Hawaii sure knows how to put on a celebration. This July 4th will be no exception with outstanding fireworks all across the islands. I did some July 4th weekend rates and availability checking this morning and to my surprise, I found some excellent deals are still available. Here are some of the top deals I discovered: Oahu Honolulu and Waikiki will be hopping for July 4th. I found a great deal at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel for $159 per night for a standard room. Upgrade to an oceanfront room for only $50 more dollars per night. Rates include free daily breakfast! Check out all Oahu’s July 4th Fireworks Celebrations Maui The Lahaina area is the place to be for July 4th on Maui. I found a couple of good deals in the popular Kaanapali Beach Resort. First at Kaanapali Beach Hotel , I found a garden view room for $186 per night. For more luxury, I found mountain view rooms at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa for only $319 per night via our Hawaii hotel deal finder tool . Upgrade to an oceanview room for only $40 more per night. See Maui’s July 4th Fireworks and Celebrations Hawaii’s Big Island On the Big Island, my top pick would be to stay in the Waikoloa Beach Resort as they’ll be hosting celebrations throughout the day at the two resort shopping centers. Then, in the evening Waikoloa will provide a July 4th fireworks display with live music. In Waikoloa, I found the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa for a rate of $199 per night for a garden view room. An oceanview room is only $50 more per day. See Hawaii’s Big Island July 4th Fireworks and Celebrations . Kauai There are a couple of big July 4th celebrations happening on the Garden Isle. The most centrally located will be the 22nd Annual Concert in the Sky with entertainment and fireworks in Lihue. I found mountain view rooms at the Aqua’s Kauai Beach Resort in Lihue for $149 per night. Add another $40 per night for an oceanview room. Check out Kauai’s July 4th Fireworks and Celebrations . —- So, as you can see with just a quick check, I found some excellent hotel deals near all the Independence Day action! © Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com .
Continue reading...Monday, June 27, 2011
Hawaii sure knows how to put on a celebration. This July 4th will be no exception with outstanding fireworks all across the islands. I did some July 4th weekend rates and availability checking this morning and to my surprise, I found some excellent deals are still available. Here are some of the top deals I discovered: Oahu Honolulu and Waikiki will be hopping for July 4th. I found a great deal at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel for $159 per night for a standard room. Upgrade to an oceanfront room for only $50 more dollars per night. Rates include free daily breakfast! Check out all Oahu’s July 4th Fireworks Celebrations Maui The Lahaina area is the place to be for July 4th on Maui. I found a couple of good deals in the popular Kaanapali Beach Resort. First at Kaanapali Beach Hotel , I found a garden view room for $186 per night. For more luxury, I found mountain view rooms at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa for only $319 per night via our Hawaii hotel deal finder tool . Upgrade to an oceanview room for only $40 more per night. See Maui’s July 4th Fireworks and Celebrations Hawaii’s Big Island On the Big Island, my top pick would be to stay in the Waikoloa Beach Resort as they’ll be hosting celebrations throughout the day at the two resort shopping centers. Then, in the evening Waikoloa will provide a July 4th fireworks display with live music. In Waikoloa, I found the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa for a rate of $199 per night for a garden view room. An oceanview room is only $50 more per day. See Hawaii’s Big Island July 4th Fireworks and Celebrations . Kauai There are a couple of big July 4th celebrations happening on the Garden Isle. The most centrally located will be the 22nd Annual Concert in the Sky with entertainment and fireworks in Lihue. I found mountain view rooms at the Aqua’s Kauai Beach Resort in Lihue for $149 per night. Add another $40 per night for an oceanview room. Check out Kauai’s July 4th Fireworks and Celebrations . —- So, as you can see with just a quick check, I found some excellent hotel deals near all the Independence Day action! © Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com .
Continue reading...Monday, June 27, 2011
Nene geese (c) 2011 All Hawaii News The nene geese population at Kauai Lagoons has grown so fast and large the geese now are now considered the threat.
Continue reading...Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Fun festivals, parades and fireworks are planned throughout Hawaii’s Big Island this July 4th. You’ll find many family-friendly ways to celebrate Independence Day with Aloha on Hawaii. Here’s a list of where to go for July 4th fireworks and celebrations. Waikoloa July 4th FIREWORKS
Continue reading...Monday, June 6, 2011
Are you going to Maui for July 4th? Lucky you! Maui is shaping up to be a great place to celebrate Independence Day with a real bang! Here’s what we know so far about special July 4th fireworks and events: July 4th Daytime: Makawao 4th of July Parade & Rodeo – The small upcountry town of Makawao celebrates their ranching history with their annual rodeo festival. Festivities begin at 9am and go through noon. The parade starts at the lower end of Baldwin Avenue, follows up Makawao Avenue, then ends at Eddie Tam Center. See this Google Map of Makawao to calculate directions. For more information and park and ride options, see this link or call 808-572-9565. July 4th Evening: July 4th Concert in the Park – This free oceanfront concert will feature Hawaiian jazz and popular music with Tarvin Makia and the Manutea Nui E Danceras and the Dejavu Band. The Maui Community Band will also perform traditional July 4th holiday favorites and original medleys. ( See this link as well as this one for more concert details.) The concert is scheduled to begin at 5:30pm Front Street in Lahaina. After the concert, stick around for the fireworks described below. Lahaina July 4th FIREWORKS – Lahaina town is definitely the place to be for a huge fireworks display by the historic waterfront beginning at approximately 8pm. It’s free to watch the fireworks from anywhere along the Lahaina waterfront, however, you might want to consider some of these interesting options to watch the fireworks from the water. - Trilogy is offering a special Lahaina 4th of July Fireworks Sail that includes a barbeque dinner and a good ol’ American apple pie. This two-hour sail departs from Lahaina Harbor at 6:30pm. See this link for more details. - Pacific Whale Foundation offers a July 4th Fireworks Cruise that leaves from Maalaea Harbor at 6:30pm. The price is $62.95 for adults, but you can save 10% by booking online. Pricing for kids is discounted as well. See all the pricing and menu details here . - Pride of Maui offers a July 4th Maui fireworks cruise, however it is currently sold out. If you’d like more information for next year, perhaps, see this link . Notes: - All these Maui July 4th 2011 event details are accurately reported at the time of publishing. - Bookmark this page and check back for potential additions. © Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com .
Continue reading...Friday, December 31, 2010
An expected 15 percent surge in cruise ship visitors to East Hawaii could mean a $1.8 million boost for local businesses in 2011. Tribune-Herald. President Barack Obama and his family traveled to the North Shore yesterday for a barbecue with a high school friend at his beachfront home. Star-Advertiser. A public access television crew complained of police mistreatment Thursday, after trying to get a picture of President Barrack Obama. KITV4. President Barack Obama and his family are returning to Oahu's North Shore for a barbecue with a high school friend at his beachfront home. Associated Press. These are Hawaii's Top 10 stories for 2010. Star-Advertiser. Stories From The Hawaii Beat - 2010 Recycled. Civil Beat. Top 10 news stories for 2010. Garden Island. Republican Congressman Charles Djou will hold a farewell press conference this morning to cap off his term as Hawaii’s representative. KHON2. City and state officials are wary of the growing under-funded pension of government workers. KITV4. For his part in reviving the thought-to-be-dead civil unions bill, Rep. Blake Oshiro was vilified by opponents and held up as an example of a lawmaker not listening to public sentiment who would pay the price on election day. Star-Advertiser. St. Sen. Russell Kokubun of Hilo has formally resigned to take a post in the administration of Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Associated Press . Oahu appears headed for a loud and smoky New Years' Eve. Almost 2,000 more permits for firecrackers were sold this year than last. Hawaii News Now. For those leaving the fireworks to the professionals, there are three shows on Oahu. KHON2. Fire departments on three islands are warning residents against a new type of novelty pyrotechnic in what might be the most eruptive New Year's Eve celebration in years as Oahu faces a looming ban on fireworks. Star-Advertiser. Setting off of fireworks is allowable only between the hours of 9:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and 1:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Hawaii Reporter. Bathrooms with missing doors.Benches with missing boards and piers with missing…stability. Those are a few of the black eyes the Department of Land & Natural Resources would like to fix. Hawaii News Now. Despite a waste management plan that considers expanding the Hilo landfill the only alternative to trucking East Hawaii garbage to West Hawaii, the county is giving up a quarry officials acknowledge could be needed in its expansion plans. West Hawaii Today. A year ago, Mayor Billy Kenoi signed off on a list of prioritized, islandwide sewer projects to be sent off to Washington as the county sought federal stimulus funding. West Hawaii Today. Hawaiian Electric Co. says average residential power bills will rise 71 cents next month to pay for energy-saving incentives. Associated Press. New flood maps could prove costly for some homeowners KHON2. Developers are not offering enough affordable homes to low-income buyers, says Kohala Councilman Pete Hoffmann, who's introducing legislation to mandate a marketing change. Tribune-Herald. More than 200 people were stung by box jellyfish at Waikiki and Ala Moana beaches over the last two days, and lifeguards are urging people to stay out of South Shore waters today to avoid the painful welts. Star-Advertiser . Money is tight all around these days, but the financial crunch is being felt particularly acute in the non-profit sector, which relies largely on donations from people like you and me, who understandably have less discretionary funds to go around. Hawaii Independent. It's enough to turn heads: carpets, furniture, appliances, you name it stacked on sidewalks all across the City. KHON2. Maui fish retailers and wholesalers say there should be enough ahi for sashimi lovers this New Year's, and prices should be reasonable for the holiday. Maui News. Fresh ahi over a bowl of hot rice is a delicacy in any season. Tribune-Herald. The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife on Wednesday announced the opportunity for interested individuals to participate in the control of feral goats in an area known as Hunting Unit A in west Kaua‘i. Garden Island.
Continue reading...Monday, December 27, 2010
President Barack Obama, his family and friends went to church at Marine Corps Base Hawaii on the day after Christmas. Star-Advertiser. After spending most of the day quietly at their rented compound in Kailua, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greeted service men and women at their annual Christmas dinner at Kaneohe Marine Corps Hawaii. Hawaii News Now. President Barack Obama and his daughters have spent time together on Christmas Eve at a beach popular for bodysurfing. Associated Press. The absentee owner of a multimillion-dollar home being used by President Barack Obama's visiting entourage gets one of the biggest residential property tax breaks on Oahu. Star-Advertiser. The National Weather Service expects numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms today through tomorrow morning, giving way to scattered showers tomorrow afternoon. Star-Advertiser. Heavy rain that was soaking Hawaii was expected to last through at least Tuesday, and forecasters warned Sunday of possible flooding. Associated Press. Heavy rains early Sunday morning on Maui caused flooding and prompted evacuations. KITV4. Heavy rain soaked an already saturated Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau on Sunday as forecasters issued a flash flood warning for the county through Tuesday afternoon. Garden Island. The Kmart in Iwilei opened their doors at 6am Sunday to a frenzy of fireworks shoppers. KHON2. Sales are expected to continue rising after a new city law banning everything from sparklers to fountains takes effect Jan. 2, 2011. KITV4. As people gear up for New Year's, one ritual for many families is stocking up on fireworks. Tribune-Herald. Kaua‘i fireworks store owner Erika Kleinfeld said last week that she is anticipating a brisk sale of fireworks and firecrackers for New Year’s celebrations this year. Garden Island. The Army has given notice that it will seek to modernize facilities and build new ones at its Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island. Associated Press. Part of Kahului Harbor on Maui is closed after a teenage bodyboarder was bitten by what appears to be a shark. KHON2. Gov. Abercrombie has assembled the members of his administration and among them are several Filipinos. Filipino Chronicle. Hawaii's mayors may be the only ones in the nation with the power to appoint every member of their ethics commissions. Civil Beat. Top officials in Mayor Billy Kenoi's administration have racked up $222,083.28 in credit card charges over the past 22 months. West Hawaii Today. Costco plans to expand its Kahului store and build a gas station next door as part of A&B Properties' first part of Maui Business Park Phase II. Maui News. Mayor-elect Alan Arakawa has appointed Douglas "Doug" McLeod as the county's energy commissioner after the new administration takes office Jan. 2. Maui News. Maui County Mayor-elect Alan Arakawa announced last week his appointment of County Councilwoman Jo Anne Johnson as the incoming transportation director of the County of Maui. Lahaina News.
Continue reading...Friday, December 24, 2010
Neil Abercrombie knew Barack Obama's parents when the future president was born here in 1961, and he has been aggravated by the so-called birther movement, which alleges Obama was not born in the United States and thus should be expelled from office. Los Angeles Times. Hawaii's four mayors met for the first time with Gov. Neil Abercrombie in his state capitol office Thursday. KITV4. Newly appointed State Sen. Malama Solomon is suing the state over a water usage issue on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands pastoral property her family holds on the Big Island. Hawaii Reporter. President Barack Obama, who planned to keep a low profile on his vacation in Hawaii, managed to avoid a bizarre turn of events yesterday just outside his security bubble. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press Video A man wanted by police is in custody tonight after tense moments in the Kailua neighborhood where President Obama and his family are vacationing. KHON2. After a little bit of work and a morning workout, President Barack Obama hit the links on his first day of vacation in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser. With warrants out for his arrest and police following his pick-up truck, Leon Rodrigues tried to get away by turning off Kalaheo Avenue onto Kailuana Place. Bad move. Hawaii News Now. Parts of Hawaii could be in for another bout of very wet weather early next week. Hawaii News Now. Many travelers are heading home for the holidays on what's considered one of the busiest travel days of the year. KHON2. Disciplinary actions against Hawaii County police officers doubled in 2010 compared to previous years, with most suspensions coming from not filing incident reports on time. West Hawaii Today. A state water official says a headline-grabbing water study that found a probable carcinogen in Honolulu's tap water was "irresponsible," since it drew its conclusion based on a single water sample. Civil Beat. Hawaii Island's drinking water is clear of dangerous concentrations of the "Erin Brockovich chemical" found in Honolulu's tap water. Tribune-Herald. For construction workers in Hawaii, recent economic news has been bleak. But there may be some reason to cheer for job seekers in other industries. KITV4 . Wholesaler Pacific Fireworks will move 200,000 pounds of product this year. Hawaii News Now. Hawaiian Electric Co. hopes to replace a destroyed transformer for Ala Moana Center by this weekend, but the utility fears there could be further outages as it slowly switches from shaky backup systems. Star-Advertiser. Hawaiian Telcom customers around Oahu are reporting a number of outages to land-line services. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii has lost one of its most visionary and productive real estate developers, Herbert K. Horita, whose projects included Ko Olina Resort & Marina and thousands of Oahu homes. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii State Department of Health officials announced Thursday that a large quantity of storm water and landfill waste was discharged from the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill into ocean waters between Ko Olina and the Kahe Power Plant.
Continue reading...Wednesday, December 15, 2010
A hat trick of all three of the Big Island's state senators moving to Gov. Neil Abercrombie's Cabinet is still a possibility, the governor confirmed Monday. West Hawaii Today. In the waning days of the lame duck congressional session, Democrats led by Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye -- in collaboration with a handful of old-school Republicans -- are pushing to wrap $1.27 trillion worth of unfinished budget work into a single "omnibus" appropriations bill. Associated Press. A federal government spending measure pending in the U.S. Senate calls for a study on forming a Native Hawaiian governing entity. Associated Press. Native Hawaiian practitioners have called for a stop to a State of Hawaii construction project in on Oahu’s leeward coast that began last month without the proper precautions to protect against disturbing burial sites. Hawaii Independent. Aviators face flight restrictions because of Obama visit. Hawaii News Now. Honolulu police have hit the streets to prepare for the President. Hawaii News Now. The average Hawaii household income grew by nearly 30 percent from 2000 to 2009, according to new Census data released yesterday. Star-Advertiser. On Tuesday, the state of Hawaii began using federal funds to pay for unemployment benefits. KHON2. The Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) will audit the federal funding of the Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, says Congressman Charles Djou, R-HI, who supports the review. Hawaii Reporter. Eighteen Hawaii inmates have sued the state of Hawaii and the Corrections Corporation of America. KITV4. Five employees at the Hawaii Department of Public Safety were paid for more than 2,000 hours of overtime during the 2009 budget year, a Civil Beat investigation found. Civil Beat. The number of nationally certified teachers in the islands continues to rise, with 44 new names added to the list this year. Star-Advertiser. A University of Hawaii lecturer who agreed to an unpaid suspension after using foul language in class says he has quit and will refuse to turn his students' grades in to administrators. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii health officials in 2007 and 2008 were unable to rapidly identify E. coli or adequately staff laboratories to respond to an outbreak such as the H1N1 flu, according to a national survey released yesterday that dinged Hawaii's preparedness for public health disasters. Star-Advertiser. Inter-island carrier go! Mokulele Airlines experienced a drop in the number of passengers last month. KHON2. New technology to pinpoint the origin of illegal fireworks could be on the way to Honolulu. KITV4. Although former Puna Councilwoman Emily Naeole has been voted out of office, she might continue drawing checks at taxpayers' expense through mid-2011. Tribune-Herald. Kona coffee farmers say they've got reason to be optimistic, even in light of more reports of coffee berry borer damage. West Hawaii Today. For the first time in its five-year history, the Hawaii County Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission is recommending taxpayer money be spent on an agricultural easement to lock property into farmland. West Hawaii Today. Maui Mayor-elect Alan Arakawa has named a new chief for the county Transportation Department. Associated Press. A project to bring order to many years of haphazard parking near the Keawakapu Beach access would result in less parking, and that has led to protests from neighbors. Maui News. State and county officials are notifying the public that treated effluent mixed with storm water was discharged into the Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor. Garden Island. Big Island police arrested a 21-year-old man Tuesday (December 14) during a lockdown at Kealakehe High School. Associated Press.
Continue reading...Friday, December 10, 2010
Lana'i Fireworks at Hulopoe Beach Will you be welcoming in 2011 in Maui or Lanai? You find plenty to do to celebrate New Year’s Eve with a bit of Aloha. I’ve prepared this list of Maui and Lanai New Year’s Eve events to assist you with your planning. Here’s what’s going on December 31, 2010. * Pacific Whale Foundation offers a new Year’s Cocktail Cruise departing at 10:30pm. The cruise departs from Ma’alaea Harbor and includes appetizers, desserts, live island music and cocktails. Pricing starts at $55.96. See this link for more information. * Pacific Whale Foundation will host a New Year’s Eve Dinner Cruise departing Lahaina at 10:45pm. This two-hour cruise will include a four-course dinner with Hawaiian style entertainment. Pricing starts at $87.96. Booking online saves you 10%. See this link for all the details. * Zoom on into 2011 at Fairmont Kea Lani’s Totally Tubular New Year’s Eve 80′s Party on New Year’s Eve. The event begins with a reception at 7pm with pupus, games, fortune tellers, and children’s prizes followed by a gourmet buffet featuring lobster and filet mignon. The celebration continues in the Kea Lani Ballroom with dancing and a DJ leading up to the midnight New Year’s Eve countdown. $250.00 per person, 16-20 years old – $100.00, 6-15 years old – $40 and Children 5 years and under complimentary. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please call 808-875-2290 or email concierge.kealani@fairmont.com for reservations. Reservations are limited and are required for this event. Visit www.fairmont.com/kealani/ for more details * Ring in the New Year at the Epicurean Delight Dinner Buffet at Sheraton Maui Resort Dinner will be followed by live music, dancing and drink specials at the Cliff Dive Bar. Pricing is $89 for adults, $34.50 for kids ages 12-16yrs old and $17.25 for children ages 5-11yrs. For reservations, call 808- 661-0031. * Molokini Bar and Grille at Makena Beach Resort Maua will offer a special New Years Eve Three-Course Dinner & Celebration with dinner served from 6pm to 9pm and entertainment from 8:30pm to 12:30am. You can review the three-course menu selections here . Pricing is $62 ($84 with wine pairing) for adults; $30 for child ages 6-12. For reservations, call 808-875-5888. * Kaanapali Beach Hotel hosts a New Year’s Eve four-course dinner at Tiki Terrace Restaurant. The menu includes Shrimp Poke Salad, Seafood Lawalu, Ko‘ala Lamb Chops, Seared Opakapaka stuffed with Crab, and more. Finish the meal with decadent winning specialties including Banana Caramel Eruption or Chocolate Fudge Cake. Seating is from 6-9 m and the full course dinner is $55 per adult, $35 for children (ages 6-12). Children 5 years and younger dine free (one child per paid adult). Call 808-667-0124 for reservations. * Kaanapali Beach Hotel features a Magical Maui New Year’s Eve Party. This dinner party features a mythical extravaganza of world-class illusions and Hawaiian legends starring Jody & Kathleen Baran. This event Includes an arrival Mai Tai, gourmet three-course dinner, pre-show hosted beer & wine bar (no host throughout the evening), dancing, contests, party favors, balloon drop, champagne toast and an early morning breakfast. The dinner menu features three courses with a choice from the following entrées: Fresh Island Snapper, Shrimp & Tenderloin, Grilled Chicken with Shrimp or Marinated Tofu with Sautéed Vegetables.Prices for this extravaganza are: $175 for Gold Circle seating (front row tables), $155 for adult general seating. Special kama‘aina, and children’s pricing are available. Check-in time is 8:30pm and the party ends at 1am. For reservations call 808-667-0124. * The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua’s The Banyan Tree will also ring in the new year with sophisticated fare, offering gourmands a five-course menu created by Ryan Urig and an ala carte menu. Live contemporary jazz by Raw Silk and festive party favors will set the stage for a memorable celebration from 5:30 to 10:00pm. After 10pm, the festivities move to the lobby with entertainment until 2am. Pricing is $125 per person. For reservations, call 808-669-6200. At the time of preparing this list, there have been no reports of New Year’s Eve fireworks at midnight in either west or south Maui resort areas. I have confirmed that there will be New Year’s Eve fireworks at Hulopoe Beach near Manele Bay on the island of Lana’i. Lana’i is only a 45-minute ferry ride away from Maui. Since the ferry only operates during daylight hours, you’d need to stay overnight at either Four Seasons Lana’i at Manele Bay (where the fireworks show will take place), Four Seasons Lana’i Lodge at Koele , or Hotel Lanai. No matter where you stay on Lanai, an island shuttle is available to pick you up at the ferry and take you anywhere you need to go on the island as well as all your transportation needs. All three Lanai hotels will have restaurants open for a special New Year’s Eve dinner. I spent my New Year’s Eve at Four Seasons Lanai at Manele Bay last year and really, really enjoyed it. The fireworks show at the beach was spectacular. Advice & Notes: Due to demand and this special time of year, some of the special dining events require a 48 or 72 hour cancellation. Please make sure you are aware of the cancellation policy as you make your reservations. Unless otherwise noted, you can assume that taxes and gratuity are not included in the pricing listed. I recommend you make your reservations as soon as possible to secure the event you prefer. Seating is limited, particularly on the cruises. Many restaurants will allow children ages four or five and under to dine for free with each paying adult. While you’re in Maui and Lanai start practicing the phrase Hau’oli Makahiki Hou , which is the Hawaiian way to say Happy New Year. It’s pronounced, “how-oh-lay ma-ka-hee-key ho”. Hau’oli Makahiki Hou and happy 2011 everyone! © Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com .
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Monday, June 27, 2011
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