Kaʻū News Briefs, Tuesday, May 21, 2019

See the entire Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks 2018 Impact Report online, with its history of challenges brought on by the volcanic activity of 2018. Cover image from Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association

HAWAIʻI PACIFIC PARKS ASSOCIATION released its 2018 Impact Report yesterday afternoon, detailing its challenges and accomplishments. During the earthquakes, eruption, and destabilization of the Jaggar Museum, the Association lost its book store there, one of three inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
     A letter from the Association's board chair Rosemary Stancampiano and its Executive Director Margot Griffith introduces the report. It says 2018 is notable for "the great hulihia (overturning, change) wrought to the lands of Kīlauea, the landscape of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park - and to all of us who are privileged to live and work on or near this wahi pana (legendary place)."
     The letter notes that in early 2018, "Visitors flocked to the viewing platform at Jaggar Museum... to enjoy the awe-inspiring sight of the active lava lake in the Summit Overlook Vent, which had overtopped its rim and flowed onto the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu in April.
     "Then came the series of volcanological events that began on April 30th: the draining of the lava lake in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō on Kīlauea's Middle East Rift Zone; the onset of the eruption in the Lower East Rift Zone on May 3; the 6.9 earthquake on May 4; and the draining of the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u. In anticipation of elevated activity at the summit, most of the park was closed for an indeterminate amount of time beginning on May 11." The two largest Hawaiʻi Pacific Park Association venues closed. "In the days and weeks that followed, Halema‘ma‘u and the surrounding caldera floor subsided dramatically, accompanied by collapse explosions registering as 5+ magnitude earthquakes, thousands of smaller magnitude felt earthquakes, and 60,000 quakes overall."
     The letter describes a "remarkable staff" who moved the Association to temporary locations and "ventured in to Jaggar Museum to affect the rescue of our inventory and equipment." Staff "sorted out real estate, insurance, and other matters; and adapted to new sales environments outside the park in Hilo, all while continuing to deliver service with aloha, and remaining positive."
     After the period of calm on Kīlauea began in early August, lava stopped erupting in lower Puna, and summit subsidence and earthquakes ceased, the park reopened on Sept. 22. The Association resumed operations at Kīlauea Visitor Center, and visitors are returning to the park and its "new normal."
     The letter notes that "More areas are opening all the time, but the park will have tremendous needs in the near future, as the results of assessments of roads, trails, and infrastructure become clear. This time has not been easy for our board, staff, or our park partners. We have had to employ a considerable amount of belt-tightening to our overhead budget, with impacts to staff, and continuing to provide aid to parks funding to our partners has also been challenging. We continued to fund key park programs such as West Hawai‘i park cultural festivals, and fulfilled our commitment of $40,000 in support of endangered species protection at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park."
     In 2018, Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association provided financial support to the Park for Interpretation and Volunteers, Species Protection, Hale Rehabilitation, Cultural Programs and Events, and Youth Programs, valued at $690,764 of in-kind support and money, much of it raised through the stores at Kīlauea Visitor Center, Kahuku Unit, and before it closed, Jaggar Museum.
     The Association also supports Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site on the north Kohala Coast; Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, north of Kailua-Kona; Haleakalā National Park on Maui; and National Park of American Samoa.
     See the entire Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks 2018 Impact Report online.
     See more at hawaiipacificparks.org.

Nippon Air passengers can purchased a stuffed Flying Honu named Lani on flights to and from Hawaiʻi. Image from All Nippon Airways