A2 Thursday, May 9, 2024 THE GARDEN ISLAND thegardenisland.com THE GARDEN ISLAND 3-3137 Kuhio HI 96766 ISSN 0744-4028 USPS 213-760. Postmaster send address changes to: The Garden Island 3-3137 Kuhio Highway HI 96766. Published by Oahu Publications Inc. Copyright Oahu Publications Inc. Published daily, except Sunday For $168.00 per year By Oahu Publications Inc.
500 Ala Moana Suite 7-500 Honolulu, HI 96813 Periodicals postage paid at And additional mailing offices Wyatt Haupt Jr. Editor 808-245-0457 Richard Stein Operations Manager 808-245-0454 Brandee Javier 808-245-0449 Dennis Fujimoto 808-245-0453 Xiomara Y. Guevara Reporter 808-245-0441 Sierra Hethcote Sales Manager 808-529-4701 Other Contact Numbers: Main line: 808-245-3681 Corrections: 808-245-0457 News tips: 808-245-0457 Calendar events: Letters to the Editor: HOW TO REACH US CUSTOMER SERVICE LEGAL INFORMATION ADVERTISING RETAIL ADVERTISING 808-245-0425 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 808-246-0325 LEGAL ADVERTISING 808-245-0450 ONLINE ADVERTISING 808-245-0442 808-245-0433 Call for delivery questions or to start a new subscription Monday-Friday: 5:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday: 6:30 a.m.-10 a.m. island album for your information Cara Buckley THE NEW YORK TIMES Balloons released in the sky go to heaven.
They often end up in oceans and waterways, where 32 times more likely to kill seabirds than other types of plastic debris. Despite this, hu- mans like to release them en masse, be it to celebrate a loved life or a wed- ding, or to reveal the gen- der of a baby. The practice is on the verge of becoming illegal in Florida, where the Legisla- ture has joined a growing number of states to ban the intentional release of bal- loons outdoors. The Florida ban is expected to be signed by Gov. Ron DeSan- tis and would take effect July 1.
Florida is at the forefront of a dizzying and conten- tious array of statewide bans, outlawing lab grown meat, certain books from school libraries and class- rooms, and most abortions after six weeks. But the bal- loon ban is rare for garner- ing widespread bipartisan support. It was champi- oned by environmentalists and sponsored by two Re- publican lawmakers from the Tampa Bay area, state Rep. Linda Chaney and state Sen. Nick DiCeglie.
contribute to the increase in microplastic pollution which is harmful to every living thing includ- ing humans, polluting our air and drinking Chaney wrote in an email. hope is that this bill changes the culture, mak- ing people more aware of litter in general, including she said. Chaney said she first heard about the perils of balloon debris in 2020. Aquatic animals often mis- take balloons for jellyfish and feel full after eating them, essentially starving from the inside out. Rib- bons affixed to balloons en- tangle turtles and manatees.
Balloons also pose a threat to land ani- mals. In her research, Chaney learned about a pregnant cow that died af- ter ingesting a balloon while grazing. The unborn calf died too. The bill closes a loophole in an existing Florida law that allowed for the out- door release of up to nine balloons per person in any 24-hour period, a provision that critics say achieve the goal of reduc- ing marine trash. The new legislation makes it clear that balloons can pose an environmental hazard, supporters say.
It equates intentionally re- leasing a balloon filled with a gas lighter than air with littering, a noncriminal of- fense that carries a fine of $150. The ban also applies to outdoor releases of any balloons described by man- ufacturers as biodegrad- able. The ban does not restrict the sale of balloons by party suppliers or manufac- turers; they could still be used indoors or as decora- tions outdoors if properly secured. Balloons released by a government agency or for government sanctioned sci- entific purposes would be exempt from the new law. Hot air balloons recovered after launch or balloons re- leased by children age 6 and younger would also be exempt.
The bill counts among its supporters the Florida Re- tail Association as well as the Coalition for Responsi- ble Celebration, a trade as- sociation for balloon distributors and party stores, which in a state- ment said it recognized importance of promot- ing responsible balloon us- age and ensuring safe access to these joy-inspir- ing The legislation marks a win for environmentalists hamstrung by Florida legis- lation known as the on which prohibits counties and local munici- palities from regulating sin- gle use plastics and plastic bags. Jon Paul Brooker, director of Florida conser- vation for the nonprofit group Ocean Conservancy, said increased concern about the health of beaches, a major driver of tourism, helped conserva- tionists and lawmakers find common ground. is its Brooker said, are not going to flock by mil- lions to them if trashed and dead animals and plastic and trash all Brooker said while it re- mains to be seen how vigor- ously police will enforce the ban, the fact that they will be able to issue tickets was a good thing. than he it gives us in the environ- mental community an op- portunity to educate the public as to why According to Emma Hay- docy, Florida policy man- ager for the Surfrider Foundation, seven other states have cracked down on outdoor balloon re- leases. And just last week, lawmakers in North Caro- lina filed their version of the Florida legislation.
In lieu of releasing bal- loons, conservationists are urging people to instead plant a tree or toss flower petals into the water. are so many other ways of celebrating that are not Haydocy said. Letting go of balloons could soon be illegal in Florida weather 12 12 10 12 7 11 High tides in bold High tides in bold Hanalei Kilauea Wailua Koloa Anahola LIHUE Kaumakani Waimea POP: Probability of Precipitation TIDES SUN AND MOON LOCAL FORECAST ALMANAC UV INDEX 0-2, Low; 3-5, Moderate; 6-7, High; 8-10 Very High; Extreme The higher the AccuWeather UV Index the greater the need for eye and skin protection. PRECIPITATION TEMPERATURE KAUAI ISLAND TODAY OTHER ISLANDS TODAY The Sun Rise Set The Moon Rise Set Hanalei Bay 2:41 a.m. 8:09 a.m.
4:19 p.m. 11:29 p.m. Hanamaulu Bay 3:52 a.m. 9:35 a.m. 5:30 p.m.
none Nawiliwili 3:42 a.m. 9:31 a.m. 5:20 p.m. none Port Allen 3:16 a.m. 9:15 a.m.
5:05 p.m. none Waimea Bay 12:01 a.m. 3:49 a.m. 9:49 a.m. 5:27 p.m.
Honolulu, Oahu 12:01 a.m. 4:29 a.m. 9:54 a.m. 5:33 p.m. Fort Kamehameha, Oahu 12:13 a.m.
4:36 a.m. 10:03 a.m. 5:41 p.m. Kaunakakai, Molokai 4:24 a.m. 9:57 a.m.
5:26 p.m. none Kaumalapau, Lanai 12:04 a.m. 4:31 a.m. 9:57 a.m. 5:35 p.m.
Kahului, Maui 2:02 a.m. 8:33 a.m. 4:07 p.m. 10:52 p.m. Lahaina, Maui 3:20 a.m.
9:34 a.m. 5:25 p.m. 11:53 p.m. Hilo, Hawaii 3:08 a.m. 9:18 a.m.
4:42 p.m. 11:35 p.m. Kona, Hawaii 3:46 a.m. 9:55 a.m. 5:20 p.m.
none 3-DAY FORECAST FOR LIHUE TODAY Partly sunny with windward showers 80 Wind: 7-14 POP: TONIGHT Partly cloudy 68 Wind: SSW 6-12 POP: FRIDAY Partly sunny with a couple of showers 79 69 Wind: SSE 7-14 POP: SATURDAY Clouds and sun with a couple of showers 79 70 Wind: ENE 6-12 POP: Today 7:14 a.m. 9:21 p.m. Friday 8:10 a.m. 10:23 p.m. Saturday 9:09 a.m.
11:19 p.m. Today 6:01 a.m. 7:07 p.m. Friday 6:00 a.m. 7:08 p.m.
Saturday 6:00 a.m. 7:08 p.m. First May 15 May 23 May 30 Jun 6 Full Last New Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. 2024 Hanalei: A couple of showers today, mainly later. High 81.
Winds ENE 6-12 mph. Waimea: Variable cloudiness today with a couple of showers. High 73. Winds NW 6-12 mph. Partly sunny today with a couple of showers.
High 80. Winds SE 7-14 mph. Kaumakani: Rain and drizzle this morning, then a shower. High 80. Winds 6-12 mph.
Lihue Airport through 4 p.m. Wed. Normal Record high 86 in 1981 Record low 62 in 1987 24 hrs through 4 p.m. Wed. Trace Month to date 0.17” Normal month to date 0.64” Year to date 17.94” Normal year to date 14.85” WAVES: North 1-3 ft West 3-5 ft East 1-3 ft South 5-7 ft Source: NWS THU.
FRI. SAT. SUN. MON. TUE.
Delger Erdenesanaa THE NEW YORK TIMES Tornadoes tend to travel in packs these days, often with a dozen or more forming in the same region on the same day. On the worst days, hundreds can form at once. More than a dozen tornadoes were reported on both Monday and Tuesday this week across the Great Plains and the Midwest, according to the Storm Predic- tion Center run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin- istration. Two weeks ago, on the most active day in April, 105 tor- nadoes were reported. While outbreaks like these have always happened, they have become more common in recent decades.
The total number of tornadoes in the United States each year has stayed relatively consistent over the last several decades, but they now happen in more con- centrated bursts over fewer days during the year. In the 1950s through the 1970s, on average about 69 percent of tornadoes in the U.S. happened on days with fewer than 10 torna- does, and about 11 percent hap- pened on days with 20 or more tornadoes. These percentages have shifted significantly in re- cent decades, according to a 2019 study. The researchers found that since 2000, on average only about 49 percent of torna- does have happened on less busy days, and about 29 percent have happened on days with 20 or more tornadoes.
when tornadoes happen, they often happen in an outbreak said Tyler Frick, an assistant professor of geogra- phy at the University of Louisi- ana Monroe and one of the authors of the study. While the timing of this trend lines up with the rising temperatures, scientists are hesi- tant to definitively attribute tor- clustering behavior to human-caused climate change. link between climate change and tornadoes is still pretty tenuous. a really open and difficult question for Fricker said. One difficulty is that tornadoes are too small on a planetary scale, and too ephem- eral, to show up in the global mathematical models that scien- tists use to study climate change.
Researchers can, however, look at patterns in the historical record. As more tornadoes clus- ter together, busy outbreak days get busier, according to Zoe Schroder, an assistant professor of meteorology at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. we do get these outbreaks, often larger, meaning that they have more tornadoes in she said. Scientists can also look at how atmospheric conditions that lead to tornadoes are changing. There are two main ingredients to tornadoes, said Jana Houser, an associate professor of meteo- rology at the Ohio State Univer- sity.
The first is atmospheric instability caused by warm, moist air close to the ground meeting colder, dry air above. The second is vertical wind shear, or changes in wind speed and direction at different alti- tudes. As the climate changes, there might be fewer days with both these ingredients. when we have conditions that are favor- able, almost super- Houser said, leading to more tornadoes on fewer days. Tornadoes are also spreading farther east from the region peo- ple have historically thought of as the Great Plains states running south to north from Texas to the Dakotas.
(Central Canada also experiences tornadoes, but fewer than the U.S.) In the past several weeks, tor- nadoes have struck not just the Great Plains but also parts of the Midwest, Appalachia and the Southeast. Spring is typically the busiest time of year for tornadoes. not completely out of the ordi- nary for us to have a very active season right Schroder said. So far in 2024, the United States has had a total of 639 tor- nadoes slightly more than av- erage for this time of year but far fewer than the worst year on re- cord, 2011, when there had al- ready been 1,287 tornadoes by May 7. Houser emphasized, however, that although there are seasonal and geographic patterns, torna- does and do occur any- in the U.S.
Tornadoes are coming in bunches scientists are trying to figure out why A gorgeous morn- ing sunrise is seen at Kealia Beach. COURTESY OF TERRI MANSFIELD TO SUBMIT YOUR Send your photo via email to com; mail to The Garden Island, P.O. Box 231, Lihue, HI 96766; or hand-deliver at 3-3137 Kuhio Highway in Lihue. Submissions become the property of The Garden Island. TONY CENICOLA THE NEW YORK TIMES A birthday balloon drifts in the waters off Jamaica Bay, New York, on Oct.
6, 2021..
