Ka`u News Briefs, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014

TROPICAL STORM ANA is likely to miss or graze the Big Island, according to the 11 a.m. report from the National Weather Service. The west side of the island remains in the cone of uncertainty. Ana is not expected to become a hurricane, according to most models. A NOAA Gulfstream IV is sampling the environment today around Ana. Data from the flight should help improve subsequent model guidance, according to the Weather Service.The center of Ana reached latitude 14.3 north, longitude 150.9 west at 11 a.m with winds of 60 mph. Maximum winds in 36 hours could be 75 mph around the hurricane's core. Ana is moving toward the west at 8 mph. According to the Weather Service, Ana is expected to turn toward the west-northwest today, then turn toward the northwest tonight a with little change in forward motion. A ridge this weekend is expected to influence Ana to take a more westerly path. On the forecast track, the center of Ana will pass to the southwest of the Big Island Friday night and Saturday.
      Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 60 miles, 95 km from the center.
     Large swells produced by Ana are possible over the eastern end of the main Hawaiian island chain starting late tonight and Friday morning. These large swells will continue to spread up the island chain through the weekend. Surf produced by these swells could potentially be damaging along exposed shorelines beginning late Friday and Saturday, and persisting through the weekend in some areas.
     Heavy rainfall associated with Ana may reach the Big Island Friday afternoon. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides, the National Weather Service warns. To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Area residents sheltered in the Ka`u High band room during Iselle in August. It will be the shelter, if needed, for Ana. Photo by Ron Johnson

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK will be closed Friday in anticipation of Tropical Storm Ana's possible arrival.
     No backcountry permits will be issued after 6 p.m. today. The park’s Kahuku Unit will close the entire weekend, and International Archeology Day, previously scheduled for Saturday, is canceled and will be rescheduled at a later date.
     According to a statement from the park, if it is safe, the park and visitor centers will reopen at noon on Saturday, October 18.
     “Our first priority is to keep our visitors, staff, and volunteers safe,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. “We will reassess Saturday, and will reopen by noon as long as it is safe,” she said. Volcano House and Kīlauea Military Camp will remain open to registered guests.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

VOLCANO ART CENTER'S ANNUAL MEETING has been postponed to Sunday, Oct. 26 at 3 p.m. The meeting had been set for this Saturday, but changed due to the uncertainty of the possible arrival of Tropical Storm Ana. The general membership meeting will be held at the Niaulani Campus on Old Volcano Hwy.

ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS will be closed on Friday on the Big Island, in anticipation of any change in direction of Tropical Storm Ana. All interscholastic competition and the  Pop Warner playoffs that were scheduled for Pahala have been cancelled. The Ka`u High School disaster shelter is still under construction and the band room has been named as the shelter should the storm come here. To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ANA arriving as a tropical storm or hurricane, Gov. Neil Abercrombie yesterday signed an emergency proclamation, which allows the state to draw upon funds for protective measures. It also allows easier access to emergency resources at the state and federal levels, along with the suspension of certain laws as needed for emergency purposes.
     The disaster emergency relief period for the proclamation continues through Oct. 24.
     Recommended preparedness actions may be found on the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency website at scd.hawaii.gov. Residents are also encouraged to enroll in local notification systems and monitor local radio and television broadcasts.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

As some people move away from Pahoa, fearing the lava flow would cut them off from the rest of the island, the state warns against displacing tenants and raising rents to accommodate new renters coming out of Puna. Photo by Julia Neal

TERMINATING LEASES IN ORDER TO RAISE RENTS during the housing shortage caused by people moving out of Puna in anticipation of the approaching lava flow from Kilauea volcano is illegal. Office of Consumer Protection advises Hawai`i Island residents that the state’s emergency proclamation for Hawai`i Island remains in effect, including a ban on terminating residential rentals. This includes all rental housing in Ka`u where some Puna people have taken up temporary residence.
      OCP has received reports from both landlords and tenants that landlords may be canceling month-to-month rentals in order to rent their units at a higher rate to new tenants who are fleeing areas in the path of the oncoming lava in search of alternate housing.
      The emergency proclamation was issued on Sept. 5 and was extended to Dec. 1 under the supplemental proclamation issued on Sept. 22. To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
      OCP reminds Hawai`i Island residential landlords that they may not terminate an existing rental agreement as long as the emergency proclamation remains in effect. The ban applies unless the tenant commits a material breach of a rental agreement or lease, or if the unit is unfit for occupancy as defined in Act 111, Session Laws of Hawai`i 2014.

Pahoa displays a mix of people, some seeking to move their businesses and homes out of Puna and others excited to welcome the future. Photo by Julia Neal

      “Big Island residents should take note of these and other important protections that remain in effect during the governor’s emergency proclamation. We are reminding landlords to comply with these laws,” said OCP’s Executive Director Bruce B. Kim. “Violations could result in serious penalties and fines of up to $10,000 per day per violation.”
      The ban does not extend a fixed-term lease that expires during the ban except when periodic tenancy for a residential dwelling unit may be terminated upon 45-days written notice if the dwelling unit is sold to a bona fide purchaser for value or the landlord or immediate family member will occupy the residential dwelling unit.
      No rent increases on residential dwelling units are allowed during the emergency proclamation unless the increases were already included in a written instrument that was signed by the tenant prior to the date of the emergency proclamation. However, a landlord may pass on additional operating expenses incurred by the landlord because of the emergency or disaster provided the landlord can document those expenses.
     For more information, call the Hawai`i Residential Landlord-Tenant Hotline at 974-4000, ext. 62634#.

The approaching lava flow has led some residents to seek housing outside of Puna  and some landlords are illegally attempting to maximize their income by evicting  tenants in favor of the Puna refugees. Photo from Big Island Video News

     Those who believe they are victims of a violation, you may obtain information about filing a complaint with OCP by calling the OCP office in Hilo at 933-0910, by calling the Consumer Resource Center in Honolulu at 587-4272 or toll-free from the Big Island at 947-4000, ext. 74272#, or by going to the OCP website at http://cca.hawaii.gov/ocp/consumer-complaint. To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I CIVIL DEFENSE released a statement this morning saying that the lava flow front appears to have stalled and has not advanced since yesterday. The flow front remains approximately 0.6 miles from the Apa’a Street area near the Pahoa Transfer Station. All burning activity is limited to the vegetation that is in direct contact with the flow and there is no brush fire threat at this time. Smoke conditions were light to moderate this morning with light winds out of the northeast. See regular updates on the lava flow at www.bigislandvideonews.com.
     Current flow activity does not pose an immediate threat to area communities and no evacuation is needed at this time. Area residents will be given adequate notice to safely evacuate should that be necessary.
     The public is reminded that the flow is not visible and cannot be accessed from any public areas. Access to the Kaohe Homesteads subdivision will remain restricted to area residents only. To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.