A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-01,02-05....Aloha! Back to Hawaii

Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, Mama_Bear ~

History and Statistics

Hawaii was admitted to the union on August 21, 1959 - the 50th state. The state of Hawaii consists of eight main islands: Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island of Hawaii. Its capital is located in Honolulu, on the island of Maui. Hawaii is the most isolated population center on the face of the earth. It is 2,390 miles from California; 3,850 miles from Japan; 4,900 miles from China; and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.

Hawaii is the only state that grows coffee, and more than one-third of the world's commercial supply of pineapples comes from the islands.

There are only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet. The Vowels are: A, E, I, O, U, and the Consonants: H, K, L, M, N, P, and W.

State symbols of Hawaii include the bird, Nene (pronounced "nay-nay"), or Hawaiian Goose. The tree of Hawaii is the Kukui, or Candlenut. The beautiful Hibiscus, or Pua Aloalo is Hawaii's flower.

In 1988 the yellow hibiscus, which is native to the islands, was selected to officially represent Hawaii, but you might see the red hibiscus, or any other color, as the state flower in many older photos and postcards.

From east to west Hawaii is the widest state in the United States.

There are four counties in Hawaii (Kauai; city and county of Honolulu; Maui; and Hawaii). Each city has a mayor and council in charge.

Hawaii has its own time zone (Hawaiian Standard Time.) There is no daylight savings time.) The time runs two hours behind Pacific Standard Time and five hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

The wind blows east to west in Hawaii. The highest recorded temperature is 96' F (Honolulu Airport), but temperatures over 92' F generally occur only once or twice a year. The lowest temperature (under 3000 feet altitude) is 56' F. Temperatures under 60' F may occur, but rarely more than once a year. In July the average daytime temperature is 82' F. Average daytime temperature in January is 72' F.

There are no racial or ethnic majorities in Hawaii. Everyone is a minority. Caucasians (Haoles) constitute about 34%; Japanese-American about 32%; Filipino-American about 16% and Chinese-American about 5%. It is very difficult to determine racial identification as most of the population has some mixture of ethnicities.

Hawaii was once an independent kingdom. (1810 - 1893) The flag was designed at the request of King Kamehameha I. It has eight stripes of white, red and blue that represent the eight main islands. The flag of Great Britain is emblazoned in the upper left corner to honor Hawaii's friendship with the British. The combination of the stripes of the United States flag and the Union Jack of Great Britain is said to have pleased the merchant shippers of both nations. The flag was adopted for official state use in 1959.

December 7th, 1941

The surprise was complete. The attacking planes came in two waves; the first hit its target at 7:53 AM, the second at 8:55. By 9:55 it was all over. By 1:00 PM the carriers that launched the planes from 274 miles off the coast of Oahu were heading back to Japan.

~ Eye Witness Account (excerpt)


Pearl Harbor: Remembered
USS Arizona Memorial

The final resting place for 1,102 crewmen of the U.S.S. Arizona who lost their lives on December 7, 1941. (75 were recovered) They are still entombed within the Arizona herself. The sunken battleship is commemorated by a 184 foot-long memorial structure that spans its mid-portion. No part of the edifice touches the ship.

There are three sections in the memorial: The entry and assembly room, (a central or middle area) used for observations of the sunken ship and for ceremonies. Many visitors drop flower leis into the water from this section, honoring the dead. The third section is the shrine room. The room contains the names of all those killed on the Arizona and their names are engraved on a marble wall. Upon entering the shrine room, the reverence and honor it is was intended to inspire is immediately noticeable. All persons are keenly aware that this is hallowed ground.

The memorial's architect was Alfred Preis. After years of fund raising efforts that began 1950, the memorial finally was dedicated in 1962.

The USS Arizona is no longer in commission, contrary to popular belief. A flag of the United States of America does fly above the sunken battleship. The flag is attached to a severed mainmast of the USS Arizona.

In recent years, the memorial has come to represent all the military and associated personnel killed at Pearl Harbor.

http://my.execpc.com

I have a whole new appreciation for Mama Bear's "State" threads after spending several days researching endless Hawaii websites, collecting all kinds of information and graphics to edit and then trying to put it together in some sort of orderly fashion. Hats off to you, Lori - you have this stuff down to a science! It is not easy!

Aquamarine, Dansangel, Dutchess, Lori and I had already spotlighted our own state, and when Lori offered not long ago to 'give' us any other states we might enjoy featuring, I thought it would be fun to do Hawaii. Well! It was fun to do, but at the same time, I was a bit overwhelmed and couldn't begin to touch upon all the wonderful things about these beautiful islands. You just must go there yourselves. I did, and how I loved it! The beaches, the water, the history, Pearl Harbor, the people, the luahs.....truly an unbelievable Paradise!

I must also credit the following websites for the information used for today's post:

encarta.msn.com
www.50states.com
www.hawaii.com
www.colormatters.com
www.aloha-hawaii.com
www.melekalikimaka.com

Oh, and one more thing ..........

No Hawaii post would be complete without Hula Dancers, because we all know that in Hawaii, everybody and their dog can hula.

Mary Lucas Faustine's delightful Hawaiian art

09-27-05 ~ Hall of Fame #13

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 10-31-05 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

C ya Mama Bear!

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

LOL!!! Don't drink & fly!
; )

[DollyCali]

Mai Tai Recipes

This is Trader Vic's Original Mai Tai recipe. You'll note that there's nary a drop of orange or pineapple juice. For this reason, Mai Tais made with any sort of juice (besides lime juice) are not "true" Mai Tais.

The Original Formula - 1944

• 2 ounces of 17-year old J. Wray & Nephew Rum over shaved ice.
• Add juice from one fresh lime.
• 1/2 ounce Holland DeKuyper Orange Curacao.
• 1/4 ounce Trader Vic's Rock Candy Syrup.
• 1/2 ounce French Garier Orgeat Syrup
• Shake vigorously.
• Add a sprig of fresh mint

"Old Way" Mai Tai Formula - 1997

• 1 ounce Fine Jamaican Rum (15 or 8 year old)
• 1 ounce Martinique Rum (St. James)
• 1/2 ounce Orange Curacao
• 1/2 ounce Orgeat Syrup
• Juice from one fresh lime (about 3/4 ounce)
• Mix and serve as in the Original Formula

Recipes from Mai Tai Fans

Kevin Crossman
I'm a big fan of the Trader Vic's mixes, but this recipe is just a little better.

• 2 oz. your favorite rum
• 3 oz. Trader Vic's Mai Tai Mix
• 1/2 oz. orange curacao
• 1/2 oz. almond syrup
• 1/2 oz. vanilla syrup
• add lime juice to taste
• mix thoroughly

Judy in Kailua

• 1-3/4 oz. light rum
• 3/4 oz. Myers's rum
• 3/4 oz. orange curacao (or Grand Marnier)
• Juice of a lemon
• Juice of a lime
• Juice of an orange (1/4 cup)
• 1/4 cup pineapple juice
• a splash of grenadine

Guy Waller
Yo Mai Tai maniac: I run a bar school/consultancy business here in South Africa and this is the recipe I adapted from the one I was taught in London. We don't get Orgeat here in S.A. so I substituted Amaretto.

• Glass: Hurricane
• Method: Shake and strain over ice
• 1 shot Light Rum
• 1 shot Dark Rum
• 1/2 shot Triple Sec
• 1/2 shot Amaretto
• 2 shots fresh lime juice
• 1/2 shot gomme (simple) syrup
• Garnish: Cherry-pineapple, Parasol, Stirrer, Straw

From LAFAGE in the United Arab Emerates.
Dear fans of the mixing, I run a cocktail bar since four years and here the recipe that we almost use for the Mai Tai, hope you will enjoy as I enjoy every night.

• 1 oz Meyer's rum
• 1 oz Appleton rum
• 1 whole lime juice (save shell)
• 3/4 oz. Orange Curacao (DeKueper)
• 1/2 oz. Amaretto
• Drop almond syrup
• Shake with crushed ice and pour in double old fashioned glass; decorate with mint and fruit stick.

Tiki Tracy says "When making these beauties for myself (as I often do) I double the recipe and let the second half mellow while I savor the first half. Oh... how I love my life :-)"

• Juice of 1 lime
• 1/2 oz. Orange Curacao
• 1/2 oz Orgeat Syrup
• 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
• 1/4 oz. Maraschino Syrup
• 1/4 oz. Pineapple Juice
• 1 oz. Mount Gay Rum
• 1 oz. Appleton's Rum
• Stir vigorously in crushed ice, strain into your favorite Mai Tai tumbler filled with crushed ice
• Garnish with a fresh pineapple sp

[DollyCali]

(forgot pix!)

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

I don't think I've ever had a Mai Tai - original or with orange & pineapple juice. I like margaritas (salted rim & on the rocks) & tend to order them whenever I can.

[Billie]

Isn't that a hoot - wolfie posted it yesterday after I'd written how much trouble I had getting this thread formatted and posted. It seemed to fit again today with the mai tais. :)

[Texagirl4W]

One Sunday a pastor told the congregation that the church needed some extra money and asked the people to prayerfully consider giving a little extra in the offering plate. He said that whoever gave the most would be able to pick out four hymns.


After the offering plates were passed, the pastor glanced down and noticed that someone had placed a $1,000 bill in offering. He was so excited that he immediately shared his joy with his congregation and said he'd like to personally thank the person who placed the money in the plate.


A very quiet, elderly and saintly lady all the way in the back shyly raised her hand. The pastor asked her to come to the front. Slowly she made her way to the pastor. He told her how wonderful it was that she gave so much and in thanksgiving asked her to pick out three hymns.


Her eyes brightened as she looked over the congregation, pointed to the four handsomest men in the building and said, "I'll take him, and him, and him, and him.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

4 hims for $1,000, not bad. I hope she could see what she was doing!

[DollyCali]

awk.. I hadn't refreshed when I posted mine.. sorry for the duplicate!!!!

[Mama_Bear]

I like margaritas (salted rim & on the rocks) & tend to order them whenever I can.

I do too...just the way you like them! But, if you ever get to Hawaii, you have to try a Mai Tai there. You probably won't like it because they are muchy sweeter than margaritas, but you need to try one anyway. ;-)

Okay, now I really, really, REALLY have to hit the road. MIL is expecting me to visit her....and if she ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. LOL.

Later, PAL.

[DollyCali]

I think thre is some similarity to Long Island Ice Tea. JMHO...

[Mama_Bear]

Isn't that a hoot - wolfie posted it yesterday

LOL! I should have known. It has his paw prints all over it. ;-)

[Temple Owl]

Ink is still hanging in there, She is a very sick pup, but she seems comfortable. We are giving her the prescribed meds which I think are mostly vitamins and we are feeding her baby food. She seems to like chicken and apples best, We have to lift and carry her out for her to do her duty and she seems so very grateful. Thanks for asking about her.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Here, do some more shopping with your Mai Tai (that should keep you out of the air)...

http://www.alohaz.com/hawaiianclothinggallery_matching_outfits.html

http://www.alohaspiritstore.com/store.htm

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

salright.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

bye *waves*

[snugs]

Not that much of an authority on Richard III sounds as if Pippin knows more than I do. Sounds interesting to me

[snugs]

I remember you saying Ink was not well what happened or is he old?

[Mama_Bear]

muchy??? Ummm......how about, MUCH sweeter. LOL

Okay, I am out the door. Good talkin' to you, PAL.

Bye

[CounterCounterCulture]

Hi, CCC, fun times there huh? :)

Indeed. Good times, good people. I miss them.