The International Space Station will make two brief but bright passes over Honolulu beginning Saturday, if the weather cooperates.

The station will rise in the south-southwest at 7:47 p.m. Saturday, moving left.

Just before 7:49 p.m., it will pass just above the Southern Cross, low in the southern horizon.

Just before 7:51 p.m., the station will pass between a nearly full moon and Saturn, which the constellation Scorpius appears to be clutching in its left claw.

The station will be a little brighter than Jupiter, but far less bright than Venus, both in the western sky, the latter in the embrace of the Gemini twins. Jupiter is above and to the left of Venus.

The station will blink out of sight in the northeast at just about 7:53 p.m.

At 7:37 p.m. Monday, the station will rise in the southwest and climb toward the top of the sky.

It will pull abreast of Jupiter at 7:40 p.m., forming a straight line with Venus.

A minute later, it will fly through the handle of the Big Dipper and will be visible for another minute or so before disappearing in the northeast.

The space station is currently 249 miles up and traveling at 17,150 mph. It is visible from the ground when illuminated by the sun against a darkened sky, usually in the hour before dawn or after sunset.

Aboard are two Americans, Air Force Col. Terry Virts and retired Navy Capt. Scott Kelly.

Stars aligning on Maui for 2015 film festival

WAILEA, Maui >> Laura Dern, Adam Driver and Colin Farrell will be on Maui next week to accept honors from the 2015 Maui Film Festival, which starts Wednesday and runs through June 7 in Wailea.

Other honorees include Scott Eastwood, Clint’s son, and Teresa Palmer, who will receive the festival’s Rising Star Award. Also being recognized is director Louie Psihoyos, whose film "Racing Extinction" will be screened Thursday.

In addition to star-studded ceremonies, the Maui Film Festival schedule is packed with screenings of life-affirming films and events that will highlight the culture, food and beauty of Maui. Tickets and passes for the festival can be purchased at www.mauifilmfestival.com.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Maui launches alert system to warn folks of emergencies

Maui County officials are urging residents to sign up for Maka’ala, the Maui County Civil Defense Agency’s new emergency alert system.

Maka’ala, which means to be alert, allows Maui Civil Defense officials to create customized messages for residents who register, officials said.

The emergency alerts can be sent directly to mobile devices or personal computers.

If a subscriber does not have an electronic device, Maui Civil Defense will be able to call the person’s home phone to alert them of impending emergencies such as flash-flood and hurricane warnings.

Maui County Emergency Management Officer Anna Foust said that along with putting together an emergency kit and having an evacuation plan, residents should sign up for the Maka’ala updates as another way to be prepared.

To sign up, visit the county website at mauicounty.gov, click on the "Emergency Preparedness" tab on the left then click on "Maka’ala — Maui County Emergency Alert System."

Residents who do not have a computer or other electronic device may call the Maui County Civil Defense Office at 270-7285 and ask to be signed up over the phone.

Volunteers will be taking sign-ups at the Maui County Disaster Preparedness Expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 6 at Queen Kaahumanu Shopping Center.