Ka'u News Briefs Oct. 24, 2011

Halema'uma'u vent produces much of the vog in Ka'u. Photo by M. Poland USGS/HVO

PREDICTING VOG – the time, location and intensity of vog in Ka`u – is available on the Internet everyday. The predictions are produced in connection with a study supported by the University of Hawai`i’s Department of Meteorology, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology; USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and NOAA’s Air Resources Laboratory. The study has been going for more than a year, and many adjustments have been made to increase its accuracy.

The meteogram shows the prediction of the vog
and the actual observation.

      The website explains: Vog is primarily a mixture of sulfur dioxide - SO2 gas - and sulfate SO4 - aerosol. Invisible SO2 reacts with oxygen and moisture in the air to produce the visible SO4 aerosol. SO2 is expected to be the main problem in areas near the vent, including Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, Volcano Village, Pahala, Na`alehu and Hawaiian Ocean View. SO4 aerosol is expected to be the main problem at locations far from the vent like Kona and Kohala.
      Pahala and Ocean View have sensors for both SO2 and SO4, while Kilauea Visitor Center and Jaggar Museum have sensors only for SO2, the sensor map shows. Much like a weather bureau, the VMAP staff provides vog forecast discussions and current conditions with the parts per million of SO2, the air quality and the trend. The website for VMAP is http://mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/vmap/index.cgi.

A microwave antennae goes together to beam radio to a tower
between Pahala and Na'alehu. Photo by Julia Neal

KAHU PUBLIC RADIO, 91.7FM expanded its reach during the last week and now has a strong signal from its base in Pahala to Na`alehu, from Wai`ohinu to Kahuku Ranch, Discovery Harbour, Green Sands, and Kalae. Going east, it can now be heard into Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and Volcano Village.
      General manager Wendell Ka`ehu`a`ea said two boosters will be installed over the next few months, first at South Point to reach from Ocean View to Miloli`i, and second toward Volcano to reach Mountain View.
      The new signal is possible with a microwave antenna beaming the sound to a Crown communications tower between Pahala and Na`alehu. Involved were Pacific Communications in Kona, Ed Hiroyama Electric, radio engineer Don Mussell from Kaua`i Public Radio and NPR, and local contractor Mike Munnerlyn. Grants totaling $76,000 from the state and county Civil Defense offices are paying for the improvements. Supporters of the station include the Edmund C. Olson Trust, Bobby Tucker, Pahala Plantation Cottages and many individual donors in the community.

A NEW COUNTY COUNCIL REDISTRICTING MAP will be released to the public today. Descriptions of the map reveal that it would peel off Ka`u from Volcano. Voters living from the northern Ka`u Desert to Keauhou Resort would be in one County Council district. All of the golf club community and Volcano Village would be in the same council district as Puna. The new district boundaries could pit current Ka`u County Council member Brittany Smart against Brenda Ford in a re-election contest, should they both decide to run. Smart lives in Discovery Harbour, and Ford lives in Kona, both within the proposed boundary lines.
      The plan proposes two Hilo districts, two Puna districts, two Kona districts, a Kohala and Hamakua district.
      The map was drawn after meetings and public hearings. Few people attended the public hearing recently held in Na`alehu. The two who testified were from Volcano. While one said Volcano should be part of Ka`u, the other said Volcano belongs in the same district as Puna.
      More redistricting meetings will be held Nov. 3 and Nov. 10 in Hilo, but the commission is nearly finished with its mapping, which is required every ten years after the federal government conducts the census, which counts who lives where on the island.

KA`U HIGH GIRLS VOLLEYBALL needs help to go to the state finals on O`ahu this Wednesday. Air fares and other expenses have soared. The Trojans beat Kohala, 25-14, 25-18 and 25-11 on Saturday to come in third in Division II. Businesses or individuals wanting to donate can call coach Elijah Navarro at 430-9461.

Nani Kahuku 'Aina is across Hwy 11 from
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

SEN. GIL KAHELE holds a public forum at Pahala Community Center on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Kahele said he will listen to concerns of constituents who can help him prepare for the upcoming 27th Hawai`i Legislature which begins in January. He will report on the 26th legislative session and address specific issues. Anyone can call 808-586-6760 or email senkahele@capitol.hawaii.gov ahead of the meeting with issues or questions for the forum.
     In recent forums, Kahele has urged constituents to read the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Nani Kahuku `Aina resort development. He said he is neutral toward the project and wants the process to take its course. However, he encouraged local residents to give their pro or con views on the proposed reclassification and general plan amendment on the 16,000-acre oceanfront parcel.

THE KA`U RESOURCE AND DISTANCE LEARNING CENTER, across from Pahala Library, hosts a community talk story tomorrow from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Participants will learn about the Hawai`i Island Beacon Community and Healthy Eating and Active Living grants. HIBC aims to improve health and healthcare on Hawai`i Island by using health information technology to increase healthcare quality, coordination and cost efficiency; remove barriers and enable residents to take a more active role in their health.
      HIBC has allocated $300,000 to be awarded to organizations whose projects or initiatives support efforts to make positive changes in healthy eating habits, physical activity or tobacco use prevention and awareness for Hawai`i Island residents. Grant award amounts will range from $3,000 to $20,000 per project.
     To register, contact Mari Horike at 933-8566 or horike@hibeacon.org.

NONA WILSON, TI CHUN AND WES AWANA perform at After Dark in the Park tomorrow evening. Billed as Friends and Neighbors, the trio has played at many community events. The concert begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Park entrance fees apply.

THE DEADLINE TO SIGN UP for listings and ads in The Directory 2012 is Monday, Oct. 31 -- one week from today. Published by the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce, The Directory has information about local businesses, community organizations, important phone numbers, an events calendar, maps of Ka`u, and many photographs as well as art from winners of the latest cover art contest.
      For an application, visit kauchamber.org or call Ron at 928-6471.