Volcano Watch: The refilling of Halemaʻumaʻu crater
Halema‘uma‘u crater has undergone repeated changes during the past two centuries. Prior to 1924, the size and shape of the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake changed frequently and lava commonly spilled out across the floor of Kilauea caldera.
Tropical Gardening: Poinsettias a must for holiday color
Although we have been seeing Christmas decorations in some stores, the Christmas holidays don’t seem real until our Thanksgiving leftovers are thoroughly digested.
Volcano Village Art Hui tour returns
The Volcano Village Artists Hui Annual Studio Tour and Sale is back, although in a slightly modified form. Over Thanksgiving weekend, three studio sites will be open for regular hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday-Sunday.
Let’s Talk Food: Mushrooms for a healthier body
My grandson Quentin loves math and science and one of his favorite books is “Mushrooms of Hawaii” by Don E. Hemmes Ph.D., and Dennis E Desjardin, Ph.D. Because of that interest in mushrooms, he was very excited to eat them. We made a super easy creamy mushroom pasta, which everyone enjoyed.
Celebrating 30 years of Volcano Watch
It’s hard to believe that the “Volcano Watch” weekly article and volcano activity update started 30 years ago. On Nov. 3, 1991, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory “Volcano Watch” had its debut in the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, beginning a long and fruitful partnership.
Tropical Gardening: Have a safe Thanksgiving
COVID-19 cases are on the increase again in many parts of America and the world as we go in to the holiday season so it is important to be vigilant. Just last week we had a big outbreak on Kauai due to a church gathering. Dozens of folks were exposed. When we gather for Thanksgiving make sure everyone is vaccinated to protect the keiki and kupuna. Avoiding large gatherings will be necessary to keep our friends and families healthy and alive.
Hawaii International Film Festival returns to Palace Theater Thursday
The Hawaii International Film Festival returns to the big screen at the historic Palace Theater on Thursday, with a weekend full of inspiring films from around the world.
Let’s Talk Food: Thanksgiving is next week
As in the last two years, Thanksgiving has taken on a very different appearance from the past. It was one of my favorite holidays, with over 50 people gathered in our enclosed patio, enjoying the food and each other’s company. This year, Thanksgiving may be similar to the past two years, but with more of us getting vaccinated, many of us with our third booster shot, it seems that we can start to celebrate and we can be a bit relaxed.
Volcano Watch: Tracking magma movement using olivine crystal “clocks”
Olivine crystals — the beautiful green mineral common in Hawaiian lavas — record when and where magmas move inside Hawaiian volcanoes before they erupt. We can actually use these little crystals like clocks to better understand the magmatic events leading to the December 2020 and September 2021 summit eruptions at Kilauea.
Tropical Gardening: East Hawaii’s Master Gardeners create online plant sale
According to Master Gardener Mark Neider, the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources East Hawaii Master Gardeners have created a new way to access some interesting plants without a lot of leg work. Through the program you may now order online. For details, contact the helpline from 9 a.m.-noon at 808-969-8203. Also, to get involved in the Master Gardener program, you may contact Russell Galanti, Master Gardener Coordinator at the Komohana Ag Complex in Hilo. The number is 808-746-0910 or email rgalanti@hawaii.edu.
Let’s Talk Food: Chef’s dinner featuring ta‘ape
Conservation International Hawaii, a local organization aimed at restoring Hawaii’s waters and promoting sustainable seafood, has partnered with Chef Hui to educate and encourage the community to eat ta‘ape, an invasive bluestripe snapper. It is rated as “Best Choice” by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program, the global leader in the sustainable seafood movement that helps consumers and businesses make choices that contribute to a healthier ocean
Volcano Watch: Pavlof — a volcano without typical signs of unrest?
Volcanoes commonly give us clues that they are going to erupt. Before an eruption, gas, magma and other fluids move below the surface of a volcano and typically cause earthquakes. This movement can also create a signal called volcanic tremor, which can often be observed on local seismometers. Seismometers, which measure movement of the ground, are important tools for monitoring volcanic activity.
Tropical Gardening: Cooling weather ideal for growing roses
In Hawaii, growing roses is always a rewarding challenge to the gardener. Roses are cool climate plants that do best at elevations of 1,000 feet or more. At lower elevations, insects and disease problems are aggravated. At best, roses require specific care or they will not do well.
Foes of death penalty offer spiritual support at executions
NEW YORK — After Sister Barbara Battista, a Roman Catholic nun staunchly opposed to the death penalty, agreed to accompany a condemned man at his execution in federal prison, she wondered doubtfully, “Am I just part of this whole killing machine?”
Kona Coffee Cultural Festival celebrates 50 years: Virtual, in-person events start today
Hawaii’s oldest food festival will be celebrating 50 years with both virtual and in-person events starting today.
Let’s Talk Food: Sweet potato research at the University of Hawaii at Manoa
Sweet potatoes are one of the most important agricultural crops in Hawaii at the present time as it was in ancient Hawaii. The earliest archaeological record of sweet potato dates back to the fourteenth century C.E. in the Kohala Field System.
Volcano Watch: How high is that lava fountain?
The rapid onset of the current summit eruption sent USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field crews running to grab their gear and head for the rim of Halema‘uma‘u on the afternoon of Sept. 29. The onset of an eruption is frequently the most dynamic and vigorous period, requiring a quick evaluation of potential hazards.
Tropical Gardening: Cool, wet weather ideal for many diseases
Halloween brings to mind all kinds of creepy crawlies and you may find some in your home and garden as the weather cools.
Palace presents 11th annual screening of ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’
The original, the outrageous, ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ returns to the Palace Theater big screen on Sunday, Halloween night. A full evening of festivities round out the screening event including pre-show trick-or-treating, costume contest, ‘The Time Warp’ dance-along and, of course, audience participation kits.
Let’s Talk Food: Pan de Los Muertos
Pan de los muerto, which is Mexican for “bread of the dead” is traditionally baked in Mexico during the weeks leading up to Dia de Muertos or the Day of the Dead, celebrated on Nov. 2 this year.
