tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-223022562010-04-09T10:32:07.390-04:00NCPR's Ottawa correspondent Lucy Martin returns to Hawaii for a visit. She grew up on the island of Maui.Dale Hobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944539078439445007radio@ncpr.orgBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22302256.post-86815636463764554612010-04-09T10:32:00.001-04:002010-04-09T10:32:07.444-04:00

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Dale Hobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944539078439445007radio@ncpr.org0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22302256.post-1159464195986609562006-09-28T13:05:00.000-04:002006-09-28T16:13:10.456-04:00

Akaka wins Primary"Case closed!" was the gleeful shout, at Akaka's party headquarters, when the early returns foretold the story.Ed Case gets "pun"ished that way. One of his earliest campaigns pitted him against Toni Worst, in what was inevitably billed as the (wait for it) "Worst/Case scenario". Case won that time. The moderate Democrat, with a strong independent streak, eventually went on

Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858260813555472738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22302256.post-1157735656350597982006-09-08T13:03:00.000-04:002006-09-15T11:28:44.340-04:00

The Pali Lookout, Ko'olau Mountains and Kaneohe Town, Island of OahuPlaying catch-upI'm back, after a long trip of nearly six weeks. Hawaii at sea level was hot and sweaty--as it will be for least two more months. It's startling to return to Ontario's cooler temperatures, where summer is almost over!The funny thing about visiting your past is how quickly those places feel familiar. In

Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858260813555472738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22302256.post-1156955048283210242006-08-30T12:11:00.000-04:002006-09-24T09:50:15.306-04:00

The way it wasHawaii's four federal seats seats were generally held by Democrats. Incumbents nearly always won, often facing little-to-no opposition. The pecking order was for Representatives to become Senators themselves, in due course.Occasionally a death, a retirement, or an unsuccessful run for some other office, creates an open seat with no anointed heir. That sort of puka (hole) gets

Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858260813555472738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22302256.post-1156950968891694792006-08-30T10:02:00.000-04:002006-09-16T01:59:45.376-04:00

From Kingdom to State--it still mattersIn 1893, the Hawaiian monarchy was toppled. Backed by a borrowed contingent of U.S. marines--a coalition of businessmen pulled off a bloodless coup. In 1898, after delays and obstacles, the revolutionaries attained their ultimate goal, annexation into the U.S.If the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani and what followed was legitimate political evolution, then

Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858260813555472738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22302256.post-1156322812228668622006-08-23T04:18:00.000-04:002006-08-30T09:41:23.030-04:00

Take him away, take her away!Child-free parents kicking up their heels as the passenger ferry to Lanai departs Maui's historic whaling port of Lahaina. Lanai by sea. Ferry entering the harbor.Lanai City, the island's only town. Located inland at the cooler elevation of 1600'.A charming example of plantation-style architecture nestled among Norfolk Island

Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858260813555472738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22302256.post-1156103676818763442006-08-20T15:48:00.000-04:002006-08-25T04:44:02.893-04:00

The local viewLanai was long known as the "Pineapple Isle". Except for the public facilities--like the airport, school and roads--just about the whole island was owned by Dole, of fruit production fame. Only a few non-Dole jobs existed: storekeeper, school teacher, policeman.Most there did field work: hot and dusty, reaching and striding through sharp leaves . Not an easy life at all. On the

Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858260813555472738noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22302256.post-1155840043013168352006-08-17T14:36:00.000-04:002006-08-25T04:48:56.000-04:00

Lucky you live Hawaii?If it seems like I have something against Hawaii, or against rich people, I should elaborate. I'm trying to say that too much wealth, parachuting in from elsewhere, causes frustrations and problems. At least, that's been so in Hawaii. Even the born-and-bred kama'aina elite have complaints about the invasion of off-shore nouveaux riche.People really want to connect "Hawaii"

Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858260813555472738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22302256.post-1155806192809683952006-08-17T05:15:00.000-04:002006-08-17T05:32:10.856-04:00

Musings on ordinary lifeWith Craig back at work, my son and I are finishing up the Oahu part of the trip. It's not overly exciting. We go visiting. When friends are at work, or school, we sand, prime and paint. Or prune. The object of our affection is a small, wooden cottage.My grandparents built it, almost 60 years ago. Helped by sons, safely back from war, and almost-grown daughters. Toiling in

Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858260813555472738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22302256.post-1155519197216341092006-08-13T21:20:00.000-04:002006-12-20T12:16:40.260-05:00

And then there were twoCraig's gone. As he put it, "Some of us have to get back to work." He loves Hawaii and is leaning on me about moving back, some day. We'll see.Craig is my resident tech support, so I have some concerns about potential problems with cameras, computers and blogging on my own. However, so far I've been doing most of this by myself. With luck I won't get stuck.Because of

Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858260813555472738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22302256.post-1155238708277409092006-08-10T15:03:00.000-04:002006-08-13T23:50:43.940-04:00

Magic in the airBack when we lived in Honolulu, one special weekend each August we would walk up Manoa Valley. Past stately older homes with established gardens. Closer and closer, to a hidden alcove. With twilight falling, faint snippets of music float by, carried by the breeze. A beautiful moon would rise from behind the high valley ridge, huge and illuminating. Hurry! It's starting! Our

Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858260813555472738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22302256.post-1154987344183485002006-08-07T17:07:00.000-04:002006-08-10T14:52:34.046-04:00

The State RegattaThe promised entry on the island of Lanai will have to wait. Instead, here's a post about Saturday's HCRA State Outrigger Canoe Championships.Flying from Maui to Oahu last Friday, we noticed very full flights and lots of different people with something in common. Travelers, all packing paddles, much like woman pictured here, from Hanalei Canoe Club on the north shore of the

Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858260813555472738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22302256.post-1154892603908508082006-08-06T15:23:00.000-04:002006-08-09T16:37:31.973-04:00

Ah, the breeze!After a heat wave in California, with many parts of the mainland still baking in unusually high temperatures, it was great to finally arrive in Hawaii last week. It's still hot here, temps are averaging in the upper 80's. And the sun is very intense.To illustrate, my husband always rolls his eyes when the Ottawa weather report cautions that the UV index there will be 8, or high.

Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858260813555472738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22302256.post-1154651980397610342006-08-03T20:25:00.000-04:002006-08-13T23:58:00.653-04:00

LodgingAnother common question about Hawaii: "Can you recommend some nice place to stay, near the ocean, that's not too expensive?" Hmm. Sorry. No can do.This pictured yellow building is the Hotel Lanai. That was the only hotel bill we will pay for the entire trip. A few days after arriving on Maui, Craig and I deposited our son at my father's place. (Thanks, Dad!) Then we left for a a

Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858260813555472738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22302256.post-1154025796514397272006-07-27T14:41:00.000-04:002006-07-29T05:11:06.686-04:00

Cool photoThis fence on Maui's Kaupakalua Road has been here for years. I'll have to ask around to get better info on it. But what a great use for busted surfboards! The hedge plant is "ti" (pronounced "tea"), an easily grown and much-loved common plant of Hawaii. It comes in many colors besides green. Ti leaves can be used to wrap food, or as hula skirts. The green ones are also waved with

Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858260813555472738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22302256.post-1153868880746810472006-07-25T19:07:00.000-04:002006-07-29T03:31:16.690-04:00

California: as many people as the entire country of CanadaAfter a short night's sleep in the SF Bay Area, we split up for the weekend. Craig and Wili stay. They'll drive inland to see relatives in Stockton. I grab a cheap flight in and out of Oakland to visit some kin down LA way. The one-hour flight passes over a rolling landscape that screams dry.I fly into the Burbank airport, as it is the

Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858260813555472738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22302256.post-1153865838578933792006-07-25T18:16:00.000-04:002006-07-25T18:51:09.366-04:00

Air travel, part one--the logisticsWhen traveling from Ottawa to Hawaii, you can't get there from here in one hop. It is possible to fly directly from from some major cities. Chicago to Hawaii, for example, is roughly a ten-hour flight. The more usual route would be: Ottawa to --your airline's hub here-- followed by a stop-over in a west cost hub (LA, SF, or Vancouver) and then on to Hawaii. One

Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858260813555472738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22302256.post-1153364142454478982006-07-19T22:52:00.000-04:002006-10-11T00:34:17.463-04:00

There's method to our madnessMy husband, our teen son and I are off for a long summer trip. Back to "the old country" as we jokingly call our former home state, now a continent and an ocean away. A three-week vacation for the main bread-winner. Nearly six weeks away for me and our son--the only grandchild in the Hawaii family tree.Friends and neighbors here in Ottawa are aghast at our timing.

Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858260813555472738noreply@blogger.com1