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| Streams and gulches overflowed in Wood Valley this morning. Photo by Julia Neal |
TROPICAL ERICK POURED THROUGH Kaʻū today, dumping more than three inches of rain above Pahala and overflowing streams and gulches in Wood Valley. Kaʻū Farm Bureau President Phil Becker said Erick "made a mess and made it hard to get anything done." Only minor damage to waterways was reported. Wood Valley Road was flooded at the ford for several hours this morning.
By late afternoon the Flash Flood Watch and Advisory were canceled. High Surf Warning for south facing shores are cancelled and Whittington and Punalu`u Beach Parks and South Point Road reopened. Tropical Storm Erick, at 5 p.m., was more than 250 miles west southwest of South Point, continuing to weaken. It is expected to have no more effect on Hawaiʻi Island after tonight.
Camping permits, put on hold at Punalu`u and Whittington during Erick's approach, will be honored until Monday when Tropical Storm Flossie could be in the area. At 5 p.m. Flossie was about 1,000 miles from South Point, with 60 mph winds, moving at 17 mph, However she is expected to turn north, away from Ka`u, before arriving at Hawaiʻi Island late on Sunday. Winds are expected to blow into east and north-facing shores starting
A High Wind Advisory is in effect for the entire island. The High Surf warning for east facing shores of Hawaiʻi Island is in effect through this evening.
Officials and forecasters remind the public that tropical storms can cause wind, rain, and surf damage, and to be prepared with at least 14 days of food, water, and other necessary supplies.
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| Flowing water from Tropical Storm Erick blocks Wood Valley Road for a father and daughter who look at the turbulence this morning. Photo by Julia Neal |
UH BOARD OF REGENTS WILL STUDY MAUNAKEA MANAGEMENT with a task force. It will be tasked with assessing University of Hawai`i's management of the mauna, which has gained international attention with the Kiaʻi, Protectors of Maunakea, making a stand to block the Thirty Meter Telescope project.
The "permitted interaction group" meetings won't be public, and there will be no record of what is discussed. The six members will be selected in a public meeting, report to the full board in a public meeting, and any action will be decided in a public meeting separate from the first and second. There is no deadline given for this reporting.
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| Erick passes over Ka`u, heading west, while Flossie approaches. Image from nhc.noaa.gov |
UH Prof. Kaleikoa Kaeo testified that UH Pres. David Lassner should resign over the arrest of kūpuna and others while protesting, reported HNN. "I challenge Mr. Lassner to a public debate on whether or not this institution is a system of racism."
HNN reported Lassner saying that he has no plans to resign. "I know there are a lot of people, friends disappointed in me from their perspective. They wish I had gone another way. I also have many friends and community members who are incredibly supportive."
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| Hawaiʻi Island is out of danger from Erick, but Flossie threatens with more rain, wind, and high surf. Image from nhc.noaa.gov |
LEGISLATION PROMOTING NATIVE PLANT USE, RESEARCH, AND PROTECTION was introduced to the U.S. Senate on Wednesday by Sen. Mazie Hirono. The Botanical Sciences and Native Plant Materials Research, Restoration, and Promotion Act would "encourage federal land management agencies to hire botanists; establish a collaborative grant program to support efforts to keep rare plant species from becoming endangered and help endangered plant species recover; and proactively encourage the use of native plants in projects on federal land when feasible."
Said Hirono, "Hawaiʻi is home to over one thousand native plant species, and nearly 90 percent of those are found nowhere else in the world. Without these plants, our communities and our ecosystems face serious economic and ecological consequences. This bill would provide federal, state, and local land management entities the tools and resources they need to further protect native plant species and ensure the wellbeing of these plants for generations to come."
Dustin Wolkis, Seed Bank and Laboratory Manager, Department of Science and Conservation, Debbie Edwards, President of The Garden Club of America, said, "In today's world, the need for using native plants to promote vibrant ecosystems which are drought resistant, wild fire resistant, and resilient has never been greater. Measures such as Senator Hirono's legislation will help move us in this direction and promote intelligent, cost-effective land management practices."
The full text of the bill is available here. A one page summary and section-by-section breakdown of the bill is available here and here.
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| Telehealth is expanding across Hawaiʻi Island. Photo from Big Island Video News |
Endocrinology addresses the many hormone systems in the body, including those that are involve with reproduction, the automatic nervous system, how insulin is regulated, and more.
The schedule has the potential for expansion. Access to endocrinology is the latest in telehealth services that include telepsychiatry – addressing behavioral health – and telenephrology – addressing the health of kidneys.
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PLAY PICKLEBALL at Kīlauea Military Camp's new pickleball courts in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Aug. 24 and 25, starting at
Play pickleball on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Cooper Center 9 a.m. to noon at KMC (4 courts).
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WATER OR NO WATER ON HALEMA'UMA'UMA`U'S FLOOR? That is the question in this week's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist emeritus Don Swanson:
If there is water, the next question is, "where is it coming from?" The floor of Halema‘uma‘u is now about 68 m (223 ft) below the level of the water table as measured in a deep well about 1 km (0.6 mi) farther south.
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Aerial view of Halema'uma'u at the summit of The pond is at about 525 m (about 1722 ft) elevation. USGS photo by S. Conway |
USGS HVO scientists usually base their research on observations, either visual or instrumental. Interpretations come from these observations, so they must be as good as possible. Incorrect observations can, and have, led to erroneous interpretations.
But what if an observation is tempting but unverified? In that case, it's time to hold the interpretations until the observation can be shown to be correct or incorrect.
On July 25, 2019 , I was enjoying my birthday when a friend sent an e-mail asking if HVO knew about water on the floor of Halema‘uma‘u. Talk about a surprise! The friend's friend, a helicopter pilot, later sent a photo that showed a possible green pond on the crater floor and provided an oral account of it as being "about as large as a pickup truck."
The next day, observers in the helicopter, which was collecting lidar data of Kīlauea Volcano's caldera, provided another photo. They said the smooth green patch looked like water, but they had seen no reflection from its surface.
Then, on July 30, a passenger in a different helicopter took a photo from a high altitude that showed a similar feature. This photo was posted on social media with a brief commentary.
So, is water at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u – or not? Everyone agreed that the photos could well show water, but could the green patch be something else?
Another possibility is that the smooth, green color comes from a flat surface underlain by ash or rock-fall dust blown from the wall of Halema‘uma‘u and trapped in the bottom of the crater. The green color could result from sulfur minerals or algae. A weak point of this idea is that large rocks adjacent to the supposed pond are not coated with ash, much less green ash.
HVO received several inquiries about the photographs and the possibility that they show water in the crater. Water was on everyone's mind, and rightly so. But Halema‘uma‘u has never had a pond of water since written observations began, so the presence of a pond would be unusual.
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Telephoto views of water in the bottom of Halema'uma'u taken during a helicopter lidar survey on July 25 (left), when the pond was first observed, and a USGS overflight on Aug. 1(right). The pond grew slightly in size and depth between the two dates; an "x" marks the same rock in both photos for comparison. Left photo courtesy of Ron Chapelle, Quantum Spatial. USGS photo (right) by |
While tempting, speculation was not in order. No one had seen a reflection or ripples on the purported pond of water, and all discussion was based on the suggestive, but non-definitive, photos. So, before HVO could begin assessing how water got there, we had to first be confident that water IS there.
With the "water or no water" question in mind, HVO scientists flew over the summit of Kīlauea on the morning of August 1.
We can now confirm the presence of water at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u. HVO observers on the helicopter overflight saw reflections from the green pond – the 'smoking gun' for water. The pond has clearly enlarged since the earliest photos on July 25.
With the presence of water confirmed, HVO scientists can now start thinking about the implications of water in the crater, relieved of the burden of having to prove its existence. Until we better understand where the water is coming from, it's impossible to understand its significance.
However, at this time, there is no reason to think hazards at the summit have increased or decreased because of the presence of water.
HVO is now exploring options for additional observations. The inaccessible location of the water – deep within Halema‘uma‘u – makes it impossible to see the pond from most parts of the crater rim, although one potential viewpoint will be examined in the coming days (weather permitting). If that proves out, a webcam can be installed with National Park Service permission to monitor the new pond. If not, remote sensing could be another option for continued observations.
HVO scientists will closely monitor the water in Halema‘uma‘u, and as more information about the pond becomes available, we will keep readers informed through future Volcano Watch articles and posts to our website. Please stay tuned.
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See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com |
See khpes.org/athletics-home for details and updates; Bowling TBA.
Football, Division II:
Sat., Aug. 24, 1 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Kamehameha
Girls Volleyball, Kaʻū District Gym:
Tue., Aug. 20, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Hilo
Fri., Aug. 23, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts St. Joseph
Wed., Aug. 28, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Kohala
Cross Country:
Mon., Aug. 5, 2:30 to 4 p.m., first day practice
Sat., Aug. 31, 10 a.m., @Christian Liberty
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Sat., Aug. 31, 10 a.m., @Christian Liberty
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UPCOMING
SATURDAY, AUG. 3
Edible Landscaping for Backyards and Beyond with Zach Mermel of Ola Design Group, Saturday, Aug. 3, 9a.m.-2:30p.m. , Volcano Art Center
Keiki Science Class, Saturday, Aug. 3 – 1st Saturday, monthly – 11a.m. -noon , Ace Hardware Stores islandwide; Nā‘ālehu, 929-9030 and Ocean View, 929-7315. Free. acehardware.com
Flameworking - An Introductory Class with Nash Adams-Pruitt, Saturday, Aug. 3, and Sunday, Aug. 4, 2-4:30p.m., Volcano Art Center. $155/VAC member, $160/non-member, plus $40 supply fee. Class size limited; advanced registration required. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org
SUNDAY, AUG. 4
Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sunday, Aug. 4 – 1st Sunday, monthly – noon-2p.m.,
sites.google.com/viewith southhawaiiares/home. Rick Ward, 938-3058
MONDAY, AUG. 5
Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool Accepting Enrollment Applications - orientation for enrolled families begins Aug. 5 and 6, with programs in Nā‘ālehu/Wai‘ōhinu at Kauaha‘ao Church on Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:45-10:45a.m., and Pāhala Community Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30-10:30a.m. Limited space. 939-8573, pidfoundation.org
Ocean View Volunteer Fire Department Mtg., Monday, Aug. 5 and Sept. 2, 4-6p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org
TUESDAY, AUG. 6
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, Aug. 6 (Committees), Wednesday, Aug. 7 (Council), Hilo . Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building
Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Mtg., Tuesday, Aug. 6, 6-8p.m. , Pāhala Community Center
Paniolo: Hawaiian Cowboys, Aft
Registration Open: Instructional Volleyball (8+, 10+, 12+, 14+), Aug. 7-15, Ka‘ū District Gym. Program takes place Tuesdays and Thursdays, Aug. 20-Oct. 17, 6-7:30p.m. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation
Hula Voices with Kumu Hula Kimo Awai, Wednesday, Aug. 7 – 1st Wednesday, monthly – 5:30-7p.m. , Volcano Art Center Gallery. Desiree Moana Cruz moderates the talk story session. Free. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org
Nā‘ālehu Elementary School 9a.m. -5p.m, Ocean View Community Center
THURSDAY, AUG. 8
Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thursday, Aug. 8, 6:30p.m. , United Methodist Church
Registration Open: Watercolor Art, Thursday, Aug. 8-14, Ka‘ū District Gym multipurpose room. Program for grades K-8 takes place Wednesday, Aug. 14, 3:30-5p.m. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation
FRIDAY, AUG. 9
Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Friday, Aug. 9, 9a.m. -noon , Ocean View Community Center
Private Excursion: Trail Less Traveled, Friday, Aug. 9, 10a.m. -noon , Devastation Trail Parking Lot, HVNP. Moderate 2 mile hike. $40/person. Park entrance fees may apply. Organized by Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
Community Dance, Friday, Aug. 9, 7-10p.m. , Cooper Center Volcano Village
Talk Action, Take Action: surveys available through Aug. 4, recovery.hawaiicounty.gov/connect/impact-status-survey-suite. The surveys focus on different areas of recovery after the 2018 Kīlauea eruption: households, businesses, and community.
Volcano Winery's Annual Fundraising Harvest Festival Tickets are on sale at volcanowinery.com or (808) 967-7772. Proceeds benefit
6th Annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run Registration, webscorer.com/register?raceid=166020. 5K, 10K, 1/2 Marathon races through mac nut and coffee fields along slopes of Ka‘ū starting at 7 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 21, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Sponsored by Ka‘ū Coffee Mill and ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou. Prices increase after July 9. okaukakou.org, kaucoffeemill.com
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