Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015

Segmented mirror blanks for the Thirty Meter Telescope are produced in Tokyo. See story below. Photo from TMT

HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH is hopeful that the Big Island’s current outbreak of dengue fever will be brought under control. State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park told Colin M. Stewart, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald, that if residents work together to clear out mosquito populations, report cases to DOH and take precautions such as using repellent that contains DEET and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, they can help keep the disease from spreading.

Dr. Sarah Park

Park also asked the public to help prevent mosquitoes from breeding and multiplying. “If you see an abandoned tire on the side of the road, do the Good Samaritan thing and up-end it so you don’t encourage mosquitoes to breed,” she said to Stewart. She also recommended removing water-holding plants such as bromeliads and reporting large areas of standing water.
DOH has confirmed 10 cases of the disease in areas of East and West Hawai`i.
“At this point, we’re seeing it particularly in areas south of Kona, in Ho`okena and Honaunau,” Park told Stewart. “But it’s not just at one point or area. … Unfortunately, those are not the only areas. Your entire island is at risk.”

See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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PRODUCTION ON GLASS SEGMENTS that will make up Thirty Meter Telescope’s primary mirror is underway in Japan, as significant progress continues being made on the telescope’s manufacturing work by many participating nations. 

Over 100 of the 574 segmented mirror blanks needed for TMT’s primary mirror have already been produced in Japan, with fifty of those transported to a Canon factory in Utsunomiya, about 70 miles outside Tokyo, for surface polishing. Canon, Inc. and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan have established a polishing process for the individual mirrors. Coordinated research and development is underway with China, India and the United States to conduct additional polishing work.

A prototype of 492 individual TMT segmented mirrors. Photo from TMT

“Japan is proud to be part of this ongoing effort in building TMT,” said Masanori Iye, vice-chair of the TMT International Observatory Governing Board and Professor Emeritus of National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. “This is an example of how people working cooperatively and sharing ideas can create positive results.”  TMT’s primary mirror will consist of 492 hexagonal segmented mirrors, with an additional 82 spare segments.
When in operation, TMT’s primary mirror is expected to have 156 times the light-gathering power and 13 times the resolving power of the Hubble Space Telescope.
TMT is expected to deliver sharper and deeper images than existing telescopes both on the ground and in space. According to TMT, this will allow scientists to find possible habitable planets around other stars and determine how earlier galaxies were formed.

Hundreds of astronomers, engineers and technicians from around the world continue to design and manufacture telescope parts for TMT.

“Japan’s mirror segment production is one of many important production assignments taking place,” said Henry Yang, Chair of the TMT International Observatory Board. “With work currently underway in five different regions, the TMT project is truly and literally a global effort.”

The mummy wrap relay was popular at Pahala
Library's Halloween Bash. Photos from
Debbie Wong Yuen

For more information about the TMT project, see tmt.org or www.facebook.com/TMTHawaii, or follow @TMTHawaii.
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OVER 40 CHILDREN AND ADULTS attended Pahala Public & School Library’s first Halloween Bash on Friday. While Halloween movies were being shown, children participated in activities to win treats and had fun playing the Spider Race. The highlight of the event was making fun Halloween snacks: banana ghosts, mandarin orange pumpkins, bat cupcakes, marshmallow ghosts and more. The kids had a blast with the mummy wrap relay that concluded the fun.

Lisa Dacalio won the food decorating contest.

Keiki make Halloween snacks.

“We were happy with the extra helping hands from members of the Friends of the Ka`u Library and Lorilee Lorenzo doing a volunteer service project for school,” manager Debbie Wong Yuen said. “We all had a blast giving the keiki of Ka`u a fun, safe Halloween activity.”
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GOV. DAVID IGE WILL BE TRAVELING to Seoul, South Korea and Tokyo, Japan from today through November 12.
The South Korean government invited Gov. and Dawn Amano-Ige to participate in various informational briefings and events on their first visit to the country. The governor will meet with various Korean ministries and officials to promote Korea-Hawai`i relationships, cooperation and economic development.
Gov. and Mrs. Ige will visit the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning and the Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station to explore potential for renewable energy cooperation. They are also scheduled to visit Seoul National University, Inha University, the Korea Tourism Organization and Incheon International Airport Corp. to explore the potential for exchanges in education, culture and tourism.
In Japan, the governor will attend the U.S.- Japan Council’s 2015 Annual Conference which convenes each fall to explore cutting-edge topics that provide opportunities for growth and cooperation between the United States and Japan. This year, the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, the conference will highlight the importance of the enduring partnership of our two countries.
The cost of the Korean portion of the trip is $8,286.71. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea is covering the cost of the trip for Gov. Ige, Mrs. Ige and Protocol Officer Rob Lee, who is accompanying the governor on this portion of the trip.
The governor’s Chief of Staff Mike McCartney will accompany Gov. Ige on the Japan portion of the trip, which will cost approximately $5,000.34 and will be covered by the state. Mrs. Ige will accompany Gov. Ige on this portion of the trip at her own expense.
Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui will serve as acting governor while Gov. Ige is out of the state.
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Sen. Brian Schatz

A GROUP OF U.S. SENATORS including Sen. Brian Schatz today released a report from the Government Accountability Office evaluating the ability of federal agencies to address public health risks of climate change. The report found that while federal agencies are planning for and taking steps to address the risks, more work must be done to communicate them to communities across the nation and to bolster research to further understand how climate change will impact health.  

“The effects of climate change are already being felt in Hawai`i and across the country,” Schatz said. “Extreme weather not only threatens the health of our environment, it threatens the health of every American. This new report underscores the challenges federal agencies face when combating the growing public health risks posed by climate change. While the GAO report makes recommendations on how we can prepare for current and anticipated health effects caused by climate change, we must also do more to mitigate its impacts and lead the world in helping solve this great challenge.”

THE BEAUTY OF KA`U continues at CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union in Na`alehu. Hours for public viewing and voting at the art show are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Thursday. See ad below for more information.

DISCOVERY HARBOUR COMMUNITY Association holds a Holiday Bazaar Fundraiser this Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Table rent is $10 per day or $15 for both in advance. Set up at 8 a.m. inside or out on first come, first to choose basis.

Jane Pettigrew Photo from VA

Pit ham and beef sandwiches will be on sale Saturday.
To sign up for a table and for more information, call Dina Shisler at 410-935-8087.

THE WORLD’S LESS WELL-KNOWN Tea Growing Regions is the topic of tea expert Jane Pettigrew’s talk during this Saturday’s Community Tea-in, when worldwide tea professionals gather with enthusiasts at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village.

As the passion for nurturing baby tea plants and producing all the different categories of tea increases around the world, this talk takes participants on a journey from the new Scottish growers in the northernmost parts of the United Kingdom to the French tea club in Nantes, the Japanese-style tea garden on Monte Verita in the Swiss Alps, into Bhutan in the Himalayas and on to South America, Australia and New Zealand and a few unusual African tea estates.
Preregistration fee before 12 p.m. on Friday is $20 per person and $18 for VAC and Hawai`i Tea Society members. Tickets may also be purchased at the door at $25 per person, $20 for active VAC and Hawai`i Tea Society Members.
See volcanoartcenter.org.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

FOR AFFORDABLE COMPUTER HELP, call John Derry at 936-1872.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for Retail Sales Associate: Full-Time, Competitive Wages, Medical & Dental Plans. Apply at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Call 928-0550 for an appointment.