This is an un-authorized partial re-print of an article at www.hawaiinewsnow.com:

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – By its Hawaiian names, Hawaiian monk seals are called “the furry one” and “the dog that runs in rough seas.” They are found only in Hawaii and they are in crisis.

“They’re very slow breeding marine mammals. They only have one pup a year,” Jeff Walters said.

Walters is the Monk Seal Recovery Coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He said about ninety percent of the seals live in the Northwestern Hawaiian islands where only one in five make it to adulthood.

Tracy Wurth heads up NOAA’s monk seal sightings team.

“It could be multiple factors. Food limitation. Perhaps they have a high parasite load. Competition with other seals and other apex predators like sharks and jacks. There are a lot of stressors that first couple years of life,” she said.

About 150 monk seals live near the main Hawaiian islands. Sightings are becoming more frequent because that small segment of the population is growing.

Ocean scientists feel frequent beachings of monk seals around the main islands give a false impression the overall population is doing well. But even these seals face threats from fishing nets, disease and human violence. A number of alleged attacks on monk seals in 2009 are under investigation.

“We can’t say who it is but there have been a few deaths in which we cannot rule out foul play,” Walters said.

Hawaiian monk seals are protected by the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. NOAA said if you see a seal on the beach leave it alone.

“We like to give the guideline of 150 feet or whatever is feasible based on the beach that you’re on. Just enjoy them from a distance,” said Dara Look, NOAA’s coordinator of volunteers who respond to guard monk seals that come ashore on Oahu..

“We need the public to not feed and not interact with them. Give them some space and let them stay wild because wild seals are the ones that are going to help the species recover,” Walters said.

NOAA maintains a data base of Hawaiian monk seals that have been identified through flipper tags, temporary bleach markings and natural marks and scars.

The organization is working on a plan to help the seals survive and thrive through vaccinations and de-worming programs.

Scientists think temporarily moving weaned pups from the Northwestern Hawaiian islands to the main Hawaiian islands will give them a fighting chance to reverse their population decline.

“Get them here fat and happy and healthy to where they have a good chance of survival and moving them back to their birth place,” Wurth said.

“The idea of bringing down more seals from the Northwestern Hawaiian islands, even if it’s on a temporary basis, understandably causes concerns with our fishing community and our ocean user community,” Walters said.

NOAA’s save the seals proposals will be out this summer for public comment.

Walters estimates the current number of Hawaiian monk seals stands at about 1,100. But it threatens to fall below 1,000 in the next few years unless something is done soon.

While I am not putting myself out there as any sort of self-proclaimed movie critic, I just wanted to share some favorite movies and shows that were filmed in Hawaii.   I’m sure everyone has at least a handful of favorite movies that were filmed either in whole or in part in the 50th state.  Some may even have a favorite film or two that they weren’t even aware was filmed in Hawaii!

In no particular order, here are my picks for favorite movies:

• The classic “From Here to Eternity” with Burt Lancaster,
• “Donavan’s Reef”, starring John Wayne and Lee Marvin,
• All those Elvis movies; “Blue Hawaii”, “Paradise Hawaiian-Style”, “Girls, Girls, Girls”, et al,
• Of course, “Jurassic Park”, and
• “50 First Dates” (Rob Schneider really captured the local persona).

Some of my favorite tv shows shot in Hawaii include:

• “Hawaii 5-0” (the original version w/Jack Lord),
• “Magnum PI” with Tom Selleck,
• “Hawaii 5-0” (the current version…took me a few episodes to accept the new cast),
• “Lost” was pretty cool, until I missed a couple of episodes and lost the plot myself, and
• “Off the Map” (took me a few episodes to figure out exactly where they were filming)

One of the reasons I love watching the old re-runs of Hawaii 5-0 is its a chance to reminisce, watching footage of a less developed Honolulu.  Of course, the chase scenes are always humorous in both versions…as in most location based shows…as they cut from one part of the island to another and make it seem like they were right around the corner.

Conversely, I remember watching a chase scene that took Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord) through Waikiki…back up along the Ala Wai Canal…and ending up at the hotel less than a block from where he started!  (I know the one-way streets in the area can drive anybody nuts, but…)  Likewise, with the current series, there was a recent episode where they were supposedly chasing a guy on Kauai and miraculously ended up on the Pali Highway and ultimately at the Pali lookout.  Guess they didn’t feel like making a field trip to Waimea Canyon.

Were you aware that “Lost” was filmed entirely on location in Hawaii?  Including those flash-backs and flash-forwards that took you to L.A., Chicago, etc.  I remember reading about one scene where they had to bring in 5-truck loads of “snow” to turn a section of Chinatown in Honolulu into winter-time Chicago.    My son-in-law commented on one scene that was supposed to be in L.A., but he instantly recognized a particular pink hospital on the hillside above Pearl Harbor…perhaps you noticed that, too.

But, hey, if we can imagine we’re watching a scene on some island west of Central America, a remote island in the Caribbean, or trekking through some Peruvian jungle…why not!  Hawaii’s movie industry brings in a substantial amount of revenue to add to the state’s economy.  In 2007, while filming the latest Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull on the Big Island, it was reported that the film and production crews spent over $15 Million.

More recently, several movies and shows have been shot (or are still in production), including:

• “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”, opening May 20th
• “Just Go With It”, another movie starring Adam Sandler with Jennifer Aniston,
• The recently released “Soul Surfer” starring Carrie Underwood, and
• “The Descendants” starring George Clooney (scheduled opening date 12/16/2011).

Well, I’d love to hear your top picks, especially if they didn’t make my list.

Themed Family Pool, Kids’ Splash Zone, and Quick-Service Dining Added

KO OLINA, Hawaii, Aug. 29, 2012 — /PRNewswire/ — A delightfully themed family pool, a new kids’ splash zone and two new quick-service dining locations will be among the highlights of an enhancement project getting underway in September at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina. Further details of the expansion were announced today, the first anniversary of the opening of Aulani.

Since it opened in August 2011, Aulani has been extremely well received by guests. Among the most popular features of the resort is the Waikolohe Valley. Waikolohe means mischievous water and the valley is home to the recreation and water play areas leading out to the Aulani beachfront. The new pool, splash zone and additional deck space will extend the sun and water fun literally to the very edge of the resort property, with the pool’s “infinity edge” overlooking the adjoining lagoon.

The architecture of Aulani reflects the symbolic harmony of masculine and feminine energy, and the new pool area, on the masculine side of the resort, continues this theme with a design inspired by the demigod Maui. According to Hawaiian legend, Maui brought the islands to the surface with his great fishhook, and aspects of the legend will be reflected in the design of the new family pool and kids’ splash zone, incorporating coral and lava, sea and earth, in the surrounding rockwork.

A highlight of the family pool will be a misty grotto from which relaxing swimmers may view the sunset. After dark, a magical starscape of glimmering lights will appear on the grotto ceiling and the floor of the pool.

The nearby kids’ splash zone will be designed to resemble tidal pools with some playful surprises for youngsters, including rainbow water jets, images of tidal pool creatures on the pool floors, and hidden Menehune, the legendary little people of the islands, who may be spotted through chinks in the rocks. Additional deck space, chairs, chaises and cabanas will surround these new water features.

Also coming to Aulani will be two new food service locations. One of these, located adjacent to the new water play area and the existing Wailana Pool, will serve continental breakfast and offer a lunch and dinner menu with a selection of sandwiches, salads and snacks that can be enjoyed in the adjoining outdoor patio which provides a beautiful ocean view. A second quick-service eatery will be located beachside, offering grab-and-go snacks and easy access for beachgoers.

Work on these enhancements will begin in September and conclude in mid-2013, coinciding with the final build-out of resort. Along with the water play and dining additions, the expansion will provide a new, larger lawn location for events, weddings and the guest favorite nighttime Starlit Hui show. There will also be additional merchandise space – to provide guests with a greater variety of Aulani products, apparel and memories – and a protective awning over the patio of Makahiki restaurant, home of “Aunty’s Breakfast Celebration” featuring breakfast with Disney characters.

About Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa Aulani opened in August of 2011 and sits on 21 acres of beautiful oceanfront in Ko Olina, adjacent to a nine-acre, crystal-blue lagoon and white-sand beach. Ko Olina is 17 miles from Honolulu International Airport and approximately 30 minutes from Waikiki.

Uniquely designed for families and inspired by the wonders and traditions of Hawaii, Aulani is a family paradise with a touch of magic. Aulani offers kids, adults and families Hawaiian vacation experiences with a special magic that only Disney can create. Delightful rooms and spacious Disney Vacation Club villas, a perfect location on a beautiful beachfront lagoon, and renowned Disney service and enchanting entertainment let dreamers of every age savor their time together on Hawaii as never before.

For Aulani reservations, guests may visit www.disneyaulani.com or call (866) 44-DISNEY.

Media Contacts: Todd Apo, Aulani Public Affairs Cell:  808.216.3576, Todd.Apo@disney.com

John McClintock, Disney Destinations Public Relations (714) 781-4836, John.McClintock@disney.com

SOURCE Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa

Coffee Berry Borers Still Big Island Only

On September 2, 2010, Dr. H.C. Bittenbender (University of Hawaii CTAHR) and graduate student Elsie Burbano (University of Hawaii PEPS) alerted The Hawaii Department of Agriculture of Coffee Berry Borers heavily infesting coffee berries in the Kona region of the Big Island.  In May of 2011, they were found in the Kau District, in the Pahala area.  These tiny, but very destructive beetles, are about the size of a sesame seed.

Adult Coffee Berry Borer, www.hawaii.gov

Female beetles bore holes into mature and immature coffee berries, still attached to the tree, through the scar on the blossom end of the berry.  They create “galleries” in the berries, where they deposit their eggs.  Once eggs hatch, beetles larvae eat their way through the berry and into the bean of the seed.  Reproduction can continue in berries that fall to the ground.  Adult females remain in the berries once eggs are laid.  The larvae will emerge to find new berries to deposit their eggs and so the cycle continues.

In addition to feeding damage by the beetle, coffee beans are injured by secondary fungal and bacterial infection, and further insect attack.  The combined damage can reduce yield, lower the quality, and possibly destroy the entire bean.

Coffee Berry Borers are extremely similar in appearance to the Tropical Nut Borer and the Black Twig Borer, which are both found on coffee plants in Hawaii.  Physical differences can only be spotted with a microscope, and  sometimes only by an expert.  While the Tropical Nut Borer and the Black Twig Borer may enter the berry from the sides, Coffee Berry Borers bores through the scar at the blossom end of the fruit. In addition, the Black Twig Borer will readily infest coffee branches, while Coffee Berry Borers will only attack the berries.

Unlike the Black Twig Borer, which has been in Hawaii for over 50 years, Coffee Berry Borers can reduce coffee yields by up to 90% in some coffee  producing areas of the world.  For now, the infestation of Coffee Berry Borers in Hawaii has been limited to the Big Island of Hawaii, which is why on February 24, 2012, the Department of Agriculture established permanent rules on the inter-island  transport of green coffee beans (unroasted), coffee plants and plant parts, used coffee bags and coffee harvesting equipment.

Progress Being Made Controlling Coffee Berry Borers

The latest efforts to control and contain this pest include the use of fungus known as Beauveria bassiana, which kills the Coffee Berry Borers.  The Agricultural Board of Directors approved this action in January, 2011, and it seems to be helping along with other measures taken.

Kona Coffee Farmers Association Pests and Diseases Committee members Suzanne Shriner and Bob Smith stated during a panel discussion this past January, that farmers need to take a three-pronged approach that includes sanitizing coffee fields by completely stripping trees of and removing all fallen coffee beans, spraying the fungus on a regular schedule, and using Coffee Berry Borer traps.

In an article written by Chelsea Jensen in West Hawaii Today, Shriver is quoted as saying, “The most important thing you can do is clear the coffee off your trees.  I believe it was because I cleared every single bean off the tree and ground,” that led to her seeing her infestation rate drop from 60% in 2010 to 3% in 2011.

If you ever wonder why coffee costs so much, watching this video will give you an idea of just how labor intensive coffee bean growing and processing is.  Add to that the fact that all coffee berries must be handpicked, often in some very rough terrain and you’ll start to appreciate that morning cup of coffee just a little bit more!

It has been suggested that Coffee Berry Borers have been in the area for years, but that the recent drought conditions that began in 2009, may have allowed the pest to gain traction.

 Coffee Berry Borers a World-Wide Problem

It should be noted that Coffee Berry Borers affect every coffee growing region in the world and while they are destructive and have a negative impact in coffee production, they have never completely wiped out production anywhere.  Industry experts remain optimistic that through continued efforts of inspection, fungal treatments, and trapping can control the problem.

Passenger Add-on Fees

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed how these passenger add on fees continue to make the cost of traveling hard to calculate.  I understand when fuel prices go up, ticket prices must go up as well.  I get that.

But, when fuel prices come down and airlines continue to charge a fuel surcharge, well, that gets to be questionable.  The airlines are not the first or only ones to implement this charge.  UPS has been doing this for years…and they continue to be an annoyance as they too, are reluctant to remove the fee even if gas prices tumble.  Actually, I think even the airlines have given up trying to get away with calling it a “surchage”.  I think its just a plain old “fuel charge” these days.

Do you remember when the price you saw advertised was the price you paid?  It included a snack, meal, headset, blankets, and even luggage!   While “security measures” have added some of these annoying fees we are faced with today, not all charges can be blamed on stopping terrorism…at least not of the “blowing-up-the-plane” variety.  (It isn’t bad enough we have the inconvenience of the security check in the first place, but to add insult to injury, we have to pay for it.)

I guess we’d have to go back to the days when they first came up with the idea to eliminate meal service from flights and then start charging a captive audience if they happen to get hungry during the flight.  That was soon followed by a baggage fee, which of course only affected those who happen to take luggage with them.  Spirit Airlines has since started charging a fee for using the overhead storage areas and thus plugging that loop-hole.

From there we enter the realm of what I call, “do-you-think-we-can-get-away-with-it?” fees.   Fees, like charging you for headsets so you can listen to the “free” in-flight movie.  Then, they started to charge for blankets…thank you American Airlines.  Back in 2010, the airline “will sell a blue fleece blanket with an inflatable neck pillow in a clear zippered pouch, and will throw in coupon for $10 off a $30 purchase at Bed, Bath and Beyond,” spokeswoman Andrea Huguely said.  JetBlue and US Airways charge $7 for a blanket-and-pillow set;  US Airways added eye shades and earplugs.

For the last several years, these add-on fees have become significant sources of income as airlines collect millions of dollars.  The latest fee by discount carrier Spirit Airlines is a Passenger Usage Fee.  There has been a class-action suit filed against Spirit Airlines over this latest “optional fee”.   Spirit lists the fee, which varies from $9 to $17 per flight on its website, under the headline “Booking related fees”, as optional, however, there doesn’t appear to be any way to “opt-out” of paying it.

Their justification for this fee?  To provide a website and phone service for passengers to purchase tickets.  Do you remember when the airlines tried to charge more for NOT booking your ticket online?  Now, they want to charge you FOR booking your ticket online.

All this comes about as the DOT attempt to clarify the pricing process by requiring airlines to quote prices on tickets which include all these ancillary fees, so you can compare apples to apples.  I am reminded of all those items up for auction on eBay that you can purchase for 99 cents, but shipping will cost you $9.95 for that regularly $10.00 item you thought you were getting such a deal on.

Do you remember Ryanair, the Ireland based, discount carrier that attempted to charge a “bathroom fee”?  You’ve just gotta love it when an airlines inspires so much anger that it has spawned its very own website for the disgruntled.  Check out I Hate Ryanair – The World’s Most Hated Airline.  If you’d like a good chuckle and see just how far some of these ancillary fees can go…or at least how far they have attempted to go, go take a peek.

Guess you can understand now why I was so excited about Tweeting Hawaiian Airlines plans to add some favorite Hawaiian foods to their in-flight meal options.   May not seem like much, but I’ll take any good news when it comes to airlines!  Happy Flying to you all!

UPDATE  9/26/2012:  Airlines report that in just the first half of this year, they have taken in a record $1.7 Billion in baggage fees!

Hawaii Camping – Is it For You?

By Cindy Blankenship

A while ago, I had a post with the information about the available Farmers’ Markets and Swap Meets on Oahu…and there were many.  Well, there are quite a few available throughout much of Maui, as well.  The following is the latest information I could find, and while I cannot guarantee that all of these are still operating with the posted schedules, I hope it will be helpful.  Where available, I have posted contact information so that you can call ahead to see if this information is still current on the Swap Meets or Farmers’ Markets you may be interested in.

A Maui Swap Meet

Maui’s answer to Honolulu’s Aloha Stadium Swap Meet, the Maui Swap Meet is open every Saturday from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm and will cost you 50 cents to gain entry if you are 13 or older.  Held at the University of Hawaii Maui College (formerly known as the Maui Community College) just off of Ka’ahumanu Ave in Kahului.  (808)244-3100

Lahaina Civic Center Craft Fair

It’s actually a bit north of Lahaina Town before the Kaanapali Resort area near the U.S. Post Office.  For 2012, here are the dates that the Craft Fair are held:  

• June 10
• June 24
• July 15
• July 29
• August 12

For more info, call (808)244-3100

The Aloha Friday Farmers’ Market

The Aloha Friday Farmers’ Market is held every Friday from 12 noon to 3:00 p.m. on the campus lawn and inside the Paina Building of the Maui Community College across from the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on West Kaahumanu Avenue in Kahului.   As the name implies, the purpose of the Aloha Friday Farmers Market is to bring local produce to local people and visitors and allow farmers to better compete with cheaper imported produce.  You may find cheaper produce on Maui, but you won’t find fresher!

Makawao Farmers’ Market

3654 Baldwin Ave., Makawao, Maui, Hawaii  (808)280-5516

• Wednesdays 10:00am to 4:00pm, subject to the weather
• Saturday 10:00am to 2:00pm, subject to the weather

Farmers’ Market of Maui – Honokowai

Hawaiian Motors parking lot across from the Honokowai Park.  7:00 am till 11:00 am, Mon-Wed-Fri

(808)669-7004

Farmers’ Market of Maui-Kihei

Suda Store parking lot on South Kihei Road; 8:00 am till 4:00 pm., Mon thru Fri

(808)875-0949

Hali’imaile Farmers Market

Hali’imaile Town Center next to the Hali’imaile General Store; 1:00-6:00 pm, Fridays only

Lipoa Street Farmers’ Market, Kihei

8:00 am till noon, Saturdays

The Maui Fresh Produce Farmers’ Market, Kahului

Center Stage area of the Queen Kaahumanu Shopping Center; 7:00 to 4:00 pm, Tue-Wed-Fri

Pepito Valdez(808)298-4289

Maui Mall Farmers’ Market and Craft Fair, Kahului

7:00am -4:00 pm, Tue-Wed-Fri

Ms Cindy Hearn, (808)871-1307

Ono Organic Farms Farmers’ Market

Hasegawa General Store, Hana Highway, All-day Mon-Thurs

Upcountry Farmers’ Market

Pukulani Long’s Drug at Kulamalu, 7:00am – noon, Saturdays

So, there you have it.  The times and locations of a dozen Farmers’ Markets and Swap Meets on Maui.  Hope you’ll take the time to visit one or more of them soon.

Hawaii Golf

By Karen Tabieros