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| Ed Rau of the Discovery Harbour CERT team was activated to help with possible affects of Hurricane Hector on Wednesday. He took this photo at dawn and calls it Red Sky in Morning, Sailor Take Warning. See a photo below of Hurricane Hector taken by a NASA astronaut today. Photo by Ed Rau |
On Friday, a Type II Incident Management Team from the mainland will arrive to help manage the fire, says a release from Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
In making headway on the fire, crews protected the Kīpuka Kī Special Ecological Area in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, including some of the tallest, old grown native trees in Hawai`i. They also helped to protect the Volcano Golf Course community and Kapāpala Ranch.
HVNP says the fire on the slopes of Mauna Loa grew 474 acres yesterday, taking it to 3,679 acres. Minimal precipitation occurred over the fire yesterday.
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| Map from Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park |
Plumes of smoke are widely visible from Highway 11, and motorists are urged to drive with caution, roll up windows and use air conditioning if possible, and to stop for emergencies only. The fire is approximately one mile north of Highway 11. Wood Valley residents reported smoke today.
The cause of the fire, which started Aug. 5 outside the park on Keauhou Ranch, is under investigation.
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| Firefighters call in for an aerial water drop. NPS photo |
Kīpuka Kī is a treasured Special Ecological Area for its natural and cultural resources. It is one of the rarest old-growth native forests of its kind in the world. Its towering ʻōhiʻa, koa and mānele trees are essential for the survival of threatened and endangered native plant and animal species. Unlike forests in other areas of the world, Hawaiian forests are not adapted to wildfire. The introduction of non-native grass and other plant species fuel fires that can quickly destroy centuries of growth.
The release says the park appreciates the continued support from the community. Mauna Loa Road and most of the park have been closed since May 11 due to hazardous seismic activity.
For updates, more information and photos, visit inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6114.
For updates, more information and photos, visit inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6114.
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| An aerial view of Fissure 8 from Aug. 7, with a small lava lake that has now reduced further in size. USGS photo |
Today's USGS update reminds residents that lava eruption could resume at any time.
Eruptive activity remains minimal at the lower east rift zone from Fissure 8 and seismic activity at the summit is low with few earthquakes.
An overflight this morning confirmed that activity at Fissure 8 remains low and there have been no signs of reactivation or new intrusion. Up-rift of Fissure 8, Fissures 9, 10, and 24, and down-rift Fissures 13, 23, 3, 21, and 7, continue to steam. This morning's overflight crew observed a crusted lava pond deep inside the steaming cone at a level significantly lower than when viewed Tuesday morning.
The significance of this change is not yet clear and hazardous conditions remain in the area. HVO field crews and the UAS team will monitor activity throughout the day and overnight.
The volcano's summit remains quiet, except for the occasional small rockfall, following the most recent collapse at 11:55 a.m. HST on August 2nd. This continues a significant departure from the pattern of seismicity and deformation over the past several months, with very low rates of seismicity continuing today. Except for a very gradual deflation, the deformation at the summit as measured by tiltmeter and GPS instruments has stopped.
Summit and LERZ changes considered together imply that the rate of magma leaving the summit to feed the lower East Rift Zone eruption has significantly decreased. How long this condition will persist is unknown. It is possible that outflow will pick up again, resulting in renewed summit area deflation, leading to another collapse event and renewed eruption vigor on the LERZ.
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| Fissure 8's spatter cone has gone mostly quiet. USGS photo |
Summit and LERZ changes considered together imply that the rate of magma leaving the summit to feed the lower East Rift Zone eruption has significantly decreased. How long this condition will persist is unknown. It is possible that outflow will pick up again, resulting in renewed summit area deflation, leading to another collapse event and renewed eruption vigor on the LERZ.
The following guidelines remain in effect: Do not access the flow field due to extreme hazard. In the Volcano area, motorists on Highway 11 between the 28 and 32 mile marker near Kīlauea Caldera are advised to stay on the pavement, be alert for changes in road conditions, and drive with caution.
Residents should remain informed and heed Hawai`i County Civil Defense messages and warnings. HVO will continue to monitor Kīlauea closely for any signs of change in activity.
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Residents should remain informed and heed Hawai`i County Civil Defense messages and warnings. HVO will continue to monitor Kīlauea closely for any signs of change in activity.
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IS KĪLAUEA VOLCANO'S SUMMIT AND RIFT ZONE ACTIVITY PAU OR PAUSED? Volcano Watch, by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates, gives their answer:
NOTE: This article was written onAugust 9, 2018 . Given Kīlauea Volcano's dynamic nature, activity described here could change in coming days. For up-to-date info, please go to daily Status Reports at volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/status.html.
NOTE: This article was written on
Since the morning of August 4, activity at Kīlauea Volcano's summit and its lower East Rift Zone has diminished dramatically -- and the slowdown continues.
But what does it mean? Are Kīlauea 's Fissure 8 lava flow and summit collapses pau (over)? Or are they merely paused (taking a break)?
Here's the situation as of August 9:
At Kīlauea's summit, earthquake counts -- which were 30–40 per hour in prior weeks -- have decreased to as few as 1–2 per hour. A collapse event has not occurred since August 2, and no significant subsidence has been evident since August 4. Major rockfalls within Halema`uma`u and along the summit caldera walls have not been observed the past few days. Monitoring instruments show little change in summit deformation and seismicity.
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On August 9, lava oozing into the ocean near potentially threaten the beloved recreation area and Poho`iki baot ramp. USGS photo by I. Johanson |
On the volcano's LERZ, the eruption of lava and emission of sulfur dioxide gas have decreased dramatically. Only a small pond of crusted lava remains deep within the Fissure 8 cone and the lava channel is mostly empty. The ocean entry is minimally active, with small streams of lava oozing into the ocean, mostly near Isaac Hale Beach Park
At Pu`u `Ō`ō on Kīlauea's middle East Rift Zone, a white plume was observed above the cone in recent weeks. On August 2–3, gas measurements indicated that SO2 emissions at Pu`u `Ō`ō had increased significantly. Since then, however, SO2 values have decreased to low levels of the past three months. Coincident with the summit activity slowdown, deflation along the middle East Rift Zone stalled.
Why the LERZ eruption and summit subsidence abated so quickly is not certain, but one possibility is that it could be a response to reduced magma supply to the LERZ as the summit reservoir progressively emptied. It might also reflect a blockage within the magma system between the summit and the LERZ. However, the lack of seismicity and deformation, which generally indicate pressurization associated with a blockage, suggest that this is perhaps unlikely. Other possibilities also exist.
The changes at Kīlauea were not completely unexpected. Subtle hints of decreasing lava effusion and changes in summit collapse characteristics, detected as early as mid-July, included decreasing background summit tilt rate, increasing repose times between summit collapses, and fluctuating Fissure 8 lava output.
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| The flat ledge, center, is part of the former Halema`uma`u crater floor, which dropped precipitously between mid-May and early August. USGS photo |
The significance of these changes is not clear. It's possible that the slowdown is just a pause, and that an eruption on the East Rift Zone and subsidence at the summit of Kīlauea could resume. In 1955, two pauses of 5 and 16 days occurred during that 88-day-long LERZ eruption.
It's also possible that the slowdown reflects the end of the LERZ eruption and summit subsidence. But it will take days, or possibly weeks, to determine with certainty if the activity is pau or merely paused.
What is known for sure, however, is that hazardous conditions remain in both areas of Kīlauea .
LERZ hazards include: (1) possible reactivation of existing fissures, or the opening of new fissures, leading to new lava flows and inundation; (2) still-hot, unstable lava in the Fissure 8 flow field; (3) ongoing, albeit lower, sulfur dioxide gas emissions; and (4) potential hydrovolcanic explosions, lava delta collapse, and laze plumes at the ocean entry.
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| As Halema`uma`u collapsed, older volcanic deposits -- layers of ash and old lava flows -- and features hidden for decades have been revealed in the crater walls. USGS photo |
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is closely monitoring Kīlauea . This includes overflights of the volcano's East Rift Zone and summit as needed, supplemented with USGS Unmanned Aerial Systems (drone) flights. Daily visual observations are also conducted from the ground, with USGS field crews deployed in the LERZ and summit areas to collect data and document activity, as well as to install and repair monitoring instruments.
HVO continues to issue daily status reports, and posts photos, videos, and maps on our website, to keep emergency managers and the public informed. Stay tuned as we work to answer the question, "pau or paused?"
Volcano Activity Updates
Activity on Kīlauea 's lower East Rift Zone and at the summit of the volcano remained greatly diminished as of August 9. LERZ activity was limited to a small pond of lava deep within the Fissure 8 cone and small streams of lava entering the ocean near Isaac Hale Beach Park Kapoho Bay Summit Hawai`i
Visit HVO's website at 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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American astronaut Ricky Arnold caught this view of Hurricane Hector's brilliant form. Photo by Ricky Arnold/NASA |
HURRICANE HECTOR maintained strength today, as a Category 3, skirting the southern waters of the Hawaiian Islands. Hector slid past South Point yesterday and is well past Kaua`i this evening.
American astronauts and and Russian cosmonauts photographed the brilliant form of Hurricane Hector as he plowed past Hawai`i, below the International Space Station.
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See public Ka`ū events, meetings, entertainment. 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 |
KA`Ū TROJANS FALL SPORTS SCHEDULE
Football:
Fri, Aug 17, 10am , Scrimmage @ Kea`au
Sat, Aug 25, 10am , Scrimmage @ Waiakea
Thu, Sept 6, 6pm , @ Pāhoa
Sat, Sept 15, 1pm , @ Kohala
Sat, Sept 22, 3:30pm , host Lanai @ Kea`au
Girls Volleyball:
Tue, Aug 14, 6pm , host Waiakea
Fri, Aug 24, 6pm , @ Mauna Lani
Wed, Aug 29, 6pm , @ Hilo
Fri, Aug 31, Kamehameha Tourney
Sat, Sept 1, Kamehameha Tourney
Wed, Sept 5, 6pm , host Pāhoa
Wed, Sept 12, 6pm , @ Christian Liberty
Fri, Sept 14, @ Kamehameha
Mon, Sept 17, 6pm , host Lapahoehoe
Wed, Sept 19, 6pm , host Kohala
Thu, Sept 20, 6pm , @ Honoka`a
Tue, Sept 25, 6pm , @ HPA
Fri, Sept 28, 6pm , host Kona
Cross Country:
Sat, Aug 25, @ CLA (preseason)
Sat, Sept 1, 10am , @ HPA
Sat, Sept 8, 10am , @ Kamehameha
Sat, Sept 15, 10am , Kea`au
Sat, Sept 22, 9am, @ HPATo 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.
POP WARNER FOOTBALL FOR KEIKI 8 TO 14 YEARS is held at Nā`ālehu Community Park 4 p.m. For more details, contact Richard Karasuda at 939-2510 or visit the community center during business hours: Monday through Thursday, 3 to 7 p.m. , and Friday, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/.
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A RANGE OF SPORTS PROGRAMS Pāhala Elementary School
Instructional Volleyball for keiki 5 to 14 years of age, August 13 through October 25, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Register by August 10. Covered shoes are necessary for all players. Mondays and Wednesdays: 5 to 8 years old and 9 to 10 years old. Tuesdays and Thursdays: 11 to 12 years old and 13 to 14 years old.
Volleyball Clinic for keiki in grades 3-12 on Thursday, September 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. Registration open through September 5. Covered shoes are necessary.
Billiards and the Recreation Room (Fitness Station) open Monday through Friday, through September 27, from 3 to 7:45 p.m., for age 15 and up. Registration is ongoing.
General gym use for adults, Monday through Thursday, through September 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. Covered shoes are necessary. Registration is ongoing.
For more, call 928-3102 or visit the gym during b
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Zentangle: Color Stories, Sat, Aug 11, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Class is not about color theory, rather about "listening to the story that colors Whisper to you." $30/Volcano Art Center Member, $35/non-Member, plus $10 supply fee. Bring light refreshment to share.
VOTE: 2018 Primary Election Day Polling Places in Ka`ū, Sat, Aug 11, 7-6pm. Senate District 2: Cooper Center on Wright Rd in Volcano Village, Ka`ū High/Pāhala Elementary School Cafeteria. Senate District 3: Nā`ālehu Elementary School Cafeteria, Ocean View Community Center, Miloli`i Halau Pavilion. elections.hawaii.gov/voters/polling-places
Hi`iaka & Pele, Sat, Aug 11, 9:30-11:30am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Discover Hawaiian goddesses and the natural phenomena they represent on this free, moderate, one-mile walk. nps.gov/HAVO
A Coffee Quality Workshop held by Ka`ū Coffee Growers Cooperative this weekend. It "will enable our members to produce high quality coffee and superior profits," says a statement from the cooperative. Supported by funding from a HI USDA-SDGG grant, members can attend at Pāhala Community Center 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Potluck at 1 p.m.
Keynote speaker and presenter is Dr. Shawn Steiman, PhD. He is the owner, co-founder, and Chief Science Officer of Daylight Mind Coffee Company. Steiman will make farm and processing facility visits to evaluate and guide farmers who "are interested in implementing a quality programme."
Members are encouraged to bring 165 grams of green bean, which will be roasted and cupped by Steiman. Samples should be placed in zip lock bags, labeled with the farmer's name, telephone number, and email address. The results will be discussed with each farmer.
For more information on Mayne's coffee farm, the workshop, and the evaluations, call 928-0106.
Ka`ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Mon, Aug 13 and 27, 1pm, Ocean View Community Center. A parent-led homeschool activity/social group building community in Ka`ū. Contact prior to attending to confirm location in case of field trip. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351
C.E.R.T. Discovery Harbour/Nā`ālehu, Tue, Aug 14, 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
Ocean View Community Association Board Meeting, Wed, Aug 15, 12:30pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org
Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū & Me, Thu, Aug 16, 10:30-noon, Nā`ālehu Public Library. 929-8571
Hawai`i Disability Legal Services, Thu, Aug 16, 9-noon, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033, ovcahawaii@gmail.com
ONGOING
5th Annual Volcano Winery Harvest Festival tickets on sale 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
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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.
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.
Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool's New, Temporary, Nā`ālehu Site Location 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. Pāhala site program meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:30 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, to aid with parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Free. Visits last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, total of 12 visits. Snacks are provided. 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 at rwilliams@harmonyed.com or 430-9798.
Disaster Recovery Center 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. See information applicants need to bring, or register online, at DisasterAssistance.gov. Salvation Army distribution center at Pāhoa Community Center on Tue, Thu, and Sat, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. To donate, contact 756-0306.
Volunteers Needed by St. Jude's Episcopal Church for Sat community outreach, especially soup cooks and shower organizers. "Volunteering for St. Jude's Saturday Shower and Soup ministry is an opportunity to serve God in a powerful way," states St. Jude's. Contact Dave Breskin, 319-8333.
Ocean View Vet Center Visits Suspended until further notice. Veterans, call 329-0574 for VA benefit information. ovcahi.org
Find Your Park, invites Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, to kama`aina and tourist alike. Experience authentic Hawaiian cultural programs, guided hikes, After Dark events, and more from Ka`ū to Volcano to Hilo, while the partial closure of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park continues.
Free of charge, with no entry fees, rangers offer new and familiar programs at Kahuku Unit, Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus, and Mokupāpapa Discovery Center and Prince Kūhio Plaza in Hilo.Kahuku Unit
Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.
Regularly scheduled Guided Hikes, monthly Coffee Talk, daily Ranger Talks, with cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.
Regularly scheduled Guided Hikes, monthly Coffee Talk, daily Ranger Talks, with cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.
Guided Hikes on Saturdays and Sundays begin at 9:30 a.m. Meet the ranger at the welcome tent.
Coffee Talk, held the last Friday of the month, 9:30-11 a.m., at the Visitor Contact Station.
Ranger Talks on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m., at the Visitor Contact Station.
Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus Find Park Rangers in Volcano Village daily, at the Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus at 19-4074 Old Volcano Rd. Rangers are there 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to provide talks and answer questions about the current eruption.
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 in downtown Hilo, Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rangers provide daily eruption updates. At 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., they 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.
Prince Kūhio Plaza
Find Park Rangers alongside the park's non-profit partner, 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 on Sundays and Mondays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Rangers provide eruption updates at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The park film that is normally available to visitors at Kīlauea Visitor Center at the Summit, Born of Fire, Born in the Sea, is shown 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.