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!

Maunawili Falls Trail

By this point it's obvious I like to be outdoors and exploring. On that note, another one of my favorite hikes is Maunawili Falls Trail. This is another fairly easy trail for families, and best of all, at the end of the trail there is a beautiful waterfall and swimming hole. People enjoy jumping from the rocks into the pool- which to me looks like a blast, but I have yet to try it. Definitely wear a swimming suit as the trail crosses a stream a few times, and there are plenty of opporunities to cool off in the water. A camera is a must, and the ridgeline provides great views before the trail drops down to the valley and a set of stairs leads down to the creek, followed by the water fall.

The trail has quite a few uphill climbs and sets of stairs, but nothing too difficult for even the littlest hikers. Water and snacks are a must as the trail is about 2 miles each way.

Directions: From Honolulu, take the Pali Highway, heading toward Kailua. Make a right at the third stop light, which is Auloa Street, then go to the left on Maunawili Road. You will be driving through a subdivision. Follow Maunawili, make a right on Keewina Street. Park on the street. Be sure to lock all doors and do not leave valuables in a parked car.