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| The NPS Photo by Y. Baur shows an earth crack that bisects Maunaiki Trail, evidence of recent elevated seismicity and volcanic unrest in the SWRZ of Kīlauea. This image was taken on May 15, 2024. |
MAUNAIKI AND KA'U DESERT TRAILS have reopened in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The two trails were closed when the short-lived June 3 fissure eruption began near Kīlauea volcano's remote upper Southwest Rift Zone.
Hikers are required to stay on trail due to hazards that include volcanic gas emissions from the new fissures and flow areas, ground fractures, and subsidence features that may continue to widen and have unstable overhanging edges. In addition, hikers on Maunaiki Trail should watch out for new earth cracks that have bisected the trail in several places.
The recent lava flows and fissures are not accessible and are in an area south of Kīlauea caldera that has been closed since 2008 due to volcanic unrest and damage from the 2018 eruption and summit collapse.
Kīlauea is not erupting but seismicity beneath the summit, upper East Rift Zone, and upper Southwest Rift Zone have returned to slightly elevated levels. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (USGS HVO) states that "changes in the character and location of unrest can occur quickly, as can the potential for an eruption, but there are no signs of imminent eruption at this time."
Visitors should plan ahead and check the park website for updates.
The fissure eruption started on Monday, June 3 around 12:30 a.m. in a remote area in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, about about 2.5 miles (4 km) southwest of Kīlauea caldera near the volcano's upper Southwest Rift Zone. The eruption lasted 8.5 hours, according to USGS HVO.
Hikers are required to stay on trail due to hazards that include volcanic gas emissions from the new fissures and flow areas, ground fractures, and subsidence features that may continue to widen and have unstable overhanging edges. In addition, hikers on Maunaiki Trail should watch out for new earth cracks that have bisected the trail in several places.
The recent lava flows and fissures are not accessible and are in an area south of Kīlauea caldera that has been closed since 2008 due to volcanic unrest and damage from the 2018 eruption and summit collapse.
Kīlauea is not erupting but seismicity beneath the summit, upper East Rift Zone, and upper Southwest Rift Zone have returned to slightly elevated levels. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (USGS HVO) states that "changes in the character and location of unrest can occur quickly, as can the potential for an eruption, but there are no signs of imminent eruption at this time."
Visitors should plan ahead and check the park website for updates.
The fissure eruption started on Monday, June 3 around 12:30 a.m. in a remote area in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, about about 2.5 miles (4 km) southwest of Kīlauea caldera near the volcano's upper Southwest Rift Zone. The eruption lasted 8.5 hours, according to USGS HVO.
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.
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A PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPERTY TAX DEDUCTIONS ON AGRICULTURALLY ZONED LAND will be held on Thursday, July 19 at 5 p.m. , sponsored by the County of Hawai'i Department of Finance . The county's Non Dedicated Agricultural Program is ending for parcels where either a portion or the entire parcel is in this NDA program.
The County proposed three new categories for property tax reductions: Community Food Sustainability, Short Term Commercial Dedication for three years and Long Term Commercial Dedication for ten years. A county letter to property owners says to see the proposal at www.hawaiipropertytax.com under Finance Director Rules & Regulations.
The meeting can be attended and oral testimony submitted by Zoom or in person at Hilo County Council Chambers. Written testimony by email, fax or U.S. mail.
The County proposed three new categories for property tax reductions: Community Food Sustainability, Short Term Commercial Dedication for three years and Long Term Commercial Dedication for ten years. A county letter to property owners says to see the proposal at www.hawaiipropertytax.com under Finance Director Rules & Regulations.
The meeting can be attended and oral testimony submitted by Zoom or in person at Hilo County Council Chambers. Written testimony by email, fax or U.S. mail.
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.
So far this year, there have been 451 DUI arrests compared with 462 during the same period last year, a decrease of 2.38 percent.
Hawai'i Police Department’s Traffic Services Section reviewed all updated crashes and found 453 major crashes so far this year, compared with 393 during the same time last year, an increase of 15.26 percent.
To date, there were 16 fatal crashes, resulting in 18 fatalities (two of which had multiple deaths and one crash was reclassified as a suicide), compared with 8 fatal crashes, resulting in 9 fatalities (one of which had multiple deaths, and one died at a later date) for the same time last year. This represents an increase of 100 percent for fatal crashes and 100 percent for fatalities.
In 2024, the non-traffic fatality count (not on a public roadway) is zero compared to zero non-traffic fatalities for the same time last year.
Police promise that DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.
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.
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Winners in the Little League Home Run Derby in the front row are Recyen Fukunaga , who won for the Majors with 8, and Derek Higashi. who won for the Minors with 11. In back row, Caleb Crook and Devin Alpin both hit 20 home runs. Photo by Rosyln Fukunaga |
T-MOBILE AND KAʻŪ LITTLE LEAGUE recently hosted a Home Run Derby for all registered Kaʻū Little League players. Each player got two minutes to hit as many home runs as they could.
The winners of the Home Run Derby were, for the Minors teams Derek Higashi with 11 home runs. For the Majors team Reycen Fukunaga with 8 home runs. Caleb Crook and Devin Alpin both hit 20 home runs.
Kaʻū Little League is almost done with the season. The 50/70 team played in the district tournament at the beginning of the month. Hilo Little League won that tournament.
The Majors team plays Friday in Kona against North Hawai'i and will play again on Saturday against Kona Little League or Hilo Little League.
The Minors team plays on June 28 in Kona.
Kaʻū Little League will begin again at the start of the New Year. A message from the organizers, including Joshua and Elizabeth Crook, says, "We would like to thank all the sponsors, those who donated equipment and money, coaches, umpires, parents and players for a successful year."
Kaʻū Little League is almost done with the season. The 50/70 team played in the district tournament at the beginning of the month. Hilo Little League won that tournament.
The Majors team plays Friday in Kona against North Hawai'i and will play again on Saturday against Kona Little League or Hilo Little League.
The Minors team plays on June 28 in Kona.
Kaʻū Little League will begin again at the start of the New Year. A message from the organizers, including Joshua and Elizabeth Crook, says, "We would like to thank all the sponsors, those who donated equipment and money, coaches, umpires, parents and players for a successful year."
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.
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.
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