Funds released for food center

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has released about $1.25 million for the University of Hawaii to develop a food product center on Maui.

The governor’s office said in a statement that the facility is aimed at helping local farmers and entrepreneurs, providing them equipment and space to do research and process foods.

Abercrombie said the Food Innovation Center will also create jobs, provide more locally produced goods for residents and improve Hawaii’s food security.

The center will offer students a chance to learn about various aspects of food processing, such as product design, food safety and marketing, he said.

The University of Hawaii is developing the center at Maui College’s former cafeteria.

Crowds watch lava flow to sea

Kilauea volcano continues to attract crowds to see lava flowing into the sea.

About 450 people made the trek to a Hawaii County viewing point near Kaimu Wednesday night to watch the lava enter the ocean.

Scientists are monitoring a lava delta being formed at the base of a sea cliff at West Kailiili.

Lava deltas can collapse with little warning, produce hot rockfalls inland and generate large local waves.

The lava is not threatening any houses or structures, but has been blasting steam from a point where it reaches the sea along the coast within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, said John Drummond, acting administrator for Hawaii County Civil Defense.

The lava viewing area opens at 2 p.m. and closes at 10 p.m., Drummond said.