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| Ka`u's east-facing shores, including Punalu`u, are under a high surf warning until tomorrow at 6 p.m. See more below. Photo by Peter Anderson |
ACTIVITY AT KILAUEA’S summit lava lake was again visible this morning as the lake’s level rose to a depth of 72 feet beneath the adjacent floor. The rise in lava lake level has coincided with continuing, but slowing, inflationary tilt measured on summit tiltmeters. Tilt measures variations in ground levels that occur as lava below the surface increases and decreases.
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| Lava was visible at Kilauea's summit this morning. Photo from USGS-HVO |
The 61g lava flow continues to carry lava to the ocean near Kamokuna. Yesterday’s field crew reported that surface breakouts of lava were located primarily in the coastal area of the flow field. The lava entering the ocean is building two obvious deltas and generating noxious plumes.
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KA`U AND ALL OF HAWAI`I ISLAND are no longer under a Hurricane Watch. At 11 a.m., Central Pacific Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane Lester was 390 miles east of South Point and moving west-northwest at 15 miles per hour. Lester is forecast to past north of the island tomorrow morning and afternoon.
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| Hurricane Lester is on a track north of Hawai`i Island. Map from NOAA |
After passing Hawai`i Island as a hurricane, Lester is expected to gradually weaken to a tropical storm.
A high surf warning is in effect for Ka`u’s east-facing shores, including Punalu`u, Kawa, Honu`apo and South Point. Residents and visitors should expect strong breaking waves, shore break, and strong longshore and rip currents, making swimming difficult and dangerous. National Weather Service urged beachgoers to heed all advice given by ocean safety officials and exercise caution. The current warning expires tomorrow at 6 p.m.
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| High surf surges into Honu`apo. Photo by Peter Anderson |
DUE TO UNCERTAINTY over the track of approaching Hurricane Lester, all Hawai`i Island state park camping and lodging areas will be closed to overnight use beginning today and will remain closed at minimum through Monday, Sept. 5, until conditions warrant allowing these activities.
On Hawai`i Island, Division of Forestry and Wildlife forest reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, natural area reserves, Na Ala Hele hiking trails, forest campgrounds and game management areas will remain closed until further notice. Camping permits for this weekend are cancelled until further notice.
People are advised to avoid forested and coastal areas due to potential for rising streams, flash flooding, falling trees or high surf as well as ocean water surging and sweeping across beaches and rocky coastal benches and lava flows. High surf may create the potential for impacts to coastal properties and infrastructure, including roadways.
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People are advised to avoid forested and coastal areas due to potential for rising streams, flash flooding, falling trees or high surf as well as ocean water surging and sweeping across beaches and rocky coastal benches and lava flows. High surf may create the potential for impacts to coastal properties and infrastructure, including roadways.
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HAWAI`I ISLAND POLICE are searching for a 36-year-old Ocean View man who is wanted for abuse and failure to appear.
Ranny Albious is described as 5-foot-4, 160 pounds with brown eyes and black hair.
Police ask anyone with information on his whereabouts to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Officer Sheldon Nakamoto at 326-4646, extension 303.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
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Police ask anyone with information on his whereabouts to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Officer Sheldon Nakamoto at 326-4646, extension 303.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
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COMMUNITIES AND STEWARDSHIP GROUPS continue to actively restore or have expressed interest in reviving the integrity and productivity of fishpond locations still in existence. Loko i`a, traditional Hawaiian fishponds, are unique aquaculture systems that existed throughout ancient Hawai`i. Although a 1990 statewide survey identified 488 loko `a sites, many were in degraded condition and either completely beyond repair or unrecognizable.
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| Residents help restore a loko i`a. Photos from DLNR |
Suzanne Case, Department of Land and Natural Resources Chair, said, “In 2012, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations came together to overcome difficulties in obtaining approvals from multiple agencies to maintain and restore Hawaiian fishponds.”
Fishpond practitioners formed Hui Malama Loko I`a to empower one another and leverage their skills, knowledge and resources, while working to feed and connect communities around the islands. This network currently includes over 38 fishponds and complexes, with over 100 fishpond owners, workers, supporters and stakeholders.
“Now the DLNR Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands is releasing a new guidebook on fishpond restoration in time for the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2016 (taking place now on O`ahu),” Case said. “This guidebook marks the beginning of what we hope will be a new day in Hawaiian fishpond revitalization.”
The newly published, high-quality, full-color Ho`ala Loko I`a Permit Application Guidebook is intended to help cultural practitioners, landowners and community groups navigate a new streamlined application process for Hawaiian fishpond revitalization.
Historically, fishponds have been subject to an extensive permitting process that requires large amounts of resources and time to secure. In 2015 the state of Hawai`i completed streamlining the permitting process for the repair, restoration, maintenance and operation of traditional Hawaiian fishponds in Hawai`i.
DLNR’s Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands and collaborators have developed a master permit for traditional Hawaiian fishponds that encompasses the main permits currently required. This master permitting process and program is called Ho`ala Loko I`a. The program was designed to be in compliance with as many federal and state regulations as possible to make the permitting process easier for fishpond practitioners to navigate.
Fishpond practitioners formed Hui Malama Loko I`a to empower one another and leverage their skills, knowledge and resources, while working to feed and connect communities around the islands. This network currently includes over 38 fishponds and complexes, with over 100 fishpond owners, workers, supporters and stakeholders.
“Now the DLNR Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands is releasing a new guidebook on fishpond restoration in time for the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2016 (taking place now on O`ahu),” Case said. “This guidebook marks the beginning of what we hope will be a new day in Hawaiian fishpond revitalization.”
The newly published, high-quality, full-color Ho`ala Loko I`a Permit Application Guidebook is intended to help cultural practitioners, landowners and community groups navigate a new streamlined application process for Hawaiian fishpond revitalization.
Historically, fishponds have been subject to an extensive permitting process that requires large amounts of resources and time to secure. In 2015 the state of Hawai`i completed streamlining the permitting process for the repair, restoration, maintenance and operation of traditional Hawaiian fishponds in Hawai`i.
DLNR’s Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands and collaborators have developed a master permit for traditional Hawaiian fishponds that encompasses the main permits currently required. This master permitting process and program is called Ho`ala Loko I`a. The program was designed to be in compliance with as many federal and state regulations as possible to make the permitting process easier for fishpond practitioners to navigate.
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| The state has worked to streamline permitting to restore fishponds. |
Practitioners can now use a simplified conservation district use permit to apply for permits under this programmatic permit.
A programmatic environmental assessment was also completed to comply with Hawai`i’s Environmental Quality Act. The CDUP and programmatic EA were designed to cover all existing traditional fishponds in the state.
Another helpful step was the signing of Bill 230 by Gov. David Ige in July 2015, which waived the need to obtain a Department of Health 401 Water Quality Certification for fishpond restoration. This waiver is only available to projects that obtain permits through the OCCL program. While the program vastly reduces government red tape, projects are still required to have water quality monitoring, mitigation and best management practices in place to keep Hawai`i’s waters clean and reefs healthy.
The Ho`ala Loko I`a Permit Application Guidebook further provides clear guidance on how to meet state water quality standard.
Although this streamlined permitting program covers many of the authorizations for restoring a loko i`a, in some cases, additional permits or authorizations may still be required, such as a right of entry agreement from DLNR land division for a state-owned pond, stream channel alteration permit from the Commission on Water Resource Management and a special management area county permit for work mauka of the shoreline.
Applications submitted to OCCL are reviewed and subject to best management practices and monitoring standards that help to protect Hawai`i’s environmental and cultural resources while supporting the need for communities and practitioners to care for
loko i`a.
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Another helpful step was the signing of Bill 230 by Gov. David Ige in July 2015, which waived the need to obtain a Department of Health 401 Water Quality Certification for fishpond restoration. This waiver is only available to projects that obtain permits through the OCCL program. While the program vastly reduces government red tape, projects are still required to have water quality monitoring, mitigation and best management practices in place to keep Hawai`i’s waters clean and reefs healthy.
The Ho`ala Loko I`a Permit Application Guidebook further provides clear guidance on how to meet state water quality standard.
Although this streamlined permitting program covers many of the authorizations for restoring a loko i`a, in some cases, additional permits or authorizations may still be required, such as a right of entry agreement from DLNR land division for a state-owned pond, stream channel alteration permit from the Commission on Water Resource Management and a special management area county permit for work mauka of the shoreline.
Applications submitted to OCCL are reviewed and subject to best management practices and monitoring standards that help to protect Hawai`i’s environmental and cultural resources while supporting the need for communities and practitioners to care for
loko i`a.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
KA`U PLANTATION DAYS scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed. Organizer Darlyne Vierra said that with Hurricane Lester possibly impacting the weather, it would be best to reschedule, with the new date set for Saturday, Sept. 24.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
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| Click on document to enlarge. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf. |
