Park rededicated after renovations

A renovated Mo‘oheau Park in downtown Hilo was rededicated Thursday.

The $664,000 in improvements include better accessibility and aesthetics.

The park’s bus terminal, the main transit point for Hele-On bus routes, has a new roof, windows, doors, skylights and paint, and remodeled bathrooms. New concrete walkways meet federal accessibility standards, and there are more parking stalls for the disabled and a ramp to the bandstand.

The Hilo Downtown Improvement Association operates the Hilo Information Center in the bus terminal, offering assistance to residents and visitors.

The park also is a popular site for concerts, political rallies and cultural events held throughout the year.

"It’s a very special place," said Alice Moon of the association. "We love it dearly, and now it’s even better."

Quake hits Big Isle beneath Kilauea

An earthquake rattled Hawaii island early Saturday, but there were no reports of serious damage or injuries.

The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude-4.4 quake hit at 4:37 a.m. beneath Kilauea volcano’s south flank, about seven miles west of Kalapana.

The USGS says the earthquake was widely felt on the island and generated more than 200 responses on its "Did You Feel It?" website.

Scientists say the quake did not have any apparent effect on Kilauea’s ongoing eruption, and that monitoring equipment has not detected significant changes in activity at the summits or rift zones of any other Hawaiian volcanoes.