Hula Planet:What To Do In Hawaii

Live WebCast of 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Event

USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) pulls past the USS Arizona Memorial and Battleship Missouri Memorial as she enters Pearl Harbor for a liberty stop. (Jan. 31, 2003; U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Carol Warden – RELEASED) To commemorate the 70 th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Battleship Missouri Memorial will proudly host a mass band performance featuring more than 650 performers from a dozen high school, college and community bands jointly performing patriotic favorites, all under the direction of Pearl Harbor survivor Allen Bodenlos. The 70 th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Mass Band performance will take place on Wednesday, December 7, from noon to 12:45pm Hawaii Time , pierside at the Missouri . This event will be webcast live at www.channel808.tv . Located a ship’s length from the USS Arizona Memorial , the Battleship Missouri Memorial completes a historical visitor experience that begins in Pearl Harbor on the “date that will live in infamy” and ends on the USS Missouri (BB-63) on Sept. 2, 1945, with the formal WWII surrender. Click here to learn more about special events for the 70 th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor Attack . We’re on facebook! Please click here to join us. © 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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Oahu’s Hop-On-Hop-Off AlohaBus Extends “Kids Go Free” Deal

Families visiting Oahu now have till the end of 2011 to get a great view of the island while getting a great deal with AlohaBus. The fleet of bright red, double-decker, hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses is extending its “Kids Go Free” special that was originally released for a limited time over the Summer. Extended through December 31, 2011, children (ages 3 to 11 years) can ride free when accompanied by adults, one free child per paid adult (a $14 value). Adult tickets are available at a special discounted rate, now only $29 for a 24-hour All Loops Tour pass. Tickets can be purchased: •       Online at www.alohabus.com •       By telephone at 808-833-3000 or toll-free at 1-800-622-3011 •       At partner agencies and hotels. Launched in April 2011, the AlohaBus offer three tours: •       Historic Route – This daytime route will take passengers through Waikiki towards downtown Honolulu with stops at Ala Moana Center, Ward Warehouse, Academy of Arts, Iolani Palace, the King Kamehameha Statue, Chinatown, Aloha Tower and Hilo Hattie. •       Pearl Harbor Express – From Hilo Hattie’s, passengers can transfer to a regular Polynesian Adventure Tour bus for a roundtrip to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, Aloha Stadium (when the Swap Meet and Marketplace is open) and Bishop Museum. •       Night Loop – From 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., this evening route will take passengers through popular shopping and dining areas with Ward Center being the turnaround point. The AlohaBus also features translated individual tour narrations in English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Spanish. Description of points of interest is GPS activated as the bus passes cultural and historical sites as well as shops and restaurants. © 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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Honolulu/Oahu 2011 Memorial Day Activities

Old Glory flying above the USS Arizonia Memorial in Pearl Harbor If you are looking for a meaningful place to honor Memorial Day, Oahu will certainly offer you that opportunity. Here are some suggestions for what to see and do this Memorial Day, May 30, 2011. Visit Punchbowl (National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific ). Memorial Day is an especially good time to visit Punchbowl as local boy scouts decorate the graves with flags and floral leis donated by Hawaii’s public school children. At 8:30am on Memorial Day, the Mayor of Honolulu hosts a special Memorial Day Ceremony. See this link for all the ceremony details, including how to get there.  On Memorial Day, Punchbowl extends their opening hours to 7am to 7pm. Go to the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor – Visiting this memorial is certainly a worthy way to honor Memorial Day. Admission is free.  I highly recommend that you get there early in the morning as holidays are particularly popular times to visit. The Visitor Center is open from 7am to 5pm, but the timed programs to the memorial begin at 8am and run through 3pm. Be prepared for your visit by reading Visiting the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor . Tour the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor - This retired battleship makes a great place to visit to honor the day. Visiting hours are from 8am to 5pm. See this link for ticketing details as well as my article with advice for touring the Mighty Mo . See the Pacific Aviation Museum in Pearl Harbor - This museum showcases aircraft that has been important to the US military history. The Pacific Aviation Museum is open daily from 9am to 5pm. See this link for ticket pricing details. On Memorial Day, from 10am to 2pm, you’ll have an opportunity to see the Home of the Brave Quilt Project , plus sign one that will be presented to the family of a fallen Hawaii soldier. See the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park in Pearl Harbor – The USS Bowfin was an attack vessel in WWII. The Bowfin was dubbed the Pearl Harbor Avenger. Tickets are $10 for adults and $4 for children. Open daily from 7am to 5pm. See the Lantern Floating Ceremony at Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park – This unique Memorial Day opportunity will offer a beautiful and peaceful remembrance of those who gave their lives for their country as well as memories of loved ones who have passed away. The ceremony starts at 6:30pm. It is free and open to the public. See this link for event details and directions .  Hawaii news Now will provide a live online broadcast of the Lantern Floating Ceremony. Here’s a beautiful video about the Lantern Floating Ceremony: (Email subscribers: use this link to find the embedded video .) © 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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PUC: Smart grid dumb idea, cable repair could take weeks, WWII munitions no danger yet, lawyers speak out on chief justice pick, more

Hawaii regulators have rejected plans for a broad expansion of smart grid electric technology that would have been paid for by residents and bus- inesses. Asso- ciated Press. When it comes to repairing a severed fiber-optic cable 3,000 feet under the sea, it won't be as simple as calling the cable guy. Star-Advertiser. Internet, cable television and telephone service began returning to normal Tuesday afternoon for thousands of Oceanic Time Warner Cable customers after a break in an undersea fiber-optic cable disrupted service about 12 hours earlier. Maui News. A rare break in an undersea fiber-optic cable Tuesday morning, left around 400,000 people without Internet, phone and TV service, for 12 hours in some cases. Hawaii News Now. Oahu resident Ian Kurihara discovered early Tuesday morning he wasn't able to go online. KITV. A wind farm on Oahu's North Shore is receiving a big boost in federal funding. KHON2. Chemical weapons dumped off Pearl Harbor after World War II pose no threat to humans for now but are "clearly deteriorating" and should continue to be monitored, the lead scientist on the University of Hawaii project said Tuesday. Associated Press . They're safe for now. There's no threat to humans or the ocean so far. Hawaii News Now. The Hawaii Women Lawyers will be expressing their strong support of Gov. Linda Lingle's appoint- ment of appeals Judge Katherine Leonard as the next chief justice, a spokeswoman for the group said yesterday. Star-Advertiser. In a letter to the Hawaii Bar Association, attorney Eric Seitz calls Katherine Leonard "ill equipped and unqualified" to be Hawaii's next Chief Justice. Hawaii News Now. After failing at its first bid for federal Race to the Top funds, Hawaii has placed among 19 finalists with its second application for one of the coveted education grants. Civil Beat. A West Hawaii ranch owner says a local business owner who bought part of Hokukano Ranch is cutting down old-growth sandalwood in the upper reaches of the property. West Hawaii Today. Recreational off-road vehicles have damaged much of the terrain at Kaena Point. KHON2. A city contractor working on a 42-inch main that broke late last week in Pearl City accidentally severed the 30-inch backup force main near the 14th hole of the Ted Makalena Golf Course, causing a spill of about 108,000 gallons of sewage yesterday. Star-Advertiser. Officials posted signs warning of a sewage spill are being posted along the Pearl Harbor bike path and at Middle Loch. KITV. Hawaii County property taxes are leaving the state this year. But don't worry, say county administrators, the money will come back. West Hawaii Today. Hawaii's "Sunshine Law" is hampering the County Council and should be overturned, says North Kona Councilman Kelly Greenwell. Tribune-Herald. A forum on the topic of “In Search of Real Security for Kaua‘i” will include remarks by Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, D-2nd District. Garden Island. Local divers will be competing in a tournament targeting invasive fish. The "Westside Roi Reckoning" takes place Saturday off Kahe Point. Hawaii News Now.

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What to do in Honolulu/Oahu Memorial Day 2010

National Memorial Cemetary of the Pacific (Punchbowl) Whether you’re a visitor to Oahu or an island resident, you’ll find plenty to do this Memorial day in Honolulu. Here are some suggestions of how to honor the day in meaningful ways: Visit the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific , also known as Punchbowl. This peaceful and somber site is a must visit in my opinion. On Memorial Day, Boy Scouts place a lei on each grave. If you can time your visit for 8:30 a.m. Monday, May 31, you can catch the 61st annual Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony. In addition to the impressive memorial, you’ll also find an tremendous view of Honolulu.Parking will be limited during the ceremony. (See our photo set from various visits to Punchbowl.) See the Arizona Memorial – Though there aren’t any specific events, visiting this memorial is certainly a worthy way to honor Memorial Day. I highly recommend that you get there early in the morning. Be prepared for your visit by reading Visiting the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor . Tour the USS Missouri - This retired battleship is also known as the Mighty Mo and also makes a great place to visit to honor the day. See my article with advice for touring the Mighty Mo . See the Pacific Aviation Museum in Pearl Harbor - This museum showcases aircraft that has been important to the US military history. See the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park in Pearl Harbor – The USS Bowfin was an attack vessel in WWII. The Bowfin was dubbed the Pearl Harbor Avenger. See the annual Lantern Floating Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park. “The ceremony remembers those who gave their lives in conflict, allows for reflection on the memories of loved ones and dedicates prayers for a peaceful and harmonious future. Just as the waters of the Pacific merge with each ocean, the wish for peace and happiness extends from Hawaii across the globe.” This event will be held Monday, May 31, 2010 at 6.30 p.m. on Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park. For more information see this link. Here’s a short YouTube video describing the significance of lantern floating. © 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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Hawaii Vacation Standard Room Tour – Aqua Waikiki Pearl Hotel

www.hawaii-aloha.com – Updated, upgraded and fresh guest rooms are available at the new Aqua Waikiki Pearl. The hotel renovation is complete and here’s your chance to stay in a guest room that has undergone an amazing transformation. These exciting new rooms and new name are just part of the experience at our central Waikiki hotel.

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Pearl Jam – Hawaii ‘78 (Honolulu ‘06)

12-2-2006 Honolulu, Hawaii Israel Kamakawiwoole cover

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Pearl Jam – Hawaii ‘78 (Honolulu ‘06)

12-2-2006 Honolulu, Hawaii Israel Kamakawiwoole cover

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