1939
1939
The geology and water resources of the Mud Lake region, Idaho, recently were described by Harold T. Stearns, geologist in charge of Hawaiian groundwater investigations, in collaboration with L.L. Bryan and Lynn Grandall in water-supply paper 818, published by the Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior. The investigation was made to determine the cause of the sudden increase in the size of the lake from an intermittent pond of a few hundred acres to a large lake and swampy area aggregating 27,520 acres, and the best way of conserving and using this water.
Many sections of the Mud Lake plain are bare lava deserts relieved by rough volcanic domes, drifting sand dunes 75 feet high and rounded cinder cones. This desolate landscape might be compared to the Ka‘u desert on Kilauea, but the great swamps and lakes have no counterpart in Hawaii.
1964
The Akamine brothers, operators of Hilo Food Town Super Market, acquired the United Protestant Church of Hilo property fronting Kinoole, Haili and Ululani streets and are working on plans for an “over $1 million” shopping center complex, according to an announcement made by Hiroshi Akamine, manager. Akamine said the firm acquired the 74,000-plus-square-foot property from the church in fee recently. Together with parcels the firm has under lease, total land area available for the new development comes to more than 3 acres, he said. The 3 acres run from the Mamo Street intersection along Kinoole Street to Haili Street, mauka along Haili Street to Ululani Street, and along Ululani Street for about 200 feet. Neither Akamine nor the sellers are disclosing the purchase price. Akamine said the United Protestant Church will continue at its present site until it rebuilds elsewhere. Once the church vacates the building, it and other buildings on the property will be demolished and construction for the new shopping complex will start, he said.
Preliminary plans for the new building call for a two-story structure, with he Hilo Food Town Super Market and other commercial shops occupying the ground floors and professional and business offices occupying the second floor, according to Akamine. The present Hilo Food Town building will be remodeled and leased to commercial shops, he said. The Akamines last year planned enlarging the present building after they obtained a lease from the Kutsunai Estate property on Kinoole Street. They changed their plans when negotiations for the acquisition of the adjacent church property were started.
1989
The moon plunges into the Earth’s shadow tonight, creating the first total lunar eclipse visible in North America since 1982, and thousands of telescopes are awaiting a celestial show of light and color. The total eclipse will be visible in East Hawaii for seven minutes, according to Walter Steiger of the isle’s Caltech Submillimeter Observatory. Steiger said the total eclipse will last from 6:49-6:56 p.m. in East Hawaii. The first 2 1/2 hours of the eclipse will not be visible here until 6:49, when the moon rises. A partial eclipse will continue until 7:53. He said best viewing would be from higher locations, and a clear horizon was essential for good viewing. Cloudy skies could spoil eclipse-viewing plans at any point.
The last full lunar eclipse visible over North America was in December 1982, and the next one will not occur until December 1992. If the skies are clear, East Coast residents will get the best view. The moon will be overhead with twilight ending just as the eclipse begins.
This Day in History is compiled by Brandon Haleamau for the Tribune-Herald using newspaper archives. Whenever possible, the news accounts provided in this column were taken verbatim from the newspaper.