UH scientist honored for meteorite studies

A University of Hawaii scientist known for groundbreaking work on meteorites is due to be honored at a conference on Kauai this week.

Klaus Keil is known for pioneering quantitative studies of minerals in meteorites and making important contributions to the understanding of the nature, origin and evolution of the bodies meteorites came from.

An asteroid and a mineral are named after him — the asteroid is called 5054 Keil and the mineral is keilite.

The conference Tuesday is being co-hosted by the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, the NASA Astrobiology Institute and the Institute for Astronomy.

Keil will turn 77 soon after the workshop and will retire next summer from the University of Hawaii.

Woman put on probation in assault case

A Waiehu, Maui, woman who failed to report allegations that her now ex-boyfriend was sexually assaulting her children has avoided a jail term but has been sentenced to 15 years of probation.

As part of a plea agreement, Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo on Friday suspended a one-year jail term for 32-year-old Nichol Viena but turned down a request by her attorneys to allow her a chance to clear her record if she successfully completes the probation.

The Maui News reports that Viena’s sentencing comes after she pleaded no contest to first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and to two counts of first-degree hindering prosecution for not reporting incidents involving her now ex-boyfriend, William Barrios, and her children.

Barrios is scheduled to go on trial Jan. 9.

Daylight saving time ends on mainland

Clocks on the mainland were turned back an hour today as daylight saving time ended.

Residents of Hawaii, most of Arizona and some U.S. territories do not have to change since they do not observe daylight saving time.

The time difference between Hawaii and the East Coast is now five hours, and the West Coast two hours.

Public safety officials say this is also a good time to put a new battery in the smoke alarm, no matter where you live.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Hike at new volcano trail

The Friends of Hawaii Volcanoes Park will hold its next "Sunday Walk in the Park" from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 13. The program, on the second Sunday of each month, is aimed at bringing together members of the Friends group to experience the park’s trails.

Led by Nick Shema, this month’s walk will explore the newly opened Palm Trail in the park’s Kahuku Unit.

The Palm Trail is a 2.6-mile loop through scenic pasture, along an ancient cinder cone, "with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer," Shema said.

To get to the Palm trailhead, take the park’s Kahuku entrance, between mile markers 70 and 71 on Highway 11 in Kau. The Palm trailhead is two miles up the unpaved main road. Bring water and lunch, and be prepared for inclement weather.

"Sunday Walk in the Park" is free for Friends members, and nonmembers are welcome to join the nonprofit organization to attend. Annual memberships are $30 for individuals and $45 for families.

To register, contact Friends of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park at 985-7373 or admin@fhvnp.org. For details, visit www.fhvnp.org. Entry to Kahuku is free.

HI-5 center on Kauai moves

The Kilauea, Kauai, HI-5c bottle redemption center has been relocated to the Anaina Hou grounds in Kilauea, Kauai County said. The move took place on Wednesday.The redemption center is on the mauka side of the highway behind the Kauai Mini Golf Course.

Operating hours of the Kilauea redemption center will be Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with no break for lunch.