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| Back Stage with Halau Hula O Leionalani Halau Hula O Leionalani and Kumu Debbie Ryder hosted Bali Hai dancers from Mexico at Aunty Sally's Lu'au Hale in Hilo to perform for kupuna on Thursday. Dancers from Hawai'i, Mexico, Japan and the U.S. mainland will perform this Saturday in Nāʻālehu at Ke Ola Pu'uhonua Cultural Grounds, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Photos by Brenda Iokepa Moses |
THE HIDDEN DANCE OF PROCESSING GPS DATA is the subject of this week's Volcano watch by scientists and affiliates of USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. For over 30 years, high-precision GPS (Global Positioning System) measurements have been a key tool used by the USGS Hawaiian
GPS has also become an integral part of our daily lives, guiding us while driving and helping us find the nearest gas station or beach parking with remarkable precision: typically, 10–20 feet (3–6 meters), a miniscule distance on a global scale. However, scientists using GPS for volcano monitoring need to be able to measure changes that are less than a half of an inch (about a centimeter) to detect signs of magma moving underground—much more precise than a typical handheld GPS device or phone can offer.
First, scientists and technicians install a specialized GPS antenna that is permanently fixed to the ground so that it measures only the motion of that specific spot. This GPS antenna is then connected to a high-precision, low noise GPS "receiver," which carefully tracks the signals (electro-magnetic waves) that it receives from GPS satellites in space. Specialized software uses the signals recorded by the receiver to determine a precise GPS position. It does this by calculating the distances between the GPS antenna and the orbiting satellites. Multiple simultaneous measurements are needed to calculate a site's precise position in three-dimensions. For each dot on a daily GPS graph, a full 24 hours of data is used. There is even more complexity to generate the most precise antenna locations. For example, scientists need to correct for some of the many factors that add uncertainty or noise to the primary GPS signal which further complicates the accuracy of GPS. This is where advanced software comes in.
At the end of October, HVO scientists just completed the annual Kīlauea GPS campaign survey, visiting approximately 20 sites across the volcano. HVO also conducts an annual GPS survey at Mauna Loa volcano and less frequent surveys at Hualālai and Haleakalā, every 5–10 years, as part of the volcano monitoring program. The next time you are checking out one of HVO's GPS graphs, now you'll know a bit more about how much equipment, software, and analysis goes into each little dot.
Volcano Activity Updates: Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY. The area just south of Kīlauea's summit continues to show signs of episodic unrest. Overall, inflation at the summit of Kīlauea remains high and has surpassed the level seen just before the most recent eruption on September 10th. Seismicity in the region south of Kīlauea caldera
Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL. Webcams show no signs of activity on Mauna Loa. Seismicity remains low. Summit ground deformation rates indicate slow inflation as magma replenishes the reservoir system following the recent eruption. SO2 emission rates are at background levels. Two earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.0 earthquake 9 km (5 mi) WSW of Kalaoa at 29 km (18 mi) depth on Nov. 1 at 2:15 p.m. HST and a M3.7 earthquake 13 km (8 mi) ESE of Pāhala at 28 km (17 mi) depth on Oct. 27 at 5:07 a.m. HST. HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.  |
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HAWAI'I EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY released the 2023 update to the State Hazard Mitigation Plan this week. It is a document that provides a framework for future efforts to reduce the risk![]()
of hazards across Hawai‘i.
The statement from the agency says, "The plan will be used to guide work in the years ahead to reduce or eliminate the harm caused to Hawai‘i and its communities by wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, and other hazards. The state fully updates the plan every five years, and it must be approved by the Governor and the Federal Emergency Management Agency; additional amendments may be made annually to reflect plan changes by HI-EMA, the counties and other partners.
HI-EMA began collecting public comments on the new plan in December 2022, including a series of public meetings across the state and virtual meetings via teleconference. Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green, M.D., formally adopted the plan on September 27, 2023. FEMA requires that states must have an approved hazard mitigation plan to qualify for numerous federal assistance and mitigation grants.![]()
“This plan is a cornerstone of the work that emergency managers do to reduce the risk and harm from known hazards,” said James Barros, HI-EMA administrator. “The state works with the counties and the counties work with their communities to turn this plan into projects that protect life and property.”
The 2023 State Hazard Mitigation Plan identifies the major natural hazards that affect our state, assesses the risk that each hazard poses, analyzes the vulnerability of our people, property and infrastructure to the specific hazard, and recommends actions that can be taken to reduce the risk and vulnerability to the hazard.
The updated plan can be found on the HI-EMA website at https://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/final-2023-hazard-mitigation-plan/.
The statement from the agency says, "The plan will be used to guide work in the years ahead to reduce or eliminate the harm caused to Hawai‘i and its communities by wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, and other hazards. The state fully updates the plan every five years, and it must be approved by the Governor and the Federal Emergency Management Agency; additional amendments may be made annually to reflect plan changes by HI-EMA, the counties and other partners.
HI-EMA began collecting public comments on the new plan in December 2022, including a series of public meetings across the state and virtual meetings via teleconference. Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green, M.D., formally adopted the plan on September 27, 2023. FEMA requires that states must have an approved hazard mitigation plan to qualify for numerous federal assistance and mitigation grants.
The 2023 State Hazard Mitigation Plan identifies the major natural hazards that affect our state, assesses the risk that each hazard poses, analyzes the vulnerability of our people, property and infrastructure to the specific hazard, and recommends actions that can be taken to reduce the risk and vulnerability to the hazard.
The updated plan can be found on the HI-EMA website at https://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/final-2023-hazard-mitigation-plan/.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.
A KONA JUDGE, ON THURSDAY, RELEASED AN OCEAN VIEW MAN ACCUSED OF ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ROBBERY, who was being held in lieu of $350,000 bail. County Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen issued a statement noting that the defendant is Ocean View man, 44 year-old Dorson Buddy Behrendt. He was arrested and charged in relation to a robbery and firearm shooting incident that occurred on Oct. 15 in the Hawaiian Ocean View subdivision.
During his initial appearance on Thursday morning in Kona District Court, Behrendt was granted release on his own recognizance by District Court Judge Kimberly Taniyama and ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 29. He is charged with:
Attempted murder in the Second Degree - shooting another person with a firearm, which carries a penalty of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole; and
During his initial appearance on Thursday morning in Kona District Court, Behrendt was granted release on his own recognizance by District Court Judge Kimberly Taniyama and ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 29. He is charged with:
Attempted murder in the Second Degree - shooting another person with a firearm, which carries a penalty of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole; and
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Dorson Buddy Behrendt has been charged with Attempted Murder and Attempted Robbery. Photo from Prosecuting Attorney |
Attempted Robbery in the First Degree and Carrying or Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Separate Felony, which are both class A felony offenses, which carry a penalty of a 20-year prison term.
Waltjen stated, "The charges are merely allegations and the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty."
The case was initiated by Kaʻū Patrol. The felony investigation was led by Detective Donovan Kohara, Area II Criminal Investigation Section, Hawai‘i Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Chase Murray.
"The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney remains dedicated to the pursuit of justice with integrity and commitment," said Waltjen.
According to the report from Hawai'i Police Department, at 8:50 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15, Ka‘ū patrol officers were dispatched to the area of Aloha Boulevard and Paradise Parkway in the Hawai‘i Ocean View Estates subdivision for a report of a male in need of medical assistance after possibly being assaulted.
Waltjen stated, "The charges are merely allegations and the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty."
The case was initiated by Kaʻū Patrol. The felony investigation was led by Detective Donovan Kohara, Area II Criminal Investigation Section, Hawai‘i Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Chase Murray.
"The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney remains dedicated to the pursuit of justice with integrity and commitment," said Waltjen.
According to the report from Hawai'i Police Department, at 8:50 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15, Ka‘ū patrol officers were dispatched to the area of Aloha Boulevard and Paradise Parkway in the Hawai‘i Ocean View Estates subdivision for a report of a male in need of medical assistance after possibly being assaulted.
Arriving on scene, officers found the victim, believed to be a 53-year-old Ocean View man, with severe facial injuries lying on the ground near a gold Toyota van. Due to the severity of his injuries, police were unable to ask the victim how he had been injured.
The victim was transported to the Kona Community Hospital with life-threatening injuries where it was determined that he had sustained a gunshot wound to his facial area. He was subsequently transferred to the Queens Medical Center on O'ahu where he remains hospitalized in stable condition. During the course of the investigation, police identified Behrendt as the suspect and possible responsible person who shot the victim.
After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office, Area II CIS detectives charged Behrendt with: Second-degree attempted murder; First-degree robbery; and Carrying/Use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony.
Police ask anyone who may have information regarding this incident to contact Detective Donovan Kohara of the Area II Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 960-3118, via email at Donovan.kohara@hawaiicounty.gov, or the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311. Anyone having information to assist local law enforcement can also call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office, Area II CIS detectives charged Behrendt with: Second-degree attempted murder; First-degree robbery; and Carrying/Use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony.
Police ask anyone who may have information regarding this incident to contact Detective Donovan Kohara of the Area II Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 960-3118, via email at Donovan.kohara@hawaiicounty.gov, or the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311. Anyone having information to assist local law enforcement can also call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.
