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| Celebrate Hawaiʻi's only native mammal during Bat Week, just in time for Halloween. Also, take a look back at last year's Halloween celebrations in Kaʻū Life: The Way We Were Last Year, below. |
VOTE IN THE 2020 GENERAL ELECTION in person, with same-day registration at two locations on Hawaiʻi Island on Monday, Nov. 2, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Vote in Hilo at Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, #1. Vote in Kona at West Hawaiʻi Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.
For those who received ballots in the mail, but did not send them in, drop off ballots at Nāʻālehu Police Station 24 hours a day until 7 p.m. election day, this Tuesday, Nov. 3. Mailed ballots will not arrive in time to be counted, as all ballots must be received no later than Nov. 3. See more dropoff locations at elections.hawaii.gov/voter-service-centers-and-places-of-deposit.
See if mail-in ballots have been received at ballotstatus.hawaii.gov/ballotreceipt.
See more at elections.hawaii.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.
For those who received ballots in the mail, but did not send them in, drop off ballots at Nāʻālehu Police Station 24 hours a day until 7 p.m. election day, this Tuesday, Nov. 3. Mailed ballots will not arrive in time to be counted, as all ballots must be received no later than Nov. 3. See more dropoff locations at elections.hawaii.gov/voter-service-centers-and-places-of-deposit.
See if mail-in ballots have been received at ballotstatus.hawaii.gov/ballotreceipt.
See more at elections.hawaii.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.
"In lieu of Halloween activities, the Department of Health (DOH) recommends partaking in activities with your household at home and avoid activities with large parties or door-to-door interactions. These are high-risk activities as they can result in close contact and crowding among people outside your household.
"For more tips on how to stay safe this holiday season, please visit DOH's website. As always, please continue to practice general physical precautions as wearing a mask when in public, staying home when sick, sanitizing hands regularly and practicing social distancing. Stay safe and informed."
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 new Hawai‘i Restaurant Card Program, funded with $75 million from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund, is aimed at helping those who received unemployment benefits in September. The cards are valid until Dec. 15 and can be used statewide at any local restaurant. "We wanted to create a program to help as many people as possible," said Gov. David Ige. The program is a public-private partnership with the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
The state's partnership with the business community was praised by Sherry Menor-McNamara, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i, and Denise Hayashi Yamaguchi, executive director of the Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation. Without help, some 60 percent of Hawai‘i restaurants were expected to shut down for good because of the pandemic, said Menor-McNamara. For more details on the program, go to hawaiirestaurantcard.com.
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| Coffee growers are encouraged to carry crop insurance for Coffee Leaf Rust. Photo from HCA |
HAWAIʻI COFFEE ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCED PROGRAMS TO DEAL WITH COFFEE RUST today. It reported on a meeting of researchers, regulators, congressional staff and industry stakeholders. HTA said the group “identified short and long term strategies and work continues on a broad spectrum of action items. Numerous working groups have been formed, and those professionals and volunteers will continue to meet, plan and take action to preserve and build resiliency into Hawaiʻi's coffee industry," says the announcement. “An HCA team is developing a webinar to share information about Coffee Leaf Rust.” Check exchange.hawaiicoffeeassoc.org for updates.
The HCA announcement encourages all coffee growers to carry USDA crop insurance. For help with the application or any other crop insurance related questions, the HCA recommends farmers reach out to Lind Insurance Services at agsecure@sbcglobal.net, 888-276-7728 toll-free, or call or text Bonnie Lind on her cell at 559-285-8973.
The coffee leaf rust was confirmed on Maui and tests await results in Hilo. It could dramatically reduce production if it reaches Ka’u Coffee farms.
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 NEED FOR FOOD WASTE AT PIG FARMS has contributed to a temporary delay in building a $10.5 million compost factory planned by County of Hawaiʻi. The facility would use food waste and green waste.
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Pigs eat fresh, off-grade fruit, like papaya. They also eat food waste from restaurants and other food processors, competing with food waste for composting. A $10.5 million county composting project was delayed this week because of the need to |
Food waste, as it breaks down, heats green waste to make compost. However, pork producers compete for food waste, often under contract with schools, grocery stores, valued added food manufacturers and restaurants. During the pandemic, pig farmers are in dire need of food waste, with restaurants, cafeterias and some other food producers offering much less food waste than in normal times. Food waste from off-grade vegetables and fruits, such as papayas, can be fed directly to livestock without any preparation, rather than going to a composting facility.
Given the competition for food waste and a shortage of green waste, the county decided this week to put its compost factory project on hold. The compost would serve farms, orchards, nurseries and homeowners to improve their soils. However, contractor Hawaiian Earth Recycling, the County's Solid Waste Advisory Committee and Department of Solid Waste Management agreed to hold the contract to build the compost facility in abeyance for at least six months.
According to a story in West Hawaiʻi Today, carried widely by Associated Press, there is concern with competition for food waste even after the pandemic. The story reports Environmental Management Commissioner Jon Olson saying that "farmers addressed the Solid Waste Advisory Committee on the issue in 2002, and repeated the point to the 2019 committee. 'We were told back then we weren't going to get hold of the food waste because it was already spoken for,' Olson said."
The story quotes county Environmental Management Director Bill Kucharski: "When the precursor material has a bigger demand than the supply and we don't have a critical ingredient, we have to ask is this the right way to do it." See more at westhawaiitoday.com.
Given the competition for food waste and a shortage of green waste, the county decided this week to put its compost factory project on hold. The compost would serve farms, orchards, nurseries and homeowners to improve their soils. However, contractor Hawaiian Earth Recycling, the County's Solid Waste Advisory Committee and Department of Solid Waste Management agreed to hold the contract to build the compost facility in abeyance for at least six months.
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| Off-grade papaya is one fruit that can go straight to feeding livestock without treatment. Photo from CTHAR |
The story quotes county Environmental Management Director Bill Kucharski: "When the precursor material has a bigger demand than the supply and we don't have a critical ingredient, we have to ask is this the right way to do it." See more at westhawaiitoday.com.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
MANU MINUTE features sounds from a different native Hawaiian bird each week on Hawaiʻi Public Radio. The Conversation on Wednesdays at 11 a.m.features a Hawaiʻi bird, its unique song, and a description of its environment and conservation. The new segment debuted this week with a profile of the scarlet honeycreeper, ʻiʻiwi, and an interview with Manu Minute host Patrick Hart of the Listening Observatory for Hawaiian Ecosystems Bioacoustics Lab at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. Listen here or on the radio at 88.7 or 89.1 FM.
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 PUBLIC RADIO RAISED $636,543 during its Fall Pledge Drive. Concluded at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28, the public station welcomed more than 700 new members to the station ʻohana.
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A statement from the station says, "A heartfelt mahalo to the more than 2,200 individuals who made a contribution… Your support helps ensure a thriving future for this essential public service. If you haven't yet donated, it's not too late to give. Mahalo for your support! Together, We Are HPR!"
HPR provides "news coverage, civil conversation, and fact-based information. We're here for you too with art, ideas, good music, and as a connection to the community. Your financial support makes this all possible. As you join, renew or give again, we encourage you to opt for continuous monthly giving, called Sustaining Membership– it's one of the best ways to ensure HPR's service is here for you and the entire community. Thank you!"
Update Sustaining Membership information here. Prefer to donate by mail? HPR's address is 738 Kaheka Street, Honolulu, HI, 96814.
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.
BAT WEEK WRAPS UP TONIGHT on Halloween, with many sources to study bats, including Hawaiʻi's endangered hoary bat, ʻōpeʻapeʻa. Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association celebrates bat week by honoring Hawaiʻi's only native terrestrial mammal. A book on the bat, ʻŌpeʻapeʻa, is available on the group's website.
An announcement from the group on Facebook says, "While recent advances in genetics reveal more than one arrival, the same evidence shows these diminutive night flyers first found the Hawaiian Islands many millennia before the first humans – which poses a perplexing question: How did this small flying mammal make its way over thousands of miles of open ocean from the Americas to Hawaiʻi?
"‘Ōpe‘ape‘a don't form large colonies like some bat species, they cannot land on water, they are poorly built for gliding and would had to have flapped for days on end to reach the remote archipelago. The odds against it are probably millions to one – or maybe not. ʻŌpeʻapeʻa are descendants of hoary bats from the Americas but there are records and disjunct populations of these bats on some of the most far-flung islands on earth. Hoary bats have been found on South Hampton Island off northern Canada, the Galápagos Islands, Bermuda, Iceland, the Orkney Isles of Scotland, and Hawai‘i.
"Shy and solitary, the Hawaiian hoary bat is so rare that most people have never seen one. But if you are in the right place (the edge of a forest) at the right time (around sunset), you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one heading out to hunt for beetles and moths, its favorite foods." Bats are the only true flying mammals. The name of the mammal group that includes bats is Chiroptera which literally means hand wing. A bat's wing structure is a modified hand that is specially adapted for flight. Bats also use their thumbs to help them climb and move around when not flying. Almost 300 species of fruits, mainly those found in tropical and desert climates, are pollinated by bats. These furry flying friends also spread seeds for certain types of nuts, as well as cacao. ‘Ōpe‘ape‘a typically roost 10-15 feet up in trees and stay well-hidden in foliage during the day.
See hawaiipacificparks.org.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
EARTHQUAKES AND SULFUR SMELLS AT KĪLAUEA are the focus of this week's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:
Seismic Swarms and Sulfur Smells: What is Happening at Kīlauea Volcano?
On the evening of Thursday, Oct. 22, people living near the summit of Kīlauea Volcano began to feel a series of earthquakes. They were small, and some could even be mistaken for a strong gust of wind blowing against the house. As the night went on, they became more frequent and larger in magnitude. Beds were shaken enough to wake people up, and household items were rattling. People were wondering, "Why are there so many earthquakes? How big will they get? Is an eruption coming?”"
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| The scarlet honeycreeper, ʻiʻiwi, is the first Hawai’i bird discussed on HPR's Manu Minute. |
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 PUBLIC RADIO RAISED $636,543 during its Fall Pledge Drive. Concluded at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28, the public station welcomed more than 700 new members to the station ʻohana.
HPR provides "news coverage, civil conversation, and fact-based information. We're here for you too with art, ideas, good music, and as a connection to the community. Your financial support makes this all possible. As you join, renew or give again, we encourage you to opt for continuous monthly giving, called Sustaining Membership– it's one of the best ways to ensure HPR's service is here for you and the entire community. Thank you!"
Update Sustaining Membership information here. Prefer to donate by mail? HPR's address is 738 Kaheka Street, Honolulu, HI, 96814.
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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| ‘Ōpe‘ape‘a, the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat, is Hawaiʻi's only endemic mammal. Learn more about this little pollinator from Bat Week presentations. USGS photo |
An announcement from the group on Facebook says, "While recent advances in genetics reveal more than one arrival, the same evidence shows these diminutive night flyers first found the Hawaiian Islands many millennia before the first humans – which poses a perplexing question: How did this small flying mammal make its way over thousands of miles of open ocean from the Americas to Hawaiʻi?
"‘Ōpe‘ape‘a don't form large colonies like some bat species, they cannot land on water, they are poorly built for gliding and would had to have flapped for days on end to reach the remote archipelago. The odds against it are probably millions to one – or maybe not. ʻŌpeʻapeʻa are descendants of hoary bats from the Americas but there are records and disjunct populations of these bats on some of the most far-flung islands on earth. Hoary bats have been found on South Hampton Island off northern Canada, the Galápagos Islands, Bermuda, Iceland, the Orkney Isles of Scotland, and Hawai‘i.
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| HPPA's online store offers this book on the endangered Hawaiian bat. |
See hawaiipacificparks.org.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
EARTHQUAKES AND SULFUR SMELLS AT KĪLAUEA are the focus of this week's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:
Seismic Swarms and Sulfur Smells: What is Happening at Kīlauea Volcano?
On the evening of Thursday, Oct. 22, people living near the summit of Kīlauea Volcano began to feel a series of earthquakes. They were small, and some could even be mistaken for a strong gust of wind blowing against the house.
As it turns out, a shallow seismic swarm had begun west of Kīlauea Volcano's summit, near Nāmakanipaio Campground. The largest single event was a magnitude-3.5 earthquake on Saturday morning, Oct. 24 at 5:08 a.m. And an imminent eruption does not appear to be likely.
USGS HVO scientists were closely monitoring these earthquakes from the onset, and issued a Kīlauea Information Statement on Friday, Oct 23. The summary stated that "Kīlauea Volcano is not erupting. A small swarm of shallow seismicity over the past 24 hours has occurred near the Ka‘ōiki fault system, northwest of Kīlauea's summit. Other Kīlauea monitoring data streams remain stable and show no signs of increased activity."
HVO monitors Hawaiʻi's active volcanoes in a variety of different ways. Our seismic network monitors earthquakes. Our geodetic network monitors ground "deformation"– changes in the shape of the Earth's surface. Our gas network measures volcanic gas emissions. Our camera network monitors visual and thermal features, to name a few.
Throughout this recent seismic swarm, no significant changes were observed in any of HVO's other monitoring data streams. This differs from the events leading up to Kīlauea's 2018 eruption for example, when in addition to earthquakes, geodetic sensors measured dramatic changes in deformation due to the accumulation and migration of magma.
This seismic swarm continued in earnest through the weekend. Residents of the Volcano Golf Course neighborhood, in particular, had a few restless nights and reported weak shaking associated with some of the earthquakes on the USGS Did You Feel It? website. But activity gradually diminished, and the number of earthquakes is now back to near "background" levels.
Although Kīlauea and Mauna Loa are not currently erupting, they are both active volcanoes and there is constant "background" activity going on within these volcanoes. This background activity can lead to, and include, things like this recent earthquake swarm. The Ka‘ōiki fault system is located along the structural interface between these two active volcanoes.  |
Map showing earthquake epicenters (blue circles) from a shallow seismic swarm that began on Oct. 23. Hundreds of earthquakes were recorded beneath the northeastern tip of the Ka‘ōiki fault system, about 1 mile (less than 2 km) west of Nāmakanipaio Campground. These earthquakes occurred in a cluster about 1 mi (2 km) wide and 1–3 mi (2–5 km) below the surface. The largest single event (red star) was a magnitude-3.5 earthquake on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 5:08 a.m. USGS map |
HVO monitors Hawaiʻi's active volcanoes in a variety of different ways. Our seismic network monitors earthquakes. Our geodetic network monitors ground "deformation"– changes in the shape of the Earth's surface. Our gas network measures volcanic gas emissions. Our camera network monitors visual and thermal features, to name a few.
Throughout this recent seismic swarm, no significant changes were observed in any of HVO's other monitoring data streams. This differs from the events leading up to Kīlauea's 2018 eruption for example, when in addition to earthquakes, geodetic sensors measured dramatic changes in deformation due to the accumulation and migration of magma.
This seismic swarm continued in earnest through the weekend. Residents of the Volcano Golf Course neighborhood, in particular, had a few restless nights and reported weak shaking associated with some of the earthquakes on the USGS Did You Feel It? website. But activity gradually diminished, and the number of earthquakes is now back to near "background" levels.
HVO has detected several similar Ka‘ōiki seismic swarms since 1983. For more information on earthquakes in this area, please see the Volcano Watch article titled, Why do swarms of earthquakes occur around the Ka‘ōiki Pali? published by HVO scientists in 2012, usgs.gov/center-news/volcano-watch-why-do-swarms-earthquakes.
Earthquakes are part of life on an active volcano. A Volcano Watch article earlier this month described The Great Hawaii ShakeOut exercise that took place on Oct. 15. This Ka‘ōiki seismic swarm is yet another reminder for Hawaiʻi residents to be prepared for earthquakes.
Coincidentally, Island of Hawai‘i residents also reported strong smells of sulfur or vog (volcanic air pollution) over the past week. HVO's gas monitoring instruments have not recorded any increases in volcanic emissions of SO2 or H2S however. Why, then, have these smells been more noticeable?
The most likely reason is Kona winds. For the past week or so, Hawaiʻi has been experiencing winds coming from the south instead of typical trade winds from the northeast. Not only is the wind direction different, but some places that usually have a constant breeze are experiencing still air. As a result, even though volcanic gases emanating from Kīlauea have remained at consistent "background" levels, they are being blown around and concentrated in different places than normal.
Between seismic swarms leading to sleepless nights, and sulfur smells leading to wrinkled noses, it has been a somewhat interesting week for Island of Hawaiʻi residents!
One thing remains the same – just like every week, HVO scientists are vigilantly monitoring volcanic activity. There is currently no eruption, or signs that an eruption is imminent. But the events of the past week serve to illustrate why HVO scientists constantly monitor and study the volcanoes we live on. Things can, and do, change at any time.
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 36 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 were 7 events with 3 or more felt reports in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.3 earthquake 2 km (1 mi) SSW of Volcano at 0 km (0 mi) depth on Oct. 29 at 1:04 a.m., a M3.5 earthquake 9 km (5 mi) ENE of Pāhala at 31 km (19 mi) depth on Oct. 25 at 6:02 p.m., a M3.5 earthquake 8 km (4 mi) WSW of Volcano at 4 km (2 mi) depth on Oct. 24 at 5:08 a.m., a M2.8 earthquake 8 km (4 mi) WSW of Volcano at 4 km (2 mi) depth on Oct. 24 at 1:46 a.m., a M3.0 earthquake 9 km (5 mi) WSW of Volcano at 3 km (2 mi) depth on Oct. 23 at 1:43 a.m., a M1.4 earthquake 9 km (5 mi) WSW of Volcano at 3 km (1 mi) depth on Oct. 23 at 1:19 a.m., and a M2.7 earthquake 8 km (4 mi) WSW of Volcano at 3 km (2 mi) depth occurred on Oct. 23 at 12:13 a.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.
HAWAIʻI ISLAND REPORTS FIFTEEN NEW COVID-19 CASES today. New cases reported statewide today total 68, with 46 on Oʻahu, one on Maui, and six residents diagnosed out-of-state.
Since the pandemic began, Hawaiʻi Island reported 1,274 cases. There are at least ten people hospitalized on Hawaiʻi Island with the virus.
Since the pandemic began, 46 deaths have been reported by Hilo Life Center (12); Kona Community Hospital (one); Hilo Medical Center (six); and Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home (27). Hawaiʻi Island's death toll, as reported by the county, is 40 since the pandemic began. Some Hawaiʻi Island deaths are not officially reported by the state. At least 219 people have died in the state, according to state records, three new today.
There have been 15,071 total COVID cases in the state. Department of Health reports 11,776 people of those infected have completed isolation. There are about 3,075 active cases in isolation.
Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu has reported 13,133 cases, Maui 408, Lanaʻi 99, Molokaʻi 17, and Kauaʻi 64. Seventy-six victims are residents diagnosed while out-of-state. Statewide, 1,105 people have been hospitalized since the pandemic began.
No new cases have been reported in the last 28 days for Volcano zip codes 96785 and 96718, and Kaʻū zip code 96772. In the last 28 days, less than ten active cases have been reported in Kaʻū zip code 96777, and 96704, which includes Miloliʻi.
In the last 28 days, 14 active cases have been reported in Kaʻū zip code 96737. In Hilo zip code 96720, 33 cases have been reported in the last 28 days. In Kona zip code 96740, 96 cases have been reported in the last 28 days. In Puako/Waikoloa zip code 96738, 24 cases have been reported in the last 28 days. In Pepeʻekeo zip code 96783, 24 cases have been reported in the last 28 days.
See the Hawaiʻi County COVID-19 webpage. Report violators of COVID-19 safety protocols or quarantine to non-emergency at 935-3311. Hawaiʻi Island police continue enforcement of preventative policies.
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| The two red lines with Xs near 2606 on this map show where the Ka‘ōiki fault system is located. USGS map |
Earthquakes are part of life on an active volcano. A Volcano Watch article earlier this month described The Great Hawaii ShakeOut exercise that took place on Oct. 15. This Ka‘ōiki seismic swarm is yet another reminder for Hawaiʻi residents to be prepared for earthquakes.
Coincidentally, Island of Hawai‘i residents also reported strong smells of sulfur or vog (volcanic air pollution) over the past week. HVO's gas monitoring instruments have not recorded any increases in volcanic emissions of SO2 or H2S however. Why, then, have these smells been more noticeable?
The most likely reason is Kona winds. For the past week or so, Hawaiʻi has been experiencing winds coming from the south instead of typical trade winds from the northeast. Not only is the wind direction different, but some places that usually have a constant breeze are experiencing still air. As a result, even though volcanic gases emanating from Kīlauea have remained at consistent "background" levels, they are being blown around and concentrated in different places than normal.
Between seismic swarms leading to sleepless nights, and sulfur smells leading to wrinkled noses, it has been a somewhat interesting week for Island of Hawaiʻi residents!
One thing remains the same – just like every week, HVO scientists are vigilantly monitoring volcanic activity. There is currently no eruption, or signs that an eruption is imminent. But the events of the past week serve to illustrate why HVO scientists constantly monitor and study the volcanoes we live on. Things can, and do, change at any time.
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| Sulfur deposits in Halema‘uma‘u. A stronger smell from the element may be due to Kona winds. USGS 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 36 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 were 7 events with 3 or more felt reports in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.3 earthquake 2 km (1 mi) SSW of Volcano at 0 km (0 mi) depth on Oct. 29 at 1:04 a.m., a M3.5 earthquake 9 km (5 mi) ENE of Pāhala at 31 km (19 mi) depth on Oct. 25 at 6:02 p.m., a M3.5 earthquake 8 km (4 mi) WSW of Volcano at 4 km (2 mi) depth on Oct. 24 at 5:08 a.m., a M2.8 earthquake 8 km (4 mi) WSW of Volcano at 4 km (2 mi) depth on Oct. 24 at 1:46 a.m., a M3.0 earthquake 9 km (5 mi) WSW of Volcano at 3 km (2 mi) depth on Oct. 23 at 1:43 a.m., a M1.4 earthquake 9 km (5 mi) WSW of Volcano at 3 km (1 mi) depth on Oct. 23 at 1:19 a.m., and a M2.7 earthquake 8 km (4 mi) WSW of Volcano at 3 km (2 mi) depth occurred on Oct. 23 at 12:13 a.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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Onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 28 days, by zip code. Gray areas have populations less than 1,000. White is zero cases. Yellow is one to 10 cases. Light orange is 11-50 cases. Dark orange is 51-200 cases. Department of Health map |
Since the pandemic began, Hawaiʻi Island reported 1,274 cases. There are at least ten people hospitalized on Hawaiʻi Island with the virus.
Since the pandemic began, 46 deaths have been reported by Hilo Life Center (12); Kona Community Hospital (one); Hilo Medical Center (six); and Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home (27). Hawaiʻi Island's death toll, as reported by the county, is 40 since the pandemic began. Some Hawaiʻi Island deaths are not officially reported by the state. At least 219 people have died in the state, according to state records, three new today.
There have been 15,071 total COVID cases in the state. Department of Health reports 11,776 people of those infected have completed isolation. There are about 3,075 active cases in isolation.
Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu has reported 13,133 cases, Maui 408, Lanaʻi 99, Molokaʻi 17, and Kauaʻi 64. Seventy-six victims are residents diagnosed while out-of-state. Statewide, 1,105 people have been hospitalized since the pandemic began.
No new cases have been reported in the last 28 days for Volcano zip codes 96785 and 96718, and Kaʻū zip code 96772. In the last 28 days, less than ten active cases have been reported in Kaʻū zip code 96777, and 96704, which includes Miloliʻi.
In the last 28 days, 14 active cases have been reported in Kaʻū zip code 96737. In Hilo zip code 96720, 33 cases have been reported in the last 28 days. In Kona zip code 96740, 96 cases have been reported in the last 28 days. In Puako/Waikoloa zip code 96738, 24 cases have been reported in the last 28 days. In Pepeʻekeo zip code 96783, 24 cases have been reported in the last 28 days.
See the Hawaiʻi County COVID-19 webpage. Report violators of COVID-19 safety protocols or quarantine to non-emergency at 935-3311. Hawaiʻi Island police continue enforcement of preventative policies.
COVID-19 case count in the U.S. is more than 9,111,013 – about 20 percent of worldwide cases. The death toll is more than 230,320 – about 19.5 percent of worldwide deaths. Worldwide, there are more than 45.9 million COVID-19 cases. The death toll is more than 1,193,339.
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.
This time last year, keiki and families traveled to the Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary school campus for an inclusive Halloween evening.
This year's events for Halloween are mostly canceled, as Centers for Disease Control and prevention recommend no door-to-door trick-or-treating and no indoor gatherings, due to COVID-19. However, events were still held: at ʻO Kaʻū Kākou's Nāʻālehu Farmers Market, at Ocean View Community Center, and through tomorrow at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park's Kīlauea Visitor Center Lānai from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Organized by Kaʻū High and Pāhala Elementary school, the free event offered a family-friendly atmosphere with a haunted hallway with many Boo! Stations; healthy recipes and health education materials courtesy Hui Mālama Nā ʻŌiwi; books for young keiki; and interactive displays, treats, games, and fun inside the gym.
In the parking lot, dinosaurs, video game characters, mermaids, skeletons, and more hosted Trunk-or-Treat, where keiki and youth went from parked car to car, asking for treats. Decorated cars were eligible for prizes for the best-decorated car: Most Beautiful, Most Original, Spookiest, and a special award for teachers or staff who decorated.
Kaʻū High's culinary class made decorative treats under the direction of teacher ʻĀina Akamu.
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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Manu, the Boy Who Loved Birds Virtual Book Release with author Caren Loebel-Fried and special guests all day Thursday, Nov. 5. Option to order books with personalized inscriptions. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
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Learn How to Help Hawaiʻi Island's Food System during the third annual Hawaiʻi Island Community Food Summit through the month of November. Sponsors of Food Summit seek to increase residents' exposure to local foods; provide opportunities for networking and engaging with fellow food system-minded community members; expose attendees to ways they can help the food system as individuals; and lay the foundation for a Food System Action Plan. The 2020 Food Summit website page provides information about sessions and corresponding registration links, with new content and sessions as the weeks progress.
Keynote Presentation is Friday, Nov. 6 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., with Sarah Newcomb, a member of the Hawaiʻi Island Hawaiʻi Youth Food Council. Register here. Watch preparation videos for Food Summit on Youtube, prerecorded to give participants the most time together during live discussions on Nov. 6. When registering for live sessions, summit questions ahead of time. See more here.
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AdvoCATS Free Spay and Neuter Clinic will be held Wednesday, Nov. 11 at Ocean View Community Center. To make a reservation, to reserve traps, to volunteer, or with questions, e-mail Cindy Thurston at cindyt@hawaii.rr.com, or call or text (808) 895-9283. See advocatshawaii.org.
Veterans Day Ceremony and Dinner, Kīlauea Military Camp, Wednesday, Nov. 11. Ceremony held live on KMC Facebook page at 3 p.m. Veterans Day Dinner at Crater Rim Café, located in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Reservations required, limited number of complimentary meals available. Call 967-8371 for either Dine-In or Grab & Go.![]()
Introduction to Beadweaving, new series of beading classes with Phyllis Cullen, begins Thursday, Nov. 12, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Kaʻū Art Gallery First Annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Sale, Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kaʻū Art Gallery (behind Ace, across from Punaluʻu Bakery, in Nāʻālehu – the old Kamaʻaina Cuts building). Free admission, face masks required for all. Contact organizer Corrine Kaupu at 808-937-1840 or kauartgallery@hawaiiantel.biz to vend.
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Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund Public Cleanup Events Sunday, Nov. 15, cleanup and survey; and Saturday, Dec. 19, cleanup. Group sizes limited due to COVID-19 precautions and government proclamations. HWF says details are forthcoming but will be a blend of hiking, BYO-4wd, and limited HWF carpool options. Contact Megan Lamson-Leatherman at (808) 280-8124 or wild@aloha.net.
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Veteran Farmers can register for virtual Farmer Veteran Coalition Conference: Veterans Farming through Adversity held Nov. 18 and 19, Wednesday and Thursday. Features education, workshops, keynote speakers, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and more. $45 ($35 for coalition members). Advance registration required.
Holiday Open House at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village, Friday, Nov. 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy viewing of handmade wreaths, cider, music, door prizes, and gifts. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
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Virtual Workshops on Hawaiʻi's Legislative Processes through Public Access Room. Sign up by contacting (808) 587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov. Ask questions and discuss all things legislative in a non-partisan environment. Attend Coffee Hour with PAR: Fridays at 3 p.m. on Zoom, meeting ID 990 4865 9652 or click zoom.us/j/99048659652. PAR staff will be available to answer questions and to discuss the legislative process. Anyone wanting to listen in without taking part in discussions is welcome. Learn more at lrb.hawaii.gov/public-access-room.
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Learn How to Practice Self-Care through Big Island Substance Abuse Council's Practice Self-Care Series. For additional series that feature refreshing wellness tips, follow the Behavioral Health & Homelessness Statewide Unified Response Group on Facebook.
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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Register for Boys & Girls Club Mobile Outreach and Tutoring Programs here. Registration does not guarantee a spot in the program. A staff member will reach out to eligible families for keiki grades 1-6, 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 or info@bgcbi.org.
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.
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Attend Sunday Drive-In Worship Service at Waiʻōhinu's Kauahaʻao Congregational Church. Parking on the lawn begins at 10 a.m. , with Worship Service starting at 10:10 a.m. Face coverings 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 atdwongyuen.kauahaaochurch@gmail.com or call 928-8039 or 937-2155.
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 Pickup through Hope DIA-mend Ministries, weekdays, 5 p.m. in the Ace parking lot in Ocean View and lunches on Mondays. In Nāʻālehu, meals distributed in front of old Nāʻālehu Theatre at 4 p.m.
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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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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.
ʻOhana Help Desk offers online How-To Guides fo
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Apply for Holomua Hawaiʻi Relief Grants for small businesses and nonprofits of up to $10,000 to support core operations, safe on-going and reopening costs, personal protective equipment, and training and technical assistance. The business or nonprofit must employ 50 people or fewer. See the program website.
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
Free Job Training for workers displaced by COVID-19 is launched by the state for up to 650 workers. Programs offer on-the-job training through Dec. 15, with wages starting at $13 to $15 an hour, health care benefits, and mentoring. Two different tracks in innovation or conservation sectors. See dbedt.hawaii.gov/blog/20-21/.
Read Report on Public Input about Disaster Recovery from damage during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. View the Civic Engagement and Comment Analysis Report here.
Coffee Farmers and Producers of Other Agricultural Products encouraged to apply to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program through Dec. 11. See funding updates and resources for coffee growers, hawaiicoffeeassoc.org. See complete list of eligible commodities, payment rates, and calculations at farmers.gov/cfap.
Program to Sell Produce and Meats on Hawaiʻi Island from commercial farmers and livestock producers on Hawai‘i Island for distribution to families in need. Learn more.
Native Hawaiian Farmers and Ranchers urged to use U.S. Dept. of Ag On-Farm Market Directory. Visit the program website.
Read About Seed Biodiversity for Hawaiʻi's Local Food System in It all Begins...and Ends with Seed, where Education and Outreach Coordinator Nancy Redfeather shares her insights. Read the blog.
Find Rangeland Management Resources at globalrangelands.org/state/hawaii. Subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates.
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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| Last year, families dressed up for Halloween and came to the Pāhala school campus for a safe celebration, this family with its dog in full gear. Photo by Julia Neal |
Kaʻū Life: The Way We Were Last Year
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| T-Rex and Pikachu with Jovena Moses, of Pāhala, last Halloween. Photo by Julia Neal |
Organized by Kaʻū High and Pāhala Elementary school, the free event offered a family-friendly atmosphere with a haunted hallway with many Boo! Stations; healthy recipes and health education materials courtesy Hui Mālama Nā ʻŌiwi; books for young keiki; and interactive displays, treats, games, and fun inside the gym.
In the parking lot, dinosaurs, video game characters, mermaids, skeletons, and more hosted Trunk-or-Treat, where keiki and youth went from parked car to car, asking for treats. Decorated cars were eligible for prizes for the best-decorated car: Most Beautiful, Most Original, Spookiest, and a special award for teachers or staff who decorated.
Kaʻū High's culinary class made decorative treats under the direction of teacher ʻĀina Akamu.
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| A mermaid greeted Halloween celebrants on the Pāhala school campus last year. Photo by Julia Neal |
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A skeleton driver in a convertible at the Kaʻū High and Pāhala Elementary campus on Halloween last year. Photo by Julia Neal |
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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
Free Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing at Civic Auditorium in Hilo, Monday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m. to noon. Enter from Kuawa Street entrance. No insurance necessary, but bring insurance card if have. No co-pay for those tested. Face covering required at all times and observe social distancing. For more, call Civil Defense at 935-0031.
Vote and Register In-Person same day. Locations are in Hilo at 101 Pauahi Street, #1, and Kona, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy. Secure ballot dropbox located in Nāʻālehu Police Station at 95-5355 Māmalahoa Hwy 24 hours a day, until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, Election Day. See other locations here. Tips on helping others to register to vote at nationalvoterregistrationday.org. Find more information at elections.hawaii.gov. Check voter registration status here.
Attend Free Virtual Hawaiʻi Book & Music Festival through Nov. 4 15th year of the festival features in-depth presentations covering a variety of topics deeply impacting the local community. Featuring Hawaiʻi Public Radio's Burt Lum, host of Bytemarks Café, on several panels. More info & schedule.
Learn How to Help Hawaiʻi Island's Food System during the third annual Hawaiʻi Island Community Food Summit through the month of November. Sponsors of Food Summit seek to increase residents' exposure to local foods; provide opportunities for networking and engaging with fellow food system-minded community members; expose attendees to ways they can help the food system as individuals; and lay the foundation for a Food System Action Plan. The 2020 Food Summit website page provides information about sessions and corresponding registration links, with new content and sessions as the weeks progress.
Keynote Presentation is Friday, Nov. 6 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., with Sarah Newcomb, a member of the Hawaiʻi Island Hawaiʻi Youth Food Council. Register here. Watch preparation videos for Food Summit on Youtube, prerecorded to give participants the most time together during live discussions on Nov. 6. When registering for live sessions, summit questions ahead of time. See more here.
Artists and Vendors, Sign Up for the Annual Art & Craft Fair at Ocean View Community Center on Saturday, Nov. 7. The event, held outside from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., helps raise funds for OVCC and benefit local artists and crafters. Booths $8 for a 10' x 10' space, tents not provided. Free admission for attendees. Face masks required for all. Contact organizer Helen McCullough at 808-209-9204 or hmccullough.1@gmail.com.
PETFIX and Hawaiʻi Rainbow Ranger Spay and Neuter Clinic for Dogs Saturday, Nov. 7 in Ocean View. Microchips available. For information and to register, call 808-990-3548 or email petfixbigisland@gmail.com.
AdvoCATS Free Spay and Neuter Clinic will be held Wednesday, Nov. 11 at Ocean View Community Center. To make a reservation, to reserve traps, to volunteer, or with questions, e-mail Cindy Thurston at cindyt@hawaii.rr.com, or call or text (808) 895-9283. See advocatshawaii.org.
Veterans Day Ceremony and Dinner, Kīlauea Military Camp, Wednesday, Nov. 11. Ceremony held live on KMC Facebook page at 3 p.m. Veterans Day Dinner at Crater Rim Café, located in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Reservations required, limited number of complimentary meals available. Call 967-8371 for either Dine-In or Grab & Go.
Menu: prime rib au jus, vegetable stir fry & black bean sauce, roasted red potatoes, cheesecake, and drink. Adults $26.95, $16.95 Vegetarian Option (w/o prime rib), children 6-11 years old, $14.95. Proof of eligibility (Military ID, DD214 with photo ID, 100% DAV, or Hawaiʻi Veterans driver license) required to receive complimentary meal. Face coverings and 6 feet distancing required in common areas. KMC open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.
Kaʻū Art Gallery First Annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Sale, Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kaʻū Art Gallery (behind Ace, across from Punaluʻu Bakery, in Nāʻālehu – the old Kamaʻaina Cuts building). Free admission, face masks required for all. Contact organizer Corrine Kaupu at 808-937-1840 or kauartgallery@hawaiiantel.biz to vend.
Second Saturday Barbecue Fundraiser, Saturday, Nov. 14 in the parking lot of Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Come get barbecued turkey legs and more. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Basics of Mushroom Cultivation with Zach Mermel, Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United Annual Meeting, Sunday, Nov. 15, 9 a.m. via Zoom, meeting code 450 691 6693. No password. Attend by phone at (669) 900-6833, code 450 691 6693#. Delegates elect HFUU president, and adopt policies and bylaw amendments. Nominations for president due at meeting; send to Nominations Committee Chair, David S. Case, at casedavids@gmail.com. Review and comment on proposals. Enjoy world-class educational and musical presentations Nov. 12, 13, and 14. See hfuuhi.org.
Kīlauea Military Camp Thanksgiving Dinner, Dine-In or Grab-and-Go, for Thursday, Nov. 26 – order by Monday, Nov. 16. Choice of turkey or ham, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed poataoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, salad, pumpkin squares. $19.95 adults, $12.95 6-11 yrs old for Dine-In. Turkey dinner to go, $59.95. Ham dinner to go, $69.95. Call 808-967-8356.
Beadweaving in the Round with Phyllis Cullen, Thursday, Nov. 19, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Christmas in the Country 21st Annual Wreath Exhibition opens Saturday, Nov. 21 through Thursday, Dec. 31 at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Christmas in the Country 21st Annual Wreath Exhibition opens Saturday, Nov. 21 through Thursday, Dec. 31 at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Paint Your Own Silk Scarf workshop with Patti Pease Johnson, Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Small Businesses and Nonprofits can Apply for Reimbursement Grants through the Business Pivot Program to cover expenses up to $10,000 that they incurred implementing changes to their operations, products, and services. Grant application open until Nov. 23, as funds are available. Click here for eligibility requirements and to apply. Click here for frequently asked questions.
Volcano Garden Arts' Think X-Mas! Exquisite Gift Sale, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Nov. 27, 28, and 29 features special plate lunch at Cafe Ono. Held at 19-3834 Old Volcano Rd. See ShopVGA.net, CafeOno.net, and VolcanoGardenArts.com.
Hawaiian Islands Challenge Virtual Run through Dec. 31. Registration closes Nov. 30. Individuals or teams can register to traverse some or all of 808 kilometers on six different courses, one on each main island. Register here.
Receive Help Signing Up for Med-Quest Health Insurance via nonprofit organizations starting Sunday through Dec. 15. Local contacts through the community organization Kalanihale include Kaʻimi Kaupilo, of Miloliʻi, who can be reached at 808-937-1310 and Donna Kekoa, of Pāhala, at 808-769-1334.
The state's Med-Quest provides eligible low-income adults and children access to health and medical coverage through managed care plans.
Island of Hawaiʻi YMCA helps through Shon Araujo at 808-854-0152 and Carrie Fernandez at 808-854-0256. West Hawaiʻi Community Center assists through Beonka Snyder at 808-327-0803, Tina Evans at 808-640-8587, Charles Kelen at 808-491-9761, and Walter Lanw at 808-785-8201. Hawaiʻi Island HIV/AIDS Foundation helps through Rachelle Hanohano at 808-896-5051, Paul Thome at 858-876-5154, Melani Matsumoto at 808-854-1877, and Jennifer Reno-Medeiros at 808-333-6443.
Kokua Services will help with virtual appointments through the Certified Assisters above.
The state's Med-Quest provides eligible low-income adults and children access to health and medical coverage through managed care plans.
Island of Hawaiʻi YMCA helps through Shon Araujo at 808-854-0152 and Carrie Fernandez at 808-854-0256. West Hawaiʻi Community Center assists through Beonka Snyder at 808-327-0803, Tina Evans at 808-640-8587, Charles Kelen at 808-491-9761, and Walter Lanw at 808-785-8201. Hawaiʻi Island HIV/AIDS Foundation helps through Rachelle Hanohano at 808-896-5051, Paul Thome at 858-876-5154, Melani Matsumoto at 808-854-1877, and Jennifer Reno-Medeiros at 808-333-6443.
Kokua Services will help with virtual appointments through the Certified Assisters above.
ONGOING
Watch the Oct. 5 Debate between Mayoral Candidates Ikaika Marzo and Mitch Roth on Nā Leo TV, Spectrum Channel 54, online at naleo.tv/channel-54/, or via the free Nā Leo mobile app. Watch the mayoral forum on PBS at youtube.com/watch?v=uneuqwEPH7s.
Invite Park Rangers to Virtually Visit Classes, through connecting with teachers and home-schoolers with distance learning programs and virtual huakaʻi (field trips). Contact havo_education@nps.gov.
Virtual Workshops on Hawaiʻi's Legislative Processes through Public Access Room. Sign up by contacting (808) 587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov. Ask questions and discuss all things legislative in a non-partisan environment. Attend Coffee Hour with PAR: Fridays at 3 p.m. on Zoom, meeting ID 990 4865 9652 or click zoom.us/j/99048659652. PAR staff will be available to answer questions and to discuss the legislative process. Anyone wanting to listen in without taking part in discussions is welcome. Learn more at lrb.hawaii.gov/public-access-room.
Apply for Expanded Hawaiʻi County Rent and Mortgage Assistance Program. RMAP partners encourage Hawaiʻi Island residents who are at least 18 years old and lost income or work hours due to COVID-19, including quitting or reduced hours to provide childcare, may be eligible for up to $2,000 per month for rent, lease, or mortgage payments. Payments made directly to landlords, property managers, or mortgage lenders. Approved applicants also have access to financial counseling services.
RMAP nonprofit partners are Hawaiian Community Assets/Hawaiʻi Community Lending, HawaiianCommunity.net, 808-934-0801; HOPE Services Hawaiʻi, hopeserviceshawaii.org/rmap, 808-935-3050; Hawai‘i First Federal Credit Union, hawaiifirstfcu.com/pathways, 808-933-6600; Neighborhood Place of Puna, neighborhoodplaceofpuna.org/coronavirus-rent-mortgage-relief, 808-965-5550; Hawai‘i Island Home for Recovery, hihrecovery.org/RMAP, 808-640-4443 or 808-934-7852; Habitat for Humanity Hawai‘i Island, habitathawaiiisland.org/rmap.html, 808-450-2118.
Coffee Growers are urged to take a survey on how the pandemic is affecting them by Hawaiʻi Coffee Association. Take the survey here: surveymonkey.com/r/638VWS6.
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. (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.
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.
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. Contact Michelle Galimba, 808-430-4927.
Register for Boys & Girls Club Mobile Outreach and Tutoring Programs here. Registration does not guarantee a spot in the program. A staff member will reach out to eligible families for keiki grades 1-6, 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 or info@bgcbi.org.
COVID-19 Talk Story on Nā Leo TV series aims to help deliver accurate and current information to Hawaiʻi Island residents. Airs live Thursdays at 10 a.m. on Spectrum Channel 53, online at naleo.tv/channel-53/, streaming on Nā Leo's free mobile app, and on-demand at naleo.tv/covid19.
Sign Up for Solid Waste Operations Alerts here for 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 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 Pickup through Hope DIA-mend Ministries, weekdays, 5 p.m. in the Ace parking lot in Ocean View and lunches on Mondays. In Nāʻālehu, meals distributed in front of old Nāʻālehu Theatre at 4 p.m.
Emergency Boxes Available at Cooper Center Tuesday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Call ahead, 967-7800.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
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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. For more information on joining the SGM Workgroup, email Thaddeus Pham at thaddeus.pham@doh.hawaii.gov. See health.hawaii.gov.
Free Job Training for workers displaced by COVID-19 is launched by the state for up to 650 workers. Programs offer on-the-job training through Dec. 15, with wages starting at $13 to $15 an hour, health care benefits, and mentoring. Two different tracks in innovation or conservation sectors. See dbedt.hawaii.gov/blog/20-21/.
Read Report on Public Input about Disaster Recovery from damage during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. View the Civic Engagement and Comment Analysis Report here.
Coffee Farmers and Producers of Other Agricultural Products encouraged to apply to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program through Dec. 11. See funding updates and resources for coffee growers, hawaiicoffeeassoc.org. See complete list of eligible commodities, payment rates, and calculations at farmers.gov/cfap.
Program to Sell Produce and Meats on Hawaiʻi Island from commercial farmers and livestock producers on Hawai‘i Island for distribution to families in need. Learn more.
Native Hawaiian Farmers and Ranchers urged to use U.S. Dept. of Ag On-Farm Market Directory. Visit the program website.
Read About Seed Biodiversity for Hawaiʻi's Local Food System in It all Begins...and Ends with Seed, where Education and Outreach Coordinator Nancy Redfeather shares her insights. Read the blog.
Marketing Assistance, for small businesses affected by COVID-19, from Univeristy of Hawaiʻi-Hilo faculty and their senior class at https://bit.ly/2YvFxsl.
Find Grants and Loans Offered to Farmers and Ranchers, at oahuaca.org. The website has a new search feature.
Find Rangeland Management Resources at globalrangelands.org/state/hawaii. Subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates.
Begin Learning Basics of Organic Farming, via free modules.