Local advice: stay away from the tourist traps! For a multitude of free or cheap family activites in Oahu, Hawaii such as hiking, beach excursions, and parks check out the link below. Do a little research and you will find a vacation to Oahu isnt that expensive if you plan your actvities ahead. Mahalo! Here is a link that might be useful: Oahu Family Activities

Drury Inns have free full breakfasts and fast food dinners. The diners are called Kick Backs instead of happy hour like they used to be. It is not a sit down meal but a very popular buffet with hot dogs, salads, etc.. Also the last time I was at one they were still serving 3 free drinks. Never heard a bad word about Drury Inns. Our bus tour guide said they would just tow one behind our bus if possible.

The only way I know to safely restore the stone is to have it refinished. You may want to check other sources for refinishing as it's only a few hours work. If you have a hard time finding a reasonably priced company, perhaps you'll have luck asking who does the work in nearby churches, hotels, hospitals etc. If their referral is a long-time in-house maintenance staff, perhaps you can negotiate with him directly as a side-job if it seems safe to do so. Some installers do this repair as well so that's another potential source instead of the franchise refinisher I think you may have gotten the quote from. You won't necessarily have to have it honed as, if it's not too far gone, they can use a solution akin to tooth polish and buff. If it needs to be refilled and honed, that's only a bit more complicated but should be doable in a day's work. You can clean it with a steam cleaner but you may wind up taking out more of the fill. Do not use any citric based solution if you try. I don't know of any good DIY treatments for bringing back the shine, but once it is polished, be sure to maintain with the right ph balanced cleaners. Maybe others will chime in here. You can also ask in the flooring and kitchen forums as some knowledgeable stone people frequent there. Good luck!

There is a lot of passion here. Rightfully so. Rose gardeners are especially passionate people. We attempt to learn, are not afraid to act, and enjoy doing. What I have found, in this antique rose forum, is that I am able to learn from others here, read their perspectives, then take action in my own garden in order to create my own experience. Conversations about roses within this forum are wonderful, but the magic happens in my own yard when I apply what I learned in the conversation. I believe the same can be said for this particular thread. Talking about our different political perspectives is interesting. But the real magic happens through our actions, regardless of where we stand on the left or on the right. This can be something as simple as supporting a news organization that aligns with your own perspective or signing petitions. It can also be more involved and personal, such as volunteering your time and expertise. Regardless of where you stand politically, you can see an area of need within this current political climate and choose fill it. Even being just one person, we can each make a difference. That is obvious within each of our gardens, as we cultivate the soil. We can also cultivate change in other areas of life too. I said this previously, but I volunteer at the VA hospital, at community kitchens, at an elder life program at a local hospital, and also by speaking to youth and women's groups about health and fitness. I do this because I see areas of need within populations of the elderly, veterans, and women and children... areas I have skills and knowledge in. Even though I was a single parent for many years, even though I work, and even though I am going back to school. I find the time because it is important to me... and each time I volunteer I leave feeling as though I have gained more than I could ever give. I also feel as though I am taking actions based on my beliefs and making a real difference. I volunteer side by side with other democrats and republicans with many different political views. But we each saw an area of need and chose to fill it. There is common ground. Regardless of my own political views, regardless of the political climate, regardless of the political choices being made in our country and others, I choose to be the change I personally want to see in the world. I am only one person, but my actions matter. I believe each of yours do too. The people within this forum are absolute do-ers. I completely believe in each of your abilities, because I have seen what you can each do in your gardens... and I personally believe the same life skills from gardening translate over into so many other areas. Action for change can be small. It doesn't have to be something that burdens you. It can be uplifting. Here's a quick article with ideas of different ways you can be politically active. I especially like #18-25. http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/15/politics/ways-to-be-more-politically-active-trnd/