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!

[Temple Owl]

We really do not have much hope for our Ink, but she seems to want to live. She sleeps most of the day and appears comfortable, so we will hang in there with her. She is such a wonderful and lovable pooch! We will miss her when she goes.

[Aquamarine]

LOL. That is an amazing jpeg!

Also like the frames you're using on the pictures, where'd you find that feature?

[Alberta's Child]

Yes, pretty much.

I'm still a little beat up from Sunday. I may take a game off next week to recover a little more.

[MoJo2001]

Actually, my country is America. I was born here, but taken abroad only a few days after my birth. I lived in American Samoa for the first 5 years of life. I was surrounded by a huge network of relatives. I have since visited many times over the years and have probably visited the majority of the South Pacific. That's why living by the Atlantic Ocean depresses me. I don't find it particularly beautiful at all. It's a Pacific Ocean thing for me.

Hawaii is a beautiful place to visit, but too commercialized for me. They've lost their way in some in regards to the Polynesian way, but that was always to be expected. When I visit Hawaii, I steer clear of the tourist traps. However, I have an advantage because I have relatives there and could stay anywhere. Although, that's another drama for another day.


American Samoa and Samoa are exactly what Hawaii used to be like.

If you ever have a chance, visit the other Polynesian islands. Tahiti and Tonga have some very breathtaking scenery and the people are very friendly. New Zealand is also very beautiful and the Maoris people have tried to maintain their ties to their roots.

When it comes down to it, the Polynesian culture is a dying one. There aren't enough of us around. For those of us around, we have chosen to live elsewhere. Also, many Polynesians have chosen to marry outside the culture.

If you are truly fascinated by Polynesians, you'd probably find that the Native American culture is somewhat similar. It is believed among Polynesians and some Native Americans that we are related. They traveled by land and my ancestors traveled by sea. They are also the few people in this country (outside of fellow Polynesians and American travelers to the Islands) that can identify that I'm Samoan right away. This has always made me chuckle.

All in all, my heart will always be somewhere in the South Pacific. I have grown more restless to return there, but I know that I would be terribly homesick for America. And I couldn't take my children away from America. It isn't a safe time to be traveling anywhere as an American. Even places that I would consider friendly, I would rather stay home.

Thank you for asking. Sorry it was such a longwinded post.

[Army Air Corps]

Aloha.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Hey there! How are ya?

[Army Air Corps]

Still prepping for comps. I want to make sure that I nail those exams.

[Billie]

I just see those patterns and I think Muumuu. It's my Aunties that did it to me. LOL!

LOL. I think I understand. I think of muumuus as the way they are *made* more than the patterns! I think of muumuus as having sort of a yoke at the top and then they're full all the way down!

[MoJo2001]

I see!
When I see a muumuu, I think of *hovering Mamas* in the form of my 9 Aunts and that doesn't include all the great Aunts. Hehe!

[Victoria Delsoul]

Good for you. I'm sure you'll do alright.

[Billie]

I'm not sure wolfie *saw* your two very own Hawaiian Dudes - did you, wolfie? :)

[Billie]

Evening, Victoria. Glad you could make it to Hawaii this evening. :) Thank you for coming, thank you for the compliment, and thank you for Elvis' Blue Hawaii. :)

[Billie]

I'm so sorry, Temple. I really thought that she was doing better. :(

[Army Air Corps]

Muchas gracias for your support.

[Victoria Delsoul]

You're quite welcome, Billie. Btw, Dolly, I love your pic - you look absolutely gorgeous. ;-)

[Billie]

The bluebird flying into the birdhouse? :) Louie posted it yesterday morning when I announced I had so much trouble getting the thread formatted and posted. :) Isn't it cute!

I think I told you I bought another Photo Editing program - am discovering all kinds of neat things - it's more challenging than PD and PE, but am hardly using anything else now. :)

[Victoria Delsoul]

Denada amigo. Me da mucho gusto que te vaya bien.

[Billie]

LOL! Now I see! Also enjoyed your post to Dolly just now. Thanks for being around yesterday and today - was nice to get your input, as one who knows the culture better than many of us do.

[Billie]

Goodnight, All. Thanks for your posts and pictures.
(I *think* this says "Aloha Good Evening" - right, Mojo?) :)

[MoJo2001]

Excellent!
You got it right. Beautiful graphics these past two days by everyone!!

By the way, did you like the poi in Hawaii?

Unlike most folks, I love poi! I know! I know! Kind of disgusting, but it tends to grow on you. Or not. Hehe!