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| NPS Photo of a couple seated at a picnic table in Lower Kahuku, beneath an ʻōhiʻa tree. |
THURSDAY IS THE NĀ’ĀLEHU MEETING ON PLANNING THE FUTURE OF KAHUKU. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is developing a plan to manage 132,000 acres in Upper and Lower Kahuku and the newly acquired Kahuku-Pōhue, and encourages public input. The meeting is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Nāʻālehu Community Center, Thursday, Nov. 14.
The next public input meeting is Saturday, Nov. 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kahuku Visitor Contact Station. There will also be a virtual option on Tuesday, December 3 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., https://swca.zoom.us/j/91799290126. A Park statement recommends the community to "Check out the Story Map to see some of the options the park is considering and wants to talk with the public about, especially the Kaʻū community who has deep ties to these special places."
Also submit comments online: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/KahukuPlan
See story on the plan with photos of the Kahuku shoreline at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2024_11_06_archive.html.
TO PROTECT NESTING NĒNĒ, the east entrance of Uēkahuna parking lot, and a short section of Crater Rim Trail are temporarily closed. The announcement from Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park says:
No parking stalls are closed for now, and the west entrance to the parking lot will serve as both entrance and exit. However, large motorcoaches (buses 25 feet or more) will not be able to access the Uēkahuna parking lot because there is no place to turn around. The temporary closure also includes a short section of Crater Rim Trail east of the parking lot, effective immediately. The eastern overlook of Kīlauea caldera at the landmark USGS triangulation station remains open, with the closest access by foot from Kīlauea Overlook.
The portable toilets and western overlook of Kīlauea caldera remain open and accessible from the Uēkahuna parking lot.
“Safeguarding native wildlife is part of our mission at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park,” said the park’s wildlife biologist, Dr. Kristina Paxton. “Nēnē are very vulnerable to being killed by vehicles, and this partial closure improves their chances for survival.”![]()
Dr. Kristina Paxton, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Wildlife Biologist. NPS Photo by Janice Wei
Paxton noted that nēnē usually mate for life. The female incubates two to five eggs while the male guards the family. Incubation takes about a month, and re-nesting could occur if eggs are destroyed or abandoned.
She said that nesting season is September through May and many nēnē are seen on or near park roads, making them especially vulnerable to being killed by vehicles this time of year. "Everyone can help protect nēnē: slow down, watch for them near roads, and never feed them. Keep wildlife wild and stay at least 60 feet from them."
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com.
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| The male nēnē at Uēkahuna guards his pregnant female. Image taken through binoculars from a distance. NPS Photo by Dr. Kristina Paxton |
No parking stalls are closed for now, and the west entrance to the parking lot will serve as both entrance and exit. However, large motorcoaches (buses 25 feet or more) will not be able to access the Uēkahuna parking lot because there is no place to turn around. The temporary closure also includes a short section of Crater Rim Trail east of the parking lot, effective immediately. The eastern overlook of Kīlauea caldera at the landmark USGS triangulation station remains open, with the closest access by foot from Kīlauea Overlook.
The portable toilets and western overlook of Kīlauea caldera remain open and accessible from the Uēkahuna parking lot.
“Safeguarding native wildlife is part of our mission at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park,” said the park’s wildlife biologist, Dr. Kristina Paxton. “Nēnē are very vulnerable to being killed by vehicles, and this partial closure improves their chances for survival.”
Dr. Kristina Paxton, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Wildlife Biologist. NPS Photo by Janice WeiPaxton noted that nēnē usually mate for life. The female incubates two to five eggs while the male guards the family. Incubation takes about a month, and re-nesting could occur if eggs are destroyed or abandoned.
She said that nesting season is September through May and many nēnē are seen on or near park roads, making them especially vulnerable to being killed by vehicles this time of year. "Everyone can help protect nēnē: slow down, watch for them near roads, and never feed them. Keep wildlife wild and stay at least 60 feet from them."
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com.
Workers can preregister for the In-person Payment Registration Event. The USDA is providing $600 per person to eligible farm and livestock workers for expenses they incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic if they worked between Jan. 27, 2020 and May 11, 2023. To be eligible, must show pay stub, direct deposit or income statement or tax return, W-2 or written attestation.
The location of the event will be provided to those who send in the application for the grant. See the QR codes below to access the registration materials.
The location of the event will be provided to those who send in the application for the grant. See the QR codes below to access the registration materials.
For this program USDA is cooperating with Executive Office on Early Learning, Hawai'i Good Food Alliance, County of Hawai'i, NORC research group at University of Chicago and others.
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To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com.\
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| Kaʻū Taro Festival will be Saturday, Dec. 14 at Kaʻū Herkes Gym Complex in Pāhala. Vendors can sign up until Nov. 26. Sign up for a booth online at www.okaukakou.org/kau-taro-festival. The event is free and open to the public. |