Nonprofit holding underwater cleanup event today
To help celebrate International Manta Day, a passionate group of local scuba divers will be spearheading an underwater cleanup of the dive site just outside Keauhou Bay today.
The area has never had marine debris removed on this large a scale before and the Ocean Defenders Alliance will spend the morning removing fishing line as well as other marine debris that litters the area. The Ocean Defenders Alliance (ODA) utilizes volunteer scuba divers and has been removing marine debris since 2000. The divers will be carefully assessing what to remove and how best to remove the items without harming the environment.
Keller Laros, who heads up the Manta Pacific Research Foundation, will lend his expertise to help everyone understand the importance of removing this abandoned fishing gear.
This event starts at 9 a.m. today. Contact Kurt Lieber for more information by calling (714) 875-5881.
Salvation Army kicks off giving season
As many island residents continue to struggle with impacts of pandemic poverty, and with just 100 days until Christmas, The Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division is reaching out early to ask the public to help individuals and families overcome the threat of eviction and keep food on their tables.
“With the ongoing pandemic, and the ending of various federal and state programs, we anticipate requests for service to increase this holiday season,” said Major Phil Lum, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army Hawaiian &Pacific Islands Division. “With the public’s generosity, The Salvation Army will continue to provide help and hope to thousands of individuals and families in need throughout the islands.”
Here are some initial ways the public can help those in need this holiday season:
• Enlist in Love’s Army with a sustaining gift of $25 per month
• Visit hawaii.salvationarmy.org/volunteer and sign up to volunteer at a Red Kettle or distribute Angel Tree gifts to children in need. The Salvation Army is applying national safety protocols at all Red Kettles to ensure the safety of bell ringers, donors, and partners
• Donate digitally with Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and Venmo at a Red Kettle
• Donate cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or Ethereum
• Ask Amazon Alexa to donate by saying, “Alexa, donate to The Salvation Army,” then specifying the amount
• Give any amount by texting “KETTLES” to 51555
• Provide new toys and clothing through The Salvation Army Angel Tree for keiki and families in need
Every donation helps hope march on for those in need, and all gifts stay within the community in which they are given.
Visit www.SalvationArmyUSA.org to donate or learn more.
Meeting set on telescope decommissioning
The University of Hawaii at Hilo will host a virtual public meeting Wednesday on the draft environmental assessment (DEA) for the decommissioning of the Hoku Ke‘a telescope on Maunakea.
The Hoku Ke‘a decommissioning DEA notice for accepting public comments was posted on Sept. 9. To register for the virtual public meeting and/or to learn more about the process, visit the Hoku Ke‘a Decommissioning Project web page at https://hokukea.konveio.com.
The 5:30 to 7 p.m. meeting will include a presentation and question and answer session with UH-Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship Executive Director Greg Chun and officials with SSFM, the consulting company hired for the project planning and design.
Those who participate are asked to provide comments by Oct. 8. The Environmental Notice, which can be accessed via https://health.hawaii.gov/oeqc/, provides links to submit comments and to view the official document.
A DEA is required under Hawaii’s environmental laws for proposed uses of state lands or funds and uses within the state conservation district. The Hoku Keʻa decommissioning plan reviewed in the DEA includes the safe and proper removal of two buildings and supporting infrastructure, and restoration of the site to its original state, as much as possible.
After the DEA process is complete, the Department of Land and Natural Resources will process and issue a conservation district use permit for the proposed actions. The project is tentatively scheduled to be completed by late 2023, and the site will not be used for astronomy purposes again.
Hoku Ke‘a is one of two Maunakea telescopes in the process of being decommissioned. The Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) posted its DEA for decommissioning on Sept. 8. The CSO decommissioning project is tentatively scheduled to be completed in late 2023.
There are 13 observatories on Maunakea, including Hoku Ke‘a and CSO. The University of Hawaii has committed to no more than nine operating astronomy facilities on Maunakea summit by Dec. 31, 2033.