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| Nēnē at dusk, Mauna Loa slope in the sunset. Janice Wei/NPS photo |
REOPENING PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS came to an agreement between the state Board of Education, State of Hawai,ʻi and the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association, with a memorandum of agreement. The announcement came today. Corey Rosenlee, head of the teachers union, said there is a "lot of good" in the agreement but some issues will have to be worked out, including child care for teachers with hybrid schedules, should the teaching hours change to accommodate smaller classroom sizes during the pandemic. The union also asked for teachers to be allowed more telework outside of classroom time, especially for meetings.
He said that teachers will be able to wear face shields, which enable younger students to see their teachers' faces and to avoid potential barriers to phonological instruction. However, the state and BOE were "unwilling to agree to negotiate anything mandating specific classroom configurations, health and safety processes and procedures, or a 100-percent mask rule with no exceptions."
He said that teachers will be able to wear face shields, which enable younger students to see their teachers' faces and to avoid potential barriers to phonological instruction. However, the state and BOE were "unwilling to agree to negotiate anything mandating specific classroom configurations, health and safety processes and procedures, or a 100-percent mask rule with no exceptions."
A statement from HSTA says the memorandum will "allow continuity of education next school year with certain contract modifications while assuring the safety of educators and students." It also "guarantees teachers' and HSTA representatives' involvement in collaboration with the employer to improve operations during the COVID-19 pandemic."
The union leader said that during negotiations, which lasted until Saturday, "Our main priorities included looking to health expertise for the safest practices, providing educator voice in making decisions, assuring protections, and advocating for equity of treatment and resources for our members." He said the agreement includes a commitment to prioritize health and safety of students and staff, and an expectation that "schools and worksites shall work to minimize the risk of COVID-19 spread… reducing opportunity for the spread of respiratory droplets… by maintaining six feet… of separation between and among students and staff members… whenever possible."
The agreement includes language that all "individuals, including employees, students, and campus visitors should wear face coverings" especially "in circumstances where sufficient physical distancing is difficult or impossible, within six feet of others."
The HSTA announcement says, "It should be noted that there are exceptions to the face-covering for situations such as when it is not safe or poses a medical risk. The agreement also assures proper cleaning and disinfecting, cleaning and hygiene supplies, personal protective equipment, and guaranteed reimbursement if supplies are not available and teachers have to purchase."
Rosenlee said teachers will be soon be invited to a virtual briefing on the memorandum.
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ʻAʻaliʻi Ku Makani sculpture by local artist, Randy Shiroma, on the Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary campus. The teachers union, school board and state have reached an agreement toward bringing students back to campus for the 2020-2021 school year, despite the pandemic, with precautions for students and faculty. Photo by Julia Neal |
The agreement includes language that all "individuals, including employees, students, and campus visitors should wear face coverings" especially "in circumstances where sufficient physical distancing is difficult or impossible, within six feet of others."
The HSTA announcement says, "It should be noted that there are exceptions to the face-covering for situations such as when it is not safe or poses a medical risk. The agreement also assures proper cleaning and disinfecting, cleaning and hygiene supplies, personal protective equipment, and guaranteed reimbursement if supplies are not available and teachers have to purchase."
Rosenlee said teachers will be soon be invited to a virtual briefing on the memorandum.
TWENTY-SEVEN NEW COVID-19 CASES were reported by the state today. Twenty-three on Oʻahu, three on Kauaʻi, one on Hawaiʻi Island, and one in Maui County. Seventeen victims on Oʻahu attended a large funeral. Another is a Honolulu bus driver who worked for five days when feeling sick before being tested.
In May, there were no more than nine COVID-19 cases announced per day. In June the numbers have been building, with 108 cases in one week. The state's new case total is 263 in 23 days.
Lt. Gov Josh Green urged people to be more careful as the state heads toward more travelers, expected to arrive in the islands beginning Aug. 1 when the 14-day quarantine drops for those with negative COVID-19 test results. Green said, however, that Hawaiʻi plans to have "all of the most serious testing and tracing precautions in place." In the meantime, he urged the public to refrain from attending big Fourth of July parties.
The rise in cases follows the death of an elderly Oʻahu man, the 18th fatality statewide and the first in 54 days when announced on Friday.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
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Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable results in helping rural communities build robust and sustainable economies through strategic investments in infrastructure, partnerships, and innovation. Key strategies include e-connectivity for rural America , developing rural economies, harnessing technological innovation, supporting a rural workforce, and improving quality of life.
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 COUNTY'S NĀʻĀLEHU VEHICLE REGISTRATION & LICENSING is now open at Nāʻālehu Police Station on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, by appointment only. The County of Hawai‘i Department of Finance issued a statement Friday saying that Division of Vehicle Registration & Licensing offices across the island are open for limited in-person services, and the best way to save time is by using the on-line appointment scheduler.
Offices are open8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Waimea office remains closed until further notice. Operations are modified to ensure the safety of both customers and employees. Face coverings must be worn, and customers must adhere to the recommended 6-foot social distancing. Only those customers receiving services will be allowed inside the lobby. Minors or those needing additional assistance may have one additional person accompany them, if needed.
Due to ongoing health concerns, no road tests are being scheduled at this time. Additionally, no appointments for vehicle registration renewals will be offered, so the staff can concentrate on those vehicles that need to be registered and are currently operating without a valid registration or license plates. Vehicle Registration Renewals may be completed through mail-in, online, drop box, or automated kiosk alternatives.
Driver's License or State ID's renewals issued after May 1, 2014 . Mail-in renewal applications to 349 Kapi‘olani St. , Hilo , HI 96720
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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 |
The rise in cases follows the death of an elderly Oʻahu man, the 18th fatality statewide and the first in 54 days when announced on Friday.
The one new case on Hawaiʻi Island makes three active cases on-island. The patients are being monitored by Department of Health.
Hawaiʻi Island recorded its three active cases over the last two weeks. All other 84 confirmed 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.
Hawaiʻi Island recorded its three active cases over the last two weeks. All other 84 confirmed 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 636 cases, Kauaʻi 37, and Maui County 123. Sixteen victims are residents diagnosed while visiting other places. Statewide, 899 people were confirmed positive for the virus. Eighteen people died.
The daily message from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno says, "Several states of our Country are now experiencing an increase of huge numbers of people being infected by the coronavirus. This is causing them to take steps backwards in the openings of activities such as beaches and bars. Hawaiʻi remains in a good place and noted by Johns Hopkins University as the best in the Country. This is because of your following preventive measures. We must continue, and even get better, in following the preventive measures of wearing face coverings, distancing, gatherings, and cleanliness. It is all of our responsibility to keep Hawaiʻi safe. Thank you for listening and thank you for doing your part to keep Hawaiʻi safe. This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency."
In the United States , more than 2,544,418 cases have been confirmed – an increase of about 34,000 in about 24 hours. The death toll is over 125,768.
The worldwide COVID-19 case count has passed ten million, with a death toll that has passed 500,000. That is a mortality rate, based on figures collected by John's Hopkins University, of five percent.
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| Brenda Iokepa Moses |
USDA AND ITS RURAL DEVELOPMENT Hawaiʻi and Pacific Director Brenda Iokepa-Moses are offering grants to help socially disadvantaged groups develop business and strategic plans in rural areas. Iokepa-Moses is a Kaʻū resident.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Bette Brand also urges cooperatives and socially disadvantaged groups to apply. Applications are open through6 p.m. HST on Aug. 10 at grants.gov.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Bette Brand also urges cooperatives and socially disadvantaged groups to apply. Applications are open through
USDA is making $3 million in grants available under the Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant program. Eligible applicants include cooperatives, groups of cooperatives, and cooperative development centers. The grants are intended to help disadvantaged groups develop the capacity to implement plans and undertake projects to improve economic and social conditions.
USDA defines a socially disadvantaged group as one "whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities."
THE COUNTY'S NĀʻĀLEHU VEHICLE REGISTRATION & LICENSING is now open at Nāʻālehu Police Station on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, by appointment only. The County of Hawai‘i Department of Finance issued a statement Friday saying that Division of Vehicle Registration & Licensing offices across the island are open for limited in-person services, and the best way to save time is by using the on-line appointment scheduler.
Offices are open
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| Vehicle registration and licensing at Nāʻālehu Police Station is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays, by appointment only. Google maps photo |
Appointments for both vehicle registration and driver's license transactions may be scheduled online at vehicleregistrationlicensing.as.me; walk-ins are welcome but will be subject to daily limits based on the availability of staffing and the estimated transaction processing time.
With higher demand of the initial reopening, the Vehicle Registration & Licensing offices will be limiting transactions to the following:
Driver's License Transactions: Renewals of driver's licenses and State IDs that are either expired or will be expiring in the months of March, April, May, June, or July 2020; initial driver's licenses (out-of-state transfers), permits (written tests), and state identification; replacement of lost driver's license, permit, or state identification.
Motor Vehicle Transactions: Ownership transfers; initial registrations; duplicate titles and registrations; replacement license plates and emblems.
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| DMV kiosks are located in Safeway in Kona and Hilo, Foodland on Waimea, and near the County Planning Dept. in Hilo. DMV photo |
Auto dealers and fleet registrations will only be able to use the drop-off and pick-up services. Customers with driver's licenses that aren't expiring within the next 30 days may use the online appointment scheduler to book appointments. The staff advises to refrain from making appointments for future dates that are less than a month before the current driver's license will expire.
The statement says, "We recognize that getting a 'Gold Star' compliant driver's license or state ID is important to many of you; however, please be aware that Department of Homeland Security has extended the deadline until October 1, 2021 ."
Vehicle Registration Renewals can be mailed to County of Hawai‘i, Motor Vehicle Registration, 101 Pauahi St., #5, Hilo, HI 96720. Online applications can be found on the county website at mvr.ehawaii.gov/renewals/lookup.html?county=hawaii
Kiosks are located at the Safeway stores in Hilo and Kona as well as the Foodland store in Waimea, and at the Aupuni Center Hilo
In-wall drop off slot is at the Hilo MVR office. Do not drop off or mail in renewal applications with cash.
Safety Inspections: Safety inspection certificates/stickers that expired prior to May 31, 2020 will remain valid through August 31, 2020 . Renew a vehicle using any of the four listed methods above. Every vehicle must still be properly registered with the County Motor Vehicle Registration office to legally operate on public roadways. Safety check certificates/stickers that expire on or after June 30, 2020 will be granted a three-month extension.
Safety check certificate/stickers expiring at the end of September 2020 will have an additional three months, until December 31, for a new safety check inspection. Upon passing the vehicle inspection, a certificate of inspection and sticker will be valid for 12 months from the date the vehicle is inspected.
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| Gold Star license and ID requirements are waived until Oct. 1, 2021. |
The county statement concludes: "We appreciate your patience and look forward to expanded services in the, hopefully, not too distant future."
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.
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HIGH SURF ADVISORY is in effect for Kaʻū and all Hawaiʻi Island shores through tomorrow. The National Weather Service advises surf will be higher than normal, and that shore break and dangerous currents could cause injury or death. The public is cautioned to expect strong breaking waves, shore break, and rip currents making swimming difficult and dangerous. Beach-goers, swimmers, and surfers should heed all advice given by ocean safety officials and exercise caution. Beaches may be closed without notice.
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.
Tech talk part 1: Electronic "doctor" tracks health of monitoring stations.
This past week, about 153 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.
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.
She then explained some of her previous statements: "Maybe many people in this country can relate to the fact that I grew up in a socially conservative home, held views when I was very young that I no longer hold today. I've served with LGBTQ service members both in training and deployed downrange. I know that they would give their life for me and I would give my life for them. It is this commitment that I'll carry through as president of the
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.
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The Food Basket provides food to those in need. See hawaiifoodbasket.org to verify dates and times. Nāʻālehu's final ʻOhana Food Drop is Wednesday, July 8 from 10 a.m. until pau – supplies run out – at Nāʻālehu Shopping Center. Go to Volcano's Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road on Wednesday, July 22, 10 a.m. until pau. Ocean View residents can go to The Food Basket's pantry at St. Jude's the last Tuesday of the month, July 28.
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.
Avocado Growers Survey Open: Help identify opportunities for expanding the local avocado industry, to assist local farmers, buyers, and agencies develop strategies to bolster Hawaiʻi's avocado industry, says Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United. Farmers and farm names will be kept anonymous. Results will be shared publicly. Survey completion gives option to register to win a $200 gift certificate to Home Depot. For a hard copy of the survey, email: info@growfruithawaii.com. Take the survey: surveymonkey.com/r/Hawaiiavosurvey2020.
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Learn About Hawaiʻi's History & Culture through the Papakilo Database, a resource developed by The Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The Kahalo Center
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Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. , closed Saturday and Sunday. The Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday and Tuesday. Virtual Shopping Appointments are offered at Volcano Art Center locations. Via Skype or FaceTime, a VAC associate helps customers browse the selection of artwork up close, and gives personalized tips and recommendations to help customers "find that perfect piece of locally made artwork, wherever you are in the world!" Book an appointment online for $5 and VAC staff will help schedule a date and time at volcanoartcenter.org/shop. Shop the online gallery 24/7. Orders are shipped as regularly scheduled. Free local pickup is available.VAC now offers a Virtual Classroom, which features over 90 videos. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more.
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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.
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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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.
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.
ELECTRONICALLY TRACKING HEALTH OF MONITORING STATIONS is the focus of this week's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. Today's article is by Hawaiian Volcano Observatory electronics technician CJ Moniz:
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A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geochemist measuring gases released from |
As part of Volcano Awareness Month earlier this year, Volcano Watch featured five articles focused on different roles at the USGS HVO. These articles described the roles of geodesist, Scientist-in-Charge, gas geochemist, seismologist, and geologist. This month, we continue that series, focusing on the role of "technician."
Technicians at HVO engineer and maintain the network of stations that monitor the active volcanoes in the State of Hawaiʻi . In the lab, HVO technicians work with scientists to develop technologies and to engineer components needed for volcano monitoring. In the field, technicians install new stations and maintain existing stations, ensuring that essential volcano-monitoring data are collected and transmitted back to HVO for scientific analysis.
HVO technicians utilize a diverse range of tools, instruments, power, and communication systems. HVO technicians are also masterful "MacGyvers." For example, during Kīlauea's 2018 eruption, one HVO technician was able to rapidly perform an emergency electronic repair of seismic data acquisition systems (Great Scott!) that allowed the seismic stations to continue to gather and transmit valuable data back to HVO at a time of critical need.
This week's article focuses on HVO technician CJ Moniz and his development of a tool that measures and tracks the "health" of volcano-monitoring stations.
Have you ever opened the door to a doctor's waiting room to see all the people waiting ahead of you? Sniffing, coughing, needing a few stitches or a vaccine, you can't help but realize how important it is to stay healthy (especially now). Sometimes it feels that way for CJ, a physical science technician at HVO who cares for his electronic "patients"–volcano-monitoring stations – all over the Island of Hawai‘i. Through technology and ingenuity, CJ keeps HVO's monitoring stations happy and healthy, minimizing the time his patients spend in the waiting room.
HVO has more than 240 stations in its monitoring networks on theBig Island
HVO has more than 240 stations in its monitoring networks on the
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A volcano-monitoring station "health monitor" developed by CJ Moniz at HVO. It consists of three programmable circuit boards (bottom row), voltage sensors (top row), a current sensor (top right corner), and a custom-made voltage sensor for a 48VDC system (tan circuit board on the bottom right). This unit is deployed in a watertight box to help the electronics withstand harsh environmental conditions. USGS photo |
Since these instruments provide HVO with continuous information on the vital systems of our volcanoes, it's important that these stations operate at optimal levels and without disruptions. But things can go wrong. Batteries can fail. Instruments can quit working. Radios can stop transmitting. All of which and more can result in data not being collected or transmitted to HVO.
To minimize data disruptions, CJ developed a station "health monitor." These monitors are installed at major monitoring network hubs. The monitors transmit data to HVO so that every morning, CJ can see how the stations are functioning and track their performance over time. The monitors provide information on station voltage, current, data transmission rates, and some even provide weather/atmospheric data.
These monitors are made at HVO, using hobby boards, single-board computers, and bits and pieces of electronics, so they aren't expensive. These monitors were also carefully designed to draw minimal power. The design has been modified and fine-tuned over the five years that they have been in use, to make them more efficient and effective.
Because of this technology, CJ and the other HVO technical staff can see trends and take appropriate actions (remotely sometimes) to "cure" a "sick" station.
As one example, CJ's monitoring system recently indicated that a station was suffering from a decline in voltage, probably due to the wet weather our island has been experiencing. Based on his diagnosis, the technical team at HVO was able to visit the site and change out the battery system before the station went offline. This state of health monitoring system, combined with proactive maintenance, ensured that there was no loss of data and no interruption of service from this station.
As one example, CJ's monitoring system recently indicated that a station was suffering from a decline in voltage, probably due to the wet weather our island has been experiencing. Based on his diagnosis, the technical team at HVO was able to visit the site and change out the battery system before the station went offline. This state of health monitoring system, combined with proactive maintenance, ensured that there was no loss of data and no interruption of service from this station.
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HVO field engineer connects solar panels to batteries that will power the MultiGAS station on USGS photo/F. Younger |
This strategic approach to network health monitoring and proactive station maintenance, made possible by the know-how, hard work and creativity of CJ and other HVO technicians, keeps HVO's data streams healthy and strong, in order to provide scientists with the most up-to-date and complete information possible.
Volcano Activity Updates
Kīlauea Volcano is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at NORMAL (https://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 https://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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Remote camera enclosure and mounting tripod on the rim of Moku‘āweweo caldera, near the summit of |
There were 4 events with 3 or more felt reports in the Hawaiian islands during the past week: a magnitude-1.8 earthquake 8 km (5 mi) ENE of Pāhala at 31 km (19 mi) depth on June 20 at 4:06 p.m., a magnitude-2.1 earthquake 6 km (4 mi) E of Pāhala at 34 km (21 mi) depth on June 20 at 4 p.m., a magnitude-3.6 earthquake 6 km (4 mi) NE of Pāhala at 32 km (20 mi) depth on June 20 at 3:49 p.m., and a magnitude-3.4 earthquake 5 km (3 mi) NE of Pāhala at 33 km (21 mi) depth on June 18 at 3:37 p.m.
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.
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.
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| Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, on the campaign trail for President, in 2019. Photo from Gabbard's Facebook |
Kaʻū Life: The Way We Were Last Year
This time last year, Kaʻū's member of the U.S. Congress participated in nationally televised debates and campaigned across the country. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard gave her view on the LGBTQ community. During an event in Miami , where she debated ten of the 20 contenders for U.S. President, she said, "Let me say that there is no one in our government, at any level, who has the right to tell any American who they should be allowed to love or they should be allowed to marry. My record in Congress for over six years shows my commitment to fighting for LGBTQ equality. I serve on the equality Caucus and recently voted for passage of the equality act."
United States , recognizing that there are still people who are facing discrimination in the workplace, still people who were unable to find a home for their families. It is this kind of discrimination that we need to address."
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| In 2019, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard campaigned for President, visiting places all over the U.S. Photo from Gabbard's Facebook |
After the debate, she visited the Homestead , FL Homestead at the time, she was denied entry and told she needed to apply two weeks ahead of any visit.
Gabbard told The Hill, "It's a heart-wrenching situation and it is absolutely despicable." She took issue with the operation of the center by a corporation, Caliburn International. "Their business model [is] literally built around keeping those beds full rather than having the objective that we should all have in this country, which is reuniting these children with their families, immediately."
After Gabbard and other presidential candidates made the trip to Homestead , the Miami Herald published the following headline: "Recess time, education, and legal services will be restored at Homestead detention center, agency says."
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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
After-School All-Stars Free Virtual Summer Program runs through Friday, July 17. For students going into 6th, 7th, or 8th grade. Classes offered are cooking, baking, fitness, arts & crafts, sports, gardening, and more. Every activity earns one entry in a prize drawing. All materials provided; pick on Monday mornings, 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., in Volcano, Pāhala, Nāʻālehu, or Ocean View. Register at tinyurl.com/KauSummer2020. For more info, contact Chrysa Dacalio, kau@asashawaii.org, 808-561-3710.
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 isJune 30 : KHPES Parent Survey: Planning for the 2020-21 School Year.
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Each student may submit as many pieces as they wish on 8.5 by 11 paper, in the landscape (horizontal) orientation. Any art medium, except computer graphics and photographs, may be used as long as the artwork is flat and can be scanned. Each entry must be accompanied by a short – 75 words or less – explanation of ʻUlu's Place in Hawaiʻi: Past, Present, and Future, and an entry form.
Visit eatbreadfruit.com/pages/artcontest for more information and to submit an entry.
Apply for Energy Assistance through June 30 for help to pay energy bills. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Energy Credit Assistance Program assists eligible people with a one-time payment towards their electric or gas bill. See humanservices.hawaii.gov/bessd/liheap.
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Celebrate 4th of July with OKK at its Market space in Nāʻālehu from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 4. ʻO Kaʻū Kākou will offer shave ice, hot dogs, and watermelon, free to the public, either grab-and-go or during the event. Keoki Sereno, Sonny Ramos, Tui Masaniai, and Shootz band will provide live music. Attendees must observe social distancing, sanitize hands at the entry, and wear face masks. OKK will thank Brawny for naming OKK Pres. Wayne Kawachi a Brawny Giant and donating $10,000 to the non-profit group.
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Apply for Small Grants to improve access to healthy foods in underserved areas, create and preserve quality jobs, and revitalize low-income communities through the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, urges The Kohala Center. Deadline to submit a letter of interest is Friday, July 10. Visit the program website or refer to this fact sheet for more information.
After-School All-Stars Free Virtual Summer Program runs through Friday, July 17. For students going into 6th, 7th, or 8th grade. Classes offered are cooking, baking, fitness, arts & crafts, sports, gardening, and more. Every activity earns one entry in a prize drawing. All materials provided; pick on Monday mornings, 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., in Volcano, Pāhala, Nāʻālehu, or Ocean View. Register at tinyurl.com/KauSummer2020. For more info, contact Chrysa Dacalio, kau@asashawaii.org, 808-561-3710.
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
Sponsors Needed to Feed Keiki in low-income communities during the summer. Schools, public agencies, churches, and private nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program. Sponsoring organizations receive reimbursements for serving healthy meals and snacks at approved sites to youth who are 18 years old and younger. Applications will be accepted until Tuesday, June 30. Contact Daniel Sutcharitkul at 808-587-3600 or daniel.sutcharitkul@k12.hi.us with questions or to apply. Visit hcnp.hawaii.gov for more information.
Enter the RevʻULUtion Student Art Contest by Tuesday, June 30. Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative invites all students residing in Hawaiʻi in PreK through 12th grades to create and submit original artwork that will be featured in an upcoming traveling art exhibit, a 13-month calendar, and across the internet on the cooperative's partners websites and social media. The purpose of the contest is to raise awareness of ʻulu as a "resilient cultural and agricultural resource" that is a "viable option for increasing food security and self-sufficiency across the Hawaiian Islands .
Visit eatbreadfruit.com/pages/artcontest for more information and to submit an entry.
Apply for Energy Assistance through June 30 for help to pay energy bills. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Energy Credit Assistance Program assists eligible people with a one-time payment towards their electric or gas bill. See humanservices.hawaii.gov/bessd/liheap.
Eco-Tour at Shaka Forest 10 a.m. in Volcano Village
Independence Day Community Barbecue, Saturday, July 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. , or as long as supplies last at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village
Dine In or Grab-and-Go at Crater Rime Café in Kīlauea Military Camp on Saturday, July 4. Ready-to-Go Family BBQ Special will be served from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and includes 8 BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches, 16 pieces of Local Style Fried Chicken, 8 pieces of 6 oz. Corn on the Cob, 2 lbs. of Coleslaw, 2 lbs. of Steamed Rice, and 2 lbs. of Mashed Potatoes, all for $55.95. Individual To-Go Lunches will also be available for purchase at $12.95 per person. Reservations for dine-in and take-out are required, call 967-8356. KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.
Zentangle with Lydia 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Volcano Village
Grow Food From Wood: Mushroom Cultivation with Zach Mermel, separate workshops on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village
Strategies to Jump-Start Your Writing by Jacquolyn McMurray and Kristin Wolfgang, a virtual workshop via Zoom, will be held Saturday, July 25 from 9 a.m. to noon . "How long has writing been on your bucket list? Are you ready to make 2020 the year you finally get started or restarted? This class is perfect for all writers seeking new inspiration and strategies." volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222
ONGOING
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.
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.
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.
Avocado Growers Survey Open: Help identify opportunities for expanding the local avocado industry, to assist local farmers, buyers, and agencies develop strategies to bolster Hawaiʻi's avocado industry, says Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United. Farmers and farm names will be kept anonymous. Results will be shared publicly. Survey completion gives option to register to win a $200 gift certificate to Home Depot. For a hard copy of the survey, email: info@growfruithawaii.com. Take the survey: surveymonkey.com/r/Hawaiiavosurvey2020.
Begin Learning Basics of Organic Farming from two free modules of a virtual training program. Accessible online, additional modules will be added. The course is presented by the Organic Farming Research Foundation, the University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program, and California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo .
Guided Nature Walks through Nature Trail & Sculpture Garden
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Exhibition Mixed Flock: Prints by Margaret Barnaby and Pottery by Emily Herb has been held over through Aug. 8. Also available to view online, view the exhibition in person the Gallery in the Park during normal gallery hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. , Wednesday through Sunday. Free. The exhibition features two prominent female artists from Volcano Village
Yoga with Emily Catey Weiss, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Volcano ArtCenter Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Advanced registration required; $5 per class. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222
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.
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.
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