Sanctuary visitor center to open doors Saturdays
The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary has begun opening its Kihei visitor center on Saturdays.
The Saturday hours will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Its Monday to Friday hours will remain the same, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission is free.
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Visitors advised to watch out for nesting nene
Visitors to Haleakala National Park are advised to be on the lookout for the endangered nene, which are making preparations for nesting.
Hawaiian goose pairs are frequenting roadside areas and parking lots outside and inside the park in preparation for nesting and rearing their young, a Haleakala National Park news release said. This behavior is expected to continue through the nesting season, which ends in April.
Park visitors are reminded to obey posted speed limits and to exercise caution while driving in the park and its surrounding areas. Inclement weather conditions may impair road visibility, especially during the winter months.
There are 250 nene in the park. On average, there has been one nene road fatality per year during the nesting season.
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Biologist to give talk on coral, sponge surveys
Christopher Kelley, a program biologist for the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory, will give a presentation on submersible surveys of coral and sponge communities of Hawaii's deep from 6 to 7 p.m. today at the Maui Ocean Center in Maalaea.
Kelley will share undersea footage taken by submarine cameras. He also will discuss the potential impacts and risks future deep water mining activities may have on the communities. A question and answer period will follow.
Reservations are recommended. Call 270-7088. The event is free and open to the public. Those attending may enter through the aquarium's front gate from 5:50 to 6:15 p.m.
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Kihei Charter School board to hold meeting Dec. 17
The Kihei Charter School Governance Board of Education will be meeting beginning at 4 p.m. Dec. 17 at the middle school.
The middle school is located at 41 E. Lipoa St., Unit 29. For more information, call 875-0700.
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Crater campground, cabin to close for ant control
The Holua campground and cabin at Haleakala Crater will be closed Monday and Dec. 11 for ant control.
Biologists with Haleakala National Park will be working to control the invasive Argentine ants.
