Hawaii

Over 300 earthquakes detected in Hawaii; Kilauea volcano not yet erupting

Published

2 days ago

July 1, 2024

Over 300 earthquakes detected in Hawaii; Kilauea volcano not yet erupting

Hundreds of earthquakes took place over the weekend in Hawaii, the U.S. Geological Survey said, indicating a possible volcanic eruption in the state.

The heap of earthquakes, with rates reaching nearly 30 events each hour, were centralized to Kīlauea on Hawaii’s Big Island, the USGS reported. The volcano is along the southeastern shore of the island.

“There were over 300 earthquakes detected beneath the summit over the past 24 hours, mostly below the south caldera region at depths of 1.5–3 km (1–1.8 mi),” a USGS public notice reads. “This earthquake count is more than triple the rate of several days ago, reflecting a seismic swarm that began with M2.9 and M3.4 earthquakes in the afternoon of June 27.”

So far, the largest one, a magnitude 3.2 temblor, took place Monday at 1:31 a.m. local time, less than 4 miles south of Volcano in Hawaii County.

Increasing seismic activity is a sign of pending volcano eruption, according to the USGS.

“Any substantial increases in seismicity and/or deformation could result in a new eruptive episode but there are no signs of an imminent eruption at this time,” the USGS issued in a report Saturday.

Is the Kilaueo volcano erupting?

As of Monday morning, the Kilauea volcano −one of the world’s most active volcanoes − was not erupting.

The Kilaueo volcano last erupted June 3 about a mile south of Kilauea caldera within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a popular tourist destination.

It marked the first eruption in that region of the volcano in about 50 years. The last one took place in December 1974.

The current USGS Volcano Alert Level remains at “ADVISORY” and the federal agency reported the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is closely monitoring the Kīlauea Volcano.

Contributing: Christopher Cann.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

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Hawaii

Golf tourney to benefit Hawaii Island Humane Society – West Hawaii Today

Published

6 hours ago

July 3, 2024

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The Hawaii Island Humane Society is hosting a charity golf tournament fundraiser on Saturday for its facility and programs.

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Hawaii

Group of Hawaii wildland firefighters in Washington state to help battle large wildfire

Published

13 hours ago

July 2, 2024

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Group of Hawaii wildland firefighters in Washington state to help battle large wildfire

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A group of wildland firefighters from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is in Washington State to help battle a large wildfire burning in the remote wilderness.

Nearly 5,000 acres in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest have burned in the Pioneer Fire. At last check, the fire was 7% contained.

With Tuesday marking National Wildland Firefighter Day, the National Park Service is putting out a call to hire more wildland firefighters.

Park officials said it’s a career that will take firefighters to national parks across the country.

Those who are interested can click here for more details.

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Hawaii

Christian clubs win legal victory in Hawaii – The Lion

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20 hours ago

July 2, 2024

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Christian clubs win legal victory in Hawaii – The Lion

After-school Christian clubs won a legal victory in Hawaii after alleging suing over discrimination by public school officials.

A Hawaii district court granted Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) of Hawaii a preliminary injunction on Thursday.

CEF filed its initial lawsuit in January, claiming the state education department and local public school leaders were discriminating against CEF’s Good News Clubs.

The clubs are part of an interdenominational program for 5- to 12-year-olds and boast nearly 85,000 clubs worldwide, including 6,200 in the U.S.

According to CEF’s complaint, Good News Clubs were denied access to public school facilities because of their religious nature and, in some instances, made to pay rental fees not required of nonreligious groups.

“Defendants’ policies of unequal access, pretextual denials, and hostility to CEF’s religious message violate the Constitution and have denied some Hawaii elementary school students access to free, positive, and character-building Good News Clubs that enrich countless students’ lives in other Hawaii schools and throughout the country,” the lawsuit read.

The Hawaii court granted an injunction in favor of the Christian clubs, directing the state to provide CEF “equal access” to school facilities that are “made available to other similarly situated nonprofit organizations” such as Boy Scouts or Girls on the Run.

“This is a great victory for Child Evangelism Fellowship, parents, and the students in Hawaii public schools,” said Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, which is representing the plaintiffs. “The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that public schools cannot discriminate against Christian viewpoints regarding use of school facilities.

“Child Evangelism Fellowship gives children a safe space that offers moral and character development from a Christian viewpoint. Good News Clubs should be in every public elementary school.”

Staver also noted in January that CEF has never lost a lawsuit for equal access.

Even so, the group continues to face discrimination from public schools.

Last year, CEF sued a Rhode Island district for equal access to school property and won. Other clubs – such as the Fellowship for Christian Athletes – have also had to fight for their rights to meet on campus.

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