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Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Monday, Sept. 19, 2016

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A billowy white "laze" plume is one hazard to avoid at the Kamokuna lava ocean entry site. See more below.
Photo from USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
“NATURAL WATER” FROM A PRIVATE WELL would be bottled at the proposed Pahala Town Square & Hawaiian Springs Facility, said Al Kam, manager of the project proposed for the old Ka`u Sugar mill site, states a story by Tom Callis in today’s Hawai`i Tribune-Herald.
A square marks the location of an existing well shaft opening
near a proposed warehouse at the old Ka`u Sugar mill site.
Map from Hawai`i County Planning Department
      According to the story, Hawai`i County Planning Department expects to complete review of the application in October. Kam did not say when construction would take place if the project receives approval by county Planning Director Duane Kanuha.
      The development would include more than 136,000 square feet in buildings with a water bottling facility, storage and retail stores, along with parking for tour buses, vans and cars along Maile Street. The largest building currently on the property is 12,000 square feet. For comparison, the buildings would cover more than three times the area of the new Ka`u gymnasium.
      “We’re here to provide jobs to the state of Hawai`i,” Kam told Callis. “We’re trying to rebuild manufacturing in the state of Hawai`i.” He didn’t estimate how many jobs the facility would provide.
      According to Callis, Kam is owner of Hawaiian Springs, which bottles water in Kea`au. Kam told Callis the main market for the premium product would be “the mainland and elsewhere.”
      “We want an export product,” he said. “We are poised to take advantage of that.”
      The Planning Department is accepting public comments on the proposal. Emails can be sent to planning@hawaiicounty.gov, susan.gagorik@hawaiicounty.gov and larry.nakayama@hawaiicounty.gov.
      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
      To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

KILAUEA SUMMIT’S LAVA LAKE has again risen to a visible level. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported that it was 56 feet below the floor of Halema`uma`u crater this morning and rising.
Webcam captured lava spattering at Kilauea's summit this morning.
Photo from USGS/HVO
      Spectators have been able to see lava spattering and upheavals of the lake’s crust several days this month as Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park continues its centennial celebration.
      Webcam views of the lake can be seen at hvo.wr.usgs.gov.
      To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

“THE PLUME IS NOT YOUR FRIEND,” Hawaiian Volcano Observatory warns in the current issue of Volcano Watch.
      Referring to lava entering the ocean at Kamokuna, the article states, “This ‘laze’ (short for lava haze) plume, a byproduct of the lava-ocean interaction, is formed as hot lava boils seawater to dryness. The process leads to a series of chemical reactions that result in the formation of a billowing white cloud composed of an irritating mixture of condensed, acidic seawater steam, hydrochloric acid gas, and tiny shards of volcanic glass. Visitors should avoid this plume, as even the wispy edges of it can cause skin and eye irritation and breathing difficulties.
      “Once formed, the effects of the laze plume are literally blowing in the wind. During prevailing trade wind conditions – normally greater than about 80 percent of the year – air flow from nighttime through early morning carries this noxious ocean entry plume off shore and out to sea. This is good news for coastal entry visitors who approach the lava flow field from the end of the National Park's Chain of Craters Road (the west side of the ocean entry).
      “By contrast, from mid-morning through late afternoon, trade wind flow on Kilauea’s south flank carries the plume onshore and along the coast, resulting in poor air quality for National Park visitors hoping to catch the ocean entry lava show. During the along shore intervals, the chances of clearer viewing conditions are greater if visitors approach the ocean entry from the Kalapana (east) side, rather than from the west.
      “Regardless of the direction the wind is blowing, visitors to the ocean entry need to be mindful of all of the hazards present at the coastal entry and should vigilantly watch for changing conditions. Enjoy the beauty, but mind the hazards—and heed all warning signs!”
      See hvo.wr.usgs.gov/havo.
      To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR, the Hawai`i Board of Education gave Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi an overall rating of “Exceeds Expectations” in her annual job performance evaluation.
      “The superintendent and her team sets high expectations for the department and has continued to collaborate with the Board, schools and community on advancing these goals,” said BOE Chairman Lance Mizumoto.
Kathryn Matayoshi
      The BOE evaluation is comprised of the following categories with Superintendent Matayoshi’s rating in each: Overall Rating, Exceeds Expectations; Overall Management Abilities, Exceeds Expectations; and
      Performance Objectives and Program Accomplishments: Fully Meets Expectations.
      The Board noted a number of accomplishments in Matayoshi’s evaluation, posted here​. According to the BOE, Hawai`i State Department of Education continues to make progress in key systemic areas from progress on addressing the statewide achievement gap to expansion of community engagement with a focus on career and college.
      “The department continues to work hard in transforming public education. This rating is reassuring feedback that we are on the right track and a reflection of the high performance and dedication of the department’s leadership team, administrators, teachers and students,” Matayoshi said. “We will continue to strive higher and remain student-focused in our decision making and planning.”
      Additional HIDOE accomplishments over the past year include establishment of new offices, including the Office of Hawaiian Education and Community Engagement; implementation of “Jacob's Study,” a three-phase project that will help HIDOE compile a comprehensive space inventory of all of its facilities; expansion of the free meal and summer meals programs; reduction in open cases of Department Directed Leave and Leave Pending Investigation; securement of multiple grants, including the New Skills for Youth grant awarded to 24 states to improve career preparation systems; and launched efforts to review and revise the joint HIDOE/BOE Strategic Plan concurrently to the drafting of a state plan in response to the new federal law the Every Student Succeeds Act.
      To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

VIDEOCONFERENCING OF HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL meetings this week is available at Na`alehu State Office Building.
      Committees meet tomorrow, with Governmental Relations & Economic Development at 9 a.m.; Public Works & Parks & Recreation, 9:15 a.m.; Public Safety & Mass Transit, 9:45 a.m.; Planning, 10:30 a.m.; Environmental Management, 1 p.m.; and Finance, 2 p.m.
      The full council meets Wednesday at 9 a.m.
      All meetings take place at West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona.
      See hawaiicounty.gov for agendas and live streaming of the meetings.

MAULI OLA FESTIVAL TAKES PLACE Wednesday through Saturday at Wood Valley Farm. The event features live music, performance, shamanism, mind/body healing, fermented foods, holistic health, land-based skills workshops, and a Coffee & Human rights circle.
      For more information, see mauliolafestival.com, email malian@kauspecialtycoffee.com, or call 503-575-9098.

KILAUEA VISITOR CENTER AUDITORIUM in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park presents a hula performance, Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Halau Hula Ulumamo o Hilo Paliku’s Kumu hula Mamo Brown was formally trained in the `ai ha`a, or low bombastic style, of kahiko hula. After her `uniki, she started her own halau and carries on the kahiko tradition.
      Free; park entrance fees apply.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

Click on document to enlarge.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.



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