department of Research and Development, and individual funding from members of the Volcano Art Center’s ʻohana. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org, call 987-7288 or email volcanohula@gmail.com.

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Participate in a hands-on demonstration of "all things hula" with Loke Kanamu and her ‘ohana.
Photo from volcanoartcenter.org

NĀ MEA HULA, CULTURAL DEMONSTRATIONS, WITH LOKE KAMANU & ‘OHANA is held in conjunction with Volcano Art Center’s Hula Kahiko on Saturday, July 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the porch of Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village.
Volcano Art Center invites the public to join cultural specialist Kamanu and her ‘ohana as they demonstrate “all things hula,” says the event description on volcanoartcenter.org, sharing a “variety of instruments, implements, and lei styles that play an integral role in the life of the hula practitioner.” The demonstration is hands-on and family friendly. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org.

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See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

FRIDAY, JULY 13

Oliver!, a KDEN Production, July 13-29; Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30pm, Sundays 2:30pm. Shows moved to UH Hilo Performing Arts Center. Tickets: $20 general, $15 seniors 60+ and students, $12 keiki 12 and under. Tickets available at Kīlauea General Store, Kea‘au Natural Foods, Basically Books, and The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo. Info and reservations: 982-7344, kden73@aol.com

SATURDAY, JULY 14

Pancake Breakfast and Raffle, Sat, July 14, 8-11am, Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Kāwā Volunteer Day, Sat, July 14, 9:30am, Kāwā. Sign up with James Akau, Nā Mamo o Kāwā, at namamookawa@gmail.com, jakau@nmok.org, or 561-9111. nmok.org

SUNDAY, JULY 15

MONDAY, JULY 16

Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Mon, July 16, 5-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18

Ocean View Community Association Board Meeting, Wed, July 18, 12:30pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

THURSDAY, JULY 19

Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Thu, July 19, 9-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033, ovcahawaii@gmail.com

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thu, July 19, 6:30pm, United Methodist Church in Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

Thursday Night at the Center: The Joy and Challenges of Native Bird Photography in Hawai’i w/Jack Jeffrey, Thu, July 19, 7-8pm, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Photography and biologist Jeffrey shares his experiences and photos. Free; $5 donation suggested. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

ONGOING

Find Your Park, invites Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Kamaʻaina and tourist alike are encouraged to experience authentic Hawaiian cultural programs, guided hikes, After Dark events, and more from Ka‘ū to Volcano to Hilo. “While Kīlauea continues to shake the ground and blast ash from its ever-changing summit crater – causing the partial closure of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on May 11 – park rangers continue to enlighten and engage visitors from other locations,” says a release from HVNP staff.
Rangers offer new and familiar programs – free of charge, with no entry fees – for visitors at the park’s Kahuku Unit, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, and Mokupāpapa Discovery Center and Prince Kūhio Plaza in Hilo.

In addition to regularly scheduled Guided Hikes and the monthly Coffee Talk, Kahuku Unit has added daily Ranger Talks, and cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.

Visitor Contact Station hosts ʻIke Hana Noʻeau: Experience the Skillful Work Cultural Demonstrations and Activities, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.
Visitor Contact Station hosts Ranger Talks on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Guided Hikes begin at 9:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday in June and July. Meet the ranger at the welcome tent.
Coffee Talk, in the Visitor Contact Station is held the last Friday of the month, 9:30-11 a.m.
Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.
Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus

Find Park Rangers in Volcano at the Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus at 19-4074 Old Volcano Rd., in Volcano Village. Rangers are there most days from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to provide talks and answer questions about the current eruption.
The return of After Dark …near the park at the Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus. Each event will have a different subject matter, TBA.

Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

Find Park Rangers alongside the park’s non-profit partners, Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.
Grand Naniloa Hotel

Kona Vet Center visits to Ocean View Community Center are Suspended until further notice. Veterans may call 329-0574 for VA benefit information. ovcahi.org

Marine debris collected from Kaʻū shorelines by Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund volunteers make up the bulk of the plastics exterior of Skyscraper, the Bruges Whale, an art installation made by Studio CA. See story below. Photo from studioca.com

TWO NEW FAMILY COURT JUDGES for Hawaiʻi Island won confirmation by the state Senate this week. Confirmed are Mahilani E.K. Hiatt and Wendy M. DeWeese to the District Family Court of the Third Circuit. "The Family Court’s mission is to provide a fair, speedy, economical, and accessible forum for the resolution of matters involving families and children," said Sen. Kai Kahele.
Hiatt is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, Kapālama. She received her Bachelor of Arts in History from The Colorado College and her Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the William S. Richardson School of Law, where she was managing editor for the University of Hawai‘i Law Review. She earned the title of 1993 National Association of Women Lawyers Outstanding Woman Law Graduate from the University of Hawai‘i. Hiatt has been licensed to practice law in Hawai‘i since 1993 and has been in private practice in Honolulu, Kamuela, and presently Honoka‘a. Since 2017, she has also served as a Per Diem Judge for the District and Family Courts of the Third Circuit while continuing her private practice at Hiatt and Hiatt.

Senators Russel Ruderman, Lorraine Inuoye, and Kai Kahele flank
the new judges for Hawaiʻi Island, Wendy DeWeese and
Mahilani Hiatt. Photo from Kai Kahele

DeWeese received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Public Policy Analysis from Pomona College, and her Doctorate of Jurisprudence from Southwestern University School of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude. She was admitted to the California bar and was handling family law matters, including divorce, custody, and disposition of marital assets. Soon after arriving in Hawai‘i, DeWeese served as a law clerk to the Honorable Ronald Ibarra, Circuit Court Judge of the Third Circuit. She has been licensed to practice law in Hawai‘i since 2006 and served as a Deputy Public Defender in the Kealakekua Office of the Public Defender since 2007, primarily representing indigent persons charged with crimes.
Said Kahele, "It is my belief that both Ms. Hiatt and Ms. DeWeese are more than qualified to serve as District Family Court Judges for the Third Circuit. The sensitivities of dealing with legal cases concerning children, domestic relations and domestic violence is no easy task. I am confident that they will both serve in their new positions with humility and honor, while making fair and pono decisions that are in the best interest of those involved."

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REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION. The cut off date to register online or by mail was yesterday, July 12. Residents can still register to vote at an Early Walk-In Voting site from Monday, July 30, to Thursday, Aug. 9 at Pāhala Community Center, 96-1149 Kamani Street Pāhala. The location is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., except from noon to 1 p.m.

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MARINE DEBRIS AND CONSERVATION were discussed at a June’s Coffee Talk event at the Kahuku unit of Hawai‘i National Park. Megan Lamson, marine biologist and Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund’s President and Program Director, shared her experiences working with thousands of volunteers to remove marine debris from oceans and shorelines, and restore coastal ecosystems to protect native wildlife on Hawai‘i Island.

According to Lamson, HWF has removed over 240 tons of marine debris on Hawai‘i Islandin the past 15 years, and has educated keiki and adults about the dangers of marine debris to native marine wildlife and the environment. She shared a power point presentation with scientific results of the total number of cleanups and what’s been collected - mostly plastic! - as well as pictures of animals endangered by marine debris. HWF has also collaborated with many different community agencies in their mission to conserve native wildlife through research, education, and advocacy.

Marine debris on Kaʻū shores. Photo from studioca.com

In addition to beach cleanup activities, HWF has supported legislation to protect the environment, including the state ban on sunscreen with chemicals that harm the reefs, county bans on foam food containers, and plastic bag restrictions. Lamson encouraged each of those attending to do their part by making small changes in their daily lives, such as: not buying single-use plastic items with viable re-usable alternatives, such as plastic water bottles; refusing plastic straws and utensils at restaurants and instead opting to “bring-your-own”; selecting reef friendly sunscreen - non-nano zinc oxide, or titanium dioxide only; volunteering at or sponsoring beach cleanups; and educating family and friends on the dangers of plastics to native wildlife and coastal communities.

Megan Lamson, marine biologist and Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund’s
President and Program Director, speaks at June's Coffee Talk.
Photo from Mattie Mae Larson / HWF

Lamson also showed a picture of a life-size humpback whale sculpture, created by a dedicated artist, that was made primarily out of blue plastic marine debris collected by HWF volunteers on Hawai‘i Island. The plastic debris were shipped to New York and the whale was installed this May in a canal in Bruges, Belgium. The sculpture was created to educate people about debris in the world’s oceans, and will be on display until September, when it is moved to its next location.

For more information about how to help protect native wildlife, check out the Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund website wildhawaii.org, Facebook page or Instagram accounts, or send an email to kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

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A 100 PERCENT CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE IS THE AIM OF HAWAIʻI ENERGY programs announced this week. The EmPOWER Hawai‘i Project offers specialized financial support, energy data analysis, and educational outreach to nonprofit organizations, guiding them through the steps needed to become more energy efficient and help them save money. Deadline to apply is Aug. 8.

Brian Kealoha, Hawai‘i Energy Executive Director, said EmPOWER is a formalized program to assist non-profits with energy efficiency so they can “redirect the money they’ll save and utilize it towards fulfilling their missions.” Shayna Doi, Hawai‘i Energy Marketing and Communications Manager, said, “We wanted to help nonprofit organizations beyond just changing out their lighting. We wanted to do more for the people that do so much for our community.”

A statement from the non-profit Hawaiʻi Energy says, “From promoting food sustainability, to helping troubled youth, to providing child care, nonprofit organizations in Hawai‘i address numerous community needs. In addition to high demands, these organizations typically operate within limited budgets and struggle with ever-changing operating costs. As a result, they miss out on the significant benefits energy efficiency can provide.”

The EmPOWER Hawai‘i Project will assist five qualifying nonprofit organizations with resources to purchase and install energy-efficient equipment to cut electricity costs, and equip them with practical knowledge to sustain operations for years to come.

To help households, Hawai‘i Energy offers the following rebates:

- Solar water heating program rebate of $750, up from $500. This program provides incentives to trade allies and customers to facilitate the purchase and installation of solar water heating technologies, which can save an average household up to 40% on their electric bill.

- AC Tune-Ups rebate of $100 to include completion of a multipoint tune-up checklist for both indoor and outdoor central and split air conditioning units.

- Rid-A-Fridge program rebate of $75 to encourage homeowners and renters to get rid of the second refrigerator or freezer, saving hundreds of dollars per year on their electric bill.

To assist businesses, Hawai‘i Energy announced expansion of its Continuous Energy Improvement program, part of Strategic Energy Management. It creates cohorts of Hawai‘i businesses, for education and tools to improve their companies’ energy performance.
CEI is a long-term approach to energy efficiency that includes setting goals, tracking progress, and reporting results. CEI allows for continuous energy performance

improvement by providing the processes and systems needed to incorporate energy considerations and energy management into daily operations. This holistic approach allows for synergy between businesses, allowing them to meet their organization’s energy benchmarks and contribute to the state’s 100% clean energy goal through sustained, long-term change. Current participating organizations include Hyatt Place, Maui Divers Jewelry, the County of Hawai‘i, and various educational institutions, with the program looking to expand further in this upcoming program year.

For more information on Hawai‘i Energy programs, visit hawaiienergy.com. Interested nonprofit organizations can apply for the EmPOWER Hawai‘i Project at hawaiienergy.com/nonprofit.

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BUILD OCEAN VIEW SKATEPARK is a new facebook group initiated by Travis Aucoin and Paul Pamburn, both skateboarders sponsored by AFU and PUEO. To build momentum, Ka‘ū resident Aucoin recently gave away three new skateboards at a Skateboarding Sessions event at the basketball courts of the county's Kahuku Park in Ocean View.

Aucoin said he put on the event to promote a skateboard park and skateboard safety, as well as to create interest for a possible skate shop in the area. Aucoin said he volunteered his time, built the three boards and two ramps, and paid for supplies. He said he enjoyed the expressions of the keiki who participated - “so happy to have their freedom.”

An effort to build a skateboard park, create teams for competition and
teach safety, and clean fun includes a Build Ocean View Skatepark
Facebook page and Skateboarding Sessions.
Photo from Troy Aucoin

Fierra Roberts, of Ocean View, one of the free skateboard recipients, said, “It was so much fun and you can learn so much about skateboarding. I hope that lots of people come next time to have a ton of fun.” Her younger brother Izzy Roberts said, “I had a lot of fun and did a bunch of cool tricks and I got to make new friends.” Their mother, Laura Roberts, said it was a “great event where the kids could feel the support of adults and have fun in a safe, drug-free environment. Travis was quite generous with his time and funds in sharing it with our community so openly. It was also a special treat to listen to Lopaka Rootz sing and play his guitar while we skated. We really enjoyed his music and his positive vibes.”

Aucoin said he has sponsored skateboarding events in Kona and would like to offer more to Ka‘ū. Parents and other volunteers are welcome to join in. He said he hopes to start a skate team in the area, teach the children skateboard skills and tricks, take them on field trips, and possibly organize sponsorships for competitions. Volunteers and donations would be needed.

The aim of the new Facebook group, Build Ocean View Skatepark, is to raise awareness and gain assistance to build a skatepark that is a safe, drug-free, environment. Aucoin said he is seeking help to write grant applications to such non-profits as the Tony Hawk Foundation.

The June event featured a demo and skills development portion, as well as a friendly competition. It was free, with live music by Lokapa Rootz. Signed waivers were required for all minors skating and a $1 million liability policy was provided for the event by SurfRider Foundation. Attendees were asked to bring a pack lunch and water. For more or to volunteer, call 494-5192.

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NEW and UPCOMING

Jelena Clay leads a lauhala weaving workshop on July 28.
Photo from volcanoartcenter.org

LAUHALA WEAVING WORKSHOP WITH JELENA CLAY is offered at Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village on Saturday, July 28, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The hands-on workshop teaches participants the traditional Hawaiian method of weaving to create bracelets and earrings - with participants welcome to take home their creations.
Topics covered in the workshop include collecting, prepping, and stripping lauhala. During the morning session of class, students create their own lauhala bracelet. “This simple project is a great introduction to lauhala weaving,” states the event description on volcanoartcenter.org.

Learn to make lauhala earrings at a workshop in Volcano.
Photo from volcanoartcenter.org

During the afternoon session, students create a pair of earrings. All findings and tools along with sterling silver ear wires are provided. Simple stones and crystals will also be available to embellish the earrings.
Those interested can register for the class by calling 967-8222 or by visiting volcanoartcenter.org, and paying a class fee of $40 per Volcano Art Center member, or $45 for non-Members, plus a $35 supply fee. Pre-registration is required.

Clay is “a master fiber artist and nationally recognized gourd artist who has produced an ever-increasing variety of contemporary and traditional work in every natural fiber she can find. Her interest in all Hawaiian art forms naturally led her to lauhala,” states the description.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

SATURDAY, JULY 14

Pancake Breakfast and Raffle, Sat, July 14, 8-11am, Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Kāwā Volunteer Day, Sat, July 14, 9:30am, Kāwā. Sign up with James Akau, Nā Mamo o Kāwā, at namamookawa@gmail.com, jakau@nmok.org, or 561-9111. nmok.org

SUNDAY, JULY 15

MONDAY, JULY 16

Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Mon, July 16, 5-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18

Ocean View Community Association Board Meeting, Wed, July 18, 12:30pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

THURSDAY, JULY 19

Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Thu, July 19, 9-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033, ovcahawaii@gmail.com

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thu, July 19, 6:30pm, United Methodist Church in Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

Register by July 15 for the Volcano Rain Forest Run to be
guaranteed a participant's t-shirt. 2016 Volcano Rain
Forest Runs t-shirt design by Dietrich Varez

FRIDAY, JULY 20

1st Annual Hawaiian Wicked Tuna Jackpot - Classic Fishing Tournament Series, Fri-Sun, July 20-22, Honokahau Club House. All profits go towards marine conservation and youth educational programs in and around Miloli‘i. $300 entry fee, 4 per boat, $25 additional. Cash prizes $100-4,000. Qualifying weight of 50lbs. Grand Prize qualifies for Las Vegas Trip. Contact Wilfred Kaupiko, 896-6272, kalanihale@gmail.com. Sponsored by Kalanihale, kalanihale.org

ONGOING

Volcano Rain Forest Runs Registration Open through Friday, August 17, at 6 p.m.Registrations received after July 15 are not guaranteed a t-shirt. Half marathon $85, 10K $45, 5K $30. Registration increases August 1: half marathon to $95, 10K to $55, and 5K to $35. Race is run from CooperCenter on Wright Road in VolcanoVillage on Saturday, August 18.

Libraries Rock Summer Reading Program: Hawai‘i State Public Library System, through tomorrow, July 14, statewide and online. Register and log reading at librarieshawaii.beanstack.org or at a local library. Free. Reading rewards, activities, and programs for children, teens, and adults. 2018 participants have a chance to win a Roundtrip for four to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.

25th Annual Hawai’i Conservation Conference, Ulu Ka Lāiā I Ke Kumu: From a Strong Foundation Grows an Abundant Future, Tue-Thu, July 24-26, Hawai’i Convention Center, Honolulu. Registration ongoing, $80+. hawaiiconservation.org

Oliver!, a KDEN Production, through July 29; Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30pm, Sundays 2:30pm. Shows at UH-Hilo Performing Arts Center. Tickets: $20 general, $15 seniors 60+ and students, $12 keiki 12 and under. Tickets available at Kīlauea General Store, Kea‘au Natural Foods, Basically Books, and The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo. Info and reservations: 982-7344, kden73@aol.com

Exhibit, Birds of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park: The Hawai‘i Nei Invitational Daily, through Aug 4, 9-5pm, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Free. Artists: John Dawson, Reyn Ojiri, Sarah Koh, Wendy Barske, Maria Macias, Cody Yamaguchi, Ann Guth, and John Mydoock. Art represents endemic bird species. volcanoartcenter.org

Kahuku Unit
Sneak Peek into next week: July’s Artist in Residence John Ferdico will showcase his multicolored model aircraft and discuss how they are made at the Kahuku Visitor Contact Station, Friday, July 20, at 10 a.m. Supported by the Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and the National Parks Arts Foundation.
In addition to regularly scheduled Guided Hikes and the monthly Coffee Talk, Kahuku Unit has added daily Ranger Talks, and cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.

The return of After Dark …near the park at the Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus. Each event will have a different subject matter, TBA.

Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

Find Park Rangers alongside the park’s non-profit partners, Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.
Grand Naniloa Hotel

Find Park Rangers stationed at the Grand Naniloa Hotel in downtown Hilo, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., every Sunday and Monday, in the Willie K Crown Room - as long as nothing else is scheduled in the space. The rangers will be doing daily talks at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. about the eruption. They will show the park film that is normally available to visitors to see at the Kilauea Visitor’s Center at the Summit, Born of Fire, Born in the Sea, every half-hour beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Park rangers also greet incoming arrivals at the Hilo International Airport, welcome cruise ship passengers as they disembark at the Port of Hilo, and inform visitors at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center most Sundays.

The volcanic cone at Fissure 8 sends lava 8.7 miles to the ocean, where the plume is seen before the horizon.
Photo from USGS

WEIGHING IN ON THE U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE NOMINEE is the call from Sen. Brian Schatz. He sent out a message Saturday: "Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling, Janus vs. AFSCME, that weakened the ability of public sector unions to advocate for their members. If you belong to one of the many union families in Hawaiʻi, you probably already know about this.

Judge Brett Kavanaugh

Sen. Brian Schatz

"But Janus is a reminder to all of us that not just those in the resistance, who have dedicated themselves to protecting our ideological values, should be concerned about the makeup of the Supreme Court. Decisions like Janus have real consequences for working people and families across the country, particularly here at home.
"On Monday, President Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to be the next Supreme Court Justice. Judge Kavanaugh’s name came off a list that was compiled largely to prove that Trump would be “conservative enough” for the radical right. He has a well-established record of undermining reproductive choice, environmental protections, civil liberties, and workers’ rights.
"If Judge Kavanaugh is confirmed, President Trump could succeed in moving the Supreme Court even further away from what we know is right. I'm very concerned, to say the least.
"What are your concerns about Judge Brett Kavanaugh? What questions would you ask him, given the chance? Fill out the survey and let me know.
"This is a big moment for our country, and it will take all of us working together to protect the things important to us.

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A SMALLLAVAISLAND apparently formed just offshore of the Kapoho lava delta. On Thursday, it was seen oozing small amounts of lava. The source of the lava is apparently Fissure 8 which sends lava down a perched channel to the ocean where it is moving along the coast and along pathways underwater where it surfaced to form a tiny island.
Lava continues to ooze out at several points on the 6 km (3.7 mi) wide flow front into the ocean. The approximately daily collapse/explosion events at Halemaʻumaʻu Crater appear to generate a surge of lava in the lower east rift zone about 2 hours after each event, which results in spillovers from the channel.

An apparent lava island rising just offshore in
lower Puna. USGS photo

The majority of the Fissure 8 flow heads south from Kapoho Cone, into the ocean at Ahalanui where the warm ponds, county park and charter school were buried. The flow was .6 miles north of IsaacHaleParkthis morning. PohoikiBoatHarbor and surf spot are less than 4,000 feet from Ahalanui warm ponds, which now lie under the lava flow.

No other fissures were active this morning. The summit region is occasionally impacted by sulfur dioxide from the lower East Rift Zone eruption.
According to USGS, earthquakes in the summit area resumed following yesterday's collapse/explosion event at 7:08 p.m., which had an energy equivalent to a magnitude-5.3 earthquake. The current rate of earthquakes ranges from 25-35/hr and is expected to continue leading up to another collapse/explosion event, which is expected to occur this evening or early Sunday morning. Inward slumping of the rim and walls of Halemaʻumaʻu continues in response to the ongoing subsidence at the summit.

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STRUCTURAL SEISMIC RETROFITTING to protect homes and other structures from earthquakes will be the topic at an information station at Volcano Farmer's Market tomorrow, Sunday, July 15 at Cooper Center on Wright Road. Representatives from the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant will staff will be on hand from from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. to talk to area residents and share information booklets.
The Department of Health will staff a booth at the market, to answer questions about eruption related issues. “Please attend if you live in the area or want to discuss your concerns with these agency representatives,” says a statement from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense.

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THE EXPORT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM seeks Hawaiʻi businesses for the Western United States Agricultural Trade Association Fund Match Program. During inbound missions, local businesses meet with international companies with possible export opportunities. On Aug. 27 and 28, from 8:30 a.m.to 4:30 p.m., WUSATA will host buyers from Japanand Taiwan in Honoluluat the China Consumer Oriented Inbound Trade Mission. Registration is $15. Deadline to sign up is Aug. 17. Meetings will take three to four hours. There is no membership fee for WUSATA.

WUSATA is working in partnership with the state Department of Agriculture via intern, Daniel Kim. WUSATA is a non-profit helps companies with 50% of U.S. origin agricultural products to export to international markets. “This is a great opportunity for your company to be introduced to the international market, as WUSATA provides an excellent support system,” says an announcement through Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United.
Contact Kim at 808-973-9594 or his counterpart, Lily Nugent, with questions about WUSATA, exporting products, or inbound missions. Learn more at WUSATA website. Watch a short video about WUSATA Inbound & Outbound Trade Missions. Sign up for the China Consumer Oriented Inbound Trade Mission. Look here if this will be a first-time export.

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Edge of the Kīlauea vog plume near Waikoloa Village on the west side of Hawaiʻi Island as it is blown by trade winds across the island and toward the Pacific Ocean. For more information on sulfur dioxide emissions and vog, see vog.ivhhn.org. USGS photo by A. Lerner, June 23, 2018

MANY FORMS OF SULFUR FROM KĪLAUEA VOLCANO are described in this week’s Volcano Watch by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:

For many Hawaiʻi residents, interactions with Kīlauea Volcano’s eruptions is through vog – a hazy mixture of sulfur dioxide gas and sulfate particles. However, sulfur on Kīlaueais not limited to vog components.

Sulfur is an exceptional element in that its atoms have a range of electron configurations , commonly referred to as oxidation states. This results in spectacularly diverse forms of sulfur, many of which are found on Kīlauea, some of which are described below.

Sulfur dioxide and vog: Vog – volcanic air pollution – has impacted the Hawaiian Islands ever since island landmasses rose above the ocean’s surface, which allowed volcanic gases to be released directly into the atmosphere.

As magma rises toward the surface, decreasing pressure on the molten rock causes dissolved sulfur and other volatile elements to form various gases. When magma reaches shallow depths, dissolved sulfur primarily forms SO2 gas. Once emitted into the air, SO2 reacts with oxygen, atmospheric moisture, sunlight, and other gases and particles to create a visible haze – vog – that is blown downwind. The levels of vog experienced across the islands is controlled by the amount of SO2 gas released and changing winds.

Continued degassing from fumaroles at fissures on Kīlauea Volcano’s lower East Rift Zone produce native sulfur crystals when sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide gases react and cool upon reaching the surface. The delicate sulfur crystals are 5-15 mm (0.2-0.6 in) long. USGS photos by A. Lerner, 2018

With Kīlauea’s ongoing lower East Rift Zone eruption and continued summit subsidence, SO2 emissions from the volcano have increased substantially; levels are now three to seven times higher than before the current activity began. Most of the SO2 released on the LERZ occurs as lava is erupted from the active vents – fissures – although some SO2 is also emitted from the lava flows and ocean entry.

High gas emissions from the LERZ, primarily fissure 8, have resulted in increased vog and poor air quality downwind of the active vents. During typical trade winds, vog is carried south and west across the Puna District, then on toward Kaʻū and along the Kona coast, before being blown farther offshore. During certain wind conditions, vog has reached the summit of Mauna Kea and stretched across the Pacific as far away as Guam, about 6,440 km (4,000 mi) from Kīlauea.

Hydrogen sulfide: When SO2 gas from shallow magma interacts with groundwater, the SO2 dissolves and can be re-emitted as hydrogen sulfide gas H2S. This process produces the rotten egg scent noted at hydrothermal features on Kīlauea, such as Sulphur Banks in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, and at steam vents along the volcano’s lower East Rift Zone, many of which predate the current LERZ eruption.

Sulfur. Photo from Wikipedia

Human noses are highly sensitive to H2S, and most people can detect its rotten egg smell at a level of around one part per billion. This concentration is about ten thousand times lower than levels considered hazardous to health. In fact, our noses are more sensitive than any instruments we use to quantitatively measure H2S.

Native Sulfur: Sulfur is also stable in its elemental form, known as “native sulfur.” This form of sulfur is a yellow crystalline solid that has historically been referred to as “brimstone.” At Kīlauea, native sulfur is found at volcanic fumaroles, such as Sulphur Banks, where both SO2 and H2S gases are emitted.

Native sulfur, formed from a chemical reaction (SO2 + 2H2S = 3S + 2H2O), is stable in solid form only at relatively low volcanic temperatures of less than 115 degrees Celsius (about 240 degrees Fahrenheit). Above this temperature, sulfur melts, forming a vivid orange liquid. At hotter temperatures (near 200 degrees C, or about 390 degrees F), molten sulfur turns dramatic shades of red. If temperatures approach 450 degrees C (840 degrees F) and atmospheric oxygen is present, native sulfur burns, forming sulfur dioxide (S + O2 = SO2).

When burned, sulfur melts to a blood-red liquid and
emits a blue flame. Photo from Wikipedia

Sulfur dioxide - along with sulfate particles in vog, hydrogen sulfide, and native sulfur - all form at both Kīlauea Volcano’s lower East Rift Zone and summit depending on vent temperatures and how much the gases interact with groundwater. Additionally, sulfur binds with many other elements to form organic and inorganic gases and minerals, which are beyond the scope of today’s Volcano Watch.

So, while vog and SO2 gas emissions have been on our minds for many years, and especially since May 3, 2018, it’s worth noting that they are just some of the many forms of sulfur at Kīlauea.

Visit HVO’s website volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvofor past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea daily eruption updates, Mauna Loa weekly updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Call for summary updates at 808-967-8862 (Kīlauea) or 808-967-8866 (Mauna Loa). Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

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NEW and UPCOMING

See art by John Ferric on display at Kahuku Unit's Visitor Contact

Station on July 20. Photos from National Parks Arts Foundation

and artist John Ferdico 

AN EXHIBIT FEATURING MIXED MEDIA SCULPTOR AND VISUAL ARTIST JOHN FERDICO has been announced for Friday, July 20, to take place at Kahuku Unit’s Visitor Contact Station, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The exhibit, starting at 10 a.m., is free to the public, showcasing Ferdico’s multicolored model aircraft art objects.

Ferdico, who will be present at the event to discuss his art, is Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s Artist in Residence for July 2018.
Born in New York and raised in Kansas City, Ferdico moved to Hawai‘i in 2012. He is currently based in Kona. Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park’s announcement states that Ferdico “takes model aircraft, painstakingly builds and paints them, then uses the plane as a platform for surrealist visual experiments that both entrance and estrange.” His work has been featured at the Honolulu Museum of Art.
“What I try to do is make each piece appear to be this exquisitely detailed and accurate model, but with this strange marking scheme,” Ferdico said. “I suppose it is a Surrealist strategy, meant to cause the viewer to reconsider the more ordinary elements seen in the juxtapositions.”

Ferdico is the second Artist in Residence this summer at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. He earned his Bachelors of Arts in Fine Arts from the Kansas City Art Institute, and his Masters of Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute prior to moving to Hawai‘i.

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park's Artist in Residence for July, John
Ferdico showcases and discusses his multicolored model aircraft art
objects at Kahuku Unit on July 20.

A program of the National Parks Arts Foundation, Artists in Residence is supported by the Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and other benefactors. The National Park Arts Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to the promotion of the national parks through creating dynamic opportunities for artwork based in the natural and historic heritage of America.
The Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is located on the mauka (inland) side of Highway 11 near mile marker 70.5, in Ka‘ū, about a 50-minute drive south of the park’s main entrance. Sturdy footwear, water, raingear, sun protection and a snack are recommended for all hikes. Entrance and all programs are free. Kahuku is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Keep up with Kahuku events and visit the calendar on the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

SUNDAY, JULY 15

MONDAY, JULY 16

Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Mon, July 16, 5-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18

Ocean View Community Association Board Meeting, Wed, July 18, 12:30pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

THURSDAY, JULY 19

Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Thu, July 19, 9-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033, ovcahawaii@gmail.com

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thu, July 19, 6:30pm, United Methodist Church in Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

FRIDAY, JULY 20

SATURDAY, JULY 21

1st Annual Hawaiian Wicked Tuna Jackpot - Classic Fishing Tournament Series, Sat-Sun, July 21-22, Honokahau Club House. All profits go towards marine conservation and youth educational programs in and around Miloli‘i. $300 entry fee, 4 per boat, $25 additional. Cash prizes $100-4,000. Qualifying weight of 50lbs. Grand Prize qualifies for Las Vegas Trip. Contact Wilfred Kaupiko, 896-6272, kalanihale@gmail.com. Sponsored by Kalanihale, kalanihale.org

Birth of Kahuku, Sat, July 21, 9:30-11:30am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Explore 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. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Writing From the Heart w/Frances Kai-Hwa Wang, Sat, July 21, 9:30-4pm, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Bring notebook, pen and lunch. $65/VAC Member, $75/Non-Member. Register online, volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-8222. franceskaihawwang.com

Ocean View C.E.R.T. Meeting, Sat, July 21, 10-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team monthly meeting/training. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Hula Kahiko - Kumu Kaho’okele Crabbe w/Halauokalani, Sat, July 21, 10:30-11:30am, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Hula performance. Free. Desiree, 987-7288, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org

Nā Mea Hula - Loke Kamanu and ‘Ohana, Sat, July 21, 11-1pm, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Hands on cultural demonstration. Free. Desiree, 987-7288, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org

Hawaiian Ranchos Property Owners meeting, Sat, July 21, 4pm, Ocean View Community Center, 92-8924 Leilani Cir. Meeting will close vote regarding current HRRMC Board of Directors, then elections results will be announced. More info, ranchospropertyowner@gmail.com

Bunco and Potluck, Sat, July 21, 6pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Popular game played with nine dice. Bring dish to share. Margie Hack, 541-954-8297

ONGOING

25th Annual Hawai’i Conservation Conference, Ulu Ka Lāiā I Ke Kumu: From a Strong Foundation Grows an Abundant Future, Tue-Thu, July 24-26, Hawai’i Convention Center, Honolulu. Registration ongoing, $80+. hawaiiconservation.org

Oliver!, a KDEN Production, through July 29; Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30pm, Sundays 2:30pm. Shows at UH-Hilo Performing Arts Center. Tickets: $20 general, $15 seniors 60+ and students, $12 keiki 12 and under. Tickets available at Kīlauea General Store, Kea‘au Natural Foods, Basically Books, and The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo. Info and reservations: 982-7344, kden73@aol.com

Exhibit, Birds of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park: The Hawai‘i Nei Invitational Daily, through Aug 4, 9-5pm, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Free. Artists: John Dawson, Reyn Ojiri, Sarah Koh, Wendy Barske, Maria Macias, Cody Yamaguchi, Ann Guth, and John Mydoock. Art represents endemic bird species. volcanoartcenter.org

Prince Kūhio Plaza

Find Park Rangers alongside the park’s non-profit partners, Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.
Grand Naniloa Hotel

Kona Vet Center visits to Ocean View Community Center are Suspended until further notice. Veterans may call 329-0574 for VA benefit information. ovcahi.org

5th annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run registration open. Race day Sat, Sept 22, 7 a.m.; begins and ends at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Register online before Sun, Aug 11: 5K, $30/person; 10K, $40/person; and 1/2 Marathon, $45/person. From Aug 13: $35/person, $45/person, and $55/person. Race day registration ends Sat, Sept 22, at 6:30 a.m. Event organizers, ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou; start location, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill.

Volcano Rain Forest Runs Registration Open through Friday, August 17, at 6 p.m. Half marathon $85, 10K $45, 5K $30. Registration increases August 1: half marathon to $95, 10K to $55, and 5K to $35. Race is run from Cooper Center on Wright Road in Volcano Village on Saturday, August 18.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Many thousands of orchids were on display at this weekend's Hilo Orchid Show, which raised money for
lava victims, many of them cut flower and orchid growers. Photo by David Corrigan/Big Island Video News

MORE HELP FOR VICTIMS OF THE VOLCANO was raised this weekend at the 66th annual Hilo Orchid show. Entitled Kaleidoscope of Orchids, the huge displays - with workshops, sales and entertainment at Edith Kanakaole Stadium - ran from Friday through Sunday, drawing growers and enthusiasts from Ka‘ū, Volcano, and the rest of the island. It is the largest orchid show in the state.

Al Yano of Hilo won the orchid show art contest,

with his entry depicting the theme Kaleidoscope

of Orchids. Photo from Hilo Orchid Society

The opening dinner and Silent Auction raised money that will be donated to disaster relief. Many orchid farms have been covered by lava, said Dana Colleney, President of Hilo Orchid Society. "It's been such a sad time for all orchid people," she told Big Island Video News.

Volcano Art Center hosted an orchid
workshop ahead of the annual Hilo
Orchid Show.

She noted that one grower was able to rescue her orchids from her farm in lower Puna, put them in other green houses, and bring them to the show this weekend. Many of the cut flower growers also lost their farms and many of them also grew orchids, she said.
One of the kickoff events for the show was a class earlier this year at Volcano Art Center on creating miniature orchid displays, taught by Donna Bary and Shelby Smith.
Many of the thousands of orchids on display and for sale at the Hilo Orchid Show are usually unavailable in retail shops. See www.hiloorchidsociety.org.

Grand display of many orchids, some unavailable at stores and nurseries. Photo by David Corrigan/Big Island Video News

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A COLLAPSE EXPLOSION rocked Kīlaeua Summit at 3:26 a.m. on Sunday, with energy equivalent to a magnitude-5.2 earthquake. Seismic activity at Halemaʻumaʻu Crater decreased immediately following the event, but soon began to increase. USGS geologists said they expect the number of earthquakes to increase through Monday morning or afternoon until the next collapse/explosion occurs. Inward slumping of the rim and walls of Halemaʻumaʻu continues in response to the ongoing subsidence at the summit.
Sulfur dioxide emissions from the volcano's summit are very low. This gas and minor amounts of ash resuspended by wind are being transported downwind. Small bursts of ash and gas may coincide with the summit collapse/explosion events. The summit region is occasionally impacted by sulfur dioxide from the lower East Rift Zone eruption.

USGS scientists captured this aerial photo of Halema‘uma‘u and part of the Kīlauea caldera floor during a helicopter overflight of Kīlauea's summit last week. In the lower third of the image, can see the buildings that housed the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park's Jaggar Museum, the museum parking area, and a section of the Park's Crater Rim Drive. Although recent summit explosions have produced little ash, the drab gray landscape is a result of multiple thin layers of ash that have blanketed the summit area during the ongoing explosions. USGS Photo

In lower Puna, lava levels in the upper channel increased briefly in the flow from Fissure 8, following this morning's summit collapse-explosion. Another short-lived overflow of the channel at the vent spread east-southeast this morning, but did not advance beyond the existing flow field. The channelized ʻaʻā flow west of Kapoho Crater continues to be the main ocean entry at the southern edge of the flow front. The southern margin of the flow reached a distance of .5 miles from Isaac Hale Park this evening, nearing Pohoiki harbor. Lava continues to ooze out at several points on the 6 km (3.7 mi) wide flow front into the ocean.

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GETTING OFF FOSSIL FUELS is a goal of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who pointed out this weekend on twitter that "Ireland will become the first country in the world to fully divest public funds from fossil fuels. The US needs to join this global movement to protect our planet and end our addiction to fossil fuels by transitioning to a 100 percent clean energy economy," wrote Ka‘ū's Representative in the U.S. Congress. Gabbard is a sponsor of the Off Fossil Fuels Act and tweeted: "This won’t be easy – it will take a commitment from every level of our government, private sector, and the people. There’s no time to waste. We must pass the #OFFAct now."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

NEW and UPCOMING

FIRST ANNUAL HAWAIIAN WICKED TUNA JACKPOT SERIES is Friday through Sunday, July 20 through 22, at Honokōhau Club House in Kona. All profits go towards marine conservation and youth educational programs in and around Miloli‘i. $300 entry fee, 4 people per boat - $25 per additional person. Modified Jungle rules.
Cash prizes range from $100 to $3,000. Qualifying weight: 50 lbs. 1st through 8th place, and 1st total weigh-in. Grand Prize qualifies winner for Las Vegas Trip.
Next tournament: Miloli‘i Classic, Aug 31-Sept 2.
Contact Wilfred Kaupiko, 896-6272, kalanihale@gmail.com. Sponsored by Kalanihale, a non-profit comprised of ten-plus generation descendants. The goals of the organization are to increase community participation in cultural activities, increase fish stocks, and promote community cohesion, “made achievable by hula protocol as a vessel to view… the world from a local perspective inundated with cultural pieces that transmits to all other Hawaiian practices,” states the release. See more at kalanihale.org.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

MONDAY, JULY 16

Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Mon, July 16, 5-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18

Ocean View Community Association Board Meeting, Wed, July 18, 12:30pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

THURSDAY, JULY 19

Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Thu, July 19, 9-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033, ovcahawaii@gmail.com

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thu, July 19, 6:30pm, United Methodist Church in Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

FRIDAY, JULY 20

SATURDAY, JULY 21

Birth of Kahuku, Sat, July 21, 9:30-11:30am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Explore 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. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Second Annual Pig Hunt, hosted by Kaʻū Multicultural Society, happens Saturday, July 21, at the parking lot adjacent to 96-3258 Maile Street, near the old Radio Station Building. Location provided by Olson Trust.
The scale for the weigh-ins for the wild pigs will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be food booths and a variety of contests. Contact Kalani Vierra at 938-2005, Darlyne Vierra at 640-8740, or Liz Kuluwaimaka at 339-0289. Categories include: Over-All Pua‘a prize for heaviest pig; Heaviest Boar/Laho‘ole; Heaviest Sow; Biggest Tusk; The Packing Contest, in which the hunter runs while carrying the pig; and the Smoke Meat Contest.

Ocean View C.E.R.T. Meeting, Sat, July 21, 10-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team monthly meeting/training. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Hula Kahiko - Kumu Kaho’okele Crabbe w/Halauokalani, Sat, July 21, 10:30-11:30am, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Hula performance. Free. Desiree, 987-7288, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org

Hawaiian Ranchos Property Owners meeting, Sat, July 21, 4pm, Ocean View Community Center, 92-8924 Leilani Cir. Meeting will close vote regarding current HRRMC Board of Directors, then elections results will be announced. More info, ranchospropertyowner@gmail.com

Bunco and Potluck, Sat, July 21, 6pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Popular game played with nine dice. Bring dish to share. Margie Hack, 541-954-8297

SUNDAY, JULY 22

People and Land of Kahuku, Sun, July 22, 9:30-12:30pm, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Guided, 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike over rugged terrain focuses on the area's human history. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

ONGOING

Exhibit, Birds of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park: The Hawai‘i Nei Invitational Daily, through Aug 4, 9-5pm, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Free. Artists: John Dawson, Reyn Ojiri, Sarah Koh, Wendy Barske, Maria Macias, Cody Yamaguchi, Ann Guth, and John Mydoock. Art represents endemic bird species. volcanoartcenter.org

Paid Intern sought by The Nature Conservancy, to work from October 2018 through August 2019 with their Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program, which has native forest preserves located in Ka‘ū and South Kona. Benefits offered include: a $1,600 monthly living allowance (before taxes); a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefits (if eligible); and receive an entry-level conservation career experience. Applicants must be at least 17 years old by the program start date, October 2018, and possess or be working towards a high school diploma or equivalent. Applications must also have their own housing and transportation, a drivers license, and be able to pass a criminal history check.
The internship is offered through Kupu Hawai‘i. Those interested are asked to fill out an online application at kupuhawaii.org under Conservation Leaders Program as soon as possible, as spaces are limited; kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy at 443-5401 or call Kupu Hawai‘i at 808-735-1221.

Find Your Park: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park encourages kamaʻaina and tourist alike to experience authentic Hawaiian cultural programs, guided hikes, After Dark events, and more from Ka‘ū to Volcano to Hilo. “While Kīlauea continues to shake the ground and blast ash from its ever-changing summit crater – causing the partial closure of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on May 11 – park rangers continue to enlighten and engage visitors from other locations,” says a release from HVNP staff.
Rangers offer new and familiar programs – free of charge, with no entry fees – for visitors at the park’s Kahuku Unit, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, and Mokupāpapa Discovery Center and Prince Kūhio Plaza in Hilo.

Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus

Find Park Rangers alongside the park’s non-profit partners, Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.
Grand Naniloa Hotel

A lava explosion sent a lava bomb onto a tour boat this morning, injuring people, at the ocean entry near Pohoiki. Ikaika Marzo posted this video by Ikaika Kalama of another explosion that followed. “This is the explosion from our boat this morning. Lightning also was captured in the plume. Unbelievable footage from our crew,” Marzo reported. Video from Kalapana Cultural Tours and Big Island Video News

A LAVA BOMB HIT A TOUR BOAT RUN BY LAVA OCEAN TOURS this morning in lower Puna. A basketball-sized glob of burning lava fell through the metal roof of the 40-foot, 49-passenger catamaran named Hot Spot, splattering onto passengers. Witnesses saw two red lava, littoral explosions rising from underwater. The first sent lava, rocks, and steam into the tour boat. The boat returned to its base at Wailoa Small Boat Harbor in Hilo, where it was met by ambulances.
At least 23 people suffered injuries, says Department of Land & Natural Resource’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement. The incident took place around 6 a.m., near Ahalanui, where the lava enters the ocean from the perched lava river flow from Fissure 8, more than 9 miles inland.

Matthias Kusch, Hawaiʻi County Fire Department
Battalion Chief, at Wailoa Small Boat Harbor.
Photo from Big Island Video News

Four of the injured were taken to Hilo Medical Center via ambulance, according to DLNR. “A 20 year old woman has major leg trauma. The other passengers suffered burns and scrapes,” said a DLNR release earlier today.
DLNR spokesperson Jason Redulla, Deputy Enforcement Chief of Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement, said at a press conference this afternoon, “There is a multi-agency investigation occurring,” including DLNR, Hawaiʻi County Police Department, and U.S. Coast Guard. He said during the investigation, the agencies will have “no comment” regarding the investigation’s progress.

Suzanne Case, Chair of Board of Land & Natural Resources, issued a statement saying, “Clearly everyone is interested to learn what happened this morning. In the meantime, all of those injured today are very much in our thoughts for speedy and full recoveries.”

Hot Spot, its metal roof dented and covered in lava debris.
Photo from Big Island Video News

Interviewed by Big Island Video News at the Wailoa dock, Matthias Kusch, Hawaiʻi County Fire Department Battalion Chief, said the vessel called in about incoming injuries from steam burns and falling lava debris. “We had nine patients overall; three were transported by medic units, and one went to the hospital via personal vehicle.” He said most were soft tissue and minor burn injuries, with one “obvious femur fracture.”

Hawaiʻi County Fire Department reported this morning that the tour boat Captain told investigators Hot Spot traveled as close as 183 meters (600 ft.) offshore, which is outside the off-limits zone restricted by the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard issued a statement, saying, “The safety zone currently stands at 300 meters (984 ft.) with no exclusions; no pre-approved tour boat operators are allowed to get any closer, as of today.” USCG recently reduced the restrictions to allow certain state-permitted commercial and research vessels, which carry safety equipment, to travel as close as 50 meters to the coast, down from 100 meters, as of July 12. Redulla said four vendors are currently licensed to operate “lava boat tours,” and that Lava Ocean Tours is one of those vendors. This evening the Coast Guard announced it would push the tour boat limit out to 300 meters from the shoreline in the lava area.

The hole in the roof of the tour boat after the explosion. Posted to Ikaika Marzo’s Facebook wall by Kirk Olsen

Ikaika Marzo, a boat captain and reporter who works for Kalapana Cultural Tours, posted video by Ikaika Kalama of the second littoral explosion as seen from their boat this morning. “Lightning also was captured in the plume,” reports Marzo. “Unbelievable footage from our crew.” The footage records a rumble through the noise of the wind and a tall, dark, fiery explosion at the main ocean entry. Lighting flashes in the ashy plume. See Ikaika Marzo Facebook.

Interviewed by Big Island Video News, tourists on the other boat described the Hot Spot vessel as “fully engulfed in the steam” from the explosion, and said they could “hear the rocks hit the boat and the people yelling.”

Lava debris on a bench of the Hot Spot.
Photo from Big Island Video News

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THE VOLUME OF FLOW AND TOPOGRAPHY may be main influences in shoreline explosions, as lava meets ocean along the Puna coast. Janet Babb, of Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, said during a press conferenced today that Fissure 8 continues to feed the main channel, which goes west from Kapoho Crater, carrying lava to the ocean in a perched channel extending over 8.7 miles.

Babb said the volume of the flow is estimated at between 50 to 100 cubic meters per second, compared to the 61g flow from Puʻu ʻOʻo in 2016-2017, of between 3 and 4 cubic meters per second. Various points of the 6km (3.7 mi.) wide flow front continue to ooze lava supplied by Fissure 8, said Babb, with the main entry at Ahalanui. The southern part of that flow front is 1km (.6 mi.) from IsaacHalePark and Pohoiki as of the overflight today, July 16.

Laze plumes at lava ocean entries near Ahalanui. The flow
edge is still about half a mile from Isaac Hale Park,
and Pohoiki Boat Ramp and Surf Spot. USGS photo

Babb said littoral explosions, “explosive interactions between the hot, molten lava and the cooler sea water,” do occur at the ocean entry. Such explosions can generate particles as small as sand to “larger than a bread box,” which can be hurled “as far 300 meters – that’s not saying they can’t be hurled father than that.” She said scientists have seen phases, over 35 years of observations in Hawaiʻi, of larger, or little, littoral explosions at ocean entries, which “probably has to do with the offshore topography.” The ocean at the location of today’s explosion, see story above, happened where the ocean is “probably not all that deep,” and there “likely was a submarine flow,” that flashed water into steam, which flung “fragments of molten lava, as well as solidified or semi-solidified lava fragments” into the air.

Babb said it is possible the littoral explosion today was influenced by the volume of lava: “There is much higher volume of lava reaching this ocean entry than was reaching the ocean at Kalapana ocean entry, with the 61g” flow. She said the Kamapuna ocean entry, a 61g flow, had an offshore topography that was “very steep,” which caused the lava to be carried “very quickly” down to deeper parts of the ocean. Babb said, “A less-steep offshore topography and a higher volume of lava entering the ocean may play a role in littoral explosions that are happening along the coast, now.”

High volume of lava output from Fissure 8, going into the ocean in places
where there's a more gentle incline, might account for larger
littoral explosions as molten rock meets water. USGS photo

Littoral explosions can happen at the ocean entry on the shore, or under water – even far from shore, said Babb, as the flow travels further out from land, underwater. She added that a lava tube causing the explosion event today was unlikely. Babb said the hazards from these littoral explosions can “extend hundreds of meters both inland and seaward.” Boundaries issued by the Coast Guard are 300 meters, seaward. Babb said she is not aware of any previous ocean-directed littoral explosions that have hit a boat, before the event today.

Babb said she personally did not observe the lightning seen in the plume during today’s littoral explosion, but that the cause would likely be static electricity within the steam explosion.
John Jelsema, of the National Weather Service, said some wet weather may be on the way, for the middle of this week, and end of the weekend into next week. When asked if wetter weather heightens the danger of gasses, as rainwater hits molten rock, Babb replied the laze generation along the coast is from lava and seawater mixing, since it is the salt that generates hydrochloric acid. Another concern is the whiteout conditions that can be produced when rain hits hot lava, said Babb, but that concern is lessened, as the area on land is closed off to the public.

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HUI MĀLAMA OLA NĀ ʻŌIWI HOSTS ITS SECOND ANNUAL MĀLAMA NĀ KEIKI FESTIVAL this Saturday, July 28, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Nāʻālehu Park. Event activities are free and open to the public: a day of health education, community resources, and interactive keiki activities. Activities are generally geared towards expecting mothers, women considering pregnancy, young families, and supporting ʻohana.

Local health agencies in attendance will share about health services available to families, with some highlights being early Head Start enrollment assistance with Family Support Hawaiʻi, dental health education with Bay Clinic, keiki car seat facts with Hawaiʻi Child Passenger Safety Program, and electrical safety with Hawaiʻi Electric Light. Free health screenings for participants include vision exams with Project Vision Hawaiʻi, hearing screenings, and immunization information.

Healthy Hāpai program facilitator Leila Ryusaki will lead a breastfeeding mini-class, and host a prenatal panel with specialists in lactation and breastfeeding, birthing strategies, and women's health.

The event also offers locally-sourced healthy food, music, keiki performances, zumba, and more.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs ʻAhahui Grants program awarded $6,500 to Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi in support of the event and its objectives to increase prenatal care, improve birth outcomes, and enrich positive parenting skills of Hawaiʻi Island ʻohana. Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi’s announcement says the “grant money will further help the community to develop a strong network of prenatal and postnatal support, and learn best practices to prevent potential health problems, raise healthy happy children, strengthen family, and fulfill the OHA and Hui Mālama shared goal of a strong and healthy Hawaiian nation.”

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi Executive Director Louis Hao stated, “Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi is thankful to OHA for their generosity, attention to the needs of our people, and efforts for the community. With their support, we are able to bring more health education and resources to Hawaiʻi Island. Mahalo nui loa.”

For more information about the event and Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi, visit hmono.org. For more information about Office of Hawaiian Affairs, visit oha.org.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

NEW and UPCOMING

A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE JAMES MASTERS, who passed away earlier this year, is offered by Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Department on Saturday, July 28, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., at Discovery Harbour Community Harbour. Masters, the former proprietor of Ka‘ū Auto Shop in Nā‘ālehu, which is currently run by his son, John Masters, was also a Fire Chief for Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Department. For more details, call 929-9576 or visit discoveryharbour.net.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18

Ocean View Community Association Board Meeting, Wed, July 18, 12:30pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

THURSDAY, JULY 19

Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Thu, July 19, 9-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033, ovcahawaii@gmail.com

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thu, July 19, 6:30pm, United Methodist Church in Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

FRIDAY, JULY 20

SATURDAY, JULY 21

A Group of Ranchos Property Owners are meeting Saturday July 21, 4 p.m., at 92-8305 Mamalahoa Highway, last building on the Easement Road that has the Thai restaurant on it.

Bunco and Potluck, Sat, July 21, 6pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Popular game played with nine dice. Bring dish to share. Margie Hack, 541-954-8297

SUNDAY, JULY 22

ONGOING

Oliver!, a KDEN Production, through July 29; Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30pm, Sundays 2:30pm. Shows at UH-Hilo Performing Arts Center. Tickets: $20 general, $15 seniors 60+ and students, $12 keiki 12 and under. Tickets available at Kīlauea General Store, Kea‘au Natural Foods, Basically Books, and The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo. Info and reservations: 982-7344, kden73@aol.com

Exhibit, Birds of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park: The Hawai‘i Nei Invitational Daily, through Aug 4, 9-5pm, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Free. Artists: John Dawson, Reyn Ojiri, Sarah Koh, Wendy Barske, Maria Macias, Cody Yamaguchi, Ann Guth, and John Mydoock. Art represents endemic bird species. volcanoartcenter.org

5th annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run registration open. Race day Sat, Sept 22, 7 a.m.; begins and ends at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Register online before Sun, Aug 11: 5K, $30/person; 10K, $40/person; and 1/2 Marathon, $45/person. From Aug 13: $35/person, $45/person, and $55/person. Race day registration ends Sat, Sept 22, at 6:30 a.m. Event organizers, ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou; start location, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill.

Disaster Recovery Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Keaʻau High School Gym. Buses run to and from Keaʻau Armory every 20 minutes and Pāhoa Community Center Shelter every hour; see full bus schedule on the Civil Defense Website at HawaiiCounty.gov/Active-Alerts. For a list of the information applicants need to bring to the DRC, or to register online, go to DisasterAssistance.gov. The Salvation Army continues to operate a distribution center at the Pāhoa Community Center on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. To donate, please coordinate with the Salvation Army at (808) 756-0306.

Sneak Peek into next week: July’s Artist in Residence John Ferdico will showcase his multicolored model aircraft and discuss how they are made at the Kahuku Visitor Contact Station, Friday, July 20, at 10 a.m. Supported by the Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and the National Parks Arts Foundation.
In addition to regularly scheduled Guided Hikes and the monthly Coffee Talk, Kahuku Unit has added daily Ranger Talks, and cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.

Find Park Rangers alongside the park’s non-profit partners, Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.
Grand Naniloa Hotel

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Listen to the sounds ofrockfalls at Kīlauea Volcano's summit in this short video taken from thenortheast rim of the caldera on July 12, a collapse/explosion eventat the summit released energy equivalent to a magnitude-5.3 earthquake. USGS photo

THE IMPACT ON KAʻŪ OF A POSSIBLE LARGE EXPLOSIVE EVENT AT HALEMAʻUMAʻU will be the topic at Pāhala Community Center this Thursday, July 19, at 6 p.m. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense, the Mayor's office, and state of Hawaiʻi will address the community. Scientists will review recent analysis of the future of Kīlauea Volcano and its summit activity. While the possibility of an extreme pyroclastic surge event is considered very low, the team will present four possible scenarios for the near future and discuss preparation and response.

Since early May 2018, thefloor of Halema‘uma‘u Crater has
dropped 450 m (about 1480 ft). See USGS video

The public meeting will be similar to the recent community outreach in Volcano. The U.S. Geological Survey will provide a presentation. Staff from Civil Defense, the state Department of Transportation Highways Division, and county Department of Public Works will discuss roads and evacuation routes.
The issues of sheltering and personal preparedness will also be on the agenda. County Council member Maile David will be on hand, and state Department of Health Arron Ueno will be available to respond to questions. A Q&A session will follow. American Sign Language interpretation will be available.

For further information, call the Department of Research and Development at 961-8368

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR A WOMAN HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER. A 61-year old visitor died after a 1969 black Cadillac sedan struck his motorcycle. The Cadillac was later found abandoned about a half mile away, and witnesses told police that a barefoot woman was seen leaving the car near Lani Kona Road.

The accident in the Honomolino area, close to the 88 mile marker on Hwy 11 near Hoʻopuloa Road, occurred around 7:15 last evening. Upon arrival, Hawaiian Ocean View medics found the victim approximately 100 feet from his bike with a bystander performing CPR. According to a release from County Fire Department Equipment Operator Jason Robello of Station 20, Ocean View: “Advanced Life Support and High Performance Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation efforts were performed on the victim at the scene. Resuscitation efforts were terminated after it was determined the victim had sustained injuries that were incompatible with life. The victim was left in the custody of Hawaiʻi Police Department.” The victim, who was riding a Harley Davidson, was identified as Mark Brown, of Nevada.

Responding to the accident were Engine 20, Medic Unit 20, and Chopper 2, along with one volunteer fire fighter and six Hawaiʻi Fire Department members. Police set up a temporary roadblock, with traffic detoured to Old Mamalahoa Hwy.

Police believe inattention was a factor in the crash, but it is not immediately known if alcohol and/or drugs were a factor. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death, and according to a police log, a negligent homicide investigation has been launched.

Police ask anyone who witnessed the crash or knows the whereabouts of the hit-and-run driver to call Officer Kimo Keliipaakaua at (808) 326-4646 ext. 229, or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.

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A brush fire near Punaluʻu Beach closed down Highway 11
this morning. The fire is now contained, but the highway is
not yet open. See story, below. Photo by Shalan Crysdale

POLICE PLAN TO REOPEN HWY 11 this evening, after a brush fire near Punaluʻu Beach shut down traffic in both directions. The road closed at approximately 8:30 a.m. The brush fire burned open space on the makai side of the highway between the two entrances to Punaluʻu. It is contained, but smoke is delaying reopening of the highway. Detour is Ninole Loop, for local residents only, says Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation Twitter.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

A NEW BLENDED LEARNING PROGRAM FOR GRADES 7-12 BEGINS THIS FALL, produced through a partnership between Kaʻū High and Pāhala Elementary School, and Ocean View Community Association.

Sharon Beck

Principal Sharon Beck said, “At Kaʻū High and Pāhala Elementary School, we recognize that one size does not fill all! We strive to provide our youth with an array of opportunities that meet their needs and future stories. To meet that goal, we are preparing to offer a new program which includes: a formal education program that includes on-line delivery of content and instruction; student control over time and place; and part-time at a supervised brick-and-mortar location.”

Students of the program meet with a teacher twice a week - Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - at Ocean View Community Center’s computer lab. “As partners, we hope to provide individualized educational opportunities for our community. As the program grows, we look forward to expanding our blended learning program with the help and partnership of St. Jude’s Church and their computer lab,” says Beck. To enroll and for more information, call (808) 313-4100.

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NEW and UPCOMING

HAWAI‘I PACIFIC PARKS ASSOCIATION OFFERS ‘IKE HANA NO‘EAU - Experience the Skillful Work - programs this week, announces Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Some Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park staff have relocated to other locations during recent summit closures: to Ka‘ū, at Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, and to Hilo, at Mokupāpapa Discovery Center.

This weekend, park rangers and staff from Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association share their knowledge and passion for the following Hawaiian cultural practices at Kahuku Unit. On Saturday, July 21, the program focusses on cordage and connecting to culture by learning how Hawaiians use plant materials to bind and lash together everything from wa‘a (canoes) to slippers. On Sunday, July 22, the program focuses on Hula. “Get into the groove and learn basic moves of the beloved Hawaiian dance in both the kahiko (traditional) and ‘auana (modern) styles,” states the release.

Ranger Dean Gallagher presents an eruption update and answers
questions at Mokupāpapa Discovery Center in Hilo tomorrow.
Photo from National Park Service

The release states that free to attend ‘Ike Hana No‘eau programs will be held every Saturday and Sunday at 12:30 p.m., lasting about an hour each. Kahuku events are posted to the park website,
nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm. Find the entrance - no entry fees - to the Kahuku Unit on Highway 11 near mile marker 70.5, between the Ka‘ū towns of Ocean View and Wai‘ōhinu.
Leading up to these programs an ‘Ike Hana No‘eau Cultural Workshop is held on Wednesday, July 18, from 10 a.m. to noon, in which attendees can learn about Lomilomi massage from cultural demonstrator Kumu Leina‘ala K. Brown. This event is free to attend. Mokupāpapa Discovery Center is located at 76 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo, and has no entry fees.
In addition, Ranger Dean Gallagher uses Liquid Galaxy map technology, photos and storytelling to provide a riveting Kīlauea eruption update and answer questions on Thursday, July 19, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., for Third Thursday by the Bay, at Mokupāpapa Discovery Center.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18

Ocean View Community Association Board Meeting, Wed, July 18, 12:30pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

THURSDAY, JULY 19

Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Thu, July 19, 9-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033, ovcahawaii@gmail.com

Pāhala Community Meeting, in response to the recent USGS report on Kīlauea eruption possibilities will be held Thu, July 19, at 6 p.m., at Pāhala Community Center. County Council member Maile David will be on hand with Civil Defense to discuss the latest developments in the Kīlauea eruption. The presentation will be similar to that at the recent meeting in Volcano. Contact Diane Ley at County Research and Development, 961-8368.
Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thu, July 19, 6:30pm, United Methodist Church in Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

FRIDAY, JULY 20

SATURDAY, JULY 21

A Group of Ranchos Property Owners plans to meet Saturday July 21, 4 p.m., at 92-8305 Mamalahoa Highway, at the last building on the Easement Road that has the Thai restaurant on it. More info, ranchospropertyowner@gmail.com

Bunco and Potluck, Sat, July 21, 6pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Popular game played with nine dice. Bring dish to share. Margie Hack, 541-954-8297

SUNDAY, JULY 22

TUESDAY, JULY 24

Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, beginning at 9 a.m., Tue/Wed, July 24 (Committees)/25 (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

ONGOING

5th annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run registration open. Race day Sat, Sept 22, 7 a.m.; begins and ends at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Register online before Sun, Aug 11: 5K, $30/person; 10K, $40/person; and 1/2 Marathon, $45/person. From Aug 13: $35/person, $45/person, and $55/person. Race day registration ends Sat, Sept 22, at 6:30 a.m. Event organizers, ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou; start location, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill.

Disaster Recovery Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Keaʻau High School Gym. Buses run to and from Keaʻau Armory every 20 minutes and Pāhoa Community Center Shelter every hour; see full bus schedule on the Civil Defense Website at HawaiiCounty.gov/Active-Alerts. For a list of the information applicants need to bring to the DRC, or to register online, go to DisasterAssistance.gov. The Salvation Army continues to operate a distribution center at the Pāhoa Community Center on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. To donate, please coordinate with the Salvation Army at (808) 756-0306.

In addition to regularly scheduled Guided Hikes and the monthly Coffee Talk, Kahuku Unit has added daily Ranger Talks, and cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.

Visitor Contact Station hosts Ranger Talks on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Guided Hikes begin at 9:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday in June and July. Meet the ranger at the welcome tent.
Coffee Talk, in the Visitor Contact Station is held the last Friday of the month, 9:30-11 a.m.
Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.
Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus

ʻIke Hana Noʻeau: Experience the Skillful Work Cultural Workshop, Wed, July 18, 10 a.m. to noon: Learn about Lomilomi massage from cultural demonstrator Kumu Leina‘ala K. Brown.
Third Thursday by the Bay, Thu, July 19, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.: Ranger Dean Gallagher will provide a riveting Kīlauea eruption update, using Liquid Galaxy map technology, photos and storytelling. Bring your questions.
Prince Kūhio Plaza

Find Park Rangers alongside the park’s non-profit partners, Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.
Grand Naniloa Hotel

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Small boats, surfing, swimming, and family time at Pohoiki, before it was made off limits. The boat ramp,
community parks and homes are threatened by lava moving along the lower Puna coast. Photo by Julia Neal

The pilings at Pohoiki with children on their bodyboards,
before the lava threat. Photo by Julia Neal

LAVA MOVING TOWARD POHOKI, with its boat ramp, swimming, fishing, surfing, and adjacent county park, threatens to cover the place within a few days, according to state officials. At 4 p.m. today, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported the southern margin of the flow front was 0.4 miles (700m) from the Pohoiki Boat Ramp. It was nearing Bowls and Shacks surf spots.
A crew from the state Department of Land & Natural Resources, which manages the boat ramp at Pohoiki, flew over the area yesterday.
Stephen Shmelz, Hawai‘i Island Branch manager for DLNR’s Division of Boating and Recreation, said he expected the area could be covered in a few days.
A statement from DLNR says: “The flow from fissure #8 is slowly creeping to the State of Hawai‘i’s Pohoiki Boat Ramp adjacent to Hawai‘i County’s Issac Hale Park.”

Flowers for Pohoiki, the favorite ocean entry spot
in lower Puna. Photo by Julia Neal

The statement said that during the DLNR assessment of eruption impacts, “steam and volcanic gasses from the nearby ocean entry wafted over the tall trees in the park’s now empty parking lot.”
Schmelz said that the taking of Pohoiki “would be a significant loss for the people of lower Puna and the Pahoa areas, as Pohoiki is not only popular as a launch ramp for small boats, it is used by a variety of ocean recreational users.”
Division of Boating and Recreation officials have already entered “very preliminary discussions about new ramp options should the flow overtake Pohoiki,” the statement reports. Any plans would hinge on road access being restored, available funding, and environmental factors. Schmelz added, “We are extremely mindful of the importance of Pohoiki for local people, and as with everything related to Kīlauea’s current eruption we need to be patient and see what develops in the future. As one of our colleagues noted recently, Pele is very much in control.”

Pohoiki surf spot. Photo by Julia Neal

Concerned citizens posting on social media have indicated that turtles are trapped in the Pohoiki area. “Both today and during an earlier flight by the Hawai‘i County Fire Department, no turtles were seen,” according to DLNR. Joining the aerial assessment of the East Rift Zone was Steve Bergfed, Hawai‘i Island Branch Manager for the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
In video released by DLNR, he said that he flew over the Malama Ki Forest Reserve, just to the south of Pohoiki, about six months ago. He said that not much has changed since his previous assessment. About half of the reserve burned when lava inundated it in the early weeks of the current event. No new land has been lost recently. Trees in the reserve have been defoliated but Bergfeld commented, “Much of the vegetation is defoliated and stressed from the eruption. We are hopeful that the flora and fauna will recover because they have evolved over time with volcanic activity.”

Family fun gathering place at Pohoiki boat ramp and adjacent Isaac Hale county park. Photo by Julia Neal

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EIGHTY DAYS INTO THE ERUPTION that destroyed homes, farms, beloved land, marine preserves, businesses, and livelihoods, Kīlauea shows little sign of slowing down. Civil Defense reports that by July 16, at least 706 structures are destroyed and 8000 acres (12.5 square miles) are covered with lava.

Pohoiki boat ramp, deserted under a haze of laze, as the flow front
creeps closer. Photo from Big Island Video News

The volume of lava flowing is historic. Fissures on the lower East Rift Zone have erupted an estimated 450 million cubic meters of lava, overwhelmingly more than in other recorded lava events in the area.
Steve Brantley, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory deputy scientist-in-charge, said last night that 205 million cubic meters flowed in 26 days in 1840, 81 million cubic meters in 88 days in 1955, and 122 million cubic meters in 37 days in 1960.

Today, Fissure 8 continues to erupt lava into the perched channel, where it flows in a river more than 8.7 miles long, to the ocean. An increase in lava supply on Tuesday night produced several channel overflows threatening homes on Nohea street. More lava overflowed both sides of the channel banks downstream. Channel overflows this morning sent lava into Leilani Estates and destroyed additional structures in the closed area along Nohea Street. The overflows stalled by mid-morning. South of Kapoho Crater, the surge produced an ʻaʻā flow that rode over the active southern flow that is still entering the ocean. The southern margin of the flow is located about 700 m (0.4 mi) from the boat ramp at Pohoiki and Isaac Hale Park.

Thermal map showing the fissure system and lava flows
as of 6 am on Tuesday, July 17. USGS map

During a meeting at Pāhoa High School cafeteria on Tuesday, Brantley told the public that the ongoing activity is “unprecedented in scope and size” in the last 200 years. Brantley said the activity is similar to activity recorded in the 1800s. He said the eruption is the most voluminous eruption in over 200 years, with the highest eruption rate, and the highest SO2 emission rates ever measured at Kīlauea.

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Fallen Officer Bronson Kaimana Kaliloa,
fatally shot on July 17. Photo from odmp.org

OFFICER BRONSON KAIMANA KALILOA was fatally shot last night, July 17, during a traffic stop on Hwy 11 near Kukui Camp in Mountain View. The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of his killer. Suspect Justin Joshua Waiki is about 5’11”, approximately 145 pounds, last seen wearing a white t-shirt and dark colored jacket. He fled on foot.

“Waiki is to be considered armed and dangerous, and should not be approached by members of the public,” said Police Chief Paul Ferrera. “Do not approach him. Do not attempt to apprehend him. Call 911. Call 3311. Text to 911 if you have to… let us take care of it.” He said Waiki has 37 prior arrests, including 16 convictions, three being felony convictions including firearms, drugs, and forgery. He also has an outstanding no-bail warrant for bail violation. His last known address was Las Vegas, but he is a resident of Hawaiʻi Island who has lived in various locations including Hamkua, Hilo, and Puna. There is no indication the suspect was hit by officer fire.

Suspect Justin Joshua Waiki
About 5’11”, approximately 145 pounds.
Last seen wearing a white t-shirt
and dark colored jacket.
Photo from hawaiipolice.com

Police have organized a Task Force to operate 24 hours a day, “relentlessly following up on tips and information regarding the whereabouts of fugitive Justin Waiki,” said the police chief. Tips and sightings may be reported by calling (808) 935-3311. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300.

An emotional Ferrera said to press this morning, “This is probably the worst day in my 36 year career.” He said this is “the first time I know that an officer has been shot and killed” in the line of duty on Hawaiʻi Island.

“Upon officers approaching the vehicle the suspect, Justin Waiki, exited the driver front seat and fired multiple shots from what is believed to be a handgun, striking Officer Bronson Kaimana Kaliloa in the neck and leg area. Other Officers at the scene immediately returned fire, however, the suspect Waiki, was able to flee into the brush on foot. Highway 11 was closed down, while police searched for the suspect and process the scene for evidence.

“Officer Kaliloa was transported by the Hawaiʻi Fire Department Medic Unit to the Hilo Medical Center Emergency Room, where the medical trauma team began treating his life threatening injuries and prepared him for surgery. Officer Kaliloa underwent surgery; however, lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at approximately 12:45 a.m.”

Police Chief Paul Ferrera.
Photo from Big Island Video News

“Officer Kaliloa, a 10-year veteran of the Hawaiʻi Police Department, leaves behind his wife and three children.”

Ferrera said, “I want to put a face to the name of this fallen officer… to show how senseless his death was, by bringing the personal side of his life to bear. He was a loving husband to a wife of 23-years. A father to three children, two sons and a daughter. He was also a loving son to his parents, who also reside on Hawaiʻi Island. Officer Kaliloa was only 46 years old. He was a 1990 graduate of the Waimea High School in Waimea, Kauaʻi. He was hired by the Hawaiʻi Police Department on August 1, 2008. He started his career in the South Kohala Patrol Division. He transferred to the Puna Division in 2010. In 2014, Officer Kaliloa was honored by his peers at a very young career age, being selected as the Officer of the Year for the Puna District.
“This was an officer, this was a father, a son, a husband. Put a face to the name.”
As police searched for the suspect this morning, Hwy 11 was closed off around the area of the incident, and commuters between Kaʻū and Hilo took Stainbeck Hwy, with delays of more than an hour.

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NEW and UPCOMING

Image from volcanoartcenter.org

THE QUILTMAKERS OF GEE’S BEND, a movie released in 2004, is featured at this month’s Volcano Art Center Movie Night on Monday, July 23, from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring their own cushion. A $5 donation is suggested.
“For more than 150 years, the women of Gee’s Bend, Alabama have made quilts reflecting their history and daily lives. Over generations they worked in isolation, continuing to inhabit the remote plantation land their parents once slaved. Today, art critics worldwide compare them to the great creative enclaves of the Italian Renaissance,” states volcanoartcenter.org. For more, call 967-8222.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

THURSDAY, JULY 19

Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Thu, July 19, 9-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033, ovcahawaii@gmail.com

Pāhala Community Meeting, in response to the recent USGS report on Kīlauea eruption possibilities will be held Thu, July 19, at 6 p.m., at Pāhala Community Center. The presentation will be similar to that at the recent meeting in Volcano. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense, the Mayor's office, and state of Hawaiʻi will address the community. County Council member Maile David will be on hand, and state Department of Health's Aaron Ueno will be available to respond to questions. The issues of sheltering and personal preparedness will also be on the agenda. A Q&A session will follow. American Sign Language interpretation will be available. For further information, call the Department of Research and Development at 961-8368.

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thu, July 19, 6:30pm, United Methodist Church in Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

FRIDAY, JULY 20

SATURDAY, JULY 21

Ocean View C.E.R.T. Meeting, Sat, July 21, 10-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team monthly meeting/training. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

A Group of Ranchos Property Owners are meeting Saturday July 21, 4 p.m., at 92-8305 Mamalahoa Highway, last building on the Easement Road that has the Thai restaurant on it.

Bunco and Potluck, Sat, July 21, 6pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Popular game played with nine dice. Bring dish to share. Margie Hack, 541-954-8297

SUNDAY, JULY 22

TUESDAY, JULY 24

WEDNESDAY, JULY 25

Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wed, July 25, 9-11am, St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors 60 years and older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i - referral required from Hawai‘i County Office of Aging at 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org

Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, beginning at 9 a.m., Wed, July 25 (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

Summer Fun Event, Wed, July 25, 9:30-10:30am, PARENTS, Inc., Nā‘ālehu. Parents, caregivers and keiki create fun summer art; 0-7 years old. Wear clothes that can get messy. Art supplies, healthy snacks and drinks provided. Free. 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

Vision Board Event, Wed, July 25, 4-6pm, PARENTS, Inc., Nā‘ālehu. 8-18 years old and parents/caregivers. Set intentions, goals and give voice to wishes and dreams by creating a vision board. Art supplies, healthy snacks and drinks provided. Free. 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

ONGOING

5th annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run registration open. Race day Sat, Sept 22, 7 a.m.; begins and ends at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Register online before Sun, Aug 11: 5K, $30/person; 10K, $40/person; and 1/2 Marathon, $45/person. From Aug 13: $35/person, $45/person, and $55/person. Race day registration ends Sat, Sept 22, at 6:30 a.m. Event organizers, ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou; start location, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill.

Disaster Recovery Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Keaʻau High School Gym. Buses run to and from Keaʻau Armory every 20 minutes and Pāhoa Community Center Shelter every hour; see full bus schedule on the Civil Defense Website at HawaiiCounty.gov/Active-Alerts. For a list of the information applicants need to bring to the DRC, or to register online, go to DisasterAssistance.gov. The Salvation Army continues to operate a distribution center at the Pāhoa Community Center on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. To donate, please coordinate with the Salvation Army at (808) 756-0306.

Third Thursday by the Bay, Thu, July 19, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.: Ranger Dean Gallagher will provide a riveting Kīlauea eruption update, using Liquid Galaxy map technology, photos and storytelling. Bring your questions.
Prince Kūhio Plaza

Find Park Rangers alongside the park’s non-profit partners, Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.
Grand Naniloa Hotel

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Kaʻū residents listened to public officials calling for preparedness in case of larger volcanic events, and discussing
the possibility of Hwy 11 being cut off near Volcano. Photo by Julia Neal

VOLCANIC EVENT PREDICTIONS AND PREPAREDNESS were themes of the public meeting held by the county, state, and FEMA tonight at Pāhala Community Center. County Council member Maile David, who was in attendence, called for the meeting.
Merrick Nishimoto, Deputy Director of Hawaiʻi County Public Works, talked about continuing damage to Hwy 11 near the entrance of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. He said the road is failing as the regular earthquakes change the landscape. He said the state, county, and federal government are doing all they can to keep it open for as long as they can.
He talked about a possible emergency route starting from the intersection of Hwy 11 and the road to Volcano golf course, running parallel to Hwy 11. He said it would have to be an emergency rather than permanent road, as the land is mostly owned by Kamehameha Schools. While government could use the land in an emergency, it would have to acquire land to make a permanent bypass.
Nishimoto said he understands that if Hwy 11 were blocked, then people from Kaʻū who work in Hilo would have to travel to Kona and over Saddle Road. "That's not normal life." He said that the

county and the mayor are trying to do everything they can to keep normalcy during this time of the volcano eruption, and that it takes a lot of money and effort.

Joan Obra of Rusty's Hawaiian Coffee talks to Rep. Richard Onishi

about ash fall affects on Kaʻū Coffee orchards. Photo by Julia Neal

A state Department of Transportation representative said Hwy 11 experienced another failure today at the 28.7 mile marker, reducing traffic to one lane. She also said the DOT's research branch has come up with innovative approaches to repair the road, such as using geo-textiles under the pavement to give it more strength.
Gary Domondon, a Pāhala resident who works for the county, said he saw the 6 foot by 12 foot sinkhole in Hwy 11 today. He said the road is deteriorating because of the crater dropping. He suggested an alternative route that could travel along old Volcano Hwy to help keep Kaʻū from being isolated. Nishimoto said the county welcomes community suggestions.
Several government officials repeated the promise to keep Hwy 11 open as long as possible. Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno said that in the worst case scenario, Kaʻū could be isolated if the road were cut off by a larger volcano event - a big earthquake or eruption. He urged people to be prepared for this slight possibility and short term isolation. He said residents should store 14 days of supplies. When a speaker from the public asked about food, the Civil Defense Administrator said that in Kaʻū, "The mountains and the ocean are your refrigerator." He followed up to say a FEMA trailer with supplies is located in Kaʻū.
Joan Obra, of Rusty's Hawaiian Coffee, asked whether the drinking water in Pāhala would be safe. The Civil Defense Administrator said that it would be drinkable as long as it is contained, which would likely be the case with the water well, tank, and distribution pipes in Pāhala.
She asked how long people might have to stay in place if a large ash fall occurred. Magno said that it could take several days to settle, and that people should stay in their homes or the gym, which is an emergency shelter.

Kaʻū Coffee farmer Ann Fontes talks to Rep. Richard

Creagan about impacts of volcanic activity on

coffee crops. Photo by Julia Neal

Ron Ebert, the Pāhala volunteer fire chief, said that if people were to attempt to drive toward Kona, should there be a volcanic event and also heavy rain, Kāwā Flats could be flooded. The DOT representative said that elevating the road at Kāwā flats is now a higher priority.
Obra asked USGS scientists whether Kīlauea volcano may be transitioning into a long period of explosive eruptions. They said there is no evidence that it has entered such a long term phase.
Obra also asked the scientists about the damage caused by ash falling onto the coffee orchards in Kaʻū. They said that acidic ash falling on a coffee tree leaf could kill the leaf. A high volume of ash building up on coffee tree leaves could block sunlight and also kill the coffee tree. They said that the ash that fell on Kaʻū in May, however, was far less than the ash that fell in the 1924 eruption.
County Managing Director Will Okubo talked about the islandwide impact of the volcano on communities, especially their economies. He said that the volcano has physically impacted about 2 percent of the island, but through media sensationalizing the event, people internationally perceive the volcano affecting the whole island, sending tourism into a slump.
He also talked about the almost daily earthquakes that measure 5.3 and stronger in Volcano. He said there have been 55 of them. "It has to be a nightmare every single night." Okubo reported that Mayor Harry Kim's "main goal is safety," while trying to bring back normalcy to everyone's lives as the volcano continues to be active.
Rep. Richard Onishi said a recent caucus at the legislature was held to brief its members on the crisis here. He said the state stands ready to help. He said he has been in touch with the administrator of Kaʻū Hospital and reminded the community that the late Rep. Robert Herkes worked for the hospital to be air conditioned and sealed. He said last month the hospital received six months of air treatment filters that will keep ash out.
He also vowed to help Kaʻū High & Elementary School with air quality, saying, "We are preparing the school to be safe." He talked about additional air conditioners and fans, and said the Department of Education sent a team to the school to make an assessment.
See more on the public meeting in tomorrow's Kaʻū News Briefs.

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Suspect Justin Joshua Waiki
About 5’11”, approximately 145 pounds.
Last seen wearing a white t-shirt
and dark colored jacket.
Photo from hawaiipolice.com

THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN AWARD MONEY is offered for information leading to the arrest of the suspect in the fatal shooting of Hawaiʻi County Police Officer Bronson Kaimana Kaliloa. Today, the U.S.Marshals Service and Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms added another $10,000 each onto the $10,000 reward offered yesterday by the FBI.

Reports of gunfire and police cordoning off an area of about one mile around Honaunau School this evening were on news and social media. Hwy 11 was closed off as SWAT teams and other police searched the area and residents sheltered in their locked homes. As of 10 p.m., the suspect was still on the run.
Kaliloa is the first Hawaiʻi County police officer killed by gunfire in the line of duty. Only four other Hawaiʻi County police officers have been killed in the line of duty since 1918:

- On March 19, 1918, Manuel R. Cadinha, 42, died of a skull fracture while serving Jerry de Lima with a warrant at Hakalau, who struck him on the head with an ohia stick. De Lima was charged with murder.

- On Nov. 19, 1936, William L. Oili, 37, died while trying to rescue two men from drowning.

- On May 7, 1990, Ronald S. Jitchaku, 52, died after Blaine K. Faris of Hilo reportedly threw his elbow toward Jitchaku’s face, causing him to fall backward and hit his head on the pavement. The incident happened on May 6, while he and other officers were attempting to stop a fight and disperse a crowd of about 200 people on Banyan Drive. Faris was sentenced to 10 years in prison for Jitchaku’s death.

- On March 28, 1997, Kenneth K. Keliʻipio, 35, was killed when his vehicle was struck by a car driven by off-duty officer Jeffrey Darrow, who had recently left a police recruit graduation party. Darrow’s blood-alcohol level was 0.11 percent, over the legal limit of .08 percent. He was convicted of drunken driving and negligent homicide, and sentenced to probation.

Gov. David Ige has ordered that the United Statesflag and the Hawaiʻi state flag be flown at half-staff at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol and upon all state offices and agencies, as well as the Hawaiʻi National Guard in the State of Hawaiʻi, until sunset on Friday, July 20.

Memorial to fallen officers at Hilo Police Station will
add another name. Photo from hawaiipolice.com

Ige said, “Our entire state mourns the loss of Officer Kaliloa, a man who dedicated his life to his family and his community. He sacrificed all to protect the community he loved. Dawn and I send our deepest condolences to his ʻohana.”

The governor has also ordered that the flags be lowered on the day of Kaliloa’s memorial service. Another flag notice will be issued when memorial plans are finalized.

According to Yahoo News, Kaliloa's niece, Kawehi Haug, sent a Facebook message to The Associated Press, saying the immediate family wasn't ready to talk. “He was strong and kind and funny and smart and chivalrous and served his community every day as an honest and upstanding police officer whose convictions guided him to always do the right thing,” she wrote. “He was a husband that saw himself as equal to his wife in every way, and a father who loved and cared for his three babies from the moment he laid eyes on them.”

Haug explained, reported Yahoo News, that Kaliloa and his wife adopted three children, ages 3, 4 and 7, through the state foster care system. “They surrounded those babies with security and love and he honored them every single day by giving them everything he possibly could,” she wrote. “...Tragic doesn’t even begin to describe this horror.”
A Go Fund Me has been made to benefit Officer Kaliloa's ʻohana: gofundme.com/kaliloa-ohana.

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Pohoiki Boat Ramp and Isaac Hale Park this morning, with lava
500 meters away. USGS photo

POHOIKI BOAT RAMP IS STILL THERE, but lava edges ever closer. This morning, July 19, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported the southern margin of the Fissure 8 ocean entry was about 0.3 miles (500m) from the boat ramp at IsaacHalePark.

Hydrovolcanic - littoral - explosions continue as lava reaches the ocean. Lava levels in the channel “appeared a bit low this morning,” and there were no overflows noted.

A collapse event with energy equal to a 5.2 magnitude earthquake occurred at Halemaʻumaʻu Crater at 4:33 p.m. Jessica Ferracane of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park said the frequent earthquakes and subsidence continue to cause damage to park structures, and that there are “a lot of sink holes” all over the grounds, trails, and overlooks. Civil Defense reminds the public to be alert for cracks and damage to roadways from earthquakes.

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State Senate Candidate Brenda Ford

STATE SENATE CANDIDATE BRENDA FORD will meet and greet the community next Thursday, July 26, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Nāʻālehu Elementary School Gymnasium. A statement from the former County Council member says that she will discuss her goals for the Senate District 3, which runs from Honuʻapo through Kona, and answer questions from the public. She listed some of the issues for which she has been contacted: SpinLaunch, which she opposes; her support for a new Kona Trauma & Teaching Hospital, dialysis unit in Kaʻū, and Physician’s Assistant Program for more medical access. She also supports a minimum wage of $15/hour, assistance with agriculture, and many other Kaʻū related issues. She said a vote for Ford will be “A Vote for the People.”

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A hole developed near mile marker 28 on
Hwy 11. One lane will close at 7 p.m. tonight
so crews can address the issue.
Photo from DOT Facebook

ONE LANE OF HIGHWAY 11 WAS CLOSED near the 28 mile marker, beginning at 7:00 p.m. this evening. State Department of Transportation reports that lane, just past the entrance to the Volcanoes National Park, will be closed to complete repair work on the shoulder of the highway, “to address a hole that developed on the outbound shoulder of the highway.” Avoid the area if possible, says State Highways. Delays may happen due to the restricted traffic flow.

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DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE is available to those without unemployment insurance who lost jobs due to the volcanic activity. The initial deadline for filing is July 23. However, a new deadline could be set for future claims, as the disaster continues.
According to labor.hawaii.gov, those who qualify are: “individuals who were living or working in the affected area at the time of the major disaster and unemployed as a direct result of the major disaster and do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance. The state Department of Labor & Industrial Relations states that the major disaster declaration - FEMA-DR-4366 - by President Donald Trump on May 11 includes Disaster Unemployment Assistance for Hawaiʻi County.

Despite not being covered by lava, if the building in the lower
portion of the picture was a business, employees would be
hard-pressed to get to and from work. USGS photo

Benefits are available to cover May 6 through Nov. 10, “as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a result of the disaster.” Regular unemployment insurance and DUA benefits cannot be paid for the same time period.

Others who may also be eligible for DUA include people who, due to the disaster, cannot get to work or got injured. Unemployment is a direct result of the major disaster if there is physical damage, destruction, or inaccessibility to the place of employment; or “lack of work or loss of revenues to the employer or self-employed business caused indirectly by a major revenue generating entity that was damaged or destroyed in the disaster or located in the disaster area closed by the government.”

Workers unemployed due to the disaster may apply for regular unemployment insurance benefits by filing online at uiclaims.hawaii.gov. Self-employed persons and those not qualifying for regular unemployment insurance benefits who cannot perform services due to the disaster must apply in-person for DUA benefits.

While scientists are able to enter the lava inundation zone
in lower Puna, most who worked there cannot make the
same commute. USGS photo

To apply, Social Security number and a copy of the most recent federal income tax form and check stubs or documentation to support that you were working or self-employed when the disaster occurred are required. Documentation for self-employed can be obtained from banks or government entities, or affidavits from individuals having knowledge of their businesses.

Contact the Hilo Claims Office at 974-4086 for more information, or visit the DisasterRecoveryCentercurrently located at the Keaʻau School Gym, 16-725 Keaʻau-Pāhoa Road. For more detailed information regarding eligibility for DUA benefits, go to labor.hawaii.gov/ui/assistance-programsor contact the Hilo Claims Office, Kinoʻole Plaza, 1990 Kino`ole Street, Suite 101, Hilo, HI96720-5293, 974-4086. Re-employment services may be obtained at the nearest One-StopCenter: American Job Center Hawaiʻi-Hilo, 427 Kilauea AvenueHilo, HI96720, 935-6527.

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Rep. Tulsi Gabbard in Washington D.C., with supporters of a
resolution to impeach Presidents who declare war without
Congress approval. Photo from Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

ENDING “PRESIDENTIAL WARS” is the aim of a bipartisan resolution introduced into Congress by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC). Announced at a press conference yesterday, it seeks to “reclaim Congress’s constitutional right to declare war.” H.Res. 922 would define “presidential wars not declared by Congress… as impeachable ‘high crimes and misdemeanors.’” It would prohibit the President from “perpetuating ongoing wars” or supplying war materials or personnel, without first receiving congressional authorization.

Gabbard said: “Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress the exclusive authority to declare war. But the last time Congress officially declared war was December 8th, 1941– the day the U.S.entered World War II. Ever since, Congress has failed to uphold their constitutional responsibility and have instead ceded power to the President. So, we remain in a state of perpetual war, led by presidents in both parties at great cost to the American people with no declaration of war by Congress and no input from the American people.

“The direct and indirect costs of these presidential wars are astounding. They take a toll on our troops, our veterans, and on the American people. Since 9/11 alone, we’ve spent trillions of dollars on regime-change wars and nation-building while people in our communities suffer and struggle because of a lack of resources here at home, what to mention the costs borne by our troops, those who pay the ultimate price, as well as those who come home with wounds that are visible and invisible. The American people deserve accountability. Mr. Walter Jones and I have introduced a bipartisan resolution 922 to make sure that Congress fulfills its constitutional role, ends presidential wars, and has robust debate before making the decision to send our troops into battle.”

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard in Washington D.C., with supporters of a
resolution to impeach Presidents who declare war without
Congress approval. Photo from Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

“We are here today because Congress is not meeting its constitutional responsibility,” said Congressman Jones. “If Congress does not debate sending your son or daughter to fight for this country, then we don’t need a Congress anyway. Nothing is more sacred or important than sending a man or woman to die for this country.”

Bruce Fein, constitutional lawyer, said: “No war is worth fighting if the President is unable to convince a majority of House and Senate members to vote for a congressional declaration of war.”

Michael Marceau, Veterans For Peace, President, DC Area Chapter, said: “We… urge all our members to contact their representatives to demand that they cosponsor this.”

Paul Kawika Martin, Peace Action, Senior Director, Policy and Political Affairs, said: “It’s long past time to stop permanent presidential... That’s why Peace Action supports House Resolution 922… that warns Presidents that circumventing the constitution and failing to get congressional approval for wars will be considered an impeachable offense.”
See Gabbard's speech on the House floor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q91kRKF5EJw.

NEW & UPCOMING

HULA VOICES FEATURING KUMU HULA MANAIAKALANI KALUA takes place on Thursday, August 2, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Kumu Kalua joins moderator Desiree Moana Cruz.

Hula Voices in Volcano features Kumu Hula Manaiakalani Kalua on Aug. 2.
Photo from volcanoartcenter.org

Kumu Kalua, born and raised in Keaukaha, graduated from Kamehameha School in 1996 and received a BA in Hawaiian Studies in 2002 from Ka Haka ‘Ula ‘o Ke’elikolani at UH Hilo. He has been an instructor at Hawaiʻi Community College in the Hawaiian Life Styles-program, since 2003. His hālau, Akaunu, opened in 2012 and is closely tied to the traditions of UNUKUPUKUPU and Hālau O Kekuhi.
Each month, Hula Voices presents an intimate “talk story” session with Hawai‘i Island’s hula practitioners, as they share their hula genealogy, traditions, protocols and experiences. These free, educational offerings usually occur regularly on the first Thursday of each month at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park; however, due to recent summit erruptions, the park is closed.
Hula Voices is supported in part by a grant from the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, the County of Hawaiʻi Department of Research and Development and individual funding from members of the Volcano Art Center’s ʻohana. Call 967-8222 to confirm. See volcanoartcenter.org.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

FRIDAY, JULY 20

SATURDAY, JULY 21

SUNDAY, JULY 22

TUESDAY, JULY 24

WEDNESDAY, JULY 25

Vision Board Event, Wed, July 25, 4-6pm, PARENTS, Inc., Nā‘ālehu. 8-18 years old and parents/caregivers. Set intentions, goals, and give voice to wishes and dreams by creating a vision board. Art supplies, healthy snacks and drinks provided. Free. 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

THURSDAY, JULY 26

Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thu, July 26, 12:30-1:30pm, Punalu‘u Bake Shop. Monthly meeting provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us

Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visit, Thu, July 26, 1-5pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. Medical services offered last Thursday of every month. Dental to be announced. Call 333-3600 to schedule appointment. See Cooper Center June newsletter for details. thecoopercenter.org

Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thu, July 26, 4-6pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Free community dinner for all. Additional packaged goods to take home - for those in need. Donations and volunteers encouraged. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

ONGOING

5th annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run registration open. Race day Sat, Sept 22, 7 a.m.; begins and ends at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Register online before Sun, Aug 11: 5K, $30/person; 10K, $40/person; and 1/2 Marathon, $45/person. From Aug 13: $35/person, $45/person, and $55/person. Race day registration ends Sat, Sept 22, at 6:30 a.m. Event organizers, ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou; start location, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill.

Disaster Recovery Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Keaʻau High School Gym. The DRC will be closed on Sunday, July 22. Buses run to and from Keaʻau Armory every 20 minutes and Pāhoa Community Center Shelter every hour; see full bus schedule on the Civil Defense Website at HawaiiCounty.gov/Active-Alerts. For a list of the information applicants need to bring to the DRC, or to register online, go to DisasterAssistance.gov. The Salvation Army continues to operate a distribution center at the Pāhoa Community Center on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. To donate, please coordinate with the Salvation Army at (808) 756-0306.

Kahuku Unit
July’s Artist in Residence John Ferdico will showcase his multicolored model aircraft and discuss how they are made at the Kahuku Visitor Contact Station, Friday, July 20, at 10 a.m. Supported by the Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and the National Parks Arts Foundation.
In addition to regularly scheduled Guided Hikes and the monthly Coffee Talk, Kahuku Unit has added daily Ranger Talks, and cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.

Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

Find Park Rangers alongside the park’s non-profit partners, Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.
Grand Naniloa Hotel

Park rangers also greet incoming arrivals at the Hilo International Airport, welcome cruise ship passengers as they disembark at the Port of Hilo, and inform visitors at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center most Sundays.

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Southern flow front, 0.25 miles from Pohoiki Boat Ramp. See story, below. USGS photo

OFFICER BRONSON KALILOA’S ALLEGED MURDERER WAS SHOT TO DEATH BY THE HAWAIʻI POLICE DEPARTMENT TODAY. The shoot-out also resulted in the wounding of a Special Response Team Sergeant, who Hawaiʻi News Now reported was conscious and breathing when taken to Hilo Medical Center. The confrontation happened in South Point, just east of South Point Road, mauka of the road to Kualualu.

On Friday afternoon, Hawaiʻi News Now reported, Kaliloa’s family issued this statement: “The family would like to thank all the responders who have put their lives at risk to help bring us closure. Our love and thoughts go to the injured officer and his family, and we will pray that the Lord protect and heal him.”

The late Officer Bronson
Kaliloa. Photo from HPD

HPD reported they were acting on information received on suspect Justin Joshua Waiki when they responded to the area of South Point. “At about 2:45 p.m., police officers established a checkpoint where officers stopped an SUV. Members of the Department’s Special Response Team were conducting checks within the vehicle when the suspect, Justin Waiki, opened fire, wounding an officer. Officers present returned fire, resulting in the death of Waiki.

The wounded officer, an SRT Sergeant, is a police veteran with 12 years of service. He was taken by Fire Rescue to the Hilo Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. During the gunfire, a female who was hiding in the SUV was shot and also taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment.

Three other individuals, who are suspected in aiding the suspect, were arrested at the scene for Hindering Prosecution in the first degree and remain in custody at this time. The investigation is continuing.”

Pua left by the public at Hilo Police Station in memory of
Fallen Officer Bronson K. Kaliloa. Photo from HPD

Richard Taylor, who lives on a South Point area ranch, said that hunters shoot pigs all the time - usually one or two shots - but “it sounded like a buzz saw of gunfire today,” with a plane over head circling for about 45 minutes, apparently looking for the man on the run.

Rewards for Waiki’s capture had grown to $32,000; $10,000 from the FBI, $10,000 from U.S. Marshalls, $10,000 from Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, with Islandwide Crime Stoppers adding $2,000 this morning. No word on whether the rewards will be issued.

The shooting reported yesterday near Honaunau School, reports HPD, was a result of police shooting in pursuit of two suspects, 25-year-old Harvey Damo Jr., and 25-year-old Shevylyn Klaus, both of Hilo, who reportedly stole a vehicle in Hilo and were pursued through Kona, Kaehuou, and taken into custody in Honaunau.

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LAVA IS NO CLOSER TO POHOIKI today, report both official sources such as USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Hawaii County Civil Defense, and reporter Ikaika Marzo. Those sources say the flow front is about a quarter mile from Pohoiki Boat Ramp at IsaacHalePark. Marzo shared a Facebook video update today, facebook.com/ikaika.marzo/videos/1894184593967401/, where Phillip Ong shows how the pulses of lava forced out of Fissure 8 after the collapses at the summit overflow the banks of the perched lava channel, and how much under threat Pohoiki remains.

Bowls surf spot, just north of Isaac Hale Park and Pohoiki, is being
slowly covered by lava. Photo from Big Island Video News

Bowls surf spot was about two-thirds covered yesterday, according to videographer Mick Kalber, who was on a Paradise Helicopters overflight. He posted a video and notes on Vimeo, vimeo.com/280845187, that lava “is steadily pushing toward IsaacHaleBeachParkat Pohoiki, and may even be there this weekend. Even more lava is behind the current flow, making its way south and southwest… and is carrying an enormous amount of lava.” He also noted more littoral or hydrovolcanic explosions are happening near the same entry place that caused the explosion that injured several people on a boat tour earlier this week.

During this morning's overflight, says USGS, the channel that runs from Fissure 8 to the ocean, then turns south, was “incandescent its entire length from vent to ocean entry. The most vigorous ocean entry is located a few hundred meters northeast of the southern flow margin, though a few small pahoehoe toes were entering the ocean on either side of the channel's main entry point.”

On roadway updates for the Volcano area, State Highways reports that a speed limit of 25 miles per hour is in effect on Highway 11 between the 28 and 30 Mile Markers due to cracks in the road. Motorists are advised to stay on the pavement and be on the alert for cracks in the road and to exercise caution.

Flow map as of 12:00 p.m., July 19. USGS map

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ʻOhai, an endangered endemic Hawaiian plant.
Photo from Wikimedia Commons

PRIORITIZING NATIVE PLANTS is the focus of a bill introduced by Sen. Mazie K. Hirono. She introduced the Botanical Sciences and Native Plant Materials Research, Restoration, and Promotion Act. The bill encourages federal land management agencies to hire botanists, conduct research on native plant materials, and incorporate native plants in projects on federal land when feasible.

Hirono said, “Native plants play a crucial role in conserving and protecting our land, and are an important part of our culture. They recharge our watersheds and are less prone to fire than nonnative species. This bill provides resources to ensure that our land managers have the necessary tools and expertise to protect our native plants, many of which are endangered and are found nowhere else in the world.”

Sen. Mazie Hirono

The legislation would promote native plant research and use by promoting hiring and retention of botanists, and helping fund botanical research and efforts to increase endangered plant populations. It would give preference to native plant materials in land management projects and require justification of use of non-native plant materials, and require the use of native plant materials in surface transportation projects and federal building design. It would also promote interagency cooperation for various activities relating to native plants, and direct the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to incorporate native plant conservation into existing activities.

Uhiuhi, a critically endangered endemic
Hawaiian plant.
Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Dr. Marian Chau, Seed Conservation and Laboratory Manager, Lyon Aboretum, Hawaiian Rare Plant Program, said, “After contributing to the creation of this bill since 2015, seeing a version introduced in the House of Representatives, and visiting my legislators’ offices over the past few years, I am so grateful that Senator Hirono took up this cause and showed leadership in introducing this Senate bill, which will be of great benefit to Hawaii and the entire nation.”

Dustin Wolkis, Seed Bank & Laboratory Manager, Department of Science and Conservation, National Tropical Botanical Garden, said, “With less than 1% of the land mass of the United States, Hawaii contains over half of the endangered plant species listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. With the introduction of this bill, Hawaii stands to benefit greatly in both our economy and the preservation of our unique and imperiled flora.”

Anne Neal Petri, President of The Garden Club of America, said, “By promoting the hiring of botanists and creating a preference for native plants, the bill will advance scientific expertise and help conserve water, save money, reduce the need for pesticides, and foster healthy, vibrant ecosystems.”

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HARMONY EDUCATIONAL SERVICES organizers in Ka‘ū are hoping for enough enrollment this fall to open an Ocean View site for Option Days. Harmony is a service provider for online public school partnerships available to Ka‘ū students, and offers curriculum for K-12. The Option Days location would be Ocean View Community Center, should enough students sign up. Free participation in the Harmony Hawai‘i program requires enrollment with a Harmony partner public school.

Making giant bubbles during an Options Day
meeting. Photo by Frank Cordes

Families can sign up for Harmony services online at harmonyed.com, thus enrolling students at local schools partnered with Harmony: Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School, Laupāhoehoe Community Public Charter School, and Kanu o ka ‘Āina. Harmony serves more than 500 students across the island chain.
Harmony Educational Services Mentor Ranya Williams said the tuition-free program offers resources, curriculum, mentoring, and more. In addition to contacting the local Charter Schools, families are invited to enroll students online for grades 9-12 by July 31, and for K-8 by Oct. 15, for the 2018-19 school year.
Families receive money from Harmony when they register their children, plus financial support for supplies and some classes. Parents also pay for additional supportive materials for schooling.
Williams says that in addition to support, “Harmony students are eligible to receive a yearly educational allowance, $250-$1,000, to use to purchase educational material, curriculum, and pay for classes such as music, dance, and martial arts. You can even use your existing curriculum, by choosing our Flex program, which is a series of worksheets that serve as an assessment to ensure that parents are teaching according to Common Core Standards.”

Keiki enrolled in Harmony programs join to socialize and complete
various activities together, such as making giant bubbles,
homemade paper, and lego creations, during Options Day
meetings. Photo by Frank Cordes

Ocean View resident Laura Roberts enrolled her children in Harmony two years ago and reports: “After years of doing school at home in many different virtual programs with my four children, we found Harmony. It has been life changing and we are so thankful to be in the program. It provides a great education while allowing my kids to pursue their interests like guitar, piano, technology, etc. We would not have these opportunities without Harmony. It’s easy to use, flexible for any family, and we have a mentor that has been very helpful. We love it! We wish we had found it earlier!”
The website states that Harmony Educational Services offers students and families the advantages of homeschooling while providing the resources available at public schools. “We provide distance learning students with flexible educational choices, including virtual curriculum, on-site classes, and educational materials all at no cost to you. Harmony provides educational options so you can choose what’s best for your child, including: mix-and-match courses and materials from a variety of vendors; online curriculum and traditional curriculum based on textbooks, literature, etc.; our popular on-site elective program and other exiting elective classes; and resources and materials based on your child’s interests and their courses.”

Making homemade paper during an Options Day
meeting. Photo by Frank Cordes

In Hawai‘i, the Harmony program offers “Free Individualized Education,” based on the principle that “Every child has different capacities, interests and passions. We understand that students flourish when education is individualized to their unique needs. Harmony provides a variety of courses and programs for all ages, ensuring a truly customized learning experience,” states harmonyed.com/hawaii/.
Harmony allows “families the flexibility to learn at home, access online curriculum and attend on-site programs,” according to the website. Williams says Harmony currently has on-site locations (known as Options Days) in Hilo and Honoka‘a, as well as on O‘ahu and Kaua‘i. “ We hope to bring Options Day sites to Ocean View and Kona this year, depending on enrollment numbers. Options Day courses serve as students electives, they can be classes such as STEM, sewing, coding, Lego Simple Machines, robotics, art, cooking, and Hawaiian. Options Day site managers choose the courses based upon the interests of enrolled students. We are very close to having enough students to create an Ocean View Site. I’m very excited about the prospect!” says Williams.
Harmony offers families support throughout the year, by providing a mentor who assists parents in planning for each child’s success. The mentor serves as the “family’s primary contact with Harmony and is available to explain Harmony programs, match curriculum and resources to student needs, and provide support to parents and students. Mentors work with parents to ensure that students have a wonderful educational experience,” states harmonyed.com/hawaii/.
To enroll, visit harmonyed.com/hawaii/. Contact Williams at 808-430-9798 or rwilliams@harmonyed.com for more information.
Another online program offered in the Ka‘ū area, unrelated to Harmony, is Volcano School of Arts & Sciences. See May 26 Ka‘ū News Briefs.

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NEW and UPCOMING

A HOUSE AND SENATE CANDIDATE AGRICULTURAL FORUM FOR KONA AND KA‘Ū hosted by Kona Coffee Farmer Association, and Kona Farmers Union on Thursday, August 2, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Konawaena High School Cafeteria in Kealakekua. The forum subject area is to help meet the needs of farmers. Participants are encouraged to bring questions.

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A CHILI COOK OFF, WITH A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR PUNA AND KA‘Ū FOOD BANK, is Saturday, August 4, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at The Terraces in Ocean View at 1885 Princess Kaiulani Blvd. The event offers a raffle, non-alcoholic mixers, and more, with music provided by Soul Town. Attendees are asked to pay $10 for advance tickets or $15 at the door, plus a can of food. Criminal Justice Services of Hawai‘i, Alaska, and the mainland, as well as many local businesses and community groups, sponsor the event. For more info, contact gcmorales2002@yahoo.com or kathiegriffeth@gmail.com.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 21

Ocean View C.E.R.T. Meeting, Sat, July 21, 10-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team monthly meeting/training. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

SUNDAY, JULY 22

TUESDAY, JULY 24

WEDNESDAY, JULY 25

THURSDAY, JULY 26

FRIDAY, JULY 27

Coffee Talk, Fri, July 27, 9:30-11am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. NPS Law Enforcement Rangers talk story about Mitigating Disaster in National Parks. Ka’ū coffee, tea, and pastries available for purchase. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

ONGOING

1st Annual Hawaiian Wicked Tuna Jackpot - Classic Fishing Tournament Series, through Sun, July 20-22, Honokahau Club House. All profits go towards marine conservation and youth educational programs in and around Miloli‘i. $300 entry fee, 4 per boat, $25 additional. Cash prizes $100-4,000. Qualifying weight of 50lbs. Grand Prize qualifies for Las Vegas Trip. Contact Wilfred Kaupiko, 896-6272, kalanihale@gmail.com. Sponsored by Kalanihale, kalanihale.org

25th Annual Hawai’i Conservation Conference, Ulu Ka Lāiā I Ke Kumu: From a Strong Foundation Grows an Abundant Future, Tue-Thu, July 24-26, Hawai’i Convention Center, Honolulu. Registration ongoing, $80+. hawaiiconservation.org

Oliver!, a KDEN Production, through July 29; Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30pm, Sundays 2:30pm. Shows at UH-Hilo Performing Arts Center. Tickets: $20 general, $15 seniors 60+ and students, $12 keiki 12 and under. Tickets available at Kīlauea General Store, Kea‘au Natural Foods, Basically Books, and The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo. Info and reservations: 982-7344, kden73@aol.com

Exhibit, Birds of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park: The Hawai‘i Nei Invitational Daily, through Aug 4, 9-5pm, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Free. Artists: John Dawson, Reyn Ojiri, Sarah Koh, Wendy Barske, Maria Macias, Cody Yamaguchi, Ann Guth, and John Mydoock. Art represents endemic bird species. volcanoartcenter.org

5th annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run registration open. Race day Sat, Sept 22, 7 a.m.; begins and ends at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Register online before Sun, Aug 11: 5K, $30/person; 10K, $40/person; and 1/2 Marathon, $45/person. From Aug 13: $35/person, $45/person, and $55/person. Race day registration ends Sat, Sept 22, at 6:30 a.m. Event organizers, ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou; start location, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill.

Disaster Recovery Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Keaʻau High School Gym. The DRC will be closed on Sunday, July 22. Buses run to and from Keaʻau Armory every 20 minutes and Pāhoa Community Center Shelter every hour; see full bus schedule on the Civil Defense Website at HawaiiCounty.gov/Active-Alerts. For a list of the information applicants need to bring to the DRC, or to register online, go to DisasterAssistance.gov. The Salvation Army continues to operate a distribution center at the Pāhoa Community Center on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. To donate, please coordinate with the Salvation Army at (808) 756-0306.

Visitor Contact Station hosts ʻIke Hana Noʻeau: Experience the Skillful Work Cultural Demonstrations and Activities, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. July 21: Cordage. It’s all about connecting to culture – literally. Learn how Hawaiians use plant materials to bind and lash together everything from wa‘a (canoes) to slippers. July 22: Hula. Get into the groove and learn basic moves of the beloved Hawaiian dance in both the kahiko (traditional) and ‘auana (modern) styles.
Visitor Contact Station hosts Ranger Talks on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Guided Hikes begin at 9:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday in June and July. Meet the ranger at the welcome tent.
Coffee Talk, in the Visitor Contact Station is held the last Friday of the month, 9:30-11 a.m.
Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.

Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus

Find Park Rangers alongside the park’s non-profit partners, Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.
Grand Naniloa Hotel

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Littoral, or hydrovolcanic, explosions happen when lava meets water under certain conditions, such as those that sent
lava bombs into a tour boat last week. This explosion happened in 2008, near Kalapana.
See Volcano Watch, below. USGS photo

POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF ONGOING ERUPTIONS from Kīlauea Volcano are outlined in a study released this week by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. The report to Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense says, "it is most likely that the Lower East Rift Zone eruption may continue for months to years." The study points out that the volume of lava flowing into lower Puna - particularly from the Fissure 8 vent, channel, and ocean entry - is steady and historic.

Cape Kumakahi Lighthouse could be threatened
if the river of lava overflows or breaks through its
banks. Photo from Lighthouse Friends

The current eruption started with 23 days of sporadic eruption from 24 fissures, covering a distance of 4.2 miles. More recently, the eruption has focused at Fissure 8, continuously erupting since May 27. The volume is significantly more than the 1960 and 1840 eruptions, and perhaps more than eruptions in the late 1700s.
"If the ongoing eruption maintains its current style of activity at a high eruption rate, then it may take months to a year or two to wind down. While this seems to be the most likely outcome, a pause in the eruption, followed by additional activity, cannot be ruled out, nor can an abrupt cessation or a transition of steady, longer-lived activity at a lower effusion rate," states the report.
"The shield complex of Heiheiahulu, 9.5 km (6 mi.) upslope (from Fissure 8), represents a more voluminous eruption that could have lasted several years, similar to the 35‐year‐long eruption of Puʻu ʻŌʻō. Both of these eruptions started with several short ʻaʻā flows erupted along a 3.5 km (2.2 mi‐) and 7 km‐(4.3 mi‐) long fissure system, respectively, before centralizing to a single vent and eventually erupting tube‐fed pahoehoe flows."

The report notes: "The current eruption has erupted only ʻaʻā flows so far but the eruption rate is high, and a stable channel system is being elevated by frequent spillovers of pāhoehoe flows above Kapoho Crater. The flow maintains its ʻaʻā character below that point to the ocean with a more pasty lava oozing from its interior along its edges. The change in the character of the channel toward pahoehoe may signal a gradual change of eruption style and a potentially longer eruption with more destruction of infrastructure."

Fissure 8 supplies a perched lava channel "river," which travels in a curving
path over 8.7 miles to the ocean, where is feeds various entry
points over a new coastline about 2.3 miles long. USGS photo

The study points to risks of the lava river spilling over, or breaking its banks, which could threaten Nanawale Estates and possibly move closer to Hawaiian Beaches and Hawaiian Shores subdivisions. Another possible diversion of lava could threaten Noni Farms, Railroad Ave., Papaya Farms, and Government Beach Road before entering the ocean near Kalamanu. Other areas of possible future risk are the remaining structures in Kapoho Ag Lots and Beach Lots, buildings on the eastern section of the 1960 flow. and Cape Kumakahi Lighthouse.

Concerning vog, the study says that Fissure 8 has replaced Halemaʻumaʼu as the dominant producer of volcanic gas on Hawaiʻi Island "and will remain so as long as current rates of eruption continue." The study says the rates of emission are more than four time the average daily amount from Kīlaeua's summit lava lake before May 3, causing a significant increase in vog, to include the Kona Coast.

Lava entering the ocean, sending up voluminous
clouds of laze. USGS photo

Other risks outlined by the report include a possible delta collapse of the new lava that is adding land onto the island, and hydrovolcanic explosions, like the ones that injured boaters last week, when seawater mixed with lava.

Read the entire report entitled Preliminary Analysis of the ongoing Lower East Rift Zone eruption of Kīlauea Volcano: Fissure 8 Prognosis and Ongoing Hazards at volcanoes.usgs.gov/vsc/file_mngr/file-185/USGS %20Preliminary%20Analysis
_LERZ%20July%2015%202018.pdf.

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The Rev. Titus Coan wrote about the
1840 events at Kīlaeua Volcano.
Photo from Wikipedia

COLORFUL DESCRIPTIONS OF KĪLAUEA CALDERA AND THE ERUPTION OF 1840 are included in this week's report on possible hazards, submitted by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory to Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense. The study quotes the Rev. Titus Coan, a missionary in Hilo in the mid-1800s, saying:
“For several years past, the great crater of Kīlauea has been rapidly filling up, by the rising of the superincumbent crust, and by the frequent gushing forth of the molten sea below. In this manner, the great basin below the black ledge, which has been computed from three to five hundred feet deep, was long since filled up by the ejection and cooling of successive masses of the fiery fluid.

“These silent eruptions continued to occur at intervals, until the black ledge was repeatedly overflowed, each cooling, and forming a new layer from two feet thick and upwards, until the whole area of the crater was filled up, at least fifty feet above the original black ledge, and thus reducing the whole depth of the crater to less than nine hundred feet.

Side walls of Kīlauea Caldera continue to crumble as
subsidence and earthquakes plague the summit.
USGS photo

“This process of filling up continued till the latter part of May, 1840, when... the whole area of the crater became one entire sea of ignifluous matter, raging like old ocean when lashed into fury by a tempest. For several days the fires raged with fearful intensity, exhibiting a scene awfully terrific. For several days... the infuriated waves sent up infernal sounds, and dashed with such maddening energy against the sides of the awful caldron, as to shake the solid earth above, and to detach huge masses of overhanging rocks, which, leaving their ancient beds, plunged into the fiery gulf below.

“So terrific was the scene that no one dared to approach near it, and travellers on the main road, which lay along the verge of the crater, feeling the ground tremble beneath their feet, fled and passed by at a distance... Every thing within the caldron is new. Not a particle of lava remains as it was when I last visited it. All has been melted down and re‐cast. All is new.”

Halemaʻumaʻu's lava lake, before it disappeared in May.
NPS photo

Read the entire report written for Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense at volcanoes.usgs.gov/
vsc/file _mngr/file-185/USGS %20Preliminary
%20Analysis _LERZ%20July%2015%
202018.pdf.

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EXPLOSIVE HAZARDS CREATED BY LAVA MIXING WITH SEAWATER are explained in this week's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates This article is by Larry Mastin, a Cascades Volcano Observatory hydrologist, who is assisting with the USGS eruption response in Hawaiʻi:

Since May 3, Kīlauea Volcano’s lower East Rift Zone eruption has destroyed more than 700 structures, covered more than 32 sq. km (12.4 sq. mi.) of land with black lava, and added about 700 acres of new land to the island. Yet, remarkably, injuries had been few.

But then, on July 16, a large underwater explosion sent lava bombs - solid or semi-solid lava fragments - the size of basketballs through the roof of a tour boat, injuring 23 volcano watchers. The detailed cause of the explosion is uncertain, but USGS is fairly certain that it resulted from the heating of seawater by molten lava.

This telephoto image shows dark fragments of molten and

semi-solid lava being blasted upward and outward during a

hydrovolcanic explosion at the Waikupanaha ocean entry

west of Kalapana in April 2008. USGS photo by M. Patrick

Underwater explosions are enigmatic and can be deadly. They have also fascinated scientists since a transformational event in 1963. That year, at first dawn on November 13, Icelandic fishermen stared with awe as, beyond the bow of their boat, jets of black tephra launched out of the sea in long, arcing trajectories that resembled rooster tails. The jagged front of each tail was tipped by finger-like projections, each led by a large flying block.

A new volcanic vent, Surtsey, had emerged days earlier from the 130m (430 ft.) deep ocean bottom. By that fateful morning it had shallowed to several meters (yards) depth, and explosions were beginning to breach the water surface. From 1963 through 1967, the world gaped at magazine and television images of the activity.

As the vent emerged, “intermittent explosions” with cock’s-tail plumes and finger jets, alternated with continuous jetting of wet ash and steam. Some intermittent explosions shot tephra columns upward, which then collapsed back to the water surface and moved radially outward as ring-shaped clouds. Only after the vent fully emerged from the sea did the explosive behavior give way to normal basaltic lava fountains and flows.

The eruption of Surtsey, more than any other, demonstrated the explosive effect of water in volcanism. Terms like “cock’s-tail plume,” “finger jet,” “Surtseyan eruption,” and “hydrovolcanism” entered the volcanic lexicon.

Bikiniatoll. Similar violent melt-water explosions had plagued aluminum foundries and steel mills when those metals inadvertently mixed with water.

Scientists noted similarities to other phenomena. Ring-shaped clouds called “base surges,” for example, rolled outward during the 1946 atomic blast at Bikini atoll. Similar violent melt-water explosions had plagued aluminum foundries and steel mills when those metals inadvertently mixed with water.

Littoral explosion near Kalapana in 2008. USGS photo

In the 1970s and 1980s, many nuclear power plants were under construction, and engineers were spooked by the prospect of nuclear fuel melting through the plants’ floors into groundwater and exploding. Melt-water explosions acquired a name – fuel-coolant interactions – but not a clear explanation. Experiments pouring metals, such as tin, into water found that explosions were devilishly hard to reproduce.

By the 1990s, scientists had found a complicated sequence that required (1) dispersing melt blobs in water, and then (2) passing a shock wave through the mixture that stripped off the steam jackets that insulated them. Whether this sequence causes Surtseyan explosions has been controversial.

German experiments using magma (rather than metals) found success using a similar two-step process, but with step one involving water bubbles entrapped in melt. Laboratory experiments, however, are not good at capturing the dynamics and complexity of real lava-water mixing. So, here is the value of Kīlaueaas a natural laboratory.

Kīlauealava flows have entered the ocean for decades. During most of the Puʻu ʻŌʻō eruption, molten lava flowed beneath the waves with minor splashing but no real jetting. In a few cases, though, black tephra jets and steam were violently thrown tens of meters (yards) into the air.

These occasions were of great concern, and found to occur under two conditions: (1) when a lava delta collapses into the sea, exposing a severed tube and molten lava to ocean waves; or (2) when a submarine lava tube ruptures, allowing water entry, and is then partly blocked. The confined water heats like that in a pressure cooker and then explodes when the tube walls rupture.

Lava meets ocean in a littoral explosion near
Waikupanaha in 2008. USGS photo

Explosions of this type have occurred periodically throughout Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone eruption. Last week’s explosions suggest that tubes lie below the waves at the current ocean entry, and that more explosions are possible.

The explosions at Kīlauea’s ocean entry are smaller than the big Surtseyan cock’s-tail jets. The latter occurred above an active vent, whereas the former are fed by surface flows. But Kīlauea’s explosions are the best observed of any hydrovolcanic explosions – and they offer the best insight into how they form. For more information, see Littoral hydrovolcanic explosions: a case study of lava–seawater interactionat Kilauea Volcano, volcanoes
.usgs.gov /vsc/file_mngr/file-186/Mattox and Mangan_hydrovolcanic explosions.pdf.

Second Miss Kaʻū Coffee
Princess Karlee
Fukunaga-Camba

Visit HVO’s website, volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo, for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea daily eruption updates, Mauna Loa weekly updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Call for summary updates at 808-967-8862 (Kīlauea) or 808-967-8866 (Mauna Loa). Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

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SECOND MISS KAʻŪ COFFEE PRINCESS KARLEE FUKUNAGA-CAMBA represented Kaʻū at the recent, annual Miss Hawaiʻi Island Teen USA pageant in Hilo. She won the categories of People’s Choice, Hospitality, and Popularity. The yearly pageant is the Local Preliminary to the Miss Hawaiʻi Teen USA pageant. Her family runs the R&G store in Pāhala.

Karlee Fukunaga-Camba, sixth from the left in light blue, won the People's
Choice, Popularity, and Hospitality categories of the Miss Hawaiʻi
Teen USA pageant on July 7. Photos from misshawaiiusa.com

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NEW and UPCOMING

HAWAI‘I WILDLIFE FUND ANNOUNCES FIVE UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, four of them in Ka‘ū:
Join volunteers for a Restoration Workday with Earth Expedition Crew on Wednesday, July 25, at a to-be-announced Ka‘ū location.

Join Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund volunteers and help clean-up marine debris
from the coast and restore anchialine pools.
Photo from facebook.com/pg/hawaiiwildlifefund/

Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund collaborates with Hawai‘i Sate Parks for their second annual Mahai‘ula Anchialine Pool Restoration Workday, in Kona, on Saturday, July 28 - this site offers 2WD access.

Volunteers clean as they hike the coast near South Point with Big Island Farms on Monday, July 30.
A Kamilo Beach Clean-up and debris survey is conducted on Friday, August 17. Volunteers will likely meet at Wai‘ōhinu Park and continue to the destination from there.
An International Coastal Clean-up event takes place on Saturday, September 15, with Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund volunteers picking up marine debris along Kamilo Point. Volunteers will likely meet at Wai‘ōhinu Park and continue to the destination from there.
Those interested must contact Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund staff, kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, in advance for meet up times, locations, and directions. Ride-sharing with volunteers or in staff vehicles is possible and often necessary, as many clean-up/restoration sites are only accessible by 4WD; however, space is limited. These events are free; donations are appreciated. Pending volcanic activity/air quality. See wildhawaii.org.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

SUNDAY, JULY 22

TUESDAY, JULY 24

WEDNESDAY, JULY 25

THURSDAY, JULY 26

FRIDAY, JULY 27

SATURDAY, JULY 28

Second Annual Mālama Nā Keiki Festival, Sat, July 28, 9-1pm, Nā‘ālehu Park. Free. Health screenings: hearing, vision, height and weight, BMI. Education and activities: Prenatal Panel, breastfeeding class w/lactation specialists, grow your own plant! Also, keiki activities, food, entertainment and prizes. Host: Hui Mālama Ola Nā ‘Oiwi. 969-9220, HMONO.org

Paths and Trails, Sat, July 28, 9:30-12:30pm, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately-difficult, 2-mile, hike with some of the most spectacular overlooks in Kahuku. Discover the ways people, animals, and plants got to Kahuku and the paths they followed. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Department Tribute for James Masters, Sat, July 28, 4-10pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

ONGOING

1st Annual Hawaiian Wicked Tuna Jackpot - Classic Fishing Tournament Series, through Sun, July 22, Honokahau Club House. All profits go towards marine conservation and youth educational programs in and around Miloli‘i. $300 entry fee, 4 per boat, $25 additional. Cash prizes $100-4,000. Qualifying weight of 50lbs. Grand Prize qualifies for Las Vegas Trip. Contact Wilfred Kaupiko, 896-6272, kalanihale@gmail.com. Sponsored by Kalanihale, kalanihale.org

25th Annual Hawai’i Conservation Conference, Ulu Ka Lāiā I Ke Kumu: From a Strong Foundation Grows an Abundant Future, Tue-Thu, July 24-26, Hawai’i Convention Center, Honolulu. Registration ongoing, $80+. hawaiiconservation.org

Oliver!, a KDEN Production, through July 29; Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30pm, Sundays 2:30pm. Shows at UH-Hilo Performing Arts Center. Tickets: $20 general, $15 seniors 60+ and students, $12 keiki 12 and under. Tickets available at Kīlauea General Store, Kea‘au Natural Foods, Basically Books, and The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo. Info and reservations: 982-7344, kden73@aol.com

Exhibit, Birds of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park: The Hawai‘i Nei Invitational Daily, through Aug 4, 9-5pm, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Free. Artists: John Dawson, Reyn Ojiri, Sarah Koh, Wendy Barske, Maria Macias, Cody Yamaguchi, Ann Guth, and John Mydoock. Art represents endemic bird species. volcanoartcenter.org

Disaster Recovery Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Keaʻau High School Gym. The DRC will be closed on Sunday, July 22. Buses run to and from Keaʻau Armory every 20 minutes and Pāhoa Community Center Shelter every hour; see full bus schedule on the Civil Defense Website at HawaiiCounty.gov/Active-Alerts. For a list of the information applicants need to bring to the DRC, or to register online, go to DisasterAssistance.gov. The Salvation Army continues to operate a distribution center at the Pāhoa Community Center on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. To donate, please coordinate with the Salvation Army at (808) 756-0306.

Find Park Rangers in downtown Hilo, Tuesday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rangers provide daily eruption updates, and at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., give a talk about all five of Hawai‘i Island’s volcanoes – including Kīlauea. Get NPS Passport Books stamped. Located at 76 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo.
ʻIke Hana Noʻeau: Experience the Skillful Work Cultural Workshop, Wed, July 18, 10 a.m. to noon: Learn about Lomilomi massage from cultural demonstrator Kumu Leina‘ala K. Brown.
Third Thursday by the Bay, Thu, July 19, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.: Ranger Dean Gallagher will provide a riveting Kīlauea eruption update, using Liquid Galaxy map technology, photos and storytelling. Bring your questions.
Prince Kūhio Plaza

Find Park Rangers alongside the park’s non-profit partners, Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.
Grand Naniloa Hotel

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David Ige at the Historic Hilo Bandstand in 2014, on the event of his election to the Hawai`i Governor's post.
Candidates vying to represent Kaʻū in the state Senate, House, and County Council, as well as the Governor's race,
will be at the bandstand from 5 p.m. on Primary Election Eve, Friday, Aug. 10. See story below.
Photo by Julia Neal

THE ALLEGED KILLER OF A HAWAIʻI COUNTY POLICE OFFICER should not have been out on bail, says County Prosecutor Mitch Roth. Roth told news reporters this weekend that Justin Joshua Waiki shot and killed Officer Bronson Kaililoa last Tuesday during a Mountain View traffic stop while Waiki was out on $7,000 bail. He had been extradited to Hawaiʻi from Las Vegas on outstanding warrants. Waiki's record shows 37 arrests and 16 convictions.

County Prosecutor Mitch Roth said
the police killer should not have
been out on bail.

Police shot and killed the 33-year old Waiki on Friday, near South Point, after he opened fire and shot another police officer during a traffic check designed to hunt him down. During the traffic check, police found Waiki hidden under a blanket, from which he emerged to open fire with a stolen .38 handgun. Sgt. Bryan Tina, a 12-year veteran Police Response Team sergeant, wearing a bullet proof vest, is recovering from chest and arm wounds. A woman inside the Toyota 4-Runner where Waiki was hiding suffered a bullet wound and broken thigh bone during the crossfire, and was taken to Hilo Hospital. Police arrested three companions in the car. On Sunday, all three were charged with hindering prosecution first degree, accomplice to attempted first degree murder, and accomplice to illegally carrying a revolver. If convicted, they could spend the rest of their lives in prison.
They are: Hilo residents Jorge Allen Pagan-Torres, 35, and Malia Kaalaneo Lajala, 30; and Kamuela resident Krystle Lynn Ferreira, 29.

“Why is he out of jail is really a common
question,” said Hawaiʻi Police Major
Robert Wagner.

Roth said the prosecuting attorney’s office argued against releasing Waiki into the community after he was flown back to Hawaiʻi. However, said Roth, the pressure of overcrowded jails and prisons is creating more leniency. He told KITV news, “We don’t have enough jail space, so every time we’re putting people in we’re kicking people out. What I’ve seen is the legislature has been trying to fix a lot of these problems by making crimes less serious by reducing bail. It’s problematic when people like him get out and can commit more crimes.”
Police Major Robert Wagner told KITV news, “We don’t want people that are criminals to be out of jail at all, but we deal with it all the time. Why is he out of jail is really a common question that we have.”
Roth said the prison system needs an upgrade, so those recommending and handing down sentences feel comfortable putting convicted criminals in Hawaiʻi’s jails for the appropriate amount of time. He noted that the Hilo jail was built for 200 but houses 400.
Police are looking for leads on anyone who may have housed, transported, or otherwise protected Waiki during the manhunt. Contact Detective Jerome Manuel at 326-4645, ext. 262 or at Jerome.Manuel@hawaiicounty.gov.
The public is invited to Memorial Services for Officer Bronson Kaliloa at Ballard Family Mortuary in Hilo on Saturday, Aug. 4. He is survived by a wife and three young children.

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The grand old Historic Hilo Bandstand draws Kaʻū residents and candidates
to rally with speeches and food on Aug. 10. Photo by Julia Neal

THE HISTORIC DEMOCRATIC GRAND RALLY THAT ATTRACTS CANDIDATES FROM ACROSS THE STATE is on for Friday, Aug. 10, at 5 p.m. at the Hilo Bandstand. Candidates in the Democratic Party running for office to represent Kaʻū will be there, the night before the Primary Election. The tradition has revved up the bandstand on election years every since 1954, with food and speeches from the Democratic candidates. It is expected to draw candidates for the U.S. Congress, Hawaiʻi Governor, state Senate and House, and County Council.
A statement from the Democratic Party says, “We have an extensive line-up, with over 30 candidates for public office giving speeches, and available to talk story and share pupus with their constituents.”
“We provide access to this event without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, or disability. If you require reasonable modifications due to disability, please call Shannon Matson phone: (808)937-3037 at least ten working days prior to August 10th.”

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The Steve Wroblewski family, of Pāhala, won heaviest pig at 148.4 lbs in the Second Annual Kaʻū Multicultural
Society Pig Hunt. One of their prizes was a cooler, from organizers in red, Kalani Vierra and Keenan Toriano.
See story below. Photo by Julia Neal

PIG HUNTERS CONVERGED ON PĀHALA on Saturday, with their kill trucked into the Olson Trust weigh-in site on Maile Street. Hunters came from as far away as Capt. Cook, Honaunau, Kurtistown, and Mountain View to compete in the second annual Kaʻū Multicultural Society Pig Hunt. The remainder of the 27 hunters were from Kaʻū. Twenty of the competitors scored pigs from early morning until 5 p.m.
Steven Wroblewski and his family brought down the heaviest pig, weighing in at 148.4 lbs. Wroblewski was followed by Billy Walton's boar, weighing in at 142.6 lbs, Dedrick Saplan's weighing 134.4, and Chaunice Emmseley's at 130.8 lbs.

Donald Garo, his daughter and granddaughter,
weigh their pig on Saturday at the Olson Trust
weigh in site in Pāhala. Photo by Aloha Vierra

Heaviest sow went to Paul Kuahiwinui, Sr. at 112.2 lbs, followed by Jon Roddy's at 99.6 lbs, and Rashad Kaupu's at 97.4 lbs.

Darlyne and Aloha Vierra, backed
by Liz Kuluwaimaka, three of
the pig hunt organizers.
Photo by Julia Neal

Longest Tusk first place went to Konrad Wagner at 8 1/2 inches, followed by Aaron Spider Gomez at 7 inches, and John Garcia at 5 5/8 inches.
The smoke meat contest was tied between John Roddy and John Navarro.
Sponsors included KTA of Keauhou, Mt. View Mini Mart, Tokunaga Store, PepsiCo., Rambla of Kauaʻi, Nāʻālehu Ace Hardware, Wikiwiki Mart in Nāʻālehu, Jeff Anderson, J. Hara Store, Kealakekua Ace Hardware, Aikane Plantation Coffee Co., and Edmund C. Olson Trust.
Organizers were Kalani Vierra, Keenan Toriano, Aloha Vierra, and Darlyne Vierra and Liz Kuluwaimaka of Kaʻū Multicultural Association. Darlyne said the number of entries this year went from 20 to 27.

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NEW and UPCOMING

Photo from National Park Service

A NEW RANGER-GUIDED PROGRAM, Paths and Trails, with participants taken on a two mile, moderately-difficult hike through Kahuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, takes place on Saturday, July 28, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Attendees travel along the newly opened Pali O Ka‘eo Trail that offers some of the most spectacular overlooks in Kahuku. “This will be an introduction to this trail by the Park, and the first time this interpretive hike is offered to the public,” says Park Ranger Wendy Vance. Along the journey, hikers discover all the ways in which people, animals, and plants came to Kahuku, and the paths they followed to get to this unique place. Car pooling is appreciated and a 4-wheel drive vehicle, while not required, is suggested.
Join the free hike again on Saturday, August 18. For a comprehensive list of guided hikes and programs offered at Kahuku, visit nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

TUESDAY, JULY 24

WEDNESDAY, JULY 25

THURSDAY, JULY 26

FRIDAY, JULY 27

SATURDAY, JULY 28

Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Department Tribute for James Masters, Sat, July 28, 4-10pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

ONGOING

5th annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run registration open. Race day Sat, Sept 22, 7 a.m.; begins and ends at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Register online before Sun, Aug 11: 5K, $30/person; 10K, $40/person; and 1/2 Marathon, $45/person. From Aug 13: $35/person, $45/person, and $55/person. Race day registration ends Sat, Sept 22, at 6:30 a.m. Event organizers, ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou; start location, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill.

Disaster Recovery Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Keaʻau High School Gym. The DRC will be closed on Sunday, July 22. Buses run to and from Keaʻau Armory every 20 minutes and Pāhoa Community Center Shelter every hour; see full bus schedule on the Civil Defense Website at HawaiiCounty.gov/Active-Alerts. For a list of the information applicants need to bring to the DRC, or to register online, go to DisasterAssistance.gov. The Salvation Army continues to operate a distribution center at the Pāhoa Community Center on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. To donate, please coordinate with the Salvation Army at (808) 756-0306.

Kahuku Unit
In addition to regularly scheduled Guided Hikes and the monthly Coffee Talk, Kahuku Unit has added daily Ranger Talks, and cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.

Guided Hikes begin at 9:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday in July. Meet the ranger at the welcome tent.
Coffee Talk, in the Visitor Contact Station is held the last Friday of the month, 9:30-11 a.m.
Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.
Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus

The return of After Dark …near the park at the Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus. Each event will have a different subject matter.

Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

Find Park Rangers alongside the park’s non-profit partners, Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.
Grand Naniloa Hotel

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From mauka and makai, lava inches toward Pohoiki at sunrise, Sunday. Volcanic plumes from lower Puna
blew into Volcano Village, making air quality very unhealthy for part of today. See stories below.
Photo from Extreme Exposure, courtesy of Paradise Helicopters.

SO2 LEVELS IN VOLCANO WERE AT DANGER LEVELS for part of today. Derek Wroe, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the combination of disrupted tradewinds and high SO2 emissions means Volcano Village, Pāhoa, and the valley between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea will see intermittent worse air quality over the next few days, while Kaʻū and up into Kona should see better air quality.

Jessica Ferracane, of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, said the air quality inside the park today was “terrible,” in the very dangerous range, and that it was the same in Volcano Village. Janet Babb, a geologist at USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatories, today said the air issues are a direct result of emissions from the lower East Rift Zone, not the summit. Halemaʻumaʻu is now producing only around 100 pounds of SO2 a day, while LERZ has been measured at “tens of thousands of tons” a day, according to Babb, earlier this month. She also said scientists are “looking at new and different ways to get a measurement of these gasses,” as “the emissions are high enough… our instruments can basically be swamped.”

Chart from hawaiiso2network.com

In affected areas, Civil Defense suggests limiting outdoor exposure, staying indoors with all windows closed, turning on an air filtration system, or leaving the area. The latest air quality measurements from the University of Hawaiʻi’s Vog Measurement and Prediction Project can be found at mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/vmap

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CRACKS IN HWY 11 NEAR KILAUEA CALDERA in Volcano have become a major concern to state, county and federal agencies who steward the highway that travels through Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. It is the major road around the island. The area of concern runs between mile marker 28.5 at the main entrance to the Park and mile marker 31.7 past Namakanipaio campground.

Cones and warnings along cracked Hwy 11 near Kīlauea Caldera.
Photo by Alan Moores

The County of Hawaiʻi issued a statement today: Because of cracks developing on the road, all motorists should drive cautiously in this area. Do be aware that authorities are very concerned with the conditions on Highway 11, and are closely monitoring the situation."
The cracks and sinkholes are developing in the road with the nearly constant seismic activity at the summit of Kīlauea volcano, and particularly with earthquakes at Kīlauea summit of magnitude 5.0 and larger, almost daily.

Road and transportation officials are looking at possible emergency alternative routes, should the road become irreparable.

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LEGACY LAND FUNDING from the state Department of Land & Natural Resources, which has preserved thousands of acres in Kaʻū, has been withdrawn from the purchase of more than 300 acres along the Waiʻopae coastline, near Vacationland and Kapoho in lower Puna.

The land is adjacent to reefs, tidepools, and ponds, recently claimed and covered by Madame Pele. The $1.33 million in matching funding would have preserved lowland native forests, anchialine pools, and the coast next to flourishing marine life. DLNR officially cancelled the funding last Friday, noting that lava filled tidepools, reef, and ocean waters that formerly made up the Waiʻopae State Marine Life Conservation District.

Madame Pele taking anchialine pools, tidepools, land, and reefs, which led
to the state purchasing the land for preservation.
Photo from Department of Land & Natural Resources

In a statement DLNR said, “The resource values outlined in the County’s grant application cited the property’s mix of rare native lowland forests, anchialine pools, and the pools and forests that filter water from agricultural areas and residential areas before it reaches the ocean and the bordering Marine Life Conservation District. These resource values are now gone.”

Legacy Land Commission Chair Theresa Menard said, “I am saddened by the loss of this special place on the Puna coast, which was so beloved by the community. But, it no longer makes sense to move forward with the purchase given the dramatic changes in the public benefits we hoped to secure.”
Board of Land & Natural Resources Chair Suzanne Case sated, “The Legacy Land Conservation Program is an important and very popular tool to protect critical lands for their natural and cultural values. We must continue to be diligent in ensuring best use of this public money to conserve resources for everyone’s benefit.”

More than 4,000 acres of land on Hawaiʻi Island have been protected through the Legacy Land and Hawaiʻi County partnership, beginning with the purchase of Kāwā in Kaʻū, in 2008.

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As the lava creeps along the lower Puna shore, nearing Pohoiki, dead marine
life washes ashore. Photo from Ikaika Marzo Facebook

A NEW LAVA LOBE has broken out of the flow field slightly north of the most active ocean entry from the lava river in lower Puna. According to the flow field map from USGS, at volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories
/hvo/maps_uploads/image-522.jpg, if the lobe expands and follows the path of steepest descent, and is not diverted by an earlier flow from other fissures, it will likely approach the ocean at Pohoiki.

The threat to Pohoiki and IsaacHalePark from lava creeping along the shore is the same as it has been for several days. Lava is still about a quarter of a mile from the boat ramp, with the southern active ocean entry mostly going from land to ocean at Ahalanui. Shores not being overrun with molten rock are showing disturbing evidence of the eruption: the tide lines of lower Puna are littered with dead and decaying marine life.

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POLICE ARE SEEKING FOUR MORE ACCOMPLICES who may have provided assistance to fugitive Justin Waiki after he allegedly shot and killed Officer Bronson Kaliloa July 17 on Highway 11 in Mountain View.
Police ask for assistance in finding 31-year-old Joey Ikaka Camacho of no known address, 47-year-old Shaun Candaroma of Hilo, 26-year-old Pomaikai Martin and 27-year-old Latoya Poepoe-Spalding, both of of King’s Landing in Hilo.

Image from bigislandvideonews.com

Three other alleged accomplices, found with Waiki on Friday when he was shot and killed by police at a checkpoint at South Point, were charged over the weekend. If found guilty they could face a lifetime in prison.

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NEW and UPCOMING

Photos from volcanoartcenter.org

ERIK WOLD OFFERS TWO 8-WEEK CLAY SESSIONS, a morning and an afternoon session of Sunday Clay - High Fire!, beginning Sunday, August 5, at Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Both sessions end on September 30, as no class will be held on August 12, with students working stoneware clay and high-fire reduction glazes.

Teaching artist, Wold, provides instruction, including demonstrations of wheel throwing methods and will be available for individualized assistance. Beginners will be guided step by step through the basics of using the potter’s wheel or hand building techniques. Continuing students and those with previous experience are encouraged to develop their skills and are welcome to pursue more advanced directions. “Informal discussion on topics ranging from sources of creative inspiration to various pottery styles and traditions from around the world will supplement this hands-on learning experience,” states the event description on volcanoartcenter.org.

Seven registration slots are open to “wheel throwers”, and two additional places will be open to “hand builders.” Cost for each 8-week session is $200 per Volcano Art Center Member or $180 per non-Members, plus a $15 materials fee for 6 lbs. of clay, which includes glazes and firing for that material. Additional clay is available for purchase.

Open studio time is available to registered ceramic students on Wednesdays, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m, $10 per day, with tickets available at the Administration Office front desk during business hours.
Wold, a full time potter living in Volcano Village, is a member of the Volcano Village Artists Hui, and sells his wares regularly at the Saturday Hilo Farmers Market, and Sunday Cooper Center Farmers Market in Volcano. He studied Ceramics at the University of Hawaiʻi, Hilo, graduating in 1993.
Register online, volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-8222.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

TUESDAY, JULY 24

WEDNESDAY, JULY 25

THURSDAY, JULY 26

FRIDAY, JULY 27

SATURDAY, JULY 28

Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Department Tribute for James Masters, Sat, July 28, 4-10pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

MONDAY, JULY 30

Register to Vote in the Primary Election at an Early Walk-In Voting site from Monday, July 30, to Thursday, August 9.

ONGOING

Kahuku Unit
In addition to regularly scheduled Guided Hikes and the monthly Coffee Talk, Kahuku Unit has added daily Ranger Talks, and cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.

The return of After Dark …near the park at the Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus. Each event will have a different subject matter.
Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

Find Park Rangers alongside the park’s non-profit partners, Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.
Grand Naniloa Hotel

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See video of this morning's collapse event at Kīlauea's summit, showing crater walls falling with the
pressure wave from the explosion passing through steam rising from the crater. USGS video

CARRYING FIREARMS IN PUBLIC will be allowed in Hawai`i, following the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturning a lower court ruling today. Hawai`i has long argued that the state has a right to prohibit carrying guns in public, while allowing guns for personal protection to be kept at home.

The Ninth Circuit, however, ruled in a 2-1 decision today that carrying guns in public for protection is protected by the U.S. Constitution. The county and state may appeal.

Hawai`i County Deputy Corporate Council Kaena Horowitz, who defended the county in the Ninth Circuit case, said today's ruling, "invalidates Hawai`i law that was designed to protect the safety and well being of the people of Hawai`i. Carrying firearms in public clearly poses a significant danger to the safety of our community and greatly increases the risk that police officers have to confront."

Hawai`i Attorney General Russell
Suzuki, who intends to work with
Hawai`i County on further action.
Photo from @Atghlgov

Hawai`i Attorney General Russell Suzuki noted that Judge Richard Clifton "filed a well-reasoned dissent supporting the constitutionality of this law."Clifton wrote that for a long time, states have been allowed to regulate and limit the public carry of firearms.

The Hawai`i AG said, "We intend to consult with Hawai‘i County and work with them on further action. We are disappointed in the decision that would undermine Hawai`i's strong gun control law and our commitment to protect the public."

George Young, a Vietnam Veteran living in Hilo, filed the appeal when he was twice denied a permit to carry a firearm. Hawai`iis one of 15 states that require a permit to carry a handgun, but none have been given except to those working in security during the last 20 years, said Young's attorney.

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Pohoiki today, with lava on its way toward Isaac Hale park and the boat ramp.
Photo from Bruce Omori of Extreme Exposures, courtesy of Paradise Helicopters

LAVA BORE DOWN ON POHOIKI TODAY, heading toward Isaac Hale Park and the diving, surfing, fishing, boating, and family gathering places along the shore. The loss of the treasured and favorite community oceanside recreational place seemed more likely with massive movement of lava viewed from helicopter overflights.
Pohoiki, one of the few ocean entry places left along the lower Puna coast, has long attracted people from all over the island and far away. Pohoiki - a place of imersion into Hawaiian ocean and seaside traditions, the ramp a prime launching facility for local fishing and lava tour boats. Pohoiki - almost always full of children playing in the water while music plays in the park.

Now deserted, Pohoiki felt the approach of lava today with the white smoke of laze rolling in like a blanket. Area residents sent out messages of "Pohoiki Strong," just hoping the lava would stop.

Palm trees at Pohoiki Boat Ramp and Isaac Hale Park,
obscured by laze, may soon be covered in lava.
Photo from houseofhowe.exposure.co/pohoiki-strong

Ikaika Marzo shared photos and a post on Facebook from Bruce Omori, who described Pohoiki as "beloved" and "the last coastal gem in Puna." He said the lava took Shacks and sat on the edge of taking another surf spot called Dead Trees. Omori said that, though the lava looked still as they passed over in a helicopter, "there appears to be a significant build up of `a`ā behind it... which would not bode well in the long term.

"Please continue to pray for the residents of Puna, as thousands of individuals have had their lives altered forever."

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A VISIBLE PRESSURE WAVE FROM THE COLLAPSE EVENT at Kīlaueasummit this morning, July 24, at 6:41 a.m., released energy equivalent to a magnitude-5.3 earthquake. This quake is similar to that released by previous collapse events. In the USGS video, HVO's live-stream camera shows shaking, then the pressure wave from the collapse "passes through the steam plume in the crater, and light is reflected back to the camera, highlighting the passage of the expanding sound energy through the air," says the caption. Just after that, a rockfall begins on the South Sulphur Banks, a distant light-colored scarp on the left.

Halemau`ma`u at sunset this evening. USGS photo

Fissure 8 continues to erupt lava into the channel leading northeastward from the vent, curving south to enter the ocean, primarily near Ahalanui. Crews in the field today do not report an increase in lava output from Fissure 8 following this morning's summit collapse event. In the last day, "ooze outs" along the edge of the lava flow in the Ahalanui area have caused the flow to expand westward.

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"OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS IN GRAVE DANGER," said Sen. Mazie Hirono in a statement issued today. She called the judicial system "the backbone of our democracy."

Sen. Mazie Hirono
Photo from @maziehirono

Her message states, "Donald Trump and Senate Republicans are stacking our courts with inexperienced and unqualified judges who are more focused on pushing a right-wing extremist agenda than upholding the rule of law. Even worse, the GOP is determined to do whatever it takes to make sure these radical nominees make it to the bench.
"As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I know all too well what's at stake in the battle to protect our courts: health care, immigration, equality for women and LGBTQ rights; everything we hold dear. We cannot allow the Senate to confirm extremist judges who will undermine the integrity of our judicial system." She asks those with her to "stand with me in the fight to protect our courts by adding their names to tell the Senate: Stop confirming Trump's unqualified judicial nominees."

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WEST KA`Ū'S STATE SENATOR, JOSH GREEN, LEADS in the polls in the race for Lt. Governor.
The primary election is Saturday, Aug. 11.
Green - who lived at the A-Frame house at Punalu`u Black Sand Beach when working as an emergency room doctor at Ka`ū Hospital - first ran for the state House of Representatives in 2004. He served from 2005 to 2009, when he became a state Senator. He represents District Three from Honu`apo through Nā`ālehu, South Point, Ocean View, and Kona, through the Kohala Coast. His decision to run for Lt. Governor meant that he could not run for the Senate seat again in 2019.

Sen. Josh Green, ahead in the
polls in his bid for Lt. Gov.

Green, a Democrat, is 48 years old; born in Kingston, New York, and grew up in Pittsburgh, PA. He graduated from Swarthmore, a college originally founded by Quakers, and earned his medical degree from Pennsylvania State University. He practices emergency medicine at Kohala Hospital and volunteers in medical causes such as treatment of homeless people.

Green led the successful campaign to raise the age for obtaining tobacco products and electronic cigarettes to 21 years of age, and Hawai`i became the first state to do so. He succeeded in passing Luke’s law, which mandates health insurance companies cover autism. He advocates for medical prescriptions, for housing for the homeless, and led the cause to provide every child in Hawai`i with healthcare.

Green said that the Lt. Governor's position would give him a fighting chance to protect Medicare and Social Security for kupuna, and to block Pres. Donald Trump's efforts to strip millions of their healthcare and end protections for pre-existing conditions. Green describes health care as 'a basic human right." He advocates for a $15 minimum wage and equal pay for women. He has won numerous awards as legislator of the year from health care organizations.

Green is married to Jaime Ushiroda, from Kaneohe. They are raising daughter Maia and son Sam.

Green is running in a crowded field. Democrat candidates are: Kaua`i Mayor Bernard Carvalho, state Sen. Will Espero, former state Board of Education member Kim Coco Iwamoto, and state Sen. Jill Tokuda. Republican candidates are businesswoman Marissa Kerns, businessman Steve Lipscomb, and Research Assistant Jeremy Low. Green Party candidate is retired city parks director Renee Ing. Two Nonpartisan candidates are bank manager Ernest Magaoay and auto salesman Paul Robotti.

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NEW and UPCOMING

Chief Ranger John Broward speaks at
Coffee Talk at Kuhuku Unit
Friday, July 27. Photo from NPS

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE LAW ENFORCEMENT RANGERS SPEAK AT KAHUKU COFFEE TALK on Friday, July 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the Kahuku Unit Visitor Center, about Mitigating Disasters in National Parks.

National Park Service Law Enforcement Rangers are also trained as Emergency Medical Technicians and Search & Rescue Technicians. Chief Ranger John Broward, currently in charge of law enforcement and emergency services, has been a Law Enforcement Ranger with the National Park Service for 26 years. He is joined by Kahuku Law Enforcement Ranger Ryan Deacy, who has been with the National Park Service as a Law Enforcement Ranger for three and a half years. All are welcome to join the informal talk story as Deacy and Broward share about some of their "hair-raising" experiences within the National Park Service in their efforts to keep visitors safe.
The event is free to attend; Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park does not charge entrance fees. Ka`ū coffee, tea and pastries are available for purchase. Find the entrance to the Kahuku Unit of the park located south of the 70.5 mile marker, mauka (mountain side) of Highway 11. For more about this and other Kahuku Unit programs, visit nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 25

THURSDAY, JULY 26

FRIDAY, JULY 27

SATURDAY, JULY 28

Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Department Tribute for James Masters, Sat, July 28, 4-10pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

MONDAY, JULY 30

Register to Vote in the Primary Election at an Early Walk-In Voting site from Monday, July 30, to Thursday, August 9.

TUESDAY, JULY 31

Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tue, July 31, 11:30-1pm, St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1

Family Yoga Class, Wed, Aug 1, 9-10am, PARENTS, Inc., Nā‘ālehu. Wonderful way to embody connection. 3-12 years old and caregivers. All levels welcome. Wear comfortable clothes, bring a mat, if can, as supplies are limited. Free. 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

ONGOING

Volcano Rain Forest Runs Registration Open through Friday, August 17, at 6 p.m. Half marathon $85, 10K $45, 5K $30. Registration increases August 1: half marathon to $95, 10K to $55, and 5K to $35. Race is run from Cooper Center on Wright Road in Volcano Village on Saturday, August 18.

5th annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run registration open. Race day Sat, Sept 22, 7 a.m.; begins and ends at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Register online before Sun, Aug 11: 5K, $30/person; 10K, $40/person; and 1/2 Marathon, $45/person. From Aug 13: $35/person, $45/person, and $55/person. Race day registration ends Sat, Sept 22, at 6:30 a.m. Event organizers, ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou; start location, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill.

Disaster Recovery Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Keaʻau High School Gym. Buses run to and from Keaʻau Armory every 20 minutes and Pāhoa Community Center Shelter every hour; see full bus schedule on the Civil Defense Website at HawaiiCounty.gov/Active-Alerts. For a list of the information applicants need to bring to the DRC, or to register online, go to DisasterAssistance.gov. The Salvation Army continues to operate a distribution center at the Pāhoa Community Center on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. To donate, please coordinate with the Salvation Army at (808) 756-0306.

Find Your Park, invites Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Kama`aina and tourist alike are encouraged to experience authentic Hawaiian cultural programs, guided hikes, After Dark events, and more from Ka`ū to Volcano to Hilo. While Kīlauea continues to shake the ground and blast ash from its ever-changing summit crater – causing the partial closure of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park on May 11 – park rangers continue to enlighten and engage visitors from other locations," says HVNP.
Rangers offer new and familiar programs – free of charge, with no entry fees – for visitors at the park’s Kahuku Unit, Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus, and Mokupāpapa Discovery Center and Prince Kūhio Plaza and Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo.

Kahuku Unit
Paths & Trails Guided Hike: Explore Kahuku’s newest trail, Pali o Ka`eo. Walk along a two-mile, moderately difficult trail that offers spectacular views of Kahuku. Discover the paths people, animals, and plants followed to arrive in this special section of Ka`ū. The first guided hike of Pali o Ka`eo is offered July 28, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Visitor Contact Station hosts `Ike Hana No`eau: Experience the Skillful Work Cultural Demonstrations and Activities, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. This coming Sat, July 28, park rangers and staff from Hawai`i Pacific Parks Association will share their knowledge and passion for Lei Making in the tightly woven lei haku style.

Visitor Contact Station hosts Ranger Talks on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Coffee Talk, in the Visitor Contact Station is held the last Friday of the month, 9:30-11 a.m. The next Coffee Talk is Fri., July 27. Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Chief Ranger John Broward will talk about "Mitigating Disaster in National Parks," from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.
Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus

Find Park Rangers in Volcano at the Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus at 19-4074 Old Volcano Rd., in Volcano Village. Rangers are there most days from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to provide talks and answer questions about the current eruption.

The return of After Dark …near the park at the Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus. Each event will have a different subject matter.
Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

Grand Naniloa Hotel

Find Park Rangers stationed at the Grand Naniloa Hotel in downtown Hilo, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., every Sunday and Monday, in the Willie K Crown Room - as long as nothing else is scheduled in the space. The rangers will be doing daily talks at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. about the eruption. They will show the park film that is normally available to visitors to see at the Kilauea Visitor's Center at the Summit, Born of Fire, Born in the Sea, every half-hour beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Park rangers also greet incoming arrivals at the Hilo International Airport, welcome cruise ship passengers as they disembark at the Port of Hilo, and inform visitors at `Imiloa Astronomy Center most Sundays.

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The view from the top of Ladders at South Point. Photo from Dept. of Hawaiian Homelands

AFTER CLIFF JUMPING FROM THE TOP OF THE LADDER AT SOUTH POINT, A WOMAN IS UNABLE TO FEEL HER LEGS. Captain J. Souza of Hawai`i Fire Department reported that at 12:12 p.m. on Tuesday, July 24, emergency responders arrived at South Point Landing to find a woman in her 30s laying on a rock shelf, with no feeling in her legs. She was surrounded by bystanders, who had pulled her from the water.

HFD personnel climbed down the rocks to assess and treat her, while waiting for a Fire Department Helicopter. The woman and a rescue swimmer were lifted into the helicopter via Billy Pugh net, to the awaiting ambulance. The woman was then taken to KonaCommunityHospitalvia HFD aeromedical helicopter. No updates on her identity or condition have been issued.

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Turtles taken by the lava in Puna may have not
escaped in part due to their strong home territory
instincts, like those seen here at Punalu`u.
Photo by Julia Neal

WILL GREEN SEA TURTLES ESCAPE LAVA FLOWS? The U.S. Coast Guard Barbers Point Air Station provided space on a low-flying C-130 plane to a state Department of Land & Natural Resources crew today to look for endangered green sea turtles that could be trapped by lava flowing into the ocean. The crew also noted that the Pohoiki Boat Ramp remained, with lava nearby this afternoon.

The flight follows social media and press reports on turtles dying and trapped on the coast near Kapoho Bay and Pohoiki Boat Ramp. "To the naked eye no turtles were visible," reported the DLNR statement. "Ocean conditions are such that seeing turtles is next to impossible."

The report states that Ikaika Marzo, a permitted lava tour boat operator and cultural practitioner from the Puna area, said, "It would be very difficult to save turtles anywhere along the coastline at this point. The water is so turbid and murky that it would be hard to even spot them up-close from the shoreline. The time has passed."

According to DLNR, experts from NOAA Fisheries and DLNR say even if teams could have reached turtles depicted in social media postings, relocating these wild animals is fraught with challenges. "Those include difficulty in capturing turtles in the ocean even by trained experts, lack of safe access by land or sea, risk of harm to turtles during capture, and no guarantees that turtles who have very strong home territory instincts wouldn't swim back after being relocated."
Today's overflight is the third mission in the past ten days initiated by DLNR to look for turtles in distress or in danger from the lava flow ocean entry in Puna. DLNR reported that "researchers believe many turtles -- those that had clear paths to the ocean -- swam away from the area. Various social media postings, some from early June, indicate turtles that were apparently trapped and/or killed during an active ocean lava entry or in landlocked pools."
DLNR Chair Suzanne Case said, "We're charged with the mission of protecting Hawai`i's natural resources and we obviously share everyone's concerns and sadness over the loss of turtles and any other aquatic and terrestrial wildlife." She added, "The eruption is obviously powerful and dangerous to both humans and wildlife."

Pohoiki -- with its famous house, boat ramp, and jetty -- this afternoon at 2 p.m., with lava creeping along the coast
and reaching Isaac Hale Park nearby. Photo form DLNR and U.S. Coast Guard

Anyone who sees turtles or other animals trapped by lava -- outside the restricted disaster zone -- is encouraged to report it immediately to NOAA's statewide turtle stranding hotline, 1-888-256-9840. Reports can also be made via the DLNR hotline at 643-DLNR.
The DLNR Chair also stressed safety: "As much as we'd like to rescue and save each creature impacted by the East Rift Zone eruption, much of it is simply beyond all of our control. The restricted zones are necessary for public safety. I really encourage everyone to respect and stay out of areas that are off limits as established by the Hawai`i County Civil Defense Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard."
The team on the overflight reported that as of 2 p.m. Wednesday, the Pohoiki Boat Ramp had not been covered by advancing lava. However, they said that visibility beyond the ramp into Isaac Hale Park was severely restricted by volcanic gasses and steam.

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Jack's Tours served the Hawai`i Island community with employment and transportation services for
visitors, locals and school travel groups. Jack's was founded more than 50 years ago. Photo from Jack's Tours

JACK'S TOURS IS SHUTTING DOWN: The company, founded by Jack Miyashiro, known for its half day and round the island Volcano trips, which often stopped at Punalu`u Black Sand Beach, Punalu`u Bakeshop and other Ka`ū and Volcano locales, sent out this letter:
"We regret to announce that we will be closing down our business and operations. Our last day of providing services will be July 31, 2018. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. The downturn in tourism due to the volcanic activity on Hawai`i Island has affected our business significantly and, unfortunately, we are unable to continue operations due to the significant decrease in business levels with no foreseeable improvement in the near future. We are very grateful for your business partnership and want to express our thank you and appreciation for all your support over the years."

Jack's Tours operated a fleet, from cars, to vans, to motor coaches.
Photo from Jack's Tours

Jack's Tour Company operated for more than 50 years on Hawai`i Island, serving hotels, cruise ships, school groups, and private parties. Its fleet included sedans, vans, four-wheel drive vehicles, and motor coaches. The company served a large Japanese and mainland following, and also took visitors to the top of Mauna Kea for stargazing.

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SEN. MAZIE HIRONO SPOKE OUT AGAINST PRES. TRUMP today on the U.S. Senate floor, to "denounce the Trump administration's attacks on the federal workforce and highlight the important role of federal workers in Hawai`i," says a statement from her office.

Hirono remarked: "Over the past year and a half, Donald Trump and his administration have launched a concerted attack on federal workers and the unions that fight on their behalf. There appear to be no lengths to which Donald Trump and the anti-union, moneyed interests who support him will go to attack and try to eviscerate protections for working people.

Senator Hirono and members of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance.

Photo from Hirono's office

"Donald Trump and the Republican Party obviously do not recognize the service and commitment of our more than two million federal workers. But in Hawai`i, and indeed, across the nation, we see the impact of their hard work every day. These dedicated public servants have been working around the clock for months to support the Puna community. These workers deserve our respect, appreciation, and unwavering support for their service. They certainly don't deserve the contempt and animosity that Donald Trump and his administration have directed at them." Watch video of Hirono's remarks.

Earlier in the day, says the statement, Hirono joined hundreds of union members outside the Federal Courthouse in Washington, D.C. at a rally to protest several executive orders that undermine federal workers' fundamental civil service protections. Last month, Hirono introduced the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, legislation that would guarantee the right of public employees to organize, act concertedly, and bargain collectively in states that currently do not afford these basic protections. Last year, Hirono led 14 Senate Democrats in unveiling their Five Fights for Federal Employees -- a proposal to protect current and retired government workers from ideologically motivated attacks from Republicans in Congress and the Trump administration.

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NEW and UPCOMING

TEMPORARY CHANGES TO TŪTŪ AND ME TRAVELING PRESCHOOL'S NĀ`ĀLEHU SITE LOCATION have been announced by Site Manager Hawai`i South Elizabeth (Betty) Clark, as "the county is making repairs to the community center floor." The new location, until further notice, will be Kauaha`ao Church in Wai`ōhinu. Clark assures that meeting days and times remain the same - Mondays and Wednesdays, from 8:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Currently on summer break, both Nā`ālehu and Pāhala, meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Pāhala Community Center, site programs will resume August 6 and 7, with orientation taking place the week before, on August 1 and 2. To enroll keiki ages birth to 5 years and caregivers in either program, fill out enrollment forms found at pidf.org/programs/tutu_and_me/enrollment_forms. Address questions to Clark by calling 929-8571 or emailing eclark@pidfountation.org.

Miloli‘i Canoe Club hosts a Keiki Ocean Celebration Day after a successfulregatta competition.
Photo from Miloli‘i Canoe Club Facebook

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MILOLI`I CANOE CLUB HOSTS KEIKI OCEAN CELEBRATION DAY with ocean games for keiki and adults to celebrate their first season of keiki paddlers and the "end of a successful regatta competition," states a flyer from the organization. The event takes place on Saturday, July 28, at 9 a.m., with a potluck to follow. "All are invited so bring the `ohana!" states the flyer. Send questions to miloliicc@gmail.com or call 313-0107.

See public Ka`ū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Ka`ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka`ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes

throughout Ka`ū, from Miloli`i through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

THURSDAY, JULY 26

Ka`ū Community Children's Council, Thu, July 26, 12:30-1:30pm, Punalu`u Bake Shop. Monthly meeting provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us

Meet and Greet with state Senate candidate Brenda Ford happens Thursday, July 26, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Nāʻālehu Elementary School Gymnasium. A statement from the former County Council member says that she will discuss her goals for the Senate District 3, which runs from Honuʻapo through Kona, and answer questions from the public. She listed some of the issues for which she has been contacted: SpinLaunch, which she opposes; her support for a new Kona Trauma & Teaching Hospital, dialysis unit in Kaʻū, and Physician’s Assistant Program for more medical access. She also supports a minimum wage of $15/hour, assistance with agriculture, and many other Kaʻū related issues. She said a vote for Ford will be “A Vote for the People.”

FRIDAY, JULY 27

Coffee Talk, Fri, July 27, 9:30-11am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. NPS Law Enforcement Rangers talk story about Mitigating Disaster in National Parks. Ka`ū coffee, tea, and pastries available for purchase. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

SATURDAY, JULY 28

Second Annual Mālama Nā Keiki Festival, Sat, July 28, 9-1pm, Nā`ālehu Park. Free. Health screenings: hearing, vision, height and weight, BMI. Education and activities: Prenatal Panel, breastfeeding class w/lactation specialists, grow your own plant! Also, keiki activities, food, entertainment and prizes. Host: Hui Mālama Ola Nā `Oiwi. 969-9220, HMONO.org

Paths and Trails, Sat, July 28, 9:30-12:30pm, Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately-difficult, 2-mile, hike with some of the most spectacular overlooks in Kahuku. Discover the ways people, animals, and plants got to Kahuku and the paths they followed. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Department Tribute for James Masters, Sat, July 28, 4-10pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

MONDAY, JULY 30

Register to Vote in the Primary Election at an Early Walk-In Voting site from Monday, July 30, to Thursday, August 9.

TUESDAY, JULY 31

Ka`ū Food Pantry, Tue, July 31, 11:30-1pm, St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1

Family Yoga Class, Wed, Aug 1, 9-10am, PARENTS, Inc., Nā`ālehu. Wonderful way to embody connection. 3-12 years old and caregivers. All levels welcome. Wear comfortable clothes, bring a mat, if can, as supplies are limited. Free. 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

ONGOING

Exhibit, Birds of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park: The Hawai`i Nei Invitational Daily, through Aug 4, 9-5pm, Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Free. Artists: John Dawson, Reyn Ojiri, Sarah Koh, Wendy Barske, Maria Macias, Cody Yamaguchi, Ann Guth, and John Mydoock. Art represents endemic bird species. volcanoartcenter.org

5th annual Ka`ū Coffee Trail Run registration open. Race day Sat, Sept 22, 7 a.m.; begins and ends at Ka`ū Coffee Mill. Register online before Sun, Aug 11: 5K, $30/person; 10K, $40/person; and 1/2 Marathon, $45/person. From Aug 13: $35/person, $45/person, and $55/person. Race day registration ends Sat, Sept 22, at 6:30 a.m. Event organizers, `O Ka`ū Kākou; start location, Ka`ū Coffee Mill.

Disaster Recovery Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Kea`au High School Gym. Buses run to and from Kea`au Armory every 20 minutes and Pāhoa Community Center Shelter every hour; see full bus schedule on the Civil Defense Website at HawaiiCounty.gov/Active-Alerts. For a list of the information applicants need to bring to the DRC, or to register online, go to DisasterAssistance.gov. The Salvation Army continues to operate a distribution center at the Pāhoa Community Center on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. To donate, please coordinate with the Salvation Army at (808) 756-0306.

Kona Vet Center visits to Ocean View Community Center are Suspended until further notice. Veterans may call 329-0574 for VA benefit information. ovcahi.org

Tūtū and Me Offers Home Visits to those with keiki zero to five years old: home visits to aid with helpful parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Home visits are free, last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, for a total of 12 visits, and snacks are provided. For info and to register, call Linda Bong 464-9634.

Find Your Park, invites Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Kama`aina and tourist alike are encouraged to experience authentic Hawaiian cultural programs, guided hikes, After Dark events, and more from Ka`ū to Volcano to Hilo. "While Kīlauea continues to shake the ground and blast ash from its ever-changing summit crater – causing the partial closure of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park on May 11 – park rangers continue to enlighten and engage visitors from other locations," says a release from HVNP staff.
Rangers offer new and familiar programs – free of charge, with no entry fees – for visitors at the park's Kahuku Unit, Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus, and Mokupāpapa Discovery Center and Prince Kūhio Plaza in Hilo.

Kahuku Unit
In addition to regularly scheduled Guided Hikes and the monthly Coffee Talk, Kahuku Unit has added daily Ranger Talks, and cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.

Visitor Contact Station hosts `Ike Hana No`eau: Experience the Skillful Work Cultural Demonstrations and Activities, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.
Visitor Contact Station hosts Ranger Talks on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Guided Hikes begin at 9:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday in June and July. Meet the ranger at the welcome tent.
Coffee Talk, in the Visitor Contact Station is held the last Friday of the month, 9:30-11 a.m.
Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.
Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus

Find Park Rangers in Volcano at the Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus at 19-4074 Old Volcano Rd., in Volcano Village. Rangers are there most days from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to provide talks and answer questions about the current eruption.

The return of After Dark …near the park at the Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus. Each event will have a different subject matter.
Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

Find Park Rangers alongside the park's non-profit partners, Hawai`i Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.
Grand Naniloa Hotel

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Earthquakes shaking the ground at Kīlauea's summit Thursday, July 25, stirring up rock dust within Halema`uma`u
and along the caldera walls. This view from the northeast caldera rim looks across at the Keanakāko`i

and South Sulphur Banks areas. USGS photo

TODAY'S COLLAPSE EVENT, NUMER 58 AT HALEMA`UMA`U, shook Volcano Village at 12:09 p.m., 53 hours after the last one. In recent weeks, the timing has been about 30 to 40 hours between each event, that usually generates energy equivalent to a 5.1 to 5.4 magnitude earthquake. The events are created by the collapse of the crater and the draining of the lava lake, which are connected to the lava flow in lower Puna that continues to take out houses, farms, forests, reefs and parks.
The previous Halema`uma`u collapse event occurred Tuesday, July 24 at 6:41 a.m., measuring 4.5M. Today's measured at 5.3M. The collapsing of crater walls is revealing more of the South Sulphur Banks.

The small tremors in between the collapse events in recent weeks were about 25 to 35 per hour, until the past two days when they were about 20 to 40 per hour .

Lava appeared stalled on Thursday morning near Pohoiki, the boat ramp, parking area remaining.
Photo by Bruce Omori of Extreme Exposure, Paradise Helicopters

Scientists at USGS Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory said they are studying whether this indicates a change in pattern. However, they said the lower East Rift Zone surges in lava that often followed collapse events at Halema`uma`u did not happen on July 24, and that the river of lava flowing from Fissure 8, today appears lower and more sluggish.

The flow threatening Pohoiki and Isaac Hale Park did not move much in the last day; the lava was still about 500 feet from the boat ramp, Thursday afternoon.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Cracks in Highway 11 near Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
Photo from BigIslandVideoNews.com

HIGHWAY 11 IS DOWN TO ONE LANE, between mile marker 28 and 32 near the entrance to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The highway is being shaken and damaged by earthquakes.
Repair work is expected to continue through Friday early evening. Both lanes will be open during the weekend, then workers will be back to work on the road, taking the highway back down to one lane on Monday. Workers will be using ground-penetrating radar to assess the status of the road bed under the tarmac, according to Jessica Ferracane of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Elections Administrator Pat Nakamoto

Photo from hgea.com

ELECTION DAY WORKERS, VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED IN NA`ALEHU and at other polling places in West Hawai`i, according to Elections Administrator Pat Nakamoto. A shortage of workers could result in a late night of vote tallying and statewide delays in announcing the winners in the Saturday, Aug. 11, primary. The county is still short 20 poll workers at West Hawai`i precincts.
"These volunteers are an important part of the voting process," Nakamoto said, according to West Hawai`i Today."Without these individuals stepping up to serve their communities on election day we could not open polling places. A shortage of workers will cause delays for voters and may contribute to voters not voting."
Poll workers are needed for precincts 05/01 Nā`ālehu Elementary School, 05/04 Ho`okena Elementary School, 05/05 Saint Benedict Catholic Church, 05/06 Konawaena Elementary School, 05/07 Konawaena High School, and 06/05 Kona Palisades.
Precinct officials are paid $85, for work from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Volunteers must be: a registered voter, at least 16 years old, and able to read and write English. Volunteers may not a candidate, attempted candidate, or related to a candidate that can be voted for in the precinct in which they are working.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

ANOTHER ALLEGED MURDERER IS ON THE LOOSE ON HAWAI`I ISLAND. Police are looking for Brian Smith, of Honaunau, who was mistakenly released from Hawai`i Community Correctional Center in Hilo two days ago and failed to show up at court today. He was being held in lieu of $1.2 million bail, charged with Murder One and Two, firearms violations and carrying a firearm in commission of a separate felony. It remains unclear how he was able to leave jail.

A bench warrant was issued this afternoon. The charges involve a murder on Jun 23 on Painted Church Road in South Kona. Thomas Balleteros, Jr. died of gunshot wounds.
Police describe Smith as 5'7'' with blue eyes and grey hair and urge anyone knowing his whereabouts to call 911.

Gov. David Ige issued a statement this evening about the erroneous release of Smith: “I am upset and deeply concerned about the erroneous release of pre-trial detainee Brian Smith. Residents on Hawai`i Island have had to deal with the lava emergency and the recent murder of a police officer, and I know this news is another blow.

“Our number one priority right now is your safety, and that means getting the suspect into custody. I assure you that law enforcement agencies are doing everything they can to locate him. I urge all Hawaiʻi residents to remain alert and call 911 if they see or hear something that could help.

“As is standard operating procedure, the department is investigating to determine what led to this error. I have asked Public Safety Department Director Nolan Espinda to personally oversee this investigation and report back to me as information is gathered.”

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Image from BigIslandVideoNews.com

FOUR SUSPECTS WANTED IN CONNECTION WITH OFFICER BRONSON KALILOA'S MURDER have met with police, says a release from Hawaiʻi County Police. The release says police are "continuing the investigation into individuals who may have provided assistance to Justin Waiki while on the run after he shot and killed Officer Bronson Kaliloa on July 17."

Police say 31-year-old Joey Ikaka Camacho was arrested for outstanding warrants; 47-year-old Shaun Candaroma of Hilo contacted detectives; and 26-year-old Pomaikai Martin and 27-year-old Latoya Poepoe-Spalding were arrested for outstanding warrants this morning, July 25, "by patrol officers responding to a tip about their location within a vehicle at Bayfront."

Police say the prosecution investigation "is in its early stages, and many more people need to be interviewed, some as witnesses and others as potential suspects."

Police ask that anyone who had contact with Justin Waiki between the time of the shooting on Tuesday, July 17, at 9:47 p.m., and his apprehension on Friday, July 20, at 2:45 p.m, or knows someone who had contact with him, to contact Detective William Brown of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2384 or William.brown@hawaiicounty.gov.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

NEW and UPCOMING

Photo from Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Facebook

MAKE LEI WITH RANGERS THIS WEEKEND at `Ike Hana No`eau (Experience the Skillful Work) programs, held every Saturday and Sunday at 12:30 p.m. in Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The programs last an hour and are free to attend.
On Saturday, July 28, park rangers and staff from Hawai`i Pacific Parks Association share their knowledge and passion for Lei Making in the tightly woven lei haku style. On Sunday, July 29, make Lei Haku - the traditional haku style of lei-making involves braiding materials into a base of leaves to create a full and beautiful adornment.
Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park does not charge entrance fees. Find the entrance to the Kahuku Unit of the park located south of the 70.5 mile marker, mauka (mountain side) of Highway 11. For more about this and other Kahuku Unit programs, visit nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.

See public Ka`ū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Ka`ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka`ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes

throughout Ka`ū, from Miloli`i through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

FRIDAY, JULY 27

Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Department Tribute for James Masters, Sat, July 28, 4-10pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

MONDAY, JULY 30

Register to Vote in the Primary Election at an Early Walk-In Voting site from Monday, July 30, to Thursday, August 9.

TUESDAY, JULY 31

Ka`ū Food Pantry, Tue, July 31, 11:30-1pm, St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1

Family Yoga Class, Wed, Aug 1, 9-10am, PARENTS, Inc., Nā`ālehu. 3-12 years old and caregivers. All levels welcome. Wear comfortable clothes, bring a mat, if can, as supplies are limited. Free. 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

THURSDAY, AUGUST 2

Hula Voices w/Kumu Manaiakalani Kalua, Thu, Aug 2, 5-6pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Talk story session moderated by Desiree Moana Cruz. Call to confirm. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Ka`ū and Kona House and Senate Candidate Agricultural Forum, Thu, Aug 2, 6-8pm, Konawaena High School Cafeteria, Kealakekua. Forum subject area is to help meet the needs of farmers; participants encouraged to bring questions. Co-sponsored by Kona Coffee Farmer Association, konacoffeefarmers.org, and Kona Farmers Union, hfuuhi.org.

Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Thu, Aug 2, 6-7pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

ONGOING

5th Annual Volcano Winery Harvest Festival, tickets on sale from Aug 1 for event on Sun, Sept 9. Benefit for Volcano School of Arts and Sciences. Music, food, wine and raffle. $40/adult (21+). 967-7772, volcanowinery.com

Exhibit, Birds of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park: The Hawai`i Nei Invitational Daily, through Aug 4, 9-5pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Free. Artists: John Dawson, Reyn Ojiri, Sarah Koh, Wendy Barske, Maria Macias, Cody Yamaguchi, Ann Guth, and John Mydoock. Art represents endemic bird species. volcanoartcenter.org

Temporary changes to Tūtū and Me traveling preschool's Nā`ālehu site location. The new location, until further notice, is Kauaha`ao Church in Wai`ōhinu. Meeting days and times remain the same: Mondays and Wednesdays, from 8:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Currently on summer break, both Nā`ālehu and Pāhala site programs will resume August 7 and 8. Pāhala site program meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at Pāhala Community Center.

Tūtū and Me also offers home visits to those with keiki zero to five years old: home visits to aid with helpful parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Home visits are free, last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, for a total of 12 visits, and snacks are provided.

Orientation takes place August 1 and 2. To enroll in either program, fill out enrollment forms found at pidf.org/programs/tutu_and_me/enrollment_forms, or call Linda Bong at 464-9634. Questions: Clark at 929-8571 or eclark@pidfountation.org.

Harmony Educational Services, Home Based Educational Programs - Open Enrollment through Oct 15; harmonyed.com/hawaii. Partnered with four local public charter schools, Harmony offers benefits of homeschooling with resources available to public schools. Interested families can also contact Rayna Williams, rwilliams@harmonyed.com or 430-9798.

Volcano Forest Runs Registration Open, online at volcanorainforestruns.com. Fees, 5K - $35, 10K - $55, 1/2 Marathon - $95. Race Day Sat, Aug 18, Volcano Village. No race day registration for 1/2 Marathon. Race Director Sharron Faff, 967-8240.

5th Annual Ka`ū Coffee Trail Run Registration Open, online at webscorer.com/register?raceid=128145, Fees, before Aug 13: 5K, $30/person; 10K, $40/person; and 1/2 Marathon, $50/person. After Aug 13: 5K, $35/person; 10K, $45/person; and 1/2 Marathon, $55/person. Race Day Sat, Sept 22, 7 a.m.; begins and ends at Ka`ū Coffee Mill, kaucoffeemill.com. Event organizers: `O Ka`ū Kākou, okaukakou.org.

St. Jude's Episcopal Church Calls for More Volunteers for the Saturday community outreach. Especially needed are cooks for the soup served to those in need, and organizers for the hot showers. "Volunteering for St. Jude's Saturday Shower and Soup ministry is an opportunity to serve God in a powerful way," states St. Jude's April newsletter. Volunteer by contacting Dave Breskin at 319-8333.

Kona Vet Center visits to Ocean View Community Center are Suspended until further notice. Veterans may call 329-0574 for VA benefit information. ovcahi.org

Rangers offer new and familiar programs – free of charge, with no entry fees – for visitors at the park's Kahuku Unit, Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus, and Mokupāpapa Discovery Center and Prince Kūhio Plaza in Hilo.

Kahuku Unit

In addition to regularly scheduled Guided Hikes and the monthly Coffee Talk, Kahuku Unit has added daily Ranger Talks, and cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.

Visitor Contact Station hosts `Ike Hana No`eau: Experience the Skillful Work Cultural Demonstrations and Activities, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.

Visitor Contact Station hosts Ranger Talks on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

Guided Hikes begin at 9:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday in June and July. Meet the ranger at the welcome tent.

Coffee Talk, in the Visitor Contact Station is held the last Friday of the month, 9:30-11 a.m.

Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.

Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus

The return of After Dark …near the park at the Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus. Each event will have a different subject matter.

Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

Prince Kūhio Plaza

Find Park Rangers alongside the park's non-profit partners, Hawai`i Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.

Grand Naniloa Hotel

Find Park Rangers stationed at the Grand Naniloa Hotel in downtown Hilo, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., every Sunday and Monday, in the Willie K Crown Room -- as long as nothing else is scheduled in the space. The rangers will be doing daily talks at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. about the eruption. They will show the park film that is normally available to visitors to see at the Kilauea Visitor’s Center at the Summit, Born of Fire, Born in the Sea, every half-hour beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Park rangers also greet incoming arrivals at the Hilo International Airport, welcome cruise ship passengers as they disembark at the Port of Hilo, and inform visitors at `Imiloa Astronomy Center most Sundays.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Damage from lava flowing from Fissure 8 and frequent earthquakes at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano -- destroying transportation infrastructure, homes, farms and parks -- will be quantified for federal aid through damage assessments, approved by the U.S. Senate this week and expected to pass the House soon. See story, below. Photo from USGS

STATE SENATE CANDIDATE BRENDA FORD came to Nā`ālehu Gym last night to talk with the public. She said that if elected, she would help Ka`ū schools with air conditioning and air cleaning at Nā`ālehu and Pāhala campuses, and at senior centers and other public facilities. Even though she would serve the district that does not include Pāhala where the high school is located, the youth from her district go to school there and she would help them with needs at Ka`ū High School, she said.
She said she opposes putting the proposed Nā`ālehu Wastewater Treatment Plant next to Nā`ālehu Elementary School and said it should be away from the town. She said she opposed the SpinLaunch proposal earlier this year, which aimed at using an area near Ranchos and Ocean View for a space launch station.
Ford said she expects people who hold office to "do their homework, understand what we are talking about, and be fair and honest." What troubles her most, she said, is "I can't stand to see my constituents being dumped on." She talked about the many projects she completed as a County Council member.
Concerning the current volcano activity, she said she opposes reopening the geothermal plant that is partially covered and would not advise opening up another one. As a member of the County Council, she cosponsored anti-fracking legislation to prohibit fracking -- injecting liquid into the ground for geothermal, water, or retrieving any minerals. It passed.

State Senate Candidate Brenda Ford.
Photo from facebook.com/VoteBrendaFord

Even though geothermal produced more than 25 percent of the electricity for the island, until the Puna Geothermal plant shut down with the lava on its way, she said that solar is a better option. She talked about incentivizing the building of parking spaces with solar panels on roofs that would also shade vehicles. She called for more rebates to those who invest in solar for homes and businesses.
Regarding health care, Ford said she is already working with state legislators to help bring a teaching hospital to Kona. She also would like to see a Physicians Assistants training program in Kona, where local students would study and stay here to serve health care needs, and those from afar would also become PA's and take their skills back to their own communities. She said a 27-month course can net a PA some $90,000 a year in income.
Ford also talked about lava zones and flood zones and said that everyone needs to become more educated about the risks of living in both.
Regarding the safety of the voting system, she said she thinks paper ballots are best, with extra accommodations for the handicapped.
Ford and her Democratic opponent Dru Kanuha are expected to join an agricultural forum at Konawaena High School on Thursday, Aug. 2, and are scheduled for a forum live on Hawai`i Public Television on Thursday, Aug. 9. The Primary Election is Saturday, Aug. 11.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Sen. Brian Schatz
Photo from Brian Schatz Flickr

LEGISLATION FOR FEDERAL DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS OF ONGOING KĪLAUEA ERUPTION DAMAGES was approved in the U.S. Senate this week. Sen. Brian Schatz authored the measure to help Hawai`i Island assess damage from ongoing eruptive activity to federal infrastructure, the visitor industry, and Hawai`i Island economy. Approval from the House of Representatives is expected soon.

Part of a bipartisan spending package, the legislation "will help aid the response and recovery effort by instructing the Department of the Interior to evaluate the damage the eruptions have caused to federal facilities and infrastructure, including Volcanoes National Park, Volcanoes Observatory, and the Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, and how that has impacted tourism and the local economy. The legislation also asks DOI to work with state and county officials on how to rebuild to support local needs," reports schatz.senate.gov.

"It's crucial that we understand how our communities and our local economy are being affected by the Kīlauea eruptions and earthquakes," said Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "This is one of many steps the federal government can take to help these communities."

Schatz posted to Facebook, "In 2016, more than 1.8 million people visited Hawai`iVolcanoesNational Park. They spent more than $159 million in local communities, supporting thousands of jobs. But because of Kīlauea, that national park is now mostly closed.

"We need to understand how the economy has been affected by the volcano and what can be done. That's why I proposed that the Department of the Interior assess the damage done to the park and what it means for the local economy, and then come up with a plan for how to address these problems.

"I hope this step helps to bring quick relief to the communities affected by the volcano."

The public weighed in on his statement, some saying the effort is very appreciated, some saying more immediate action is needed; that a study will take too long to help an economy that is in desperate need of immediate action. Read comments at facebook.com/SenBrianSchatz/posts/1566605253444276.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

EXPERIENCE VOLCANO HAWAI`I LLC, a small group of business owners and community leaders in the Volcano area, has formed a new organization "to address the economic impact of the recent volcanic activity on the BigIsland," says a news release from the group.

Since first meeting in May, EVH has created an "extensive outreach plan," says the release, "to highlight activities and accurate information that will benefit the many residents and visitors that visit the Volcano area.

"This new, dynamic and rapidly growing platform created for residents and visitors alike, is finally ready for everyone to enjoy!"

Some of the local businesses involved are: The Volcano Art Center, Kīlauea Lodge, Lava Rock Café, Volcano Rainforest Retreat, AkatsukaOrchidGardens, Volcano Winery, Thai Bar & Bistro, Kīlauea General Store, Volcano Village Lodge, Café Ono, and Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

See The Ka`ū News Briefs on Monday, July 30, for more. Questions? Contact Jesse Tunison P.O. Box 129Volcano, Hawai`i, 96785, (808) 640-5366, or experiencevolcano@gmail.com. See experiencevolcano.com.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

HOTEL REVENUES ARE DOWN on Hawai`i Island -- the only island to report a drop in revenue in June. The numbers show a drop in RevPAR -- the Average Daily Room Rate, divided by occupancy rate -- which declined by 8.3 percent, to $163.91. The Average Daily Room Rate also declined, down 0.3 percent, to $239. Occupancy dropped 6 percent, to 68.6 percent.

Hawai`i Tourism Authority blamed the decline in BigIslandnumbers on the ongoing Kīlauea eruption.

Meanwhile, the hotel industry statewide showed increased revenue and occupancy. RevPAR increased 4.7 percent to $227. Statewide, the occupancy rate was 82 percent.

Gov. David Ige
Photo from Governor David Y. Ige Flickr

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GOV. DAVID IGE RECEIVED A HOUSING RENTAL REPORT and Ten-Year Plan from the Special Action Team on Affordable Rental Housing today, at the State Capitol in the Governor's Ceremonial Room.

Act 127, approved in 2016, established a goal of developing 22,500 affordable rental housing units statewide by the end of 2026, and formed a Special Action Team on Affordable Rental Housing to recommend actions to achieve the goal.

The report recommends actions to complete the 22,500 affordable rental units. It also identifies state, county, and private lands suitable for affordable rental housing, and establishes performance measures and timelines for developing rental housing for various AMI groups; those who earn from zero to 140 percent of area median income.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Brian Lee Smith
Photo from HPD

THE MANHUNT FOR AN ALLEGED MURDERER who was mistakenly let out of custody on Tuesday is over. According to Hawai`i County Poilce, shortly after 11:00 p.m. on Thursday evening, July 26, Brian Lee Smith called police dispatch from a business in the Captain Cook area and requested to turn himself into police. Kona Patrol officers located Smith, who was taken into custody without incident.

An outstanding bench warrant was issued for Smith after he failed to appear in court for a hearing yesterday. He is being held on $2,000,000 bail, and was scheduled to appear in court today.

Smith was mistakenly released on July 24 from Hawai`i Community Correctional Center. He had been in custody since June, after being charged with the fatal shooting of Thomas Ballesteros Jr.

Police would like to thank the public for their assistance. Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to call the Police Department's non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Detective Carrie Akina at (808) 326-4646 or carrie.akina@hawaiicounty.gov.

This weekend is the last chance to see KDEN's Oliver!
Photo from KDEN

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LAST WEEKEND TO SEE KDEN'S OLIVER! Fagin (Joel Kelley) and his pickpockets have a secret in Kīlauea Drama & Entertainment Network's production of Lionel Bart's Oliver! The show plays through July 29th at UH-Hilo Performing Arts Center. Remaining shows are Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are $20 general, $15 Senior 60+/Students, and $12 for Children 12 and under, available at Kīlauea General Store, Kea`au Natural Foods, Basically Books, and The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo. For more information and reservations, call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com. Persons displaced by the eruption are invited to see the show for free, but must make a reservation.

Attendees gather under tents to enjoy wine and tea from
Volcano Winery at the annual Harvest Festival Fundraiser
for the school. Photo from Volcano Winery

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NEW and UPCOMING

FIFTH ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL FUNDRAISER for The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences happens at Volcano Winery Sunday, September 9. Tickets go on sale August 1 at volcanowinery.com or 967-7772. "This event always sells out early!" says Aubrey Hawk, Volcano School of Arts & Sciences volunteer event coordinator.
The event offers an evening of music, food and wine under the stars at Volcano Winery, as well as "an irresistible raffle" says Hawk.

Attendees relax under trees near vineyards at the annual Volcano
School of Arts and Sciences benefit. Photo from Volcano Winery

Entertainment will be provided by The Young Brothers - Kiliona & Kalei Young with Orlando Smith. Food and drink will be provided by local restaurants: Café Ono, Eagle's Lighthouse Café, Hilo Burger Joint, Kīlauea Lodge, Liko Lehua Café, Mehana Brewing Company, `Ohelo Café, Papa`a Palaoa Bakery, Park Café & Delicatessen, Tuk-Tuk Thai Food, Volcano's Lava Rock Café, Wiki Wiki Fresh, Annie Yamanoha's Catering, and others. Award-wining wine and tea from Volcano Winery will also be available, in addition to tours of the vineyards. See volcanowinery.com.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

See public Ka`ū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Ka`ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka`ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes

throughout Ka`ū, from Miloli`i through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

SATURDAY, JULY 28

Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Department Tribute for James Masters, Sat, July 28, 4-10pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

MONDAY, JULY 30

Register to Vote in the Primary Election at an Early Walk-In Voting site from Monday, July 30, to Thursday, August 9.

TUESDAY, JULY 31

Ka`ū Food Pantry, Tue, July 31, 11:30-1pm, St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1

Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Thu, Aug 2, 6-7pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

FRIDAY, AUGUST 3

Talk Story about Agriculture in Ka`ū at Pāhala Plantation House on Fri, Aug 3, at 6pm. All farmers and community members interested are invited. Bring a dish, pupu, or dessert to share if can. Contact HFUU Ka`ū Chapter president Raina Whiting at 808-464-0799 or rainawhiting@gmail.com.

`O Ka`ū Kākou Meeting, Fri, Aug 3, 6:30pm, Aspen Center. okaukakou.org

ONGOING

Oliver!, a KDEN Production, through July 29; Friday and Saturday, 7:30pm, Sunday 2:30pm. Shows at UH-Hilo Performing Arts Center. Tickets: $20 general, $15 seniors 60+ and students, $12 keiki 12 and under. Tickets available at Kīlauea General Store, Kea`au Natural Foods, Basically Books, and The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo. Info and reservations: 982-7344, kden73@aol.com

2nd Annual Bi-Annual Quilt Show, Quilts In The Forest - Where the Path May Lead, Tue-Sat, through Aug 3, 10-4pm, Volcano Art Center, Volcano Village. Free. Fia Mattice, 967-8222, quiltshow2018@volcanoartcenter.org. volcanoartcenter.org

Exhibit, Birds of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park: The Hawai`i Nei Invitational Daily, through Aug 4, 9-5pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Free. Artists: John Dawson, Reyn Ojiri, Sarah Koh, Wendy Barske, Maria Macias, Cody Yamaguchi, Ann Guth, and John Mydoock. Art represents endemic bird species. volcanoartcenter.org

Kona Vet Center visits to Ocean View Community Center are Suspended until further notice. Veterans may call 329-0574 for VA benefit information. ovcahi.org

Kahuku Unit

In addition to regularly scheduled Guided Hikes and the monthly Coffee Talk, Kahuku Unit has added daily Ranger Talks, and cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.

Visitor Contact Station hosts `Ike Hana No`eau: Experience the Skillful Work Cultural Demonstrations and Activities, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.

Visitor Contact Station hosts Ranger Talks on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

Guided Hikes begin at 9:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday in June and July. Meet the ranger at the welcome tent.

Coffee Talk, in the Visitor Contact Station is held the last Friday of the month, 9:30-11 a.m.

Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.
Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus

The return of After Dark …near the park at the Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus. Each event will have a different subject matter.

Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

Prince Kūhio Plaza

Find Park Rangers alongside the park's non-profit partners, Hawai`i Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.

Grand Naniloa Hotel

Glow from lava exiting Fissure 8 and traveling to the ocean casts an orange glow across the sky. The moon shines through
gases and laze, to the right. Read about what scientists have discovered about the lava that has destroyed so much while
creating more land. See more below in Volcano Watch. USGS photo

THE SECOND ANNUAL MĀLAMA NĀ KEIKI FESTIVAL on Saturday in Nā`ālehu offered a variety of resources for families, with a focus on health, especially for keiki and expectant mothers. One important resource presented is access to healthy, fresh food.

Ho`olaha Ka Hua, Da Box program, is both a retail and a SNAP/EBT-friendly community-supported agriculture program, open to everyone. It was created to provide affordable access to fresh, produce, and to support local farmers. Hawai`i Food Basket purchases Hawai`i Island grown produce from local farmers and resells to customers island-wide.

Each once-weekly produce bag costs $16, and consists of a minimum of seven items, generally one to two fruits and five to six vegetables. SNAP/EBT customers get half-off every other bag. The program offers a weekly delivery to a general pick-up location, with Ka`ū locations at Kahuku Park at Paradise Mauka Circle in Ocean View, and at Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Rd. in Volcano Village.

Da Box fresh, local produce program is available to
everyone, island-wide. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

There are also food pantries for those in need. Ka`ū Food Pantries are:

- Ka`ū Food Pantry in Ocean View at St. Jude's on the last Tuesday of the month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

- Loaves and Fishes in Nā`ālehu at Sacred Heart -- 95-558 Mamalahoa Hwy-- on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 9to 11 a.m.

- Ka`ū District Gym in Pāhala – 96-1149 Kamani St. on the last Thursday of the month from noon to 2 p.m.

Mālama Nā Keiki Festival offered up much more on health and fun. See future Ka`ū News Briefsfor more.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

GEOCHEMICAL DETECTIVE WORK HELPS ANSWER QUESTIONS about Kīlauea's ongoing eruption in Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. This week's article is by Cheryl Gansecki, University of Hawai`i-Hilo Department of Geology:

More fluid, far-reaching, and hotter lava flows --like this
one from May 21 -- are different from the initial cooler,
slower, older lower East Rift Zone erupted lava. USGS photo

"What's happening inside the volcano?" is just one of many questions asked about Kīlauea's ongoing lower East Rift Zone eruption. Looking at the geochemistry of erupted lava can help us answer these questions.

Magma supplying Kīlauea's eruption is composed of melt -- molten rock -- mineral crystals, and dissolved gases or gas bubbles -- exsolved gases. Elements that make up magma can stay in the melt or can build crystals depending on the magma temperature, pressure, and abundance of other elements.

Experimental work has found that the elements magnesium and calcium move between the melt and specific mineral crystals depending on temperature. So, the amount of magnesium and calcium in lava reflects the temperature of the magma.

Some elements do not fit into any mineral crystals that grow in Hawaiian magma. These elements increase in concentration as magma cools and more crystals form. So, the abundance of these "incompatible" elements reveals if magma has been stored before erupting. If stored long enough, the magma's composition is changed as crystals grow and the amount of incompatible elements increases.

Pulses of lava from Fissure 8 vent sometimes occur every few
minutes. Taken over a period of about 4 minutes, the photos
show the lava within the channel almost out of sight. Then, a
pulse in the system creates a banked lava flow that throws
spatter -- fragments of molten lava -- onto the channel margin.
After the third photo was taken, the lava level again
decreased to nearly out of sight. USPS photos

When the first lower East Rift Zone lava sample was collected on May 3, 2018, the University of Hawai`i-Hilo geochemistry lab swung into action, working with the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory to determine, within hours, that the erupted lava was from stored magma. The LERZ lava was much cooler -- about 1090 degrees Celsius, or 2000 degrees Fahrenheit -- and more "evolved" than any Pu`u `Ō`ō lava – typically 1140 degrees C (2080 degrees F) -- erupted over the past 35-plus years. While this finding was not a surprise, it was the first time it had been documented during an eruption.

But there was one surprise: Fissure 17 -- the only vent not in line with the others -- erupted the coolest and most chemically evolved lava ever found on Kīlauea. Its temperatures were as low as 1030 degrees C (1890 degrees F).

Previous lower rift zones eruptions on Kīlauea have shown a similar pattern -- evolved magma erupted first, followed later by hotter, "fresher" magma. The early LERZ lava erupted in Leilani Estates is similar in composition to the early 1955 lava, which erupted in the same area and seems to be the most likely candidate for the parental source.

Finding evolved magma stored in the lower regions of Kīlauea, the site of many past eruptions and intrusions, is to be expected. During past events, not all of the magma reached the surface once the driving pressure was gone. That stored magma then evolved over time.

This map shows the size of Kīlauea and the other volcanoes
on Hawai`i Island. The flows -- in red -- that have erupted
since 1800 are shown, with the exception of flows since
May 3. Photo from hilo.hawaii.edu

Because Kīlaueais so massive, it can take decades before magma comes back to a given area. During that time, stored magma cools, grows crystals, and slowly changes in composition. When a new intrusion forces its way through the volcano and up to the surface, it may encounter one or more of these stored magma bodies. The intrusion magma can push out and/or mix with any stored magma that is still liquid.

As the LERZ eruption continued, samples collected on May 11 showed that the lava composition had shifted to slightly hotter -- 1105 degrees C (2020 degrees F) -- and less evolved magma. Soon afterward, eruptions from Fissure 20 produced `a`ā flows that rushed to the ocean.

Over the next 12 days, the lava chemistry became progressively hotter and less evolved until it leveled out at temperatures of 1130–1140 degrees C (2070–2085 degrees F). The arrival of this hotter lava preceded the high-volume, sustained eruption of Fissure 8, giving scientists a heads-up that something might change.

This new lava includes abundant and visible olivine crystals, some of which resemble the type of olivine crystallizing in summit magma before the LERZ eruption sequence began. The lava composition we see now doesn't exactly match recent Pu`u `Ō`ō or summit lavas, but it is similar. This correlates well with geophysical observations that the volume of the summit collapse is similar in magnitude to the volume of LERZ erupted lava.

Lava erupting from Fissure 8, going down the perched channel. USGS photo

Magma travels up to 45 km (28 mi.) through Kīlauea's East Rift Zone, cooling and potentially mixing with stored deep-rift magma to create lava of slightly different compositions. Ongoing geochemical detective work at HVO should help get a better handle on what's happening inside the volcano.

On Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone, lava continues to erupt primarily from Fissure 8, feeding a channelized flow northeastward from the vent. The channel then extends west of Kapoho Crater and on to the main ocean entry near Ahalanui. As of July 27, the flow was less than 0.1 mi from the Pohoiki boat ramp at IsaacHalePark. Sulfur dioxide emissions from the active fissure remain high.

Pohoiki remains, with lava about 500 feet from the boat ramp.
USGS photo

At Kīlauea's summit, collapse events continued to occur during the past week, releasing energy equivalent to earthquakes of around magnitude-5.3. Inward slumping of the rim and walls of Halema`uma`u continues in response to ongoing subsidence at the summit, resulting in frequent felt earthquakes. Three or more felt reports were submitted for 53 of the earthquakes that occurred in Hawai`i during the past week.

Visit HVO's website volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvofor past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea daily eruption updates, Mauna Loa weekly updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Call for summary updates at 808-967-8862 (Kīlauea) or 808-967-8866 (Mauna Loa). Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

NEW and UPCOMING

ZENTANGLE: COLOR STORIES, WITH LOIS AND EARL STOKES, is offered on Saturday, August 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Volcano Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village.
"Color! What a deep and mysterious language, the language of dreams," states the event description on volcanoartcenter.org, quoting Paul Gauguin, and adding that the class itself will not be about color theory, but something else entirely. "It is about listening to the story that colors Whisper to you. It is about watching a drop of ink blossom on a piece of paper and about how this makes you feel. It is about warm colors and cool colors and the dance of fire and water on paper and deep within you. Add to this dance the rhythm of repetitive patterns and you have choreographed a color story and a Zentangle Inspired work of art," the event description continues.

Photo from volcanoartcenter.org

Zentangle is an "easy-to-learn, relaxing and fun way to create beautiful images" by drawing structured patterns, states the description, claiming "it is the repetitive nature of these patterns that brings us into a state of relaxed focus that some call meditation."
Participants use alcohol inks -- squirting, blowing, splattering, tilting, pushing, and pulling. "Alcohol inks are so much fun to play with, you never really know what to expect. You don't need to be a professional artist to create something really pretty with alcohol ink. The ink has a will of its own in the beginning," exclaims the event description.
Students are required to pay a fee of $30 per Volcano Art Center Member or $35 for non-Members, plus a $10 supply fee, and are asked to bring a light refreshment to share. A basic knowledge of Zentangle is recommended but not required for the class. Visit volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-8222 to register and for more details.

See public Ka`ū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Ka`ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka`ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes

throughout Ka`ū, from Miloli`i through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

MONDAY, JULY 30

Register to Vote in the Primary Election at an Early Walk-In Voting site from Monday, July 30, to Thursday, August 9.

TUESDAY, JULY 31

Ka`ū Food Pantry, Tue, July 31, 11:30-1pm, St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1

Volcano Rain Forest Runs Registration
is at volcanorainforestruns.com

Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Thu, Aug 2, 6-7pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

FRIDAY, AUGUST 3

`O Ka`ū Kākou Meeting, Fri, Aug 3, 6:30 pm, Aspen Center. okaukakou.org

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4

Nature & Culture: An Unseverable Relationship, Sat, Aug 4, 9:30-11:30am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Moderate guided hike along the Palm Trail, approx. 2 miles. Learn about native plants that play a vital role in Hawaiian culture, and observe the catastrophic change and restoration of the land as it transitions from the 1868 lava flow to deeper soils with more diversity and older flora. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Chili Cook Off w/Benefit Concert for Puna and Ka`ū Food Bank, Sat, Aug 4, 4-8pm, The Terraces, 1885 Princess Kaiulani Blvd, Ocean View. Raffle, non-alcoholic mixers and more, with music provided by Soul Town. $10 for advance tickets, $15 at the door, plus a can of food. Contact gcmorales2020@yahoo.com or kathiegriffeth@gmail.com.

ONGOING

Last day to see Oliver!, a KDEN Production. Last show Sunday at 2:30pm. Show at UH-Hilo Performing Arts Center. Tickets: $20 general, $15 seniors 60+ and students, $12 keiki 12 and under. Tickets available at Kīlauea General Store, Kea`au Natural Foods, Basically Books, and The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo. Info and reservations: 982-7344, kden73@aol.com. Persons displaced by the eruption are invited to see the show for free, but must make a reservation.

5th Annual Volcano Winery Harvest Festival, benefit for Volcano School of Arts and Sciences. Tickets go on sale Aug 1, for the event on Sun, Sept 9. Music, food, wine and raffle. $40/adult (21+). 967-7772, volcanowinery.com

2nd Annual Bi-Annual Quilt Show, Quilts In The Forest - Where the Path May Lead, Tue-Sat, through Aug 3, 10-4pm, Volcano Art Center, Volcano Village. Free. Fia Mattice, 967-8222, quiltshow2018@volcanoartcenter.org. volcanoartcenter.org

Exhibit, Birds of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park: The Hawai`i Nei Invitational Daily, through Aug 4, 9-5pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Free. Artists: John Dawson, Reyn Ojiri, Sarah Koh, Wendy Barske, Maria Macias, Cody Yamaguchi, Ann Guth, and John Mydoock. Art represents endemic bird species. volcanoartcenter.org

Volcano Forest Runs Registration Open, online at volcanorainforestruns.com. Fees through July 31: 5K - $35, 10K - $55, 1/2 Marathon - $95. Fees increase Wed, Aug 1. Race Day Sat, Aug 18, Volcano Village. No race day registration for 1/2 Marathon. Race Director Sharron Faff, 967-8240.

Kona Vet Center visits to Ocean View Community Center are Suspended until further notice. Veterans may call 329-0574 for VA benefit information. ovcahi.org

Kahuku Unit

In addition to regularly scheduled Guided Hikes and the monthly Coffee Talk, Kahuku Unit has added daily Ranger Talks, and cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.

Visitor Contact Station hosts `Ike Hana No`eau: Experience the Skillful Work Cultural Demonstrations and Activities, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.

Visitor Contact Station hosts Ranger Talks on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

Guided Hikes begin at 9:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday in June and July. Meet the ranger at the welcome tent.

Coffee Talk, in the Visitor Contact Station is held the last Friday of the month, 9:30-11 a.m.

Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.

Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus

The return of After Dark …near the park at the Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus. Each event will have a different subject matter.

Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

Prince Kūhio Plaza

Find Park Rangers alongside the park's non-profit partners, Hawai`i Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.

Grand Naniloa Hotel

Kaʻū News Briefs Monday, July 9, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Thursday, July 12, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Friday, July 13, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Saturday, July 14, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Sunday, July 15, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Monday, July 16, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Thursday, July 19, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Friday, July 20, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Saturday, July 21, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Sunday, July 22, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Monday, July 23, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Thursday, July 26, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Friday, July 27, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Saturday, July 28, 2018