Volcanic eruptions and wildfires are key drivers of extreme air quality hazard. How can we bridge scientific knowledge about these phenomena to improve local volcanic air pollution (vog) forecasts in Hawaii?

May Day is Lei Day but in Hawaii nei, we celebrate flowers of all kinds all year long. Traditionally, everyone should be wearing flowers. Fragrant plumeria, pikake, tuberose, puakenikeni and orchid leis are appropriate gifts today since it is Mother’s Day weekend. Gals and even guys may wear flowers in their hair here. Of course in islands to the south like Tahiti, Samoa and Tonga, you will see islanders adorned with flowers all year long. Tropical Polynesia is well known for using flowers instead of expensive jewels for adornment. That is why folks fill their gardens with flowering shrubs and trees so that they will have an abundant supply at any time.

Earth Day (https://www.earthday.org/) was first established on April 22, 1970, to raise awareness of some of the harmful effects industrialization was having on the environment. It has since become the largest secular observance on the planet.

April showers bring May Flowers. Some in Hawaii are from Australia. When it comes to strange animals and plants, Australia is in the lead for its share of the unusual to unique. This ancient mini continent has mammals that lay eggs to the marsupials that carry their premature babies in pouches. Recent fires put many in the animal kingdom at risk and the plant kingdom as well. Some Australian ecosystems will be altered for centuries and some may never recover.

After two years of no audience, Merrie Monarch is coming back with an audience. It’s a celebration of the Hawaiian culture, the excitement of the hula halaus, the smell of fresh flowers, and the gathering of friends and family!

Mauna Loa and Kilauea are the two most active volcanoes on the Island of Hawaii, and they have overlapping eruption histories. They are located in close proximity, with their summit craters only about 34 kilometers (21 miles) apart. In fact, part of Kilauea is built on the southeast flank of Mauna Loa, which is the older of the two volcanoes.

What has the Easter Bunny and eggs have to do with Easter? Actually, the return of Jesus after the Crucifixion, has little to do with bunnies and eggs. However the concept of rebirth and resurrection was based on the pagan holiday of Eostra that celebrated new life and fertility. Early Christians connected the two events and thus we celebrate with joy rather than sorrow. The date palm is associated with the Easter Holy Week because it was the leaves of that palm used to wave as Jesus rode into Jerusalem. In many Catholic countries, the leaves are now woven to create intricate art forms used during Holy Week.