Following and the last year, researchers at the were interested to know how Puna residents were coping with these natural disasters. �鶹��ýHilo Associate Professor Lynn Morrison, a medical anthropologist, enlisted help from former students Alexis Ching and Marina Kelley, to conduct the Puna Disaster Resiliency Study, and the teamwork is impressive.

Morrison and Ching are co-investigators of the study, and Kelley is research assistant. Over the last nine months, the team has conducted research that includes interviews with residents, archival work, networking with key informants, visits with government and non-government agencies, participant observation, attending school and community meetings and going to a variety of forums.

Community response

The researchers are still analyzing the data, but Morrison says one interesting facet of the study has shown how different neighborhoods have different infrastructures in place to help them cope.

“There was a lot of community response and neighbors working with neighbors,” she says.

Ching points out that while this was true for Iselle, there were very different responses across the board in reaction to the lava flow. It was more about how people were preparing.

“Some people seemed to be emotionally and mentally equipped to better deal with these turn of events than other people were,” Ching explains.

Kelley feels conducting the study is helpful for the community because people are able to talk about what had happened. “I think they appreciated having someone ask them how they were affected and having people documenting how it was impacting them,” she says.

Whether it was reaching out to each other through Facebook, driving around and helping to cut up fallen trees, or attending town meetings, there was a comfort factor that community members found through networking.

“There was a sense of coming together and facing a common challenge instead of going it alone,” says Ching. She thinks this helped people mentally prepare for, and heighten their ability to deal with, the disasters and the impact that they had.

While researching and collecting data, Ching and Kelley also volunteered with the local Food Pantry (a pantry). Since the Food Pantry is an already established and functioning organization, it was able to provide a lot of relief for those in need.

The researchers hope to have the results of the study fully accessible to the participants and the community. They also would like to see the study get published academically and share the findings with government agencies, non-government organizations and possibly give a presentation at an anthropological conference. has shown interest in the study results.

Morrison and Ching feel the results will reconfirm a lot of the things that people have already observed, but shown through systematic research rather than anecdotally.

“I think that’s what we can do as researchers,” says Morrison, “provide that documentation.”

October 24 Puna Resiliency Block Party

Seeing the strength and dedication that the community put forth inspired the researchers to organize an event that would allow them to give back to the community, show their gratitude and commitment, and showcase the spirit of Puna. The Puna Resiliency Block Party will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2015, 3–8 p.m., in Pāhoa Village.

“It’s a ceremony for all the things that they’ve been through this past year,” says Ching.

Giving back in a constructive way and allowing for positive representation for Puna is the driving force behind the occasion. It also offers up an opportunity to come together in support of the Puna community.

For the full story, read the .

—By Lara Hughes, a junior at UH Hilo majoring in business administration and a public information intern in the UH Hilo Office of the Chancellor

and researchers will be collaborating on a research project funded by . UH’s project will develop capability at the university for data collecting via unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs through observations of active volcanism in �鶹��ý.

Specifically, the aim of the UH grant is two-fold—to study the active volcanic processes (lava flows and gas plumes) in Puna on �鶹��ý Island using UAVs and, while doing so, to develop capability and protocol to use UAVs to do other types of scientific studies. The latter will be of benefit to all UH researchers.

NASA awarded $11.25 million to universities in 15 states for research and development in areas such as remote sensing, nanotechnology, astrophysics and aeronautics. The UH team is awaiting confirmation on the exact amount they will receive; they requested $749,696. The award covers a three-year period.

Principal investigator of the UH project is Peter Mouginis-Mark from the at UH Mānoa. Co-investigators from the institute include Robert Wright and John Porter. Ryan Perroy, assistant professor of geography at UH Hilo, is a co-investigator on the project.

Building on �鶹��ýHilo research

The Hilo team, which also included Jonathan Price, associate professor of geography, Nicolas Turner, cyber computer programming analyst at the UH Hilo , and Arthur Cunningham, consultant for aeronautical science at UH Hilo, were highly successful in helping Civil Defense map the Puna lava flow as it encroached on Pāhoa town nearly cutting off the main highway into the district.

The UH team working on the NASA grant will be building on that work, not just for continued study of lava activity, but to create a protocol for UAV use that all UH researchers could utilize.

“The most important thing is that we will be learning how to fly our vehicles legally in collaboration with NASA,” says Mouginis-Mark. He and Perroy will be working closely with NASA to develop the protocol so that the scientific research done with UAVs is legal under federal guidelines. “Our work will set up protocol so UH researchers can do other research with UAVs.”

For more on this research, read the .

—By Susan Enright

On December 8 more than 300 Pāhoa Elementary students became the first of more than 1,000 students this week who will get a close-up view of a lava flow that forced them to change schools. The field trip turned into a hands-on science lesson as students met with geologists, touched hardened lava and shared their feelings of relocating to a new school.

Students were invited by and other county officials and geologists to view parts of Apaʻa Street and the Pāhoa Transfer Station, closed due to lava from the June 27 lava flow.

“Today’s tour gave students the opportunity to visibly see the magnitude of this episode and why they were forced to move,” says Keone Farias, incoming complex area superintendent for Kaʻu-Keaʻau-Pāhoa. “Today’s event helps tie in what they’re learning in the classroom with what’s happening in nature. It also helps them build their academic vocabulary and give context to their writing.”

The students viewed seven different learning stations hosted by scientists and experts from Civil Defense, the University of �鶹��ý at Hilo’s (CSAV), �鶹��ýHilo and .

Each station featured hands-on activities to engage students, including an informational video by �鶹��ýHilo geologists Cheryl Gansecki and Ken Hon, demonstrations of the speed of the lava and interactive games.

• UH News story:

“This week both the �鶹��ýHilo geology department and CSAV have been helping �鶹��ý County Civil Defense teach elementary school children from Pāhoa about what happened during the recent lava flows, how lava works, and what measures were during the passed flow,” says Hon. “Civil Defense set up stations and �鶹��ýHilo ran two of these. About 300 elementary school kids are visiting each day this week and so far it has been a great success.”

Ten �鶹��ýHilo geology majors are helping with interpretation during the tours.

The most poignant moment came when students offered a makana (gift) to Pele at the edge of the now-stalled lava flow and talked about their feelings about being at a new school. After offering their gift, students were able to touch the fresh lava and see that although it has since cooled on the surface, it is still sharp and continues to cool underneath.

Read the full story and see more photos from the tour on the .

—By Susan Enright

Reporters from spent a day with researchers from the to film the scientists’ work on mapping the lava flow in Puna.

The UH Hilo research team is using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a Swinglet CAM by Sensefly, fitted with a high resolution camera for collecting still imagery. The captured images are later merged into a large mosaic, creating a high resolution map for use by Civil Defense emergency planners.

The UH Hilo flight team includes Ryan Perroy, assistant professor of geography and environmental science; Nicolas Turner, cyber computer programming analyst and Arthur Cunningham, consultant for aeronautical science.

• UH Hilo Stories: November 7, 2014
• UH Hilo Stories: October 29, 2014

The Discovery Chanel’s video includes an excellent explanation of how the mapping is done from the UAV flights in the field to the data analysis and mosaic creation done at the .

“The UAV flies about 150 meters high in a grid pattern, kind of like a lawn mower,” explains the narrator in the video about the technique used to capture the images. “(In the lab) Ryan loads the photos into a software program that stitches them together into one big topographical map.”

Perroy explains, “The map is called an orthomosaic, and with the ground control information, which is incorporated into that, you get a very beautiful and very interesting and highly detailed large photo of the mission area.”

—

—By Susan Enright

Researchers from the successfully mapped the active flow front of the June 27, 2014 Kīlauea lava flow on �鶹��ý Island with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on October 22. In a collaborative partnership with and the , the flight team from the used a Sensefly SwingletCAM with a visible camera to collect high resolution stills later merged into a mosaic for use by Civil Defense emergency planners.

The UH Hilo flight team includes Ryan Perroy, assistant professor of geography and environmental science, Nicolas Turner, Spatial Data Analysis and Visualization Laboratory cyber computer programming analyst and Arthur Cunningham, consultant for aeronautical science.

The lava flow is headed toward the town of Pāhoa in the district of Puna, threatening to cut off the main highway and other access roads, thus isolating an area of about 10,000 residents from the rest of the island.

“The lava flow has already impacted the lives of many residents in Puna,” said Perroy. “Our UAV support can provide quick and accurate information to emergency responders.”

The team closely monitored the flight performance of the UAV aircraft as it travelled over the lava and noted minor turbulence as it crossed the thermally dynamic environment. A county helicopter provided support with an air observer on board from the UAV team during flight operations.

The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office of the Federal Aviation Administration worked closely with the Hilo research team on approval of their certificate of authorization. The flights are in direct support of disaster relief operations in the area and the FAA and flight team worked together to make sure all safety concerns were met.

The UH researchers plan to fly again and continue supporting relief operations with quick aerial assessments when needed. Sensefly representatives are closely monitoring and supporting the team’s mapping relief effort and are at-the-ready with additional equipment should it be needed.

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—By Susan Enright

Professor of Geology Ken Hon explains the hazards Puna �鶹��ý residents will face as lava flows through the Puna community. Hon specializes in the mechanics of pahoehoe lava.

Hon and his wife Cheryl Gansecki, a UH Hilo volcanology/geology lecturer and volcano videographer from , are producing informational materials about the current lava flow in Puna and posting them to .

Latest official updates on the Puna lava flow are available from the and the U.S. Geological Survey .

Hazards residents will face as lava flows move through Puna

How pahoehoe lava flows work

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—By Susan Enright

A researcher at the who specializes in economic geography has generated mapping data showing the possible effects if or when the current lava flow in lower Puna cuts off the highway and then reaches the shore.

• UH Hilo Stories, September 15, 2014

Mark Kimura is an affiliate faculty member of the , and when the and started discussing worst case scenarios of the current lava flow, he saw a need for easily accessible information about demographics and businesses in Puna that would help the community make important decisions. He started posting his maps and analysis on a Facebook page called .

“The more I read comments (on my Facebook page), the more firmly I’m convinced that education is crucial across the island both geographically and demographically,” says Kimura. “I try my best to make my graphics both accurate and concise at the same time, but there are limits for that effort. The existence of UH Hilo is also crucial in a situation like this. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without my access to UH Hilo’s resources, mainly software licenses, and connections with other scientists and staff.”

For his analysis, Kimura is using geographic information systems or GIS, which are computer systems designed to capture and analyze spatial or geographical data. For many of the images, he is using a GIS tool called Esri Community Analyst, which he learned as a former postdoc and member of the UH Hilo . Esri is used by organizations and communities around the world that are using GIS to increase spatial literacy, protect the environment, assist with disaster response, and support humanitarian affairs. With this computerized tool, Kimura created the maps of Puna and pulled up the statistics.

Kimura says the making of the maps is helping him to grow as a scientist and as a person.

“To be honest, I’m a bit scared of possible impacts my (Facebook page) may have on people,” he says. “The responsibilities that come with the information I share feel too much at times. But my salary for the past three years has been paid by tax payers, so if I can help people using my skills and resources, I have to do this. After reading people’s comments by people who live in the affected area and those who have their loved ones living in lower Puna, I can’t stop.”

Kimura wishes to add this disclaimer: The information did not go through the peer review process, so he does not claim accuracy of the graphs. He notes that he does his best in the hopes that this will provide people in lower Puna and the rest of the world with some insights.

—via