The state has cited a California man for flying a drone in a restricted flight zone in Puna.

A state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement office issued a citation to Huawen Wu, 38, of San Jose, Calif., for flying the drone at about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The officer was checking barricades in Nanawale Estates when he spotted a red light in the sky. A short time later he encountered Wu flying a drone from Forest Road near Nanawale Boulevard in a restricted flight zone near the Lava Tree State Monument.

DLNR said the case is also being referred to the Federal Aviation Administration.

At the request of Hawaii County, the FAA placed a temporary flight restriction over a 5-nautical-mile radius of Leilani Estates on May 8, DLNR said. The county is requesting an expansion of the flight restriction due to continued volcanic activity in the area.

Unpermitted drones are not allowed because they can interfere with emergency aircraft operations. The FAA previously had warned drone operators that flying in the restricted zone could result in large fines.

DLNR said only the U.S. Geological Survey, Hawaii Electric Light Co. and the University of Hawaii at Hilo are permitted to operate drones for the purposes of hazard evaluation.

Pahoa man charged for shooting firearm

The 61-year-old Pahoa man arrested for allegedly shooting at a 32-year-old man in Puna has been charged.

John Hubbard was charged Wednesday with two counts of first-degree reckless endangering, five counts of terroristic threatening, one count of first-degree robbery, prohibited ownership of a firearm, failure to properly store a pistol, failure to register a firearm, failure to obtain a gun permit and use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony.

Hubbard made his initial court appearance Thursday at South Hilo District Court. He remains in police custody in lieu of $222,000.

Pahoa pool closed due to Pele’s hair

The Pahoa Community Aquatic Center will be closed until further notice, according to statement by the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation released Thursday.

While preparing the center for its reopening, scheduled for today, staff discovered Pele’s hair (fine threads of volcanic glass formed when lava droplets cool rapidly in the air) had infiltrated the pool and water filtration systems.

Staff will continue to monitor the situation and keep the public informed about a new reopening date, officials said.

USPS to open Sundays to serve evacuees

The U.S. Postal Service is temporarily extending its service hours to Sundays for those customers affected by the Kilauea eruption. The Pahoa Post Office will be open for will call between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sundays to distribute mail and packages to evacuees and residents who were experiencing mail delivery interruptions, according to a statement from the USPS.

It also made clear that Sunday hours are available solely to provide service to residents in evacuated areas, and no retail services will be available at the post office. Change-of-address forms are available at the Recovery Information and Assistance Center at the Pahoa Community Center, where a USPS representative is on-site daily to answer mail delivery questions.