Kaʻū News Briefs Thursday, June 28, 2018

Volcano-impacted farms, like those seen above, would receive more assistance under the U.S. Senate version  of the Farm Bill, which goes to conference committee. See story below. Photo from Big Island Video News

CHANGE WAS THE WORD on the edge of Kīlauea Caldera on Wednesday, when Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory held a press conference looking over Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, the former home of the famous lava lake.
     Under a clear blue sky above a gaping gray crater of ash and rock, HVO''s Chief Scientist Tina Neal said it’s “Bittersweet to be here today.” She talked about the park closure around the crater, and HVO pulling staff and equipment out of its headquarters on the edge of the caldera. She referred to Kīlauea lava destroying homes and displacing residents. “With the profound impacts to the people going on in lower Puna and in Volcano and the rest of the island, it’s just time to think about how somber that component of what’s going on, is now.”
     Neal said, “Change is really the fundamental process going on right now. Change is what volcanoes do. Kīlauea Volcano has been in a constant state of change, and indeed what we’re seeing today has happened before. It’s unprecedented in our modern observational period,” but again, she proclaimed, “Change is what volcanoes do.”
     Neal said that “despite there being this profound sense of loss” with partial closure of the park and destruction in lower Puna, “it’s also for our scientists a very inspirational time because of the change. And if you think back to the founding of HVO more than a hundred years ago, it was put here because of the rapid pace of change at Kīlauea and how active Kīlauea Volcano was.” HVO’s founder, Dr. Thomas Jaggar, “recognized that this was a perfect place to establish a laboratory to study volcanic processes, so that we would better understand how they can potentially impact society and give us the ability to warn people ahead of time and allow us to live safely with volcanoes.” She said that HVO scientists, “even though we are dealing with the disruption, are really engaged scientifically, trying to figure out what is happening, to give the best guidance to the National Park and other emergency authorities – and, indeed, the public - so they can make good decisions about their own safety.”

HVO Chief Scientist Tina Neal Photo from Big Island Video News

Deep cracks have popped up all around the edges of Kīlauea  Caldera, as Halema ʻuma ​ʻu crater subsides after the  loss of its lava lake. Photo from Big Island Video News

VOLCANO-IMPACTED FARMERS would be able to retroactively apply for coverage under the Non-insured Crop Assistance Program in the bipartisan 2018 U.S. Senate Farm Bill. Sen. Mazie Hirono pushed for the measure for the Farm Bill, which sets policy and funding levels for agriculture and nutrition programs through 2023. It was approved on Wednesday by the Senate with a 86-11 vote. The bill must now move to a conference committee to reconcile differences with the House Farm Bill passed last week.
     “The ongoing volcanic activity on Hawai'i Island has had a devastating impact on local agricultural producers. The provision I successfully included in this year’s farm bill will provide much needed relief to our agricultural community," said Hirono. “This Senate Farm Bill supports many programs that are critical to Hawai'i farmers and growers.
     The NAP Program provides assistance to producers of non-insurable crops – including papaya, leafy greens, floriculture, and aquaculture – in the event that natural disasters destroy crops, reduce yields, or prevent planting.
     Those affected by the volcanic activity will be able to access up to $125,000 in assistance even if they had not previously signed up for NAP coverage for the 2018 crop year. The underlying bill also establishes a payment limit of $125,000 for catastrophic coverage and $300,000 for additional coverage within NAP for future policies.
     The Farm Bill also includes the Macadamia Tree Health Initiative, a bill introduced earlier this Congress by Hirono, which makes researching and developing management strategies to combat the macadamia felted coccid, an invasive pest threatening Hawai'i’s macadamia nut industry, a high priority at the U.S. Department of Agriculture .
     Hirono also teamed up with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to include a floor amendment to provide small grants for individuals, food banks, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and other nonprofit organizations to promote food security and the

availability of fresh food for local communities throughout Hawai'i.

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