Per request, here are some eruption pictures: PAHOEHOE LAVA LAVA RIVER (darker center is due to cooling crust formation - an early stage in the formation of a lava tube. FIREHOSE LAVA POURING OUT OF THE END OF A LAVA TUBE INTO THE SEA

TOOTHPASTE LAVA - the stage when pahoehoe is beginning to turn to a'a. THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU BUILD YOUR STREETS AND HOMES ON AN ACTIVE RIFT ZONE I am still hunting for a good a'a picture and good fountaining from a cinder cone. That tomorrow...hopefully!

This is absolutely amazing stuff, Marcia. The photos are BRILLIANT!

Thanks Dear! Today I will post what it SOUNDS like - perhaps the most amazing of all - and more great photos from the USGS who runs the Volcano Observatory.

Wow! Some of them - e.g. the first one they really look like some kind of strange art -GREAT!

7 Die in Honolulu Shooting 22:33EST By BRUCE DUNFORD Associated Press Writer 11/02/99 HONOLULU (AP) -- In the latest outburst of workplace violence, a Xerox copier repairman shot and killed seven co-workers in his office building Tuesday morning, authorities said. He surrendered after a five-hour armed standoff with police. Police believe Byran Uyesugi, a 15-year Xerox employee, shot seven copier technicians at about 8 a.m. (1 p.m. EST) before fleeing in a company van. "It appears as though it was a disgruntled employee who snapped," Mayor Jeremy Harris said. Police would not comment on a motive. The gunman stopped several miles from the office building, in a leafy, residential neighborhood. Police cordoned off the area and began negotiating with him about two hours later. Some five hours after the shooting, Uyesugi emerged from the van, walked to the back of the vehicle with his hands raised and then fell down on the ground. His brother had helped in the negotiations. SWAT teams raced toward him with automatic weapons drawn. No shots were heard and no injuries were reported. Uyesugi, 40, was being booked for investigation of first-degree murder, which carries a mandatory penalty of life without parole. "It's a shock for all of us. We have such a safe community with almost no violent crime," Harris said. "To have someone snap like this and murder seven people is just absolutely appalling." The gunfire erupted in an industrial section of Honolulu, far from the Waikiki tourist district. Five victims were found dead in a conference room and two other bodies were found nearby. All had been shot with a 9 mm handgun, authorities said. Police found 20 9 mm shell casings at the scene. At Uyesugi's home, they found 11 handguns, 5 rifles and two shotguns. The victims -- male Xerox employees -- were shot on the second floor of the two-story building, authorities said. They ranged in age from 33 to 58. Uyesugi was a member of his high school rifle team and had up to 17 weapons registered in his name. "This could have been much, much worse," Harris said. By late morning in Makiki Heights, a residential neighborhood near the shooting scene, negotiators were talking with the suspect through a bullhorn. He was seen pacing back and forth outside the van. Police cordoned off a half-mile area around his van, which was near the Hawaii Nature Center. About 60 fourth-graders and 12 chaperones were on a nature hike when police told them to get to higher ground. A school bus with two rifle-toting police officers then took the students to safety. A separate group of first-graders on a field trip also were evacuated in the afternoon. About 10 homes were also evacuated. Neighborhood residents set up lawn chairs in the streets to watch the situation unfold. Xerox employees were taken across the street from the building to be questioned by police and helped by counselors. Another Xerox building, in downtown Honolulu, was evacuated in case the gunman headed that way. Xerox employs 92,700 people worldwide and 148 people in Honolulu. Uyesugi joined Xerox Corp. in 1984. As a customer service engineer, he traveled to various sites to service and repair printers and copiers, Xerox said.

Talk about the Hawaii Visitors Bureau nightmare... Let me hasten to add that this happened on Oahu which is 5 islands away from us and 200 statute miles. We are fine, but distressed that it happened.

This on top of the plane crash on a slow news day (which as a small plane would have received little play if it hadn't happened on Sunday). It is no wonder that Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris took over official spokesperson duties himself. This was spin control at the highest level here (where was Gov. Ben Cayetano? On a Vegas junket? With a mistress?) With the dock strike averted, why didn't he weigh in on this?

The gunman, Byran Uyesugi, 40, was a quiet man who lived with his father in a working-class residential neighborhood in Nu`uanu (in the foothills just above downtown Honolulu). There are stories circulating (Xerox is denying them), that they were about to downsize their Honolulu workforce and he was among those being downsized, which is why he was not actually at the meeting. He had 17 firearms registered to him, and was a 1977 graduate of Roosevelt High School in Honolulu, where he had been the star of -the riflery team. He was a crack shot. It is rare that someone could go into an office, expend so few rounds and leave all intended victims dead. They may have been about to downsize the wrong person. This guy should have been a mob hitman.

Hi Iam Firasona What to get Friends Pleaz

Welcome Firasona! Please write something and tell us about yourself. Where do you live? It is easy to make friends here...all you need to do is write to us and post it here or other places on spring. Aloha!

John, at least they got the perpetrator live so they may be able to get inside his head and find out what was bothering him...but with an arsenal like he had at home, I am not surprised that this was its outcome. Our Governor has a mistress when he has a new cute and savvy wife who has been keeping a higher profile than he has lately?! How scuzzy of him! Politics as usual, I guess!

I'm only guessing about the mistress. I don't know. His cute and savvy wife started as one, remember? (Actually she started out as a cute little girl in Elvis's Hawaii movies, but that's another story.) Then Benny boy dumped his original cute and savvy wife. I only think it very strange that he let Harris steal what should have been his thunder. And, as it turns out, Uyesugi was convicted of criminal property damage in 1989 for an incident where he damaged an elevator at work after having allegedly threatened a Xerox supervisor. If they did not either get rid of him or get him anger management treatment then, then Xerox must--whether they like it or not--share in the responsibility for this tragedy and travesty. I would also think that they are going to be liable in some big money lawsuits. I wouldn't doubt that there are lawyers already conta ting families of the deceased.

After he had that heart attack or whatever with this newer and improved cutie model, perhaps he is letting others do the labor while he basks in the warmth of the coldest Governor's Mansion I have ever been in...?! I think anger management should be mandatory in employment as well as HERassment or whatever they call it...Lawyers are salivating since the very moment that little bit of info was released.

What is the fastest the ash and the lava has traveled? Katie Dear Katie, Some pyroclastic flows have estimated minimum velocities of 360 miles/hour. Scott Rowland has talked about the velocity of lava flows in a previous question. Steve Mattox, University of North Dakota

ha-ha! You sure know how to put some spin onto the agony aunt thing. You know, where people write to tell you their problems - except with you they write to get in touch with their red hot interests....

It's obvious that Xerox is already trying to buy out the families cheaply. Sending the company prez/CEO to Hawaii and starting a college fund for the families with $50,000 seed money (enough to send one child to a top-rate school). 50K is a paltry sum for a corporation with Xerox's means, and I'm sure family attorneys will point that out. But here in Hawaii, the gesture is often what counts, and some of these mostly Japanese-American families will probably not wish to sue a company that has made such " eautiful gestures" towards them. Shame. The second Uyesugi threatened a supervisor he should have been canned--damaged elevator or no.

Ree, have you been reading Fittness conf lately?! Amazing, is it not? I was just being friendly...!

Actually, I think i worded my welcome thingy a incorrectly...*sigh* No wonder he wanted me to write to him! (We have loads of Agony Aunties over here, also!)

Agony Aunt is good. Just imagine all those souls craving to sit at your feet at stare at you in amazement.... It is of course up to you to reveal what you think they ought to be aquainted with. �grin�

Yes, I know...Sometimes I am far too accommodating...I'll have to watch that. I guess I scared him - he never responded to my email!

He probably ate it from sheer lust!

*lol* I don't think so! You would not believe how innocent that quick two sentences was that I sent to him really was. If he ate that from sheer lust, he has a better imagination than anyone else in the entire world (or is smoking funny stuff!)

Well, imaginations are pretty fierce things, you know... Especially if your two lines contained words like 'blow', 'hot flames', 'runny hot substance' - ya know, all thadda scientific stuffs.

Oh yes...You do not have to remind me of the erupting and flowing and ejecta and so forth...most evocative!

(but I did not mention them to that new guy...unless he was lurking in here...must check. I know he has been to Geo. ....uh oh!!!)

Hey ho, ho hey!!!

Yup...he was there, as well. Hmmm... Do you think I have gotten my very own Tim? Perish the thought!

You don't want that, believe me!

One of my first "jobs" upon being taken into the fold (so to speak) was toread all of the posts before I got there. I read all about your travails. I would not wish them on anyone - no even someone I truly disliked. I believe you!

Ree: "Hey ho, ho hey!!!" Hey, we ain't go no ho's round here!

The only ho we have is Hana Ho which is loosely translated as 'one for time' or 'do it again'... otherwise we all be ladies on the Spring...*smile*

Hana ho...."one more time" (not what got posted before I could grab it back)

Where's the best beach?

On The Big Island, Hapuna or any of the beaches on the North Kona - Kohala coast (west side of the island). On the rest of the islands, there are many - almost all beaches are best for whatever you want to do. Some are better for snorkling, some better for surfing.

I just asked the male of the manse and he said Kauai (South Pacific was filmed there)has the best beaches, but I think they tend to be too small. He agrees with me that Waikiki Beach is a tourist trap and totally unfit - hardly any sand and what there is has tourists and people selling you stuff all over it. Avoid! Our island is so BIG that there are beaches all along the coasts some of which hardly ever see occupation. Just be ready for a little hike to it from the road.

Where's the best swimming?

The best swimming is on the protected shores of the West and South coasts of the Islands. The North Coasts are the roughest and that is where Bonzai Beach and Pipeline are on Oahu where they hold the surfing championships each year. We have no north-facing beaches on the Big Island - towering cliffs comprise our North Coast. The Northeast is the direction from which our trade winds come and can be stormy, choppy or placid depending on the weather systems in the Eastern Pacific at the time (as with the est of the beaches, for that matter.) That is the side on which Hilo is situated. We have a 2 mile breakwater protecting Hilo Bay from big combers (ineffectual against Tsunamis), but the harbor gets storm surges in the winter which make all but the biggest ships anchor away from the piers.

Where's the best place to sip margueritas and watch the sun dip in to the ocean?

It has to be the Kona - Kohala coast which is west-facing. Anywhere along that coast, where whales will entertain you as the sun sinks slowly into a molten gold sea and salutes you with a "green Flash." They actually do happen, and I have even seen an aquamarine flash once. Most memorable. Huggo's is right on the beach and serves excellent food at big prices, but all dining rooms and bistros in Kailua-town would accommodate you with a view and Margarita, from Drysdale's to the dining room of the King Kamehameha Hotel to the truly upscale Mauna Kea Beach Resort... Sippin'um from your own lanai is nice, as well. Relaxed and lovely, especially nice with special company...*smile*

Huggo's sounds cool, but I was looking for something in the hills or mountains, with a commanding view of the islands and ocean. Any place fit that bill?

Oh yeah! I thought you wanted to have the water lapping at your feet. The mountainside in Kona is a steep one into which the main highways have been cut. Along the lower and upper ones there are plenty of places to stay. One rated 4 lips (their highest rating) on 'Best Places to Kiss' on the Travel Channel (a Bed and Breakfast with a huge view.) The best way to see the mountains is from Hilo. Any hotel on Banyan Drive will offer you a sunset over the mountains with snowy peaks. The two biggest are the Naniloa and the Hilo Hawaiian. John lives just a few doors down from there...gotta get him back in here to tell you of his view. Your best bet, however to see any other islands (Maui is visible from our island but it takes a very clear day to see the rest at all, and then they are mere bluish bars on the horizon) is Kona for scenery or Maui looking back at us.

You're getting warmer, looking for a. restaurant that serves great food and margueritas b. spectacular view of ocean and other islands c. facing west for sunsets

The Kona Ranch House is my favorite. It is in Kailua-town in a remodelled old home. Lovely setting and the best food at that altitude. Very special service, as well; I had Happy Birthday sung to me by the entire dining populace as well as wait-staff and a little cake with a candle was presented to me. I think great Margaritas are avasilable anywhere in Kona except for the obvious fast food places. You need to reserve one of the few ocean view tables ahead, though. That is its one drawback...thinking...most of the places with great views and great food are at sea level, I'm afraid, but you can see rare green sea turtles and loggerhead turtles, whales, dolphin (including spinners), and take in the tide pools after dinner to see night life on the reef. Fascinating and very colorful. Most tidepools are flood-lit so you can see the fishies and things in there better.

I have just fired off an email to a friend in Kona to ask her the same questions just in case I have forgotten one. Do you care which island this is on? I am not terribly familiar with the other Islands as I have not gone island-hopping in many years.

I also emailed John with your questions and told him to get his okole back in here.

THIS FROM JOHN: the other islands part makes that one tough...the islands aren't that close together...otherwise I'd say Jamieson's in Kona and the Kona Inn Restaurant fills the other two requirements (although at Jamieson's I'd order Irish coffee instead of margaritas).

Oh, and he said he would be posting again but had to straighten something out first...*smiling happily*

Tell me more about this two places and what they're like! (living vicariously in Hawaii is fun).

(Living here is even better) I can tell you about the Kona Inn Restaurant It is seaside and you can either dine indoors or out on the grassy sward dotted with just the right number of palm trees. The grass is rolled and kept quite short, so it is like carpeting. No bugs to bother you there...sparrows and mynah birds may beg a little, but they are easily ignored. Each table has candles, table cloth and the whole works. You are not dining like a savage in this place. The indoor part is mostly glass d ors which can be accordioned open or shut depending on the weather. It is truly lovely. The sound you hear are palm fronds rattling gently in the cooling breezes, live Hawaiian music from the little stage which straddles the space between the dining room and the bar and is open to the lawn, and waves gently lapping at the shore just a little way from you. No sea gulls here, so no noise from them.

This from John: Jamison's has kind of an Irish pub atmosphere inside and a lanai outside and tiki torches--romantic after dark. Kona Inn is an indoor-outdoor establishment on the beach with a seawall. Both have good steaks and a very well-done American-style menu. At the Kona Inn, make sure you eat a slice of "mud pie," a sinfully rich chocolate ice cream pie. Huggo's is a terrific seafood restaurant, with dancing after dining hours. All are on the water in Kailua-Kona, which I think, has some of the best sunsets this side of heaven. On a very clear day with no vog, one can see Maui, but that is rare in Kona as most of the haze from the volcano goes to that side. Taeng-On Thai is a second-story establishment on Kona's Ali`i Drive (also on the waterfront). Sahm, the chef is an amazing woman. The food is not only great, but the service is terrific. And my buddy, Joe (Sahm's significant other), a scary-looking Guamanian with a shaved head (he's actually a really nice guy, but can take care of business as a bouncer, if need be) who tends bar there makes as good a Margarita as I've ever had. They used to have a Hilo restaurant as well, but sold it to friends when the Kona place started to get so much business that they could no longer take care of both. Joe is also a terrific Mexican chef. He could open up the best Mexican restaurant on the island tomorrow, but prefers working with Sahm (both are workaholics, so it's a good relationship).

And all these places have great views of sunsets?

They do, and so do the following which came from a lady of independent means in Kona: If price is no object Pahui'a at the 4 Seasons. Otherwise Tres Hombres in Kawaihae, also the canoe house at Mauna Lani, and Jamieson's and Kona Inn. On Maui I would go for the dining room at the Prince or the 4 Seasons, although there are good places in Kaanapali too. On Kauai I would go for the Beach house in Poipu, even though it faces south, it should not be missed. On Oahu I would opt for either under the Hau tree at the Kaimana Beach Hotel, or La Mer at the Halekulani. The Kahala Mandarin also has a great setting. How much money do they want to spend, these places are, for the most part, costly..

Are houses outrageously expensive?

YES! The house we bought on a 1/3 acre corner lot for $25,700 is now estimated for tax purposes to be worth $170,000. The house is nothing special...and this is on an "outer island" where we actually own the land it is sitting on. On Oahu they cost twice as much for half the house (or condo), and you are almost always on "leased land" which means you are renting it and have a limited amount of time before you move your house or surrender it!

Hi Marcia, an article I was reading last night was really interesting. 'Linguistic inequality in Hawaii: The post-creole dilemma' 'The people of Hawaii form one of the most ethnically diverse communities in the US. Hawaii is, in fact, the only american state where no single ethnic group comprises a majority and where most of the people come from Asia and a myriad of Pacific Islands rather than from Europe or Africa.' I wasn't really clear from it if there are two Hawaiian languages - a pidgin and a creole. Hawaiian Pidgin English appears to be a mix of Hawaiian and English vocabulary embedded in the grammatical structure of a speaker's native language - they give examples from a Japanese background and Filipino background. What do you think? One example I liked (from a Japanese speaker): samtain gud rod get, samtain, olsem ben get, enguru get, no? sometimes-good-road-get, sometimes, all same-bend-get, angle get, no? enikain sem, Olsen hyumen life, olsen gud rodu get, enguru set, mauntin any kind-same, all same-human-life, sometimes-good-road-get, angle get, mountain get - no? get 'Sometimes there's a good road, sometimes there's something llike a bend, and angle, right? Everything's like that. Human life is the same. there are good roads, there are angles, there are mountains - right?'

Pidgin is a collection of all languages but mostly fractured English. It is much easier to understand than to read what the writer though it sounded like. Pidgin is almost 1/2-1/2 English and Hawaiian spoken with ethnic accents...and most of the local ethnic accents have become more amalgamated than this above would imply. I forwarded your post to John for his comments. He is better by far to comment on it than I am. Your translation was correct as close as I can tell...;)

From John Burnett The local language is totally creolized. But here locally we call it "pidgin." Linguists call it Hawaii Creole English or HCE for short. "Pidgins" are made-up languages that haven't become the everyday language of a place. They are used to facilitate communication between differing racial and ethnic groups. A language becomes "creolized" when it becomes the lingua franca (everyday first language) of a significant population sector. Therefore there really is no more pidgin in socioliguists and ethnolinguists terms in Hawaii. The locals will never start calling the local lingo "Creole" though--that is a linguists term. The example from the Japanese speaker she cites is obviously pre-WWII. Almost nobody talks like that anymore, even FOBs ("fresh off the boats"). "Bin" or "Ben" (a grammatical place marker denoting the next verb as past tense) as long been replaced by "wen" or "win." Everybody in Hawaii can pronounce a "d" and would not use the "ru." That's totally Japanese immigrant. Not everyone can pronounce the "th" consonant blend, though. It comes across as a hard "t" or a "d" depending on grammatical context with HCE speakers. I wonder if the article that is cited is by Suzanne Romaine. I am familiar with the speech cited here. Romaine, author of "Pidgins and Creole Languages" is the Merton Chair Professor of English at Oxford and a giant in pidgin and creole languages, especially Tok Pisin of Papua New Guinea, but is also expert at HCE. I highly recommend the book if Maggie doesn't have it. Romaine does research here and usually teaches summer courses at UH-Hilo. She owns a home in lower Puna. And yes, I was her student.

John never lets me down and I should have asked him before I posted what I did. Thank you for your excellent discussion of Creole/pidgin. ...THE Suzanne Romaine?! No wonder you are so accomplished. You continue to impress even en absentia. *hugs* John!

I'm impressed! Yes, I have read Romaine's book ( and others). I'm not at all surprised that the quote was pre-WWII but I wish the suthor had said so. It was in Sato, Charles, 1985, 'Linguistic Inequality in Hawaii: the Post-Creole Dilemma' in Wolfson, N. & Manes, J. (1985) Language of Inequality, Seireis: contributions to the sociology of language edited by Joshua Fishman, Mouton Publishers I get very frustrated when modern authors rely on second hand outdated data to make a point. However, to be fair, perhaps I didn't read the article thoroghly enough and the change is noted. I knew Romaine worked extensively in PNG I didn't know about Hawii, or that she taught there.

Now, for a little bit o spam. WIN A FREE TRIP TO HAWAII FROM OFFICE 2000 http://www.microsoft.com/misc/officecontest/ Enter today to win the Microsoft Office 2000 "Ultimate Coffee Break"--on the Kon a Coast on the "Big Island" of Hawaii, home of some of the best coffee in the wo rld. You could also win a copy of Office 2000 Premium. So spread the word, and p ass this link to your friends (but don't forget to enter yourself first!). For c ontest details and official rules, visit the online address above.

Gee! I did not see that offer...hmmm...wonder what they'd give me if I won...!

2000 cups of Kona coffee?

Whoopee! Or,they could give us 2000 miles of limo service...to and from Basketball games or something. Do you realize the problems 2000 cups of Kona coffee would cause in one individual's sleeping habits? Too horrible to contemplate!

Ahhhh it's only for people in the US - cheapskates!!

...and, like so many others, they do not think of Hawaii as being part of the United States even though we just celebrated our 40th anniversary as a state! Hey, Bill Gates might be down to his last $100 Billion...poor baby!

Hey where did the new buttons come from - and what is Kill?????

Please do not touch any buttons you do not know about. It will kill the topic and it will disappear entirely. Everyone has these and there is a very real problem with that!!!

Only the hosts of the conference should lave access to the kill button and the other curious ones up there. Please leave them alone!!! (I am saying this to everyone who can see this!)

I think the kill button will only work for hosts and folks who create the topics. Best to leave it alone unless in a drastic emergency, Maybe we could make it smaller and less prominent and rename it to 'annihilate'. Something more user friendly.

Good idea! I am happy it looks so deadly and different from the rest. I would hate to hit it by mistake. Btw, are the files still available in telnet after they have been "killed" or is it instant oblivion? Just wondering...not contemplating using it...EVER!

Whew!! I'm glad I asked

I juat hope others are not so curious that they play with the "new" buttons before asking... We just might have problems of monumental proportions!

I just hope...sorry! Better flake out for a little while...

The buttons have now disappeared. However, so has England in this conference - yes, still!

Praise be! I cannot tell because I am a host...! Thanks for telling me that, Maggie.

If England has disappeared I shall reinstate it!

Ta muchly

Let me know if you need help with the English restoratoin.

Terry, it is there big as life and updated by me as regards the missing posts. If she has trouble getting in, I do not know why that should be!

Hi, yes I am still having difficulties. I can get in on the address marcia gave me, but not through the travel conference - which I get to no problem because it doesn't appear in my topic listing. Wierd! I've made a bookmark to it from the address marcia gave me and will get in that way for now.

oops missed out a hyphen. Meant to say : I can get in on the address Marcia gave me, but not through the travel conference - which I get to no problem - because England doesn't appear in my topic listing (after I selected 'all')

Yup, Terry, Topic 20 England is missing from travel/all. I just checked!

Oh good, I thought I was hallucinating!

Now, both of the posts you made - here and in 20 showed up on my hotlist but when I came in here to travel/all/new it showed it as no new responses. They must still be tweaking the system.

The NBC Today is live from Kileua today and they're showing spectacular pictures of lava flows. It's 2 am in Hawaii. I'm taping some of it for replay on our webcam later, if it's not acting up like it was yesterday!

Yes, Terry! Splendid thought. We missed some of it - and I'd love to go down to see it again. The best time to go is twilight so you can see what the land looks like and where it is coming down the slopes. As it gets dark the previously ivisible glowing lava takes on the shimmer of beaten gold against black velvet.

Who was the guy with the bandana on his head? Sure I'll run it this morning.

Your morning is 5 hours ahead of ours...when it is 10am for you it is still 5am for us in Hawaii. The guy in the Bandana was one of the observatory guys. They wear them to keep the heat out of their lungs and face. That stuff is molten rock!

Taken last night near Hilo Bay at a Wrap-up party for the Scholarship fund drive. Hilo Bay looking toward slope of Mauna Loa looking west The shoreline looking east Food! Marcia in white and navy serving self

Well, I guess you might like to see that tease I posted... FOOD! (me in White and Navy)

Contrary to what it may seem, I am not preparing to devour the entire feast, I am trying to get the plastic wrap out of the potato salad and to anchor it so it would not blow back at an inopportune time, and the guy behind me is waiting impatiently.

Big Isle�s Kaunaoa top beach in U.S. Five others in the islands rank in the top 20 listing of a Florida geologist Star-Bulletin staff The Big Island's Kaunaoa Beach heads this year's list of America's Best Beaches. Five other Hawaii beaches also were rated in the top 20 by Stephen Leatherman -- "Dr. Beach" -- a Florida International University coastal geologist. He said Kaunaoa Beach is known for great sunny weather. "This long, crescent-shaped, white sand beach contrasts with the black lava headlands that frame it. It is a great place to swim and snorkel in the sparkling clear waters, especially in the summer months." Other island beaches in this year's top 20 are: Poipu Beach Park on Kauai (No. 3); Hanalei Beach, Kauai (No. 4); Kaanapali Beach, Maui (No. 5); Hamoa Beach, Maui (No. 8), and Hanauma Bay, Oahu (No. 17). Two Hawaii beaches also were named among 10 of the country's best beaches with nightlife: Kapalua Bay, Maui, and Waikiki Beach, Oahu. This is the fifth year in a row that Hawaii had the top beach in the survey. Previous ones were Wailea Beach on Maui, 1999; Kailua Beach Park, Oahu, 1998; Hulopoe on Lanai, 1997, and Lanikai Beach, Oahu, 1996. Leatherman uses 50 factors to judge beaches. They include the number and size of waves, condition of the sand, whether there are rip currents, biological and wildlife factors, human use and impacts, views, traffic and noise.

The map for this top-ranking beach is below...I can't remember ever being there.

I think this is the beach called Beach 69 because there is a power pole of that number standing where to foot path goes down to the water...Never been there!

Try out: http://honolulu.about.com/citiestowns/alaskahawaii/honolulu/library/hawaii/blhilo4.htm A walking tour of Hilo town, island of Hawaii. It was fun.

207 Kilauea - Biker Store Harley parts, new and used, accessories and tee shirts. 223A Kilauea - Bytes and Bites An opportunity to take a break, have a coffee juice, soft drink and snack while you surf the Net and check your Email. The friendly staff and ambience will make you feel at home. (this is where I get sidetracked)

Aha! That's where you've been...have missed your posts... There really IS a bike store there, but it is for human powered equipment, not petrol! We call it Front Street (because it is!) but it is really Kilauea Avenue.

Yup..Bites and Bytes is in a really old building (circa 1920 is OLD here!) and Kamehameha Avenue is the front street - sorry. There is a great bike store there as well...Kilauea is the next street up (inland).

What kind of scene is that Bytes and Bites, is it busy? Hows' the food? What kind of setup for surfing to they have?