Latest news with #DawnChang
Miami Herald
20 hours ago
- Miami Herald
New lava ‘deltas' in ocean following eruptions are unsafe, Hawaii officials warn
Volcanic eruptions are extending the coastline of Hawaii — but the newly formed lava 'deltas' aren't safe for visitors, state officials warn. 'Lava deltas are landforms built as hot lava enters and is cooled by the ocean,' the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said in an Aug. 18 news release. 'Deltas extend the island shoreline, but the terrain can be deceptive.' Even once it cools, the formerly molten rock may appear solid but can be thin and unstable, officials said. Vegetation also can conceal deep fissures and cracks. A video posted by the agency shows a crack going all the way down to the ocean in a lava delta at Kapoho, in the Puna district of Hawaii. It could be a precursor to a collapse. The department advised visitors to coastal areas in Hawaii to exercise 'extreme caution.' Many of the lava deltas were created by the 2018 eruption of Kilauea, officials said. 'The safety of our residents and visitors is our top priority, and we must emphasize that these newly created lands are not safe to traverse,' Dawn Chang, department chair, said in the release. 'The land is still settling and is unpredictable.' The creation and destruction of lava deltas remain largely unknown, officials said. 'The U.S. Geological Survey notes that a collapsing delta can trigger explosive activity, hurling rocks and debris hundreds of yards inland and/or seaward,' officials said. 'The warning includes, but is not limited to, the communities of Kapoho, Pohoiki, Malama and Kalapana,' officials said. 'The report of the crack at Kapoho is a stark reminder that even years after eruption, areas in the lava flow hazard zones are active and can be dangerous,' Chang said.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Pohoiki Boat Ramp is blessed as dredging project begins
PUNA, Hawaii (KHON2) — Eight years after a lava flow from Kilauea blocked access to the Pohoiki Boat Ramp, dredging work has finally begun to restore access. Kīlauea shows signs of new eruption On Tuesday, June 9, hundreds of people gathered for a celebration and blessing at the top of the ramp, what many call the heart of the community. 'This is a day of celebration to recognize the collaboration of the community, elected officials and DLNR working together to support this project,' DLNR Chair Dawn Chang said before the blessing. 'The Pohoiki Boat Ramp is a piko, or focal point for this community. Fishing is a huge part of the greater Puna community and commercial, recreational and subsistence fishers have been waiting patiently for this work to begin. The million-dollar question is what took so long?' The ramp is expected to be cleared of an estimated 42,000 cubic yards of black sand and boulders, which is equal to about 22,000 full-sized pickup truck beds. The state had hoped for more federal support to approve the removal of most of the volcanic debris in Pohoiki Bay, but FEMA was only able to approve restoration of the boat ramp entrance then took great efforts by state lawmakers from the district to convince the rest of the legislature that opening the Pohoiki boat ramp was the top priority for people in the district. Chang singled out the efforts of state Senator Joy San Buenaventura and state Representative Greggor Ilagan in getting $5.4 million of state funding for the dredging. The DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation is covering the remaining $2.9 million. 'We needed people to understand how much it cost in fuel just to bring all our boats from the Wailoa Small Boat Harbor in Hilo, the nearest boating facility, out to Puna so they could fish to feed and support their families,' said San Buenaventura during the blessing ceremony. The total project cost came in at $9.28 million. Check out more news from around Hawaii The project is expected to be completed by November. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Hawaii land board vote deals setback to Army at key combat training ground in Pacific theater
Hawaii land board vote deals setback to Army at key combat training ground in Pacific theater HONOLULU: Hawaii's land board rejected the Army's environmental impact statement to retain land on the Big Island used for live-fire training, a vote some Native Hawaiian leaders say reflects a growing distrust of the U.S. military in the islands. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources voted Friday after members considered voluminous written testimony and listened to hours of oral comments, including from many in the Native Hawaiian community citing environmental destruction and cultural desecration. The Army calls the Pohakuloa Training Area the 'premier' combat training grounds in the Pacific theater for all U.S. ground forces, including the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force. Board Chair Dawn Chang later called the vote 'one of the hardest decisions that I have had to make.' Chang said the decision was based on the adequacy of the environmental review and not about the merits of whether the Army should not conduct training in Hawaii. No decision has been made on the Army's long-term lease request. The Army's lease for 23,000 acres (9,308 hectares) is set to expire in 2029. What happens next is up to the Army, Chang said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tap Into Real-Time Signals Designed to Support Your Trading Decisions Trader Headline Learn More Undo The Army, noting that the environmental impact statement was created with community input, said in a statement that it was observing a 30-day waiting period. After that, the Army will determine how much land it will seek to retain. The vote was a 'pleasant surprise' to activists who are concerned that military training in Hawaii harms island aquifers, sensitive wildlife and ancient Hawaiian burials, said Healani Sonoda-Pale, a Native Hawaiian activist. It was unexpected because of the military's economic stronghold on Hawaii, she said. 'Friday's vote is a real shift,' Sonoda-Pale told The Associated Press Monday. 'I think the shift here happened because of the Red Hill spill. The military lost a lot of trust and respect." In 2021, jet fuel leaked into the Navy water system serving 93,000 people on and around the Pearl Harbor base. It sickened thousands in military housing and heightened concerns about leaks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. The military eventually agreed to drain the tanks, amid state orders and protests from Native Hawaiians and other Hawaii residents worried about the threat posed to Honolulu's water supply. The tanks sit above an aquifer supplying water to 400,000 people in urban Honolulu. 'U.S. Army Hawai'i understands and deeply respects the concerns expressed by community members, cultural practitioners, and environmental advocates regarding the Army's presence and activities at Pōhakuloa Training Area,' Lt. Col. Tim Alvarado, U.S. Army Garrison Pōhakuloa commander, said in a statement. 'We recognize that past actions have caused harm and eroded trust, and we continue to seek a balance with consideration for the cultural and environmental significance of this land. ' The U.S. Army is seeking to return nearly 3,300 acres (1,335 hectares) of leased lands back to the state and retain 19,700 acres (7,972 hectares) to sustain training, the Army statement said. Hawaii's congressional delegation issued a joint statement saying they 'believe there can be a path forward that accounts for the critical importance of Hawaii's role in our country's national security strategy and fundamentally respects and responds to the needs of the people of Hawaii.' In a statement, Gov. Josh Green acknowledged the rejected environmental impact statement presents challenges but doesn't end the conversation: "This is a time for collaboration, not division, as we seek balanced solutions that honor both our heritage and our future.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Army hits setback as Hawaii board votes to reject environmental study
HONOLULU — Hawaii's land board rejected the Army's environmental impact statement to retain land on the Big Island used for live-fire training, a vote some Native Hawaiian leaders say reflects a growing distrust of the U.S. military in the islands. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources voted Friday after members considered voluminous written testimony and listened to hours of oral comments, including from many in the Native Hawaiian community citing environmental destruction and cultural desecration. The Army calls the Pōhakuloa Training Area the 'premier' combat training grounds in the Pacific theater for all U.S. ground forces, including the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force. Space Force telescope proposal on Hawaii volcano meets Maui opposition Board Chair Dawn Chang later called the vote 'one of the hardest decisions that I have had to make.' Chang said the decision was based on the adequacy of the environmental review, and not about the merits of whether the Army should not conduct training in Hawaii. No decision has been made on the Army's longterm lease request. The Army's lease for 23,000 acres is set to expire in 2029. What happens next is up to the Army, Chang said. The Army, noting that the environmental impact statement was created with community input, said in a statement it was observing a 30-day waiting period. After that, the Army will determine how much land it will seek to retain. The vote was a 'pleasant surprise' to activists who are concerned that military training in Hawaii harms island aquifers, sensitive wildlife and ancient Hawaiian burials, said Healani Sonoda-Pale, a Native Hawaiian activist. It was unexpected because of the military's economic stronghold on Hawaii, she said. 'Friday's vote is a real shift,' Sonoda-Pale told The Associated Press Monday. 'I think the shift here happened because of the Red Hill spill. The military lost a lot of trust and respect.' In 2021, jet fuel leaked into the Navy water system serving 93,000 people on and around the Pearl Harbor base. It sickened thousands in military housing and heightened concerns about leaks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. The military eventually agreed to drain the tanks, amid state orders and protests from Native Hawaiians and other Hawaii residents worried about the threat posed to Honolulu's water supply. The tanks sit above an aquifer supplying water to 400,000 people in urban Honolulu. 'U.S. Army Hawai'i understands and deeply respects the concerns expressed by community members, cultural practitioners, and environmental advocates regarding the Army's presence and activities at Pōhakuloa Training Area,' Lt. Col. Tim Alvarado, U.S. Army Garrison Pōhakuloa commander, said in a statement. 'We recognize that past actions have caused harm and eroded trust, and we continue to seek a balance with consideration for the cultural and environmental significance of this land.' The U.S. Army is seeking to return nearly 3,300 acres of leased lands back to the state and retain 19,700 acres to sustain training, the Army statement said. Hawaii's congressional delegation issued a joint statement saying they 'believe there can be a path forward that accounts for the critical importance of Hawaii's role in our country's national security strategy and fundamentally respects and responds to the needs of the people of Hawaii.' In a statement, Gov. Josh Green acknowledged the rejected environmental impact statement presents challenges but doesn't end the conversation: 'This is a time for collaboration, not division, as we seek balanced solutions that honor both our heritage and our future.'
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hawaii land board vote rejecting environmental study deals setback to Army combat training
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii's land board rejected the Army's environmental impact statement to retain land on the Big Island used for live-fire training, a vote some Native Hawaiian leaders say reflects a growing distrust of the U.S. military in the islands. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources voted Friday after members considered voluminous written testimony and listened to hours of oral comments, including from many in the Native Hawaiian community citing environmental destruction and cultural desecration. The Army calls the Pohakuloa Training Area the 'premier' combat training grounds in the Pacific theater for all U.S. ground forces, including the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force. Board Chair Dawn Chang later called the vote 'one of the hardest decisions that I have had to make.' Chang said the decision was based on the adequacy of the environmental review, and not about the merits of whether the Army should not conduct training in Hawaii. No decision has been made on the Army's longterm lease request. The Army's lease for 23,000 acres is set to expire in 2029. What happens next is up to the Army, Chang said. The Army, noting that the environmental impact statement was created with community input, said in a statement it was observing a 30-day waiting period. After that, the Army will determine how much land it will seek to retain. The vote was a 'pleasant surprise' to activists who are concerned that military training in Hawaii harms island aquifers, sensitive wildlife and ancient Hawaiian burials, said Healani Sonoda-Pale, a Native Hawaiian activist. It was unexpected because of the military's economic stronghold on Hawaii, she said. 'Friday's vote is a real shift,' Sonoda-Pale told The Associated Press Monday. 'I think the shift here happened because of the Red Hill spill. The military lost a lot of trust and respect." In 2021, jet fuel leaked into the Navy water system serving 93,000 people on and around the Pearl Harbor base. It sickened thousands in military housing and heightened concerns about leaks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. The military eventually agreed to drain the tanks, amid state orders and protests from Native Hawaiians and other Hawaii residents worried about the threat posed to Honolulu's water supply. The tanks sit above an aquifer supplying water to 400,000 people in urban Honolulu. 'U.S. Army Hawai'i understands and deeply respects the concerns expressed by community members, cultural practitioners, and environmental advocates regarding the Army's presence and activities at Pōhakuloa Training Area,' Lt. Col. Tim Alvarado, U.S. Army Garrison Pōhakuloa commander, said in a statement. 'We recognize that past actions have caused harm and eroded trust, and we continue to seek a balance with consideration for the cultural and environmental significance of this land.' The U.S. Army is seeking to return nearly 3,300 acres of leased lands back to the state and retain 19,700 acres to sustain training, the Army statement said. Hawaii's congressional delegation issued a joint statement saying they 'believe there can be a path forward that accounts for the critical importance of Hawaii's role in our country's national security strategy and fundamentally respects and responds to the needs of the people of Hawaii.' In a statement, Gov. Josh Green acknowledged the rejected environmental impact statement presents challenges but doesn't end the conversation: "This is a time for collaboration, not division, as we seek balanced solutions that honor both our heritage and our future.'
