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Merrie Monarch Week
See FESTIVAL Page A4
Rainfall dips
in March,
up for year
Average totals lower for
month, but ‘still a lot’
By MICHAEL BRESTOVANSKY
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
most of the island, rainfall totals for the year
so far continue to be higher than average.
report, much of the Big Island
received less rainfall than normal
only 12 rain gauges receiving
above-average precipitation.
received 10.93 inches of rainfall,
only 81 percent of the area’s average
KODAMA
11.36 inches, 78 percent of its average, while
Mountain View’s 14.94 inches was only 82
percent of its typical March precipitation.
received above-average rainfall this year so
far, thanks largely to heavy rains throughout
this year, or 27 percent more than its threemonth
percent above average; and Mountain View
is 34 percent above average at 58 inches.
1.12 inches fell on Ellison Onizuka Kona
International Airport, .66 on an inch less
than its typical monthly average. This year
so far, that gauge has received 89 percent
the highest rainfall this month with 29.26
inches, nearly double its March average. The
highest rainfall in an actually populated area
occurred in Papaikou, where 17 inches of rain
fell, only 75 percent of its March average.
Volcano students
contribute to rapid
ohia death research
Despite a drier-than-average March on
According to a National Weather Service
throughout March, with
Throughout March, Hilo
March rainfall. Pahoa received
Despite this, all three locations have still
February. Hilo has received 41 inches
average; Pahoa’s 54 inches is 51
On the other side of the island, only
of its typical year-to-date rainfall.
As per usual, the Saddle Quarry received
Other rain gauges that received more
See RAIN Page A4
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Index
Big Isle History C3
Classified C7
Commentary A6
Crossword C6
Issue No. 98
24 Pages in
3 Sections
Today’s
weather
Page A2
Dear Abby C6
Horoscope C6
Nation A7
Spending Well C4
Sports B1
State A3
Surf report A2
Travel C1
Tropical
Gardening C3
Volcano Watch C2
World A10
Internet
Visit us on the Web at:
www.hawaiitribune-herald.com
HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald
Modern fl air
The men of Halau
Hi‘iakainamakalehua,
an Oahu halau, dance
“Kaua I Ka Nani A‘o Hilo,” a
mele ho‘oipoipo (love song)
honoring King David Kalakaua,
in Saturday night’s group hula
‘auana (modern hula) competition
at the 55th Annual
Merrie Monarch Festival.
The halau, under the direction
of co-kumu hula Robert
Ke‘ano Ka‘upu IV, a Keaukaha
native, and Lono Padilla, a
Mauian, brought both kane
(men) and wahine (women) to
the “Super Bowl of Hula.” Their
performance was among 29,
nine by kane groups and 20 by
wahine groups, representing 24
halau at the Edith Kanaka‘ole
Multi-Purpose Stadium in Hilo.
Saturday’s competition and
the awards ceremony, which
took place early Sunday morning,
concluded later than the
Tribune-Herald’s print deadline.
For a list of winners, go to
www.hawaiitribune-herald.com.
A festival wrap-up story
will appear in Monday’s edition
of the Tribune-Herald.
Additional photos of the
‘auana competition can
be found on Page A4.
Also on Saturday, the Merrie
Monarch Royal Parade wound
its way through downtown Hilo.
Awards were given for the outstanding
floats, pa‘u princesses,
Kealoha
Kinney,
research
ecologist,
helps
first-graders
Keaka Wintersteen
and
Caleb Kirk
inspect the
contents of
their beetle
traps Friday
morning.
Photo:
KALMIA CAYIR
Beetle mania
VOLCANO — Scientists are
teaming up with students at the
Volcano School of Arts and Sciences
to better study ambrosia beetles, a
potential vector of rapid ohia death.
Students at the Volcano public charter
school collected beetles at home
during the past week using homemade
“beetle traps” — constructed with
empty soda bottles filled
with hand sanitizer.
On Friday, students
brought the contents of
their traps back to school.
With the help of volunteers
and scientists
from the USDA Forest
Service Institute of Pacific
Islands Forestry, they
studied the contents under
a microscope — helping
researchers to get a “quick
snapshot” of which of
the 52 ambrosia beetle
species in Hawaii occur in
By KIRSTEN JOHNSON
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
See STUDENTS Page A5
Vuls’ No. 2 an
ace in the whole
SPORTS, B1
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