Kaʻū News Briefs Tuesday, September 11, 2018

KAʻŪ APPEARS TO HAVE ESCAPED OLIVIA, as the 50 mph Tropical Storm headed toward Maui, Lanaʻi and Molokaʻi this evening. At 5 p.m., the Central Pacific Hurricane Center located Olivia 168 miles east northeast of South Point, and warned that heavy rains on the north and east side of Hawaiʻi Island were still possible, even after Olivia passes the islands.

     Ahead of Olivia, sand piles were distributed in Kaʻū by Hawaiʻi County Public Works due to high public demand, reports Civil Defense. As the forecast of expected rain has diminished, Civil Defense asks the public to take only what is needed. HCPW does not provide bags or shovels, so the public is advised to bring their own supplies. Heavy duty trash bags work in place of sandbags, says Civil Defense. Sand piles at Base Yards are only accessible during business hours. Sand pile locations are are at Waiohino Base Yard, 95-1627 Kamaoa Rd., and Pāhala Park and Community Center, 96-1149 Kamani St.
     The governor asked for direct federal support from Department of Defense assets for strategic airlift between the islands; temporary power generation at evacuation centers; technical assistance related to points of distribution and debris management action planning. In addition, the governor is asking for immediate access to federal resources for search and rescue, potential medical evacuations, mass care and sheltering commodities, and additional temporary power generation capabilities.

     The session drew about 60 people who were also keen to discuss reopening Kīlauea sections of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, which have been closed since May 11 following regular eruptions and almost continuous seismic activity. With the eruption considered "paused," the reopening is set for National Public Lands Day, Saturday, Sept. 22.
     The Kahuku Unit, located near Ocean View, was never closed. This meant that many visitors, unable to reach Kīlauea summit, instead visited volcanic features on the slopes of Mauna Loa. This resulted in more staff personnel assigned to the unit, and more programs and longer hours at Kahuku.
     Orlando scheduled the talk story in August to give Kaʻū residents a chance to voice their opinions on how the Park facilities should be rebuilt to avoid mistakes of the past and to gauge community needs. The event was postponed when Hurricane Lane was expected.
     Keola Awong, the Kahuku Unit Area Manager, reported that with the Kīlauea summit area closed, visitation at Kahuku increased from a daily average of about 65 cars to 200 or 300. She added that almost 500 cars were logged on one day. On May 23, Kahuku Unit's hours extended from three days per week to five days per week.

Trail map showing all the trails currently open to visitors. NPS graphic

     Bicycle riding in the park came up later in the Talk Story when one resident pointed out that keiki on bikes are a hazard to hikers on the Palm Trail, as they often come careening down the steep hills, barely in control, and hikers must leap out of their way to avoid a collision. She said they are often unsupervised by parents. She suggested that some trails be designated for bikes, and others for hikers.
     A resident complained about the "disgraceful" state of the road into the Kahuku Unit, pointing out that the plethora of pot holes would only get worse with increased visitation. Jon Christensen, the Facilities Manager for the Park, said that a pile of cold mix asphalt had been delivered. This would be used to fill the potholes.
     Orlando was also asked if the Park has plans to purchase the Pohue Bay property. She replied that the park does not have the $18 million asking price. She said that she was understands that the property needs management to preserve it, but it is private land and the park has no control.
     The Pohue Bay property covers 16,456 acres mauka of the highway and includes six miles of undeveloped coast, which is not only a valuable nesting site for the endangered Hawksbill Turtle, but also an Intensive archeology site with 1,144 documented features. These include petroglyphs, anchialine ponds, and the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, which runs through the land, parallel to the coast. If the Park were to acquire the property, it would control a contiguous corridor of 132,000 acres from the summit of Mauna Loa to the ocean.

Jon Christensen, Facilities Manager for the HVNP, at the Kahuku Talk Story.  Photo by Annie Bosted

     Asked when feral Mouflon are considered "eradicated," in the park, Awong replied that they are almost all gone. Mouflon are wild sheep imported from Cyprus for game hunting in 1968, and are now considered to be a problematic invasive species as they thwart efforts to restore native ecosystems by threatening indigenous plants and forest bird habitats. In 2004, the USGS estimated that there were more than 2,500 Mouflon in the Kahuku Unit.
     Orlando pointed out that the park had erected game fences, at great expense, to facilitate the eradication, which is now done from helicopters as the volunteer program has ended. She explained that the Kahuku Unit is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays to allow the eradication to continue.
     An Ocean View resident asked when the road to the Forested Pit Crater trail would be opened, and what the Park was doing to manage and contain Rapid ‘Ōhi’a Death, a disease which, according to the Park's website, has infected several trees in the upper padocks. ROD has not been found in the paddocks mauka of the locked gate across the access road, in the recently designated "ROD Quarantine Area."
     For the past couple of years, the upper paddocks and road through them to the trailheads - for the popular Kona trail and the Glover Trail that leads to the spectacular Forested Pit Crater trail - have been closed to vehicles and hikers.

Adult mouflon ram, captured on a remote wildlife camera in the  Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i VolcanoesNational Park, Hawai‘i. USGS photo

     According to the Park website, the closure is necessary to prevent the spread of ROD to the upper paddocks. This means that the trailheads for the Glover trails and Kona trail are no longer accessible.
     In response to pressure to open the road, Awong announced that a recently opened hiking trail would be extended to the crater, explaining that it is "under construction."
     Named Pali o Kaʻeo, the trail was opened on July 28. The trail will be extended to pass through gates, which will be installed in the fences, so that hikers can reach the Forested Pit Crater. Awong estimated that the trail would take about three hours to hike, round trip.