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Hot in Hawaii: Why the Big Island volcanoes should be on your must see list

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Hot in Hawaii: Why the Big Island volcanoes should be on your must see list


Guests can stand up near the motion at Hawaii Volcanoes Nationwide Park. Picture / 123rf

Headed to stunning Hawaii? Alongside the seashores and night cocktails, do not miss the unbelievable lava fields of the Large Island, writes Sue Wallace.

Large Island, also referred to as Hawaii Island, is a land of contrasts. The island’s capital, Hilo, on the windward east aspect is the rainiest metropolis within the US, usually receiving an annual drenching of 3984mm. Over in Kailua-Kona city – on the alternative aspect, it is often dry and sunny.

“Deliver your umbrella and raincoat, individuals who dwell listed below are used to the rain and it is simply part of life,” says our information, Jim, as we head off on a four-hour tour to find the highlights of Hilo.

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Lush greenery sits alongside stark lava fields on the vast island of contrasts. Photo / 123rf
Lush greenery sits alongside stark lava fields on the huge island of contrasts. Picture / 123rf

The Land of Frozen Hearth tour consists of driving by Hilo’s enchanting, wooded backroads the place timber kind a fairly cover, and visiting the volcanic jap rift zone with tangled charcoal-coloured lava fields and black sandy seashores.

Hilo hit the headlines in 2018 when volcanic eruptions destroyed 700 properties.

“Earthquakes induced cracks within the roads and there have been lava fountains spewing 91m into the sky and practically 2000 residents have been evacuated,” Jim says.

“This wonderful drive evaporated Inexperienced Lake, the most important, pure freshwater lake in Hawaii and is only one instance of the mass destruction from the Kilauea Volcano on the close by Hawaii Volcanoes Nationwide Park.”

The energetic defend volcano alongside the southeastern shore that emerged above sea stage about 100,000 years in the past, is estimated to be between 210,000 and 280,000 years outdated.

A cease at Isaac Hale Seaside Park and Pohoiki Seaside reveals a black-sand seashore that contrasts with turquoise seas and blue skies and, simply as Jim predicted, it rains. The black seashore was created by Kilauea’s lava flows and is an unbelievable sight,

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Lava stopped on the fringe of the parking zone and the complete cove and boat ramp was stuffed in with black sand.

As you have a look at the intensive desolate lava fields, you may spot small inexperienced shrubs once in a while – all a part of mom nature and her wonders.

Steaming craters are a mesmerising sight on the Big Island. Photo / 123rf
Steaming craters are a mesmerising sight on the Large Island. Picture / 123rf

On our method again we cease on the historic Star of the Sea Painted Church in Kalapana. It was in-built 1927-1928 by Belgian Catholic missionary priest Father Evarist Gielen, who helped take care of leprosy sufferers.

He painted the higher part of the church inside, which was moved in 1990, forward of an advancing lava circulate.

The 85-year-old picket church is listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations with frescos and stained glass adorning the inside, plus a couple of curious wandering chooks.

The encircling backyard options magnificent brightly colored tropical flowers, together with hibiscus and frangipani.

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The Large Island is residence to the Hawaii Volcanoes Nationwide Park, the place you may see the Halemaumau crater, a pit crater throughout the a lot bigger Kilauea caldera on the summit of the Kilauea volcano. Steam coming from cracks and fissures and infrequently red-hot lava can usually be seen, creating an eerie panorama.

Glowing lava inside the Kilauea Caldera. Photo / 123rf
Glowing lava contained in the Kilauea Caldera. Picture / 123rf

In accordance with Hawaiian tradition, the round crater is residence to Pele, goddess of fireplace and volcanoes.

The city of Pahoa, a former booming plantation city is now a hippie-centric city, which was practically destroyed following lava flows. There is a path to a petrified forest and a deep fissure.

Throughout the island at Kailua-Kona, the place sunshine reigns, the world is understood for its espresso. It accounts for nearly half the espresso grown in Hawaii and has an enormous following marked by the annual Kona Espresso Pageant in November.

This 46-year-old custom celebrates and promotes the heritage and tradition behind Kona’s well-known espresso on the Kona Espresso Belt alongside the western coast of the island, which stretches for 48km.

What’s it like? Anticipate a powerful style and a heavenly odor that can have espresso lovers swooning.

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Large Island is the youngest and largest island within the Hawaiian chain and practically twice as massive as all different Hawaiian Islands mixed – therefore its identify.

It is large by identify and massive on gorgeous surroundings and landscapes, and as Jim, our information, says – ‘It is obtained all of it.”

For extra on Hawaii, see gohawaii.com



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Hawaii

Hilton Hawaiian Hotel workers end 40-day strike

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Hilton Hawaiian Hotel workers end 40-day strike


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Over 1,800 Hilton Hawaiian Hotel workers are expected to return to work tomorrow at 4 a.m. after they voted to end their strike on Nov. 4.

Workers at the hotel voted to ratify their new contract on ending a 40-day strike that began on Sept. 24.

The union says more than 3,200 Local 5 members at seven other hotels are still working without a contract and could strike at any time.

“Hawaiian Village have led all of us to an important & historic victory that puts hospitality workers and this community one step closer to making ‘one job enough’ a reality,” said Cade Watanabe, Financial Secretary-Treasurer.

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“But our campaign continues until we have achieved settlements with Hyatt, Kyo-ya & Marriott – where more than 3,200 hotel workers have also authorized additional strikes if necessary.”

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Here’s how you can map internet speeds across Hawaii

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Here’s how you can map internet speeds across Hawaii


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke is encouraging Hawaii residents to participate in a program to help expand access to affordable high speed internet across the state.

The “Digital Detectives” campaign started on Oct. 22 and ends Nov. 4.

The initiative also focuses on young people participating in the process.

“We’re excited to launch Digital Detectives, an initiative that allows everyone in Hawaii to make a difference and contribute to digital equity across our state,” said Luke.

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“By working together, we can create a comprehensive, statewide map of internet speeds that will help to prioritize resources and improve connectivity for under served areas. Internet access is a necessity for education, healthcare, business, and staying connected — and this initiative will help to ensure that all Hawaii communities have access to high-speed internet.”

The campaign is part of Connect Kakou initiative to expand access across the islands.

To learn more and take the 30 second speed test, click here.



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Coast Guard members, civilians honored for Lahaina heroism

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Coast Guard members, civilians honored for Lahaina heroism


Both national and international organizations are recognizing Coast Guard and civilian mariners who responded to the deadly 2023 Lahaina fire for heroism at sea.

The International Maritime Organization, the United Nations agency that regulates and oversees transportation on the sea, last month presented five Coast Guard responders and four good Samaritans with letters of commendation for bravery. One of them, Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Marzilli, also was selected by the USO as its Service Member of the Year.

The awards were presented at an Oct. 18 ceremony at the J. Walter Cameron Center in Wailuku. During the ceremony the Coast Guard also honored 26 local boat captains and crew members who responded aboard the vessels Trilogy II, Marjorie Ann, Reef Explorer and Ali‘i Nui and an Expeditions dinghy with letters of appreciation. Coast Guard Lt. Dylan McCall received a commendation medal for his service during the incident.

Marzilli earlier this year received the Coast Guard Medal, the service’s highest award for peacetime bravery, for his actions on Aug. 8, 2023.

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“For awhile it was kind of like a few people just getting the recognition,” Marzilli told the Honolulu Star-­Advertiser. “But I’m glad that they’re finally getting more people the recognition that they deserve for their actions as well, not just mine.”

Among the other recipients of recognition were Crissy Lovitt and her wife Emma Nelson, who along with fellow Maui resident Lashawna Garnier commandeered the Expeditions dinghy to join other civilian crews assisting personnel from Coast Guard Station Maui to save Lahaina residents who fled into the water to escape the flames that engulfed the town.

“It’s a small-town community, and the odds were that we knew people in there — and we did know people in there,” Lovitt said. “So it felt good to just know that we stepped forward to help the people in our community.”

Intense winds on Aug. 8, 2023, not only spread the flames more quickly than normal, they also made it too dangerous for helicopters to fly.

As the blaze consumed Lahaina, the Coast Guard received requests for help. But as Coast Guard Sector Honolulu’s commanding officer Capt. Aja Kirksey rallied her team, she soon realized she wasn’t able to dispatch air support and most of her cutters were more than eight hours away from the unfolding disaster. Instead, the Coast Guard would have to rely on small Maui-based crews and the handful of small boats they had.

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The service put out a call asking for any mariners who were able to assist. Those who answered the call joined Coast Guard personnel as they navigated heavy wind, thick smoke and floating debris in Lahaina Harbor, coordinated by radio to look for survivors and fish them out of the water, and rescued people who were stranded along the shore.

Marzilli and Travis DeWater, a rescue swimmer on board the Trilogy II, went into the water themselves with surfboards, paddling toward the harbor. In the announcement of the awards, the International Maritime Organization described how the pair, with the help of the Expeditions dinghy, “directly contributed to the safety and survival of more than 40 people trapped by the fire.”

Overall, the makeshift flotilla of rescuers saved 17 people in the harbor and rescued 40 survivors along the shore.

Kirksey wrote in her letter to Lovitt, “I cannot express the immense admiration and appreciation my team and I felt when you answered the call to help us save lives amidst treacherous conditions. You fearlessly navigated through dense smoke and intense flames to aid our response efforts … . The decision to put yourself in harm’s way, it was not just a contribution to our mission, it was a lifeline for those who had lost everything.”

Lovitt and Nelson, who were getting ready to start running whale-watching tours, were forced to commandeer the Expeditions vessel because their own boats had been destroyed.

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“We basically had just started our business and lost it all,” Lovitt said.

But with the help of friends, family and donations from those who heard their story, they’ve gradually managed to buy new boats and rebuild their business.

“We’ve been able to use what equipment that we have been able to purchase, and we picked up a job in Lahaina where we cleaned up the shoreline,” she explained. “That was a really big job. And, you know, it’s kind of just full circle that we had nothing, we lost everything, and then we were able to acquire more equipment, which was in turn used to help clean up Lahaina.”

When the rescuers reunited last month in Wailuku to receive their awards and recognition, Marzilli said it was a strange experience. They knew one another mostly as voices over the radio or shouted between boats through the smoke and darkness. They knew names and they knew boats, but few of them knew the faces of the others who were there that day.

“We kind of bonded. Immediate bonds were made between people, but when we were done with the events, none of us recognized one another,” Marzilli said.“We were all in the room there … and none of us were speaking to one another until we all got called up … it was such a surreal moment. If we had passed on the street, we wouldn’t have recognized one another, even though we contributed to such an amazing event in history with these people.”

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Marzilli is no longer assigned to Coast Guard Station Maui. He’s now assigned to the Harriet Lane, the Coast Guard’s new Honolulu-based “Indo-Pacific Support Cutter” devoted to operations in Oceania. This summer he deployed with the Lane on an extended patrol around the region, working with authorities in island nations to combat illegal fishing.

He said he loves getting to learn about cultures across the islands, but added that “Maui has a special place in my heart. I really came to love that island and it’s a place I see as a home.”

Meanwhile, Lovitt and Nelson are gearing up for whale-watching season with their company, Maui Ocean Adventures, which is run entirely by fire survivors.

Lovitt said that being back on the water has been “healing.”

“I didn’t want to at first after going through that,” she said, “and then someone kind of forced me back out on a boat.”

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For now, Lovitt said, “we’re just stoked to just get back to work and do what we love.”





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