Akoni Perry, 10, turns on his lightsaber made from a straw and an LED light June 19 during a craft session where participants made their own mini lightsabers at Hilo Public Library.

2019 BIRMA scholarship awarded

KAILUA-KONA — Those blue bike ubiquitous around Kailua-Kona?

Summer visitation at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has increased but the number of parking places at popular areas along Kilauea volcano’s summit have not, leading to frustration and citations for illegal parking.

An innovative strategy to use unmanned aircraft systems and remote sensing devices to detect a fungus decimating Hawaiian forests earned Ryan Perroy of the University of Hawaii at Hilo the $70,000 Ohia Challenge prize.

Volcano Art Center’s Hula Arts at Kilauea performance series continues at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 20, with a presentation of hula kahiko by Halauolaokalani under the direction of kumu hula Moses Kaho‘okele Crabbe.

West Texas rancher and painter Alice Leese, selected as July’s artist in residence at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, will unveil her evocative, colorful paintings, which were inspired by the park’s volcanic landscapes, as part of the park’s After Dark in the Park program at 7 p.m. today in the Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium. The program is free, but park entrance fees apply.

Michiko Ryan, center, celebrated her 100th birthday June 23. She has been a member with Pomaikai Senior Club for more than 10 years. She participants in the ukulele entrainment group, which performs 12 shows a year at various care centers. Ryan also loves Mah Jong and Rummie Cube and is a wicked player.