Ka‘ū News Briefs, Sunday, July 26, 2020

HURRICANE DOUGLAS SPARED KAʻŪ and brought some wind and  waves to the north shores of Maui, Molokaʻi, O’ahu and Kaua’i. Wind shear pushed the hurricane north Sunday, leaving the islands exposed to the weakest, southern part of the storm. At sundown, there was still a chance of Douglasclipping the north shores of Oʻahu and Kauaʻi. Instead, he jogged north, making no landfalls.

     As the storm left the islands behind, the weather became eerily still in many places around the state, with high humidity becoming the main complaint of those hunkering down for a hurricane. With the surf still up and the wind calmed down, many surfers took to riding smooth waves throughout the islands.

     In Kaʻū, Punaluʻu and Whittington  BeachParks remained closed and reopen on Monday. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park reopened at noon. High surf and storm warnings were canceled for all but Oʻahu and Kauaʻi until overnight.

     At 5 p.m. Sunday, CentralPacificHurricaneCenter continued to warn residents, particularly on Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, that the hurricane remained a powerful threat. "In spite of increasing southerly vertical wind shear of more than 20 knots, a large burst of convection redeveloped around a ragged eye late this afternoon."

     Hurricane Hunters from the Air Force 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron spent much of the day sampling the system, with another mission Sunday evening. The data revealed that a slow increase in central pressure had little impact on reducing winds. Land-based radar showed winds at about 90 mph. Aircraft data indicated that Douglas took a jog to the north. CentralPacificHurricaneCenter predicted that Douglas would take a turn and accelerate toward the west, the timing of the turn influencing the threat to Kauaʻi.

     "Douglas will pass dangerously close to Oʻahu and Kauaʻi tonight,  producing a triple threat of hazards, including but not limited to damaging winds, flooding rainfall, and dangerously high surf, especially along east facing shores... Even if the center remains offshore, severe impacts could extend well from the center and be realized over Oʻahu and Kauaʻi," reported CentralHurricaneCenter.

     The school board meeting begins at 1 p.m. Thursday. The meeting agenda lists three "action items," giving teachers, parents, and students an idea of what the BOE is considering.
     One proposal is to give the Department of Education's 2020-2021 school calendar more days of training and professional development for teachers and staff at the beginning of the school year and "delaying Students' First Day to ensure health and safety preparedness for schools."
     Another would consider providing a general waiver to allow reduction of the 180 day school year and 1,080 student instructional hours "pursuant to Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes Section 302A-251, consistent with revisions to the Department of Education's 2020-2021 school calendar."
     The BOE will consider: Additional training and professional development days for teachers and staff for health, safety, and distance learning; the concept of starting student instruction for the 2020-2021 school year in distance learning mode; mandating masks on public school campuses; and holding off school until there is detailed, written, publicly posted guidance from the Department of Health for protocol. Some of the protocol measures would set rules for dealing with COVID-19 cases among students, staff, teachers, and families of students.
     Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association President Corey Rosenlee said, "We're grateful that the Board of Education members heard educators' testimony loud and clear. They are now looking at enacting important safeguards that we have been asking for over the last few weeks." HSTA is joined by the United Public Workers and Hawaiʻi Government Employees Association in supporting delay of school openings.

     The public is invited to attend a Community Meeting on Reopening Schools, this Thursday, July 30. at Pāhala Community Center. Registration is at 4:30 p.m. Seating will be limited and based on first come, first served. Written concerns will be taken during the registration. The community meeting and talk story run from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Hosted by Kaʻū Rural Health Community Association, invited are Mayor Harry Kim and representatives of the teachers union, school administration, and families of students enrolled in Nāʻālehu Elementary, Pāhala High, Intermediate & Elementary, and Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences. Organizer Jessie Marques said wearing of masks and social distancing will be required.

SEN. RUSSELL RUDERMAN OBJECTS TO HŪ HONUA'S PLEA to open its recently built biofuel plant on the Hamakua Coast. Ruderman wrote to the Public Utilities Commission on July 23, saying Hawaiʻi Island already "pays the highest rates for electricity in the state and that this project would have further increased our rates. And then there is the massive question of climate change. It is irresponsible to begin a new 30-year period of tree burning, under any price schedule, especially when we have abundant power supply available, including cheaper safe renewables such as solar with battery storage."