Volcano Watch: A forgotten collapse of Halemaʻumaʻu crater

Last month, a Volcano Watch article highlighted a lesser-known Mauna Loa eruption that ended May 31, 1916. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff had to make a quick turnaround a week later when Kilauea Volcano’s Halema‘uma‘u crater began to subside. A series of collapse events took place from June 5–7, 1916, and observers described it as one of the most spectacular occurrences they had ever witnessed at Kilauea.

DLNR: Grants available for planting native trees

Individuals and organizations interested in planting native trees and removing invasive weeds to help with climate resiliency are encouraged to apply to a new grant opportunity, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Buddhist Women’s Association scholarship recipients named

Manami Alspach and Kieran Maesaka were each awarded $1,000 scholarships by the Hawaii Island United Hongwanji Buddhist Women’s Association. This scholarship recognizes outstanding seniors for their academic excellence and active participation in temple, school, and community activities.

Four awarded Eagle Scout rank

Hunter Chun Fat, 20, Adam Wall, 19, Bito Gervais, 19, and Jonathan Okamura, 18, of Scouts BSA Troop 1023B were presented Scouts BSA’s highest rank of Eagle Scout at a COVID-19-delayed Court of Honor held on June 5 at Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin’s Sangha Hall, sponsor of Scouts BSA Troop 1023B.

VAC announces Kamehameha exhibit winners

The Volcano Art Center is proud to announce the award winners selected by jurors Desiree Moana Cruz and Nicole Nione from nearly 40 submissions to the exhibition ‘Honoring King Kamehameha.’

Tropical Gardening: Remember dads next Sunday and throughout the year

Fathers Day is coming up next Sunday, June 19. This day has been celebrated for over 100 years in the United States. It was founded by Sonora Smart Dodd in Spokane, Washington, at the local YMCA in 1910. Her father, William Jackson Smart was a Civil War veteran who raised his six children as a single parent. In Catholic countries of Europe it has been celebrated as St. Joseph’s Day since the Middle Ages.

Tropical Gardening: Native epiphytes and lithophytes not well represented in Hawaii

If you were to visit the humid tropics of Asia, Central and South America you would be amazed at all the plants that grow on the branches of trees and even on rocks with no soil. We do have lichens, mosses and even ferns that have evolved here to festoon rainforest and cloud forest trees, but there are few compared to the rest of the tropical world. Those growing on trees are referred to as epiphytes. Those growing on rocks are lithophytes. When you think of it, much of the vegetation growing on our young lava lands fit in to this category. For example, a young Ohi‘a and Hapu‘u forests where there is no soil can be considered terrestrial and lithophytic as well.