Book all about bugs shows magnified views of creepy crawlies
"Bug Shots: The Good, the Bad, and the Bugly" (Holiday House, $16.95) gives the lowdown on creepy crawlers from bugs that bite and drink blood to those with the power to destroy gardens.
Author Alexandra Siy provides an up-close look at bedbugs, beetles, butterflies, ants, flies and other critters. Under the premise of an inquiry by the FBI — that is, a Fellow Bug Investigator — the bugs are assessed, making for an entertaining read. In the end the bugs are deemed guilty, like the malaria-carrying Anopheles mosquito, or innocent, like the pollinating blue mud wasp.
Greatly magnified images show rarely seen details of the insects, like the claw of a monarch butterfly that it uses to grip flower petals, or the bent antenna on a red ant that helps it follow chemical trails.
The photomicrographs — photographs of subjects through a microscope — were created by Kailua resident Dennis Kunkel, and magnify the insect parts from 10 to 300,000 times their actual size.
It’s enough to make your skin crawl.
Try local treats at school ho‘olaule‘a
Celebrate Hawaiian style at the Kamehameha Schools Ho‘olaule‘a from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 25, at the Kapalama Campus. The theme this year is "‘O Ka Lama E Ho‘omalamalama: The Torch That Brings Light."
Enjoy music by Touch of Gold, Waipuna, Ho‘okena, Mana‘o Company and Nesian N.I.N.E. as well as Kamehameha Schools’ music and dance groups.
Food options include Hawaiian plates, Korean plates, Kamehameha Schools’ Famous Brownies and neighbor island specialties like Kauai kulolo, Molokai bread and Kona coffee.
Adults can shop at the country store, buy a haku lei or participate in a silent auction, while keiki can bounce in inflatables or try their hand at the dunking booth, crafts and games.
Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome. Free parking is available, as is free shuttle service from Damien Memorial School, Kapalama Elementary School and Honolulu Community College.
Contact Kamehameha Schools Parent & Alumni Relations at 842-8680 or visit www.parents.ksbe.edu for more information.
Science Symposium for Girls will nurture curious scholars
Sacred Hearts Academy presents its annual Science Symposium for Girls on March 3 from 8 to 11:30 a.m. with a mission to encourage "girls to dream big."
Hands-on workshops are taught by a nutritionist, a maritime archaeologist, a doctor and other scientists. The symposium is free and open to girls in grades 5 to 8. Students choose two sessions from a selection of 18 workshops in the areas of math, science, engineering and technology.
Meanwhile, parents can learn techniques to encourage their daughters to overcome hurdles and achieve goals.
The featured speaker is Donna McAleer, the award-winning author of "Porcelain on Steel: Women of West Point’s Long Gray Line." McAleer will discuss how she overcame career obstacles and developed leadership skills, while demonstrating how science is applicable on a daily basis.
The symposium is attended by about 400 girls and 200 parents each year.
To register, call 734-5058, ext. 262, or visit www.sacredhearts.org and click on the science symposium tab.
