The Kula Forest Reserve on Maui will be closed to the public from Monday to Friday and from Sept. 28-Oct. 2 so repairs to the forest access road can be completed, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources said yesterday.

There will be two additional closure days in October, which will be announced later.

Signs will be posted at all road entry points.

Last year, DLNR carried out the initial phase of repairs to rebuild the road bank and repave a mile of the access road. The road and culvert to divert water from the road were initially damaged by emergency vehicles responding to the 2006-2007 wildland fire.

The road sustained additional damage during the severe rainstorm in December 2007.

UH GETS $6.95M FOR ASTRONOMY PROJECT

The University of Hawai'i will receive $6,953,993 from the National Science Foundation for an infrared astronomical research project, U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye's office said yesterday.

Infrared astronomy studies the night sky by scanning for heat rather than light because many celestial objects are invisible, except for the heat they give off. By studying these mysterious parts of the universe, scientists learn more about the galaxy and its origins.

The funding for this project, designated "Development of the H4RG-15," will be used to produce a large detector array for infrared light. At 16 million pixels, the new detector will be the largest infrared array ever made.

"Advances like this ensure that the University of Hawai'i stays on the cutting edge of astronomical science, but it also means that we have better opportunities to grow a high-tech industry at home to support astronomy in Hawai'i and potentially all over the world," Inouye said in a statement.

BIG ISLE POLICE SEEK MISSING WOMAN

Hawai'i County police are asking for the public's help in finding a 50-year-old woman who went missing from a Hilo care home Thursday.

Cheryl Pavao was last seen leaving her care home on Hokulani Street at 6:30 a.m. as a passenger in the Hawai'i County Economic Opportunity Council transport van.

Pavao was transported to Hale 'Oluea Clubhouse on Kilauea Avenue and was expected to return to the care home at 3 p.m.

Pavao has been known to travel to the Puna area, specifically Hawaiian Paradise Park. She suffers from a medical condition that requires medication.

She is described as 5 feet 1 and 108 pounds, with a tan complexion and shoulder-length brown hair. Pavao was last seen wearing a brown jacket and blue denim jeans.

Police ask that anyone with information on her whereabouts call Officer Blaine Morishita at 961-2211, the police nonemergency line at 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.

WAI'ANAE SHELTER HOLDING FUNDRAISER

A Wai'anae homeless shelter, the Pai'olu Kaiaulu Transitional Shelter, will hold a car wash and bake sale fundraiser today from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wai'anae Civic Center, next to the Wai'anae Neighborhood Community Center.

The fundraiser will support the planned "Taste of Cultural Diversity" event at Pai'olu Kaiaulu, scheduled for March 6, 2010. Proceeds from that event will help homeless people living along the Wai'anae Coast.