GENEius science for teens offered at UH Manoa

Students in middle school and high school are invited to apply for the GENE-ius program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, which takes place one Saturday a month during the 2018-2019 academic school year.

The pre-college education program aims to spark interest in science-related fields by making the subject fun with activities. Course topics range from crime scene investigation to examining cell structure to agricultural experiments.

Applications are now being accepted for the lab-based courses, which take place for two or three hours on Saturdays starting at 10 a.m. The priority application deadline is May 31. Tuition for the courses ranges from $279 to $372 for the school year.

For more information and course descriptions, visit geneiusday.org.

USS Arizona Memorial remains closed

The USS Arizona Memorial remains closed to visitors this week due to a structural issue affecting the visitor loading ramp, according to the National Park Service.

The memorial also was closed last week while park officials addressed the ramp’s structural integrity.

After consultation with structural engineers, NPS officials said they are developing a plan for short-term repairs that would allow visitor access to resume as quickly as possible while more permanent repairs are made. The amount of time needed for the short-term repairs is not yet known.

USS Arizona Memorial programs, meanwhile, will continue as scheduled, and visitors will be taken on harbor tours in the vicinity of the memorial instead of disembarking there.

“Please understand that visitor safety is our primary concern, and we thank everyone for their understanding and patience,” NPS officials said in a statement.

The Battleship USS Missouri, the USS Bowfin Submarine & Museum and Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor are not affected and remain open to visitors.

Updates are available at nps.gov/valr and at fb.com/ValorNPS.

Maui

State’s first mumps case for this year is confirmed

The state Health Department reported the first case of mumps this year in a Maui resident who traveled to Oahu.

Meanwhile the number of mumps infections on Oahu over the past year has grown to 985 since the outbreak began in March 2017. The last case of mumps reported on Maui was in November.

“The mumps virus continues to circulate in our communities,” State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park said in a news release. “While the number of new cases we have identified in recent weeks has slowed, this outbreak is not over. The largest number of cases are on Oahu, and because of the ease of inter­-island travel, new cases may continue to emerge on other islands.”

DOH is recommending residents get vaccinated — particularly those born in or after 1957 and those ages 10 to 45 years; stay home for at least nine days after the onset of swelling of the salivary glands; cover coughs and sneezes; and wash hands frequently. In addition, people should avoid sharing food and drinks.

To find a pharmacy for vaccinations, go to bit.ly/2k2UoFI.

Hawaii island

Alleged trespasser faces multiple drug charges

Hawaii island police arrested a 52-year-old man who was allegedly trespassing on private property in North Kohala and charged him with third-degree promoting a dangerous drug, third-degree promoting a detrimental drug and drug paraphernalia.

Police served a search warrant on Steven Dudley Vega, who was allegedly residing illegally on private property in Hawi. Police had received numerous complaints from the community regarding drug activity in a bamboo patch on the property, and Area II Special Enforcement Unit responded Monday.

Vega is being held at the Kona cellblock in lieu of $2,275 bail, pending his initial court appearance.