Hawaii

There are seven main Islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, from oldest to newest: Niihau Kauai Oahu Molokai Lanai Maui Hawaii (The Big Island)

And you are on the big Island now? How far apart are all the little islands? How long does it take to get there by boat?

Our inter-island commerce is almost all done by air. It takes 1/2 hour to fly from Hilo to Honolulu, and another 45 minutes to get to Kauai. Inter-island barge traffic moves heavy things and Container ships move household goods, cars and non-perishable produce. That takes the better part of a week to get to Honolulu. There are inter-island cruises, but they do not travel in straight lines from port to port...they linger in the sunsets and off-shore in the evenings. From the west coast (California) it takes about 5 days by boat. Five hours by plane. I think the widest channel between the islands is about 60 miles (between Kauai and Oahu) (96 Km - does that sound right?!) Hilo is where I live on the east side of the Big Island

Me, too.

Indeed, John...as I realized as the Yapp swallowed my post without mention of your also being resident in Hilo...and then O'O needed to check something...and I forgot. So sorry, Dear!

There is also one semi-major uninhabited island called Kaho`olawe (Ka-ho'-o-lah'-vay). It has been the subject of some major controversy between the federal government and Native Hawaiians. For years, the Navy used it as target practice. Hawaiians objected, claiming the island was a sacred place in their native polytheistic religion. The feds cleaned it (as well as they said they could) of unexploded ordnance and turned it over to the State of Hawaii several years ago and since then, Hawaiians have ta en private pilgrimages there. The feds say they will not be responsible for any unexploded shells still on the island (which is almost totally devoid of fresh water, thus nearly uninhabitable), but so far, no one has been injured. In 1976, two Hawaiian activists, George Helm (who was also a prominent Hawaiian entertainer) and Kimo Mitchell, disappeared while paddling their surfboards between Maui and Kahoolawe. There are Hawaiians who suspect the feds of foul play, as it was a calm day. Helm and Mitch ll have become the stuff of legends, as well as Eddie Aikau, a big-wave surfer who disappeared in a roiling storm at sea in 1978 while trying to paddle a surfboard to get help for a capsized Hawaiian voyaging canoe, the Hokule`a (Star of Gladness). To this day, there are bumper stickers proudly displayed statewide that proclaim "Eddie Would Go." These guys have reached D.B. Cooper-like status in local legend.

Kaho`olawe is 7 miles off Maui's south coast.

Yup...thanks for the informative post. If they scroll back to the top they can see where Kaho'olave is...*hugs*

So much for spelling...Kaho'olawe, of course. Loihi is the next island in the chain, but it is still beneath the sea growing. It will be a long while before it surfaces off the southeast coast of The Big Island.

Local volcanologists say only about 40,000 years, give or take a few =)

There are two excellent microbrew pubs in Honolulu. One is the Gordon Biersch Brewery at the Aloha Tower Marketplace on the waterfront downtown. Excellent pilsner, a yuppie haunt. The other is in Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch & Crab on Nimitz Avenue about a mile towards Pearl Harbor from downtown in the Iwilei industrial area. Sam Choy is Hawaii's most famous chef (former executive chef in the Kona Hilton, then went out on his own to fabulous success). It is a charming restaurant and microbrewery in a efurbished former factory building. Upscale, yet informal. They brew lager, cream ale, bambucha stout, hefeweizen, and my favorite "Sam's Steam." It is much like San Francisco's legendary Anchor Steam, but even better. Sam also has an elegant Diamond Head restaurant, a family restaurant on Maui, both a family restaurant and a resort restaurant in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island (the former in the Kaloko Industrial Area, the latter at the Keauhou Beach Hotel), and fine dining establishments in Tokyo, New York City and on Guam. His website is http://www.samchoy.com There is also the Kona Brewpub in Kailua-Kona. Their signature beers are Fire Rock Ale and Kona Lager. Good info for travelers.

And does it get horrible when all the tourists come?

As for me, I hardly notice them. I want them to come. Our local economy needs tourists to survive. I'll do whatever is necessary to be helpful and friendly when I meet them.

My cousin Barney has a house in Hawaii on La Pietra Circle in Honolulu, do you know where that is Marcia or John?

La Pietra was a very pricy and exclusive estate on the Honolulu side of Oahu. If your cousin's house is anywhere in the neighborhood, he is in very good company!

Sounds like his house. He just retired from the luxury curise liner business and has hourses in a bunch of places around the world. He's now a mjaor art collector.

That sounds like the appropriate neighborhood if not the actual house! Sounds like you chose the right family to be born into *grin* Do you get to visit often? ...or if it is like my family, ever? It is like Camelot in that area of Oahu...just pineapple mists keeping things green...never too hot nor too chilly, not too cloudy nor too sunny, and all sunsets have green flashes!

I've been to his place in St. Louis, which is awsome, golden Rolls and Mercedes in the driveway and the walls full of Georgia O'Keefe and Edward Hopper. It's a huge sprawling modern, mansion. I can just imagine what his place in Hawaii must be like!

Wow. LaPietra Circle is in the neighborhood where the upscale part of Waikiki melts into Diamond Head and Kahala. Some of the world's priciest real estate there and also on nearby Black Point Road. The mansion they used for externals on Magnum P.I. is close to your cousin's home. That's way out of MY neighborhood, both geographically and pricewise!

Yep, Barney's definitely the family success story. He golfs with Bill Gates at his Seattle home, he built one of St. Louis most successful companies, and he's likely to be found anywhere in the world. One of his companies, Clipper Cruise Lines, has some of the most interesting cruise ships. They weight just under 200 tons to meet the restrictions on going in to coves and harbors and they're always booked solid for the exotic places they travel. He also does this thing with the Concorde where you can go on a 15 day around the world trip and live in luxury on the plane. But, unfortunately, all this wealth has somewhat isolated him from the family, I haven't heard much from him since he got to the mega level and, of course, he's cirulating in a different social group now.

Hanging with Billy G. That is a different social group. I wonder if there are girls who refused to date your cousin in high school or college who are kicking their own asses now...

Success is the sweetest revenge...

So I've heard.

It is also one of the most powerful aphrodesiacs on Earth!

I've heard that as well. Otherwise, why would any woman sleep with Henry Kissinger...

My point exactly!!! *lol*

...and we are back to the nebbish discussion again...

Nah... too tall, too fat, too ugly, too secure for nebbishhood

Waaaaaaay too secure for nebbishhood - good point! The rest is just part of the man I would have to be drugged to get into bed with...!

Henry Kissinger is UUUUUUU-GLEEEEEE, and not all the success or money in the world will make him anything but just so!

He's dead though, isn't he?

Is he? If so, I completely missed that one. George C. Scott died yesterday (day before yesterday your time) see News/Obits.

Barney married a very lovely woman, his second marriage. He has a daughter with his first wife, Martine, a French woman. I could go hang out with him in the days when he was with Martine. And he would come visit me, marveling at my hippie lifestyle. It was strange that none of his cousins were invited to his wedding in St. Louis, which was a gargantuan affair with people being taken from party to party with limos and people from Bush's cabinet flying in for the affair. Bush sent apologies, I heard. You can guess which party he makes major contributions to!

Wow!

If he plays golf with Billy G., it's obvious which party he--and Billy G.-- contributes to. If Gates were a major contributor to the Democratic National Committee, he wouldn't have Janet Reno trying so hard to nail him on some specious antitrust violation. If your cousin Barney were a major contributor to the Dems, his second address would likely be the Lincoln Bedroom instead of LaPietra Circle.

I already told the story somewhere about how he has this painting - Edward Hoppers "The Diner" - that Gates wants but he won't sell. I've got to give him credit for having something Bill Gates wants but can't have. That's rare.

It must frustrate the bejeepers out of BG, and that is a good thing. NO one should be able to have Everything he wants...Some things must be unattainable for his own good! ...and what lovely satisfaction in knowing you have something someone wants but cannot have for any amount of money!

A vew visuals from this island and Kilauea Volcano, in particular: From Pu'u O'o fountains on the flanks of Kilauea Down to entry into the sea making new real estate for the future - lava originating at Pu'u O'o: This is how we get more black sand for beaches, and peridots, too.

I got to fly over Pu'u O'o in a chopper in 1983 when it was fountaining 600 feet high. I wish I had been a better photographer, but I'll nver forget seeing it from the aerial view. Those are lovely shots, and thanks for the one with the URL.

To see Kekaimalu, the only known wholphin in existence (at Oahu's Sea Life Park) http://www.womenonwallstreet.com/pp/Y/Yorimoto/slp.htm

For his graduation from Manoa (U of Hawaii's Honolulu campus), David gave me a trip in a chopper down Chain-of-Craters Road from the Golf Course to the sea with lots of stops between. It was incredible and I loved it. Took loads of pictures, and saw the lava fire-hosing out of the sea cliffs into the water. Amazing stuff!

When I graduated from UHH, Alton gave me a beautiful framed photo he took himself of lava at night from Chain-of-Craters Road.

Oooh...Very nice! I have given him loads of stuff...he has only fed me, but that is a high compliment considering he worked his way through college by catering (began his own business!) Of course, you were the best and brightest we had graduated in a very long time from UHH...what was your GPA, Valedictorian?

The plane crash in Hawaii Sat. eve. Sep. 25 was here on the Big Island. Was a two-engine tourist plane, a Piper Navajo Chieftain, with 10 aboard, including the pilot. It took off from Kona airport on the west side of the island at 4:22 p.m. Was reported missing shortly after 6 p.m. A Coast Guard helicopter discovered the still smoldering wreckage on the northeastern slopes of Mauna Loa (on the Hilo side) shortly after 6 a.m. Sunday. The plane, which was 16 years old and considered relatively young an airworthy, had slammed into the side of the mountain. Weather conditions were unknown. The last transmission from the pilot, who had worked for Big Island Air, the tour plane company, for over five years, was a request to enter restricted airspace, nothing unusual for a tour plane. It is the first mishap ever for Big Island Air. As of this posting, no names of victims have been released, but all ten aboard are confirmed dead. The wreckage was charred and most, if not all, will have to be ID'd throug dental records.

On a much less serious note (in response to your previous post which I had missed, Marcia), my GPA was 4.0 (B.A. English, highest honors) and still is in my master's program (MEd, expected Spring 2000 from UH-Manoa, Honolulu) as well. Means little when 10 people have died prematurely.

Of course, you do not need to answer that rude question - I know it was outstanding. And, you realize I am very jealous that you have something personally from Alton that did not become part of your body...hmmm....! On a more serious note...From CNN (John or I will post the follow-up after our late news this evening) Plane slams into side of Hawaiian volcano, killing 10 September 26, 1999 Web posted at: 8:43 p.m. EDT (0043 GMT) From staff and wire reports KAILUA KONA, Hawaii (CNN) -- Ten people on board a twin-engine sightseeing airplane died when it crashed on the side of Hawaii's Mauna Loa volcano. Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Diana Joubert said search crews located the wreckage at 6:30 a.m. Sunday at an elevation of about 10,500 feet. The volcano reaches 13,679 feet. Rescue crews later reached the remote site on the "big island" of Hawaii, where they found no survivors. The PA-31/350 Piper Chieftain, with a pilot and nine passengers, was operated by Big Island Airlines, which offers regularly scheduled sightseeing tours. "The plane was totally demolished, just like a plane would be if it went into rocks at a high rate of speed," said Doug Lentz, spokesman for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where Mauna Loa is located. "It's pretty rough terrain on the side of the volcano, with plenty of lava fields," said Roy Mann, the airline's operations director. Identities of the victims were not immediately released. The recovered bodies were being flown by helicopter to the city of Hilo on the east side of the island. The plane had taken off about 4:30 p.m. Saturday for a tour of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, two dormant volcanoes. About three hours later, Big Island officials notified Kona International Airport that the plane was an hour overdue. Searchers began looking for the plane but suspended their search when darkness fell. They resumed the search Sunday morning and found the plane about an hour later, Joubert said. Since a large part of the island is inaccessible by car, air tours are a popular way to see it, including the active Kilauea volcano. Helicopters and planes fly near the bubbling summit and then over nearby valleys to view rainbows and waterfalls.

This is the worst plane disaster we have ever had here, if I recall correctly.

Thank you for posting, and I am sorry to have interjected something incredibly important to me, but not in the great scheme of things.

Wow, those photos are absolutely stunning, Marcia! HAve you ever witnessed an erupting volcano? It must be the most beautiful sight on earth - as long as it happens where people can't get hurt. I once saw an amazing programme where volcano experts climbed into the mouth of an active volcano to measure the activities; afterwards it said in the credits that the guy who led the party was killed by a small eruption 2 weeks after the film was made.

Fourth worst in Hawaii history. On Oct. 28, 1989, 20 died in a plane crash (Aloha Island Air) on Moloka'i, including most of the Moloka'i High School girls' volleyball team. Melveena Starkey and her brother, Travis, were supposed to be on that plane, but decided to stay behind on Maui to shop.

WHY AMERICANS SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO TRAVEL The following are actual stories provided by travel agents: I had someone ask for an aisle seat so that their hair wouldn't get messed up by being near the window. A client called in inquiring about a package to Hawaii. After going over all the cost info, she asked, "Would it be cheaper to fly to California and then take the train to Hawaii?" A man called, furious about a Florida package we did. I asked what was wrong with the vacation in Orlando. He said he was expecting an ocean-view room. I tried to explain that is not possible, since Orlando is in the middle of the state. He replied, "Don't lie to me. I looked on the map and Florida is a very thin state." I got a call from a man who asked, "Is it possible to see England from Canada?" I said, "No." He said "But they look so close on the map." A nice lady just called. She needed to know how it was possible that her flight from Detroit left at 8:20am and got into Chicago at 8:33am. I tried to explain that Michigan was an hour ahead of Illinois, but she could not understand the concept of time zones. Finally I told her the plane went very fast, and she bought that! I just got off the phone with a man who asked, "How do I know which plane to get on?" I asked him what exactly he meant, which he replied, "I was told my flight number is 823, but none of these darn planes have numbers on them." A business man called and had a question about the documents he needed in order to fly to China. After a lengthy discussion about passports, I reminded him he needed a visa. "Oh no I don't, I've been to China many times and never had to have one of those." I double checked and sure enough, his stay required a visa. When I told him this he said, "Look, I've been to China four times and every time they have accepted my American Express."

Kona Airport Beach Park, a popular surfing spot on the Big Island's west side, was closed Saturday following a Friday afternoon shark attack on a 16-year-old boy. The victim, who is listed in critical but stable condition at the Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, was surfing with a friend, when a six to eight foot long tiger shark partially severed his left arm. It was the second shark attack on the Big Island this year. A fisherman suffered relatively minor injuries from a shark bite in July in Hilo. The beach park is expected to be open to the public again Sunday.

Does anything NICE ever happen in HawaII??

Right now in Hilo it's a sunny blue gorgeous 76 degree day. I'd call that something nice.

Indeed it is, and I have the feeling I am going to spend it sitting right here. That is the saddest part of a lovely day! Definitely a 35 SPF day out there!

Our UH-Hilo Vulcan women's volleyball team stinketh like goatherds. They lost in straight games two nights in a row to HPU and BYU (like we didn't expect that, huh?) 0-3 in Pacific West Conference play. HPU beat them 15-0 in 15 minutes in game number one.

Don't they evereth! We may just as well throw in the proverbial towel before playing nationally-ranked Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu. They won our tournament - by miles and miles!

Here is your secondary tour guide. ME, not Marcia...(circa 1981)

Thank you for making that clarification...*lol*

hey ho, ho hey! THAT's what I call rugged!!! EEEEAAAAUUUW!

Women often react to me eith EEEEAAAAUUUUW (the story of my life).

It wasn't THAT kind of EEEAAAAAUUUUW. I happen to adore beards and hair and lots of ruggedness on males.

I stand corrected. I didn't know there was any other kind of EEEAAAAUUUUW.

Hey JOhn... are you and WER related?!?!?! *grin* very similar facial decoration...

...hmmm....(don't think so...)

Not related to the kitchen manager...the kitchen help, maybe!

...and friend of every chef in Hawaii worth the name *grin*

Speaking of chefs in Hawaii, Georges Bouillion, a world-class French chef living in Honolulu, has just opened a French cooking institute here. If you would like to study French cooking in Hawaii, details are available 1 (808) 528-5627. When the students become advanced enough, Bouillion intends to open a relatively low cost French bistro run by his students. Stay tuned!

Some Big Island Scenery Shoreline of Keaukaha just outside Hilo: Hilo black sand beach Bayfront during outrigger canoe regatta School Bus in Lava Flow Snow on Mauna Kea

Nothing like a school bus in a lava flow to warm the cockles of the Hawaii Visitors' Bureau's collective heart!

Yup! That's why I put it there! Wait'll you see where the tourists are standing in the pix I posted in Vulcanology...he he he

Why the State of Hawai`i's economic recovery plans depend on a nuclear holocaust in Australia: 1. We will become the world's main supplier of raw materials for eucalyptus cough drops. 2. Hawaiian surfers will again dominate the field, leading to skyrocketing North Shore real estate values. 3. The place is full of snakes. Every Qantas airliner is a potential ecological catastrophe. 4. Without Aussie peacekeepers to interfere, Indonesia will stay happier and keep that oil flowing. 5. Now that Ross Furniture has been bought out, we don't ever want a repeat of those damn commercials. 6. Aussies have too much fun at home. It's giving other tourists the wrong idea. 7. They aren't accepting convicts anymore, and the the prison-for-profit people want to keep it that way. 8. Aussie men will stop fueling the Bangkok sex market, subsidizing cheap competition for Waikiki. 9. Once Australia is gone, the only place where tourists can see wild wallabies will be Oahu. 10. Baywatch will never be tempted again.

John where did you get that?! Far too funny not to be true! Prepare for some wounded pride.

I got it from the old poetry professor. He did not indicate whether it was original, but he does do this kind of stuff. Whose wounded pride must I prepare for. Are there any Aussies here outside of Drool?

Anne Hale lives in Australia but thinks of herself as an Englishwoman, I believe. We just might find out if there are any lurking travellers from OZ.

I have in my hot little hands a Premier issue of The Hawaii Island Journal some of whose contents are attributed to Alan D. McNarie and a certain John Burnett. Where does he find the time? It is a lovely piece of journalism all the way through and I wish it much success. McNarie's pieces are wonderful - he has 2 that I have found so far, and John does a music scene column which I have not yet read. Congratulations all round!

Thank you. Speaking of the Hawaii music scene, Henry Kapono will headline a nine-hour concert that will be cybercast worldwide via pixelnet November 6th. Fourteen other Hawaii acts will also take part in the concert, which will be webcast from the under-construction Pier Bar Amphitheater at Aloha Tower in Honolulu. I don't have any more details at this time, but will post them as they become available. Over a million people worldwide are expected to tune in, and 10,000 people are expected on site, whi h will be serving Gordon Biersch microbrew, which is right next door. Perhaps the freshest beer at a concert event, ever, and the music will be fantastic. Henry Kapono is a world class music act, and has recorded with acts as diverse as Big Mountain, Michael McDonald, and Third World.

When you know a URL for this broadcast, please post it here and in the other places where Terry is sure to find it - like internet broadcasting. That should be one fantastic concert! Love that music!!! (btw, how did they shrink your photo to a thumbnail - Oooh, I know!!! I can do it, too!!!)

I don't know how they did it. They have a professional graphics person (Dick Price). Does your copy of it look as grainy as what you posted?

No it does not. Not nearly as grainy - let me try my thumbnail program and I'll send you my result...it will take a little bit to do it...like about 15 minutes or so...!

O.K. fine. Sounds good to me.

check your mail, John!

The Ironman World Triathlon Championship is tomorrow in Kailua-Kona (the other side of the Big Island). There are perhaps 50,000 spectators and other tourists and over 1,000 competitors jamming that quiet little town. And on a more serious note, Hawaii longshoremen are threatening a strike. Poor babies are only averaging about 65-grand a year, and it isn't enough for their greedy, strong, but uneducated (m)asses. The sentiment of the local populus is not with them. They are looking to make the same money the longshoremen in Oakland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles make, but in all fairness, West Shore longshoremen have larger workloads. The local stevedores have already slowed down work at the Hilo docks. People he e, who remember the 100 day shipping strike of 1971, have made a run in the stores on 20 and 50 pound bags of rice, toilet paper, and cases of SPAM, canned corned beef, and Vienna sausages.

Indeed they/we are. Do not throw away your old newspapers...you might need to use them again! I thought we were declared a special status and that they ILO was not allowed to do this to us again. I recall the last strike. Shall we break out the Y2K provisions and do a test run?! ...they are also stocking up on (hate to mention it) "sanitary products" and Onions. One cannot cook in Hawaii without Onions!!!

An eToys commercial (national) came on TV tonight and I was riveted. Not by the pictures or by the professional female voice over, but by the music in the background. It was a single ukulele with a male voice humming--or more accurately, oohing. The oohing voice belonged to the late Israel Kamakawiwoole, who died of natural causes at age 38 a couple of years ago (he had a thyroid condition and weighed over 700 pounds). "Braddah Iz" as he is known throughout Hawaii, was the greatest Hawaiian singer of his generation. The tune he was strumming was "Over the Rainbow," yes the Wizard of Oz classic. Iz's version of the song gained national prominence when the producers of the movie Meet Joe Black chose it to roll over the closing cred ts of the film, about a year after Iz's untimely demise. If you come to Hawaii and say "Israel" or "Iz," everybody will know who you mean by that single word, just as you can say "Elvis," "Marilyn," or "Ringo" and get instant recognition. He was a national treasure here in Hawaii, and was well-known in Japan as well, and I think everybody should be exposed to his beautiful voice, music, and spirit. Iz called me at the radio station from his hospital room in Honolulu a week before he died. I put him on the air. He knew he was dying, but he was cheerful and funny. He referred to his private room in the Queen's Medical Center as "the presidential suite at the Queen Emma Hilton," and requested that I play his version of the country hit "In This Life" for his friends and fans on the Big Island. The song is a "swan song," and it was then that I realized that he was not going to make it out of the hosp tal. His tone of conversation was cheerful; he let the song express the heaviness on his heart. Iz was the epitome of strength, grace, class, and inner beauty. He was my friend for nearly 20 years and I miss him terribly. His widow, Marlene, is a much better businessperson than he was, and he should have let her handle his business affairs when he was alive. She negotiated the deals on behalf of his estate with the movie and commercial producers, and hopefully, with her business smarts, she will get his music national recognition, and earn a healthy living for herself and their daughter, Ku`ulei.

7 ways to save on Hawaii vacations Discover how to be frugal with air fares, accommodations, recreation, more The Manele Bay Hotel on Lanai will offer deals during the first two weeks of December. By Rudy Maxa MSNBC Oct. 21 � If you think Hawaii is like a rare tropical flower priced so that only the rich and famous can afford it, think again. Hawaii has actually fallen on economic hard times recently and is offering many incentives to lure travelers. Discover how to save money on air fares, vacation packages, accommodations and recreation. THE DECLINE in Japanese tourism has hurt Hawaii the last several years, and there are bargains to be found. But remember that food is often more expensive than on the mainland, and hotel taxes can add as much as 21 percent to the cost of a hotel room. When you price rooms, ask if tax is included. First, consider getting there. Hawaii is one of the country�s favorite destinations for frequent fliers cashing in miles. Think of American, United and Continental�s Hawaiian flights as routes the airlines use to burn off frequent-flier miles. There are scheduled charter flights, however, that offer low prices. A California tour operator called Pleasant Holidays (800-242-9244), for example, offers almost daily service connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco with Honolulu and Maui. If you happen to really like visiting Hawaii, you might want to consider purchasing the company�s unlimited flight deal called AirPass. You can fly as many times as you want between the West Coast and Hawaii � except during nine holiday season black-out dates � for o ly $1,399 during 2000. Pleasant Holidays says its average AirPass holder makes seven or eight round trips a year, which works out to $200 or less per round-trip. That�s about half the cost of a normal ticket. SAVING ON ACCOMMODATIONS When it comes to accommodations, be aware that Hawaii does have its slow times when you�ll be able to negotiate better hotel and condo rates. Here are the best times to go to save money: the first two weeks of December April, if it�s been a mild winter on the mainland May summers on all islands other than Maui and Oahu September Over the past year, some hotels have offered great incentives such as a fifth night free or a free rental car. For example, Pleasant Holidays offered me a package at the Sheraton on Oahu with a fifth night free plus a daily food credit of $25. I asked for their cheapest package to Honolulu in November, including air and hotel. They quoted $629 per person (based on two people traveling), which includes air fare from Washington, D.C., and five nights in the Ambassador Hotel with a city (not ocean) view. That�s about what I�d pay in air fare alone if I made my own travel plans. WANT A DEAL? ASK FOR IT The "Celebrate Aloha" package at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel can save you money on luxury accommodations. Be sure to push to find the deals. For example, I decided to go more upscale and called the swanky Mauna Lani Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii. First I asked for the AAA rate and was quoted a price of $515 for a deluxe double room with an ocean view the first week of December. (Keep in mind, taxes would add another $100 to that total!) Then I asked if there were any packages available that might save me oney. Bingo! The �Celebrate Aloha� package gave me the same room for $350 a night plus $400 in hotel credit that I could use toward dining, golf fees and hotel shops. The only catch was a minimum stay of three nights. That�s a savings of $165 a night not including that $400 credit. (Which cannot be applied to your nightly room rate, by the way.) LANAI ON A BUDGET The island of Lanai is one of my favorites because it�s so beautiful, and as I mentioned above, sparsely populated. This is where Dole grew many of its pineapples, and there are two resorts, the Lodge at Koehle and the Manele Bay Hotel. Both plan to offer deals during the slow, first two weeks of December, though specific prices weren�t available as I wrote this story. Both are owned by the same company, and you can check prices by calling (800) 321-4666. The Lodge is inland, surrounded by fir trees that ive you the feeling you�re in Montana. Just nine miles away, on the coast, is the Manele Bay, whose setting, architecture and landscape suggest you�re on the coast of Portugal or southern France. While room rates may exceed $300 a night, these are resorts that, if they were located in the Caribbean, would easily fetch more than $700 a night. Want to stay at the budget hotel on the island? The 10-room Hotel Lanai is simple and has rates that begin at $95 a night. For information, call (800) 795-7211. You can always splurge by dining at the two opulent resort properties. CONSIDER A CONDOMINIUM If you�re traveling to Hawaii with children, consider renting a condominium. You�ll save on food costs and may enjoy the increased space and privacy. Every island has hundreds of options at varying prices that are usually less than the cost of a hotel room, especially if more than two people are traveling. Visit the Hawaii Visitor�s Bureau�s Web site, click on �accommodations� and then choose the appropriate category, such as condominiums or homes and cottages. Select the island you�re interested in, and ou�ll be presented with a list of places to stay along with brief descriptions. Some offer a 10 percent discount if you book online. HAWAII FOR NOTHING Hawaii for free by Frances Carter �Hawaii For Free� by Frances Carter offers hundreds of free things to do in Hawaii. For example, the book recommends Hanauma Bay on Oahu, a picture-perfect snorkeling and scuba diving spot where fish eat out of your hand. But remember, Hanauma Bay Nature Park, which has been designated a state underwater park and conservation district, is free to locals only. Visitors pay a $3 entrance fee and a $1-per-car parking fee. Looking for musical entertainment? Instead of shelling out big bucks for a luau, resear h where to find free hula shows, or listen to the many steel guitar performances at the major hotels most evenings. Discover where to whale-watch for free on Maui and enjoy free cultural events. On the Big Island, dive into the free chocolate and macadamia nut samples on various tours. Learn about free scenic attractions on Kauai. The book also recommends freebies on Molokai and Lanai.

VOLCANO VILLAGE, Hawaii, Oct. 21 � How do you explore Kilauea volcano? Let us count the ways. Swoop over the erupting Pu�u O�o vent in a helicopter or hike on hardened lava in the pitch-black darkness and scan the horizon for glowing lava. Or if you�re really chicken, hit the nearby Internet cafe for risk-free enlightenment. IF YOU WANT to explore Kilauea, one of the world�s most active volcanoes, you have a delightful array of creative options from which to choose. It all depends on how much you like danger. When Blue Hawaiian Helicopters swoops its passengers down over the 800-foot high Pu�u O�o vent, the actual site where molten magma bursts from deep inside the earth, spine-tingling strains of �Phantom of the Opera� blast through the headphones and set hair on edge. Pilot Ray Guy banks the chopper left, then right, then left again to ensure his white-knuckle fliers have a chance to glimpse through boiling clouds of hydrochloric acid to see orange blobs of lava below. While you�re contemplating what hydrochloric acid might do to a helicopter, Pilot Ray tosses out statistics that are anything but subtle. The Big Island actually has three active volcanoes, and they are a bunch of real shakers. �We had 67,000 earthquakes on the Big Island in 1997,� he says. Maneuvering the helicopter back toward its home base in Hilo, he passes over the �former subdivision� of Royal Gardens. Its 192 homes and businesses are now under 40 feet of lava, he says, and for the few stragglers who refuse to leave their homesteads, �There�s no electricity, no water, no telephone, and it�s a 60-mile drive to the nearest grocery.� Staring down at devastated subdivision, some folks might find the scariness factor pretty high. But in all fairness, Blue Hawaiian Helicopters has a flawless safety record over its 14-year history. It is the first helicopter tour company in the United States to be certified under the National �Tour Operator Program of Safety,� whose standards exceed the FAA�s. So tell that to your goosebumps. MADAM PELE THROWS A PARTY If the helicopter adventure doesn�t stand your flesh on edge, climb into your rental car and head to Volcanoes National Park for the �nighttime volcano party.� Detour briefly to Volcano House, a hotel/restaurant complex within the park to store up on flashlights, bottled water and picnic items, then drive 25 miles to the end of Chain of Craters Road along the Pacific Ocean. It won�t be hard to establish where the end of the road is: Look for the giant blobs of hardened lava that stopped it dead in its tra ks. Park your car facing uphill (so the national park service can evacuate you in case of an emergency), then let the party begin. Visitors to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park keep their eyes on a distant steam cloud where hot lava flows into the Pacific Ocean. As the sun goes down, swarms of people - including families with children and senior citizens from huge tour buses � gingerly inch their way along 300 yards of sharp, uneven hardened black lava, all in search of that elusive view of volcanic activity. As the sun disappears completely, we are in the enviable position of sitting on a black, fissured hill of lava sticking up from 37 square miles of black lava, while all around us, it�s � totally black. But there are pinpricks of light on the horizon. And flashes of orange at the ocean�s edge. And these are significant. Why? Let�s have a lava lesson. When lava bursts from the Pu�u O�o vent, it�s like syrup, a park ranger explained. Like any liquid, it�s going to follow the path of least resistance. If there�s a slope, it will begin to go downhill and soon it will form a river. When the 2,000-degree lava begins to cool around its edges, it creates it own tunnel which insulates the lava on the inside. The lava leaving Pu�u O�o flows 7 miles in its own tunnel until it hits the ocean. When lava hits the sea, molten lava blocks the size of microwave ovens can be tossed as far as half a mile inland. Anywhere that the lava tube collapses in on itself, you get holes in the tube. Hawaiians call these holes �skylights.� So if you sit on your black hill in the black expanse of darkness, you can see red dots that are glimpses of the river of lava through the tube. And when hot lava meets the ocean, wham! You get a hydrochloric acid plume that glows orange like distant Fourth of July fireworks. If your flesh still isn�t on edge, turn on your flashlight and read the national park leaflet posted at the hut near the entrance to the lava trail. It mentions that volcanic fumes, which contain hydrochloric acid, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter, can be hazardous to your health. It mentions that when lava hits the sea, molten lava blocks the size of microwave ovens can be tossed as far as half a mile inland. It mentions that the slightest fall on the sharp-edged lava will probably cause deep cuts r quiring first aid. It mentions that lava benches, formed where lava enters the ocean, are unstable and can collapse. But in the dark, no one can see you cower in fear. KILAUEA WITH CAPPUCINO Saddle up to the Lava Rock Internet Caf� on Old Volcano Road, only a three-minute drive from where the volcanic action is. As with all great natural spectacles, there is always a safe, risk-free way option for exploring the mother of all magma chambers. On the Big Island, there is even a virtual way to visit the volcano. Saddle up to the Lava Rock Caf� (808-967-8526) on Old Volcano Road, only a three-minute drive from where the volcanic action is. While Kilauea spatters and sputters only miles away, Internet junkies can plop down at one of two computers and surf the Volcano Watch home page. (�Eruptive activity of Kilauea Volcano continued unabated during the past week.�) Hot link to the latest current earthquakes for the Big Island, and learn about today�s seismicity. Do a Yahoo search on �Hawaii Volcanoes National Park� nd learn the park gets 2.5 million visitors a year, and is open 24 hours a day all year long. Surf over to the Volcano Village home page where you can learn that the town is at elevation 4,000 feet and averages 100 to 125 inches annually. Learn that the town is populated with Japanese farmers, retirees, artists and others. Then it�s on to �Explore Kilauea� CD-Rom, which states that the crater of Kilauea Iki once spewed a fountain of lava 1,900 feet high (a record for historic eruptions in Hawaii). While you�re surfing, a nearby cafe patron remarks to his friend, �I sure screwed up my ankle walking on that lava.� Another restaurant patron, a woman who just returned from the end of Chain of Craters Road, proclaims, �I had an attack down there from the fumes.� Hazards. Who needs them. Now where is my espresso, and where�s that Web site on Hawaiian tidal waves? WHAT TO KNOW IF YOU GO Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The Kilauea Visitor Center is a must stop before exploring the park. A park ranger gives regular briefings on volcanic activity at the end of Chain of Craters Road, and a description of attractions along the Crater Rim Drive. You can also watch an eruption film and store up on books and maps. For visitor information call (808) 985-6000. Volcano House Hotel is probably not a good choice for anyone who�s extremely sensitive to volcanic fumes. Accommodations. Imagine staying at your own house in Hawaii.The Lodge at Volcano is actually a house in the Hawaiian countryside that has been turned into a bed and breakfast. It�s spacious, quiet, and located five miles from Volcanoes National Park. Six bedrooms are available, ranging from $85 to $125 a night double occupancy. Call (800) 937-7786. Volcano House Hotel is dramatically perched at 4,000 feet elevation on the rim of Kilauea Crater. Probably not a good choice for anyone who�s extremely sensiti e to volcanic fumes (even the waiters in the nearby restaurant were coughing). But if you�re a hardy sort, rooms here are $160-185 for crater view, $85 to $135 for non-crater view. And rooms do fill quickly. A desk clerk recommended making reservations at least four weeks ahead. Call (808) 967-7321. If you�re staying in Hilo, 30 miles north, a good choice is the Hilo Hawaiian hotel. It has 285 rooms, a restaurant, lounge and swimming pool. On a sunny day, oceanfront rooms have a view of Coconut Island, Hi o Bay, and Mauna Kea mountain. Rooms are $107 a night. Call (808) 935-9361. Restaurants. Surt�s at Volcano Village is the one notable standout in a sea of mediocre restaurants in the vicinity of Volcanoes National Park. This charming restaurant has 12 tables against a backdrop of pine walls and stunning local Hawaiian paintings. The Beef Panang served in a coconut sauce is to die for. Cheese Ravioli with Chicken is a rich dish sure to prepare you for that long hike. Nothing could be finer than mango tiramisu washed down with macadamia nut coffee. Open daily from noon to 9:30 p.m. Located off of Highway 11 between the 26 and 27 mile markers on the Old Volcano Highway. Call (808) 967-8511. If you�re planning to explore the park after dark, bring a flashlight or even two. (John's note: Kilauea Lodge Restaurant is also terrific.) Helicopter trips. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters offers the 50-minute �Circle of Fire� trip which flies over Kilauea Volcano�s erupting Pu�u O�o vent and several rainforest waterfalls. Cost is $140 per person. Check with your hotel to see if they can provide a discount. Call (800) 745-BLUE. Volcano hike preparation. If you�re planning to explore Volcanoes National Park by foot, prepare for it as if you were going on a wilderness hike. Be sure to have sturdy footwear (hiking boots or sport sandals), long pants and sunglasses (hat optional). Carry plenty of water; the national park has more medical emergencies from dehydration than anyone getting hurt by lava. If you�re planning to explore the park after dark, bring a flashlight or two. You�re going to have a hard time finding your way back to the car without one.

Reach for the stars on Mauna Kea Want to bag a summit? Drive to the top of a 13,796-foot peak By Robin Dalmas MSNBC Oct. 21 � If you drive to the summit of Mauna Kea at 13,796 feet, you can steal a glimpse of what rightfully belongs to mountaineers. A neon pink and orange sunset wraps around the Big Island like a giant flower lei. Silvery telescopes hum in preparation for stargazing. Stunning. Did we mention the shortage of oxygen? PERHAPS YOU�RE not a mountaineer, and the thought of bagging a summit with ice axes, crampons and little bags of freeze-dried stroganoff sounds as exciting as being boiled in hot lava. Still, there�s a part of you that longs to stand atop a lofty peak, the sound of the wind rippling through your long johns, your lips turning blue from the cold. If you fly to the Big Island of Hawaii, rent a four-wheel drive and motor to the top of 13,796-foot Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano that last erupted 4,000 years ago, you can steal a glimpse of what rightfully belongs to mountaineers. And you don�t even need to make a trip to Recreational Equipment Incorporated. You need only violate the clause in your rental car contract that says �thou shalt not drive on dirt roads.� What�s more, you can boast to all your mountaineering buddies that you�ve stood atop the highest peak in the world. While it�s only 13,796 feet high measured from base to summit, it�s actually 33,476 feet measured from the ocean floor to its summit. Higher than Everest. We set out from the Saddle Road, a bizarre road leftover from World War II that runs east and west between the behemoth Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea volcanoes. This two-lane road, hastily constructed with rough patches around the edges, demands a motor vehicle with good suspension and offers an expansive view of all the solidified lava you could ever hope to see. Near mile marker 28, at about 5:15 p.m., we turned up the summit access road. This journey to the top, where atmospheric pressure is 40 percent less than at sea level, isn�t for everyone. A real estate salesman from the sunny Kona Coast informed me that when he drove to the top, he fell straight to sleep from lack of oxygen. Another man, woozy at the altitude, spent a lot of time lying down. Warning signs at the visitor center say the summit can �create respiratory distress� for children under 16. And that�s not to mention the hair-raising ride to the top. Some parts of the road have a grade of 15 percent. Wayward game animals and cattle have caused multiple motorists to flip their cars. Photos of such accidents are taped to the windows at the Onizuka Visitor Information Station, with warnings like: �Beware of invisible cows!� If you�re looking for guardrails, maybe you should seek something safer � like hang gliding over power lines. But if you�re extremely curious and take the time to acclimate for an hour at the 9,300-foot visitor center, here�s what you bold and daring motorists can experience. Bring a thermos of soup or coffee to sip while you wait. It will help to acclimate you to the altitude. At about 6:30 p.m. on a March evening, I�m standing atop Mauna Kea snuggled in my ski parka and hiking boots, watching the sun sink down over the Kohala Coast. Low-lying clouds have blanketed all coastal areas of the Big Island. Atop the clouds, a narrow band of neon pink and orange wraps around the island like a giant flower lei made by Paul Bunyon. The air is thin. It�s hard to breathe. You feel like you�ve gulped five mai tais, and so you smile a lot. But the sunset is merely a trifle compared to what� to the east. The setting sun has tossed the shadow of Mauna Kea against the clouds. It�s the biggest shadow you�ve ever seen in your life. And what�s that? The full moon is rising, and it�s sitting at the apex of Mauna Kea�s shadow like a big, cosmic punctuation mark. As your brain tries to comprehend the giant dot on top of the giant pyramid, something begins to buzz. You begin searching your parka for bugs. Mauna Kea is, after all, home to four species of insects blown to the summit during the last Ice Age. The Weikiu, a black wingless thing, dines on other hapless insects blown up to the summit. But that�s not what�s making the noise. As the sun sets, the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope whirls into position for stargazing. It is one of nine telescopes atop the summit of Mauna Kea. Off to the left, like a King Kong-sized robot, one of Mauna Kea�s nine summit telescopes is opening up for the evening. The United Kingdom�s InfraRed Telescope whirs gently into position, preparing for a cold, calculating look at hot stars. And then I�m reminded who really owns this view of the night sky atop the highest mountain in the world. The astronomers. Scientists throughout the world recognize Mauna Kea as the best site for optical, infrared and submillimeter observations. Mauna Kea gives the best images because it is so high that the telescopes are above 40 percent of the atmosphere. The air above Mauna Kea is calm after traveling over thousands of miles of ocean. Far from large cities, the night sky is very dark. Extraordinarily da k. As a result, Mauna Kea now hosts the greatest concentration of telescopes in the world, including the Keck telescopes. Three new ones are under construction at the summit. The summit is perfect for astronomy, but it�s no picnic for astronomers. Preparation is paramount. �Astronomers spend at least 24 hours at the 9,500-foot level base camp before going to the summit,� says Hugh Grossman, a guide who provides stargazing tours at the visitor center. �They are restricted to 12 hours at the summit per day.� Aditya Dayal, an astrophysicist at the Jet Propulsion Labs in Pasadena, Calif., uses the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope and the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility to study planetary nebulae, which are the ejected envelopes of medium-sized stars. He spends about 1.5 to 2 weeks annually atop Mauna Kea. To acclimate, he spends two nights at the Hale Pohaku dormitory at 9,500 feet. astrophysicist who works atop Mauna Kea. �I have felt altitude sickness on a few occasions,� Dayal says. �Usually, it�s nothing worse than a dull, persistent headache that happens during the first couple of days at the beginning of each run.� As headaches go, these are relatively expensive. It costs NASA about $10,000 a night to run the IRTF. �My last trip to Mauna Kea was in mid-November 1997,� Dayal says. �Unfortunately, during that run we had terrible weather � high winds, major snowstorm, hail. We got only two or so clear nights out of six. The weather can get pretty nasty very quickly at 13,796 feet.� In winters past, 12-foot blizzards have slammed into the summit, and astronomers have had to be rescued. As the scientists begin their nocturnal duties, faced with the same wretched conditions that daunt the most seasoned mountain climbers, it�s time for us to leave. We put the sport utility vehicle in first gear and slink down the deeply darkening mountain with our parking lights on, guided only by the light of a full moon. Headlights would interfere with the $10,000 stargazing, we�re told. WHAT TO KNOW IF YOU GO Stop at the Onizuka Visitor Information Station for at least half an hour to acclimate, or you might just fall over from dizziness at the top. Onizuka Visitor Information Station. Planning a drive to the top? The Visitors� Information Station is located at an altitude of 9,300 feet. It is open 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday evening, portions of Friday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Click for complete hours of operation. Stop here for at least half an hour to acclimate, or you might just fall over from dizziness at the top. Thursday through Sunday nights, the visitors center hosts an evening of star-gazing from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Par icipants view the skies through an 11-inch Celestron telescope (weather permitting). Call (808) 961-2180 for a recorded message. Road access. The access road to Mauna Kea begins at the 28 mile marker of the Saddle Road (across from the hunters� check-in station) and leads north to the summit. The visitor�s center is about one hour from Hilo and Waimea and about 1-1/2 hours from Kailua-Kona. It�s another half hour from the visitor�s center to the summit. For access conditions call (808) 969-3218. What to wear. You�re in the tropics, but Mauna Kea�s summit is at 13,796 feet elevation. Bring warm clothing even for a daytime visit. Save room in your suitcase for a warm coat, hiking boots and a hat. The sun is absolutely fierce here, so bring sunglasses. Also bring SPF-15 or higher sun block for your face, hands, and other areas of the body where skin is exposed. Accommodations. Mauna Kea is in a remote and rugged area. If you�re staying in Hilo, about an hour away from the visitor�s center, a good choice is the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. It has 285 rooms, a restaurant, lounge and swimming pool. On a sunny day, oceanfront rooms have a view of Coconut Island, Hilo Bay, and Mauna Kea mountain. Rooms are $107 a night. Call (808) 935-9361. If you�re staying on the west side of the Big Island where all the great beaches are, a good choice is the Outrigger Waikoloa Beach (for erly the Royal Waikoloan). This large resort re-opened Oct. 15 after a renovation. It has multiple restaurants and its own protected swimming beach (the emerald-green Anaehoomau Bay). Rates from now until Dec. 18 are $124 for mountain view, $154 for ocean view and $179 for oceanfront. Call (808) 886-6789. Food. Eat before you go, or bring food with you. There are no restaurants nearby. Bring a large thermos of coffee or soup to sip while at the Visitor Center.

Nostalgic Waikiki Rediscovering the historic charms of Honolulu By Byron Ricks A chartered outrigger canoe tour is still a wonderful way to see Oahu. Last winter our family recovered several stacks of films my grandfather had taken during his World War II tenure at Pearl Harbor. In a darkened room we watched the images of an old Hawaii flicker past. And soon afterward, my wife, Maren, and I flew to Oahu to discover what he had seen more than 50 years before�a historic Waikiki Beach and Honolulu often overlooked amid the latest veneers of glass and steel. Day 1: Stepping into history Beneath curtains of rain and brilliant rainbows I set out on an early morning jog in Ala Moana Beach Park. Running past the splendid swimming beach and a rank of outrigger canoes, I first saw the 2-mile sweep of Waikiki and the igneous backdrop that so often appears in my grandfather's films�the peak of Diamond Head. Although the 500 restaurants and hundreds of shops of contemporary Waikiki attract nearly 70,000 visitors each day, from here the beach seemed strangely quiet, shimmering in the early light a it has for centuries. Waikiki Beach's relatively predictable and often mild water conditions make it the perfect place for beginners to get their surfing legs. The Duke Just across the water, Pacific rollers sweep into Duke Kahanamoku Beach, named for the place where the winner of Olympic gold medals in swimming in 1912 and 1920 learned his first strokes and the art of surfing. With his celebrity, Duke brought surfing a worldwide audience, and he made some 30 movies with the stars, including another "duke," John Wayne. Later, Maren and I will visit the thatch-roofed Duke's Canoe Club restaurant that honors the famous Hawaiian. Pearl Harbor We hopped a bus in Waikiki and headed to Pearl Harbor where my grandfather had been a dentist in the Navy. Due to wartime security, he took no films in Pearl Harbor; we have only a letter thanking his dental team, signed Admiral Nimitz. As we stood over the sunken tomb of the USS Arizona, an afternoon squall washed the harbor. The sobering attack of 7 December 1941 is ultimately what brought my grandfather, and now me, to these islands. Yet even here there is life�birds, migrating flocks descending into t e Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge. Historic downtown Honolulu Returning to Waikiki via the Nimitz Highway, we paused in historic downtown Honolulu. Between the tall buildings, an expanse of green opens around the stately Victorian Iolani Palace. Built for King Kalakaua in 1882, the palace holds the thrones of Kalakaua and his successor, Queen Liluokalani, who ruled the Hawaiian kingdom until the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893. Iolani remains the country's only official royal residence. Then, across King Street, in front of the old parliament hall (now the judicial building), I spied a familiar figure from the films: the golden statue of Kamehameha I, the great monarch who united Hawaii in 1795. On King Kamehameha Day (11 June) flowing leis drape the statue's reaching arms. After wandering among the many historic buildings in this area�the State Capitol, State Library, the Kawaiahao Church, and the Mission Houses Museum (where Hawaii's first American missionaries lived in 1821)�we spent the rest of the afternoon lost among the fascinating Polynesian collections at the Bishop Museum. This striking statue of Kamehameha was dedicated in 1883 as part of King David Kalakaua's coronation ceremony. Day 2: Diamond Head and Hanauma Bay A natural Hawaii As eager to explore Honolulu's outskirts as the sailors in Grandfather's films, we toted flippers, snorkels, and masks, and taxied to Hanauma Bay State Underwater Park, following a winding road along the massive slope of Diamond Head. Today a trail from Diamond Head State Park climbs to the top of the 761-foot-high volcanic peak, where stunning views of Waikiki, Honolulu, and the Oahu coastline unfurl. Submerging my face in the shallows of horseshoe-shaped Hanauma Bay, I glimpsed the sparkling world of Hawaii's underwater life. My grandfather had enjoyed deep-sea fishing during his time in the islands, but these remarkable fish�mere blue and silver flashes among the coral�seemed too spectacular to catch, a feeling confirmed in startling clarity during a stop on the way back at the Waikiki Aquarium. Day 3: On the sands of Waikiki We spent the afternoon along Waikiki where, just more than a century ago, the homes of royalty stood surrounded by the tall palms of the Royal Grove. As we walked the sands, I focused on what I had seen in Grandfather's films�the magnificent Royal Hawaiian Hotel and the longboard surfers riding crumbling waves toward the crescent of Waikiki Beach. The Royal Hawaiian The Royal Hawaiian Hotel beckons with its gardens of towering coconut palms that evoke a tranquility these shores knew long ago. The Royal Hawaiian, dubbed "Pink Palace of the Pacific," was built in 1927 when travelers came by ship to spend perhaps months on Waikiki. Graced with high archways and ceilings, marble floors, and glittering chandeliers, the Royal Hawaiian seems to carry the glow of many sunsets. The Moana Surfrider Lured by Hawaiian music, we wandered toward the Banyan Veranda of Waikiki's oldest hotel, the Moana, built in 1901. As the hula performance began, we sat outside beneath the mighty branches of the ancient banyan tree. From 1935 to 1975 the radio show "Hawaii Calls" was broadcast live from this stage, carrying the sounds of Hawaii to listeners all along the West Coast. With ukulele music filling the air, we ordered a spicy satay, drank umbrellaed drinks, and watched the ball of sun sinking into the earth's watery curve. My grandfather's films are filled with these fiery sunsets, their colors as brilliant as Hawaiian flowers. What splendors he wished to share with his family on the homefront, the timeless magnificence of Hawaii! Hand in hand, Maren and I strolled by the yellow-and-red outriggers lined high on the beach, past a thatched roof and burning torchlights. As the sun vanished, we followed the day's last longboarders, their silhouettes now crouched and speeding toward the sands of Waikiki.

Hawaii: Resort offers "safe" dolphin encounter Terry Nagel, Expedia.com Contributor Watch movies from the pool. Speed down a 175-foot water slide. Stroll the mile-long museum hallway, ride the canal boats, and work alongside professional animal trainers. About the only thing families visiting the Hilton Waikoloa Village won't be able to do is get bored. This 62-acre resort on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii was designed with families in mind, making the resort a destination unto itself. The most popular attraction? A program called "Dolphin Quest" where guests swim with dolphins that have been raised in captivity and are well adapted to human encounters. Advance reservations required Getting a slot in the Dolphin Quest program requires some diligence. For children ages 5�19, guests must call exactly two months to the day in advance to qualify for a dolphin encounter. The cost for children is US$85 per person. Adults wishing to participate can sign up on a lottery basis by calling ahead after making a reservation at the resort. Cost for adults is US$115 per person or US$190 per couple. An alternative to the dolphin encounter is the resort's Animal Training Adventure, where participants age 16 and older learn to work with animals such as mice, dogs, and dolphins. Cost is US$185 for 2� hours. Movies, camp, water fun If you can't swing the dolphin encounter, don't worry�there's plenty more to do. On Saturday evenings during the warmer months, for example, guests can watch family movies while cooling off in the hotel's 22,180-square-foot Kona Pool, which has waterfalls, whirlpools, and a giant 175-foot waterslide. The sandy-bottom children's pool also offers views of the big screen. Families into water sports can pay US$15 per day for an amenities packet that includes a US$25 credit toward the rental of kayaks, paddle boats, and snorkeling gear for use in the hotel's 4-acre lagoon, which is stocked with tropical fish and sea turtles. Spa privileges, in-room coffee, and unlimited local phone calls are also included in the amenities packet. Guests age 5�12 can join "Camp Menehune," a year-round program named after mythical Hawaiian "little people." Each day brings a different theme, such as "Volcano Adventure Day," where kids make their own volcanoes, and "Polynesian Pirate Day," which includes a treasure hunt. The camp, which runs daily 9 AM�4 PM, costs US$50 and includes lunch and take-home souvenirs; half-day and family rates are available. Room rates at the Hilton Waikoloa Village start at US$380 per night.

Hawaii for the weekend By Morris Dye Here are four foolproof options for planning a quick and therapeutic escape from the West Coast to Hawaii�without sacrificing more than a day or two of your precious vacation time. In no time at all you can be enjoying a weekend getaway on Waikiki, the Kohala Coast, Kauai, or Maui. Just what the doctor ordered The price of a weekend in the islands can range from only slightly spendy to extravagantly expensive. Unless you're traveling on a frequent flyer ticket, shop around for packages that combine air transportation, accommodations, and rental car. Packages from the West Coast often begin at less than $500 per person. You can shop for Hawaii vacation packages online through the Expedia Travel Network. Additionally, two more package dealers to try are Pleasant Holidays, Tel. 1 (800) 242-9244, and SunTrips, Tel. 1 (800) 786-8747. Packages can be cheaper than booking the various components individually�but it is wise to check fares in the Expedia Travel Agent to be sure you are getting the best deal. Also, since most package deals use charter air service to Hawaii, bear in mind that you won't find the frequent flyer benefits and greater choice of departure times you would with a major carrier. Accommodations vary widely as well, from simple hotels and condos to posh and pricey beach resorts. Use Expedia.com's Hotel Price Matcher to get a quality room in Hawaii at the price you want. Or, use the Hotel Wizard to choose your own hotel from this list of accommodations in Hawaii, or try one of the options suggested below. Whatever your budget and wherever you stay, the blue skies and warm ocean are free to all, so select the style that suits you best, get out your credit card, and smear on the sunsc een. The Waikiki weekend Maybe the crowded strip of high-rises at Waikiki is not your dream vacation hideaway, but if time is short, don't rule out this hopping urban enclave a few minutes away from downtown Honolulu. Thanks to easy airport access and frequent flights linking Honolulu International to the mainland, it's possible to catch a flight from the West Coast on Friday evening, spend two full days at the beach, and be home in time for work on Monday morning. You won't find a square inch of sand to call your own here, but pack a healthy sense for irony next to your teensy-weensy Speedo and you really can have a good time with the Waikiki scene. If you need a break from the glitz, visit Honolulu's excellent Bishop Museum for a quick course in Hawaiian history, or rent a car and strike out in search of mellow beaches and local color in quieter corners of Oahu. Depending on where you stay, a weekend at Waikiki can be the cheapest way to go. Clean and reasonably priced rooms are available at a number of centrally located hotels (check out the Outrigger chain's various Waikiki properties, for example), with rates generally lower the farther you walk from the surf. Hawaiian Airlines, United, American, Continental, Northwest, and Delta all offer nonstop flights from the West Coast, or you can book cheap charter flights (with less flexible schedules) through discount wholesalers. Coddled on the Kohala Coast If your most recent bonus check is burning a hole in your pocket, you might prefer to treat yourself to a few days of serious R&R at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows on the Big Island. The lava flats that slope down to the sea here on the kona, or leeward, side of the island are bathed in sunlight almost every day. The Mauna Lani offers 350 high-end rooms and suites on 29 waterfront acres, plus five notoriously expensive bungalows that come with private swimming pools, hot tubs, and personal butlers. With 36 holes of golf, 10 tennis courts, a health club, three restaurants, and a bar at your disposal, plus beaches, hiking trails, and several archaeological sites on the property, this is the kind of self-contained resort where you can while away a long weekend without ever leaving the grounds. To skip the added time and hassle of transferring to an interisland flight at Honolulu, check out United's nonstop service from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Kailua-Kona. Regular rates at the Mauna Lani range from $325 to $895, but outside of busy holiday periods you should be able to get in for less than the published rate by shopping around for a package deal with airfare. Condos on Kauai For a mellow beach vacation with family or friends, nothing beats a basic condominium rental on Kauai. With only one direct flight from the mainland (from Los Angeles on United) and fewer tourist accommodations than Oahu, Maui, or the Big Island, Kauai is decidedly low-key and rural, but loads of incredibly varied scenery are packed into its small space. If you're starved for sunshine, head for Poipu Beach on the island's arid south coast. You'll find plenty of condos to choose from here, a nice sandy beach, decent snorkeling right offshore, and easy access to scenic drives and hikes at Waimea Canyon (the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific") and Kokee State Park. Some folks prefer the wetter north coast, where frequent rains and fertile volcanic soil nurture a lush jungle landscape. Condos are available at the Princeville resort development, or shop around for vacation rentals in laid-back Hanalei to the west. Wherever you choose to stay, you'll probably want a rental car to get to the island's gorgeous beaches and green spaces. Whichever of Kauai's environments you choose, you'll find the island's tourism has rebounded and most hotels have been rebuilt since Hurricane Iniki cut a devastating swath across the island in 1992. When planning this trip, you'll need to allow for interisland transfers and drive time to and from the airport, so it's best to take two days off and make it a four-day weekend. Hotel or condo packages with rental car and airfare from the West Coast (including interisland flights) start at around $600 for three nights. Colonial comforts on Maui Maui is another good place to book a vacation condo�try one of the well-traveled beach resorts scattered along the island's west coast. An alternative: Head right for the heart of the island's active nightlife with a stay at the Plantation Inn in the historic whaling town of Lahaina. The old harbor area has been noticeably doctored up for tourists (a younger crowd than at the country-clubbish Kaanapali resort just north of town), but the Plantation Inn provides a refined refuge from busy waterfront bars and boutiques, with 19 rooms and suites in a lovely colonial-style building. The interior is decked out with the kind of Victoriana you'd find in a B&B�four-poster beds, floral prints, and hardwood floors�and rates range from $135 to $215 per night. An excellent country French restaurant called Gerard's occupies the main floor of the Plantation Inn, or nearby try David Paul's well-regarded Lahaina Grill, Tel. +1 (808) 667-5117. For a very special occasion, call ahead and make dinner reservations at the Four Seasons Resort, Tel. +1 (808) 874-8000, at Wailea. It's a bit of a drive down the coast, but at the Seasons restaurant here you'll be rewarded with exquisite Pacific-Continental fare created by one of Hawaii's top chefs, George Mavrothalassitis, w o moved to Maui after years of culinary stardom at the Halekulani on Waikiki Beach. United offers the only nonstop service from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Maui's Kahului Airport, about 25 miles from Lahaina. Pleasant Holidays and SunTrips market direct charter flights to Maui with a stop in Honolulu on the return leg.

Hawaii�s vivid pidgin English A quick guide to make you feel less the tourist By Jeff Williams MSNBC Oct. 21 � When the English language lands in Hawaii, takes off its shoes and starts to relax, it becomes pidgin. To the outsider, most of the words sound familiar, but sentences are garnished with words from Japanese, Portuguese, Chinese, Filipino and Hawaiian. Syntax and intonation also borrow from those languages. So, in pidgin it�s not: �The girl is pretty.� It�s: �Pretty, da girl.� And to make it a question, it�s: �Pretty da girl, yeah?� The language continues to evolve, but it maintains an essential Hawaiian flavor: relaxed, irreverent and multicultural. THE LANGUAGE was born in the early 1900s, when sugar-cane planters wanted a simple, clear way to speak with their immigrant workers. Hawaii�s sugar-export economy was booming and planters had turned to Japan, China, the Philippines and other countries for cheap labor. The cane-field workers, who lived side by side in plantation camps, took the language and ran with it. Pidgin English became one of the things that helped immigrants establish a new identity as Americans. As historian Ronald Takaki writes in �A Different Mirror�: �As [immigrants] spoke pidgin English and as they watched their children grow up in the camps and attend American schools, they realized that they had become settlers and that Hawaii had become their home.� The language continues to evolve, but it maintains an essential Hawaiian flavor: relaxed, irreverent and multicultural. It�s not really advisable that you try to speak it if you haven�t grown up there, otherwise someone might tell you, �No act.� But it never hurts to know a bit of local lingo. Here�s a humorous sample of pidgin words and phrases, excerpted from �Pidgin to da Max� by Douglas Simonson: Okole (oh KO leh): What you sit on in Hawaii. This word does not mean "barstool.� Bumbye, Bambai (bum BYE): Soon enough. This is the most exact measurement of time in pidgin. Bolohead: No mo� hair. Howzit (HOW zit): Pidgin for �aloha.� T�anks eh? Pidgin for �mahalo.� Da kine (da KINE): Da kine is the keystone of pidgin. You can use it anywhere, anytime, anyhow. Very convenient. Every time: All the time; always. Haole: He�s always making a fool of himself.� Pidgin: �He go make ass (or "make a") every time.� Hanabata (ha na BAH ta): What you gotta wipe when yo� nose come runny. Small-kid time: Hanabata days. Junks: 1. What girls carry in their purses. 2. What guys carry in their car trunks. Mo� Bettah (mo BEH dah): Better. No act (no AK): Stop showing off. Cool it. Trying: Pidgin for �You�re trying too hard!� Beef: Fight. See also Like beef. (John's note: you don't hear "beef" much anymore. The current word for fight is "scrap." Like Beef? (Like scrap?) Invitation to go outside. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Excerpted from �Pidgin to Da Max,� by Douglas Simonson in collaboration with Ken Sakata and Pat Sasaki. Copyright � 1981 by Douglas L. Johnston. All rights reserved.

Ree, some time ago you asked if I had ever witnessed a volcanic eruption. Yes. Lots and lots of them. Each one is different and more exciting than the last one. I covered some of my experienes in Geo 2 (Vulcanology)...anything specific you'd like to know?

Yes! Lots of specific things! LIKE: The colour. Is it like fire, or is it a different sort of red and yellow and orange? And does it smell of anything? And how hot do you get if you're close enough to see it happen. Or is the heat more confined to the eruption itself? And have you ever seen the lava run like that from the mountain? Once the lava has stopped running, what does it look like then? Are there lots of ashes or does it harden onto things so that you're left with a surreal sort of landscape? And if one should fall into the lava - do you just turn to ashes immediately?

Oh Yes! Love these questions and will try to find good photos which will show the various colors present. Colors of the hotest fluid flows can be blindingly white hot. Then the perimeters cool down to lemon yellow, bright orange, red-orange, red, through to blood red to blackish red until it is cool enough that is stops emitting light energy. Fountains are usually Orange to Red to Dark red in color - I am quoting for night viewing which is the best. Daytime has to contend with the sun so all color va ues are stopped down one cooler shade. I have never, that I recall, seen white hot during the daytime and not lemon yellow, either. Smells - when rain falls on freshly hardened lava it is like no other smell on earth. I think the only other being who did smell it was God after the creation. When it has been around for a few days it begins to emit a smell of dried celery leaves when mist hits the sun-heated rocks. Otherwise it smells hot rocks. The fumeroles which form later are the smelly ones of ill repute. This is because the lava is so hot that all gases are burnt off giving lovely little green, blue and pink flames before they can reach our noses. You can get pretty close to an accessable eruption (one near an established road). In fact you can get within about 6 feet of it before it is so hot it is not bearable. It is like looking into a furnace with the door open - a wall of heat physically holds you back. You can get a lot closer if there is no large molten lava visible and is just viewable in cracks as it moves...Cloce enough to get a glob on your rock hammer.

I have seen lava rivers running downhill - and they really move - some as fast as 40 mph (64.4Kph) down steep slopes - taking trees and large slabs of cooled lava with them as they go. They can flow up and over walls and all other obstacles...and do with great regularity! It is quite exciting. When it cools we have two main types which make up the landscape: A'A which is clinkery and cools as clinkery red or black and has a dense white hot core which cools into fine-grained "graystone" which we use for road gravel and driveways. It is heavy and dense and full of olivines (peridots). Our quarries are mostly that type of lava. The other kind of lava is PaHoeHoe or smooth and flowing lava. Cooled, it is in flat slabs or great size which crack after time of cooling, or is formed into ropes or wh t are called "epephant droppings." Need to post pix of them as soon as I can find them. It form a most surreal landscape like from another planet. When it recently "paved" over a small housing development in Kalapana (where the school bus picture was taken) it seemed like we had taken a wrong turn and entered a time wsrp to another world. No landmarks remain; nothing is familiar. Most unsettling! If you should fall through the thin crust of a pahoehoe flow you will be cut to ribbons since our flows are rich in silica and glass is sharp as razors. If you are unfortunate to fall into a moving river of lava - 2000�F (1093�C) you do not last long. A geologist's foot broke through a crust several years ago and his heavy boots were almost vaporized, his nomex suit was fused and he had severe burns to his leg - fortuantely a fellow geologist visiting from Italy pulled him to safety. The suit and boot are on display at the Jagger Museum on the rim of Kilauea Caldera. The worst damage was to his leg which had to be grafted and all that. Not something I ever wish to experience! It would not tak long for any vestige of you or anyone to turn to vapor. Not even ash is formed at those temperatures! Any more questions???

That is not a minus in front of the 2000�F - it was a dash. That is a positive and very hot temperature!!! Sorry about the typos...I will do better on the follow-up. Promise!

Sounds absolutely thrilling! Thanks for asking the Q Ree. You write so vividly Marcia. I'm longing to see the photos.

So, Ree, don't even think about diving in to hot lava. Don't even think about it!

The heat is so intense that it is like a physical force keeping you from doing anything stupid, but it does not keep you from stepping onto thin crust over a lava tube with molten stuff in it...! Smart geoolgists either take a long stick to tap the crust in front of them to check for sounds of thin crust. Otherwise they stay well back from the areas known to be active. No sacrificing to the goddess, please!

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?

Never been in there, but I shall check and let you know.

Hey, this is fun! Maybe we'll find other places you haven't been! what about the angel shop - that intrigued me. We have a teddy bear shop in Henley, and i haven't been in there either, just keep driving past it.

Never went into the angel shop and just noticed it once out the corner of my eye. Hafta check it out, too. These places are down in the old part of town where if the termites don't hold hands, the entire place will fall down. They are little home grown holes in the wall and tend to be pricey and more for the hippy sort than I tend to be.... I'll let you know what I discover. This IS fun!

Now if only they did the same sorta thing for HW!!!! Just think what you'd find for me to go and look at!!! (the teddy bear shop is like that too, it's in an elizabethan building, you'd like it - but not the prices)

We'll have to cook up some more things for you to check out, Marcia. You're like our very own Hawaiin remote module, so we're sending you to the hippie section now, be sure to wear flowers in your hair.

I hear you - and plenty of beads... My digital camera till tell the tale along with my words. What fun. Warning - this is NOT gonna be the prettiest part of Hilo, let alone the Island of Hawaii... But you will see interesting people there if I can pry them out of the woodwork. The area is not safe at night, btw.

Sounds like a day trip then. Be careful. It will be interesting to see the inside of the cybercafe. That's great you're putting up all these visuals.

Yeah, go for it!!

I will be accompanied by my driver who is a pretty burly guy considering his antiquity. I'll be ok. Wonder if they are open on Holidays...

Go look for us!! (is it that unsafe??? go carefully too)

Only unsafe at night when the shops close and the druggies gather at a park nearby. There was a knifing there not long ago...

Oh, HW is like that too!!! That's why we get nervous about H coming home late at night from work in town.

On a slightly different tack, check this one out Marcia. http://www.statlab.iastate.edu/soils/photogal/statesoils/hi_soil.htm

Have you been here before either? http://www.weatherunderground.com/US/HI/Hilo.html

Maggie! Only you would/could find a webpage with Hilo's soil profile on it. In the classic instance of what truly definies top soil, we have none here. It is all to new. The best is what everyone else thinks of as subsoil and as such needs much nutrient additives introduced during the growing season. It IS interesting, though... In one of my very first posts in Gewo's wx (weather) topic (14) I specified Wunderground as the one which was the engine running my dektop programs such as wetsock and WinWeather, both of which are up and running on my desktop. Thanks for reminding us and for zeroing in on Hilo!

*grin*!!!

Where in Hawaii is Marcia today?

*sigh* in the corner of my bedroom at the computer crunching SETI data (on my 5th block of it). Will see if I can't get out tomorrow. Gotta get on the driver's schedule and be able to be in a confined space with him...but tomorrow is special and I should be able to do whatever I want!

Yeah - go for it!!! (and please, please, please let it be a lovely day!)

If I don't have to spend the day alone! Thanks!!! I'd love to show you the volcano, too. It is erupting nicely!!!

waiting patiently ....

so am I but not all that patiently. Fluid lava is only visible from the air right now.....*sigh* (I'm cleaning bathroom and hanging new shower curtain and doing other Domestic Goddess things around here)

So, you didn't get to out for your birthday?

Dinner... But I did have fun on the internet *grin* I removed "online romance" off my favorites list

Sheesh - and removed my grammar as well... Man, it's been quiet since I became proper again - but what an adventure! Think it is not over yet... I have been added to 10 or 20 people's lists and I do not recall any women... Hmmmm...

BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARCIA!

Thank you Dear......*HUGS*

Put this in springark, but it sorta fits here too: any whale watching tales Marcia??? SING OUT LOUD, SING OUT LONG Some male humpback whales lengthened their songs while others ceased to sing altogether when exposed to low-frequency sonar tests off the coast of Hawaii in 1998, suggesting that sonar transmissions by the U.S. Navy could disrupt whale breeding and cause other behavioral changes, according to a new study published in the journal Nature. On average, the whales' songs were 30 percent longer than normal, a strong shift given that the sonar was tested at less than full strength, said Patrick Miller, lead study author and a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Still, he said the researchers didn't notice any "extreme reactions" in the whales such as breaching. Many environmentalists are calling on the Navy to end some of its uses of sonar, saying that it can disorient and killwhales. straight to the source: BBC News, 06.22.00 http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_801000/801458.stm

(I think you lost the remote control, Terry, Marcia hasn't posted any pix!!! *grin*)

Have not gotten together with the Master (otherwise known as "wheels") but camera is ready to roll. Been sidetracked for a short while. Gotta get out and take pix... Yup! Lots of Whale-watching tales from my former life....when I had a Real Life

Jeffrey Field, also known as "fatty moon", recently visited Hawaii, some excerpts and the web address. http://www.noresistance.com/mystic.html I had absolutely no desire to go to Hawaii. Hawaii is the name of the Big Island. Hawaii is also the name of the seven islands which comprise our 50th state. The Big Island is, well, big. Twice as large as all the other islands combined. About the size of Connecticut. You won't find Diamond Head, or Honolulu, or Waikiki, or Pearl Harbor on the Big Island. They're located on O'ahu. The Big Island has something for everyone. Twenty of the 22 climatological areas are located here (everything but the sub-Sahara and the tundra.) Ice and snow to dripping rain forests - you name it and you'll find it on the Big Island. But I'm not here to describe our physical trip. I'm going to tell you about the trip behind the trip. . . . and there's more on this website from fattymoon@well.com, who occasionally visits Spring.net.

Cross posted from Geo 17 (http://www.volcano-hawaii.com/petroglyphs.htm) Petroglyphs:Ancient Hawaiian Rock Art Want to get a true picture of the history of Hawai'i? You can learn a lot from Hawaiian petroglyphs - ancient rock carvings that tell stories about early life on the islands. The Hawaiian petroglyphs is a great mystery of the Pacific. No one knows who made them or why, but it seems that perhaps ordinary people, not artists, etched the linear and triangular figures into the pahoehoe lava. These graphic carvings, more than 3,000 of them, were probably made as part of ritual or prayer and speak of spiritual phenomena - mana. Upon approaching a petroglyphs field, a wonderful cast of characters leap to life. There are dancers, paddlers, fishermen, and family groups. Turtle, dog, ship and horse symbols are also depicted, as well as fish hooks, spears, poi pounders and canoes. There are 135 different petroglyphs sites on six inhabited islands, but most of them are found on the Big Island of Hawai'i.

Take a virtual tour of Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden http://www.htbg.com/tour/index.html Beautiful flower pix, some take a bit of a time to load though ..

I'll be interested in your and Marcia's comments on Jeffries fascinating travelougue.

*Whew* I had forgotten to look in here for a while. Yup! The Big Island is the magnificent stepchild of the Hawaiian Islands. We are 4000 square miles in size and growing even as I write this. Wow! I am amazed at the wonderful posts. Sprin5...Thanks!!! You did more for my morale in those comments. This is a unique and most diverse landmass probably acre for acre than anywhere else in the world. We have enven had glaciation on the highest peaks! You will be seeing pix soon - my son and his fiancee are arriving next month to introduce her to volcanoes, Hawaii and all the rest. I will tag along for some of the journeys to discovery and have my digital with me. I can hardly wait!!! Maggie, how could I forget Petroglyphs??!! I have hiked across the burning lava and barren deserts here to seek them out. I'll post pictures of them - a few in here and a few in Geo 17. Thanks all for your interest. I am delighted and cannot wait to read the rest of the comments in those enticing URLs. Mahalo!

(I posted that in Geo too!!!!!!) Looking forward to the pix

Found another virtual Hawaiian tour. The video clip isn't really worth the download (IMHO) but the photo tours of the islands are nice ...and the volcano pix. (Marcia I've forwarded a few of the HILO pix for you...!) Here's the Big Island URL http://satftp.soest.hawaii.edu/space/hawaii/all.bi.vfts.html This is just for Kilauea and has Hilo pix http://satftp.soest.hawaii.edu/space/hawaii/vfts/kilauea/kilauea.vfts.html

Here's the URL for all the Hawaiian islands virtual tour http://satftp.soest.hawaii.edu/space/hawaii/virtual.field.trips.html

Thanks Maggie!!! Wish you could hear it. Smell it. It is amazing over here!

One day.......!

I read this account of the housing ordeal in Hawaii. True? We recently sold our condo north of Lahaina and have been facing the ordeal of trying to find a place to live in west Maui. We were willing to take just about anything, since it's only a transitional move for about a year while we build a house, but damn!--what a nightmare! We ran an ad daily for a month in the local paper, and didn't get a single bite (except for a room in a cane house in Lahaina--shower out back). Finally, through word of mouth, we managed to nail down an ohana (cottage)--I don't think it's bigger than 400 square feet--unfurnished, for $1200 a month. It will be tight quarters for about a year. What's a cane house?

Cane house? I am guessing that it is a house built for workers by the sugar cane companies way back when - they are all alike and tiny bungalow style houses with the amenities at a bare minimum (but did not realize the shower was outdoors!) Lahina is a happenin' place with lots of artists and pricey eateries and galleries all over the place on Maui. Maui is expensive anymore and local people usually do not afford it. Sad! We used to go to Maui for a week each summer just to get away... and now that is no longer affordable!

As to your original question, prices of land / houses on all islands is unbelievable. This nisland is not so bad because we are huge by comparison. Yes, it is very likely true! For around Lahina

She's real nice! Congratulations Hawaii!

There she is.....Mis America...! And UH football won their first game the same evening...and UHHilo won our first volleyball game of the season. It was a great weekend. Thanks for posting her! Lovely lady and most representative of the population!

Did you make it to any Halloween celebrations in Hawaii, Marci? Do they make a big deal of it?

Hawaii makes a big deal of it for kids. Like clockwork, at 8pm all disappear back to from whence they came. If your porch light is not on, they do not bother you. It is fun. Lots of the schools and malls have events to occupy the kiddies, too. One year I was a judge and one little kid came dressed as a swamp monster covered entirely - excepting for his feet and ankles - in Spanish Moss. He (I think it was male) won, of course! We remained home since there was no game at the univesity. Had there been I would have made spiders and other lovely things to give to my friends after they had adorned the T-shirt stand for the evening. And, I would have had a stock of candy to last me into the NEXT millennium...! How was your part of Austin?