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| Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park hosts the 11th annual Volcano Awareness Month in January, with events in and around the Park, and all over the island. See the Park events that will happen next month, below. NPS photos |
ACCESS ROAD TO MAUNAKEA'S SUMMIT WILL REOPEN TO THE PUBLIC, as will Hale Pohaku Visitor Center
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| Vehicles headed up to Maunakea's summit. Photo from Big Island Video News |
Dr. Noe Noe Wong-Wilson, one of the kūpuna arrested for blocking the access road on July 17, said, "I declare this a victory on our part. A victory because this is an opportunity for us in this Lono season… to do what our ancestors did. This is the time for negotiation, for diplomacy, for reassessment, to live in our environment the way that our environment is telling us to live."
The kiaʻi had encamped at the access road to the summit since July 15. They were given a warning to vacate by today, or face arrest, last week, the same day Gov. David Ige announced that the project they were protesting, the Thirty Meter Telescope, would not be built on Maunkea "at this time."
Kim communicated with the protectors via a letter, sent to kūpuna:
"The TMT Project has informed State officials and Mayor Kim that there will be no attempt to deliver construction equipment to the Maunakea site anytime soon. I, Mayor Kim, give you my personal assurances that no attempt will be made to move TMT construction equipment up the mountain for a minimum of two months. During this time, at least until the end of February 2020, the protectors are requested to move the Kūpuna tent which is currently on the roadway to the side of the road. This will provide open access to the general public to drive up the road to the Maunakea Visitor Center or to the summit region. This clearance of the roadway will help ensure the safety of visitors and protectors.
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| Dr. Noe Noe Wong-Wilson. Photo from Big Island Video News |
"It is hoped that during this peaceful time, communication between government officials, the astronomy community, community leaders, and protectors will continue. I, Mayor Kim will continue to work with TMT to extend the two-month stand-down period if necessary."
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POSSIBLE COASTAL FLOODING CONTINUES for the next few days, states a Special Weather Statement from the National Weather Service. Flooding will most likely occur during high tide, "late at night. Impacts of the higher than normal water levels may include flooding of beaches that normally remain dry, salt water inundation of typically vulnerable low-lying roads, docks, boat ramps, and other coastal infrastructure."
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Aunty Edna Baldado discusses eating and living healthier with traditional Hawaiian foods. NPS photo |
Guided hikes of Kīlauea Iki Crater, Mondays, Jan. 6, 13, 20, and 27 at 10 a.m. Meet Park Ranger Michael Newman at the Kīlauea Iki Overlook parking lot. The four-mile (6.4 km) Kīlauea Iki Trail is one of the Park's iconic hiking trails, a popular destination for hikers who cross a steaming crater floor through the intersection of eruption and native rainforest. Most leave without knowing how the crater was formed, or how three eruptions since 1823 have filled it with more than 400 feet (120 m) of lava. Delve into the secrets of Kīlauea . Discover how fountains of lava from the giant brick-red cone, Pu‘u Pua‘i, jetted up 1,900 feet (579 m) in 1959 and left behind a 50-foot (15 m) bathtub ring of lava residue on the crater walls. Moderately difficult with an elevation gain of 400 feet (120 m).
Transitions: What's next for HVO and the volcanoes it monitors?, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 7 p.m. , Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. This presentation will be repeated at UH-Hilo on Jan. 9. Both 2018 and 2019 were years of profound change at Kīlauea Volcano and the USGS HVO. Devastation caused by the largest lower East Rift Zone eruption and summit collapse in at least 200 years resulted in many transitions for island residents, including HVO. Tina Neal, Scientist-in-Charge of the HVO, describes the current status of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa and what might be coming next. She also recaps HVO's situation since having to vacate its building at Kīlauea 's summit in 2018, and shares info on the exciting next steps for the volcano observatory in 2020 and beyond. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ongoing After Dark in the Park series.
‘Ai Pono – Healthy Hawaiian foods, Wednesday, Jan. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon , Kīlauea Visitor Center
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Ranger Keoni Kaholo‘a‘ā shares his knowledge of how to pound kalo and make poi. NPS photo |
Hike the path of Mauna Loa's 1868 lava flow, Saturday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m. , Kahuku Unit. RCUH-HVO geologists Katie Mulliken and Lil DeSmither lead this guided hike along the Pu‘u o Lokuana trail in the Kahuku Unit of the Park. During the hike, learn about the eruptive history, structure, and current status of Mauna Loa , Earth's largest active volcano, as you traverse lava flows from its 1868 eruption. Katie and Lil explain the volcanic features along the trail and tell the story of the destructive eruption and associated earthquakes in 1868. They also share information on how HVO monitors Mauna Loa , which has erupted 33 times since 1843, most recently in 1984. A park ranger will assist with the hike to answer questions about Kahuku.
What's happening at Kīlauea Volcano's summit?, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 7 p.m. , at Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Kīlauea Volcano's summit has been in an eruptive pause since the 2018 events ended over a year ago. Nevertheless, it remains a dynamic place. Ongoing inflation and seismicity indicate that the summit magma chamber is gradually recharging. A water lake, unprecedented in the written historical record, appeared at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u in late July 2019 and has steadily risen. What are the potential hazards at Kīlauea 's summit? Could explosive activity return? What is known about the water lake? How is it monitored? Join USGS HVO geologists Matt Patrick and Tricia Nadeau as they answer these questions and more. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ongoing After Dark in the Park series.
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| Explore Kahuku Unit during Volcano Awareness Month. NPS photo |
Fee-Free Day in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Monday, Jan. 20. All fee-charging national parks – including Hawai‘i Volcanoes, Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park and Haleakalā National Park – will have free entry that day. For a complete list of fee-free dates in 2020, go to nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm.
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Kaʻū Actor Dick Hershberger as Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar. NPS photo/Janice Wei |
Seismicity of the 2018 Kīlauea Volcano eruption, Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. , at Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. The 2018 Kīlauea eruption produced unprecedented levels of seismicity in the volcano's instrumented history. USGS HVO documented about 80,000 earthquakes during the three-month eruption, starting with the dramatic collapse of the Puʻu ʻŌʻō cone on April 30 and ending with the final Kīlauea summit caldera collapse event on Aug. 5. The sequence included a magnitude-6.9 south flank earthquake, the largest for Hawai‘i in 45 years. HVO seismologist Brian Shiro recounts the 2018 earthquake story, including how HVO adapted its techniques to monitor the events, and describes current levels of seismicity and HVO's ongoing efforts to improve seismic monitoring. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ongoing After Dark in the Park series.
Stewardship of Kīpukapuaulu, every Thursday at 9:30 a.m. , Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30. Meet at the Kīpukapuaulu parking lot, Mauna Loa Road , off Highway 11 in the Park. Help remove troublesome plants at Kīpukapuaulu, home to diverse native forest and understory plants. Bring clippers or pruners, sturdy gloves, a hat, and water. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothing that you don’t mind getting permanently stained from morning glory sap. Be prepared for cool and wet or hot and sunny weather. New volunteer? Contact Marilyn Nicholson for more info: nickem@hawaii.rr.com.
Stewardship at the Summit 8:45 a.m. Meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center Volcanoes National Park
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Monday, Jan. 20 is the fee-free Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday. Park visitors can explore the park and its unique resources – like the Pu‘u Loa Petroglyphs – for free. NPS photo/Janice Wei |
Explore Kahuku. The Kahuku Unit is free, and is open Thursday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Take a self-guided hike, or join rangers on weekends for a two-hour guided trek at 9:30 a.m. Enter the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on the mauka (inland) side of Highway 11 near mile marker 70.5. Kahuku is located in Ka‘ū, and is about a 50-minute drive south of the Park's main entrance. Sturdy footwear, water, rain gear, sun protection, and a snack are recommended for all hikes.
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Girls Basketball
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Swimming
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SATURDAY, DEC. 28
Ocean View Skatepark Design Workshop, Saturday, Dec. 28, 3-5 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Help create a design plan and drawings of skatepark features to present to County Council. Organized by Kalanihale 501- 3c NPO. Public welcome. Kaimi Kaupiko, 808-937-1310
SUNDAY, DEC. 29
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TUESDAY, DEC. 31
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The KMC New Year's Eve Party on Tuesday, Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. at the Lava Lounge will have live music from Blue Tattoo. The $10 cover charge includes a champagne toast at midnight . Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.
Tūtū & Me Home Visiting Program is a free service to Pāhala families with keiki, birth to five years old. This caregiver support program offers those taking care of young keiki "a compassionate listening ear, helpful parenting tips and strategies, fun and exciting activities, and wonderful educational resources" from Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool. Home visits are one hour in length, two to four times per month, for 12 to 15 visits. Snacks are provided. See pidfoundation.org or call 808-938-1088.
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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 monthly and weekly Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, and Meditation at kaucalendar.com.
2019-2020 Kaʻū Winter Sports Schedule
Girls Basketball
Tue., Jan. 7 @Kohala
Fri., Jan. 10 host Honokaʻa
Boys Basketball
Sat., Dec. 28 host Kohala
Fri., Jan. 3 host HPA
Sat., Jan. 4 host Pāhoa
Thu., Jan. 9 @Waiakea
Sat., Jan. 11, @Konawaena
Wrestling
Sat., Jan. 4 @Waiakea
Sat., Jan. 11 @Kealakehe
Soccer
Sat., Jan. 4 Girls host Honokaʻa, 3pm
Mon., Jan. 6 @HPA
Wed., Jan. 8 host Kealakehe, 2pm
Sat., Jan. 11 @Honokaʻa
Sat., Jan. 4 @Kamehameha
Sat., Jan. 11 @Kona Community Aquatic Center
UPCOMING
FRIDAY, DEC. 27
Kahuku Coffee Talk: Artist in the Park, Friday, Dec. 27, 9:30-11a.m. , Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station. F
Monthly Mele & Hula ‘Auana Performances, Friday, Dec. 27, 4-5:30p.m. , Volcano Art Center
Amahl & Night Visitors Show, Friday, Dec. 27-Jan. 3, 5-8p.m. , Kīlauea Military Camp's Theater, in HVNP. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. 982-7344, kden73@aol.com
Birth of Kahuku, Saturday, Dec. 28, 9:30-11:30a.m. , Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, easy-to
Ocean View Skatepark Design Workshop, Saturday, Dec. 28, 3-5 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Help create a design plan and drawings of skatepark features to present to County Council. Organized by Kalanihale 501- 3c NPO. Public welcome. Kaimi Kaupiko, 808-937-1310
SUNDAY, DEC. 29
Final Gymkhana Event of 2019, Sunday, Dec. 29, 9a.m., Nā‘ālehu Rodeo Arena. Sign-in and check-in 8:30a.m. Hosted by Ka‘ū Roping & Riding Association.
People and Land, Sunday, Dec. 29, 9:30-12:30p.m. , Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, moderate,
TUESDAY, DEC. 31Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tuesday – last Tuesday, monthly – Dec. 31, 11:30a.m.-1p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View. Volunteers welcome. Dave Breskin, 319-8333
KMC New Year's Eve Party, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 5-8p.m., Kīlauea Military Camp's Lava Lounge, in HVNP. Blue Tattoo andmidnight toast. $10 cover charge for non-KMC guests. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply
KMC New Year's Eve Party, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 5-8p.m., Kīlauea Military Camp's Lava Lounge, in HVNP. Blue Tattoo and
THURSDAY, JAN. 2
Women's Expression Group, Thursday, Jan. 2 – 1st Thursday monthly – 3-4:30p.m. , PARENTS Inc., Nā‘ālehu. Women welcome to drop in. Free. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org
Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Thursday, Jan. 2, 6-7p.m. , Ocean View Community Center
Christmas in the Country featuring 20th Annual Invitational Wreath Exhibit, daily, through Dec. 31, Volcano Art Center Gallery. Free; park entrance fees app
Vote for the Best Cottage Decorations at Kīlauea Military Camp through Tuesday, Jan. 1. The public is invited to stroll along the sidewalks around the KMC Cottages where the staff has entered a contest for best Christmas decorations. The outdoor displays are best seen at night. KMC is located within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Call 967-8356 or see kilaueamilitarycamp.com.
T-Ball and Coach Pitch Baseball League: Ocean View Team - Mondays and Wednesdays, Kahuku Park. Nā‘ālehu Team - Tuesdays and Thursdays,
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Nā‘ālehu Park. Pāhala Team (seeking coaches) - attend Nā‘ālehu practice. T-Ball, 3:30-4:30pm, ages 5-6. Coach Pitch, 4:30-6p.m., ages 7-8. Programs take place through April 16. Wear cleats or tennis shoes, bring a glove if possible. Extras gloves available for use. All skills and genders welcome. $35 per teammate. See Ka‘ū Youth Baseball on Facebook. Josh or Elizabeth Crook, 345-0511
Tūtū & Me Home Visiting Program is a free service to Pāhala families with keiki, birth to five years old. This caregiver support program offers those taking care of young keiki "a compassionate listening ear, helpful parenting tips and strategies, fun and exciting activities, and wonderful educational resources" from Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool. Home visits are one hour in length, two to four times per month, for 12 to 15 visits. Snacks are provided. See pidfoundation.org or call 808-938-1088.
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.
