Potential Mauna Loa eruption could pose a serious public communication issue
Mauna Loa has become front page news due to a possibility of a new eruption after 38 years. I strongly believe there is a serious public communication issue if the lava takes out the HECO transmission poles in between Kona and Ka’u.
This will knock out cellular, Internet, and telephone service in these districts.
There is a solution waiting in the wings, but I’m not sure it will be completed in time.
Both Spectrum and Hawaiian Telcom are working on completing a fiber optic ring around Hawaii Island. The remaining link for their respective cables between HVNP and Pahala should be completed by the end of 2022, but there is no guarantee due to worldwide supply chain issues.
I’ve tried to express my concern about this communication issue to Mayor Roth’s administration. As stands now, I’ve only receptive positive feedback from one person on the mayor’s staff regarding my concern and possible solution to this issue.
NOAA has a weather radio tower at South Point that could be used to transmit emergency information to the public in the event of a lava flow in the Ka’u area.
This could be used if the internet, cellular, and telephone services are knocked out by a lava flow.
If Mayor Roth’s administration was a bit more receptive to this suggestion, I wouldn’t have written this letter. However, I strongly believe public safety is at risk. This suggestion will help mitigate this issue.
Aaron Stene
Kailua-Kona
Blake Stene
HOVE
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State should prepare
voter pamphlets
Elections are again just around the corner and again I am forced to drag through the internet looking at multiple sites to get information about positions of the candidates, past history and who supports them. Now through in the county ballot issues. Do you know the economic impact of these issues? You should know before you vote if something proposed will cost $1 or $100,000. The information is there but you have to look for it. We should have state prepared voter pamphlets like many of the other states send out prior to elections.
Donald W Claeys
South Kohala
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