INPUT ON A PROPOSED 7,042-ACRES ADDITION TO KAPĀPALA FOREST RESERVE is sought by
The DOFAW statement says it "manages the Forest Reserve System to provide a variety of benefits including recreational and hunting opportunities, watershed restoration, cultural resource preservation, and habitat protection for threatened and endangered native species."
Kapāpala Forest Reserve is currently comprised of 37,276 acres on the slopes of Mauna Loa above Mamaloha Highway and northwest of Kīlauea crater. It was first dedicated as a Forest Reserve by Governor's Proclamation on Oct. 17, 1930.
The land to be added to Kapāpala Forest Reserve is currently leased for pasture purposes. The proposed action would subdivide the parcel adding approximately 7,042 acres covered by intact native koa and ʻōhiʻa forest to the Kapāpala Forest Reserve. The remaining 15,684 acres of the lease would be set aside to be managed and stewarded by the state Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture.
Another proposed addition of land to a Forest Reserve to be heard at the meeting is 162 acres in north Hawaiʻi adjacent to the Manowaialeʻe and Hilo Forest Reserves. It includes a koa seed bank with potential for restoration. The property location also enables public access and opportunity for reforestation activities.
Persons unable to attend or wishing to present additional comments can email forestry@hawaii.gov or mail written testimony, postmarked no later than April 5, to Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Attn: Forestry Program Manager, 1151 Punchbowl St., #325, Honolulu, HI 96813.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. See 7,500 copies the mail and on stands.
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| Kapāpala Forest Reserve is slated to expand by 7,042 acres. Photo from DLNR |
Another proposed addition of land to a Forest Reserve to be heard at the meeting is 162 acres in north Hawaiʻi adjacent to the Manowaialeʻe and Hilo Forest Reserves. It includes a koa seed bank with potential for restoration. The property location also enables public access and opportunity for reforestation activities.
Persons unable to attend or wishing to present additional comments can email forestry@hawaii.gov or mail written testimony, postmarked no later than April 5, to Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Attn: Forestry Program Manager, 1151 Punchbowl St., #325, Honolulu, HI 96813.
See the guidelines and learn more about public permits for hunting, gathering, hiking and other activities within the state Forest Reserves at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/permits/.
COLLABORATION BETWEEN CIVIL DEFENSE AND USGS TO SAVE LIVES is the subject of this week's Volcano Watch, written by Barry Periatt, Administrative Officer with County of Hawa'i Civil Defense Agency. Volcano Watch is a weekly article from USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and its affiliates. The COV meeting is held every other year, and it brings scientists from around the world together to share information on the latest eruptive activity and how communities have been impacted, and to present studies on the effects of volcanism. This year, with financial support from the USGS Volcano Science Center, I attended the twelfth COV meeting in Antigua because one of the conference's four themes, "From volcano monitoring and hazard assessment to risk management," had a strong emergency management focus.
In Hawaiʻi, HVO monitors the active volcanoes, determines what hazards we can expect during unrest, and tracks eruptions. HVO is also responsible for setting the volcano alert levels and aviation color codes in Hawaii and American Samoa, using the USGS Volcano Alert Level System for Volcanoes. In this capacity, HVO notifies federal, state, and local emergency management agencies, as well as the residents and visitors, of notable volcanic unrest and eruptive activity. HCCDA is then responsible for disseminating alerts about volcanic activity (and other natural or man-made hazards) via our public information and warning system. HCCDA is also responsible for making emergency management decisions, such as road closures or evacuations, if communities or infrastructure are being threatened by volcanic activity.
In Hawaiʻi, HVO monitors the active volcanoes, determines what hazards we can expect during unrest, and tracks eruptions. HVO is also responsible for setting the volcano alert levels and aviation color codes in Hawaii and American Samoa, using the USGS Volcano Alert Level System for Volcanoes. In this capacity, HVO notifies federal, state, and local emergency management agencies, as well as the residents and visitors, of notable volcanic unrest and eruptive activity. HCCDA is then responsible for disseminating alerts about volcanic activity (and other natural or man-made hazards) via our public information and warning system. HCCDA is also responsible for making emergency management decisions, such as road closures or evacuations, if communities or infrastructure are being threatened by volcanic activity.
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| Barry Periatt, left, is Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency panelist participating in the discussion Lessons from Recent Eruptions and other crises at the recent Cities on Volcanoes 12 conference in Antigua, Guatemala. Fellow panelists (were Jake Lowenstern (USGS/USAID Volcano Disaster Assistance Program), Stavros Meletlidis(Instituto Geográfico Nacional, Spain), Gustavo Chigna (Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia e Hidrología, Guatemala), and Lina Dorado (Colombia Red Cross). USGS photo |
Over the five-day COV meeting in Antigua, the reason HVO wanted HCCDA to attend became very apparent. The relationship between HCCDA and HVO exists beyond volcanic unrest; we talk to and share information with each other even when Hawaii's volcanoes are at alert-level normal. What makes our relationship unique is that HCCDA can ask the scientists at HVO questions about the current situation, and they are willing to have a candid conversation about the unrest or eruption. Through these conversations, HCCDA is then able to determine and convey the magnitude (dire versus non-threatening) of the current situation to the public.
Hawai'i is fortunate to have such a close relationship between scientists and emergency managers. In some countries, the collaboration between these two groups appears strained. From the outside, it appears that part of the conflict between volcano observatory scientists and emergency managers is the result of their roles not being clearly defined.
In other places in the world, the responsibilities for setting volcano alert levels and for providing public information and warning appear to be not clearly assigned, or if assigned, not understood by one or more of the organizations involved in the response. This has led to confusion in the public on how serious the threat is and on what actions they need to take. For example, on the Caribbean island of Montserrat, many residents were evacuated in the 1990s from the most threatened area many months before any impacts from eruptions happened. Some individuals who had evacuated returned to their homes because of the lack of impacts, only to perish during the most devasting pyroclastic flow months later. While many factors contributed, in retrospect it appears clearer messaging and communication may have saved more lives.
In other places in the world, the responsibilities for setting volcano alert levels and for providing public information and warning appear to be not clearly assigned, or if assigned, not understood by one or more of the organizations involved in the response. This has led to confusion in the public on how serious the threat is and on what actions they need to take. For example, on the Caribbean island of Montserrat, many residents were evacuated in the 1990s from the most threatened area many months before any impacts from eruptions happened. Some individuals who had evacuated returned to their homes because of the lack of impacts, only to perish during the most devasting pyroclastic flow months later. While many factors contributed, in retrospect it appears clearer messaging and communication may have saved more lives.
A similar situation occurred in Guatemala in 2018 where the volcano observatory communicated their observations to emergency managers, but some believe that the magnitude of the eruption and its potential hazards was under appreciated, which resulted in a community not being adequately warned to evacuate. A pyroclastic density current destroyed the community and hundreds of residents perished.![]()
The focus of the COV meeting was on improving all aspects of monitoring, evaluating, and communicating volcanic activity. It's clear that emergency managers and volcano observatories need to work closely together so that emergency managers can get the volcano hazards information that we need to fulfill our obligations to protect life and property during a volcanic event. Emergency managers at HCCDA and scientists at HVO share the same passion for their work, and we will continue working closely together in the future, as new volcanic activity occurs on the Island of Hawaiʻi.
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VOLCANO ACTIVITY UPDATES: Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY.
Low levels of disbursed seismicity continue at Kīlauea's summit and along the Koa'e fault system southwest of the caldera. Earthquake counts remained below 10 per day until March 11; since March 11, there has been a minor increase in activity, with up to 60 disbursed events occurring per day in this region. Tiltmeters near Sand Hill and Uēkahuna bluff have continued to record modest inflationary trends over the past week. No unusual activity has been noted along the rift zones.
Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.
Webcams show no signs of activity on Mauna Loa. Summit seismicity has remained at low levels over the past month. Ground deformation indicates continuing slow inflation as magma replenishes the reservoir system following the 2022 eruption. SO2 emission rates are at background levels.
There were no earthquakes reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.
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