Kaʻū News Briefs, Friday, June 9, 2023

Steep and crumbling volcanic cliffs above a lake of lava at Kilauea are cause for a warning from Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park to onlookers. NPS photo by J. Wei

Whirlwind in Kīlauea caldera. USGS photo

A WHIRLWIND IN THE CRATER at Halema'uma'u in Kīlauea caldera made international news from USA Today, The Weather Channel and CNN to foreign newspapers over the last two days. The extreme heat wind vortex swirled above the lava.
USGS reported its Halemaʻumaʻu Lava Lake Observations on Friday: Multiple minor fountains remain active on the western Halema‘uma‘u crater floor and the vent on the southwest wall of the caldera continues to feed lava onto the westernmost part of the crater floor. Lava fountain heights have decreased since the eruption onset, but remain up to about 10 meters (33 feet) high. Active lava and vents cover much of the west half of Halemaʻumaʻu crater in a broad horseshoe around a central uplifted area. An active lava lake is centered within the uplifted area and is fed by a vent in its northeast corner. This feature is the "western lava lake" from prior eruptions that has been reactivated along with a smaller circular pool just southeast of the lake. A much smaller area of lava also remained active in the eastern portion of the crater floor over night. Over the past 24 hours, the level of the central lava lake has increased by approximately 1.5 meters (5 feet), as measured by laser rangefinder. A live-stream video of the crater is available at https://www.youtube.com/usgs/live.

USGS reported its Summit Observations on Friday: Summit tilt has remained deflationary over the past 24 hours. Summit seismic activity is dominated by eruptive tremor (a signal associated with fluid movement) resumed. Volcanic gas emissions in the eruption area are elevated; a sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rate of approximately 21,000 tonnes per day was measured yesterday on Thursday.

On Friday, Hawai'i Volcanoes National. Park reported on the mass of visitors going to the summit: "Oh, we know. You see that glow, and it’s go-go-go! Pro tip: Don’t be a moth to the flame."
The Park post noted that "Cliff edges along Kīlauea caldera are dangerous to everyone, especially when it's dark. For your safety, stay on trails and away from cliff edges! Obey all signs and ranger directions. Cliff edges may not be visible and can be covered by loose rocks or cinder that could crumble when approached. Heights along the caldera rim are 500 feet in some places and that is a terrible one-way trip to the crater floor. #SafetyFirst #KilaueaErupts"

Hālau Hula o Manaʻolana o Kohala performs at the pā hula
in Volcanoes National Park on Saturday. Photo from VAC

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HALAU HULA O MANA'OLANA 'O KOHALA, NA KUPUNA 'O KOHALA AND HULA KALANIUMI A LILOA come to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. to. perform.

The performance is sponsored by Volcano Art Center's program called Hula Arts at Kīlauea 2023. It will be at the pā hula near Volcano Art Center within the park.

Dancers are under the direction of Kumu Hula Manaʻolana Hope Keawe and Kumu Kaui Nakamura.

The event is free. Park entrance fees apply. These programs are funded by members of Volcano Art Center and donations are welcomed.

See www.volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-8222 for more information.

Na Kupuna o Kohala and Hula Kalaniumi a Liloa come to Volcano Saturday.

Photo from Volcano Art Center

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HAWAI'I COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL & PROTECTION SERVICES will be the new name of Hawai'i County Animal Control Services when it transitions on July 1 from Hawai‘i Police Department to become an independent agency under County of Hawai'i.
Hawaiʻi County gave responsibility of Animal Control Services to HPD on July 1, 2021, after the contract with Hawai‘i Rainbow Rangers ended on June 30, 2021. For the past two years, the responsibilities of Animal Control have been under the Hawai‘i Police Department as part of a two-year pilot project.
Earlier this year, Hawai‘i County Council passed Bill 22, creating a new Animal Control and Protection Agency, which will fall under the Office of Management - the Mayor's Office. The County is in the process of hiring a new Administrator and an Administrative Services Assistant for this new Agency and anticipates that at least one of the positions will be filled by the end of June.
Hawai‘i Police Department made the announcement on Friday that it wants to assure the public that animal control services will continue in much the same way while it transitions to a new agency.
As a reminder, HPD announced that the phone numbers for animal control services will remain the same with (808) 327-3558 for lost pets and non-emergencies. Calls regarding animal control services are categorized as Priority One, Two, or Three, and that will also remain the same for the time being.

Priority One calls include those for injured animals, any animal that is a public safety risk, animal cruelty, and situations in which an animal’s owner has been arrested or died with no family to pick up the animal. For animal emergencies, people can continue to call the Police Dispatch number at (808) 935-3311.
Priority Three calls pertain to deceased animals on the roadway. If people come across a deceased animal on a county road please call the Department of Public Works Highways Division at (808) 961-8349. If the deceased animal is on a state Highway or road, please call the State Department of Transportation Highways Division at (808) 933-8866.
Priority Two calls pertain to lost or found pets. Here are several steps you can take if you find a stray animal or lose a pet.
What To Do if You Find a Stray Animal or Lose a Pet
● People who find healthy stray animals are encouraged to have the animal scanned for a microchip by a County of Hawai‘i Animal Control Officer, at a veterinarian’s office, or by a local rescue group. If a found animal is microchipped, veterinarians can try to find its owner by searching for microchip on my24pet.com.
● People who find a healthy stray animal or who lose a pet are encouraged to post it as lost / found on https://lost.petcolove.org/. Petco Love Lost is a searchable national database that uses patented facial recognition technology to make finding lost pets quicker and easier.

This simple-to-use tool will be easily accessible to participating animal organizations nationwide, as well as any pet parent or person who finds a lost pet. Uploaded photos of a missing dog or cat are immediately scanned to determine whether the lost pet is at a participating shelter or with a neighbor in the community.
There are a handful of organizations across the island using this technology, including Hawai‘i County Animal Control and Protection Agency, Hawai‘i Animal Kuleana Alliance, and Hawai‘i Island Humane Society.
● Individuals who have questions regarding a lost or found pet can also contact the Hawai‘i County Animal Control and Protection Agency at (808) 327-3558.
● As Animal Control transitions to a new agency, people who find an injured stray animal are encouraged to call the police department’s non-emergency line (808) 935-3311.
The Hawai‘i County Animal Control and Protection Agency will continue to manage the shelter facilities in east and west Hawai‘i with kennel staff caring and feeding the animals.

Hawai'i Police Department issued a statement of thanks to the public for its patience during the transition.

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