Honolulu

Honolulu Star-Bulletin Features Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors. Monday, January 15, 2001 By Ronen Zilberman, Star-Bulletin Players point and shoot as they jockey for position on the field. It's all fun and games at Hawaii All-Star Paintball as players come out of the woods to celebrate their field of dreams Paintball before politics By Burl Burlingame Star-Bulletin THERE'S a steady, hollow drumming -- thwip! thwip! thwip! -- as if vinyl hail is falling. And the stuttering chatter of air bursts. And the occasional shouted command, or cheer of victory. But other than that, standing at ground zero as 300 people engage in rapid-fire combat at close quarters is surprisingly quiet. Opening day at Hawaii All-Star Paintball drew hundreds of players from around the island yesterday in a benefit for Hawaii Food Bank. Owner Brandon Cayetano estimated about 1,500 cans of food were collected. By Ronen Zilberman, Star-Bulletin Ray Contreras eyes the amunition being handed to him. The paintballs, decorated with spots and stripes, are lightweight, but sting when they hit. "Even the other fields shut down for today in support," said Cayetano. He stood atop a Matson container in the center of the playing fields, looking down into the arenas and occasionally shouting orders like the skipper of a pirate ship: "You! Yeah, you! Mask DOWN, brah! Safety first! You HEAR me?" Located on a largely ignored spit of landfill left over from freeway construction, Cayetano had a busy couple of months bulldozing and cleaning up the site. "You wouldn't believe the junk that was here," he said, shaking his head. By Blaine Fergerstrom, Star-Bulletin An overhead view of the paintball grounds. The field is divided into various arenas, each with varying obstacles and degrees of difficulty. The games are basically a variation of capture-the-flag. "When you get right down to it, it's just playing cowboys and Indians," he said. "Except that that you can spend a thousand dollars for your gear and get totally wrapped up in it." The paintballs themselves are surprisingly tough gelatin capsules the size of marbles, filled with water and biodegradable dye. They don't burst unless they strike the target dead-on. Otherwise, they bounce away. "Yeah, I suppose you could eat them," said Cayetano, eyeing the reporter who asks the question. "But why would you want to?" By Ronen Zilberman, Star-Bulletin From left, Alex Frederick, Jonathan Mita and Samuel Nolan, lock and load, preparing for an intergalactic shoot 'em up. Players checking out the facility were happy with it, not just for the challenging courses but because of the location. Wayne Kiyabu, by day a worker at Frito Lay, was introduced to paintball by his brother -- "I was hooked by the first night!" -- and says that Cayetano's course is "just what Hawaii needs. "It's awesome, no kidding. The main thing is that it's centrally located. All the other courses are off in the sticks. It wasn't until I began playing that I realized how big the phenomenon was." Sheryl Miyagawa, Serene Kubota and Heather Enomoto, all about 20 and coeds, were trying paintball for the first time, and were enthusiastic. "It was totally fun," said Miyagawa. "But I didn't know it would hurt! When you get hit by the paintball, it stings!" "My friends told me, wear as much as you can, and they weren't kidding," said Enomoto. "Oh, it's not that bad," huffed Kubota. "Fun has its price." By Ronen Zilberman, Star-Bulletin Trisha Shimomi and Barry Tokuhama, paintball beginners, take a break to give each other support at the paintball field grand opening. Brad Rodrigues, by day a sales broker, began paintballing about a year ago. "My friends said, hey, try 'em, and I really got into it. "This central location will really help the game. It has a lot of space and is organized. A field like this will draw good people into the game." Paintball in Hawaii, although popular, has yet to tap into the lucrative tour or corporate market. Some companies sponsor games as a teambuilding exercise. Although Americans have led the paintball charge, Cayetano has seen a shift in Japanese attitudes. Even 10 years ago, Japanese visitors were crazy for target shooting, but wouldn't shoot at anything resembling a human," Cayetano said. "But that has changed." By Ronen Zilberman, Star-Bulletin A paintball warrior maneuvers for protection from being sprayed with lime green and fuchsia paint as he fires his weapon. How about videogames such as "Doom"? Have they made us more eager to shoot-'em-up? Cayetano shook his head. "Paintball is the antidote to videogames. It's out in the open. Fresh air and exercise. You're a target too. But mostly, there's no concept of teamwork in a videogame. You won't win in paintball unless you pull together." By Ronen Zilberman, Star-Bulletin Brandon Cayetano prefers the blast of paint to that of the political ring. Son o’ da guv is paintball commander BRANDON Cayetano has no intention of following in father Ben's political footsteps, and the governor has never played paintball, his son's passion. But the two share the gift of gab. Press Cayetano's "paintball" button and he goes, like 60 m.p.h. His new paintball field debuted yesterday near Sand Island and finally brings the islands into the modern age of the newly professional sport. "I first went crazy for paintball back in '83, and opened a competitive field in Waimanalo," said Cayetano. "I ran it basically so my friends and I could have a good time playing. I lost it in the early '90s. "I didn't have enough business savvy at the time to run it. I was naive." Discouraged, Cayetano ignored the sport for several years and explored what he calls the "dark side" of life. "Yeah, I got estranged from my family and friends. I knew what it was like on the streets, what it's like to be hungry. It was defensive times. I got into trouble. "But slowly, with the help of my parents, I worked my way back. I trained under computer gurus and got my act together." By coincidence, he worked as human resources and safety manager at United Laundry Services before the owner became his father's second wife. In the meantime, the paintball scene in Hawaii had stagnated, Cayetano believed. It was time someone brought it up to date, and why not him? His experiences in the '90s made him much more aware of the financial aspects of running a business. "In 1983, only the United States played paintball. Today, it's played in 39 countries and it's a $4-billion-a-year industry." Paintball is like any other sport, Cayetano said. It requires discipline, training, awareness and organization. This is created by creating fields like simulated war zones, with varying obstacles and handicaps. Paintball on Oahu had turned into a "renegade" game, with guys running around in the woods, just blasting away at each other. "We spent a lot of time just trying to tell people we weren't mercenaries in training!" he laughed. "There can be a kind of rift between the newbies and the tournament-level players. The newbies can get whacked on. They get excited, and the pros just rail 'em, which can be humbling and bum them out," said Cayetano. He intends to keep everything as even-handed as possible at the new site. Hawaii All-Star Paintball is divided into three zones or "fields" on a spit of land makai of the freeway near Sand Island. "It was trash land," said Cayetano. "I noticed it more than a year ago, and started the permit process to convert it into a paintball park." And no, being the governor's son didn't open any bureaucratic doors, he claims. "In fact, I think being the governor's kid might have slowed things down," he said. One zone comprises ABS water-pipe obstacles, a scenario called "hyper-ball" on the mainland. Another is what Cayetano called an "air-field," filled with inflatable obstacles, delivered by an airline with just hours to spare Saturday. "Thirteen grand to fly in balloons," he moaned. The third is a chessboard of mounds and berms for players to scramble over. The entire site is ringed with netting to prevent stray paintballs from whacking the freeway overpass. "The range on these things is only about 25 to 30 yards anyway," he said. "When I first started out in paintball, the guns were like pump shotguns, slow and inaccurate. Now you can even buy paintball guns for $1,200 that have computer chips in them to control your fire rate, like an automatic." Most paintball guns, though, run about $150, and are accurate enough to put a pattern in a pie plate at 20 yards. On the mainland, Army and Marine Corps use a paintball course for combat training because it's cheaper and more impressive than laser weapons. "When you get hit by a paintball, you know it," Cayetano chuckled. Cayetano raised the funds himself, mainly with the help of paintball enthusiasts like himself. Many show up after their 9-to-5s and help out in the evenings, getting the course ready. While dad doesn't play paintball, he knows Brandon has a passion for it. "Any father would want his son to follow in his footsteps," Brandon said. "But I'm more comfortable as a private businessman. Some people, like my Dad, are born to excel in politics. But not me!" Click for online calendars and events. E-mail to Features Editor Text Site Directory: [News] [Business] [Features] [Sports] [Editorial] [Do It Electric!] [Classified Ads] [Search] [Subscribe] [Info] [Letter to Editor] [Feedback] © 2001 Honolulu Star-Bulletin http://starbulletin.com

Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort

Overview of Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa Traditions established by Queen Lili'uokalani, the last Hawaiian monarch, continue to flourish at our resort. home over view -- -- Let us show you exclusive offers & updates tailored to your interests. resort services fast facts testimonials map & directions A century ago, Queen Lili'uokalani, the last Hawaiian monarch, inherited the lands at Hamohamo, the area in which the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort now stands, from her grandfather, 'Aikanaka. The land on which the Hotel is directly built was once the Ku'ekaunahi stream, which ran through the Queen's property. There were two summer homes on Lili'uokalani's property, one called Kealohilani and the other Paoakalani (literally translated as "heavenly fragrance"). Here she retreated to relax and informally entertain family, friends, and on occasion, visiting royalty. She also spent much of her time composing her songs and translating Hawaiian stories into English, surrounded by lily ponds and elaborate gardens, and when the trade winds blew, the fragrance of the topical flowers was carried throughout the estate. According to Queen Lili'uokalani, the large inviting living room was a place where "all could gather in joy and hospitality." Her home served as a comforting getaway from the pressures of business at I'olani Palace, several miles away. Nearby stood another one-story guest cottage, Kealohilani ("heavenly brightness"), where visitors enjoyed the tranquility of old Hawaii. In 1966, the Lili'uokalani Trust revealed plans for turning 16 acres of "old Waikiki" into a multi-million dollar resort development. American International Travel Services, Inc. (AITS) broke ground at this site in 1968 with plans for a twin towers, 23-story hotel at a cost of $12 million. Only one tower was initially completed. In October 1971, and at a cost of close to double the original estimate, the hotel officially opened. The grand opening ceremony took place on February 9-10, 1972. Reverend Abraham Akaka of the Kawaiahao Church conducted the blessing in the Garden Courtyard and Princess Abigail Kawananakoa, the niece of the late Queen Lili'uokalani, ceremoniously untied the maile lei. Eight years later, in 1979, the Kuhio Tower was added to the Resort, bringing the total room count to 1,346. In November 2000, Marriott International, Inc. assumed management of the hotel. Today, the area surrounding the resort bears little resemblance to the neighborhood at the turn of the century, but the traditions established by the queen continues to flourish at our resort. Diverse food and beverage outlets Business Center 24-hour Internet access 24-hour Fitness Center Live Entertainment Hawaiian cultural activities Concierge services Shops and Boutiques Two heated fresh-water swimming pools Valet service In-room safe deposit box Rental car desk 24-hour Laundromat Doctors On-Call medical service Property Address Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa 2552 Kalakaua Avenue Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 Telephone (808) 922-6611 Phone (808) 921-5255 Facsimile 1-800-367-5370 Toll Free Reservations in the Continental U.S. & Canada Website: www.MarriottWaikiki.com Credit Cards Accepted American Express, Diners Club, JCB, Mastercard, Visa and Discover. Hotel Tax 11.41% Location Overlooking Waikiki Beach near Diamond Head. Located on 5.2 acres of prime Waikiki property. Eight miles from Honolulu International Airport. Built October 1971 Architect Shimokawa Architects Date Marriott Assumed Management November 2000 Number of Rooms 1,310 rooms Kealohilani Tower Floors: 25 Rooms: 656 Suites: 10 Non-smoking rooms: 452 ADA Rooms: 5 Paoakalani Tower Floors: 33 Rooms: 654 Suites: 3 Non-smoking rooms: 326 ADA Rooms: 22 home resort overview accommodations check rates reserve now packages specials meetings & events weddings spa olakino things to do resort dining resort activities news press room take a tour contact privacy policy site map 2552 Kalakaua Avenue Honolulu, Hawaii 96815-3699 RES 1.800.367.5370 PH: 1.808.922.6611 FAX: 1.808.921-5255 ©2005 Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa Developed by Symbolic

Maui hotel resort &

Maui Hotel*Maui Hawaii Hotel Vacations*Hawaii Vacations*Maui Vacations*Hawaii Luxury Resort Hotel Maui Hotel & Hawaii Vacations * Maui hotel resort & spa offers luxury vacations in Maui, Hawaii. Maui coast hotel is perfect for weddings & honeymoon vacations. Luxury Maui Hotel & Spa At the end of the Hana Highway, on the lush eastern coast of Maui, is the legendary AAA Four Diamond Hotel Hana-Maui and Honua Spa, where tranquility is a way of life. This luxury resort has long been known as a favorite Hawaiian vacation retreat for generations of travelers seeking a serene and enchanting escape. Hana is the perfect location for honeymoons, romantic getaways, and small weddings. The Resort reflects a wonderful blend of Hawaiian heritage and the unspoiled natural beauty that makes Hana such a special place. Luxury accommodations include spacious, bungalow-style Bay Cottage Suites with patios and romantic, plantation-style Sea Ranch cottages that offer dramatic ocean and mountain views. Honua Spa Condé Nast Johansen's Most Excellent Spa Hotel in the USA May 1 - 6, 2006 Visions of Paradise Photography Seminar with Robert Glenn Ketchum Located on an acre of landscaped grounds, the intimate Honua Spa takes advantage of the spectacular views of Hana Bay. Here, guests can enjoy the ultimate in nurturing with massage, facials, and body treatments. The spa features steam rooms, cold plunge, aquatic therapy pool, lava rock whirlpool and more. Enjoy horseback riding along the Hana coast, complimentary daily yoga classes, tennis, snorkeling, Hawaiian cultural activities, or relaxing at nearby Hamoa Beach -- described by James Michener as "the most perfect crescent beach in the Pacific." Hotel Hana-Maui is the Hawaii hotel that you have always dreamed about. You will experience time slowing down and the rejuvenation of your soul in an unspoiled Hawaiian paradise. Book your Hawaiian holiday online now. Charter flights are available on Air Links! About Us : Contact Us : Sister Resorts : Awards : Media : Travel Agents : Guest Comments : Links : Mailing List Maui Hawaii Hotel & Hawaii Vacations Summary: Travel to Maui, Hawaii and visit Mauis award-winning luxury hotel, Hotel Hana-Maui at Hana Ranch. The Maui hotel is located at the end of the Hana Highway and is considered one for the top 10 most beautiful drives in North America. Find luxury Maui accommodations with our loving restored resort hotel featuring an eclectic mix of Hawaiian history and cultures. Maui accommodations include the Plantation House, which is a great location for weddings and small meetings, the Sea Ranch Cottages, which are duplex style on an ocean bluff, and the Bay Cottages, with some overlooking Hana Bay. Maui coast hotel. Our 4 star resort offers luxury accommodations perfect for Maui weddings, honeymoons, and luxury spa resort vacations. Honua Spa Maui - Hawaii wellness vacations. If youre looking for a wellness vacation, come and be pampered at the new Maui hotel spa - Honua Spa. Voted Hawaiis best new spa by Luxury Spa Finder Magazine. Enjoy a luxury spa vacation with wonderful spa therapies. Our Maui hotel also offers Hawaii vacation spa packages and deals including the Wellness Escape Spa Package. Hotel Hana Maui features many wonderful amenities. Dine at the Hotel Hana Maui Ka'uiki restaurant and enjoy a tantalizing blend of Pacific Island and regional Maui cuisine. The menu features fresh fish from the Hawaiian waters and locally grown produce from the island of Maui. Enjoy activities on your Maui vacation like sunning and playing at Hamoa Beach, horseback riding, jeep tours, hiking, and Maui snorkeling. Find the best Maui vacations, Hawaii vacations, and Hawaii vacation packages. Find luxury lodging in Hana, Maui, Hawaii. Book Maui hotels. Find Maui accommodations booking. Come and visit us at the end of the Hana Highway and enjoy a luxury 4 star resort vacation in the paradise that is Hana, Maui, Hawaii. FREE counter and Web statistics from sitetracker.com

Tropic Hawaiian

Hawaiian Tropic Suncare Products From The Beautiful Turtle Bay Resort On The North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii The 21st Annual Miss Hawaiian Tropic ® International United States Pageant Finalists Are Announced! 2003 US Finalists North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii - September 27, 2003 – Waves, sun and the Aloha Spirit set the tone at the luxurious Turtle Bay Resort on the gorgeous North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii as the resort hosted the 21st Annual Miss Hawaiian Tropic ® International United States Pageant Finals. The Top 4 Miss Hawaiian Tropic International United States Finalists are: Brooke Paller, Palm Beach, Florida; Kimberley Choma, Superbowl – San Diego; Ashley Smith, Jacksonville, Florida; and Elaine Arias, St. Augustine, Florida. Miss Congeniality is Kimberly Solomon, Evansville, Indiana and Miss Photogenic is Ashley Moss, Rio Grande, Texas. Sponsors Of The Miss Hawaiian Tropic International United States Finals Presented Promotional Contracts To Selected Contestants. Those sponsors and contestants are: Bennett Productions’ Bikini Destinations Award Winners are : Juliet Lighter, Kauai, Hawaii; Lien Fellows, Austin, Texas; Elaine Arias, St. Augustine, Florida; Jaime Acker, Madison, Wisconsin; Tiffany Gudding, Birmingham, Alabama; Kehau Lee, Honolulu, Hawaii and Eden Taylor, Clearwater Beach, Florida. Conair Corporation’s Smoothest Skin Award Winners are: Grand Prize Winner is Joanna Harbin, Orlando, Florida; Second Place Winner is Ashley Smith, Jacksonville, Florida and Third Place Winner is Natalie Pandorf, Tampa, Florida. TrimSpa’s Award Winner is: Kehau Lee, Honolulu, Hawaii. Body Glove’s Award Winner is: Krisi Ballentine, Hot Springs, Arkansas. Yamaha Watercraft Group’s Winners are: Jaime Miller, Spring Break Tour Gulf and Bonnie Conte, Miami Beach, Florida. Alto Reed’s Award Winner is: Brooke Paller, Palm Beach Florida. American Waterstar’s Award Winner is: Kimberly Cozzens, Las Vegas, Nevada. 511 Tactical’s Award Winners are: Amber Ettinger, New York, New York and Krisi Ballentine, Hot Springs, Arkansas. More than 95 gorgeous contestants from across the United States competed from Sept. 21 – Sept. 28, 2003, with the Pageant Finals taking place on Sept. 26th, for the prestige of being chosen as one of four Miss Hawaiian Tropic International United States Finalists. Hawaiian Tropic® is extremely fortunate to have such a beautiful host location for the pageant event. Turtle Bay’s legendary North Shore sands, luxurious accommodations and world class amenities provide the perfect tropical backdrop for the 2003 Miss Hawaiian Tropic® International United States Pageant Finals. The event was hosted by actor Lorenzo Lamas and co-hosted by Erica Reams, Miss Hawaiian Tropic International 2003, as well as the talented Sterling Rice. The theme for this year’s pageant is “Let’s Go Surfing.” The location’s exquisite luxury, service and attention to detail added to the ambience of the pageant. Nationally recognized sponsors included: Anheuser-Busch, American Waterstar, Bennett Productions, Bill Mack, Body Glove, Christian Riese Lassen, Conair/RUSK Haircare, Creative Leisure International, DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Daytona Harley-Davidson, Dollar Rent A Car, E & J Gallo Winery, 5.11 Tactical Series, Steve Kaufman, Infinity Sound Systems, Raymond Weil Watches, Jewels of Beverly Hills, TrimSpa, and Yamaha Watercraft Group. *Special Note: The pageant festivities were filmed by Sterling Productions, in association with Bennett Productions, Inc., for an upcoming one-hour televised special that will broadcast nationally in the spring/summer of 2004. For more information on Pageant events please contact the Miss Hawaiian Tropic ® International Pageant Office at (386)677-9559, ext. 575 or check out our website, www. htropic.com . Aloha! Exclusive!

Hawaiian Music IRH-Amazon Books

Simply the most Hawaiian Music. Pull This Down and Wander Site in frames Listen Live page Making Donations Those who gave Sponsors Our email list Chat & Messages Speak Out! Requests Contact Info Surf Hawai`i Weather Buy Hawaiian Music IRH-Amazon Books Mother Ship (H4) Press to see what's playing Windows Media 20k Stereo Welcome to Listener Supported Internet Radio Hawai`i! Please visit our Donations Page and make one. Make a monthly donation and you'll be sent a special Monthly Donor's Only page where you listen and enjoy our 4 camera webcam system and a Recently Played Page making it easier for you to know what Hawaiian Music to buy from our friends at BUYHAWAIIANMUSIC.COM - see button left of page. More info below right. Donate Here ! buyhawaiianmusic.com If you don't see what you want listed, ask for it. Chris can get 'um. New - Older Photos here See Special Projects here Wanna Learn Hawaiian? Check this out. New Hawaiian Language Electronic Library Online Control Spam and help IRH too! SpamFire is what I use to weed out over 400 pieces of Spam every day and now it is available for Mac & Windows Users! I use it. It works. Before You Fly Webcaster Alliance Hawaiian Musicians can help out here . Some have helped already here . Special projects here The Fight to Stay Alive 2005 - Please Contact your reps and ask them to support legislation to resolve unintended consequences of the Webcasters Act. Latest eMails and Office numbers are at Congress.org Our IRH webcam page now features 4 cameras all peeking outside of the IRH studio. Help us out with a Monthly Donation and you get access to the Monthly Donor's Page with enhanced Playlist features and access to the now 4 Cam, webcam page..... IRH Tees 'n Stuff Tropical Kine Stuffs! Desktop Fotos 1! Desktop Fotos 2! Some of Your Websites TikiSteve.com TheSandalman.com Howard Bartlett Jason Cook panzo.org Dennis Peterson's HawglyDavidson.com theVirtualBarAndGrill.com R.J. Allison My Dad robertkabbett.net Wednesday! Well, so much for my optimism for the year. I heard you saying yesterday that you had only received about one third of what was needed in the way of donations for the month. I can’t imagine your frustration. You work so hard providing a site where people from the world over may drop in and enjoy a slice of paradise. In a time where we are willing to pay significant amounts to have cable or satellite television in our homes, folks now paying to listen to the likes of Howard Stern on satellite radio and we pay for some type of computer bandwidth to send jokes by e-mail, why not give a few bucks a month to keep something as beautiful as IRH alive? As long as you are here, you’ll have our donations. Take care Rab. Greg and Pat Roberts A new camera is enabling me to show you more realistic views of our Hawai'i. Above, Friday morning's sunrise as seen off the garage roof just outside our studio. More below - all shot Friday 1/20/06. I think this camera is gonna work out ;) Kahala Beach to Koko Head. Triangle Park, Kahala-Kaimuki. Inside Diamond Head Crater. Makapu'u. Waimanalo to Kailua. Monday morning's sunrise at 6:50 a.m. HST. The Monster Sea-Based X-Band Radar Dome you may have read or heard about is at Pearl Harbor. It arrived for a paint job last week. it caused quite a stir as it came into view from around Diamond Head unannounced last Monday. I saw it last Tuesday from atop Aiea Heights and wandered down to get closer and ended up down near the Arizona Memorial Museum. It's home port is Adak, Alaska and it will keep the western skies under surveillance when it goes into operations in the Aleutians soon. From a church parking lot you can see this large dome thing is docked down at Pearl. I got down closer to the X-Band and you can see it is loaded atop the 736-foot semisubmersible ship M/V Blue Marlin. I took this shot from the launch ramp down by the Arizona Memorial Museum. The USS Missouri and the Arizona Memorial from the lawn at the Arizona Museum. The new Ford Island Bridge from the lawn of the Museum. The plaque - lower left reads: "Anchor raised from the hulk of the U.S.S. Arizona. Cast in Chester, Pennsylvania 1911. Weight 49,585 pounds. One of many floral pictures captured by Amelia on her hike. Steps along the Maunawili Demo Trail - photo by Amelia Abbett, who is now back at Penn State after her Christmas vacation at home here in Kailua. More photos from Amelia's adventure to come. To follow below, some pictures from my adventure to Arizona. Press the small photo and a big one will open in a new browser window. Carol Schaub writes: I'm so sorry to hear that the station is in need again. Frankly, I don't understand the thinking of some of your listeners. The same people who wouldn't blink at spending $3.50 or more daily on a specialty coffee, can't seem to come up with a piddling donation of $25 a month to support the music that gives them so much pleasure. Even if they listen only twice a week, it comes out to a contribution of a mere $3 and change each time they listen. Now we both know that most people listen much more often than that – so it's even cheaper, especially when you consider all the hours that they listen. In any case, I'd like to contribute double my usual this month, and to thank you once again for all you do so that we, your listeners, may experience a piece, and the peace, of the islands. Happy Holidays to you and your family. I hope that this month your listeners will reciprocate and acknowledge just how important Hawaiian music is in their lives. May the new year bring you health, happiness and peace of mind. Aloha, Carol Listeners Ron & Madeline Speak Out. I read your article this morning about the correspondence between you and " Joel ". And having been a supporter of IRH for years continuously, I feel I have a certain right to respond to the matter in question. , Listeners are being urged to donate in order to keep IRH alive and running without you having to beg and plead each month to help out. That being said, by offering 'free' access in the beginning, until IRH had grown to an overwhelming audience of such proportions that it became evident that help was needed in the way of monthly donations. It thus became an absolute necessity in order for IRH to live on because of its own success. Consequently, listeners such as "Joel" are unfortunately just one of many of hundreds if not thousands, of cheapskates that think it is their god given right to take and not give in return just because something is there for the taking. What they don't understand is, is that it is not there for the taking, but for the enjoyment. The listening enjoyment of having a piece of Hawaii there within arms reach . A piece of Hawaii that a guy by the name of Robert Abbett provides for each and every one of us. For those of us who have been to Hawaii one time or many many times, it is a way to re-connect back to that little piece of heaven on Earth. For those who have never been there and only wish they could be, it is a way for them to be there without having to actually be there bodily but in spirit. In any event, the 'little radio station that could', from a house in Kailua Hawaii, needs all our support. If you don't believe it, turn it off and go put on your FM radio and listen to some BS music and a bunch of nonsense commercials for awhile. Maybe then you'll realize how much having Internet Radio Hawaii means to us all. Ron & Madeline Wilson Valrico, Florida Da Mokes, or more properly the Mokulua islands sit off of Lanikai beach. The island to the left is Moku Nui. To the right is Moku Iki. Both are bird conservation areas. You may land and visit the beach on Moku Nui during the day but you are not supposed to land at all on Moku Iki. Landing on and paddling out from Moku Nui can be very tricky and in fact deadly. Waves from both sides of the island wrap around the front and slap together as you make your approach. As happened on Monday 12-05-05 one can be swamped or turtled coming off the beach. A visiting reservist lost his life when that happened. Moku Nui island off Lanikai. Another shot of the Mokulas off of Lanikai. Ever see Kite Aerial Photography? Check out some shots of Haleiwa here . Mahalo to Tom Garber for sharing. Our family has given - how about yours? Press the graphic to go the Red Cross Website . Beware of Spam from sunspots.us - Roadrunner Security sent me an email Monday 8/29/05 indicating that someone in Seattle (not our friend Dennis Peterson) is using my domain irh.com as an "Ad" on spam about visitor destinations and to solicit business for their businesses and rental properties listed at sunspots.us. I know who this person is and I have spoken with roadrunner and some other folks about it. Should you ever get an email other than a personal thank you for your donation or an answer to a question, or a listener page update from irh.com or one of my other addresses then you can be sure it is not from here nor from me. We are currently being included as an "advertiser" via a link on the bottom of someone else's spam without my permission or previous knowledge. I do not spam, I have never spammed and if I did I certainly would not offer you relief from spam by suggesting you try Spamfire like I use - see the Spamfire info to the left. This person is a disgruntled wanna-be-partner who approached me several years ago about partnering up but never got it together (Thank God!). He also sends me $20 bills every once in a while and asks if I am still mad about all the wasted time and energy he caused. I always just mail the twenties back. I sent back his most recent $20 a few months ago and asked that he not call, write or even think of doing either ever again and this is apparently how he responds. This person and his employees even listed several other sites in closing their email as if to make it look like we were all buddies of his. "P.S. If you can't go right away, click below to enjoy some Hawaiian tunes www.kealiireichel.com/ www.e-hawaii.com/iz/izbook/izbook_98-09.htm www.makahasons.com/ www.IRH.com (Internet Radio Hawaii)" I am sure that Keali`i, the Makaha Sons and most certainly my dear friend the late Israel Kamakawiwo'ole would never wish to have their sites or themselves nor their music associated with this person and his spam and business practices. It is very obvious that he simply does not understand the concept of Aloha and has some sort of major screw loose somewhere. One listener wrote me about his troubles with this fellow and how the folks in Washinton State call him "No-Pay" as he never honors committments and seems to forget to pay his bills. Anyhow, again, IRH.com does not spam nor advertise on other's email - period. I do not engage in spamming, have never spammed and never will. You can be assured of that. Should you ever get such an email please forward it to me and I will make sure the proper authorities are again alerted. Mahalo! Rabbett Runs here daily. Your hosts Joel Block & Deborah Byrd always have something intriguing to tell us about our Earth & Sky. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do. Please support these fine Hawaiian Artists! Most are available thru our affiliate link with BuyHawaiianMusic.com Special Mahalos to Dennis & David Kamakahi, Mike Kaawa, Keali`i Reichel & Fred Kraus, Iopa Maunakea - Bruddah Kuz, Pali, Bob Rogers ( Coconut Joe), Ku`uipo Kumukahi, Wiki Waki Woo, Keola Beamer, Bill Wynne (no cd yet), Monkeypod Records , Moloka`i, including artists Darrell Labrado, Sterling Kalua and all songs and artists who appear on "Moloka`i Now," Sonny Ching, Na `Oiwi, John Keawe, Leokane Pryor & Weldon Kekauoha, Neosproductions and the Moonlighters ! Mahalo to ALL these folks! Internet Radio Hawai`i is a service of Hot Spots Hawai`i, Inc. © 2005 Saturday morning I was up on Makakilo early for a work appointment. I caught pre-dawn on the way up and sunrise on the way down the hill. Pre-dawn off of Makakilo. Sunrise as seen from Makakilo. Diamond Head Sunrise. Makakilo Hillside bathed by the early morning sun. Santa blessed our Daughter Amelia with a new digital camera for Christmas and on January 4th she and friends went for a hike along the Maunawili Demo Trail from Waimanalo to Maunawili. Over the next few weeks I'll post some of the photos she took from that hike on the page here. Below plants on plants. Parasitic plants grow upon another along the trail. One of many floral pictures captured by Amelia on her hike. Steps along the Maunawili Demo Trail - photo by Amelia Abbett, who is now back at Penn State after her Christmas vacation at home here in Kailua. More photos from Amelia's adventure to come. Christmas Morning Bike Ride Slide Show. Choose BIG SCREEN or SMALL SCREEN Dawn Christmas Day 2005. Sunrise 12/23/05 in Kailua - press for the desktop photo. Ginger grows up near the Pali Lookout. Kane'ohe wakes up. I shot this off the H3 on the way to work Thursday morning December 15th at 7:45 a.m. HST. bath in sunlight is part of the Ko'olau mountain range. "Cool Mauka Cams" http://mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/current/cams / http://www2.keck.hawaii.edu / http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/ Older posts and pictures are now here - IRH Photos, Links and Stuff for your amusement. See this logo? This is an icon for Firefox, the new browser from Mozilla.org . It's free to try and a great way to replace Explorer. I encourage you to purchase an upgrade and support the project if you find it works for you. Somewhere over the rainbow... November 17th, 2003 we said Aloha to Ziggy, our beloved dog. The following Tuesday was very hard for me. Every time I walked through the kitchen ( where Zig lived under the table) or through the big room where she hung out sprawled across the cool tile floor, I missed her terribly. My friend is no where to be seen. I'm crushed. I am so very much alone. Ziggy passed on over the rainbow at around 1 pm HST Monday afternoon at home in her bed under the careful hands and watchful eyes of her vet, an assistant and yours truly. I held her head in my hands and told her how good she was and how much I loved her, over and over. Ziggy was an angel in the body of a female white shepherd who kidnapped all our hearts and quickly became a member of our family. She was 13. Strangely enough, after glancing through her records it appeared that our first visit to the Vet was on Christmas Eve, 1990 and she was listed as being six weeks old. So although I don't remember the date because I wasn't there, she was born right around this part of the month of November. Ziggy was one of the smartest animals I have ever known. She learned tricks and how to use dog doors with ease and loved to play ball! She could catch incredible bounces and when younger would play and chase the darn thing for hours on end. She was obedient to a fault. She would come over and console us when we were down and had an amazing smile that would brighten any gray day. She was a great guard dog but did not just go outside and bark for the sake of barking. She came on command, she came with hand signals, she came to me sometimes with just a thought. Ziggy was a bit annoyed by our recent construction and hated the thumping noises most. She'd often retreat to the quiet of the bathroom in the old house but, she greeted all the carpenters every day with a wag, a sniff and a lick. I'm so glad she got to enjoy the big new room downstairs. I'm sorry she wasn't capable of making it up the 14 steps to the new studio. She would have dug it. I swear, she liked Hawaiian music. I left a radio on all the time in the new bathroom downstairs and I caught her groovin' on more than one occassion. You could tell. It was that special look on her face. Sheer bliss. She really liked Gabby and would react with recognition whenever she heard me rattling on about something or doing a promo. Ziggy went over the rainbow with dignity and class and a full belly of her favorite rawhide treats, a freshly brushed coat of gleaming white fur and a flood of love from a several hour petting and hangin' out session we enjoyed Monday. We also played drop catch with the ball and she never missed, even through pretty heavy cataracts. Dr. Caspar, who she greeted by jumpin' up and wobblin' over to and then licking excitedly, said she also apparently was beginning to suffer liver malfunction as her belly was filled with liquid. That made me feel better about my decision and bad too because maybe I should have done something last week. It was, without a doubt, the hardest decision I have ever made in my life. I agonized over it for the past couple months but finally, Monday with her condition deteriorating rapidly, I decided to call in the Vet. I did this for my dearest and very very best friend who was having real problems with advanced arthritis in her back legs and was hardly able to get around anymore. We exhausted all the heroics - pain pills, pain receptor inhibitors, powder and liquid glucosamines, steroids and prayers. Ziggy resting in the garage early Monday by her Big Water. My Mom and I talked Monday - (she is the dog queen and has a couple grand champions to her credit!) and she mentioned that there is a point where the human tends to go too far to keep the dog around. I didn't want to do that to her and as it turned out what with the liver disfunction and all I guess our timing was bless-ed. We love You Ziggy! We always will. We hope to play with you again one day on the other side of the rainbow.