Satellite will put on flashy but brief show
If the weather cooperates, a satellite passing over Oahu will put in a brief but bright appearance Friday.
When the Iridium 63 satellite reflects the sun’s light at 8:09 p.m., the flash will be more brilliant than Venus, which is low in the western sky, but will last just seconds.
The light will be in the north, just left of the North Star, and nearly in line with the two pointer stars of the Big Dipper, 23 degrees above the horizon, or about one-fourth of the way to the top of the sky. Polaris is at 21.3 degrees.
Iridium satellites, which have highly reflective antennas, provide voice and data coverage for satellite phones and other receivers. They orbit at a height of 485 miles.
Two other Iridium satellites will flash in the same area Sunday and Monday, but not quite as bright. Iridium 13 will appear at 7:56 p.m. Sunday, and Iridium 50 at 7:50 p.m. Monday.
Harbor police get new patrol vessel
State transportation officials dedicated a new lead harbor police patrol boat Wednesday in Honolulu Harbor.
The 27-foot, aluminum-hull vessel was christened Kia‘iawa, meaning "harbor guardian" and will patrol Honolulu Harbor and Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor, according to a state Department of Transportation news release.
It replaces the Moku Makai, a 21-foot Boston Whaler, which served 15 years as the primary police vessel.
"The Kia‘iawa will give our harbor police increased mobility and better tools to protect our ports," Transportation Director Glenn Okimoto said in a statement Wednesday.
The new boat cost about $390,000 and was fully funded by a federal grant, according to the department. It features upgraded equipment, including better radar, GPS and depth-finding devices, the release said.
Maui officials seek to engage the community
Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa will host the next County on Your Corner from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday outside the Pukalani Superette.
Joining Arakawa at the event will be Planning Director Will Spence, Housing and Human Concerns Director Jo-Ann Ridao, Public Works Director David Goode and Executive Assistants John Buck and Mike Molina.
"It is important to connect with the community," Arakawa said in a statement.
"County on Your Corner, which will typically be scheduled in a different location each month, is a good way for members of my Cabinet and myself to interact with community members on the issues that are of most interest to them."
Call 270-7855.
Fire department invites families to fun run, walk
The Hawaii Fire Department is sponsoring the 13th annual EMS Family Fun Run/Walk, Keiki Fun Run and Health Fair on Aug. 3 at Lili‘uokalani Park in Hilo.
The 5-kilometer Family Fun Run and 2-mile walk begin and end at Lili‘uokalani Park. Both events will begin at 8:30 a.m. A Keiki Fun Run, a noncompetitive event for children ages 3 to 10, will be held at the park after the 5K run.
Applications may be downloaded from http://bit.ly/11YC7wM; picked up at the Spencer Health and Fitness Center, the Fire Administration office at the County Building, 25 Aupuni St., Suite 2501, in Hilo, or at any district fire station; or by calling 932-2900 during business hours.
The entrance fee is $20 for adults and $10 for youth, students and those age 60 and up.
