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| Hōlei Sea Arch Overlook is closed pending evaluation after discovery of instability and new cracks. NPS photo |
HŌLEI SEA ARCH OVERLOOK IS CLOSED inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. It closed this afternoon until further notice due to new cracks and instability observed on the coastal cliffs.
The short trail to the sea arch is at the end of Chain of Craters Road, 22.1 miles from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes' Visitor Center. Today the trail was roped off. Visitors are advised to stay back from the cliff edge, and obey all posted signs.
"We are consulting with subject matter experts on the extent of the hazard," said Acting Superintendent Rhonda Loh. "This new development reminds us that Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is an ever-changing volcanic landscape and we appreciate the public's understanding," she said.
Chain of Craters Road remains open. The 19-mile drive takes visitors through some of the most spectacular scenery in the park.
The Hōlei Sea Arch is 90 feet high and was formed about 550 years ago.
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 short trail to the sea arch is at the end of Chain of Craters Road, 22.1 miles from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes' Visitor Center. Today the trail was roped off. Visitors are advised to stay back from the cliff edge, and obey all posted signs.
"We are consulting with subject matter experts on the extent of the hazard," said Acting Superintendent Rhonda Loh. "This new development reminds us that Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is an ever-changing volcanic landscape and we appreciate the public's understanding," she said.
Chain of Craters Road remains open. The 19-mile drive takes visitors through some of the most spectacular scenery in the park.
The Hōlei Sea Arch is 90 feet high and was formed about 550 years ago.
A HELICOPTER NOISE ACT CALLED RETURN SERENITY AND SAFETY TO HAWAIʻI has been introduced to the Hawai‘i 2020 Legislature by Hawaiʻi Island Coalition Mālama Pono – HICoP. The group has long advocated more regulation of tour helicopters to ease noise over neighborhoods.
The announcement from Bob Ernst of the HICoP Board said the legislation would require all tour helicopters to operate with FAA-approved flotation and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast. Tour copters would be required to "keep their noise footprint out of all occupied properties." Failure to comply would result in denial and/or rescission of operating permits.
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Bob Ernst of Hawaiʻi Mālama Pono. Photo from |
HICoP said the legislation is needed because:
The FAA "has failed" to implement National Transportation Safety Board recommendation regarding flotation on all tour helicopters. HICoP references the recent death of a 16-year-old boy who "could not escape the sunk crashed tour helicopter in Pearl Harbor and died of submersion."
The FAA "has failed" to require tour helicopters to be equipped with ADS-B and further failed to require that ADS-B be on during operation. The equipment is meant to allow tracking and to help avoid in-air collisions with other human craft.
HICop noted the many complaints air traffic noise, and said:
"The last FAA tour copter noise nuisance pollution and crash safety hearing took place at Nani Mau on August 14, 2018 .
"The FAA has failed to attend the Roundtable Meetings (with government, citizens, and helicopter companies). The Roundtable was without any meaningful action and the Roundtable is now defunct.
"The FAA has completely ignored the complaints regarding the tour helicopter noise nuisance pollution in Hawai ‘i but has implemented helicopter operational routes on Long Island with FAA Rule 14 CFR Part 93 to address the complaints of helicopter noise nuisance pollution complaints on Long Island New York . The FAA has abdicated all responsibilities and duties regarding tour copters in Hawaiʻi.
"Representative Ed Case, hero for those on the ground living in misery from tour copter noise nuisance pollution and in danger of copter crashes, has filed federal legislation, much of which parallels the proposed HICoP legislation.
"Airports Division Hawai‘i Department of Transportation has totally ignored the tour copter noise nuisance pollution issue and the lack of safety regarding tour copter crashes and danger for those on the ground. The Airports Division could not even implement the Stakeholder Roundtable after the 2018 meeting and recently declared the Roundtable defunct."
See more at hicop.org.
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DON'T BE OFFENDED BY PEOPLE DRIVING AROUND WITH HAWAIIAN FLAGS, Mayor Harry Kim told those gathered at the opening of the 2020 Hawai‘i Legislature yesterday in Honolulu. He said it's symbolic of "many wrongs of the past. It's symbolic of finally being able to say, I'm proud to be a Hawaiian." He said the issue of Maunakea is not the telescope, not just the issue of the mountain, "only part of it."
He urged everyone to continue communication with protectors of Maunakea and said he is hopeful that the legislators will become more involved. "Maunakea can be such a catalyst to address so many things that we should address."
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| Ann Bosted, center, in an OV lava tube. Photo by Norman Thompson |
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LAVA TUBES OF OCEAN VIEW is the subject of an hour long talk at Ocean View Community Center on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m. Presented by Peter and Annie Bosted, it will include presentation of images of the underground in the Ocean View area – especially an extensive system in the Kahuku Unit of the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, which abuts HOVE – and Hawaiian lava tubes in general.
The Bosteds, who say they are passionate about photographing caves all over the world, promise "lots of eye candy. We will also talk about cave conservation, cave exploration, caving organizations, and explain why the lava tubes of Ocean View (and the Big Island) are among the best in the world!" said Annie Bosted.Those who want to know more about what's going on under their feet, and those curious about lava tubes, are invited to the free presentation, along with family and friends, said the Bosteds.
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MAUNA LOA VOLCANO is not erupting. The 13681 ft (4170 m)-tall volcano is at Alert Level: ADVISORY, with a Current Aviation Color Code of YELLOW. Rates of deformation and seismicity have not changed significantly over the past week and remain above long-term background levels.
During the past week, HVO seismometers recorded 52 small magnitude earthquakes beneath the upper elevations of the volcano. Most earthquakes occurred at shallow depths of less than 5 km (~3 miles) beneath the volcano.
Global Positioning System (GPS) and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) measurements show continued slow summit inflation, consistent with magma supply to the volcano’s shallow storage system.
Gas concentrations at the Sulphur Cone monitoring site on the Southwest Rift Zone remain stable. Fumarole temperatures as measured at both Sulphur Cone and the summit have not changed significantly.
For more information on current monitoring of Mauna Loa Volcano, see volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna_loa/monitoring_summary.html.
MAUNA LOA VOLCANO is not erupting. The 13681 ft (4170 m)-tall volcano is at Alert Level: ADVISORY, with a Current Aviation Color Code of YELLOW. Rates of deformation and seismicity have not changed significantly over the past week and remain above long-term background levels.
During the past week, HVO seismometers recorded 52 small magnitude earthquakes beneath the upper elevations of the volcano. Most earthquakes occurred at shallow depths of less than 5 km (~3 miles) beneath the volcano.
Global Positioning System (GPS) and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) measurements show continued slow summit inflation, consistent with magma supply to the volcano’s shallow storage system.
Gas concentrations at the Sulphur Cone monitoring site on the Southwest Rift Zone remain stable. Fumarole temperatures as measured at both Sulphur Cone and the summit have not changed significantly.
For more information on current monitoring of Mauna Loa Volcano, see volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna_loa/monitoring_summary.html.
BOYS BASKETBALL HOSTED KEALAKEHE yesterday in games for both Junior Varsity and Varsity. JV Trojans faced the Waveriders, scoring 41 to 49, with Kealakehe winning. 15 Waiola Akiu scored 15 points for Kaʻū, Micah Espejo 11, Jocyiah Mukini 9, Jezekial Jara 4, and Lentron Jara scored 2.
Varsity played a hard game, scoring 25 to Kealakehe's 51. For the Trojans, Kyson Toriano scored 9 points, Elijah Evangelista scored 5, Raymond Polido-Kalili scored 4, Blake Nakano scored 3, Kealiikoa Reyes-Nalu scored 2, and Seth McMasters and Michael Rodarte each scored 1 point.
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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.
Kaʻū Winter Sports Schedule
Girls Basketball
Tue., Jan. 14 host Konawaena
Thu., Jan.16 @Kealakehe
Wed., Jan. 22 @HPA
Boys Basketball
Wed., Jan. 15 host Kealakehe
Fri., Jan. 17 @Parker
Mon., Jan. 20 @Honokaʻa
Mon., Jan. 27 @Kamehameha
Soccer
Wed., Jan. 15 @Konawaena
Sat., Jan. 18 Girls @Kamehameha
Wed., Jan. 22 and Sat., Jan. 25 Girls BIIF
Wrestling
Sat., Jan. 18 @HPA
Sat., Jan. 25 @Kamehameha
Swimming
Sat., Jan. 18 @Kamehameha
Sat., Jan. 25 @Kona Community Aquatic Center
UPCOMING
SATURDAY, JAN. 18
Soft Pastel Still Life Workshop with Patti Pease Johnson, Saturday, Jan. 18, 9a.m. Beginner and intermediate artists welcome. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org
Birth of Kahuku, Saturday, Jan. 18, 9:30-11:30a.m. , Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, easy-to-moderate hike. Bring snack and water. nps.gov/havo
Hike Back in Time To The 1969-74 Mauna Ulu Eruption, Saturday, Jan. 18, 10a.m.-1p.m. , Mauna Ulu parking lot. USGS HVO geologist Dr. Carolyn Parcheta leads a two-hour guided walk along the fissure that started the Mauna Ulu eruption, the longest observed effusive rift eruption at the time which built lava shield, Mauna Ulu, growing mountain, a prominent landmark on Kīlauea's East Rift Zone. Free; Park entrance fees apply. 985-6101, nps.gov/havo
Ocean View C.E.R.T. Mtg., Saturday, Jan. 18 and Feb. 4 – every other Tuesday – 10a.m.-1p.m. , Ocean View Community Center
Pupule Papales Band, Saturday, Jan. 18, 7-10p.m. , Kīlauea Military Camp's Lava Lounge, in HVNP. $5 cover charge, free to in-house guests. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. kilaueamilitarycamp.com
SUNDAY, JAN. 19
Hi‘iaka & Pele, Sunday, Jan. 19, 9:30-11:30a.m. , Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, moderate, one-mile walk. 985-6101, nps.gov/havo
Fee Free Day at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Monday, Jan. 20, midnight-11:59p.m. Park entrance fees waived for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. 985-6101, nps.gov/havo
AdvoCATS, Monday, Jan. 20, 7a.m.-4:30p.m. , Ocean View Community Center
TUESDAY, JAN. 21
Cultural Understanding through Art & the Environment: Ti Leaf Lei Making with Jelena Clay, Tuesday, Jan. 21 – third Tuesday, Monthly – 11a.m.-1p.m. , Volcano Art Center
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22
Kuʻi Kalo: Pound Poi, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 10a.m. -noon , Kīlauea Visitor Center
THURSDAY, JAN. 23
PETFIX Spay and Neuter Free Clinic for Cats and Dogs, Thursday and Friday, Jan. 23 and 24, Ocean View Ranchos. Registration: contact Bridget at (808)990-3548 or petfixbigisland@gmail.com.
ONGOINGApply for Mosaics of Science by Monday, Feb. 3. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park's 12-week paid summer internship position is designed to engage university students and recent graduates with on-the-ground work experience in the National Park Service. A $4,800 stipend, and all travel costs are covered, including a week-long career workshop in Washington , D.C.
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T-Ball and Coach Pitch Baseball League: Ocean View Team - Mondays and Wednesdays, Kahuku Park. Nā‘ālehu Team - Tuesdays and Thursdays, 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
The internship is open to U.S. citizens and permanent legal residents ages 18-30, and to military veterans up to age 35. Funding is provided under a cooperative agreement for youth conservation activities as part of the Public Lands Corps program, which mandates that these age ranges are followed.
The selected intern will assist with the development of education curriculum for Kīpukapuaulu and Pu‘u Loa trails in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
For more information, contact Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Education Specialist Jody Anastasio by email at jody_anastasio@nps.gov. To apply go to go.nps.gov/mosaics or mosaicsinscience.org.
For more information, contact Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Education Specialist Jody Anastasio by email at jody_anastasio@nps.gov. To apply go to go.nps.gov/mosaics or mosaicsinscience.org.
T-Ball and Coach Pitch Baseball League: Ocean View Team - Mondays and Wednesdays, Kahuku Park. Nā‘ālehu Team - Tuesdays and Thursdays, 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, 345-0511Tūtū & 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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