Showing posts with label Hawaii. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hawaii. Show all posts

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Obama visits Sea Life Park in Hawaii



By B.J. Reyes

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jan 03, 2010

He's the leader of the free world, with a heavy agenda waiting for him when he leaves Hawaii tonight and returns to the White House.

But as President Barack Obama sat at Sea Life Park yesterday, watching daughters Malia and Sasha interact with dolphins, all that Jesus Bravo saw was a doting father.

"He was really happy—you should have seen his face," said Bravo, the park's general manager. "He watched it like any other parent."

Obama, along with friends and family that included his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, and her husband, Konrad Ng, visited the park yesterday morning before the first family heads back to the nation's capital tonight.

Obama began the day the same way he has every day since his arrival on Christmas Eve—with a workout at the Semper Fit gym on Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay.

After a quick stop at the family's rented Kailua vacation compound, the president's motorcade made the trip along Kalanianaole Highway through Waimanalo and arrived at the park just after 9 a.m.

The group spent about an hour at the park, leaving before it opened to the public at 10:30 a.m. First lady Michelle Obama did not accompany the president and their daughters.

Bravo said a total of seven people—adults and children—were in the water with the dolphins. Participants also were able to stay on platforms in the water to have the dolphins come up to them, allowing them to pet the marine mammals and learn more about them.

Obama did not get in the water, but watched from nearby seats.

"I think that it's a very good thing for someone that has the burden that he has—leading the country—to be able to enjoy it like that," said Bravo, who met the first family at the park. "It was a very nice sight."

Bravo said he knew of the possibility that Obama might visit the park, based on his visit during the family's December 2008 vacation. At that time, Obama and his daughters went while the park was open to the public, and did not get in the water, Bravo said.

"The Secret Service was great with us," Bravo said of the planning this year. "They were kind enough to have the president early in the morning."

The park opened at 10:30 a.m. as scheduled. Reporters were not allowed in the park while Obama and guests were there.

After Sea Life Park, the president's motorcade made its way back to the Kailua compound and then to the beach on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, out of sight of the traveling press pool.

Last night, the president and Michelle Obama had dinner at Lucy's Grill & Bar in Kailua with friends Bobby Titcomb and his wife; Marty Nesbitt and his wife; Valerie Jarrett; and Soetoro-Ng and her husband.

The first family's vacation comes to an end today after more than a week in the islands.

Obama stayed mostly out of sight during the early days of the vacation, which began Christmas Eve, but has been more visible in public the last few days.

Aside from encounters on golf courses, crowds also spotted Obama as he left a movie theater on Thursday—when he and his daughters saw the 3-D blockbuster "Avatar"—and also on New Year's Day, when he took a group to what is becoming a traditional stop on his vacation, the Island Snow shave ice shop in Kailua.

But Obama was never far from work on the vacation.

On Monday and Tuesday, he held news briefings to discuss the government clashes with demonstrators in Iraq and talk more in detail about security lapses surrounding the thwarted terrorist attack over Detroit on Christmas Day.

Aides said Obama was briefed on the situation daily. He is scheduled to hold a meeting in Washington on Tuesday with multiple agency heads to address the investigation and the next steps.

President Barack Obama waved as he left Lucy's Grill & Bar in Kailua after dinner last night. He's scheduled to end his vacation tonight when the first family flies back to Washington, D.C.
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But as President Barack Obama sat at Sea Life Park yesterday, watching daughters Malia and Sasha interact with dolphins, all that Jesus Bravo saw was a doting father.

"He was really happy—you should have seen his face," said Bravo, the park's general manager. "He watched it like any other parent."

Obama, along with friends and family that included his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, and her husband, Konrad Ng, visited the park yesterday morning before the first family heads back to the nation's capital tonight.

Obama began the day the same way he has every day since his arrival on Christmas Eve—with a workout at the Semper Fit gym on Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay.

After a quick stop at the family's rented Kailua vacation compound, the president's motorcade made the trip along Kalanianaole Highway through Waimanalo and arrived at the park just after 9 a.m.

The group spent about an hour at the park, leaving before it opened to the public at 10:30 a.m. First lady Michelle Obama did not accompany the president and their daughters.

Bravo said a total of seven people—adults and children—were in the water with the dolphins. Participants also were able to stay on platforms in the water to have the dolphins come up to them, allowing them to pet the marine mammals and learn more about them.

Obama did not get in the water, but watched from nearby seats.

"I think that it's a very good thing for someone that has the burden that he has—leading the country—to be able to enjoy it like that," said Bravo, who met the first family at the park. "It was a very nice sight."

Bravo said he knew of the possibility that Obama might visit the park, based on his visit during the family's December 2008 vacation. At that time, Obama and his daughters went while the park was open to the public, and did not get in the water, Bravo said.

"The Secret Service was great with us," Bravo said of the planning this year. "They were kind enough to have the president early in the morning."

The park opened at 10:30 a.m. as scheduled. Reporters were not allowed in the park while Obama and guests were there.

After Sea Life Park, the president's motorcade made its way back to the Kailua compound and then to the beach on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, out of sight of the traveling press pool.

Last night, the president and Michelle Obama had dinner at Lucy's Grill & Bar in Kailua with friends Bobby Titcomb and his wife; Marty Nesbitt and his wife; Valerie Jarrett; and Soetoro-Ng and her husband.

The first family's vacation comes to an end today after more than a week in the islands.

Obama stayed mostly out of sight during the early days of the vacation, which began Christmas Eve, but has been more visible in public the last few days.

Aside from encounters on golf courses, crowds also spotted Obama as he left a movie theater on Thursday—when he and his daughters saw the 3-D blockbuster "Avatar"—and also on New Year's Day, when he took a group to what is becoming a traditional stop on his vacation, the Island Snow shave ice shop in Kailua.

But Obama was never far from work on the vacation.

On Monday and Tuesday, he held news briefings to discuss the government clashes with demonstrators in Iraq and talk more in detail about security lapses surrounding the thwarted terrorist attack over Detroit on Christmas Day.

Aides said Obama was briefed on the situation daily. He is scheduled to hold a meeting in Washington on Tuesday with multiple agency heads to address the investigation and the next steps.



Obama puts on the ninth green during a golf match at Mid-Pacific County Club in Kailua, Hawaii, on Dec. 31, 2009.
Chris Carlson-AP


Obama chills out

(Getty photo by Jewel Samad / January 2, 2010)

This combination of pictures shows President Barack Obama having shaved ice outside Island Snow store in Kailua, Hawaii. The first family is on vacation in Hawaii.



President Barack Obama waved as he left Lucy's Grill & Bar in Kailua after dinner last night. He's scheduled to end his vacation tonight when the first family flies back to Washington, D.C.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

3.7 magnitude earthquake hit the Maui Region Hawaii - 152 km (94 miles) E (88°) from Honolulu, HI - December 31, 2009

MAP 3.7 2009/12/31 21:39:02 21.362 -156.360 19.0 MAUI REGION, HAWAII







Earthquake Details
Magnitude3.7
Date-Time
Location21.362°N, 156.360°W
Depth19 km (11.8 miles)
RegionMAUI REGION, HAWAII
Distances
  • 49 km (31 miles) N (354°) from Haiku-Pauwela, HI
  • 50 km (31 miles) N (2°) from Paia, HI
  • 51 km (32 miles) NE (37°) from Kapalua, HI
  • 152 km (94 miles) E (88°) from Honolulu, HI

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

USGS Webcam Catches Minor Eruption of Kilauea Volcano at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

November 24, 2009 - This USGS Quicktime movie shows a small explosive event at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in the Halema`uma`u vent at 9:20 a.m Saturday. The explosion was immediately preceded by a portion of the vent rim collapsing into the vent cavity.




The brown plume rises rapidly from the vent, and in the full resolution video large particles can be seen ejected in front of the plume. In the video shown here, it is possible to see some of these particles impact the crater wall—look for several small white puffs to appear on the crater wall just ahead of the rising brown plume (about 7-9 seconds into the video clip). No ejecta was found at the Halema`uma`u Overlook, indicating that few, if any particles, reached the crater rim.  http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/podcast/2009/usgs-webcam-catches-minor-eruption-kilauea-volcano-hawaii-volcanoes-national-park4985

Sunday, November 15, 2009

LiveScience.com | Hawaii's Beaches Shrinking

November 15, 2009 - What's Hawaii without it's beaches? Well, tourist officials may be worrying about that with news that a fourth of Oahu's sandy shores have disappeared while more than half o Kauai's beaches are eroding, AP reports.....

Hawaii Star Bulletin | Sweden returns 22 skulls to delegates from Hawaii

November 15, 2009 - STOCKHOLM » With a solemn ceremony in Stockholm's antiquities museum, Sweden marked the return of 22 skulls looted from a native Hawaiian community mainly in the 17th century....

Saturday, November 7, 2009

HonoluluAdvertiser.com | Group to protest Strykers vehicles involved in training - Contamination with Depleted Uranium pose health risks to citizens

The decision to invite Stryker vehicles to a Hilo Veterans Day parade is stirring up a military-grade headache.

The third annual parade begins at 10 a.m. today and runs through downtown Hilo, featuring seven bands, veterans of all wars from World War II to the present, and a flyover by a Black Hawk helicopter.

The featured veterans this year served in the military intelligence service of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment during World War II. Hawaii's most recent veterans, comprising the 299th Cavalry Army National Guard, which recently returned from Iraq, will also be honored.

It's one of the bigger parades of the year, with some 50 units proceeding at a stately pace through Hilo's usual parade route. Estimates for participation range between 800 and 1,000 people.

But all of that is being overshadowed by a controversy over Stryker combat vehicles that have been invited.

Organizers hoped to keep word of the vehicles a secret from peace activists like Jim Albertini of the Malu Aina Center for Non-Violent Education and Action, in an attempt to ward off conflict.

Albertini found out anyway, and on Sunday wrote an open letter to Lt. Col. Warline Richardson of Pohakuloa Training Area, asking that the vehicles be kept out of the parade.

Albertini says he's concerned that the presence of the vehicles "glorifies war" under the guise of honoring veterans. He's also raised concerns that the Strykers, which are involved in training exercises at Pohakuloa, could be contaminated with depleted uranium and may pose a health risk to citizens. FULL STORY


TruthOut.org | Dead Last: Hawaii Gets an "F" in Education - Simply put, there isn't enough money to keep them open full-time

"By forcing teachers to take furloughs, it hits our children. Rich families can send their kids to Punahou (where Obama studied) or other private schools, but the working class can't afford that so our kids get cheated."....

Monday, October 26, 2009

Star Bulletin | Kilauea sends flow over road but stalls - The volcano's lava poses no threat to homes, but burns vegetation and pavement

COURTESY HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
A lava flow crossed the former Kalapana access road around 1:45 a.m. Friday. Although this flow was not moving by the afternoon, the road continued to burn.

FULL STORY

Monday, October 19, 2009

HonoluluAdvertiser.com | Maui beach to remain closed all day after shark attack on surfer - October 19, 2009

KIHEI, Hawaii — A stretch of beach on Maui's south shore will remain closed for the day after a shark attack this morning.

A Maui County news release says a 54-year-old man was attacked shortly after 6 a.m. while surfing in an area known as "Kalama Bowls" off Kalama Park in Kihei.

The man suffered bites to his upper right thigh and lower right ankle. He was treated at Maui Memorial Medical Center and released.

The shark — which may also have bitten the man's surfboard — was believed to be between 6 and 8 feet in length.

Ocean use from the south end of Kamaole 1 Beach Park to Waiohuli Road in Kihei will be closed to beachgoers until sunset today.

Maui County ocean safety and state Department of Land and Natural Resources personnel will continue to patrol and monitor the shoreline and near shore waters throughout today.

An assessment of the safety of the area will be made tomorrow morning.


Tuesday, September 29, 2009

HonoluluAdvertiser.com | Some unusual sea changes seen in Hawaii

A major earthquake near Samoa this morning did not significantly affect the ocean waters around Hawaii, public safety officials said.

But a series of minor, out-of-the-ordinary sea changes began about 2 p.m., said Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the city Emergency Services Department.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported sea level changes across the state ranging from a few inches at Mokuoloe, Oahu, and Kaumalapau, Lanai, to 1.2 feet in Kahului, Maui.

Cheplic said employees of the city's Ocean Safety Division, made up of city lifeguards, reported seeing the water level drop as much as two or three feet and rise by the same amount about 90 to 120 seconds later.

The unusual rise and fall of water levels was noticed at Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor in Waikiki and Kewalo Basin, and to a lesser extent at Haleiwa Boat Harbor, Cheplic said.

"You could see it with the bare eye, but if you weren't looking for it, you probably would not have noticed," Cheplic said.

At Pier 38 the water level rose and fell and rose and fell about 18 inches in a 15-minute period.

Gary and Amy Lee of Kent, Wash., had just finished their lunch by the water's edge and watched with fascination from 2:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. as the water level suddenly rose and fell, compared to the docks.

"Look at that," Gary said. "It's definitely changing."

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Big Island Video News | Kilauea volcano explodes after hybrid earthquake VIDEO

Click to view video on news website



READ MORE>>>>

RELATED:

Geophysical Research Letters | Volcanic hybrid earthquakes that are brittle-failure events
Volcanoes generate a variety of pre-eruptive low-frequency seismic signals. Hybrid earthquakes comprise a class of these signals having high-frequency onsets followed by low-frequency ringing. They are used empirically to predict eruptions, but their ambiguous physical origin limits their diagnostic use. The short-duration, near-field hybrid seismograms associated with the 2004 Mount St. Helens eruption indicate that much of the prolonged signal is due to path rather than resonating fluids. We show using seismic source spectra that the hybrids have a corner frequency/seismic moment relationship that scales consistently with brittle-failure. The unusually low frequency of these earthquakes can result from low rupture velocities combined with strong path effects due to their shallow sources. This new application of near-field instrumentation provides the first seismological evidence for brittle-failure as a major process in dome building, and suggests that hybrids should not be used as direct indicators of fluids.