Ka`u News Briefs Monday, Oct. 12, 2015

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY scientists review earthquakes and earthquake safety in the current issue of Volcano Watch. Thursday, Oct. 15 marks the ninth anniversary of Hawai`i’s two most recent damaging earthquakes. That day also is the third annual Great Hawaii ShakeOut.

      “On Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006 at 7:07 a.m., Hawaiian Standard Time,” the article states, “a magnitude-6.7 earthquake, centered deep beneath Kiholo Bay off the northwest coast of the Island of Hawai`i, shook many residents awake. It was followed minutes later by a magnitude-6.0 earthquake centered nine kilometers (5.6 mi) off the island’s North Kohala coast.
      “Damage from these earthquakes was heaviest in the North Kona and Kohala Districts on Hawai`i Island, but impacts were felt across the state, notably with an extended power outage on O`ahu.
      “Fortunately, no lives were lost as a result of these earthquakes. Had the earthquakes occurred on a different day of the week, when many people would have been on their way to —or already at — work or school, the outcome might have been much different.
      “From a financial viewpoint, estimated damages from post-earthquake assessments amounted to at least $200 million. Though the October 2006 earthquakes were not the largest ever experienced in Hawai`i, they resulted in the greatest earthquake-related financial losses in Hawai`i’s history by far. With continued development and population growth, we can expect future earthquake losses to escalate.
      “As we learned in 2006, moderately large earthquakes can be very costly and seriously impact much, if not all, of the state.

An HVO staff member demonstrates earthquake safety. Photo from USGS

      “At a societal level, we brace against damaging earthquakes with zoning, building codes and building practices. We use experiences and observations from historical events, combined with the best available technical tools and capabilities, to avoid catastrophic structural failures resulting from earthquakes. Over the years, building codes in the United States have been modernized and upgraded to the point that the likelihood of structural collapse is now considered quite low.
      “The collective experiences from 2006 highlighted the particular vulnerability of the post-and-pier type construction that is quite common in Hawai`i’s communities. Inspections that were conducted to determine if homes were safe to reoccupy after the earthquakes led to a series of projects that focused on the seismic performance of post-and-pier construction.

      “After an inventory was compiled, a structural engineering team developed retrofit strategies and specifications for strengthening post-and-pier homes. With this engineering information, a software team created a “Retrofit Expert System” (hilo.hawaii.edu/~nathazexpert/expertsystem/flash_path_fix.php) for homeowners to develop appropriate retrofit designs and procure materials and hardware for their home seismic retrofits.

      “Home retrofits are an example of what can be done at an individual level, well in advance of an earthquake, to protect our families during strong earthquakes. It is also important to know exactly what to do when the shaking starts.
      “Emergency managers, planners and researchers now largely agree that ‘Drop! Cover! Hold On!’ is the appropriate strategy to reduce injury, or prevent death, during large, damaging earthquakes. This was borne out in 2006 by the extent of nonstructural damage, like fallen ceiling panels and fixtures and toppled cabinets and shelves, noted in the post-Kiholo Bay earthquake damage surveys.
      “Because we cannot know how strong an earthquake will be at its onset, DROP to the ground any time you feel shaking. COVER your head and neck, and take shelter under a sturdy object, like a desk or table. Then HOLD ON to your shelter until the shaking stops. If there is no nearby sturdy shelter, drop to the floor and protect your head and neck. If possible, crawl to an inside corner of the room and be ready to move, if necessary.
      “ShakeOut, first conducted in California in 2008, is now a global earthquake awareness and preparedness exercise. As of this week, almost 40 million participants are registered in worldwide events.
      “There’s still time to join the more than 240,000 Hawai`i residents now registered for the Great Hawai`i ShakeOut that takes place at 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15. In your home and workplace, identify sturdy objects that you can shelter under and then practice Drop! Cover! and Hold on! This will speed up your reaction time when the need to protect yourself during an earthquake is real.”
      See hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch.
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After turning north, Nora is forecast to again head west and remain south of Hawai`i Island. Map from NOAA

TROPICAL STORM NORA is zigzagging its way across the Central Pacific. At 11 a.m., it was 735 miles southeast of South Point. While this morning’s forecast shows a turn toward the south of Hawai`i by Friday morning, it also predicts that the storm will continue to lose strength before arriving in the vicinity of Hawai`i.
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BONE UP ON THE FASCINATING fossil history of Hawai`i for National Fossil Day. Although Hawai`i didn’t have dinosaurs, the fossils of Hawai`i are protected in its national parks and include human footprints in volcanic ash, extinct birds and trees entombed by lava flows. Fossil expert Joe Iacuzzo, of the Ka`u Learning Academy, and anthropologist Mark Sledziewski share their expertise on the fossils of Hawai`i and other incredible fossil discoveries from around the world – including dinosaurs. Bring the keiki.
      The free program, part of Hawai`i Volcanoes’ ongoing After Dark in the Park series begins at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium.
      Park entrance fees apply. Call 985-6011 for more information.

The final day of sugar in Ka`u is the subject of a film to be screened at Pahala Plantation Days. Image fro `ulu`ulu

KA`U SUGAR: A TOWN REMEMBERS is one of several films to be screened during Ka`u Plantation Days this Saturday at Pahala Plantation House. The film, which aired on PBS Hawai`i after the mill closed on March 27, 1996, chronicles the last day of work in Pahala. It features interviews with former sugar workers Eddie Andrade, Iwao Yonemitsu and many, many others.

KA`U RESIDENTS CAN TAKE A Walk into the Past tomorrow and every other Tuesday. Ka`u resident Dick Hershberger brings Hawaiian Volcano Observatory founder Thomas Jaggar to life at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. The programs begin at Kilauea Visitor Center and travel to Whitney Vault near Volcano House in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      Free; park entrance fees apply. For more information, call 985-6011.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf and kaucalendar.com/Directo4\ry2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_October2015.pdf.