By Polly Angelakis, NPS

In 2016 we will celebrate Haleakalā National Park’s Centennial as part of the National Park Service.

Our new Centennial logo celebrates this history and also honors the generations of people who have cared for Haleakalā.

UPDATE: Maui Electric reports power has been restored to the Haleakala Crater area as of 5 a.m. today.

Maui Electric Company would like to inform the public that the Haleakala Crater area is experiencing a power outage. Maui Electric is working to identify the cause and restore electrical service as quickly and safely as possible.

An update will be provided as soon as more information becomes available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Earlier today customers in the Napili area of West Maui were without power for about two hours.

The projected arrival of storm force winds associated with Hurricane Ignacio could facilitate the need to close commercial ports throughout the Hawaiian Islands, according to the US Coast Guard.

The Captain of the Port has already issued a Condition Whiskey (IV) status to the ports of: Hilo and Kawaihae on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi; and Kaunakakai, Kamalapau and Kahului in Maui County.  The alert condition indicates that winds above 39 mph are expected within 72 hours.The newest computer models show more confidence that Ignacio may steer clear of the islands.

CAT 4 – Hurricane Ignacio has just been upped to Category Four…but he might be edging northward, too. Click to enlarge (Computer model courtesy Tropical Tidbits.)

Port conditions on the islands of Oʻahu and Kauaʻi are being monitored as the storm nears. Port conditions are subject to change based on the projected path and intensity of Ignacio.

The various Port Condition classifications include the following:

• Condition Hurricane Season Preparedness (V): Seasonal readiness, 1 June – 30 Nov.
• Condition Whiskey (IV): The ALERT condition in which winds above 39 mph are expected within 72 hours.
• Condition X-Ray (III): The READINESS condition in which winds above 39 mph are expected within 48 hours.
• Condition Yankee (II): The WARNING condition in which winds above 39 mph are expected within 24 hours.
• Condition Zulu (I): The DANGER condition in which winds above 39 mph are expected within 12 hours and until the storm has passed and is no longer a threat.

The Coast Guard will continue to broadcast notice condition status changes to mariners and send out a marine safety information bulletin to the maritime community. Additionally, all maritime users are requested to monitor the progress of this hurricane and make preparations accordingly.

Back on land, all back-country access within Haleakala National Park will be closed tomorrow. Park officials will reassess the conditions Monday. For more details, visit their web site.

Also, the statewide monthly Civil Defense siren test, scheduled for 11:45 a.m. September 1, has been cancelled. Officials do not want residents to think the sirens that morning are storm warnings. Once again – if you hear the siren -it’s probably a good idea to get indoors.

It was the third attempt by a group of protesters to halt – or at least delay and disrupt – the scheduled delivery of massive components for the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST). Last night. however, most of the “action” was not focused on the Central Maui Baseyard – but at another point along the route to the summit of Haleakala.

RESTARTING – The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope is more than half-complete. Opponents of the project temporarily blocked the delivery of huge construction payloads last night.   Click to enlarge. (UH Image)

Around 10 p.m. Wednesday night, Wailuku Patrol Officers were summoned to the Central Maui Baseyard to assist with crowd control and public safety issues involving the DKIST transport Project. A representative on behalf of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy initiated the complaint.

A crowd of about 150 protesters had gathered in the area of Central Maui Baseyard, however, no arrests were made as the demonstrators complied and moved to the sides for the convoy to enter onto the roadway.

Once the convoy reached the area of Haleakala Crater Road (State Highway 378) police encountered trees, rocks, and glass on the roadway. The scene was reminiscent of the sudden “appearance” of large rocks blocking the access road on Mauna Kea as delivery trucks were trying to ferry large components to the Thirty Meter Telescope project site on the Big Island.

Protesters last night on Maui were also seated on the roadway in attempts to block the convoy from passing. Police officers made multiple requests for the protesters to abstain from blocking the roadway, but, some refused. As a result, seven adult males and one adult female were placed under arrest. No juveniles were arrested. The convoy safely arrived at the summit of Haleakala.

Haleakala was closed for sunrise visitors today because of the slow convoy. And while the roads have now reopened, many Haleakala facilities inside the park remain closed until tomorrow.

The convoy safely arrived at the summit of Haleakala. HENDERSON, Joseph (26) No local address given FAILURE TO DISPERSE OBSTRUCTING DISORDERLY CONDUCT TOTAL BAIL: $400.00 RELEASED ON BAIL LOURO, Shane (39) Maunaloa, HI FAILURE TO DISPERSE OBSTRUCTING DISORDERLY CONDUCT TOTAL BAIL: $400.00 PUAA-FREITAS, Hanoa (22) Waihee, HI FAILURE TO DISPERSE OBSTRUCTING DISORDERLY CONDUCT TOTAL BAIL: $400.00 RELEASED ON BAIL KAUHANE, Keith (35) Lahaina, HI FAILURE TO DISPERSE OBSTRUCTING DISORDERLY CONDUCT TOTAL BAIL: $400.00 KAAIKALA, Kealii (21) Refused FAILURE TO DISPERSE OBSTRUCTING DISORDERLY CONDUCT TOTAL BAIL: $400.00 NOMURA, Chase (21) Makawao, HI FAILURE TO DISPERSE OBSTRUCTING DISORDERLY CONDUCT TOTAL BAIL: $400.00 KAEO, Hooleia (19) Kula, HI FAILURE TO DISPERSE OBSTRUCTING DISORDERLY CONDUCT TOTAL BAIL: $400.00 MANGAUIL, Joshua (28) Honokaa, HI OBSTRUCTING TOTAL BAIL: $100.00 RELEASED ON BAIL

Crater Road (Rt. 378) and Haleakalā National Park’s summit road will close to visitor traffic while a slow moving convoy transports extremely wide loads to the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) near the volcano’s summit. The roads will be closed to visitors from 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 30,  through 2 p.m. on Friday, July 31.

Protesters successfully blocked a similar effort last month. No word on whether they plan to gather to try a second shot at it.

RESTARTING – The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope is more than half-complete. Opponents of the project successfully block the delivery of huge construction payloads last month. Crews will try again next week. Click to enlarge. (UH Image)

The summit will not be accessible for Thursday sunset viewing and Friday sunrise viewing.

Back country permits will be available at Headquarters Visitor Center, at the 7,000 foot elevation, from 2-4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 31 . However, backpackers planning to hike into the crater on Friday are strongly urged to obtain their permits a day in advance. Visitors who pay an entrance fee on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday (July 29, 30, 31) will have a one-day extension on the usual three-day pass. The extension will apply to both the Kīpahulu and Summit Districts.

Although the park road to the summit will re-open at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 31 , the Haleakalā Visitor Center near the summit will remain closed all day Friday.

The DKIST Project is located outside of park boundaries. The convoy’s travel through the park is permitted via Special Use Permit from the National Park Service. The convoy will transport wide loads of various sizes and travel at 2 to 5 mph . The road precautions are in place due to the size of the convoy and narrowness of the roads.

A young boy from Texas is in serious condition this morning after suffering third degree burns when a pot of boiling water fell on him in East Maui Monday. Also, a 72 year-old man is lucky to be alive after he suffered an allergic reaction from multiple bee stings while hiking in West Maui.

UKUMEHAME VALLEY (Courtesy Photo)

KIPAHULU (Haleakala NPS Photo)

The first incident happened at 10:11 a.m. Monday at the Kipahulu campgrounds inside Haleakala National Park. Police and paramedics responded to a call after the accident. The 11 year-old Boy Scout was here with a troop from El Paso, TX, when the mishap occurred. The burns were serious enough that the boy had to be airlifted to Maui Memorial Medical Center in serious but not life-threatening condition. The scout was then flown to O’ahu in stable condition for further treatment. His parents were notified and are flying to O’ahu to be with their son.

The second incident happened at 5:30 p.m. Monday. Lahaina firefighters were called to Ukumehame Valley when a 72 year-old man suffered an allergic reaction to multiple bee stings. The victim was hiking with another man when they encountered the bees about a mile into the trail. The bee sting victim did not have his Epi-pen with him and was unable to walk on his own. Air-1 was called in and the man was airlifted to a landing zone where he was transported to MMMC in stable condition.

The man’s hometown was not available. Kahului rescue crews also aided in the man’s rescue.