SIGHTING: MAUI, HI

Witness Testimony

"On 8/26/02 at 19:50 a white lighted UFO rapidly approached area over Maui and then procededed eastward.On 8/26/2002 at 7:45pm while driving down the western slope of Haleakala crater in Maui, we stopped about 1/4 mile down the volcano from the Lookout (Science City/observation area) at approximate elevation of 9,500 feet to look at stars and planets.Visability was clear-there was no moonlight and no traffic/other lights for more than 20 miles producing exceptional viewing conditions.At about 7:50pm plus or minus 5 minutes my 12 yo son and I (49 yo insurance adjuster and investigator and 3rd yearlaw student)while both looking straight up observed what appeared to be a dim to medium brightness star while remaining in fixed position increase in size and brightness over 15-20 seconds to about 4 or 5 times the size and brightness of the brightest object which my son identified as Jupiter. The light was white at all times. We were alarmed at the speed of the approach and that it seemed headed directly toward us (position fixed). The light was too far out to distinguish shape or size. The object remained stationary a few seconds and then began to dim to the relative size and brightness of surrounding stars. The light then began moving what appeared slowly from directly overhead eastward to 45 degrees (2 minutes elapsed). The lighted object zigged right (south)a few seconds and then resumed an eastward course for about 2 minutes before disappearing over the rim of the volcano.This was our first sighting of a UFO.((NUFORC Note: The flash of an Iridium satellite would have been visible from Keokea, HI, near the national park at 19:46 hrs.. However, an Iridium flash is only a few seconds long. Hence, we doubt that such a flash could have been the cause of this event. Please see the following URL for the Iridium information: http://heavens-above.com/iridium.asp?lat=20.709&lng=-156.358&alt=736&loc=Keokea&TZ=UCT10&Date=37493.5263333333&Dur=2PD))"