Homespun Honolulu

It’s deadline time again!  This is just a reminder to everyone to not forget to send your blog posts in for the upcoming edition of the Carnival of Aloha.  If you’re new to the Carnival, you can follow that link to get all of the guidelines.  If you’re a veteran, don’t forget to submit your post before the deadline!

The deadline for this issue of the Carnival of Aloha is this coming Wednesday, April 30th.  It’s coming up on us fast and furious so don’t forget!  Catch a wave and drop your post off your post as you surf on by. 

Technorati Tags: blog carnival, Carnival of Aloha, Honolulu

The Honolulu Academy of Arts did the “green” thing this past Sunday for its Family Sunday. Assuming this was in anticipation of yesterday’s Earth Day, I would say they did a great job.

For those who drive down Beretania Street and pass the Academy on a regular basis, like me, you’re familiar with the colorful banners in front of the Academy that are blowing in the wind as you drive by.

These banners, as festive and alluring as they are, have nothing to do with Earth Day. These are part of the motif that continues on the inside and is the current exhibit visiting the Academy.

The sacred arts of Bhutan are currently this featured display at the Academy of Arts. The full display of this attraction is on the second floor.

We did not venture up to see the display but it was definitely the topic of conversation while we were there. “The Dragon’s Gift,” as this exhibit is titled, is an attraction which focuses on the “Himalayan kingdom’s Buddhist art and culture.”

This exhibit represents an unusual opportunity to learn about a culture we don’t hear about very often. In addition to the educational aspect, it is definitely a visual feast of very colorful arts, sacred ritual dance, and rich textiles.

Those colorful banners we mentioned, the ones pictured above, are actually covered in writings that you would only see if you were standing next to them. While the writings are not in English, the quality and detail involved with such labor still makes quite an impact.

So, just what was going on for Earth Day? Well, there were a lot of things to make you think about protecting our environment and a lot of hands-on activities for the keiki (children).

Here we’ve got some terrariums being made to further educate the youngsters. I was surprised to see just how little parking was available and how many young children were there. The Academy is not usually a place where you find young children. Its focus is more on the arts of various World cultures. Bishop Museum is a more common place to see the kids.

It certainly made for some creativity and quality time for families. Happy Tamanaha, seen below, was showing people of varying ages the art of basket weaving from simple coconut leaves.

While the push has always been to plant more flora than concrete, the other, more-recent focus for our planet is to recycle products that may otherwise end up in the landfills.

Local sculptor, Mark Chai, has the right idea and shares those ideas with attendees. Pictured above, left, we see a conversational mood light created from a waste basket. In the center we have a decorative light made out of an x-ray film carton that would have otherwise been discarded. The item on the right is a wastebasket made from corrugated tin roof and, get this, old cafeteria trays.

This one is my favorite. The backing of this piece is actually the backing of a street lamp that Mr. Chai found at the dump. He has made a useful creation that, while maybe not suitable for your living room, would certainly make great shelf space on the lanai or in the garage. What’s the Aloha sign? Nothing more than thick cardboard. Imagine that — attractive, functional and Earth-friendly!

The Academy is not done with the green of the past Family Sunday. For their Art after Dark celebration on April 25th (held from 6 - 9:00 PM on the last Friday of the month) attendees will enjoy more live presentations for uses of recycled materials, some organic cuisine and drinks, a variety of entertainment, and a final chance to see The Dragon’s Gift exhibit.

Honolulu Academy of Arts
900 Beretania Street
Honolulu, Hawai’i 96814
Phone: (808) 532-8700

Technorati Tags: Earth Day, Honolulu Academy of Arts, Bhutan

Paradise Cruise, Ltd. has a lovely little cruise ship that changes its mission during the year and at different times of the day.

I couldn’t resist getting this “picture of a picture” since it was a nice capture of the whole boat. This photo looks like it was taken some time back but I’m really not sure. The picture looks old, but the boat itself actually looks a lot brighter than the picture portrays it to be.

We happened to be passing this boat the other day while we were at Aloha Tower looking for something good to eat. My mother was very attracted to the hula dancing that was going on as people were either getting on or off of the boat. I’m not sure which. Mom decided that she really wanted to go on this boat.

I checked in with their little business office and saw that they were in the middle of a season of whale watching cruises. Hmmm… that sounded like something I could get into! So, we signed up and a few weeks later, off we went to see whales! Of course I had to make them tell me all about how careful they are to avoid striking any of these giant mammals. I was satisfied with the description of their procedures that they shared.

The boat was comfortably full of people and the seating on the level where lunch was provided was actually very comfortable. I will say that the food, while alright, wasn’t the delicious spread I was hoping for based on the price we paid for this cruise. Even the kama’aina rates were still kind of steep, I thought.

This was kind of neat — being able to see Honolulu from a different angle. It was nice to see it from a vantage point that doesn’t happen very often.

Of course it’s always important to have drinks, alcoholic and otherwise, available to passengers. You had to pay extra for them though. A soda was $3 and a margarita was $6. The bar tender was young, cute and very professional. I asked her if she went to bar-tending school and she said that, yes, she had. I smiled and teasingly asked if she went to the one on Beretania Street. Uh, she said, “Yes, that’s the one.” I was kidding! But, sure enough.

Here’s a clue as to just how insular I am — at one point when we were far enough out and the view looked similar to the one above, I suddenly had a very strong feeling of melancholy. I had an unexpected pang of anxiety and longing for them to “take me home.” It didn’t last long but it was a little weird for that fleeting moment. As if Honolulu wouldn’t survive without me being on shore. Tsk!

That stupidity being said, the water out there was so blue and so inviting! I swear if I didn’t have to worry about my camera and my cell phone… and my mother’s nerves… I really wanted to be swimming in that water! I don’t think the staff of the Star of Honolulu would have appreciated it if I had decided to take a swim on their time.

I just had to get the above shot! Remember this story about my attitude problem with the guards near the Department of Homeland Security? The one where they wouldn’t let me get a picture of the Matson containers? I got a picture from the other side of that scene. So, I got my way, eventually.

At the end of the cruise, while passengers were waiting to disembark, the guitar player who has been serenading people had two of the servers start dancing hula. They were very good! Maybe not dressed appropriately for hula, but good nonetheless. It did explain why some of their name tags had the word “Performer” written on them. Nice touch guys!

All in all, the cruise was quite nice. The water was soft and it felt almost like a large hammock. An interesting thing to point out was that while out and away from the shore, it was actually very cool. It was almost cold enough to wear a sweater. One of the girls said it would feel very hot once we reached shore. She was right. Once we got off the boat, the weather was sticky and humid.

Many of the cruises offered on this ship are seasonal. The one we were on, the whale watching cruise, was just that. You might be wondering why there are no pictures of whales. Well, we didn’t see any. The agreement that the Star of Honolulu made with the passengers of this cruise was that the passengers would all go again for free if they didn’t see any whales.

We’ll take the journey once more before whale season is over. This time, we’ll eat before we board. It will be nice to ride the boat one more time and enjoy the sleepy sway of the ocean beneath. Maybe then I’ll have pictures of whales to share!

Star of Honolulu
Honolulu Harbor, Pier 8
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 983-7827

It’s morning, the sun is shining… and the moon is still hanging around for us to admire. Apparently our evening skylight has decided that being full last week wasn’t enough time in the limelight. I’ve always found it curious when the moon is so visible in the daylight.

Obviously the moon is always there, but it’s not always quite so obvious about it. I wonder what other anomalies accompany months when the moon shares the daylight with the sun. The surf was up, I know that. It still is. Well, on the North and West shores of Oahu it was.

When a Swim is a Shocking Experience

So, where am I going with this and what’s so shocking about daylight moon sightings and high surf?

The jellies! The box jellyfish will be here today or tomorrow. Like clockwork, they will make their appearance, float around, wash up on the beaches and wrap their loving tentacles around unsuspecting swimmers, divers and surfers. Some people say 8-10 days after the full moon while others say 10 to 13. I’m going with 10 just for the sake of simplicity.

Hawaii is one of the very few places, if not the only place, that has this peculiar behavior of mass jelly movement. But, they’ll be flocking into the beaches if they haven’t already. Perhaps we should say constellating since we’re tying it in with the full moon… or maybe we should say “schooling” since they’re more like a school of fish rather than a flock of birds. I like constellating because it’s more visually accurate — the beach will be dotted with them for sure.

Getting away from the pretty bubbles floating on the water is not enough… it’s what’s under the water that’s gonna get you! Although they are toxic and have been known to be deadly, Hawaii has never had a death from these not-so-charming characters. We’ve had illness, pain and maybe even infections, yes, but no deaths.

When I was lucky enough to feel that kind of trauma, it was one of Hawaii’s Portuguese man-of-war that caused the problem. At least with them you can see them coming… they’re the pretty blue bubbles that the unsuspecting swimmer can admire just before they feel the sudden shock of pain. The box jellyfish are clear and under water so you may not see them in time… but you’ll sure feel them if they’re there and you cross their path!

Mahalo to “Rob’s Aquatic Moment” at Explore Biodiversity for this wonderful graphic!

All is not lost, swimmers! The lifeguards will post warning signs and they will have remedies ready for tearful victims. Of course, you do need to heed their cautionary statements and the signs they post. If you’re feeling adventurous and in the mood to ignore the warning signs, or if you’re just going to a beach with no lifeguard on duty, be sure you have a bottle of vinegar on hand and a clear knowledge of the closest aid station (fire station or hospital) in case your reaction is more severe than just pain. They also say to use heat but some people say ice. Everyone is different, just see which one works. Personally, I think I would go for the ice.

Certain months bring more squishy visitors than others. Hmmm… with the moon being so cocky and the Northshore having a high surf advisory yesterday morning, maybe the jellies will be out in force! I’ll let you guys know what happens. I’ll listen to the news and we’ll make this our little scientific experiment! Shhhhhhh! We’ll list it as “Homespun Honolulu’s Studies in Biology.” Of course we’ll have to do this more than once to confirm our findings. Then someone will just come and beat us up about it. Oh well.

Beware of these little aggressors — they’re not just dumb, floating bubbles. If you’re more than familiar with these characters and are leaning towards shrugging it off, beware of anaphylactic shock. I’ve seen similar, unexpected reactions like this to things like Penicillin and aspirin. “But I wasn’t allergic to it before,” you say.  Well you are now! It can happen so just beware. Don’t let the surf be too shocking!

Oysters are the culinary pearls of the sea,
A prized ocean delicacy for you and me
Dining on raw oysters? Check your fork…
Think twice my friend — you’re eating sea pork!

Photo compliments of Jon Aslund on Flickr

I made that up. What would make me say something like that? Well, while reading about them I couldn’t help but remember the stories I’ve heard about people getting sick from eating raw oysters. I usually hear people say they got sick because they ate too many of them. Well, apparently it may be more than that.

Let’s see… they are found in brackish water (water that is salty but not as salty as the open ocean). Now, I can’t help but see that description as a definition of our own coastal waters — where the fresh-water streams meet the ocean. The oysters feed off of what they filter through their gills. Anything floating in the water might end up stuck in their flesh. Hmmm… warning signs for streams talk about how the water may be contaminated. Need I say more?

To be fair, the dangers of raw oyster consumption are primarily aimed more at the Gulf oysters because there are a lot of laws and restrictions about harvesting the oysters from that region. But, I’m paranoid about the handling of food products as it is and I say it couldn’t hurt to be safe about it around here too. This site goes to great lengths to share information about the the health issues raw oysters may cause.

If you love oysters and you’re feeling offended, relax, nobody’s trying to ruin your favorite food. These guys are obviously serious about protecting people from eating this stuff raw. To make oyster lovers happy, they have even provided some mouth-watering recipes. Those recipes sound so good I was actually trying to figure out which ingredients I already have and which ones I’m missing.

Cook them! That’s the message. Remember, you’re eating sea swine. Come on, someone has got to have come up with that analogy already!

I was out attempting to prepare myself for the pending Great Aloha Run and as I rounded a corner, paying attention only to the behavior of one of my leg muscles, a whole bunch of lizards sunbathing on a brick wall slithered quickly out of sight. I wondered what they were all doing there. Hmmm… those would be fun, silly pictures. Bloggable? Um, not really. Well… maybe.

Just as I turned to walk back towards that wall I caught a glimpse of men on the roof of the house behind that wall, a bunch of tarp on the ground and a truck in the driveway. Yes, you guessed it… pest control!

Do you really think they might have known what was going on? “Geckos Flee Reptile Masacre! Film at 11.” Kind of a silly notion but maybe we don’t give them enough credit.

This guy looks like the same type that scurried away quickly when I rounded the corner. These are the ones I prefer to label lizard rather than gecko because they look snake-ish, hence my use of the word slither. Their color and whippy tails creep me out. I think they are more of the outdoor variety. The word Gecko, for me, is more a term of endearment when talking about these guys.

There seemed to be all kinds of different breeds of reptile hanging around this fence. I know one of them had to be a chameleon — he just had that look. Judging from the color blend going on in the picture above, this may have just been one of them!

I couldn’t help but feel bad for them. Of course, if you think about it, they were already on the outside and they were soon to be free from a lot of their competition! They would be starting with a new slate… as long as they stayed away from the house for a day or so!

When I saw the rolled up tent and the pest control truck I thought of my friend, Skeet, over on the Leeward side of the island. Skeet is all too familiar with these house guests and she described them very humorously in this, one of my favorite posts. If you know geckos, you’ll love this one. You can go read all about the Gecko Gathering at her house! Skeet had no problem giving them loads of credit for their level of intelligence!

After writing a post about the Waikiki Aquarium, several people left comments about things they liked about the Aquarium or things that they remembered about visiting there. I realized, after listening to you guys, that I failed in a couple of areas. So, I had to go back. And, in honor of one of my MyBlogLog.com comrades, I made sure to do a little extra on his childhood favorite, the Chambered Nautilus.

So, Webomatica, Technology and Entertainment buff, this one’s for you!

While the star of the show was resting quietly, it was so dark, I just had to get a picture and so, I turned on my flash. In hindsight, I was a bad person — I should have not done that because this guy was visibly agitated by the flash.

Feeling very guilty, I turned off my flash and decided to show you why I felt it so important to use it in the first place. See? Okay, I spared his distant cousin the octopus by shutting off that stupid flash. While the octopus was just a few feet away, he had a sign asking people to not use the flash. The Nautilus, unfortunately, did not have a sign.

Well, what I did have in the way of pictures just wasn’t good enough to do this creature justice. So, I stole a photo or two from the video that was playing nearby.

While waiting for some good screen shots of this little beast, I listened to the descriptions and explanations of this truly fascinating life form. Thank you, Webomatica, for making me educate myself.

Of course photos snapped from a streaming video are not always the most clear, but I liked these anyway. Besides, the chance of me getting any better shots of these molluscs while they are up and active is slim to none.

This above photo was a little better shot captured from the video. See?!? All you have to do is ask!

Oddly enough, the video narration about this sea creature had me comparing this new area of interest to ourselves — cephalopods and bloggers. The Chambered Nautilus was referred to as a “living fossil” that has cheated evolution. Hmmm… I like that idea. Let’s see, the nautilus has maintained its way of life, unscathed by the changes around it. This champion of nature goes to a quiet place, lives a quiet existence and reproduces while dining on small fish and crustaceans.

We bloggers adapt while still maintaining our “way of life.” We change those things we must, of course, but don’t we go to a “quiet place” and reproduce web content? Am I stretching this? It sure sounds like I am. But, while listening to that video, what sounds like a stretch now, sounded really good at the time!

Will bloggers cheat evolution? I say, “Yes!” We will adapt to the changes in our environment but our free speech and uncensored opinions will remain and reign supreme! It is important that we, like the chambered nautilus, cheat the evolution of the Internet and keep its attempts at conforming us to the mainstream at bay.

I’m talking about off-the-wall ideas and you guys are wondering why there are sharks swimming around here.

Come on, you didn’t think I could go back there and not catch just a couple more shots of my carnivorous darlings, did you? At least a couple of shots?

Aren’t they gorgeous? Okay, I’m weird.

One more thing that I wanted to get a good picture of was this sea dragon.

When they’re still they look like floating lettuce but when they swim… oh my! This would make a great picture for the cover of an Anne McCaffrey novel!

For the record, we did visit the gift shop and I have to report that there was a very nice girl who helped us look for things and the prices were not bad at all!

What did you expect me to take a picture of?

Talking earnestly now, it did my heart good to go back and it was fun to learn more about some of the things that I would generally ignore. Mahalo to the Waikiki Aquarium and to the University of Hawaii for taking the care and research of all of these magnificent creatures seriously, and for sharing their discoveries with us!

From a quiet, simple entrance to a fascinating world on the inside.

One of the first things you run into is their pièce de résistance… this huge clam! Periodically weighed, this darling is about two or three feet across and probably weighs just over 160 lbs or so.

There’s also these cute little floating button-like jellyfish. With all the fish in the sea, we can’t forget the jellies.

Although the thought of jelly fish is usually accompanied by a painful, stinging memory (for me anyway), they are still beautiful to behold. I remember how beautiful that blue bubble was as it floated on top of the water next to me. “Wow, that’s neat,” I thought.

Then suddenly…

“Eeeekkk! My leg, my leg!” Oh the pain of it all! Lifeguards suggest meat tenderizer. I don’t remember what they used that day. I was only 7 or 8 years old, I think. I never forgot it. But, aren’t they beautiful? In the aquarium. Not next to you in the water.

Okay, I don’t remember all the types of jellies and it’s the box jellyfish, the ones that show up after the full moon, that will render you a blubbering crybaby, or maybe worse (I’ll talk about them in a later post). All of that aside, I will avoid them now just because they left me with that painful memory.

Those box jellyfish are to the unsuspecting swimmer, just as the vixen-variety of human female is to the male gender — alluring, intoxicating, seductive… ZAP! Suddenly painful, bewildering and cruel! But, aren’t they beautiful?

Sorry, that just seemed like the perfect analogy. Now every male surfer who reads this will start comparing his x-girlfriend(s) to jellyfish! Oh well.

The sea horse is always a fascination. I guess the need to keep them in the low lighting is why we see little of them, aside from what’s on the National Geographic Channel.

There are so many beautiful fish and varieties of plant life to see as you walk through the Aquarium. Visitors can certainly feed off of the excitement of the children who go to the aquarium with their families. Their excitement is fun to watch and very contagious.

I mention this because, much like I was, the kids were dumb-struck at first and then full of excitement at the sight of these beauties that followed just around the corner.

I was so excited when I saw them! These are black-tip reef sharks. Manō! Manō is the Hawaiian word for shark.

They’re oblivious to us — calm, serene and oblivious. They just swim by. They must be so used to it after all this time. But, when I got my camera home and downloaded these pictures, I literally gasped for breath. “OMG! Look at them! They’re… right there! So close!”

That close… so close they went out of focus. Unfortunately, these were taken with my old camera — I actually took these back in March of last year. I just never got around to sharing them.

You know, many of us wonder what on earth is wrong with those people who go into the water with these cartilaginous creatures! (They have not bones, only cartilage; that makes them sound even creepier doesn’t it?) Why would they want to go down in those cages? I get it! I want to go there too!

I want to have that experience! I told my husband that, for Christmas, I wanted to go on the shark adventure they offer on the North Shore of Oahu. He thinks I have forgotten about it. I haven’t. You guys will be the first to know about it, trust me! I promise to share that story right after it happens! I don’t think I’ll be able to contain myself anyway.

Then comes the thirst for knowledge and the desire to understand them better. Taking a closer look, Waikiki Aquarium has not failed us in this area. These are actual displays and there is a lot of texts that accompany them. The lighting is wonderful for the viewers… just not the greatest for my poor old Kodak at the time.

Understanding them from a zoological standpoint is necessary so we understand the need to protect them.

Overwhelmed by their quiet majesty, I loitered near them longer than I did anything else at the Aquarium. Their subtle power, and their environmental necessity, commands our respect and asserts the need for preservation.

They are one of the ʻaumākua (gods or deified ancestors) for many of the Hawaiian people. This is another reason we should care for their environment and protect them — for their historical value! That wouldn’t work would it? Well, maybe if we take only some of the breeds of shark, like the reef sharks, and protect them! Sigh.

No, he’s not dead… he’s just fat and lazy. He’s basking in th sun and relaxing. The scars on this guy may be ones he received from one of our species of shark. However, it’s more likely that these scars were the result of trying to break free from fishing lines, netting and the like. Much like Sea Life Park has done for some of their residents, I think this guy is a lucky resident saved and adopted by the Aquarium.

There is another clam out in the sunlight that shares its space with these beautiful coral. Those are natural colors — they are living and growing and nobody painted them or added food coloring.

Our ecosystem is so fragile and so many groups are engaged in the preservation of this underwater world. It’s an ongoing struggle but so very worth it! A trip to the Waikiki Aquarium is so very worth it as well!

Welcome to Chapter 3 of the Carnival of Aloha. Sorry for the delay but our Roadrunner got his feathers wet last night and I couldn’t stay awake waiting for him to dry off and start working again. Since he decided to go play in the rain, I think he will be our guide on the safari. Mahalo to the Animal Photo Album for letting this little guy grace us with his presence. We’re going hunting for all things beautiful, magical and fun!

L.P. “NEENZ” FALEAFINE will start us off with OUR ROARING WEEKEND, posted at INFINITY saying that the, “LION KING BROADWAY SHOW has roared into Honolulu in an awesome way. The show captivated our childrens’ attention the entire time as if it were the first. And, all of the adults in our party were covered in ‘chicken skin’ and tears welled up as if we were anticipating the birth of “Simba” the past nine months! It’s playing until December, and absolutely recommended for anyone looking for quality entertainment!”

With that said, I have to also say that there are not many things more magical than a safari done Disney style! I’m glad we got a post in on this, thanks you guys! I haven’t been to the show myself but I’ve heard nothing but positive comments about it! What a great way to start a safari!

Skeet brings us some secret beauty at Secret cove posted at skeet’s stuff. Man that looks familiar. I’m sure I know that place. Once again, however, I am yet to see the honu live and in person in their natural habitat. Don’t worry, I believe you!

kuanyin is joining us for the first time and she brings us some Reflections on Maui posted at Who’s Yo Mama. Kuanyin tells us all about falling in love with Maui.

Angie shares some of that beauty on Maui through her post about Kepaniwai Park’s Heritage Gardens posted at her blog, True Aloha. Angie calls this sight a “hidden treasure.” Secrets and treasures, this is good!

Cheryl brings a little bit more magic our way when she tells us to Move This 2 1/2-ton Stone, and Rule Hawaii posted at Hawaii Vacation Gifts Blog - Hawaiian Blog. Another great story about historic Hawaii and the days of old!

Lynn Vasquez is the first to bring the magic of Christmas to the Carnival of Aloha as she shares her giving nature with us in her post entitled, 3RD Annual MWH Christmas Slippah Wish Project!! posted at Auntie Pupule, saying, “It’s dat time of year again! Wishes do come TRUE!” Thanks for the magic Auntie!

scorpy01 takes us to get something in our stomachs with Banana Joe | Marisa’s Dandelion Patch posted at Marisa’s Dandelion Patch, saying, “I know there are many wonderful places to go on Kauai. My visits there just wouldn’t be complete without several stops at Banana Joe’s, though.” We can add this to our list of places to visit on Kauai! I think the country look of Banana Joe fits right into our Safari theme!

Lika takes a little bit of the magic to Vegas in Ms I-Wanna Hula posted at Lika’s Log. I had to laugh when I read what Lika wrote… “Blogging: Proving the Las Vegas commercial wrong; what happens in LasVegas, ends up someones blog.” I guess it doesn’t just stay in Vega after all! Well, we’re glad it ended up on “someone’s” blog so that it could come home to us!

October kind of flew by and I never did make it to Morgan’s Corner (long story that I’ll talk about at another time) but Pua covered some spooky stuff for us with the Best Halloween in Hawaii in Lahaina on Maui posted at Best Hawaii Vacation with Hawaii Vacation Blog.

Evelyn (me) just wants to Congratulate, Compliment and Correct an error while sharing the Warriors’ good standing while hoping that our darling Honolulu Star Bulletin will perhaps correct their spelling in their online stories? Then they can go cover the Heisman. Then they need to go cover Auntie Pupule’s Slippah Wish Project!

That concludes this chapter. A huge “Mahalo!” to everyone for making this another great Carnival! Submit your blog article to the next “Chapter” of the Carnival of Aloha using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page. (Small reminder, please do remember to read the guidelines.)

Things may be looking up for the Superferry but we won’t know until the special session of the Senate, in process right now, finishes the review of the Bill to see if it should be amended. The Senate went through eight hours of discussion yesterday and will continue this morning.

The big question is whether the Superferry should be allowed to operate while the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) is being conducted. They are looking at letting the Superferry operate but with specific conditions. Everyone is looking for fairness and compromise. We’ll see what happens. Maybe they’ll kick off with a back-in-service run on November 1st!

For those involved in ocean activities, horticulture, hunting, or other evening or lunar-driven activities, the moon is full today! It’s also bigger this month because it’s physically closer to Earth. It’s such a pretty site and a perfect time to take that darling of yours out on a moonlit date!

Just a reminder for those planning to submit a post for the Carnival of Aloha, the deadline for the next Carnival is next week Wednesday, October 31st! The Carnival will go live on the following Monday, November 5th. While you’re thinking about it, you might want to send your link in here so you don’t forget.

The 4th Annual Girl Fest Hawaii will run from November 9th to the 18th! What is it? It’s all about, “Preventing violence against women and girls through education and art.” Girl Fest is sponsored by the Safe Zone Foundation whose mission is to, “create educational multimedia projects and policy change initiatives that benefit the community in order to create a safe, sustainable and peaceful environment for all by using media, art, advocacy and education to influence policy, social consciousness and behavior.” If you follow the link you can download the whole schedule of daytime and evening activities!

Guess what? I’m going to write a novel in November. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. Didn’t you always want to write a book? I think a lot of people at some time in their life have thought they wanted to write a novel. Am I crazy?!? You bet! But, so are several hundred other Hawaii residents! Wanna write a book? National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is here! No matter where you are, if your fingers are twitching while reading this, go sign up! There are college students, working people, anyone, anywhere!

At midnight on October 31st (12:01 on November 1st to be exact), thousands of people across the country, and the World, will put their fingers to their keyboards, or pen to paper, and start tapping away! The goal? Writing 50,000 words over the span of a month. All of this will be done with reckless abandon, all the time hoping for a masterpiece, or at least the start of something promising!

I had never even heard of this thing, but this is the ninth year! Many of the writers are repeat offenders. A lot, like me, are brand new to this creative, literary insanity! Terrifying excitement! A time to let your creative juices run wild — any topic, any age, any language, any thing.

Write-ins are being planned at various locations where participants will converge on Borders, Starbucks, or any place with a lot of coffee, and just write. I think that even the University of Hawaii’s library system may end up hosting a few. Like I said, it’s a Noteworthy November!