Kaʻū News Briefs Thursday, July 19, 2018

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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