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| Horseback riders, walkers, trucks and floats are invited to participate in next month's Ka`u Plantation Days Parade. Photo by Julia Neal |
TIM ORR, OF USGS HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY, described how scientists predict where lava may go at a community meeting in Puna last night. He used a topographical map to show Puna residents possible routes that lava may take as it progresses toward Hwy 130 near Pahoa. He said lava may reach the highway in 16 to 18 days, based on its current flow rate.
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| Blue lines represent low-lying sections along which lava could flow. Map from USGS/HVO |
Orr said the maps are useful in predicting flow routes but do not show all possibilities. “Uncertainty in base data” translates into a broader downslope path, where lava covers a wider area than just the blue lines.
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KA`U PLANTATION DAYS, which held an organizing meeting this week, is welcoming more representatives of ranches, farms and dairies to participate in the annual pa`u parade on horseback, foot, car, truck or float. The event, sponsored by the Ka`u Multicultural Society and chaired by Darlyne Vierra and Liz Kuluwaimaka, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 11 along the streets of Pahala and on the grounds of the old sugar company manager’s manor – Pahala Plantation House – beginning at 9 a.m.
Ethnic foods and dances will be presented, including Japanese, Filipino and Hawaiian offerings. Historic displays from plantation days will be presented by families and heritage groups. Emcee is Clyde Siva.
Vierra said Ka`u Multicultural Society invites families and sugar, farm, ranch and dairy retirees and employees to bring historic photos of life in Ka`u to be copied for the organization’s collection which is displayed at various community events and places in Ka`u.
Participants include Pahala Filipino Association, Aikane Plantation Coffee, Na`alehu Hongwanji, Pahala Karate Dojo, Wong Yuen Chinese family, Kauaha`ao Church, Ka `Ohana O Honu`apo, The Nature Conservancy, Friends of Ka`u Libraries, Ka`u Chamber of Commerce, Halau Hula O Leionalani, Keoki Kahumoku and the Center for Hawaiian Music Education, `O Ka`u Kakou and several nutrition and health organizations.
The final two organizing meetings will be Monday, Sept. 22 and Monday, Oct. 6 at Pahala Community Center at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, call Vierra at 640-8740.
KA`U PLANTATION DAYS, which held an organizing meeting this week, is welcoming more representatives of ranches, farms and dairies to participate in the annual pa`u parade on horseback, foot, car, truck or float. The event, sponsored by the Ka`u Multicultural Society and chaired by Darlyne Vierra and Liz Kuluwaimaka, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 11 along the streets of Pahala and on the grounds of the old sugar company manager’s manor – Pahala Plantation House – beginning at 9 a.m.
Ethnic foods and dances will be presented, including Japanese, Filipino and Hawaiian offerings. Historic displays from plantation days will be presented by families and heritage groups. Emcee is Clyde Siva.
Vierra said Ka`u Multicultural Society invites families and sugar, farm, ranch and dairy retirees and employees to bring historic photos of life in Ka`u to be copied for the organization’s collection which is displayed at various community events and places in Ka`u.
Participants include Pahala Filipino Association, Aikane Plantation Coffee, Na`alehu Hongwanji, Pahala Karate Dojo, Wong Yuen Chinese family, Kauaha`ao Church, Ka `Ohana O Honu`apo, The Nature Conservancy, Friends of Ka`u Libraries, Ka`u Chamber of Commerce, Halau Hula O Leionalani, Keoki Kahumoku and the Center for Hawaiian Music Education, `O Ka`u Kakou and several nutrition and health organizations.
The final two organizing meetings will be Monday, Sept. 22 and Monday, Oct. 6 at Pahala Community Center at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, call Vierra at 640-8740.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Henry Curtis |
ELECTRICITY STORAGE IS A TOPIC Henry Curtis, Executive Director of Life of the Land, discusses on his blog at ililanimedia.blogspot.com. He says new energy storage facilities are needed to integrate intermittent wind and solar onto transmission grids and for conversion of fossil-fuel based transportation to electric-powered vehicles.
Batteries are old. The design and use of reusable batteries predates the electric grid. Thomas Alva Edison was about 12 years old when Raymond Gaston Planté produced the first lead acid battery, which has become the most widely used rechargeable battery in world history.
But batteries are not the primary storage mechanism for electric grids. Practically all transmission grid-connected energy storage is composed of water and dams. Pumped storage hydro involves pumping water uphill from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir and dropping it when power is needed. Pumped storage hydro accounts for over 95 percent of all storage on the grid. The use of commercial-scale pumped storage hydro in the United States is at least 80 years old.
Batteries represent a mere 1.3 percent of energy storage on the U.S. grid. Other niche players are Thermal Storage, Compressed Air and Flywheels.
Many energy players believe that batteries will play a major role in future storage technology.
Just as car tires used for the Indy 500 are very different than snow tires, grid-connected batteries are not of one flavor. There are multiple designs, which serve multiple purposes.
IN SPORTS, KA`U HIGH GIRLS VOLLEYBALL teams won their home matches against East Pac yesterday. Junior varsity scores were 25 – 14 and 25 – 12. Varsity won in three straight sets, 25 – 18, 25 – 12 and 25 – 17.
The teams host Konawaena Saturday at 10 a.m.
After returning from Maui where they played a game against Seabury Hall, the Trojans’ eight-man football team hosts Pahoa Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Ka`u High bowlers meet Kea`au at Kilauea Military Camp today.
FOUR MORE DAYS REMAIN TO GET DISCOUNTED RATES for Ka`u Coffee Trail Run. After Saturday, Sept. 13, fees increase by $20 for the 5K, 10K and Half Marathon coming up on Saturday, Sept. 20.
Register online at race360.com/21357.
THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO KA`U SCENIC BYWAY Committee’s meeting tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Na`alehu Methodist Church. On the agenda is finishing design of the Na`alehu Park kiosk, and this is the last chance for input. For more information, email richmorrow@alohabroadband.net.
LIGHT REFRESHMENTS FOR CURRENT and new members will be served at Friends of Ka`u Libraries’ member meeting tomorrow from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House.
Call Doris Davis at 928- 0919 or Ann Fontes at 987-7448 for more information.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
Batteries are old. The design and use of reusable batteries predates the electric grid. Thomas Alva Edison was about 12 years old when Raymond Gaston Planté produced the first lead acid battery, which has become the most widely used rechargeable battery in world history.
But batteries are not the primary storage mechanism for electric grids. Practically all transmission grid-connected energy storage is composed of water and dams. Pumped storage hydro involves pumping water uphill from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir and dropping it when power is needed. Pumped storage hydro accounts for over 95 percent of all storage on the grid. The use of commercial-scale pumped storage hydro in the United States is at least 80 years old.
Batteries represent a mere 1.3 percent of energy storage on the U.S. grid. Other niche players are Thermal Storage, Compressed Air and Flywheels.
Many energy players believe that batteries will play a major role in future storage technology.
Just as car tires used for the Indy 500 are very different than snow tires, grid-connected batteries are not of one flavor. There are multiple designs, which serve multiple purposes.
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| In pumped storage hydro, water is pumped uphill at low-demand times and released into turbines to create electricity during high-demand times. Image from wikipedia |
There are at least twenty-six major types of reusable batteries. Most battery types have sub-types.
Some energy storage systems provide voltage support or frequency stability, while others provide smoothing out of micro-second disturbances, smoothing out of multi-minute disturbances and transferring blocks of day-time power to serve evening demand.
A given energy storage system might be very effective for one area of the grid and ineffective for another area. Some energy storage systems may be more effective in large-scale grid applications while others would better serve individual buildings on the customer’s side of the meter.
Grid-connected energy storage in Hawai`i includes advanced lead-acid batteries, zinc-bromide flow batteries and a variety of lithium batteries including Lithium Ion Titinate (Li4Ti5O12), Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum (NI-CO-Al) and Lithium Iron Phosphate (Li-Fe-PO4).
The U.S. Department of Energy December 2013 publication Grid Energy Storage notes that “there are four challenges related to the widespread deployment of energy storage: cost competitive energy storage technologies (including manufacturing and grid integration), validated reliability and safety, equitable regulatory environment and industry acceptance.”
Battery research is taking off. But before widespread deployment occurs, we must decide what the future energy delivery system will look like.
Some energy storage systems provide voltage support or frequency stability, while others provide smoothing out of micro-second disturbances, smoothing out of multi-minute disturbances and transferring blocks of day-time power to serve evening demand.
A given energy storage system might be very effective for one area of the grid and ineffective for another area. Some energy storage systems may be more effective in large-scale grid applications while others would better serve individual buildings on the customer’s side of the meter.
Grid-connected energy storage in Hawai`i includes advanced lead-acid batteries, zinc-bromide flow batteries and a variety of lithium batteries including Lithium Ion Titinate (Li4Ti5O12), Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum (NI-CO-Al) and Lithium Iron Phosphate (Li-Fe-PO4).
The U.S. Department of Energy December 2013 publication Grid Energy Storage notes that “there are four challenges related to the widespread deployment of energy storage: cost competitive energy storage technologies (including manufacturing and grid integration), validated reliability and safety, equitable regulatory environment and industry acceptance.”
Battery research is taking off. But before widespread deployment occurs, we must decide what the future energy delivery system will look like.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Ka`u keiki can explore the natural world during an `Imiloa program next month. Photo from Imiloa Astronomy Center |
`IMILOA ASTRONOMY CENTER IS LOOKING for keen-eyed Ka`u keiki who enjoy observing the natural world for the next Camp `IMI-Possible fall intersession program, Fun-novations of the Sky, slated for Oct, 6 – 10, 2014. Students will be immersed in a weeklong adventure of science experiments and activities relating to native birds and insects and their unique adaptations to Hawai`i.
The camp runs Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Drop off is available as early as 7:30 a.m. with pick up by 4:15 p.m. Lunch and snacks are not included, so participants should pack a snack and healthy lunch to keep up with each day of exploration.
Enrollment for the intersession program is open, but space is limited. Tuition for the program is $225 for members and $250 for nonmembers.
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available. Applications and scholarship information can be found at www.imiloahawaii.org/183. Submit completed applications and payment at front desk.
Enrollment for the intersession program is open, but space is limited. Tuition for the program is $225 for members and $250 for nonmembers.
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available. Applications and scholarship information can be found at www.imiloahawaii.org/183. Submit completed applications and payment at front desk.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
IN SPORTS, KA`U HIGH GIRLS VOLLEYBALL teams won their home matches against East Pac yesterday. Junior varsity scores were 25 – 14 and 25 – 12. Varsity won in three straight sets, 25 – 18, 25 – 12 and 25 – 17.
The teams host Konawaena Saturday at 10 a.m.
After returning from Maui where they played a game against Seabury Hall, the Trojans’ eight-man football team hosts Pahoa Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Ka`u High bowlers meet Kea`au at Kilauea Military Camp today.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Ka`u photographer Peter Anderson caught this image of last night's supermoon just before midnight, when skies cleared after being cloudy all evening. |
THE LAST OF THREE CONSECUTIVE SUPERMOONS traveled across the sky last night. According to Wikipedia, “a supermoon is the coincidence of a full moon or a new moon with the closest approach the moon makes to the Earth on its elliptical orbit, resulting in the largest apparent size of the lunar disk as seen from Earth. The technical name is the perigee-syzygy of the Earth-Moon-Sun system. The term supermoon is not astronomical, but originated in modern astrology. The association of the moon with both oceanic and crustal tides has led to claims that the supermoon phenomenon may be associated with increased risk of events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, but the evidence of such a link is widely held to be unconvincing.”
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
FOUR MORE DAYS REMAIN TO GET DISCOUNTED RATES for Ka`u Coffee Trail Run. After Saturday, Sept. 13, fees increase by $20 for the 5K, 10K and Half Marathon coming up on Saturday, Sept. 20.
Register online at race360.com/21357.
THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO KA`U SCENIC BYWAY Committee’s meeting tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Na`alehu Methodist Church. On the agenda is finishing design of the Na`alehu Park kiosk, and this is the last chance for input. For more information, email richmorrow@alohabroadband.net.
LIGHT REFRESHMENTS FOR CURRENT and new members will be served at Friends of Ka`u Libraries’ member meeting tomorrow from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House.
Call Doris Davis at 928- 0919 or Ann Fontes at 987-7448 for more information.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
