Ka‘ū News Briefs, Tuesday, March 8, 2022

GAS PRICES REACHED $5.02 AT SPIRIT GAS IN OCEAN VIEW AND $5.049 AT KAMEI GAS IN PĀHALA on Tuesday. The cost was $4.99 at Aloha Gas and $4.979 at Kahuku Gas in Ocean View. The lowest was $4.889 at the 76 Gas Station in Nāʻālehu. All prices are for regular, unleaded. The average in
Ka'u was $4.985 per gallon.
     The American Automobile Association reported the islandwide average at $4.889 per gallon, the state average $4.718 and national average $4.173. AAA reported that average price in the state increased 30 cents in the last month and $1.22 in the last year. On Tuesday, gas prices in  Hawai'i and the U.S. reached the highest prices ever, not accounting for inflation, according to AAA.
    The hike in gasoline prices in Hawai'i comes as the only refinery in the state rejected Russian imported oil. It also comes as the U.S., on Tuesday, banned Russian oil imports amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russian armed forces. Pres. Joe Biden said, "That means Russian oil will no longer be acceptable at U.S. ports and the American people will deal another powerful blow to Putin's war machine."
    Prior to President Biden's announcement, prices had already accelerated due to pandemic-related supply chain issues and inflation. The Executive Order signed by Biden not only bans import of Russian oil, it bans liquified natural gas and coal shipments to the U.S. from Russia. Americans are also prohibited from financial investments in Russia's energy sector.

Gas Prices in Hawaiʻi and the U.S. on March 8, 2022. Image courtesy of AAA

    With Russia providing 10% of the world's oil and more than a third its natural gas, rising energy and gas prices were expected. According to a statement from the White House, "the Administration has already committed to releasing more than 90 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve this fiscal year, with an emergency sale of 30 million barrels announced just last week." The Administration has also reached out to oil rich Venezuela and is negotiating to lift a ban on importing from that country.
    According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 2020 Americans used an average of 18.19 million barrels of petroleum per day. The Biden Administration said it is communicating "with a range of energy producers and consumers on further steps we can take to ensure a stable global supply of energy."
    A Senior Administration Official told reporters that "the only way to eliminate Putin's and every other producing country's ability to use oil as an economic weapon, is to reduce our dependency on oil...this crisis reinforces our resolve to make America truly energy independent, which means reducing our dependence on fossil fuels."

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People and bikes ride free on the countywide  Hele-On buses, an alternative to paying  high gas prices for vehicles when going to Kona, Hilo and beyond.

BE MINDFUL OF OF FUEL AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION, urges Mayor Mitch Roth. He issued a statement on Tuesday saying, "Although we stand in solidarity with Ukraine and the decisions of theUnited States government to place strict sanctions on Russia in defense of democracy, we must also remember that we are an isolated island chain that the decision will heavily impact. By being mindful, we can stretch our on-island supply as the global market adjusts to the economic impacts the sanctions are sure to cause.

    "We are confident that solutions will be found to address this issue and appreciate the cooperation and commitment from the community in the meantime. Every effort, big or small, is valued and necessary to our economic vitality moving forward,” said the mayor.
    The county recently notified the public that its Hele-On Bus system offers fare-free rides for all bus and van routes until Dec. 31, 2023. This came into effect last month after Bill 105 was approved by Hawaiʻi County Council.

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AN ACCIDENT WITH A DUMP TRUCK NEAR KAPĀPALA RANCH on Tuesday led to a one lane contra-flow on Highway 11 at the 45 mile marker.  Motorists were advised to drive with caution when approaching the area with the start and go traffic delays lasting for about two hours.

Francisco Kelly Dakamas Manalo is missing.

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MISSING IS FRANCISCO KELLY DAKAMAS MANALO, of Ocean View. Hawai‘i Island police ask for the community's assistance in locating the 22-year-old, reported missing by his family. Manalo was last seen on Tuesday, March 8 around 10:30 a.m. in the Kealakekua area wearing a gray hooded jacket, black pants, and a red bandana. He is described as a Pacific Islander, 5 feet tall, 130 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Manalo has a medical condition that requires medication. Police ask anyone with information on his whereabouts to call 911 or the police department's non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311. 

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MOKUPĀPAPA, IMILOA AND HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK are teaming up to offer students a new educational program. It's called Earth, Sea, Sky: Creating Connections. The program is a series of learning opportunities offered through the park and its partners, ʻImiloa Astronomy Center and NOAA's Mokupāpapa Discovery Center for Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.Through participation in field trips with each organization, virtually or in person, students will learn how

Hōlei Sea Arch at the end of Chain of Craters Road n Hawai'i  Volcanoes National Park. NPS Photo by Janice Wei

interconnected and interdependent life is on the island of Hawaiʻi, as well as how we can mālama ʻāina, care for the world around us. Students will be exposed to a diverse range of scientific research happening on island and the different careers available to curious students.

    Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and the partners will continue to follow COVID safety protocols "to make sure that each in-person field trip experience is as safe and fun as possible," says a statement from the park. There are also options for classes unable to do in-person field trips that include virtual field trips and classroom visits (for schools on the island).For more information and to schedule a field trip, email Erin Deskin at havo_education@nps.gov. Funding may be available to assist with transportation and admission on a needs-based basis.
    More educational classroom resources are available at all three partners' websites: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park at https://www.nps.gov/havo/learn/education/curriculummaterials.htm;
ʻImiloa Astronomy Center at www.imiloahawaii.org and Mokupāpapa Discovery Center:
https://www.papahanaumokuakea.gov/new-education/
    The park also sent out a reminder that every fourth grader is eligible for a free park pass through the Every Kid Outdoors program. Ask at the park entrance, or visit https://everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm.

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