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| Tina Neal returned to a post in Alaska this week after five years of keeping up with Kīlauea Volcano and many other matters at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Here, she talks with Secretary of the Interior David Berhardt and Acting Superintendent of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Rhonda Loh about the future of HVO headquarters following the 2018 eruption and earthquakes that made it unusable. Bernhardt committed to rebuilding and keeping HVO near Kīlauea. Photo by DOI/Tami A. Heilemann |
SAY ALOHA TO TINA NEAL, Scientist-in-Charge at U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. As s she returns to Alaska , the focus of this week's Volcano Watch is Tina Neal herself, written by USGS HVO scientists and affiliates: "Extraordinary tenure ends for leader of USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory," says Volcano Watch, with the following story:
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Tina Neal, HVO Scientist-in-Charge from 2015–2020, ended her tenure on |
By her own admission, nimbleness became a central theme of Tina's leadership. She continually strived to move HVO forward as a responsive and innovative team during periods of rapid and remarkable changes on Kīlauea Volcano, within the observatory, and around the world.
Tina began her HVO leadership role in March 2015 just as Kīlauea 's "June 27th" lava-flow threat to Pāhoa ended. In May 2016, a new vent erupted on the flank of Puʻu ʻŌʻō, and by late July, the resulting lava flow entered the ocean at Kamokuna in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The lava entry quickly drew thousands of visitors on land and in boats to witness up close lava building new land.
Tina spurred HVO geologists to take a fresh and detailed look at hazards associated with the growth and collapse of active lava deltas as described in science publications and internal reports. Their analyses resulted in the designation of a high-hazard area extending a minimum distance of 300 m (984 ft) around the lava-entry zone. The National Park used this revised distance to establish a safe viewing area, which ultimately helped Park personnel to avert injuries or loss of life during a large lava delta collapse on New Year's Eve in 2016.
OnApril 30, 2018 , a large intrusion of magma into the lower East Rift Zone of Kīlauea began, prompting HVO to issue a Volcano Activity Notice describing the activity and indicating that an eruption was possible downrift (east) of Puʻu ʻŌʻō. On May 3, the first of many fissures erupted downrift of Puʻu ʻŌʻō in the Leilani Estates subdivision and nearby areas. Soon after, Kīlauea 's summit began collapsing as magma from the summit reservoir steadily moved into the lower East Rift Zone.
On
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| Tina Neal, responding to protective equipment standards differed. USGS photo |
Tina was at the center of HVO's response to this remarkable eruption and summit collapse. Earthquakes and ground settling at the summit soon damaged HVO's main building, which forced the immediate and unprecedented move of the observatory’s center of operations from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to temporary offices in Hilo , the first of three moves in less than a year.
During the 2018 events, HVO sustained 24/7 operations with support from nearly 100 scientists and volunteers chiefly from the USGS and University of Hawaiʻi. Tina was constantly on the move to bolster HVO's response in order to provide up-to-date scientific information and warnings for the public, as well as Federal, State, and County incident command teams, and to research and document the eruption for real-time and future analyses of extensive data sets.
After the eruption ceased, Tina began the long process of planning for a new USGS office building and field station, which will house both HVO and the Pacific Islands Ecosystem Research Center
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| Tina Neal gave many public presentations during the 2018 eruption. USGS photo |
Tina's most lasting legacy, however, will undoubtedly be the unprecedented numbers of new HVO staff hired to fill permanent USGS positions added to improve the observatory's science and operational capabilities and to replace retirements and transfers. She also oversaw the addition of several temporary positions through a long-standing cooperative agreement with the University of Hawaiʻi Hilo .
In a final challenge, Tina ends her leadership role amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced HVO staff to work remotely and embrace innovative ways of interacting. All the while, she kept employees safe, engaged, and ready to face future changes on Hawaiian volcanoes.
We offer Tina a profound "mahalo" for her leadership, compassion, inspiration, and nimbleness over the past five years and wish her well in her future endeavors in Alaska .
Volcano Activity Updates
Kīlauea Volcano is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at NORMAL (volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/about_alerts.html). Kīlauea updates are issued monthly.
Kīlauea monitoring data for the past month show variable but typical rates of seismicity and ground deformation, low rates of sulfur dioxide emissions, and only minor geologic changes since the end of eruptive activity in September 2018. The water lake at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u continues to slowly expand and deepen. For the most current information on the lake, see volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/summit_water_resources.html.
Mauna Loa is not erupting and remains at Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY. This alert level does not mean that an eruption is imminent or that progression to eruption from current level of unrest is certain. Mauna Loa updates are issued weekly.
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| Tina Neal speaking in front of a recent lava flow during activity in 2016. USGS photo |
This past week, about 75 small-magnitude earthquakes were recorded beneath the upper-elevations of Mauna Loa ; most of these occurred at shallow depths of less than 8 kilometers (~5 miles). Global Positioning System measurements show long-term slowly increasing summit inflation, consistent with magma supply to the volcano's shallow storage system. Gas concentrations and fumarole temperatures as measured at both Sulphur Cone and the summit remain stable. Webcams show no changes to the landscape. For more information on current monitoring of Mauna Loa Volcano, see: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna_loa/monitoring_summary.html.
No felt earthquakes were reported in the Hawaiian islands during the past week.
HVO continues to closely monitor both Kīlauea and Mauna Loa for any signs of increased activity.
Visit HVO's website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.
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Most of the cases were discovered by contact tracing – testing those associated with a person with COVID on Kauaʻi and testing others on Oʻahu associated with other victims.
State Director of Health Bruce Anderson issued a statement today explaining the importance of tracing and testing to prevent further spread. He and other health officials concluded the people are relaxing their guard against COVID by abandoning wearing of masks and distancing from other people. They also urged people to maintain frequent hand-washing practices.
Friday's COVID-19 case surge was the largest since April 2. The Department of Health reported that the majority of new cases are associated with "community clusters in large households with crowded conditions, adult care and long-term nursing facilities, and with a faith-based group gathering at a home." All of Friday's new cases are Hawaiʻi residents: 22 adults, five children. None of them are on this island.
Hawaiʻi State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park, commented, "These clusters really emphasize our call for the continuation of safe practices, including physical distancing, using face coverings, frequent hand washing, and staying home and away from others when sick. Virtually all of the newly reported cases of COVID-19 are due to community-spread, often from a group setting." She said there is no evidence the spike in cases is due to recent protests. "Nonetheless, we continue to strongly encourage physical distancing and the use of face masks when people are engaged in practicing their First Amendment rights, or while in any other large gatherings, with people who don't live in the same household."
A faith community on Oʻahu, having gatherings in a home, prompted health authorities to reiterate safe practices for people being together in crowded conditions, reports DOH. As many as 35 of the new cases are linked to the meetings. Guidance based on best practices from sources such as DOH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and from research institutions and municipalities across the country is available online: oneoahu.org/house-of-worship-guidance.
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| Image from Oregon governor's office. |
The Health Director said, "Despite our recent spike in cases, all of our testing and contact tracing procedures are working exactly as intended. Additional cases are being identified and added to the case count as a result of aggressive investigations, contact tracing and testing of household contacts."
This week at the House Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness meeting, Alan Oshima, the Governor's Recovery and Resiliency Navigator said he sees members of the public failing to observe contamination protocols such as wearing masks and physical distancing in public. He said with recent low contamination numbers, people may have a false sense of security about catching the disease. "We all have a personal responsibility to help maintain public health for our families and the entire community," said Oshima.See the Hawaiʻi Department of Health COVID-19 site and the Hawaiʻi Data Collaborative COVID-19 Tracking site for many details on tracking and analyzing the impact of COVID. Also look for a new tool for the public, to safely help guide reopening efforts, at recoverynavigator.hawaii.gov.
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Onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 28 days, by zip code. White is zero cases. Yellow is one to five cases. Light orange (not pictured) is six to ten cases. Dark orange (not pictured) is 11 to 20 cases. Red (not pictured) is 21 to 50 cases. Hawaiʻi Department of Health map |
State Sen. Dru Kanhua, who represents the western part of Kaʻū into Kona, urged yesterday for continued vigilance against the virus: "Although many of us have slowly regressed into our normal routine, today's spike is a reminder that COVID-19 is not a thing of the past. This new normal will require just a little more attention, vigilance, and commitment for the health, safety, and well-being of our West Hawai ‘i community. Therefore, let us continue to incorporate general physical precautions into our daily routines – wear a mask when in public, remain at home unless to retrieve essentials or exercise, wash hands frequently, and practice social distancing."
On Hawaiʻi Island, no new cases are reported today. There are two active cases here, one in Ocean View, one in Puna. Both cases are identified as travel-related and state Department of Health asks the public to "emphasize the importance of caution while traveling." Both cases are monitored by DOH.
The 14 new cases today on Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, and in Maui County
Hawaiʻi Island recorded its two new cases in the last three weeks. The other 81 COVID-19 victims on Hawaiʻi Island recovered. Since the pandemic began, no one died here. There were two hospitalizations on-island; both patients have been released.
Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu reported 557 cases, Kauaʻi 29, and Maui County 122. Twelve victims are residents diagnosed while visiting other places. Statewide, 803 people were confirmed positive for the virus. Seventeen people died.
The daily message from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno says, "The Island of Hawaiʻi is doing well in minimizing the spread and impact of this virus. During the weekend when we gather and enjoy the lifestyle of Hawaiʻi, please continue practicing the policies of distancing, gatherings, cleanliness, face coverings, and keeping yourself physically and emotionally healthy. All of these policies have one purpose; to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Thank you for listening. Stay safe on this special day of World Peace and the First Day of Summer. This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency."
In the United States , more than 2,255,119 cases have been confirmed. The death toll is over 119,719. Worldwide, more than 8,791,794 have contracted COVID-19. The death toll is more than 464,465.
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| "Light" to "weak" intensity is how felt reports of today's M3.6 earthquake ENE of Pāhala are recorded. USGS map |
A 3.6-MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE shook the island about 8 kilometers (5 miles) east northeast of Pāhala this afternoon at 3:49 p.m. Felt reports came in from all over Hawaiʻi Island, at light to weak intensities. No damage is reported. The quake was not strong enough to generate a tsunami.
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KONA RECEIVED 114 NEW AIR ARRIVALS ON THURSDAY, according to hawaiitourismauthority.org. Air travel is slowly increasing since the lifting of the 14-day interisland quarantine. Of the arrivals, 49 were visitors, 48 returning residents, and seven were relocating to Hawaiʻi Island. The remainder were nine crewpersons and one person in-transit.
The state welcomed 1,767 people on Thursday. Of those, 575 were visitors and 519 were returning residents.
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DADS IN HAWAIʻI ARE THE THIRD HEALTHIEST IN THE NATION, according to a WalletHUb report leading into Fathers Day. The health ranking was partly based on life expectancy for men, where Hawaiʻi came in third, tied with Connecticut , Colorado , and New York . The list ranking in metrics used for health includes insured rate. Hawaiʻi ranks second in the nation, just behind Massachusetts , and ahead of Vermont , D.C., and Minnesota .
The Aloha state ranks 12th in the work-life balance metric, 33rd in child care, and 44th in economic and social well-being. Hawaiʻi ranks 32nd overall for working dads.
WalletHub reports that, in 1960, 75 percent of American families relied on a single income, "that of the dad, who spent much of his week at work while mom stayed home with the kids. Today, two-thirds of family households depend on two incomes. Plus, the contemporary dad no longer fits neatly into the standard of the married breadwinner and disciplinarian. That's especially true this year, as many fathers are working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic and face a unique opportunity to spend more time face-to-face with their children and help teach them while schools are closed.
"Regardless of the changing identity and priorities of the modern dad, fatherhood remains an undisputedly tough job, and a father's ability to provide for his family is central to his role. In fact, over 93 percent of dads with kids younger than 18 were employed in 2019, and while millions of men have lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, they are being laid off less often than women. However, not all working dads are in the same situation; those who live in states with greater economic opportunity and quality of life have it better than others."
Read the report: wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-states-for-working-dads/13458/.
TRY OUT A NEW TOOL TO SHOW THE STATE HOW TO BALANCE THE BUDGET, urges Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi. Available at grassrootinstitute.org/budget, the tool allows Hawaiʻi's taxpayers to "show lawmakers how to balance the budget," says Keliʻi Akina, president and CEO of Grassroot Institute. " It's time to work together to navigate Hawaiʻi's financially uncertain future."
The institute's new budget tool accounts for the recent actions by the Legislature to balance the budget, such as its $740 million in cuts to Gov. David Ige's budget and replenishing the state's rainy day fund with $735 million from special funds and other sources, according to a Grassroot report from earlier this year. However, finding other ways to reduce the debt "will not be as easy," since $4,254,697,897 – or 63 percent of the state's projected revenues of $6,700,712,000 – of the general fund goes toward "fixed costs," such as the state retirement fund, the state health benefits fund, debt, and Medicaid, says the group.
Akina urges lawmakers to refrain from using the entire $1.1 billion rainy day fund to balance this year's budget. "Some of the money could be used now," he said, "but the rest should be pocketed for later, in case it is needed for the uncertain times ahead. More than half of every dollar spent by the state goes toward benefits and debt. If our lawmakers can't find ways to reduce those costs, then all other options will need to be put on the table as the state enters a period of enormous financial uncertainty."
Akina said that Hawaiʻi's projected $1.4 billion general fund deficit in fiscal year 2021 could be balanced by using $700 million from the rainy day fund, making 15 percent cuts across the board, and delaying salary increases, says a statement from the group. That would still save $431 million in the rainy day fund and bring general fund spending to $7.7 billion, which is just below FY 2018 levels of $7.8 billion, according to a 2019 Grassroot report.
The institute's new budget tool accounts for the recent actions by the Legislature to balance the budget, such as its $740 million in cuts to Gov. David Ige's budget and replenishing the state's rainy day fund with $735 million from special funds and other sources, according to a Grassroot report from earlier this year. However, finding other ways to reduce the debt "will not be as easy," since $4,254,697,897 – or 63 percent of the state's projected revenues of $6,700,712,000 – of the general fund goes toward "fixed costs," such as the state retirement fund, the state health benefits fund, debt, and Medicaid, says the group.
Akina urges lawmakers to refrain from using the entire $1.1 billion rainy day fund to balance this year's budget. "Some of the money could be used now," he said, "but the rest should be pocketed for later, in case it is needed for the uncertain times ahead. More than half of every dollar spent by the state goes toward benefits and debt. If our lawmakers can't find ways to reduce those costs, then all other options will need to be put on the table as the state enters a period of enormous financial uncertainty."
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
ENERGY ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN through June 30 to those who have lost income during the pandemic. Those needing help to pay their energy bill may be eligible for Department of Human Services' Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Energy Credit Assistance Program. LIHEAP provides heating and/or cooling assistance to Hawaiʻi households in need, by assisting with a one-time payment towards their utility bill, electric or gas. To see qualifying circumstances and to apply, go to humanservices.hawaii.gov/bessd/liheap/.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
CELL PHONE SCAMS involve sending people text messages regarding their accounts for their phones and other services, warns Hawaiʻi Police Department. The scammer sends out a text message pretending to be a telecommunications company, such as AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or Sprint. The text informs customers that their payment has been blocked and to call 1-888-312-6806. During the call, the scammer asks for personal information.
HPD says to never provide personal information over the phone or on-line – to include date of birth, social security numbers, credit card information, bank account information, etc. – to anyone whose identity is unconfirmed.
Anyone contacted by a person involved in a scam, either by phone or via the internet, is asked to call HPD's non-emergency number, (808) 935-3311, to report the activity.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar 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 Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
THE HALE PROJECT, supported by Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Puʻuohonua O Honaunau, was in full swing this time last year, with the building of a traditional Hawaiian structure at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Friends reported that money raised, beginning in 2015, funded the construction.
Friends Executive Director Elizabeth Fien said a promise was made to Hawaiian Cultural Practitioner and kumu hula Irenio "Ab" Kawainohoikalaʻi Valencia to rebuild the Hale. "He was the original FHVNP project manager, and we were devastated when he passed in 2017. Every time we pass the Hale, we can feel his presence and love.
"The project started with the stripping of bark from ironwood logs (due to Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, we no longer are able to use the ʻōhiʻa trees), and collecting materials to rebuild. The pa hula is a very special and significant cultural area. The Hale allows for dancers to get ready before a performance."
See more on Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park at fhvnp.org.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com.
10 a.m. until pau – supplies run out – at Nāʻālehu Shopping Center. Ocean View residents can go to The Food Basket's pantry at St. Jude's the last Tuesday of the month, July 28. Go to Volcano's Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road on Wednesday, June 24 or July 22, 10 a.m. until pau. Go to Pāhala's Kaʻū District Gym at 96-1149 Kamani Street on Tuesday, June 30, 10 a.m. until pau. There will be no July date.
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Enroll in Kua O Ka Lā's Hīpuʻu Virtual Academy for school year 2020-2021, grades four through eight. The Hawaiian Focused Charter School teaches with an emphasis on Hawaiian language and culture. The blended curriculum is offered through online instruction and community-based projects, with opportunities for face-to-face gatherings (with precautions), in an "Education with Aloha" environment.
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See kuaokala.org to apply and to learn more about the school. Call 808-981-5866 or 808-825-8811, or email info@kuaokala.org for more.
Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Public Libraries are Open for Pick-Up Services Only. Nāʻālehu is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pāhala is open Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Library patrons schedule Library Take Out appointment times to pick up their hold item(s) at their favorite libraries by going to HSPLS Library Catalog and placing a hold on any item(s) they want to borrow, or they may call their favorite library branch to place a hold with the library staff. After receiving a notice that item(s) are ready for pick up, patrons schedule a Library Take Out time at picktime.com/hspls. For patrons who placed holds during the closure, their item(s) are ready for pickup after the patron schedules a Library Take Out appointment. For more information, visit librarieshawaii.org.
Free Book Exchanges at the laundromats in Ocean View and Nāʻālehu are provided by Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries. Everyone is invited to take books they want to read. They may keep the books, pass them on to other readers, or return them to the Book Exchange to make them available to others in the community. The selection of books is replenished weekly at both sites.
Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium Closed for Renovation through June 30. A popular seven-and-a-half minute 2018 eruption video will be shown on a television in the exhibits area, once the Park and center reopen, and is available online for free download.
ST. JUDE'S ONLINE WORSHIP is available at stjudeshawaii.org. People are invited to join the Zoom Aloha Hour, Sunday, June 21 at 11 a.m. Go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6843449828?pwd=YW94djVvU0szOGNKaFZ1V0pUL1owUT09, meeting ID: 684 344 9828, password: Aloha.
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A new Hale built last year inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park in honor of Kumu Hula Ab assistance from Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and many others. Photo from Friends of Hawaiʻi |
Kaʻū Life: The Way We Were Last Year
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| The late Kumu Hula Ab Valencia. Photo by Dinno Morrow |
Friends Executive Director Elizabeth Fien said a promise was made to Hawaiian Cultural Practitioner and kumu hula Irenio "Ab" Kawainohoikalaʻi Valencia to rebuild the Hale. "He was the original FHVNP project manager, and we were devastated when he passed in 2017. Every time we pass the Hale, we can feel his presence and love.
"The project started with the stripping of bark from ironwood logs (due to Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, we no longer are able to use the ʻōhiʻa trees), and collecting materials to rebuild. The pa hula is a very special and significant cultural area. The Hale allows for dancers to get ready before a performance."
See more on Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park at fhvnp.org.
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| The Hale under construction at pa hula in Volcano uses ironwood instead of ʻōhiʻa posts to prevent the spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death. Photo from Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park |
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Read online at kaucalendar.com. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar directory for farms, ranches, takeout. Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free, with 7,500 distributed on stands and to all postal addresses throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com and facebook.com/kaucalendar. To advertise your business or your social cause, contact kaucalendarads@gmail.com. |
Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com.
EVENTS
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"One well-supported comment is often more influential than a thousand form letters," says UH-CTAHR's Andrea Kawabata. See Tips for Submitting Effective Comments.
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Hawaiʻi Farm Fire Management Webinar, presented by University of Hawaiʻi Cooperative Extension
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Register for Hawaiʻi Coffee Association Webinar Series. The virtual event will be held Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25. Each session is designed to provide important updates on the effects of the pandemic on the Hawaiʻi coffee industry and on the coffee industry at large, as well as addressing other useful topics to inform coffee professionals of changing trends and regulations. Each session must be registered for individually – go to hawaiicoffeeassoc.org/page-1771697. The sessions will be recorded and later published on the HCA website. To become a sponsor for the webinar, click here.
Make Reservations for Father's Day at Crater Rim Café in Kīlauea Military Camp for Sunday, June 21 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Seating limited due to social distancing. Dinner also available to go. The main course is Prime Rib and Vegetable Alfredo Pasta Bake, with side dishes and dessert, for $27.95 per person. Call 967-8356 for dine-in reservations, to-go orders, and current event information. KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.
Advocate for Hawaiʻi Crops to be Included in Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Listing by submitting comments by June 22. The CFAP helps agricultural producers impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. Crops not included are coffee, macadamia nuts, cacao, and more. Comments can be submitted online, or by mail by, June 22. Go to regulations.gov/document?D=FSA-2020-0004-0003 or mail to: Director, SND,FSA , U.S. 1400 Independence Avenue SW , Stop 0522, Washington , DC 20250-0522
Advocate for Hawaiʻi Crops to be Included in Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Listing by submitting comments by June 22. The CFAP helps agricultural producers impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. Crops not included are coffee, macadamia nuts, cacao, and more. Comments can be submitted online, or by mail by, June 22. Go to regulations.gov/document?D=FSA-2020-0004-0003 or mail to: Director, SND,
Questions? Contact William L. Beam, (202) 720-3175 or email Bill.Beam@usda.gov. Persons with disabilities or who require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA Target Center
Feedback from Parents and Guardians of Kaʻū High and Pāhala Elementary School Students is requested by Principal Sharon Beck: "As we plan for the opening of the 2020-21 school year, we would like to gather feedback from our parents/guardians about what that might look like for our students." Deadline is June 30 : KHPES Parent Survey: Planning for the 2020-21 School Year.
ONGOING
Free COVID-19 Screenings are at Bay Clinic during business hours, with appointment. Call 333-3600.
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The next drive-thru screening at Nāʻālehu Community Center will be held Wednesday, June 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Screening will be carried out by Aliʻi Health, with support from County of Hawai‘i COVID-19 Task Force, Premier Medical Group and Pathways Telehealth.
A testing team from Aloha Critical Care in Kona will provide testing at St. Jude's every other Wednesday. The next date is July 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A wide selection of fresh vegetables and fruits, prepared take away foods, assorted added value foods, breads and baked goods, honey, cheese, grass-fed beef, fish, vegetable plants, masks, handmade soaps, coffee, and more are offered on various days. Contact Sue Barnett, OKK Market Manager, at 808-345-9374, for more and to apply to vend.
Volcano Farmers Market at Cooper Center on Wright Road, off of Old Volcano Highway, is open on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, island beef, and prepared foods. Call 808-967-7800.
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Free Breakfast and Lunch for Anyone Eighteen and Under is available at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary and at Nāʻālehu Elementary on weekdays (no holidays) through Friday, July 17. Each youth must be present to receive a meal. Service is drive-up or walk-up, and social distancing rules (at least six feet away) are observed. Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Food is being delivered on Wednesdays to students in Green Sands, Discovery Harbour, and Ocean View.
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St. Jude's Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen is open, with a modified menu and increased health & safety standards, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended. Services are posted online on Sundays at stjudeshawaii.org.
The Food Basket provides food to those in need. See hawaiifoodbasket.org to verify dates and times. The ʻOhana Food Drop program is being phased out. Nāʻālehu's final date is tentatively Wednesday, July 8 from 
The next drive-thru screening at Nāʻālehu Community Center will be held Wednesday, June 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Screening will be carried out by Aliʻi Health, with support from County of Hawai‘i COVID-19 Task Force, Premier Medical Group and Pathways Telehealth.A testing team from Aloha Critical Care in Kona will provide testing at St. Jude's every other Wednesday. The next date is July 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wearing masks is required for everyone. Those visiting screening clinics will be asked to show photo ID, and any health insurance cards – though health insurance is not required to be tested. They are also asked to bring their own pen to fill in forms.
To bypass the screening queue at community test sites, patients can call ahead to Pathways Telehealth, option 5 at 808-747-8321. The free clinic will also offer on-site screening to meet testing criteria. Physicians qualify those for testing, under the guidance of Center for Disease Control & Prevention and Hawaiʻi's COVID-19 Response Task Force.
For further information, call Civil Defense at 935-0031.
ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Market in Nāʻālehu is open three days per week – Monday, Wednesday, and Friday – from 8 a.m. to noon. The goal is no more than 50 customers on the grounds at a time. Vendor booths per day are limited to 25, with 30 feet of space between vendors. Masks and hand sanitizing are required to attend the market. Social distancing will be enforced.To bypass the screening queue at community test sites, patients can call ahead to Pathways Telehealth, option 5 at 808-747-8321. The free clinic will also offer on-site screening to meet testing criteria. Physicians qualify those for testing, under the guidance of Center for Disease Control & Prevention and Hawaiʻi's COVID-19 Response Task Force.
For further information, call Civil Defense at 935-0031.
Ocean View Swap Meet is open at Ocean View makai shopping center, near Mālama Market. Hours for patrons are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Vendor set-up time is 5 a.m. Masks are required for all vendors and patrons.
A wide selection of fresh vegetables and fruits, prepared take away foods, assorted added value foods, breads and baked goods, honey, cheese, grass-fed beef, fish, vegetable plants, masks, handmade soaps, coffee, and more are offered on various days. Contact Sue Barnett, OKK Market Manager, at 808-345-9374, for more and to apply to vend.
Volcano Farmers Market at Cooper Center on Wright Road, off of Old Volcano Highway, is open on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, island beef, and prepared foods. Call 808-967-7800.
On-Call Emergency Box Food Pantry is open at Cooper Center Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon. Call 967-7800 to confirm.
Enroll in Kua O Ka Lā's Hīpuʻu Virtual Academy for school year 2020-2021, grades four through eight. The Hawaiian Focused Charter School teaches with an emphasis on Hawaiian language and culture. The blended curriculum is offered through online instruction and community-based projects, with opportunities for face-to-face gatherings (with precautions), in an "Education with Aloha" environment. Kua O Ka Lā offers a specialized program that provides students with core curriculum, content area, and electives in-keeping with State of Hawaiʻi requirements. Combined with Native Hawaiian values, culture, and a place-based approach to education, from the early morning wehena – ceremonial school opening – Kua O Ka Lā students are encouraged to walk Ke Ala Pono – the right and balanced path.
The school's website says Kua O Ka Lā has adopted Ke Ala Pono "to describe our goal of nurturing and developing our youth. We believe that every individual has a unique potential and that it is our responsibility to help our students learn to work together within the local community to create a future that is pono – right." The school aims to provide students with "the knowledge and skills, through Hawaiian values and place-based educational opportunities, that prepare receptive, responsive, and self-sustaining individuals that live 'ke ala pono.'"
See kuaokala.org to apply and to learn more about the school. Call 808-981-5866 or 808-825-8811, or email info@kuaokala.org for more.Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Public Libraries are Open for Pick-Up Services Only. Nāʻālehu is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pāhala is open Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Library patrons schedule Library Take Out appointment times to pick up their hold item(s) at their favorite libraries by going to HSPLS Library Catalog and placing a hold on any item(s) they want to borrow, or they may call their favorite library branch to place a hold with the library staff. After receiving a notice that item(s) are ready for pick up, patrons schedule a Library Take Out time at picktime.com/hspls. For patrons who placed holds during the closure, their item(s) are ready for pickup after the patron schedules a Library Take Out appointment. For more information, visit librarieshawaii.org.
Free Book Exchanges at the laundromats in Ocean View and Nāʻālehu are provided by Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries. Everyone is invited to take books they want to read. They may keep the books, pass them on to other readers, or return them to the Book Exchange to make them available to others in the community. The selection of books is replenished weekly at both sites.
Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium Closed for Renovation through June 30. A popular seven-and-a-half minute 2018 eruption video will be shown on a television in the exhibits area, once the Park and center reopen, and is available online for free download.
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