 |
| O Ka`u Kakou and various community groups have joined in to clean up invasive plants over the years at Punalu`u Pond at the Black Sand Beach. New owners have asked for permission to accomplish more cleaning. This volunteer day with Kiko Kitazawa Johnston's canoes happened in 2010. |
CLEANUP AND REPAIR OF PUNALU'U INFRASTRUCTURE is a top priority and underway, according to Black Sand Beach, LLC and its principal Eva Liu, which made a recent request for a Special Management Area Minor Permit from Hawai'i County Planning Department. the 434 acres includes the undeveloped lands and abandoned facilities as well as the 18-hole golf course at Punalu'u. Project manager is Norman Quon and consulting planner is Daryn Arai, a former Deputy Planning Department
Director.
See the entire project proposal at http://kaucalendar.com/news/SMAABlack_Sands_10_2021.pdf.
The proposal says, "Immediate steps are being taken by the landowner, and in some instances with the assistance of community manpower, to repair and maintain long-neglected infrastructure, facilities and landscapes. The landowner is aware that these lands are situated within the County’s Special Management Area. The proposal says that some of the cleanup and repairs "are not considered 'development' under Planning Commission Rule No. 9 regarding the Special Management Area due to its focus on
maintenance, repair and demolition activities."
Repairing the wastewater treatment system, which serves all of the Punalu'u condominiums, the county park, old golf course and tennis facilities and more, is on the list. The SMA permit application calls for "Engineering assessment and if functionally possible, attempt to repair abandoned wastewater pump station located near Black Sand Beach in vicinity of the former Punaluʻu Restaurant complex."
It also calls for repairs and on-going maintenance of existing Ninole wastewater pump station located near Colony I condominiums: "repair and some upgrades to existing private wastewater treatment facility (WWTP). Upgrades primarily limited to internal components, like increasing internal pump capacity" and repairs to, and on-going maintenance of 14 existing fire hydrants located throughout project site.
 |
| Cleaning invasive plants in 2017 at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach pond were volunteers from Southside Volleyball team, Pacific Quest and `O Ka`u Kakou. Photo by Katherine Okamura |
throughout project site.
Regarding the area in the vicinity of the former Punaluʻu Restaurant complex, "destroyed by the 1975 tsunami that impacted Halape and Punaluʻu," the permit call for "primarily hand-clearing of undergrowth
 |
| The permit request mentions the 1975 tsunami that destroyed this Punalu'u house and impacted the Punalu'u Restaurant complex. The permit asks to demolish "building components at the restaurant site deemed unsafe."USGS photo |
of invasive plant species beneath existing tree canopy. Use of machines limited to grind down of undergrowth into chips when necessary for larger undergrowth. No land grading or grubbing of area will occur."
It calls for "removing broken building materials scattered throughout area as dilapidated restaurant complex continues to deteriorate; demolition of building components that are deemed structurally unsafe; and removal of excessive plant matter from within Punaluʻu Pond that has stagnated the pond and created a significant mosquito breeding habitat." It says cleaning of Punalu'u pond "will be accomplished by hand, with use of backhoe or front-loader when necessary to help lift heavy vegetation from within pond."
The Special Management Area Minor Permit also calls for some construction and development of new activities on the property. See a proposal for an Open Market near Punalu'u Black Sand Beach in Thursday's Kaʻū News Briefs at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2021_11_04_archive.html and a Welcome Center proposal in Saturday's Kaʻū News Briefs at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2021_11_05_archive.html.
See the entire permit request at http://kaucalendar.com/news/SMAABlack_Sands_10_2021.pdf.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.PAVLOF, A STRATOVOLCANO IN ALASKA, is the subject of this week's Volcano Watch, written by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:
As magma migrates to shallow depths, it causes the volcano to grow and expand, resulting in upward and outward ground displacements that can be seen on local ground deformation instruments. The increased pressure below the surface—due to moving magma—can cause the surrounding rocks to break, resulting in small earthquakes. But do volcanoes always show such clear indicators that they may erupt?
Alaska is home to fifty-four active volcanoes and accounts for 80 percent of active volcanism in the United States. Before many recent eruptions in Alaska, increases in the number of earthquakes, the appearance of volcanic tremor, and/or rapid ground displacements were observed. These changes are called precursors and instrumental monitoring of them can help forecast volcanic eruptions. They are particularly important in Alaska, where weather can prevent other visible precursors, such as steam, volcanic gas, and thermal anomalies, from being detected by satellites and cameras.
Different types of precursory behavior can occur on scales of months, weeks, days, or even hours before an eruption. However, such indications of impending eruption are not always observable at all Alaskan volcanoes. Pavlof Volcano, an approximately 2440-meter (8000 ft) high stratovolcano located within the Aleutian volcanic arc, has remained elusive in yielding clues to impending eruption.
Recent Pavlof eruptions in 2013, 2014 (two eruptions), and 2016 haven't shown precursory earthquake activity, and the 2007 eruption showed only hours of precursory earthquake activity. Further, satellite observations of the volcano show that past eruptions have occurred here without causing precursory ground deformation.
Studies of lavas from past eruptions at Pavlof show that the magma feeding these eruptions is stored deep (greater than 20 km, or 12 miles, beneath its surface). When Pavlof isn't erupting, magma likely remains at depth as gases accumulate within this deep magma storage system.
The gas-entrained magma is thought to ascend rapidly to the surface just prior to eruption at Pavlof. Deep storage followed by rapid ascent of magma from depth immediately preceding eruption complicates our ability to observe longer-term eruption precursors such as shallow earthquake activity and ground deformation.
The gas-rich nature of magma at Pavlof commonly results in explosive eruptions, creating ash plumes that reach high altitudes. For example, ash plumes between 10 and 17 km (about 33,000 and 56,000 feet) high were generated during eruptions at Pavlof in 1986, 2014, and 2016.
![]()
These ash plume heights fall in line with the typical cruising altitudes of commercial aviation flights. Since volcanic activity at Pavlof occurs frequently and can produce ash plumes of significant height, the volcano poses a major hazard to the 60,000 people that fly overhead or downwind of the Aleutian arc each day.
Scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) carefully monitor the Aleutian arc due to the hazards posed to aviation by Pavlof and other active volcanoes there.
Currently, AVO is completing a project to upgrade existing ground-based equipment used to monitor these volcanoes to improve their ability to forecast volcanic eruptions. Following recent upgrades, in July 2021, AVO scientists noticed the onset of volcanic tremor on Pavlof's network of seismic instruments indicating the movement of gas, magma, and other fluids in the subsurface. The volcano aviation color code for Pavlof was raised from GREEN to YELLOW, indicating the volcano was showing signs of volcanic unrest. A month later, Pavlof entered a period of eruption that is ongoing and the color code was raised to ORANGE, indicating an eruption with minor ash emissions.
The success in forecasting Pavlof's current eruption suggests that improvements in the ground-based monitoring equipment near the volcano may have allowed AVO scientists to identify tremor that possibly went undetected in previous eruptions.
Time will tell whether pre-eruptive volcanic tremor is a tell-tale sign of impending eruption at Pavlof. However, improvements made to ground-based monitoring instruments at this and other volcanoes give AVO scientists a stronger set of tools to potentially forecast eruptions.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
KAʻŪ COFFEE MILL & VISITOR CENTER. Buy online at kaucoffeemill.com and in person at 96-2694 Wood Valley Road, daily, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
![]()
PUNALUʻU BAKESHOP online at bakeshophawaii.com and in-person 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week in x.
ALIʻI HAWAIʻI HULA HANDS COFFEE. Order by calling 928-0608 or emailing alihhhcoffee@yahoo.com.
AIKANE PLANTATION COFFEE COMPANY. Order online at aikaneplantation.com. Call 808-927-2252
MIRANDA'S FARMS KAʻŪ COFFEE. Order online at mirandafarms.com or, in person at 73-7136 Mamalahoa Hwy. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com..
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.
DEPRESSED, ANXIOUS, NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO? 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 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 at facebook.com/bhhsurg![]()
WOMEN'S COLLECTIVE OFFERS HEALTH PROGRAMS. 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. Follow @kau_womens_health_collective. Contact rootsmedieshawaii@gmail.com. Call 808-450-0498.
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.
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 at chooselovemovement.org/choose-love-home.
EDUCATION
Register for Boys & Girls Club Mobile Outreach and Tutoring Programs at rb.gy/o1o2hy. For keiki grades 1-6. 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.
ʻOhana Help Desk offers online How-To Guides for Chromebooks and iPads at rb.gy/8er9wm. ʻOhana Help Desk also available by phone, weekdays, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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.
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. Pāhala 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.
View the Civic Engagement and Comment Analysis Report at rb.gy/awu65k.
Learn About Hawaiʻi's History & Culture through Papakilo Database, papakilodatabase.com.
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.
Online Directory at shopbigisland.com, co-sponsored by County of Hawai‘i, has a signup sheet for local businesses to fill in the blanks. The only requirement is a physical address on this island.
![]()
COMMUNITY
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
ENROLL CHILDREN, from first through eighth grade, in Kula ʻAmakihi, a program from Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences. It started Aug. 3. Call 808-985- 9800 or visit www.volcanoschool.net.
WALK THROUGH A GUIDED 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. www.volcanoartcenter.org. Call 967-8222.
KAʻŪ ART GALLERY is open 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.Vendor applications are being accepted for its Holiday Arts & Crafts Sale on Saturday, Nov. 13. 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.
GOLF & MEMBERSHIPS for Discovery Harbour Golf Course and its Clubhouse: The Club offers Social Memberships, with future use of the clubhouse and current use of the pickleball courts as well as walking and running on specified areas of the golf course before 8 a.m. and after 3 p.m. to enjoy the panoramiocean views. Golf memberships range from unlimited play for the avid golfer to casual play options. Membership is required to play and practice golf on the course. All golf memberships include Social Membership amenities. Membership fees are designed to help underwrite programs and improvements to the facilities.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.
ALOHA FRIDAY MARKETPLACE, hosted by The old tennis center at Punalu'u is being repaired to become part of a Welcome Center, according to
an SMA minor permit filed with the county Planning Director. Photo by Julia Neal Main Street, is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., grounds of The Old Shirakawa Estate in Waiʻohinu. It features: Made in Hawai'i Products, Organic Produce, Creative Crafts, ARt, Flower and Plants, Food, Ka`u Coffee, Gluen Free Low Carb Goodies, Wellness Services and Products, Clothing, Hand Crafted Treats, Music and more. Vendor and customer inquiries: AlohaFridayMarket@gmail.com.
VOLCANO FARMERS MARKET, Cooper Center, Volcano Village on Sundays. 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, baked goods, food to go, island beef and Hawai‘i Coffee. Cooper Center's EBT Machine, used at the Farmer's Market, is out of service until further notice. EBT is used for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Call 808-967-7800.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY MARKET, open Saturdays and Thursdays, 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 Council. 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.
O KAʻŪ KĀKOU MARKET, in Nāʻālehu, open Wednesday, and Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon. Limit of 50 customers per hour, 20 vendor booths, with 20 feet of space between vendors. Masks and hand sanitizing 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. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.
OCEAN VIEW SWAP MEET is open at Ocean View makai shopping center, near Mālama Market. Hours for patrons are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Vendor set-up time is 5 a.m. Masks required.
BUY LOCAL GIFTS ONLINE, IN-PERSON
VOLCANO ART CENTER ONLINE, in person. Shop at Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Virtual Shopping Appointments offered via Skype or FaceTime. Book at volcanoartcenter.org/shop for $5. Shop online gallery 24/7. Orders shipped or free local pickup available. See the VAC Virtual Classroom, which features over 90 videos. See volcanoartcenter.org/events, call 967-8222.
![]()
As magma migrates to shallow depths, it causes the volcano to grow and expand, resulting in upward and outward ground displacements that can be seen on local ground deformation instruments. The increased pressure below the surface—due to moving magma—can cause the surrounding rocks to break, resulting in small earthquakes. But do volcanoes always show such clear indicators that they may erupt?
Alaska is home to fifty-four active volcanoes and accounts for 80 percent of active volcanism in the United States. Before many recent eruptions in Alaska, increases in the number of earthquakes, the appearance of volcanic tremor, and/or rapid ground displacements were observed. These changes are called precursors and instrumental monitoring of them can help forecast volcanic eruptions. They are particularly important in Alaska, where weather can prevent other visible precursors, such as steam, volcanic gas, and thermal anomalies, from being detected by satellites and cameras.
Different types of precursory behavior can occur on scales of months, weeks, days, or even hours before an eruption. However, such indications of impending eruption are not always observable at all Alaskan volcanoes. Pavlof Volcano, an approximately 2440-meter (8000 ft) high stratovolcano located within the Aleutian volcanic arc, has remained elusive in yielding clues to impending eruption.
 |
Ash plume produced during the August 2007 Pavlof eruption in Alaska. Ash plume was approximately 5.2-5.5 km (about 17,000-18000 feet) high. Photo by Chris Waythomas, USGS Alaska Volcano Observatory |
Studies of lavas from past eruptions at Pavlof show that the magma feeding these eruptions is stored deep (greater than 20 km, or 12 miles, beneath its surface). When Pavlof isn't erupting, magma likely remains at depth as gases accumulate within this deep magma storage system.
The gas-entrained magma is thought to ascend rapidly to the surface just prior to eruption at Pavlof. Deep storage followed by rapid ascent of magma from depth immediately preceding eruption complicates our ability to observe longer-term eruption precursors such as shallow earthquake activity and ground deformation.
The gas-rich nature of magma at Pavlof commonly results in explosive eruptions, creating ash plumes that reach high altitudes. For example, ash plumes between 10 and 17 km (about 33,000 and 56,000 feet) high were generated during eruptions at Pavlof in 1986, 2014, and 2016.
Scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) carefully monitor the Aleutian arc due to the hazards posed to aviation by Pavlof and other active volcanoes there.
Currently, AVO is completing a project to upgrade existing ground-based equipment used to monitor these volcanoes to improve their ability to forecast volcanic eruptions. Following recent upgrades, in July 2021, AVO scientists noticed the onset of volcanic tremor on Pavlof's network of seismic instruments indicating the movement of gas, magma, and other fluids in the subsurface. The volcano aviation color code for Pavlof was raised from GREEN to YELLOW, indicating the volcano was showing signs of volcanic unrest. A month later, Pavlof entered a period of eruption that is ongoing and the color code was raised to ORANGE, indicating an eruption with minor ash emissions.
The success in forecasting Pavlof's current eruption suggests that improvements in the ground-based monitoring equipment near the volcano may have allowed AVO scientists to identify tremor that possibly went undetected in previous eruptions.
Time will tell whether pre-eruptive volcanic tremor is a tell-tale sign of impending eruption at Pavlof. However, improvements made to ground-based monitoring instruments at this and other volcanoes give AVO scientists a stronger set of tools to potentially forecast eruptions.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
KAʻŪ COFFEE MILL & VISITOR CENTER. Buy online at kaucoffeemill.com and in person at 96-2694 Wood Valley Road, daily, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
PUNALUʻU BAKESHOP online at bakeshophawaii.com and in-person 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week in x.
ALIʻI HAWAIʻI HULA HANDS COFFEE. Order by calling 928-0608 or emailing alihhhcoffee@yahoo.com.
AIKANE PLANTATION COFFEE COMPANY. Order online at aikaneplantation.com. Call 808-927-2252
MIRANDA'S FARMS KAʻŪ COFFEE. Order online at mirandafarms.com or, in person at 73-7136 Mamalahoa Hwy. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com..
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.
DEPRESSED, ANXIOUS, NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO? 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 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 at facebook.com/bhhsurg
WOMEN'S COLLECTIVE OFFERS HEALTH PROGRAMS. 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. Follow @kau_womens_health_collective. Contact rootsmedieshawaii@gmail.com. Call 808-450-0498.
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.
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 at chooselovemovement.org/choose-love-home.
EDUCATION
Register for Boys & Girls Club Mobile Outreach and Tutoring Programs at rb.gy/o1o2hy. For keiki grades 1-6. 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.
ʻOhana Help Desk offers online How-To Guides for Chromebooks and iPads at rb.gy/8er9wm. ʻOhana Help Desk also available by phone, weekdays, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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.
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. Pāhala 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.
View the Civic Engagement and Comment Analysis Report at rb.gy/awu65k.
Learn About Hawaiʻi's History & Culture through Papakilo Database, papakilodatabase.com.
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.
Online Directory at shopbigisland.com, co-sponsored by County of Hawai‘i, has a signup sheet for local businesses to fill in the blanks. The only requirement is a physical address on this island.
COMMUNITY
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
ENROLL CHILDREN, from first through eighth grade, in Kula ʻAmakihi, a program from Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences. It started Aug. 3. Call 808-985- 9800 or visit www.volcanoschool.net.
WALK THROUGH A GUIDED 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. www.volcanoartcenter.org. Call 967-8222.
KAʻŪ ART GALLERY is open 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.Vendor applications are being accepted for its Holiday Arts & Crafts Sale on Saturday, Nov. 13. 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.
GOLF & MEMBERSHIPS for Discovery Harbour Golf Course and its Clubhouse: The Club offers Social Memberships, with future use of the clubhouse and current use of the pickleball courts as well as walking and running on specified areas of the golf course before 8 a.m. and after 3 p.m. to enjoy the panoramiocean views. Golf memberships range from unlimited play for the avid golfer to casual play options. Membership is required to play and practice golf on the course. All golf memberships include Social Membership amenities. Membership fees are designed to help underwrite programs and improvements to the facilities.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.
ALOHA FRIDAY MARKETPLACE, hosted by The old tennis center at Punalu'u is being repaired to become part of a Welcome Center, according to
an SMA minor permit filed with the county Planning Director. Photo by Julia Neal Main Street, is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., grounds of The Old Shirakawa Estate in Waiʻohinu. It features: Made in Hawai'i Products, Organic Produce, Creative Crafts, ARt, Flower and Plants, Food, Ka`u Coffee, Gluen Free Low Carb Goodies, Wellness Services and Products, Clothing, Hand Crafted Treats, Music and more. Vendor and customer inquiries: AlohaFridayMarket@gmail.com.
VOLCANO FARMERS MARKET, Cooper Center, Volcano Village on Sundays. 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, baked goods, food to go, island beef and Hawai‘i Coffee. Cooper Center's EBT Machine, used at the Farmer's Market, is out of service until further notice. EBT is used for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Call 808-967-7800.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY MARKET, open Saturdays and Thursdays, 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 Council. 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.
O KAʻŪ KĀKOU MARKET, in Nāʻālehu, open Wednesday, and Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon. Limit of 50 customers per hour, 20 vendor booths, with 20 feet of space between vendors. Masks and hand sanitizing 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. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.
OCEAN VIEW SWAP MEET is open at Ocean View makai shopping center, near Mālama Market. Hours for patrons are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Vendor set-up time is 5 a.m. Masks required.
BUY LOCAL GIFTS ONLINE, IN-PERSON
VOLCANO ART CENTER ONLINE, in person. Shop at Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Virtual Shopping Appointments offered via Skype or FaceTime. Book at volcanoartcenter.org/shop for $5. Shop online gallery 24/7. Orders shipped or free local pickup available. See the VAC Virtual Classroom, which features over 90 videos. See volcanoartcenter.org/events, call 967-8222.
