Hawaii on the cheap- it does exist!

As a student, telecommuter, and a parent it is imperative that I save money, yet engage in enriching activities. Here are some freebies and deals for this week. I hope these help you make the most of your time in the islands:

Wednesday- the admission is free at the Honolulu Academy of Arts

Friday night- there is a planetarium program going on at the Bishop museum. Reservations are suggested, and admission is only $6 for adults and $4 for kids.

Enjoy!

New goal- jog Hawaii!

I finally started jogging again. Actually, I don't know if one hour of jogging really means I have started up this once daily ritual of mine. It has been years since I put on running shoes and hit the pavement on a regular basis. But that's okay. I try not to look back and wonder what the heck took me so long.
Anyway, I decided that my first jog would be up Diamond Head Road, which is frequented by joggers throughout the day. I parked at the bottom of the hill, thinking it would be hard work up the hill, and a lot of fun on the way down. Though the view was awesome, I chose a very hot time of the day to run up a hill without any water. Plus, I had to carry my cell phone, ipod, and keys, and stash my ID and credit cards in location that I choose not to disclose. The fumes from the passing vehicles would have dissipated if the winds had been a little bit stronger. So with the combination of fumes, heat, and a lack of water, I was pretty uncomfortable.
Diamond Head Road is a great jogging location, though I think it is best accessed in the early morning hours or in the evening.

Step out for outside for a shower...a meteor shower!

So I know that there are ten different meteor showers on a yearly basis. But I like the Perseids. I don't really know why I choose to venture out in the middle of the night this time of year, every year. But I do. It might have something to do with the weather, the clear skies, warm nights, and that its summer time and school is out. And although we live here in Hawaii now, where the weather is always nice, the skies are pretty clear year round, the nights are warm, and- well its not summer vacation all year- but it feels like it, I think that some things just should not change. For that reason I am packing a bag and some food, blankets and a cell phone, and heading out to a dark spot to watch the meteors. Most people would sleep. In fact, it seems most do. Guess that's a good thing though because I don't want to be joined by tens of thousands of people lining up on the beach to watch the 'show'. That's another thing. I can't figure out why so many people do not know what a meteor shower is. Are humans that removed from nature- so out of touch? Ask a child to name a few video game systems and there will be no problem. Ask him to name a few meteor showers- you might just get a blank stare. Oh well- in my quest for knowledge and cheap yet legal thrills- here we go again! Hoping for clear skies all night and safe times!

Get to the cheap movies while you can!

This is just a friendly reminder...the low cost movie theater at Restaurant Row will be closing very soon. For many years residents and tourists have enjoyed low cost flicks and cheap food, all at a nice location. However, the theater will no longer be after August 1st (at least I think that's the closing date). Get out there and take advantage of the low price movies and snacks---you really can't find any thing that compares in cost savings.
Contact info:

WTC- Restaurant Row 9

808-526-4171

For movie listings:
http://www.hellohonolulu.com/shared/theaters/WTC-_Restaurant_Row_9_HONOLULU.cfm

Honolulu Zoo....more than just animals!

I'm always looking for something new and interesting to do, and found an activity worth noting. The Honolulu Zoo, as most residents know, offers enrichment classes and family activities at an additional cost and at different times throughout the year. Tonight we took part in the Stargazing at the Zoo activity- which was worth every penny. The night included a guided evening tour of the zoo, snacks and drinks, a star lab activity, and some time to view the night sky with really great telescopes. The event was hosted by zoo staff and a few UH Manoa graduate astronomy students. This event reignited my desire to find and purchase new lenses for my telescope, which I used to use on a regular basis. So that is what I am off to do, and I am armed with some new information and tips provided by the staff at tonight's event. I highly recommend the zoo enrichment programs. For more info visit: www.honoluluzoo.org

Partial Solar Eclipse Viewable from Hawaii

A quick heads up! Today around 5pm Hawaii Standard Time there will be a partial solar eclipse viewable from the Hawaiian islands. The eclipse will be at its max at around 5:45. View the partial eclipse by looking to the West, and in a direction where there is no cloud cover. (Waikiki is a good location to view it from). Be sure that you do not look in to the sun...get some 'sun peeps' which are still available at the Windward College Observatory in Kaneohe until around 1pm today. Have fun!

Sea Turtles in Waikiki? Yes, Indeed!

So this is a little bit off the blogging path for me. Usually I just write about hiking and such, however I just wanted to share a little something that happened today. My family and and myself have been making an effort to squeeze in more beach days before summer vacay ends. So we headed out to the beach again today- this time we went to Waikiki near Fort DeRussy. In the late afternoons there is usually a band playing at one of the beach front hotels, so we were able to listen to music and play in the waves. While hanging out on the beach we spotted three very large sea turtles in the water. Now for those who know me, they know that I have pictures of sea turtles spotted at various locations around the island on my Facebook page, so why is this a surprise? Well, to be honest I rarely see sea turtles in the water near Waikiki. A couple of years ago I saw one in the harbor down by the Ilikai hotel, and then last month we spotted another one while kayaking, pretty close to the same spot we were hanging out at today, only much further out in the water. I know that surfers and ocean swimmers sight these beauties all the time on the South shore. But to see three really large sea turtles, and for them to be so close to shore (I thought they might end up on the beach), was something special.
Here is the thing though, I just have to make this a PSA. As soon as people started spotting the turtles they had to try to swim right out to them. I don't advise doing this. Keep your distance- they are a protected species and they can bite or bump into you should you get to close. I will never understand why humans feel like they have to get so close to these animals. They are easily, and much better photographed from the shoreline. In fact, I got one decent shot of one of the turtles that we saw today, and I will post that once I get the pictures uploaded.
Well that's about it for this post. Be cautious out there in those South shore waves and keep an eye on the littlest swimmers and non-swimmers for that matter. The waves are fun to play in but lately they have been pretty big! Have fun and mahalo for reading!