Kaʻū News Briefs May 30, 2024

VOYAGER BARS, SOME MADE WITH KAʻŪ COFFEE, ARE A NEW PRODUCT manufactured in Na'alehu by the 48 employees of Punalu'u Bake Shop. A statement from Punalu'u Bake Shop's Chief Financial Officer Connie Koi describes the origins of Voyager, Hawai'i's Energy Bar.

   "When ancient Polynesians paddled their canoes to the islands of Hawai'i, they carried precious life-sustaining cargo: ulu (breadfruit), niu (coconut) and maʻa (banana). Today, Punaluʻu Bakeshop is honoring the rich cultural heritage of these traditional 'canoe foods' with its new Voyager Bars – nutritious energy bars made with ulu, niu and maʻa plus other delicious quality ingredients to support the health and active lifestyles of Hawaii’s residents and visitors. The only energy bars made in Hawaiʻi, the Voyager Bars are baked at Punaluʻu Bakeshop, located in Naʻalehu on the southernmost part of Hawaiʻi Island."

    Voyager Bars are dairy free, grain free, soy free, egg free and non-GMO. Each 41-gram bar contains breadfruit flour, coconut flour and dehydrated banana and provides 3.5 grams of protein from vegan ingredients including sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds and pea protein. The bars are naturally sweetened with honey and tapioca syrup. 

    Koi said, “Our goal was to create energy that are richly delicious and healthy, featuring the foods that provided sustained energy and vital nutrition for the earliest Hawaiians. While other energy bars are imported to Hawaiʻi, our amazing crew of local Kau residents bake our Voyager Bars right here at our locally owned bakery in Naʻalehu.

    “Voyager Bars are perfect as an easily digestible, tasty snack when you need energy for work or school, as well as for swimming, surfing, paddling, hiking or other sports. They are individually wrapped and don’t require refrigeration, so you can tuck them into a lunch box, bag, backpack or purse.” 

    Voyager Bars are available in three flavors:

    Dark Chocolate Espresso features locally sourced Kau coffee from Hawaiʻi Island, with rich notes of dark chocolate complimenting the bold, invigorating essence of espresso. 

    Pineapple Coconut Macadamia offers a delightful fusion of tropical flavors, including sun-ripened pineapple, dehydrated bananas, macadamia nuts and rich coconut. 

   Chocolate Chip Ginger blends dark chocolate chips with the invigorating zing of tropical ginger. 

   Voyager Bars are available in KTA, Foodland, Sack & Save, ABC Stores, Na’alehu 76, Abundant Life Natural Food Store in Hilo as well as at the Punaluʻu Bakeshop and Visitor Center in Naʻalehu. The price per bar at most retail outlets ranges from $2.49 to $2.99. A box of 12 bars can be purchased at the Punaluʻu Bakeshop for $23.88 or $1.99 per bar. 

     Established in 1991 in Na’alehu and locally owned, Punaluʻu Bakeshop and Visitor Center is known for its world-famous sweet bread (in flavors including taro, guava and honey whole wheat), fresh malasadas, irresistible tropical-flavored cookies and baked goods, fresh-brewed Kau coffee and beverages, salads, sandwiches and local-style plate lunches.

    The most visited bakery in the state of Hawaiʻi, Punaluʻu Bakeshop is located on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 11) midway between Kailua-Kona and Volcanoes National Park in the town of Naʻalehu. It welcomes more than 400,000 visitors from near and far every year, who enjoy strolling the tropical landscaped grounds, shopping in its gift shop and dining in comfortably shaded gazebos. 

    In addition to employing the 46 local residents, Punaluʻu Bakeshop, has a proud tradition of supporting local community groups with fundraisers featuring its bread and local products. To learn more, visit www.bakeshophawaii.com. 

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.

humbled by the UPW leaders and their nearly 1,500 county employees islandwide and over 13,000 statewide. Hawaii County public workers are the backbone of our county's infrastructure and operations. We count on them in almost every department for park maintenance, janitorial services, environmental management, wastewater, landfill operations, roads, painting, carpentry, and other blue-color services. These are dedicated hard working people who care about the future of our island. I am very grateful for their courageous support and commitment to a better Hawaii." 

    The Alameda campaign statement says, "Alameda has a long list of accomplishments and leadership positions in both the private and public sector and is grateful for another major endorsement following the recent endorsement by the Hawaiʻi Iron Workers Union Local 625 back in February.'
    More information on Alameda and his candidacy can be found at www.kimoformayor.com.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.

BEYOND THE LAVA: MAUNA LOA'S DEFORMATION STORY is title of this week's Volcano Watch,
the weekly column by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliate:
    Mauna Loa volcano stands as the largest and most active volcano on Earth. With a rich history of eruptions that have shaped the Island of Hawaʻi's geography, Mauna Loa has captivated the fascination of scientists, residents, and people worldwide. Let's take a closer look at how Mauna Loa's surface deformation has changed over the last several decades, focusing on its three most recent eruptions.
most recent eruptions.
    By comparing data from past eruptions, scientists gain valuable insights into a volcano's patterns and cycles. This knowledge helps us better understand a volcano's behavior, preparing us for future unrest and allowing us to communicate potential hazards to nearby communities.
    Global Positioning System (GPS), borehole tiltmeters, Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), and seismometers are currently the primary geophysical instruments for measuring changes and unrest at volcanoes. These have replaced older, less advanced surveying instruments that were used in the past.

HVO scientist setting up temporary GPS equipment south of Kaluapele (the summit caldera of Kīlauea volcano). The long profile of Mauna Loa volcano is prominent in the background. USGS image by D.A. Phillips.

    The most recent Mauna Loa eruptions in 1975, 1984, and 2022 each offer unique insights into this volcano's eruptive behavior.
    In 1975, lava suddenly flowed from Mauna Loa's summit, creating a mesmerizing sight. The eruption lasted less than a day. Although brief, it left its mark on the landscape, reminding us of the volcano's power and unpredictability. Prior to the 1975 eruption, Mauna Loa showed slight extension across the summit caldera in 1974, indicating inflation. There was also an uptick in seismic activity beforehand. After the 1975 eruption, Mauna Loa inflated by about 8 inches (20 centimeters) across its caldera between 1975 and 1976.

Mauna Loa 1975 eruption. Lava fountains up to 20 m (65 ft) high  erupted from fissures on the north flank of the volcano early  Sunday morning, July 6, 1975. USGS imager

    Nine years later, Mauna Loa came to life again. This time, there was almost a year of clues indicating an eruption could be coming. Some of these included elevated rates of ground inflation and increased numbers of earthquakes. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) scientists were able to detect changes in the volcano and were able to communicate to the public that there was a high likelihood for an eruption.
    In March 1984, the volcano erupted with renewed vigor. This time, the eruption lasted longer, spewing lava for 22 days. The lava flowed from the summit, creeping down the northeast flank of the volcano from fissures on the volcano's Northeast Rift Zone. As lava was erupted on the surface of the volcano, it deflated. Then, after the eruption stopped, Mauna Loa reinflated for more than a year and a half.
   Following decades of quiet, Mauna Loa stirred from its slumber once again in 2022. With increased seismic activity beneath its summit and notable surface deformation starting in September 2022, Mauna Loa signaled its awakening. HVO scientists worked with the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency to inform communities about the potential for an eruption. On November 27, 2022, lava began to flow—first in the caldera, to the south caldera, and then to the Northeast Rift Zone. The eruption lasted for two weeks, captivating the world with its awe-inspiring display of molten lava flows.

View of the Mauna Loa eruption before dawn Nov. 29, 2022 morning from Hwy 11 between Pāhala and Volcano at Mile Marker 34. Photo by Tanya Ibarra

    Following all three eruptions, reinflation was very fast right after lava effusion ended but gradually waned over the following years. Maybe more interesting are the differences in Mauna Loa's detectable behavior before each of these eruptions. There were small changes in ground deformation and many earthquakes before the 1975 summit eruption, whereas the 1984 and 2022 eruptions were proceeded by many earthquakes and major ground deformation.
    It's possible that small and short-lived Mauna Loa summit eruptions like 1975 may not show as intense precursors compared to larger, longer eruptions with rift-zone activity. It's also possible that the differences in technology, improved instrumentation, and data collection techniques between the 1970s and today contributed to the improved detection of volcano deformation in 2022 compared to previous eruptions.
    As Mauna Loa slumbers once more, HVO scientists continue to monitor the volcano with advanced technology, refining our understanding of its behavior and enhancing early warning systems. Ground deformation prior to and after recent Mauna Loa eruptions have provided us with insights into the patterns of behavior, and we will only learn more during future unrest and eruptions.

Volcano Activity Updates
    Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY. Earthquake activity beneath Kīlauea's summit region continued at relatively lower levels over the past week. There were less than 50 earthquakes detected each day, with magnitudes smaller than 2 and depths concentrated between 2-4 km (1.2-3.1 miles) beneath the surface. Tiltmeters near Sand Hill and Uēkahuna bluff continued to record inflationary trends. Kīlauea's summit region remains pressurized, and changes could occur quickly moving forward. See the Information Statement published on May 2 for background information: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2024-05-03T07:42:02+00:00.
    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.
    No earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week.
    HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.