Hello to madmagic. You and annp make sense (interpret thaT any way you like). annp I did a google tour, I had no idea how rich in islands your coast is, endless bounty for kayamping. Hope you see harlequins. Here's a photo from a favourite nearby skyline: the pyramid is called Sugar Loaf mountain, our Chomo Lungma. oh that wasn't it - that was a hijack of the hijack - here - That wasn't it either - that was a picture for madmagic, who surely knows what and where the statue is. Here is Sugar Loaf. The owner of the red boat is named Patrick. Unique among the fishermen in this area he has an all girl crew, scruffy tomboys every one.

Philosophical comment! The 60s and 70s were the "protest years," but most people who were “protesting” never figured out the difference between protesting the war in Viet Nam and protesting the soldiers who were sent to fight that war. What was done to those men, who were drafted and had no choice about going, when they returned home from Viet Nam was, and always will be, an absolute travesty in my mind. It was so very wrong. Fast forward to 2001, and 9-11. I was based in San Fran, was commuting, and had been released on 9-10 in time to get home to Denver. Sleep deprived like I always was when I got home, I went to bed, and woke up in the morning to an incomprehensible sight on TV. I was still trying to figure out if I was watching some warped version of Candid Camera when I watched, live, the United plane fly into the second tower. After 36 hours of watching the reruns of the United plane flying into the second tower I couldn’t deal with it anymore. My vacation started on 9-11 in 2001, I had reservations to fly back east to visit Gettysburg, among other things, and it finally soaked in that that was not going to happen, so I called to cancel all my hotel and car reservations. I threw everything I could think of in the car and headed out to the hills--Montrose, for no good reason at all, but it was out of Denver and away from the “reruns.” On the way out of town I stopped to pick up some red, white, and blue ribbon to wear. But what I’m really getting to is that as I was heading west I almost immediately found people in their cars and trucks flying the American flag out of their windows, and mounted on their vehicles wherever they could. Of all the horrendous ways for it to happen, it seemed to me that there was finally patriotism in this country again, for the first time since the protests of the Viet Nam era. I cried most of the way to Montrose--every time I saw another flag! I lost twelve flying partners that day, and no words can ever excuse or forgive what was done to the returning Viet Nam soldiers, but out of the ashes I saw patriotism restored--finally. I’m olde, and even with all the “problems” it has, I am, and always will be, grateful to have been born in this most amazing country. On a lighter note, when I was still flying, during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, whenever we had uniformed service men/women we would upgrade them to first class anytime we had empty seats available. This was not company sanctioned, just something we flight attendants did, so it was always done at the very last minute, after the door was closed. On one flight we upgraded four young guys quickly as soon as the door was closed, and one of them asked me if his buddy was going to be able to join him. I asked him “what buddy,” and he pointed out that there was another soldier in coach. We had missed him on the manifest, so I went back to “get him!” The upgrading had to be done quickly because as soon as the door is closed you “push” and need to get ready to do the “demo,” so I found him and told him I was gonna move him to a "different" seat, and to come with me! He had apparently never had this happen to him, and he looked at me like I was nuts, tried to ask what I meant, and just stayed sitting where he was! I didn’t have time to try to explain to him what I was doing (it was clear the other pax around him had figured out what was happening) so I said to him, “don’t ask any questions, just follow orders, get your stuff and come with me!” He said, “yes, ma’am,” and did what I told him to do! I got him up front and had to leave immediately, but I’m sure his “buddy” explained what had just “happened” to him! It was the only time I gave “direct orders” to someone, and it was the funnest “upgrading” I ever did--all the other pax watching what was going on were smiling! (I have an Iraqi coin that was given to me by a (very) young soldier, and it’s one of my Favorite Things!) Margaret, thank you to your husband and brother, and any other Viet Nam vets you know. A thank you that is long, long overdue! Skybird

I've been to the Big Island six times. The first was when I was a geology undergrad and we went as a field trip for a class I was taking, and the most recent was two weeks ago with my two kids ages 7 and 8. My kids have each been there three times. Hawaii is where we choose to vacation. We make decisions in regards to other finances in order to make this happen. Anyway, definitely rent a 4WD vehicle. There is a gorgeous green sand beach (green sand...yes! It's formed from an old cinder cone where the magma has all eroded and what is left are the olivine crystals.) three miles from the end of South Point Road. Unless you want to hike six miles round-trip (I've done it twice and don't recommend it), the only way to get there is by 4WD. Also, if the water is calm at South Point, take a chance and jump off the southern most point of the United States. Definitely a thrill. Then hike a little more and go around South Point and see how dangerous the water is on the East Side. It's an amazing place. A 4WD will get you up to the top of Mauna Kea to see the telescopes. Although you can make it easily to the Visitors Center with a regular car. I would highly recommend spending an evening stargazing up there. Punalu'u Black Sand beach is a beautiful place to see a black sand beach and sea turtles. A hike to the bottom of the Pololu Valley will also get you to a gorgeous black sand beach and you can see the remains of the 1946 tsunami that hit the area. HVNP is well worth the trip, even if you can't see the lava up close. I've been there when we've hiked right to the lava and I made my own rock (this was on the geology field trip and is not recommended for amateurs), seen the lava flow from either side of the Chain of Craters Road, and most recently, only seen the lava glow at night from the Halema'ua'u Crater. The first time I went, we were able to go right to the edge of the crater at the overlook and we even hiked across the Kileau Crater. Now, the crater is active and the area around it is closed. The overlook was actually destroyed in an explosion when the crater became active. The lava changes every day and you never know what you are going to see when you go. Have a fabulous time! We've never stayed at the 4S. Instead we stay a bit further up the Kohala Coast at the Fairmont Orchid. The beach at the 4S is rockier and smaller than that at the Orchid, but the other amenities at the 4S make up for it. Maybe if we didn't go every other year, we'd be able to afford the 4S! :-)

It has been very very hazy here for the past week, and they say that it is actually smoke from the Southern CA fires! We are 400 miles away. It is supposed to be dry and windy here for the next few days, and we have not had any rain for 3-4 weeks. Much of the entire area around SF Bay is under a "fire watch". Berkeley (which last burned in the 1920s - my grandmother used to tell me about it) has asked everyone who lives in the wooded hills (just like the Oakland hills which burned a few years ago - steep, narrow windy roads) to park their cars in garages of otherwise off the streets, so that fire equipment can use the streets if necessary. They are serious - it is scary. Jackie