Molokai. Shaped somewhat like

Kalaupapa, Molokai, Hawaii - Father Damien. Some 2,200 miles (3540km) southwest of California, in the heart of the Hawaiian islands, is the island of Molokai. Shaped somewhat like a fish (the locals say a shark) with its head facing east, its tail in the west and a dorsal fin rising from its back on the north shore. That dorsal fin is the nearly flat, ten-square-mile (25.9 sq km) Makanalua Peninsula which juts into the Pacific below the world's highest sea cliffs. A place of stunning beauty, it's been blessed by nature's grandeur, and cursed by humanity's ignorance and fear. While this area is generally referred to as Kalaupapa, in fact, Makanalua Peninsula is divided into three districts: The Kalawao district on the eastern edge; Kalaupapa and the settlement of Kalaupapa to the west; with Makanalua in the center. Inhabited from about 650 AD, the Hawaiians fished the rough surrounding ocean by outrigger canoe with nets and spears for over 1200 years . They also farmed the land, coaxing sweet potatoes, onions and taro from the harsh volcanic soil. With the vines of the sweet potato, their main vegetable, they fed their pigs, which in turn they used to barter with other villagers in the eastern valleys. While the peninsula was not largely settled, it was traveled much and used extensively. The entire area is divided and subdivided by low rock walls that continue for mile after mile, creating thousands of small lots of every imaginable shape. There is no written history of the people who built them; historians theorize that they were constructed as pens for raising pigs, as windbreaks for growing crops and possibly as property boundaries and land divisions. The early Hawaiians built fishing shrines called heiau as places to make offerings for their safety while fishing in the rough waters that surrounded the peninsula. These heiau were platforms built of stone in circular and square shapes. Some of their surfaces are filled with coral, while others have elaborate enclosures lined with flat rocks on which offerings of fish or shells were placed. Today, the trail from Topside Molokai to Kalaupapa is traveled by mule, by hikers, and on foot by some of the workers at the settlement. Hugging the nearly perpendicular cliffs, the trail is over three miles (5km) long and descends 1,600 feet (488m) to the peninsula. Along its course are 26 switchbacks that corkscrew in and out of canyons and ravines. There is also a small airstrip at the northern edge of the peninsula, used daily to bring in food, supplies and visitors. Once a year in the summer, when the seas are calm, a barge from Honolulu anchors at Kalaupapa, delivering thousands of pounds of rice, cases of beer, drums of gasoline and supplies to stock the grocery store and hospital. More Kalaupapa photos . Kalaupapa's reputation as a leprosy colony is well-known. Hansen's disease, the proper term for leprosy, is believed to have spread to Hawaii from China. The first documented case of leprosy occurred in 1848. Its rapid spread and unknown cure precipitated the urgent need for complete and total isolation. Surrounded on three sides by the Pacific ocean and cut off from the rest of Molokai by 1600-foot (488m) sea cliffs, Kalaupapa provided the environment. In early 1866, the first leprosy victims were shipped to Kalaupapa and existed for 7 years before Father Damien arrived. The area was void of all amenities. No buildings, shelters nor potable water were available. These first arrivals dwelled in rock enclosures, caves, and in the most rudimentary shacks, built of sticks and dried leaves. Taken after Damien had constructed most of the houses seen here, this photo shows the stark, barren peninsula and settlement at Kalawao in the 1880s. Folklore and oral histories recall some of the horrors: the leprosy victims, arriving by ship, were sometimes told to jump overboard and swim for their lives. Occasionally a strong rope was run from the anchored ship to the shore, and they pulled themselves painfully through the high, salty waves, with legs and feet dangling below like bait on a fishing line. The ship's crew would then throw into the water whatever supplies had been sent, relying on currents to carry them ashore or the exiles swimming to retrieve them. In 1873, Father Damien deVeuster, aged 33, arrived at Kalaupapa. A Catholic missionary priest from Belgium, he served the leprosy patients at Kalaupapa until his death. A most dedicated and driven man, Father Damien did more than simply administer the faith: he built homes, churches and coffins; arranged for medical services and funding from Honolulu, and became a parent to his diseased wards. Shown here in a rare pencil sketch from December, 1888, Damien contracted the disease, and after 16 years of selfless service, died in 1889. In 1886, Brother Joseph Dutton arrived at Kalaupapa to assist Father Damien. Dutton, an energetic and dedicated missionary priest, assumed many of the duties Damien was unable to perform as his leprosy progressed. Mother Marianne, another revered servant, devoted 29 years on the peninsula as an administrator, nurse and educator. She spent her life on the go, even as her age climbed well into the seventies. She died in 1918. In 1977, Pope Paul VI declared Father Damien to be venerable, the first of three steps that lead to sainthood. Pope John Paul II declared Damien blessed in 1995, the second step before canonization as a saint. With the advent of sulfone drugs in the 1940s, the disease was put in remission and the sufferers are no longer contagious. The fewer than 100 former patients remaining on the peninsula are free to travel or relocate elsewhere, but most have chosen to remain where they have lived for so long. The few cars on the peninsula travel at a top speed of five miles per hour, as there is nowhere to go and no reason to hurry. A broad smile and a friendly wave of the hand are commonplace and integral to the lifestyle. At Kalaupapa are the administration building, post office, book store, fire station, never-used jail and of course the hospital which, considering the size of the population, is one of the best staffed and equipped in Hawaii. In the center of the village stands the large town meeting hall, with a big blackboard nailed on its front and some chalk hanging nearby, just in case a message for someone needs to be written. While Kalaupapa is now a National Historic Site, it is also the home of the few former patients who chose to remain there. So access, is by law, strictly regulated. Unless you are invited by one of the residents, you must take the tour offered by Damien Tours of Kalaupapa (about $40.00). The peninsula can be reached by air or by way of the trail from upper Molokai. Visitors can hike in and out or ride one of the Molokai mules. Visitors must be at least 16 years old. Home | Photo Tour | Maps | Kalaupapa | FAQ | History | Activities Events | Molokai Ranch | Climate | Feedback Visitor Center

Hawaii Rental Cars ---

Hawaii Rental Cars for the Big Island of Hawaii * Hawaii Rental Cars - from $19/day (2000 weekly rate) - Hawaii Cars for Rental Big Island of Hawaii Rental Cars --- from $19/day (2000 weekly rate) Big Island of Hawaii Rental Cars BOOKING Form For Immediate Confirmation, please call: 800-767-9603 or 808-942-3639 Rates and terms & conditions are on the Hawaii Rental Cars Home Page. Hawaii Rental Cars in excess of 7 days on one island are at the daily rate. Hawaii rental cars reservations for Economy, Compact, Intermediate & Full Size Cars are GUARANTEED , if reserved more than 7 Days in Advance. We will book you a Hawaii rental cars and email you confirmation information. We will book other classes of Hawaii rental cars and reservations within 7 days, if available, and email confirmation information or notice the car was not available and available options within 24 hours. Name: Subject: Big Island of Hawaii Rental Cars Address: City: State: Zip: Country: Pick Up Date: Time: Location: Kona, Hawaii Airport Hilo, Hawaii Airport Return Date: Time: Location: Kona, Hawaii Airport Hilo, Hawaii Airport Email Address: Please double check Daytime Phone: Ext: email address & Evening Phone: phone numbers Fax Number: Type of Cars: Economy 2 Door - Hawaii Rental Cars Compact 4 Door - Hawaii Rental Cars Midsize 4 Door - Hawaii Rental Cars Full Size 4 Door - Hawaii Rental Cars Luxury 4 Door - Hawaii Rental Cars Convertible - Hawaii Rental Cars Mini Van - Hawaii Rental Cars Jeep Type - Hawaii Rental Cars Other information to enable us to be responsive to your requirements. PLEASE double check your email address and phone number. Atleast one of our email responses is returned each day because of an incorrect email address. You will be contacted by telephone or email to confirm your Hawaii rental cars reservation. If this form is not working correctly, please email us yourinformation. additional Hawaii sites Hawaii Car Rentals -- from $19.95/day (2004 weekly rate) Discount Mainland to Hawaii Airline Tickets Maui Vacation Rentals Great Lodging . . . Affordable Prices !!! Kapalua to Kaanapali - Maui, Hawaii The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach | Sands of Kahana | Kahana Sunset | Papakea Resort | Villas at Kapalua | Maui Sands | Mahina Surf | Royal Lahaina | Maui Islander | Hyatt Regency Maui | Maui Eldorado | Kaanapali Beach Hotel | Lahaina Shores | Kahana Reef | Westin Maui | Hyatt Maui | Sheraton Maui | Kaanapali Alii Maui | The Whaler Maui | Wai lea - Maui, Hawaii Wailea Elua | Wailea Ekolu | Wailea Grand Champions | Wailea Marriott Ourtigger Resort | Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort | Grand Wailea Resort & Spa | Maui Prince Hotel | Fairmont Kea Lani | Diamond Resort | Grand Wailea Maui | Kihei - Maui, Hawaii Sugar Beach Resort | Mana Kai Maui Resort | Maui Sunset | Maui Banyan | Maui Kamaole | Kihei Akahi | Kamaole Sands | Shores of Maui | Kihei Alii Kai | Nani Kai Hale | Kihei Surfside | Kauhale Makai | Island Sands | Hale Kamaole | Hale Kai O Kihei | Hale Pau Hana | Maui Coast Hotel | Hawaii Car Rentals ** Maui Car Rentals ** Kauai Car Rentals ** Hawaii Car Rentals ** Discount Airline Tickets: ** Priceline ** Farebeater ** Hawaiian airline Tickets ** Hawaii Airfare ** Airlines ** Hawaiian Airlines ** Airline Tickets ** Airfare ** Cheap Airline Tickets ** Cheap Airfare ** Discount Airline Tickets ** Discount Airfare ** Aloha Airlines additional travel sites Additional Discount Hotel Rooms -- Worldwide | Anaheim (Disneyland) | Atl anta | Bos ton | Chic ago | Lon don | | Los Angeles | Mia mi | New Orleans | New Yo rk | Or la nd o | Par is | | San Diego | San Francisco | Washington D.C. | More Cities | San Francisco 49ers Football Game Tickets (including PLAYOFF reservations) and Packages

Maui The Island of

Maui and Kahoolawe, Hawaii Maui and Kahoolawe, Hawaii Elevation: 1,476 feet (450 m) - Kahoolawe 10,023 feet (3,055 m) - Maui The Island of Maui is made of two volcanoes: West Maui and East Maui.Most of the West Maui shield (20.9N, 156.6W) formed between 2-1.3 millionyears ago. A central caldera has been identified roughly in the area ofthe present-day Iao Valley. Alkalic basalts capped the volcano about 1.2million years ago. Four small eruptions occurred during the rejuvenatedstage on West Maui, probably about 1 million years ago. The volcano isdeeply dissected by numerous valleys. West Maui has not erupted inhistoric time and is considered to be extinct . East Maui Volcano, often also (but incorrectly) called Haleakala, is the easternmost of the twoshield volcanoes that make the Island of Maui. East Maui Volcano (20.7N, 156.2W)is the third largest Hawaiian shield volcano. Three rift zones can beclearly seen in the above Space Shuttle photograph(compare with map below). Most of thevolcanic activity has been concentrated along the southwest and east riftzones. The impressive Haleakala Crater is at the summit of the volcano.Haleakala Crater is an erosional caldera, formed by the coalescence ofthe heads of two large valleys as they eroded into the volcano. The mainshield of Haleakala is more than 800,000 years old. Lava flows andpyroclastics of the capping stage range in age from 930,000 to 350,000years old. Rejuvenated-stage volcanic rocks occur along the rift zonesand in the crater. The most recent eruption of Haleakala was in about1790 at La Perouse Bay. Haleakala is considered an active volcanobecause this eruption is in historic time for Hawaii. Kahoolawe (20.5N, 156.6W) is one of the smallest shield volcanoes in theHawaiian Islands. Kahoolawe is the island near the bottom of the slide.The lava flows that make the main shield are 1-2 million years old. Waveerosion has exposed a caldera on the eastside of the island . Kahoolawehas not erupted in historic time and is considered to be extinct. Source of information: Volcanoes of North America by Wood and Kienle. Images of Volcanoes To VolcanoWorld

Waikiki BeachCam Sheraton Waikiki

Sheraton Waikiki - Starwood Hawaii Hotels & Resorts | weather at Waikiki is unavailable Select a Property WebCam Princeville Resort Sheraton Kauai Resort Sheraton Waikiki BeachCam Sheraton Waikiki SkyCam Sheraton Moana Surfrider The Royal Hawaiian Sheraton Maui Resort The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas The Westin Maui Resort & Spa Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa Select a property Sheraton Waikiki Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Sheraton Moana Surfrider The Royal Hawaiian W Honolulu - Diamond Head Sheraton Maui Resort The Westin Maui Resort & Spa The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas Princeville Resort Sheraton Kauai Resort Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 From To Honolulu, HI (HNL) Kauai, HI (LIH) Maui, HI (OGG) Kona, HI (KOA) Departing morning afternoon evening Returning morning afternoon evening Rooms 1 2 3 Service Class Coach Adults 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Children (2-11) 0 1 2 3 4 This view overlooks the south shore of Oahu and famous Waikiki Beach. Views of Diamond Head and popular surf spots are key highlights. About Sheraton Waikiki: The flagship Sheraton Hotel in Hawaii featuring: Over 1700 Guest rooms with 70% offering views of the Ocean Three restaurants, fitness center, business center and childrens' program Waikiki's only nightclub dancing overlooking the world's most famous beach Summer Luau "Stay at One, Dine at All" convenience with sister hotels in Waikiki Suggestions or comments?  Click  here  to send us your feedback. © 2005 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions for Use

Hawaii Wedding

HAWAIIAN WEDDING SONGS Wedding Songs Two songs are most-often played at weddings with a Hawai`i theme: "Hawaiian Wedding Song" -- which is more lovely when sung as its original Hawaiian composition, "Ke Kali Nei Au" . And you'll also hear the beautiful "Lei Aloha, Lei Makamae" ("Forevermore"), especially at weddings in Hawai`i. You'll find these songs on the following CDs. Click on "CLIP" to hear just the song -- or click on the album title to view entire playlist Lei Aloha, Lei Makamae ~ Forevermore ARTISTS ALBUM TITLE CLIPS BRIGHT, TERESA Painted Tradition BYRD, JERRY Byrd Of Paradise DILLINGHAM, PETER & FRIENDS Limited Edition Vol II HAWAII CALLS Hawaiian Wedding Song HAWAII CALLS Memories of Hawaii Calls - Vol 1 HO, DON Hawaiian Favorites KAALA BOYS Solid KALEIKINI, DANNY Hawaii's Ambassador of Aloha KANE, ELODIA He Leo Ohana NEW HAWAIIAN BAND Classic Collector Series NEW HAWAIIAN BAND Hawaii's Greatest Hits Vol II PAHINUI, GABBY Hawaiian Slack Key Vol 2 PAHINUI, GABBY The Best of Hawaiian Slack Key with Gabby Pahinui PAHINUI, MARTIN Martin Pahinui Hawaiian Wedding Song ~ Ke Kali Nei Au ARTIST ALBUM TITLE CLIPS AIKO, GARY Mai Poina Oe Iau AKAKA, ALAN & THE ISLANDERS Hawaii's Golden Treasures BYRD, JERRY Byrd Of Paradise DE MELLO, JACK Music of Hawaii DENNY, MARTIN Greatest Hits HAWAII CALLS Hawaiian Wedding Song HAWAII CALLS Hawaiian Wedding Song (instrumental) HAWAII CALLS Hawaii's Greatest Hits Vol 1 HAWAII CALLS Memories of Hawaii Calls - Vol 1 HAWAII CALLS Music from the Land of Aloha HO, DON Gold HO, DON A Night in Hawai`i ISAACS, BARNEY & BILLY HEW LEN Steel Guitar Magic Hawaiian Style KAHAUANU LAKE TRIO The Best of Kahauanu Lake Trio Vol. I KALAPANA Full Moon Tonight KANE, RAY Wa`ahila KEAWE, JOHN Auhele KOHALA Island Treasures LEE, RILEY & PETERSON, JEFF Maui Morning LEED, MELVEEN Melveen's Hawaiian Country Hits LEONANI SERENADERS Hawaiian Hospitality MAKAHA SONS & FRIENDS Na Pua O Hawaii MAUNALUA Maunalua MERRILL, BUDDY Beyond the Reef MILLER, CHARLES SERENADERS The Heart of Hawaii NEW HAWAIIAN BAND Classic Collector Series PAHINUI, GABBY The Best of Hawaiian Slack Key with Gabby Pahinui PAVAO, DENNIS Sweet Leilani POOKELA Moonlight Melodies of Waikiki ROYAL HAWAIIAN BAND Live at Carnegie Hall VARIOUS A Musical Memento of the Islands VARIOUS Aloha Festivals Hawaiian Falsetto VARIOUS Dreams of Hawaii (instrumental) VARIOUS Dreams of Hawaii VARIOUS Hawaii's Sunset Melodies VARIOUS Lei of Stars VARIOUS Maui's Sunset Music VARIOUS Memories of Hawaii VARIOUS Romantic Songs of Hawaii VARIOUS Songs to Hula VARIOUS The Best of Hawaii's Melodies VEARY, EMMA The Best of Emma Veary ©2005 Hawaiian Music Island - MELE.COM -- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED All soundclips on MELE.COM are used with the express permission of the artists/record labels and may not be duplicated Site Map | Contact Us | Site Guide | Submit Halau | Submit Concert