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| On OKK's 2019 Kaʻū Coffee Trail Run, through the orchards at Kaʻū Coffee Mill. Take a look back at last year's race in The Way We Were, below. Photo by Julia Neal |
APPROVALS OF COVID-19 TESTS TO EXEMPT TRAVELERS FROM QUARANTINE when coming into Hawaiʻi are pending, as the Oct. 15 day to open up the state for trans-Pacific travel approaches. The state Department of Health has so far approved only tests that are witnessed – no mail-in tests allowed.
The state has arranged for them to be taken on the mainland at Walgreens and CVS, though Walgreens announced testing will be limited to those 12 and older, bringing up an issue of children traveling here. Both United Airlines – which brought in the most passengers before the pandemic – and Hawaiian Airlines announced testing for passengers at airports or nearby. United plans to offer an $80 mail-in test, but the idea was rejected by the state. United's $250, 15-minute test by airline contractors for San Francisco-Hawaiʻi flights is approved.
Lt. Gov. Josh Green, MD, told Honolulu Star-Advertiser: "Testing at the airport meets all the criteria and could be a game-changer for Hawaiʻi. The mail-in component has not been approved. Perhaps it will be in the future. Right now, we are not taking mail-in testing that is not witnessed."
The state has arranged for them to be taken on the mainland at Walgreens and CVS, though Walgreens announced testing will be limited to those 12 and older, bringing up an issue of children traveling here. Both United Airlines – which brought in the most passengers before the pandemic – and Hawaiian Airlines announced testing for passengers at airports or nearby. United plans to offer an $80 mail-in test, but the idea was rejected by the state. United's $250, 15-minute test by airline contractors for San Francisco-Hawaiʻi flights is approved.
Lt. Gov. Josh Green, MD, told Honolulu Star-Advertiser: "Testing at the airport meets all the criteria and could be a game-changer for Hawaiʻi. The mail-in component has not been approved. Perhaps it will be in the future. Right now, we are not taking mail-in testing that is not witnessed."
United spokeswoman Annabelle Cottee sent this email to the Star-Advertiser: "The governor outlined the testing the state is accepting in his 13th proclamation yesterday; both tests we're offering our customers meet those requirements."
According to the Star-Advertiser, "Green, who was among those brokering the United deal, said the state agreed that San Francisco travelers who are Hawaiʻi-bound may elect to take a rapid Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 test – administered by GoHealth Urgent Care (gohealthuc.com) and its partner Dignity Health – on the same day as their flight departing from SFO and get their results back in 15 minutes."
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| A $250 rapid COVID-19 test to be offered by United Airlines on its |
For flights around the world, the International Air Travel Association and International Civil Aviation Organization are working on development of a "rapid, accurate, affordable, easy-to-operate, scalable, and systematic" COVID-19 test, for passengers on international flights prior to departure. They would be offered to airports and airlines.
A Flyer Talk story says, "The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an immeasurable human toll around the world. In an abundance of caution and preventing the spread of the virus, individual nations and trade blocs have closed borders or mandated a 14-day quarantine period for foreign visitors. While arguably effective, the approach has also decimated the international aviation industry. According to IATA data, international travel is down 92 percent compared to 2019 levels. In their vision, the only way to reopen borders and allow free travel once more is to start offering rapid testing at the gate."
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Alexandre de Juniac, director general and CEO of IATA, said, "The key to restoring the freedom of mobility across borders is systematic COVID-19 testing of all travelers before departure. This will give governments the confidence to open their borders without complicated risk models that see constant changes in the rules imposed on travel."
According to Flyer Talk, IATA data suggests the public would support a testing scheme that would allow them to travel internationally. Their public opinion research suggests 84 percent of those polled agree that testing should be required of all travelers, while 88 percent say they would undergo testing as part of the travel process. Flyer Talk reports that "One of the key reasons that testing isn't more widely offered is because they primarily offer antigen tests, instead of the laboratory-dependent PCR tests. Reuters reports while they can produce results in as little as 15 minutes, they can also create 'false negatives,' meaning flyers who carry the novel Coronavirus could still potentially board aircraft, creating a risk to other flyers and even the government."![]()
The pre-test program approved by the state would allow those coming into Hawaiʻi to avoid a 14-day program. Those not taking the test would still be allowed to fly here but would quarantine for the two weeks. Apparently, essential workers would be able to receive an exemption from the quarantine and the testing and go to work in while here, but promise to go straight back to accommodations between work hours.
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.
FREE DRIVE-THRU COVID-19 TESTING will be held Thursday, Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cooper Center in Volcano Village. Other free testing will be held at:
Keauhou Shopping Center on Monday, Sept. 28; Wednesday, Sept. 30; and Friday, Oct. 2 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Civic Auditorium in Hilo – enter from Kuawa Street – on Monday, Sept. 28 and Friday, Oct. 2 from 9 a.m. to noon, and Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Kea‘au High School Tuesday, Sept. 29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
No insurance is necessary to be tested, but bring insurance card if have. No co-pay for the individuals being tested. Be sure to wear a face-covering at all times and observe social distancing. For further information, call Civil Defense at 935-0031.
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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.
POLICE WARN OF INCREASED FINANCIAL SCAMS by individuals and businesses. This includes identity thefts, theft offenses related to credit cards, computer-related crimes, forgery, financial exploitation, and others. They are often perpetuated by cybercriminals through "phishing" and "spoofing," explains Hawaiʻi Police Department, which are fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and financial information via electronic communication. Forms of communications include emails, phone calls, and websites that originate from an unknown source but appear as being from a known or trusted source. The goal is to gain access to a victim's personal, financial information, or spread malware through infected links or attachments.
With the heavy reliance of computers, mobile devices, and networks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, says HPD, cyber-criminals exploit the vulnerability of individuals and businesses through data breaches of financial accounts, targeting online shoppers, and are now focusing on stealing stimulus payments, unemployment benefits, and paycheck protection program payments.
While not totally eliminating the possibility of becoming a victim, HPD says, they recommend taking the following precautions:
Conduct regular checks of your banking statements for accuracy and report any irregularities to your financial institution.
If your occupation requires you to work from home, you should consider a separate router to separate your home and work network traffic and using the strongest security configuration for online protection.
When examining an email to determine its legitimacy, look for unusual phrases, grammatical or spelling errors, or transposing of letters in the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) also referred to as the "web address", as these are often indicators of "spoofing" or "phishing" attempts. Do not click on any unfamiliar links or download attachments you may receive in any emails and instead delete them.
If using mobile or computer applications to perform banking online, set up strong passwords and change them regularly. You should also set up "two-factor authentication" (2FA) which involves logging into your account with your username and password and requiring a time-sensitive code sent to the device which needs to be entered by the user for verification.
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A Flyer Talk story says, "The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an immeasurable human toll around the world. In an abundance of caution and preventing the spread of the virus, individual nations and trade blocs have closed borders or mandated a 14-day quarantine period for foreign visitors. While arguably effective, the approach has also decimated the international aviation industry. According to IATA data, international travel is down 92 percent compared to 2019 levels. In their vision, the only way to reopen borders and allow free travel once more is to start offering rapid testing at the gate."
Alexandre de Juniac, director general and CEO of IATA, said, "The key to restoring the freedom of mobility across borders is systematic COVID-19 testing of all travelers before departure. This will give governments the confidence to open their borders without complicated risk models that see constant changes in the rules imposed on travel."According to Flyer Talk, IATA data suggests the public would support a testing scheme that would allow them to travel internationally. Their public opinion research suggests 84 percent of those polled agree that testing should be required of all travelers, while 88 percent say they would undergo testing as part of the travel process. Flyer Talk reports that "One of the key reasons that testing isn't more widely offered is because they primarily offer antigen tests, instead of the laboratory-dependent PCR tests. Reuters reports while they can produce results in as little as 15 minutes, they can also create 'false negatives,' meaning flyers who carry the novel Coronavirus could still potentially board aircraft, creating a risk to other flyers and even the government."
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.
FREE DRIVE-THRU COVID-19 TESTING will be held Thursday, Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cooper Center in Volcano Village. Other free testing will be held at:
Keauhou Shopping Center on Monday, Sept. 28; Wednesday, Sept. 30; and Friday, Oct. 2 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Civic Auditorium in Hilo – enter from Kuawa Street – on Monday, Sept. 28 and Friday, Oct. 2 from 9 a.m. to noon, and Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Kea‘au High School Tuesday, Sept. 29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
No insurance is necessary to be tested, but bring insurance card if have. No co-pay for the individuals being tested. Be sure to wear a face-covering at all times and observe social distancing. For further information, call Civil Defense at 935-0031.
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.POLICE WARN OF INCREASED FINANCIAL SCAMS by individuals and businesses. This includes identity thefts, theft offenses related to credit cards, computer-related crimes, forgery, financial exploitation, and others. They are often perpetuated by cybercriminals through "phishing" and "spoofing," explains Hawaiʻi Police Department, which are fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and financial information via electronic communication. Forms of communications include emails, phone calls, and websites that originate from an unknown source but appear as being from a known or trusted source. The goal is to gain access to a victim's personal, financial information, or spread malware through infected links or attachments.
With the heavy reliance of computers, mobile devices, and networks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, says HPD, cyber-criminals exploit the vulnerability of individuals and businesses through data breaches of financial accounts, targeting online shoppers, and are now focusing on stealing stimulus payments, unemployment benefits, and paycheck protection program payments.
While not totally eliminating the possibility of becoming a victim, HPD says, they recommend taking the following precautions:
Conduct regular checks of your banking statements for accuracy and report any irregularities to your financial institution.
If your occupation requires you to work from home, you should consider a separate router to separate your home and work network traffic and using the strongest security configuration for online protection.
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| See tips to protect from financial scams. Image from Investopedia.com |
If using mobile or computer applications to perform banking online, set up strong passwords and change them regularly. You should also set up "two-factor authentication" (2FA) which involves logging into your account with your username and password and requiring a time-sensitive code sent to the device which needs to be entered by the user for verification.
If you receive a mobile or landline call from an unknown or unfamiliar number, do not answer it but instead let the call go to your voicemail. These "robocalls" often use applications to display an area code from your area along with a random or unused phone number. If you happen to answer the call or hear a recording, do not provide any personal identifying or financial information but simply hang up. To prevent further "robocalls", you should consider looking for a "call-blocking solution" or download the "donotcall" app from the Federal Trade Commission's website.
Finally, if you become a victim of a financial crime, prepare a packet that includes your financial statements as well as documents supporting the crime, such as emails, invoices, receipts, and others, which you'll be turning over to police when reporting the incident. It is recommended that you also retain a copy of all of your documents for file.
Finally, if you become a victim of a financial crime, prepare a packet that includes your financial statements as well as documents supporting the crime, such as emails, invoices, receipts, and others, which you'll be turning over to police when reporting the incident. It is recommended that you also retain a copy of all of your documents for file.
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.
STAY SAFE IN CARPOOL OR RIDESHARE with tips from Hawaiʻi Department of Health Communications Office. Recommendations include: Wear a mask in public settings and when around people who don't live in the same household. Avoid touching surfaces. Limit the number of passengers in the vehicle to only those necessary. Avoid pooled rides where multiple passengers from different households are picked up. Improve ventilation by opening the windows or setting the air ventilation/air conditioning on non-re-circulation mode. After leaving the vehicle, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol. When arriving at the destination, wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
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.
LOCAL PRODUCERS CAN SIGN UP FOR A PROGRAM TO SELL PRODUCE AND MEATS on Hawaiʻi Island. Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, in partnership with County of Hawai‘i and non-profit entities, has developed a program to purchase product from commercial farmers and livestock producers on Hawai‘i Island for distribution to families in need. The Food Basket and other channels will distribute the products. Learn more.
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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| Attend Soft Pastel Still Life with Patty Pease Johnson. |
ACTIVITIES AT VOLCANO ART CENTER in October include workshops and classes with important safety measures in place. Niʻaulani Gallery in Volcano Village and VAC Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park are open. Hours of operation for the Gallery are Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Niʻaulani.
On Saturday, Oct, 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Zach Mermel will teach the basics of mushroom cultivation in the Food From Wood: Growing Edible & Medicinal Mushrooms on Logs, Stumps, and Wood Chips.
On Thursday, Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., attend a hands-on Introduction to Sogetsu Ikebana, workshop with Nancy "Sorin" Locke. Good for beginners, students will have the opportunity to create their own arrangement.
On Saturday, Oct, 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Zach Mermel will teach the basics of mushroom cultivation in the Food From Wood: Growing Edible & Medicinal Mushrooms on Logs, Stumps, and Wood Chips.
On Thursday, Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., attend a hands-on Introduction to Sogetsu Ikebana, workshop with Nancy "Sorin" Locke. Good for beginners, students will have the opportunity to create their own arrangement.
On Saturday, Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Zentangle is back, with Lydia Meneses as instructor.
On Saturday, Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., attend the popular From Plant to Pigment workshop with Puakea Forester.
On Saturday, Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., discover what's edible and what's not in the wild in Edible Wild Plants with Zach Mermel.
On Saturday, Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Patti Pease Johnson will teach Soft Pastel Still Life workshop.
On Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., attend Mixed Media Encaustic with Mary Milelzcik. A hands-on workshop, learn safe studio practices, all the encaustic painting basics, and how to integrate encaustic painting into other media. No experience necessary.
Volcano Art Center is a non-profit educational organization created in 1974 to promote, develop, and perpetuate the artistic and cultural heritage of Hawai‘i's people and environment through activities in the visual, literary, and performing arts. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more details and to register for events.
On Saturday, Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., attend the popular From Plant to Pigment workshop with Puakea Forester.
On Saturday, Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., discover what's edible and what's not in the wild in Edible Wild Plants with Zach Mermel.
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| Attend a workshop on edible wild plants with Zach Mermel. |
On Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., attend Mixed Media Encaustic with Mary Milelzcik. A hands-on workshop, learn safe studio practices, all the encaustic painting basics, and how to integrate encaustic painting into other media. No experience necessary.
Volcano Art Center is a non-profit educational organization created in 1974 to promote, develop, and perpetuate the artistic and cultural heritage of Hawai‘i's people and environment through activities in the visual, literary, and performing arts. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more details and to register for events.
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.
HAWAIʻI ISLAND HAS REPORTED 700 COVID-19 CASES since the pandemic began.
Hawaiʻi reports one new death today, on Oʻahu. This brings the state's official death toll to 132. Department of Health states some deaths are still being verified before being counted. Total 28 deaths are reported on Hawaiʻi Island, 26 of them residents at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home.
The state reports 98 new cases today. Hawaiʻi Island reports seven and 91 on Oʻahu.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 12,116 COVID cases in the state. Department of Health reports 10,155 people of those infected have completed isolation. There are about 1,830 active cases in isolation. There are 16 people hospitalized on Hawaiʻi Island with the virus.
Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu reported 10,939 cases, Hawaiʻi Island 700, Maui County 388, and Kauaʻi 59. Thirty victims are residents diagnosed while visiting other places. Statewide, 816 people have been hospitalized since the pandemic began.
In the last 28 days, active cases have been reported in zip codes 96704 with Miloliʻi; 96772 with Nāʻālehu, Waiʻōhinu, Green Sands, Mark Twain, Discovery Harbour, and South Point; 96777 with Pāhala, Punaluʻu, and Wood Valley; and 96785 with Volcano Village. Zip code 96737, with Ocean View, has had no cases in the lat 28 days. Zip code 96718, shaded gray on the map, is Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, which has few residents and no cases to date. Other areas shaded gray have no or very little population and no cases.
Visitation at Hilo Medical Center has been paused, with the exception of one visitor for OB, pediatrics, and end-of-life patients. The hospital's long-term care ward is closed to new patients for now.
All beach and shoreline parks on Hawaiʻi Island are closed through Sept. 30. The activities of exercising, fishing, food gathering, use of restroom, shower facilities, and access to the ocean will continue to be allowed. Use of pavilions, barbecues, tents, or other shade devices, tables, hibachis, coolers, picnicking, camping, and commercial operations are all prohibited.
Hawaiʻi Island police continue enforcement of preventative policies of face coverings, distancing, and gatherings. Civil Defense says, "Know that these policies are mandated and will be enforced. While on patrol, police officers will provide face coverings to people they encounter who do not have one. Mahalo for your help."
Civil Defense says the number of new cases of coronavirus on this Island "reflects the need and importance of continuing testing throughout the Island as the virus remains a threat. With all accepting kuleana, we can stop the spread of the virus to keep your family, friends, and neighbors safe. With the community's involvement, we can keep Hawaiʻi Safe."
See the Hawaiʻi County COVID-19 webpage at coronavirus-response-county-of-hawaii-hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com. Request travel exemptions for critical infrastructure and medical travel at survey123.arcgis.com/share/e2f4ce19aa854964a8fd60bec7fbe78c. Report violators of COVID-19 safety protocols or quarantine to non-emergency at 935-3311.
COVID-19 case count in the U.S. is more than 7,115,088 – about 22 percent of worldwide cases. The death toll is more than 204,756 – about 21 percent of worldwide deaths. Worldwide, there are more than 32.99 million COVID-19 cases. The death toll is more than 996,695.
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.
A MORE ACCESIBLE AND MOBILE-FRIENDLY WEBSITE is the focus of this week's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:
HVO's new website is more accessible and mobile-friendly.
You may have seen the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory's Caldera Chronicles article about their new-and-improved website, in which they hint at a change coming to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's website, too. It's true!
This week, HVO is the latest of several USGS volcano observatories (Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Cascades Volcano Observatory, and California Volcano Observatory) to reveal a new website. This continues our effort to more efficiently provide the public with up-to-date information on Hawaiian volcanoes.
The original HVO website premiered in 1998 and its appearance remained essentially unchanged until 2017. That year, HVO revamped its original website (see our May 18, 2017 Volcano Watch for details).
HVO's 2017 website revision was just one piece of a larger effort that included most other volcano observatories within the USGS Volcano Hazards Program. At the time, informational content and volcano monitoring data for HVO and most other USGS volcano observatories were gathered into a database.
This database then fed the content and data to similarly formatted USGS volcano observatory websites, which offered consistent experiences to visitors. The availability of dynamic data, such as real-time seismic maps and ground deformation plots, was a major improvement.
Like the 2017 website transition, the HVO website launched this week is just one small piece of a much larger effort that includes not only the volcano observatories, but the entire USGS! This year, the VHP's "webolution" joined other programs within the USGS, many with websites that have already migrated to this new system.
This new system, essentially a larger database, will house the content and data to drive websites for all USGS programs, including the Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program and the Earthquake Hazards Program, as well as the VHP. Each USGS program is part of a larger Mission Area, with the VHP and other hazards-related programs included in the USGS Natural Hazards Mission Area.
Unlike the past website transition, which looked different from its predecessor and unveiled new content, today's HVO website doesn't look dramatically different than the 2017–2020 website. The content on the new website is essentially the same – it's just formatted slightly differently.
On the full-sized version – using a tablet or computer – users can still access Hawaiian volcanoes information and data via a menu of options viewed on the left-hand side of the screen, with a list of shortcuts to our most popular pages available on the right-hand side. News items are listed at the bottom of the homepage. The new website maintains the dynamic data streams – seismic maps, deformation plots, and webcam imagery of Hawaiian volcanoes – of the old website.
HAWAIʻI ISLAND HAS REPORTED 700 COVID-19 CASES since the pandemic began.
Hawaiʻi reports one new death today, on Oʻahu. This brings the state's official death toll to 132. Department of Health states some deaths are still being verified before being counted. Total 28 deaths are reported on Hawaiʻi Island, 26 of them residents at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home.
The state reports 98 new cases today. Hawaiʻi Island reports seven and 91 on Oʻahu.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 12,116 COVID cases in the state. Department of Health reports 10,155 people of those infected have completed isolation. There are about 1,830 active cases in isolation. There are 16 people hospitalized on Hawaiʻi Island with the virus.
Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu reported 10,939 cases, Hawaiʻi Island 700, Maui County 388, and Kauaʻi 59. Thirty victims are residents diagnosed while visiting other places. Statewide, 816 people have been hospitalized since the pandemic began.
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Onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 28 days, by zip code. Gray areas have zero or few residential addresses. White is zero cases. Yellow is one to 20 cases. Pale orange is 21 to 50 cases. Medium orange is 51 to 80 cases. Dark orange (not pictured) is 81 to 130 cases. Bright red is 131 to 220 cases. Dark red (not pictured) is 221 to 330 cases. Department of Health map |
Visitation at Hilo Medical Center has been paused, with the exception of one visitor for OB, pediatrics, and end-of-life patients. The hospital's long-term care ward is closed to new patients for now.
All beach and shoreline parks on Hawaiʻi Island are closed through Sept. 30. The activities of exercising, fishing, food gathering, use of restroom, shower facilities, and access to the ocean will continue to be allowed. Use of pavilions, barbecues, tents, or other shade devices, tables, hibachis, coolers, picnicking, camping, and commercial operations are all prohibited.
Hawaiʻi Island police continue enforcement of preventative policies of face coverings, distancing, and gatherings. Civil Defense says, "Know that these policies are mandated and will be enforced. While on patrol, police officers will provide face coverings to people they encounter who do not have one. Mahalo for your help."
Civil Defense says the number of new cases of coronavirus on this Island "reflects the need and importance of continuing testing throughout the Island as the virus remains a threat. With all accepting kuleana, we can stop the spread of the virus to keep your family, friends, and neighbors safe. With the community's involvement, we can keep Hawaiʻi Safe."
See the Hawaiʻi County COVID-19 webpage at coronavirus-response-county-of-hawaii-hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com. Request travel exemptions for critical infrastructure and medical travel at survey123.arcgis.com/share/e2f4ce19aa854964a8fd60bec7fbe78c. Report violators of COVID-19 safety protocols or quarantine to non-emergency at 935-3311.
COVID-19 case count in the U.S. is more than 7,115,088 – about 22 percent of worldwide cases. The death toll is more than 204,756 – about 21 percent of worldwide deaths. Worldwide, there are more than 32.99 million COVID-19 cases. The death toll is more than 996,695.
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.
A MORE ACCESIBLE AND MOBILE-FRIENDLY WEBSITE is the focus of this week's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:
 |
You may have seen the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory's Caldera Chronicles article about their new-and-improved website, in which they hint at a change coming to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's website, too. It's true!
This week, HVO is the latest of several USGS volcano observatories (Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Cascades Volcano Observatory, and California Volcano Observatory) to reveal a new website. This continues our effort to more efficiently provide the public with up-to-date information on Hawaiian volcanoes.
The original HVO website premiered in 1998 and its appearance remained essentially unchanged until 2017. That year, HVO revamped its original website (see our May 18, 2017 Volcano Watch for details).
HVO's 2017 website revision was just one piece of a larger effort that included most other volcano observatories within the USGS Volcano Hazards Program. At the time, informational content and volcano monitoring data for HVO and most other USGS volcano observatories were gathered into a database.
This database then fed the content and data to similarly formatted USGS volcano observatory websites, which offered consistent experiences to visitors. The availability of dynamic data, such as real-time seismic maps and ground deformation plots, was a major improvement.
Like the 2017 website transition, the HVO website launched this week is just one small piece of a much larger effort that includes not only the volcano observatories, but the entire USGS! This year, the VHP's "webolution" joined other programs within the USGS, many with websites that have already migrated to this new system.
This new system, essentially a larger database, will house the content and data to drive websites for all USGS programs, including the Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program and the Earthquake Hazards Program, as well as the VHP. Each USGS program is part of a larger Mission Area, with the VHP and other hazards-related programs included in the USGS Natural Hazards Mission Area.
Unlike the past website transition, which looked different from its predecessor and unveiled new content, today's HVO website doesn't look dramatically different than the 2017–2020 website. The content on the new website is essentially the same – it's just formatted slightly differently.
 |
| HVO geologists made observations of Kīlauea's summit water lake from the east rim of Halema‘uma‘u. This view point is on the large downdropped block that subsided during the 2018 collapse events. From this spot, a view of the entire lake is possible, providing a new perspective on the growth of the lake. The last visit to this spot was on December 18, 2019, when the lake had a surface area of 1.1 hectares (2.7 acres). The lake has risen approximately 25 m (82 feet) since that time, and now has a surface area of 3.3 hectares (8.2 acres). The yellow circle in the left photo shows the normal observation site used by HVO geologists on the west caldera rim. Steaming is more apparent in the September 23, 2020, image due to the humid and rainy conditions on that day. USGS photos by K. Mulliken and M. Patrick. |
But an exciting and major improvement on the new HVO website is that it's more mobile-friendly. With almost half of our website visitors doing so via mobile devices, it's now easier to check the status of Hawaiian volcanoes at any time and from any device. Our new website will automatically re-size a page when viewed on smaller screens, which meets the federal mandate to make our data and volcano information more accessible.
One of the biggest changes to the new HVO website is its dynamic connection to USGS-wide pages. By integrating HVO's website with the rest of USGS, we can easily share information on Hawaiian volcanoes. For example, when posting new content, we can choose to share it only on the HVO website, or we can choose to simultaneously share it to the VHP, the Natural Hazards Mission area, and other relevant USGS websites to reach a wider audience.
This capability ensures that HVO, with its mission to monitor active volcanoes and their hazards, can share vital information more broadly when necessary. It also helps you – the user – more easily find information, data, and content related to the subject that interests you. You can search for anything across all USGS pages in the box at the top of the website.
Another feature unveiled with HVO's new website is the ability to subscribe to Volcano Watch articles. Subscribing will allow you to receive the weekly articles directly through your email.
We hope that learning to navigate HVO's new-and-improved website will be fun – explore it at www.usgs.gov/hvo. As always, feedback is welcome at askHVO@usgs.gov.
Volcano Activity Updates
Kīlauea Volcano is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at NORMAL (https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/volcano-hazards/about-alert-levels). 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://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/k-lauea-summit-water-resources.
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.
This past week, about 103 small-magnitude earthquakes were recorded beneath the upper-elevations of Mauna Loa; most of these occurred at shallow depths of less than 8 kilometers (about 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://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/monitoring.
There was one event with three or more felt reports in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M2.8 earthquake 8 km (4 mi) ENE Pāhala at 31 km (19 mi) depth on Sept. 17 at 8:54 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.
This time last year, Kaʻū Coffee Trail Run broke its participation record under sunny skies, with 226 runners. The 5 K hosted 119, with 54 in the 10K, and 53 in the half marathon.
The sixth annual race saw participants climbing the slope behind Kaʻū Coffee Mill into the rainforest, runners weaving through orchards of Kaʻū Coffee with their red berries ready for the height of coffee picking season.
Co-sponsored by Kaʻū Coffee Mill, the Kaʻū Coffee Trail Run raises about a third of the budget for the local community organization ʻO Kaʻū Kākou. Local families set up refreshment booths to raise money to send children to Kamehameha Schools and for a trip to the nation's capitol. The race and festivities were canceled this year due to the pandemic.
Racers came to Kaʻū Coffee Mill from around the state and across the globe as Kaʻū Coffee Mill founder Edmund C. Olson looked on. Youth Challenge program brought 67 cadets to support the event, and 12 participated in the race.
Miss Kaʻū Coffee 2019, Helena Sesson, presented the awards, accompanied by Kaʻū Coffee Princess Liliana Marques and Miss Kaʻū Coffee Flower Kysha Manini Kaʻūpu.
The overall winner of the men's Half Marathon was Zachary Songa, at 1:28:51.8, in the 30-39 age group. Overall winner of the men's 10K was Jeffrey Iverslie, at 51:37.0, in the 50-59 age group. Overall winner of the men's 5K was Jared Barrett, at 21:59.3, in the 19 & under age group.
Overall winner of the women's Half Marathon was Amy Young, at 1:48:03.7, in the 30-39 age group. Overall winner of the women's 10K was Lucile Redon, at 58:03.6, in the 20-29 age group. Overall winner of the women's 5K was Megan Denny, at 21:01.3, in the 40-49 age group.
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.
One of the biggest changes to the new HVO website is its dynamic connection to USGS-wide pages. By integrating HVO's website with the rest of USGS, we can easily share information on Hawaiian volcanoes. For example, when posting new content, we can choose to share it only on the HVO website, or we can choose to simultaneously share it to the VHP, the Natural Hazards Mission area, and other relevant USGS websites to reach a wider audience.
This capability ensures that HVO, with its mission to monitor active volcanoes and their hazards, can share vital information more broadly when necessary. It also helps you – the user – more easily find information, data, and content related to the subject that interests you. You can search for anything across all USGS pages in the box at the top of the website.
Another feature unveiled with HVO's new website is the ability to subscribe to Volcano Watch articles. Subscribing will allow you to receive the weekly articles directly through your email.
We hope that learning to navigate HVO's new-and-improved website will be fun – explore it at www.usgs.gov/hvo. As always, feedback is welcome at askHVO@usgs.gov.
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| Color variations are common at dominated by tan and brown hues. In this photo, the interaction between different color zones produced a large swirl in the center of the lake. USGS/M. Patrick photo |
Kīlauea Volcano is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at NORMAL (https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/volcano-hazards/about-alert-levels). 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://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/k-lauea-summit-water-resources.
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.
This past week, about 103 small-magnitude earthquakes were recorded beneath the upper-elevations of Mauna Loa; most of these occurred at shallow depths of less than 8 kilometers (about 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://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/monitoring.
There was one event with three or more felt reports in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M2.8 earthquake 8 km (4 mi) ENE Pāhala at 31 km (19 mi) depth on Sept. 17 at 8:54 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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Pāhala's Alfred Ibarra, at right with his sister Betsy Potter, won the 5K in the 60-69 age group in the 2019 Kaʻū Coffee Trail Run, which drew a record breaking 226 runners in three OKK events. At left, a Youth Challenge cadet greets a runner. Photos by Julia Neal |
Kaʻū Life: The Way We Were Last Year
The sixth annual race saw participants climbing the slope behind Kaʻū Coffee Mill into the rainforest, runners weaving through orchards of Kaʻū Coffee with their red berries ready for the height of coffee picking season.
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Second and third place winners of the 60-69 age group in the 5K, Dennis McClellan and Charles Laird, with 2019 Kaʻū Coffee Queen Helena Sesson, Princess Liliana Marques, and Miss Flower Kysha Manini Kaʻupu. Photo by Julia Neal |
Racers came to Kaʻū Coffee Mill from around the state and across the globe as Kaʻū Coffee Mill founder Edmund C. Olson looked on. Youth Challenge program brought 67 cadets to support the event, and 12 participated in the race.
Miss Kaʻū Coffee 2019, Helena Sesson, presented the awards, accompanied by Kaʻū Coffee Princess Liliana Marques and Miss Kaʻū Coffee Flower Kysha Manini Kaʻūpu.
The overall winner of the men's Half Marathon was Zachary Songa, at 1:28:51.8, in the 30-39 age group. Overall winner of the men's 10K was Jeffrey Iverslie, at 51:37.0, in the 50-59 age group. Overall winner of the men's 5K was Jared Barrett, at 21:59.3, in the 19 & under age group.
Overall winner of the women's Half Marathon was Amy Young, at 1:48:03.7, in the 30-39 age group. Overall winner of the women's 10K was Lucile Redon, at 58:03.6, in the 20-29 age group. Overall winner of the women's 5K was Megan Denny, at 21:01.3, in the 40-49 age group.
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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
Presidential Debates Schedule: The first Presidential Debate will be held Tuesday, Sept. 29 in Cleveland, Ohio. The single Vice Presidential Debate will be held Wednesday, Oct. 7 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The second Presidential Debate will be held Thursday, Oct. 15 in Miami, Florida. The final Presidential Debate will be held Thursday, Oct. 22 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Each debate will air from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on. Each debate will be broadcast live on C-SPAN, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, Fox News, Fox Business Network, and MSNBC, among others. All the major news networks will offer a free live stream, as will YouTube and Twitter. Listen to the Hawaiʻi Public Radio broadcast at 89.1, or stream the audio here, on the HPR mobile app, or on a smart speaker.
Design the 2021 Ocean Count T-Shirt forHawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary by Sept. 30. Designs highlighting humpback whales in Hawaiian waters must be entirely the artist's own creation. To ensure the design looks its best when printed, submit as a high definition PDF, AI, EPS, or PNG with a quality of at least 1500 pixels by 1500 pixels and 300 DPI (dots per inch) with dimensions no greater than 11.5 inches by 14 inches. Top finalists' designs will appear on oceancount.org, the winner's design on the back of the shirt. The winner will also receive $500. Email the design and completed registration form to oceancount@marinesancutary.org.
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Attend Hawaiʻi Children and Youth Summit on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a watch party on Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. For ages 24 and younger. Register here. The annual event brings together youth from across the islands to discuss key issues that they believe the Hawaiʻi State Legislature needs to address to make Hawaiʻi a better place to live and work. Priorities that come out of the Summit are used by legislators to create bills and resolutions in the following year. Some of the things that have come out of the Summit are things like expanding afterschool programs, lowering the age of consent for Mental Health Services, and planting over one million trees.
Take Free Courses and Certifications for Hawaiʻi Residents through Coursera are offered by state Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. More than 3,000 options. Registration open until Oct. 31. Recommended courses for picking up technology skills, see https://www.htdc.org/covid-19/learning-tech/. To view more: https://dbedt.hawaii.gov/blog/20-25/.
Give Input of Pandemic on Small Businesses to Hawaiʻi Small Business Development Center. Partnering with the Federal Reserve Bank system, the 2020 Small Business Credit Survey provides vital information to policymakers and lenders who are weighing decisions that affect small businesses. Ten-minute-long survey open to businesses currently in operation, recently closed, or about to launch. Survey closes Oct. 31. Responses are confidential. Click here to complete the survey. Questions? Contact SFFedSmallBusiness@sf.frb.org.
Anyone Feeling Depressed or Anxious, or who needs someone to talk to, can call Department of Health's expanded Hawai‘i C.A.R.E.S. program at 1-800-753-6879 – the same number previously used by Crisis Line of Hawai‘i. Individuals in crisis can also text ALOHA to 741741, available 24/7.
Learn How to Practice Self-Care through Big Island Substance Abuse Council's Practice Self-Care Series. In partnership with Hawai‘i Department of Health, the program seeks to "remind the community that now more than ever, it's important to be gentle with yourself. Be present, limit the amount of news and media, listen to your body, and most importantly, ask for help if you need it. If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health challenges, please reach out to friends and family for support, and seek professional help for serious or persistent symptoms."
For additional series that feature refreshing wellness tips, follow the Behavioral Health & Homelessness Statewide Unified Response Group on Facebook.
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Nominate Businesses that Provide Excellent COVID-19 Safety Precautions for a Gold Star. Submit nominations to County of Hawaiʻi Department of Research and Development here. Find help for small businesses here.
Attend Weekly Virtual Town Meetings, hosted by Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary, on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. Discussion topics include attendance, best practices, Grab-n-Go meals, school updates, questions and feedback, and more. Go to KHPES website for Live WebEx link.
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Sign Up for Solid Waste Operations Alerts here. Receive notice via phone or email of site closures, availability of services, hours of operation, special conditions affecting solid waste service (such as road closures, flooding, fires), or special events, such as household hazardous waste collections.
Attend Sunday Drive-In Worship Service at Waiʻōhinu's Kauahaʻao Congregational Church. Parking on the lawn begins at10 a.m. , with Worship Service starting at 10:10 a.m. Face coveri required when usher comes to vehicle to pass out worship bulletin and other materials, and at the same time, collect any offering or gifts the individual(s) would like to give, or when leaving vehicles for the restroom. Church provides paper fans to stay cool. Bring water. Catch the live-streamed service at 10:10 a.m. and Praise Jam, which runs from 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Service is emailed Sunday afternoon to anyone on the email list. Sign up by emailing dwongyuen.kauahaaochurch@gmail.com or call 928-8039 or 937-2155.
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St. Jude's Episcopal Church services and worship are posted online at stjudeshawaii.org. Join the Aloha Hour via Zoom at 11 a.m. on Sundays, here, Meeting ID: 684 344 9828, Password: Aloha. Weekly hot meals, hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended.
One-Time Emergency Food For Pets is available through KARES. Call David or Barbara Breskin at 319-8333.
Food Basket Distribution last Tuesday of the month, Sept. 29, provides food at St. Jude's to those in need. Another distribution will be held Wednesday, Sept. 30, at Volcano Village's Cooper Center, from 10 a.m. until pau. See hawaiifoodbasket.org.
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Emergency Boxes Available at Cooper Center Tuesday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Call ahead, 967-7800.
Volcano Art Center Volcano Village
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Health and Fitness Website for Kūpuna, 808b-fit.com, contains videos for kūpuna to play and move along with. There are videos for stretching, tai chi, yoga, dancing, dance fitness, bon dance, hula, chair dancing, and chair yoga.
Yoga with Emily Catey Weiss, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Advanced registration required; $5 per class. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222
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Ocean View Community Market, open Saturdays and Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. , on the corner of Kona Drive and Highway 11, where Thai Grindz is located. Managed by Mark Cocucci. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no reservations needed. Parking in upper lot only. Vendors must provide own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling encouraged.
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Choose Aloha for Home is available to families, to provide a healthy way to grow together using neuroscience and positive psychology. Program uses a series of self-guided videos, activities, and "dinner table discussion topics." Sign up here.
ʻOhana Help Desk offers online How-To Guides fo
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Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Public Libraries, open for wifi, pick-up, and other services. Nāʻālehu open Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pāhala open Tuesday, noon to 7 p.m., Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Schedule a Library Take Out time at picktime.com/hspls. Open for library card account help and reference assistance from the front door. Wifi available to anyone with a library card from each library parking lot. librarieshawaii.org
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Learn About Hawaiʻi's History & Culture through Papakilo Database, a resource developed by The Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Consists of "collections of data pertaining to historically and culturally significant places, events, and documents in Hawaiʻi's history. The purpose of this educational online repository is to increase the community's ability to preserve and perpetuate cultural and historical information and practices." See papakilodatabase.com.
Coffee Farmers and Producers of Other Agricultural Products encouraged to apply to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program through Dec. 11. Coffee included; see funding updates and resources hawaiicoffeeassoc.org. See complete list of eligible commodities, payment rates, and calculations at farmers.gov/cfap.
Local Ag Producers can Sign Up for a Program to Sell Produce and Meats on Hawaiʻi Island. Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, in partnership with County of Hawai‘i and non-profit entities, has developed a program to purchase product from commercial farmers and livestock producers on Hawai‘i Island for distribution to families in need. The Food Basket and other channels will distribute the products. Learn more.
Native Hawaiian Farmers and Ranchers urged to use U.S. Dept. of Ag On-Farm Market Directory. Visit the program website for more information and to register.
Begin Learning Basics of Organic Farming, from two free modules of a virtual training program by the Organic Farming Research Foundation, the University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program, andCalifornia Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo .
Attend How to Start a Parent Pod webinar Monday, Sept. 28. Partnership with Community First and Vibrant Hawaiʻi Parents learn How to create a Parent Pod; Pod Pitfalls and Communication Crises to Avoid; COVID-19 Health and Safety Pod Guidelines; and "Answers to your questions, so you can get started with confidence and peace of mind!" Register here.
Produce Safety Webinar, Oct. 5 through 7, Monday through Wednesday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Hosted by University of Hawaiʻi Cooperative Extension and Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture. Training open to commercial fruit and vegetable farmers subject to the Food Safety Modernization Act's Produce Safety Rule. Covers Introduction to Produce Safety; Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training; Soil Amendments; Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use; Agricultural Water; Postharvest Handling and Sanitation; and How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan. Attendees must have stable internet connections, video capability, and participate in all three meetings in order to be eligible to receive their certificate of completion. Register no later than Monday, Sept. 28. Seats are very limited. Those who are unable to attend this training can email kylielw@hawaii.edu to be added to the waiting list.
Each debate will air from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on. Each debate will be broadcast live on C-SPAN, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, Fox News, Fox Business Network, and MSNBC, among others. All the major news networks will offer a free live stream, as will YouTube and Twitter. Listen to the Hawaiʻi Public Radio broadcast at 89.1, or stream the audio here, on the HPR mobile app, or on a smart speaker.
Design the 2021 Ocean Count T-Shirt for
Register to Vote online, olvr.hawaii.gov, or by U.S. Mail. Print a registration form. Forms must be postmarked no later than Monday, Oct. 5. As during the Primary, all ballots will be mailed, but voters can still vote in-person and may register the same day. Locations are in Hilo at 101 Pauahi Street, #1, and Kona, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy. Ballots should start to arrive around Oct. 16. Secure ballot dropbox located in Nāʻālehu Police Station at 95-5355 Māmalahoa Hwy from Oct. 14, 24 hours a day until 7 p.m. Nov. 3. See other locations here. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. See tips on helping others to register to vote at nationalvoterregistrationday.org. Find more information at elections.hawaii.gov. Check voter registration status here.
Take Free Courses and Certifications for Hawaiʻi Residents through Coursera are offered by state Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. More than 3,000 options. Registration open until Oct. 31. Recommended courses for picking up technology skills, see https://www.htdc.org/covid-19/learning-tech/. To view more: https://dbedt.hawaii.gov/blog/20-25/.
Give Input of Pandemic on Small Businesses to Hawaiʻi Small Business Development Center. Partnering with the Federal Reserve Bank system, the 2020 Small Business Credit Survey provides vital information to policymakers and lenders who are weighing decisions that affect small businesses. Ten-minute-long survey open to businesses currently in operation, recently closed, or about to launch. Survey closes Oct. 31. Responses are confidential. Click here to complete the survey. Questions? Contact SFFedSmallBusiness@sf.frb.org.
Artists and Vendors, sign up for the Annual Art & Craft Fair at Ocean View Community Center on Nov. 7. The event, held outside from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., will help raise funds for the Center, as well as benefit local artists and crafters. Booths are $8 for a 10' x 10' space, tents not provided. Face masks required. Free admission for attendees. Contact organizer Helen McCullough at 808-209-9204 or hmccullough.1@gmail.com.
ONGOING
Micronesian-Language COVID-19 Helpline offered by We Are Oceania. Receive answers to questions about COVID-19 symptoms, testing, quarantine, health insurance, housing, unemployment, and other related questions, for those Micronesians who do not speak English. COVID-19 questions can be asked 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily. Other questions about health insurance, housing, or unemployment, helpline available weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. WAO helpline: (808) 913-1364. Watch the video here.
Micronesian-Language COVID-19 Helpline offered by We Are Oceania. Receive answers to questions about COVID-19 symptoms, testing, quarantine, health insurance, housing, unemployment, and other related questions, for those Micronesians who do not speak English. COVID-19 questions can be asked 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily. Other questions about health insurance, housing, or unemployment, helpline available weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. WAO helpline: (808) 913-1364. Watch the video here.
Anyone Feeling Depressed or Anxious, or who needs someone to talk to, can call Department of Health's expanded Hawai‘i C.A.R.E.S. program at 1-800-753-6879 – the same number previously used by Crisis Line of Hawai‘i. Individuals in crisis can also text ALOHA to 741741, available 24/7.
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The State of covidexemption@hawaii.gov 5 days prior to arrival. For a sample request letter visit: https://www.rd.hawaiicounty.gov |
For additional series that feature refreshing wellness tips, follow the Behavioral Health & Homelessness Statewide Unified Response Group on Facebook.
Student Athletes of Kaʻū High interested in participating in athletics during the 2020-2021 school year are encouraged to call Athletic Director Kalei Namohala at 313-4161 to sign up for the Student Athlete Google Classroom.
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The program offers "fun, engaging and educational activities, crafts, games, outdoor exploration, and observations grounded in Hawaiian culture, science, math, and art. Explorations from deep ocean to deep space, and everything in between – all from ‘Imiloa's facilities and outdoor gardens.
Enrollment limited to seven pods for K-5th grade students with one instructor, one assistant, and up to eight participants, who will remain together for all seven weeks. Participant's required synchronous and asynchronous school distance learning needs will be addressed. Students will bring their own lunch, two snacks, and two bottled water each day.
Cost per member child is $695; registration starts Friday, Sept. 25 at 8 a.m. Non-member cost per child is $995; registration starts Friday, Oct. 2 at 8 a.m. Enrollment open through Oct. 7, first-come, first-served. Scholarship applications are open; proof of financial need required. See imiloahawaii.org/halau-lamaku to register, apply for a scholarship, become a member, and find out more.
Resilience Hub at Nāʻālehu Hongwanji, Monday-Wednesday-Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Drop-in wifi and laptop access, free meals for participating keiki. Follows all county, state, and federal COVID-19 guidelines. For more info, contact Michelle Galimba, 808-430-4927.
Sign Up for ‘Imiloa's Hālau Lamakū Place- and Culture-based Fall Enrichment Program at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo. Held for seven weeks, Oct. 19 through Dec.4, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., except holidays.
The program offers "fun, engaging and educational activities, crafts, games, outdoor exploration, and observations grounded in Hawaiian culture, science, math, and art. Explorations from deep ocean to deep space, and everything in between – all from ‘Imiloa's facilities and outdoor gardens. Enrollment limited to seven pods for K-5th grade students with one instructor, one assistant, and up to eight participants, who will remain together for all seven weeks. Participant's required synchronous and asynchronous school distance learning needs will be addressed. Students will bring their own lunch, two snacks, and two bottled water each day.
Cost per member child is $695; registration starts Friday, Sept. 25 at 8 a.m. Non-member cost per child is $995; registration starts Friday, Oct. 2 at 8 a.m. Enrollment open through Oct. 7, first-come, first-served. Scholarship applications are open; proof of financial need required. See imiloahawaii.org/halau-lamaku to register, apply for a scholarship, become a member, and find out more.
Resilience Hub at Nāʻālehu Hongwanji, Monday-Wednesday-Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Drop-in wifi and laptop access, free meals for participating keiki. Follows all county, state, and federal COVID-19 guidelines. For more info, contact Michelle Galimba, 808-430-4927.
Nominate Businesses that Provide Excellent COVID-19 Safety Precautions for a Gold Star. Submit nominations to County of Hawaiʻi Department of Research and Development here. Find help for small businesses here.Pre-Register for Boys & Girls Club Mobile Outreach Program in Ocean View here. Completing the form does not guarantee a spot in the program. A staff member will reach out to eligible families, to complete the registration process. Questions? Contact Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island Administrative Office, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at (808) 961-5536 or email mobiletutoring@bgcbi.org.
Free Tutors for Keiki in Pāhala, for grades one through six, available from Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island Reading , Writing, Math, Spelling, Test Taking Strategies, Organizational Skills, and more. Contact Boys & Girls Club at info@bgcbi.org or 961-5536.
Free Wifi Access for Students is available in Pāhala, Nāʻālehu, and Ocean View through Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary.
In Pāhala, access is limited to ten students at a time at the school gym on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Support is provided by Joshua Ortega.
In Nāʻālehu, access is limited to 12 students at a time at Nāʻālehu Assembly of God on Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Support is provided by Carla Lind.
In Ocean View, access is limited to five students at a time at Ocean View Community Center on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Support is provided by Carla Lind and Mrs. Marcia Masters. No restrooms available at this location.
Kaʻū Mobile Learning Hub at St. Jude's lower parking lot is available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Instruction and support are provided by Carla Lind, Mrs. VanNewkirk, Mrs. Heather Naboa, Mrs. Marcia Masters, and Mrs. Ebanez.
All students and staff must wear a mask at all times and follow all COVID-19 guidelines. Each student must bring their device, school materials, and a water bottle. Questions? Call 313-4100.
Sign Up for Solid Waste Operations Alerts here. Receive notice via phone or email of site closures, availability of services, hours of operation, special conditions affecting solid waste service (such as road closures, flooding, fires), or special events, such as household hazardous waste collections.Attend Sunday Drive-In Worship Service at Waiʻōhinu's Kauahaʻao Congregational Church. Parking on the lawn begins at
One-Time Emergency Food For Pets is available through KARES. Call David or Barbara Breskin at 319-8333.
Food Basket Distribution last Tuesday of the month, Sept. 29, provides food at St. Jude's to those in need. Another distribution will be held Wednesday, Sept. 30, at Volcano Village's Cooper Center, from 10 a.m. until pau. See hawaiifoodbasket.org.
Guided Nature Walks through Nature Trail & Sculpture Garden, Mondays, 9:30 a.m. at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. No reservations for five or fewer – limited to ten people. Free; donations appreciated. Email programs@volcanoartcenter.org. Garden is open to walk through at one's own pace, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Free. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222
Yoga with Emily Catey Weiss, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Advanced registration required; $5 per class. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222
Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village, open on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, island beef, and prepared foods. Call 808-967-7800.
Ocean View Swap Meet reopens Sept. 5 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.
Ocean View Community Market, open Saturdays and Wednesdays, ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Market, in Nāʻālehu, open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon . Limit of 50 customers, 25 vendor booths, with 30 feet of space between vendors. Masks and hand sanitizing are required, social distancing enforced. Contact Sue Barnett, OKK Market Manager, at 808-345-9374 (voice or text) or kaufarmer@aol.com for more and to apply to vend. facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket
ʻOhana Help Desk offers online How-To Guides fo
Ocean View Mobile Learning Lab, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at St. Jude's lower parking lot. O
Free Book Exchanges, at laundromats in Ocean View and Nāʻālehu, provided by Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries. Open to all. Keep the books, pass them on to other readers, or return them. Selection of books replenished weekly at both sites.
Sign Up for Two Women's Health Programs from Kaʻū Women's Collective. Piko focuses on reproductive health; increasing access, respect, cultural competence, education, and choice. Pilina aims to grow membership and establish a culture of collaborative decision-making. Meetings held Sundays on Oct. 11, Nov. 8, and Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. Follow @kau_womens_health_collective. Contact rootsmedieshawaii@gmail.com. Call 808-450-0498.
Receive Help Over the Phone with Critical Financial Issues, through Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund Financial Navigators from County of Hawaiʻi, in partnership with Hawaiʻi First Federal Credit Union. Complete webform here or call 808-933-6600. Contact Sharon Hirota at 808-961-8019 with questions.
Find Resources for LGBTQ+, Loved Ones, and Allies at Sexual and Gender Minority online resource hub, Hawaiʻi Department of Health's first website dedicated to LGBTQ+ resources.Resources: Understanding the Pacific's alternative genders; Pronoun guide; Book lists for children and teens; ʻOhana support; and DOH data. For more information on joining the SGM Workgroup, email Thaddeus Pham at thaddeus.pham@doh.hawaii.gov. See health.hawaii.gov.
Learn About Hawaiʻi's History & Culture through Papakilo Database, a resource developed by The Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Consists of "collections of data pertaining to historically and culturally significant places, events, and documents in Hawaiʻi's history. The purpose of this educational online repository is to increase the community's ability to preserve and perpetuate cultural and historical information and practices." See papakilodatabase.com.Coffee Farmers and Producers of Other Agricultural Products encouraged to apply to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program through Dec. 11. Coffee included; see funding updates and resources hawaiicoffeeassoc.org. See complete list of eligible commodities, payment rates, and calculations at farmers.gov/cfap.
Local Ag Producers can Sign Up for a Program to Sell Produce and Meats on Hawaiʻi Island. Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, in partnership with County of Hawai‘i and non-profit entities, has developed a program to purchase product from commercial farmers and livestock producers on Hawai‘i Island for distribution to families in need. The Food Basket and other channels will distribute the products. Learn more.
Native Hawaiian Farmers and Ranchers urged to use U.S. Dept. of Ag On-Farm Market Directory. Visit the program website for more information and to register.
Receive Free Marketing Assistance, for small businesses affected by COVID-19 from Univeristy of Hawaiʻi-Hilo faculty and their senior class. Help with moving a business online, finding out more about the businesses' customers, analyzing marketing effectiveness, and providing customer service or website feedback. Visit https://bit.ly/2YvFxsl.
Find Grants and Loans Offered to Farmers and Ranchers, at oahuaca.org. The website has a new search feature.
Begin Learning Basics of Organic Farming, from two free modules of a virtual training program by the Organic Farming Research Foundation, the University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program, and
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