Blood moon over Ka`u during a lunar eclipse in 2018. Photo by Richard Taylor |
A SUPER BLOOD MOON WILL SHOW ITS FACE TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY during the first lunar eclipse in two years and the second supermoon of 2021. Hawaiʻi will be one of the best places to see the spectacle. It will begin around 10:42 p.m. and completely end around 3:53 a .m., according to astronomers. See an animation with Hawaiʻi Island timing for the lunar eclipse at https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/hilo.
The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper's astronomy columnist Lew Cook explains that the eclipsed moon is often called the "blood moon" because the dust in the Earth's atmosphere causes the light that is scattered
to be reddish, like a sunset. "How red and dark will it get? If it is clear, check it out."
Imiloa astronomy center explains in the May edition of its Skywatch: "The evening of May 25th to the early morning of May 26th will be an eventful night for the moon. We will be experiencing the second “Supermoon” of 2021 as the moon will be passing through its closest physical position to Earth which is known as 'perigee.' As the moon passes through this position, it will often appear to be a little bigger in the evening sky. On this same evening, the moon will pass through Earth’s shadow in a total lunar eclipse which will be visible for all of Hawaiʻi. As these two lunar events are occurring simultaneously, they may be dramatically referred to as a Super Blood Moon."
Phases of a full lunar eclipse. Images from space.com |
The eclipse will start "with the moon taking on a dim, grey color as the moon enters Earth’s outer shadow or penumbra; when the moon is only in the earth’s outer shadow, the event is referred to as a penumbral eclipse." Sections of the moon will dim and redden becoming a partial eclipse until the moon crosses into the earth’s full shadow and presents a deep reddish color as it enters the total lunar eclipse The total eclipse will last about 14 minutes, followed by a partial eclipse, when the moon is less red, and a penumbral eclipse, when the moon turns to a dim gray in the earth’s outer shadow, ending the unusual lunar event. Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea observatories will be watching.
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Opponent Life of the Land issued a statement from Executive Director Henry Curtis, saying it is "pleased with the ruling by the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court regarding Hū Honua." The statement says, "The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court in essence asserted that the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission cited the wrong legal provision in denying the waiver. Now the PUC can go back and reissue their decision citing the correct standard.
"The court stated, 'We express no opinion as to the PUC's discretion, if any, to address the 2017 waiver; we merely hold that HELCO I and its remand instructions did not affect the waiver.'"
The 2020 Olympics are postponed until July 23 this year but another COVID wave may be in the way. |
COVID outbreak expands. The country has also launched mass COVID vaccination campaign, less than two months before the Olympics is set to open on July 23. The emergency has called into question the safety of hosting the summer Olympics in Japan this year. They were postponed last summer when COVID broke out.
The Olympics organizing committee had planned for 600,000 fans to come to Japan for the competition, but locked out that opportunity as COVID spread in March. The new question is whether Japan fans will be allowed to attend. Some competitors from around the world have expressed health concerns and the U.S. track and field team canceled its pre-Olympics training that was scheduled to occur at venues in Japan.
Japan recently ramped up vaccine opportunities, according to the AP and Japanese media reports. The Japanese government announced that the U.S. State Department warning should not affect Olympians traveling to Japan for the Olympics.
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TWENTY-THREE ARRESTS FOR DUI were made by Hawaiʻi Island police during the week of May 17 through May 23. The DUI arrests are for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Two of the drivers were involved in a traffic accident. None of the drivers were under the age of 21.There were 311 major accidents so far this year compared with 320 during the same period last year, a decrease of 2.8 percent.
To date, there were 11 fatal crashes, resulting in 11 fatalities, compared with 8 fatal crashes, resulting in 8 fatalities for the same time last year. This represents an increase of 37.5 percent for fatal crashes, and 37.5 percent for fatalities.
DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.
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KAʻŪ ART GALLERY IS OPEN TO IN-PERSON TRAFFIC, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. in Nāʻālehu. It features and sells works by local artists and offers other gift items. Kaʻū Art Gallery's website has 24/7 access online and is frequently updated to show current inventory items. "We are always looking to collaborate with local artists in our community," said assistant Alexandra Kaupu. Artists with an interest in being featured at Kaʻū Art Gallery and Gift Shop, contact gallery owner and director Corrine Kaupu at kauartgallery@hawaiiantel.biz
Call 808-731-5122 or stop by the Clubhouse during business hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at 94-1581 Kaulua Circle. Email clubatdiscoveryharbour@gmail.com.
See The Club at Discovery Harbour Facebook page.
KUAHIWI RANCH STORE, in person. Shop weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 11 am to 3 p.m. at 95-5520 Hwy 11. Locally processed grass-fed beef, live meat chickens, and feed for cattle, goats, sheep, chickens, horses, dogs, and pigs. Call 929-7333 of 938-1625, email kaohi@kuahiwiranch.com.
CHURCH SERVICES
Public Libraries are 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. Nāʻālehu open Tuesday, noon to 7 p.m., Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., limited entry into library with Wiki Visits. 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. See librarieshawaii.org.
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.
Read Report on Public Input about Disaster Recovery from damage during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption.
Food Assistance: Apply for The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences COVID-19 Family Relief Funds. Funded by Volcano Community Association, and members of the VSAS Friends and Governing Boards, who have donated, the fund supplies KTA or Dimple Cheek Gift Cards, or gift cards to other locally owned business, to VSAS families in need. Contact Kim Miller at 985-8537, kmiller@volcanoschool.net. Contributions to the fund can be sent in by check to: VSAS, PO Box 845, Volcano, HI 96785 – write Relief Fund in the memo. See volcanoschool.net.
Apply for Utility Assistance to pay for electricity, non-government water, or gas. Applicants must be a Hawaiʻi Island resident, at least 18 years old, lost income or work hours due to COVID-19, and not previously received assistance from other COVID-19 federal or state-funded programs. Funded by CARES Act and distributed by Hawaiʻi County Economic Opportunity Council, required documents for application are government-issued identification, income verification documents for all household members, utility statement with address of services, lease/rental agreement or mortgage document, and proof of hardship. Hardship may include, but not limited to, pay stubs documenting pre-COVID-19 income, unemployment approval letter, or layoff letter. Apply at HCEOC.net or call 808-961-2681.
Apply for Expanded Hawaiʻi County Rent and Mortgage Assistance Program. Contact RMAP partners: 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.
Apply for Holomua Hawaiʻi Relief Grants for small businesses and nonprofits, up to $10,000, 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 rb.gy/v2x2vy.