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| Photographer Anne Celeste said Wood Valley fields looked like rice paddies during the height of inundation by Tropical Storm Iselle. |
Wood Valley residents ask for kokua in keeping access available to their homes. The temporary road cut through pasture is becoming muddy, rutted and impassable, even to some residents with 4WD vehicles.
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| A fence post impaled this tree as it fell during the storm. Photo by Anne Celeste |
WOOD VALLEY AND OTHER RURAL KA`U WATER CO-OPS may qualify for Emergency Community Water Assistance grants to repair damage to their water system caused by Tropical Storm Iselle. Funding ranges from $150,00 to $500,000. According to Rural Development Community Programs Director Robin Pulkkinen, the grants do not replace Federal Emergency Management Agency Funds, and FEMA funds must be applies first.
To be eligible, areas to be served may not be located in cities or towns with a population in excess of 10,000 nor may they have a median household income of more than 100 percent of a state’s non-metropolitan median household income of $59,353.
Material submitted with the application should include the Preliminary Engineering Report, Environmental Review, population and median household income of the area to be served, description of project and the nature of the emergency that caused the problems being addressed by the project. The documentation must clearly show that the applicant has had a significant decline in quantity and quality of potable water or an acute shortage of potable water, or that such a decline or shortage is imminent and that the proposed project will eliminate or alleviate the problem. A disaster designation is not required.
Expenses can be reimbursed up to six months if repairs have to take place before funding can be received. “We would recommend that any system that may benefit from this program apply now so RD can process and approve the applications,” Pulkkinen said.
Applications are accepted at any time through Rural Development State and Area Offices. Contact Samantha Shimizu at Samantha.shimizu@hi.usda.gov or 808-933-8307 or Pulkkinen at robin.pulkkinen@hi.usda.gov or 808-933-8317.
To be eligible, areas to be served may not be located in cities or towns with a population in excess of 10,000 nor may they have a median household income of more than 100 percent of a state’s non-metropolitan median household income of $59,353.
Material submitted with the application should include the Preliminary Engineering Report, Environmental Review, population and median household income of the area to be served, description of project and the nature of the emergency that caused the problems being addressed by the project. The documentation must clearly show that the applicant has had a significant decline in quantity and quality of potable water or an acute shortage of potable water, or that such a decline or shortage is imminent and that the proposed project will eliminate or alleviate the problem. A disaster designation is not required.
Expenses can be reimbursed up to six months if repairs have to take place before funding can be received. “We would recommend that any system that may benefit from this program apply now so RD can process and approve the applications,” Pulkkinen said.
Applications are accepted at any time through Rural Development State and Area Offices. Contact Samantha Shimizu at Samantha.shimizu@hi.usda.gov or 808-933-8307 or Pulkkinen at robin.pulkkinen@hi.usda.gov or 808-933-8317.
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| Pa`u riders return to Ka`u Plantation Days this October. Photo by Julia Neal |
KA`U PLANTATION DAYS COMMITTEE MET LAST NIGHT, and new volunteers stepped forward to support the Sweet Memories day at Pahala Plantation Manager’s House from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11. Ty Chun is the entertainment chair. Debbie Ryder and her halau along with Demetrius Oliveira and friends will be among the entertainers. Marion Villanueva is organizing the Chinese display. Hawaiian arts and crafts will be presented by Larry and Dutchie Ka`upu. Uhane Pohaku Na Moku O Hawai`i will host the Hawaiian food booth. Filipino food will be through Ada Demayo. Pahala and Na`alehu Hongwanji will sell sushi.
Informational booths will be manned by the state Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement, World War II 442nd veterans, Pahala senior citizens and Holomua Ka`u. All eight islands will be represented in a pa`u parade, with riders on horseback traveling down several Pahala streets before the event at Pahala Plantation Manager’s House. Chair of the event is Darlyne Vierra, who said that floats and walking groups are also invited. Ann Fontes, of Friends of the Library, said they will walk and conduct a book sale. The Boys & Girls Club will join the parade. Aikea International Karate League, under the direction of Dr. Cliff and Susan Field, will give a demonstration. Representatives of ethnic groups that make up the community are invited to join in with ethnic dance, music and cultural displays. She said she also looks forward to organizing a coffee cafe representing Ka`u’s many coffee brands.
The next meeting is Monday, Sept. 8 at Pahala Plantation House. Those wanting to donate and participate can call Vierra at 640-8740.
The next meeting is Monday, Sept. 8 at Pahala Plantation House. Those wanting to donate and participate can call Vierra at 640-8740.
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| Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to monitor Kilauea and other volcanoes closely while experiencing intermittent disruptions in eruption updates. NPS Photo by Jessica Ferracane |
INTERMITTENT DISRUPTIONS IN ERUPTION UPDATES, webcam imagery, earthquake data and other information normally available on the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website could continue for the next few days. HVO staff worked through the weekend to repair damage to the observatory’s power system that occurred during Tropical Storm Iselle, but complete restoration of the system is not expected until at least Wednesday.
According to HVO Scientist-in-Charge Jim Kauahikaua, volcanoes on the Island of Hawai`i continue to be closely monitored. “Fortunately, Iselle caused no or little damage to our field instruments, so HVO’s monitoring network is functioning normally,” he said, “but power issues within the observatory are impairing our ability to process the data and update our website.”
As of Monday morning, Kilauea continued to erupt at its summit and near Pu`u `O`o on the volcano’s East Rift Zone. The level of the summit lava lake within Halema`uma`u Crater was relatively steady at 115 to 130 feet below the vent rim. The active East Rift Zone lava flow, which had reached 4.3 miles east-northeast of Pu`u `O`o as of Aug. 6, the day before Iselle struck, continued to advance into forest. HVO geologists plan to map the progress of the lava flow during a scheduled overflight today.
Should scientists observe any significant change in volcanic or seismic activity, HVO will immediately notify Hawai`i County Civil Defense and other emergency managers and will keep the public informed through media releases.
“For now, we appreciate your patience when visiting the HVO website. We are working as quickly as possible to fully restore our power system so that the website operates smoothly and without interruption,” Kauahikaua said.
Updates for Hawai`i’s active volcanoes and earthquake data for the state of Hawai`i are available at hvo.wr.usgs.gov, 967-8862 or askHVO@usgs.gov.
According to HVO Scientist-in-Charge Jim Kauahikaua, volcanoes on the Island of Hawai`i continue to be closely monitored. “Fortunately, Iselle caused no or little damage to our field instruments, so HVO’s monitoring network is functioning normally,” he said, “but power issues within the observatory are impairing our ability to process the data and update our website.”
As of Monday morning, Kilauea continued to erupt at its summit and near Pu`u `O`o on the volcano’s East Rift Zone. The level of the summit lava lake within Halema`uma`u Crater was relatively steady at 115 to 130 feet below the vent rim. The active East Rift Zone lava flow, which had reached 4.3 miles east-northeast of Pu`u `O`o as of Aug. 6, the day before Iselle struck, continued to advance into forest. HVO geologists plan to map the progress of the lava flow during a scheduled overflight today.
Should scientists observe any significant change in volcanic or seismic activity, HVO will immediately notify Hawai`i County Civil Defense and other emergency managers and will keep the public informed through media releases.
“For now, we appreciate your patience when visiting the HVO website. We are working as quickly as possible to fully restore our power system so that the website operates smoothly and without interruption,” Kauahikaua said.
Updates for Hawai`i’s active volcanoes and earthquake data for the state of Hawai`i are available at hvo.wr.usgs.gov, 967-8862 or askHVO@usgs.gov.
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| Ka`u farmers and ranchers can make an appointment with USDA FSA to review damage. Photo by Anne Celeste |
USDA FARM SERVICE AGENCY REQUESTS that Ka`u farmers and ranchers make an appointment before visiting the office regarding storm impacts. Hawai`i County Executive Director Lester Ueda’s phone number is 933-8341. Email address is lester.ueda@hi.usda.gov.
Along Wood Valley Road, Olson Trust land manager John Cross said that at least 1,200 macadamia trees went down, along with hundreds of coffee trees.
Along Wood Valley Road, Olson Trust land manager John Cross said that at least 1,200 macadamia trees went down, along with hundreds of coffee trees.
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ALL ARE INVITED TO KA`U HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI & FRIENDS’ 13th annual potluck reunion at Pahala Community Center on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Organizers encourage attendees to bring a favorite dish to share and come and enjoy a day of fun, live music and good food.
The purpose of the reunion is to bring alumni and residents back to Ka`u to reconnect with their roots, meeting classmates, and getting reacquainted with other Ka`u alumni, neighbors, and friends. The potluck invitation is open to current residents and school administration and staff.
The potluck luncheon is held annually on the Sunday of the Statehood holiday weekend. The set day on Sunday allows individual classes to make their own plans for their own reunions during the weekend to coincide with the all alumni Sunday potluck.
In recent years, Class of 1973 meets at Pahala Community Center on Saturday evening. Audielyn Cabudol is this year’s reunion chairman. Among members assisting is Darlyne Vierra, who is in charge of Ka`u Plantation Days. She will be displaying pictures of former Ka`u days at the Sunday potluck.
Class of 1961 meets for the second year in a row at a vacation rental in Pahala. Members plan to take a tour of Ka`u on Saturday and meet in the evening and join the rest of the alumni for the Sunday potluck.
Members of Class of 1959, who organize Las Vegas reunions, usually meet at Pahala Plantation Cottages’ Market House, the former Ka`u Meat Market, on Saturday and after the potluck on Sunday. The recent Las Vegas reunion held in June drew 200 attendees.
Back to the Fifties music trio led by Ernest Kalani, Hands of Time led by Calvin Ponce and Terrie Louis and Philip Barro, a key performer at earlier reunions, are other local entertainers expected to perform at the potluck.
Mahealani Halau, comprised of a group of senior women and a single male, Robert Gomes, a retired Ka`u police officer, has been a regular part of the program since the reunion started in 2002. The late Edna Aguil is founder of the halau. They will be performing a few hula numbers.
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| Volcano Rain Forest Runs through Volcano Village take place Saturday. |
Wendell Ka`ehu`ae`a produced a video of the 2013 potluck reunion and captured the senior halau’s performance. Musicians and singers Lei Kaapana Aken, sister of slack key artist Ledward Ka`apana and Ernest Kalani were also featured in the video.
The video was shown on local television (Channel 54), Na Leo Hawai`i, and the DVD is on file at the public libraries in Pahala and Na`alehu, where it can be borrowed and viewed.
For more information, contact Lovey Grantz at 982-8242 or James Yamaki at 969-6828.
The video was shown on local television (Channel 54), Na Leo Hawai`i, and the DVD is on file at the public libraries in Pahala and Na`alehu, where it can be borrowed and viewed.
For more information, contact Lovey Grantz at 982-8242 or James Yamaki at 969-6828.
VOLCANO RAIN FOREST RUNS are coming up this Saturday. Half Marathon begins at 7 a.m., followed by the 10K at 7:45 a.m. and the 5K at 8 a.m. Keiki runs begin at 10 a.m. Registration is available at volcanorainforestruns.com.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
