Schofield soldiers to return from Iraq

Soldiers with the 25th Infantry Division are scheduled to return from Iraq this weekend after a yearlong deployment.

The troops are coming home on Sunday as the U.S. proceeds to withdraw its military forces by the end of the year.

The soldiers, whose Hawaii base is Schofield Barracks, have been responsible for advising, training and helping Iraqis throughout central Iraq since early this year.

The 25th Infantry Division headquarters has also been responsible for overseeing the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq.

The soldiers are due to arrive at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. A redeployment ceremony will be held for them afterward at Wheeler Army Airfield.

UH-Manoa graduation set for Saturday

About 750 undergraduates and 450 graduate students will receive degrees Saturday at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s fall commencement program at Stan Sheriff Center.

Computer game designer and clean energy advocate Henk Rogers, a UH-Manoa graduate, will give the commencement address. Rogers is credited with introducing the computer game Tetris to U.S. and world markets. Four years ago he started the Blue Planet Foundation, which supports alternative energy development in Hawaii.

Rogers attended UH-Manoa from 1973 to 1975.

Kilauea’s lava enters the sea

Lava from Kilauea Volcano’s Puu Oo vent has reached the ocean at a spot scientists have named the West Kailiili Ocean Entry, the National Park Service said Wednesday.

It is the first time since 2007 that lava is entering the ocean within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Recent ocean entries have occurred outside the park to the east, through private land and areas within Hawaii County jurisdiction. This ocean entry is near the park’s eastern border, the park service said.

Park visitors are allowed to hike to the site, beginning at the end of Chain of Craters Road. The trek is about four miles one way, across an uneven lava flow field.

Several streams of lava were pouring into the ocean Wednesday, the park service said. Visitors who stay after dark can also see channels of lava flowing down the pali and across the flow field, but conditions can change at any time.

Scientists also confirmed that a lava delta is being formed at the base of a sea cliff at West Kailiili, and are monitoring the area closely. Lava deltas can collapse with little warning, produce hot rock falls inland and generate large local waves.

Blaze chars Kauai cleaners

Fire caused nearly $100,000 in damage to a dry cleaning business Tuesday in Koloa, Kauai, firefighters said.

The fire burned the production room of Up-To-Date Cleaners on Hikina Road. Firefighters from engines 3, 4 and 5 responded to the alarm at 5:43 p.m. and extinguished the fire at 6:21 p.m.

No injuries were reported. Investigators were trying to determine what started the fire, and said they do not suspect foul play.