Shark sighting closes Haena Beach

Kauai Ocean Safety officials closed Haena Beach to swimming on Saturday after a shark was sighted offshore.

According to a Kauai Fire Department release, lifeguards spotted a 4-foot blacktip reef shark shortly after 3:30 p.m.

Signs were posted to warn beachgoers. Lifeguards will reassess the situation this morning to determine if the beach can be reopened.

Small blacktips are very common in Hawaiian waters and usually ignore or avoid humans.

Spot space station this week

Early risers will get several chances to view the International Space Station this week, if the clouds cooperate.

On Thursday, the space station will rise in the southwest at about 5:24 a.m. and arc to the left. It will pass under the Square of Pegasus — exactly at the top of the sky — between 5:27 and 5:28 a.m., at which point it will be above Venus in the east.

It will blink out of sight in the southeast at about 5:30 a.m.

On Friday, it will rise at 4:34 a.m. and move to the left, passing under Venus at 4:37 a.m.

It will remain visible for another minute or so.

On Saturday, the space station will rise in the west at about 5:17 a.m. and move to the right. At 5:21 a.m., it will pass just under the North Star.

It will vanish in the northeast at about 5:23 a.m.