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| Thursday's view of Halema‘uma‘u and the pond at the bottom of the crater. Locals are smelling sulfur for the first time in months, and speculations leads to the ponds possibly being the culprit. See story, and Volcano Watch - which discusses the origin of the ponds - below. Photo from USGS/D. Swanson |
WHAT'S THAT SMELL? There was a sulphur odor all over Volcano Village this morning, and people smelled it a high elevations in Ocean View as well. It was a topic of discussion at places of business around Volcano Village
This week's Volcano Watch, below, addresses the pond, which was three ponds a couple days ago, and has grown larger and merged into one. Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory scientists are planning to take a sample of the water, to determine its origin and makeup.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.
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| A sign in Kaʻū, urging voters to support the Fund. Photo by Julia Neal |
The PONC funding comes from the Two Percent Land Fund, which receives two percent of county property taxes to preserve special lands and .25 percent to maintain it. "Labor, education, workshops, and maintenance work," would qualify, according to the proposed charter amendment.
Volcano resident and PONC commissioner Rick Warshauer told the Charter Commission that much of the PONC maintenance money goes to expensive studies of the properties and that more needs to go to the actual care of the land. At the end of last month, the PONC fund for acquiring new properties held a balance of $22.6 million and the maintenance fund held $2.9 million.
Debbie Hecht, a chief proponent of PONC, reminded the Charter Commissioners that only 9 percent of the maintenance money received from taxes has gone to the non-profits caring for the land, since the fund was established in 2013. She also testified that the maintenance fund can provide needed employment for residents.TULSI IN IOWA , OFF TO INDONESIA . Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who has spent much time campaigning all over the U.S. to become the Democratic nominee for President, will leave the country for two weeks, as a major Hawaiʻi Army National Guard. During an interview with ABC News regarding her brief departure from the campaign trail, she said, "We've got a strong people-powered campaign, and so we're working on making sure that our folks are out, and they're continuing to go to the fairs and the town halls, and sharing our message… I will be stepping away from the campaign for two weeks to fulfill my duty to the Army National Guard."
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| Gabbard in her uniform. She will fulfill her National Guard obligation for the next two weeks. Photo from Gabbard's Facebook |
Gabbard is still trying to qualify for the thrid Democrat presidential debate in September. While she has raised enough money from individual donors to qualify, she needs to rate higher in polls to qualify.
Should Gabbard fall short of beocming the Democratic candidate for U.S. President or Vice Presidential, she would have until Jun 2, 2020, to file papers to run for reelection for her congressional seat. Hilo Sen. Kaialiʻi Kahele is already campaigning for Gabbard's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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.
THE TRUMP PROPOSAL TO CUT AN ADDITIONAL $100 BILLION IN CAPITAL GAINS TAXES prompted a letter from Senators Brian Schatz, Mazie Hirono, and 40 other Democrat and Independent senators this week. Written to Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, the letter urges "against unilaterally cutting capital gains taxes for the wealthiest Americans by an additional $100 billion over ten years." The senators argue the cuts "would defy longstanding Treasury Department and Justice Department policies." The Congressional Research Service notes that "it is unlikely… that a significant, or any, effect on economic growth would occur from a stand-alone indexing proposal."
"This is yet another policy that would fail American workers," the Senators wrote.
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The senators' letter follows a July 29 letter signed by 21 Republican senators, urging Mnuchin to circumvent Congress and index capital gains rates to inflation.
The full text of the letter is available here.
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.
LADIES NIGHT OUT on Friday, Sept. 27 at Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium in Hilo, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi office in Hilo distributes tickets Mondays, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m, and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 1438 Kīlauea Ave.
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.
As shown in HVO's website photos, volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/kilauea_
multimedia_15.html, the ponds are milky turquoise, or greenish, in color, indicative of dissolved sulfur and metals from magmatic gases or surrounding rock mixing into the water. Thermal images show water surface temperatures of approximately 70 degrees Celsius (158 degrees Fahrenheit). Tracking both color and temperature of the ponds will help us identify changes in chemistry and heating.
In addition to surface observations, HVO also monitors for subsurface changes. Fortunately, Kīlauea 's summit hosts one of the densest volcano monitoring networks on Earth. Seismic, deformation, and gas instruments can help determine if magma is rising closer to the surface. Seismic monitoring may be able to detect instabilities in the hydrothermal system (the zone where groundwater and hot gases interact) that, at other volcanoes, have been precursors to eruptions.
Volcano Activity UpdatesMauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at ADVISORY because earthquake and ground deformation rates at the volcano continue to remain slightly elevated above long-term background levels. This alert level does not mean that an eruption is imminent or that progression to an eruption is certain. A similar increase in activity occurred between 2014 and 2018 and no eruption occurred.
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.
2019 Kaʻū High School Athletics Schedule through August
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
"This is yet another policy that would fail American workers," the Senators wrote.
The full text of the letter is available here.
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.
LADIES NIGHT OUT on Friday, Sept. 27 at Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium in Hilo, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi office in Hilo distributes tickets Mondays, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m, and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 1438 Kīlauea Ave.
The 19th annual free event offers pampering and health awareness for women: make and take craft, unique boutique, hair trimming, mini manicures, massages, door prizes, entertainment, refreshments, and more. Women 18 years and older, no pets or children. Alcohol, drug, tobacco, and e-cig fee event. In memory of Nancy Everett, RN.
"We hope you join us for a night of fun and pampering!" states the event notice. See hmono.org/ladiesnightout or call (808) 969-9220 with questions.
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.
HVO IS TRACKING GREEN PONDS OF WATER at Kīlauea 's summit, within Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. Learn more about the ponding in this week's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:
The recent appearance of water at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u, a crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, has attracted wide attention and generated many questions. To understand the significance of this water, we must first gather accurate information on its behavior. Similar to our monitoring of ponded lava in Halema‘uma‘u in 2008‒2018, USGS HVO scientists are now relying on both direct observations and modern tools to monitor the water.
During regular visits to Kīlauea , HVO staff observe, measure, and document changes in the water in Halema‘uma‘u through photographs, videos, and thermal images.
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HVO scientists will better understand what's happening to agitate the water in the Halemaʻumaʻu pond if/when a sample of the water can be collected, which is a logistical challenge given that the pond cannot be reached on foot due to hazardous conditions in the crater. Photo from USGS/D. Swanson |
multimedia_15.html, the ponds are milky turquoise, or greenish, in color, indicative of dissolved sulfur and metals from magmatic gases or surrounding rock mixing into the water. Thermal images show water surface temperatures of approximately 70 degrees Celsius (158 degrees Fahrenheit). Tracking both color and temperature of the ponds will help us identify changes in chemistry and heating.
The water in Halema‘uma‘u is not visible from publicly accessible areas of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, but this past week, HVO moved one of its existing webcams to a site that provides a direct view of the ponds. This temporary webcam doesn't have high enough resolution to discern small scale changes in the water level but will nevertheless be valuable for identifying larger scale events.
To measure the level of water in the ponds, HVO scientists use a long-range laser rangefinder. These daily measurements show that the water level has slowly risen, enlarging the ponded water area over the past week.
Future helicopter overflights will allow us to map and precisely measure the area and volume of the changing ponds. Using oblique photographs, we can create 3-dimensional models of the crater floor. Comparing these updated models with the lidar (light detection and ranging) data collected in July 2019 will help us estimate water volume. High-resolution satellite images, which are routinely collected at Kīlauea 's summit, can fill in observational gaps between HVO's overflights.
Unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, a tool used during the 2018 events, could also provide aerial imagery and precise measurements of pond area and volume.
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| These photos show the growth of the larger pond between July 25, when it was noticed, to Aug. 1. An "X" marks the same rock for comparison in the two telephoto aerial images. Photo at left courtesy of Ron Chapelle, Quantum Spatial; right photo from USGS/ |
Direct sampling and chemical analyses of the water in Halema‘uma‘u would provide insight into its source – if it is a shallow accumulation of rainwater or the surface expression of a deeper-seated layer of groundwater. Some of the water could also be from condensed water vapor directly released by the magma.
Knowing the water's source will help us better understand the possible hazards associated with it. For instance, if the water is from the extensive zone of groundwater around the crater, it could be more likely to interact with rising magma and result in explosive activity.
Given the hazardous location of the water, however, direct sampling is tricky. Walking down to the ponds is not advised due to the possible accumulation of carbon dioxide on the crater floor. Other dangers include frequent rockfalls from the steep, unstable slopes.
In recent media interviews, HVO scientists have discussed how the presence of water could increase the potential for explosive activity given the right set of conditions. At the current time, however, monitoring data do not indicate any signs of imminent unrest at Kīlauea 's summit. Magma continues to quietly recharge the summit magma reservoir.
The historically unprecedented appearance of water in Halema‘uma‘u is a reminder that, even in the absence of a lava lake, Kīlauea 's summit remains a highly dynamic place. HVO continues to keep a close eye on the volcano and will post updated photos and videos to volcanoes.wr.usgs.gov/hvo.
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The pond surface agitation could be due to escaping gases from below, rising through the water, or from the water boiling, or, perhaps, a combination of both. Photo from USGS/D. Swanson |
Kῑlauea Volcano is not erupting and its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at NORMAL . Monitoring data for deformation have shown no significant changes in Kīlauea activity over the past month. Rates of seismicity across the volcano remain low. Sulfur dioxide emission rates are low at the summit and below detection limits at Puʻu ʻŌʻō and the Lower East Rift Zone (LERZ).
At or near the 2018 LERZ eruptive fissures, elevated ground temperatures and minor releases of gas (steam, tiny amounts of hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide) persist. These are typical post-eruption conditions and are expected to be long-term, as they were after the 1955 LERZ eruption.
This past week, approximately 130 small-magnitude earthquakes (most less than M2.0) occurred beneath the summit and upper Southwest Rift Zone. Deformation measurements show continued summit inflation, suggestive of recharge of the volcano's shallow magma storage system. No significant changes in volcanic gas release on the Southwest Rift Zone were measured, and fumarole temperatures there and at the summit remain unchanged.
Visit volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvofor past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.
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.
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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:
Sat., Aug. 31, 10 a.m., @Christian Liberty
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.
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.
UPCOMING
SATURDAY, AUG. 10
Pancake Breakfast and Raffle, Saturday, Aug. 10, 8-11a.m. , Ocean View Community Center
Ti Leaf Lei Making Workshop with Jelena Clay, Saturday, Aug. 10, 9a.m.-12:30p.m. , Volcano Art Center
/NMOK.Hawaii
Zentangle Inspired Labyrinth Shrines with Lois and Earl Stokes, Saturday, Aug. 10,
SUNDAY, AUG. 11
Medicine for the Mind: Teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, Sunday, Aug. 11 – 2nd Sunday, monthly –
MONDAY, AUG. 12
Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Monday, Aug. 12 and Aug. 26, 1p.m. , contact for location. Parent-led homeschool activity and social group, building community in Ka‘ū. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351
noaa.gov, facebook.com/hawaiihumpbackwhale,
sanctuaries.noaa.gov, dlnr.hawaii.gov
Registration Open: Butterfly Magnets Craft, Tuesday, Aug. 13-19,
Lā‘āu Lāpa‘au Demonstration, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 10a.m. -noon , Kīlauea Visitor Center
THURSDAY, AUG. 15
Private Guided Hike: Kīlauea Iki Crater, Thursday, Aug. 15, 10a.m.-2p.m. , Kīlauea Iki Overlook, HVNP. Organized by Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
Registration Open: Beaded Bracelet, Aug. 15-20, Ka‘ū District Gym multipurpose room. Program for grades K-8, takes place Wednesday, Aug. 21, 3:30-5p.m. Free.928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation
FRIDAY, AUG. 16
Hawai‘i Statehood Day
CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF KAʻŪ, Kanani aʻo Kaʻū, on August 17 at Pāhala Community Center, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Organizers say there will be history, food, and music. General admission is $20; kūpuna are $10; keiki ages 6 to 17 are $8; keiki 5 and under are free.
To find out more, email hawaiiancivicclubkau@gmail.com or call 808-747-0197.
Volcano Winery's Annual Fundraising Harvest Festival Tickets are on sale at volcanowinery.com or (808) 967-7772. Proceeds benefit Volcano School 4-7p.m. The $50 per person tickets include live music entertainment by Young Brothers; delicious food and drink from local restaurants; award-winning wines and teas from the Volcano Winery; tours of the vineyards and a huge raffle.
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 7a.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
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.
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