Hawaii in Review - Part One

Aloha!

As you may already know, last month I went with my family on a two-week holiday to The Rainbow State - Hawaii! The first week we spent on the Pride of America, visiting four of the different islands, and then our final week we spent in Honolulu. This post will only be about the first week, since we did way too much to fit into just one post.

Maui
The first day we were in the butt (we called it “the butt” as homage to the scene in Finding Nemo where they call the boat a butt. We’re mature like that.) we spent most of the day on board. Stevie and I hit up a hula aerobics class in the gym, which was super funsies, then proceeded to swim in the pool, laze around slovenly-ly and eat lots of delicious food - the locals don’t call that ship the SS All You Can Eat for nothing. On our second day in Maui we visited the Iao Valley State Park and saw the Iao Needle. It was a beautiful day and it was great to spend some time out in the sunshine in nature.

Hilo
In Hilo we went on a helicopter tour, which, due to the earthquake a few weeks earlier, was a little lame, as there was absolutely no lava action at all. This was especially disappointing for my youngest sister, who is obsessed with volcanoes. The closest we got was a puff of smoke that we flew through. As this was my first time on a helicopter and I was in the front seat and in charge of the emergency pull door handle I was quite nervous and couldn’t feel my hands when I hopped off due to how tightly I was holding the video camera and the hand hold. That afternoon we headed over to a beach near where the ship had docked for a stroll - much more relaxing than the first part of the day.

Our ship from the Kona Canoe Club

Kona

That's me with a seahorse! I LOVE SEAHORSES.

The next place we stopped was Kona. My parents had raved about Kona from their last trip to Hawaii, and so I was looking forward to going there was seeing what the fuss was about. We spent the morning at The Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm where we got to go into the world’s only Paternity Ward (hrrhrr) and hold a seahorse (well, you get to have your finger held by a seahorse). This was incredibly awesome, and really interesting to hear about how their work is helping to save our oceans. We lunched and shopped in Kona down near the harbor, and feasted on what my Dad considers the best Spare Ribs in the World, from Kona Canoe Club. My Dad befriended the owner and got a round of free shots for the over 21s (I didn’t partake as I hadn’t been feeling too crash-hot – faulty sea-legs) and we shopped the afternoon away.

Kuwai'i
The two days (I typed weeks first, oh, how I wish I could stay there for two weeks!) I spent in Kuwai’i were definitely my favourites. We spent the first day on a tour of all of the major sights and beautiful scenery… and the wild chickens. In Kuwai’i there aren’t any wild animals (like the mongoose which live on the other islands) which prey on the chickens, so they run loose, crowing whenever they like (since they don’t roost) and generally running amock, chicken style. The tour guide we had on this day warned us that they could smell fear, but they were really very harmless, and we were told that by law, any chicken we took photos of had to come home with us… If it had been true I would have been in trouble, cause I took SO many photos of the chickens…

So many chickens!

That night we went to the incredible Lu’au Kalamaku. For those who don’t know, a Lu’au is basically a huge party where Hulas are performed and traditional food like poi and kalua pig is served. This one was a little different; where at a “regular” Lu’au a number of hulas are performed one after another without any particular through-line, this one followed the story of a father leaving his daughter to migrate to the Hawaiian islands, with a Cirque Du Soliel feel. The fire twirlers were breathtaking and incredible, and the whole performance was really enjoyable and beautiful. And the food was great too!

The second day my Mum and I got up early to take a Movie Tour of the island. I have to say, the tour guides we had in Kuwai’i were charming and funny which added to the experience. On this day we visited a number places which had served as locations for movies like Jurassic Park, Six Days Seven nights, Blue Hawaii, that musical where they sing that “Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair” and many, many others. And I got to see Ben Stiller’s house, or at least the one that he lives in when he’s in Hawaii (it was from pretty far away, but still one of the coolest things I’ve done in my life… Bar none. Ben Stiller is awesome.)

Next week I’ll be posting the second half of my adventures, so stay tuned!

How To: Buy a New Pet Fish

Some readers may remember Godwin, the best pet fish who ever lived, who sadly passed away (had to be euthanized, which, if you've ever had to euthanize your pet fish, you'll know is not a pleasant experience) about a month ago. Godwin would not have wanted people to mourn over him too long, he was a positivity kind of fish. In fact, I'm sure that if he were here he would be encouraging me to pick up and move on, put a new fish in the ol' tank and forget all about him. While I, nay we, shall never forget Godwin, it is time, I think, for a new fishy friend to join the household.

Thus: How To Buy a New Pet Fish

Preparation
It's really important to prepare properly for bringing home a new pet fish, much as you might for bringing home a new boyfriend or child. Fish are extremely sensitive to new environments, perhaps even more so than boyfriends or infants!, and it's your responsibility to make the transition as easy for them as possible.

The first thing you should do, nay, you must do, is clean out the tank. Why, you ask? Well, you know that burning feeling of anger and general appalledness you have when you get the keys to a new rental property, only to arrive with your stuff to find the place shut up, uncleaned and stinky? You do not want your new fish feeling these feelings of rage towards an unclean environment. Keep in mind that the reason you're getting a new fish is usually because the last occupant passed in that very tank, and give it a good scrub out. How would you feel setting up house in a drowning death site if nobody had disinfected first?

Put the filter on (you should have a filter...if not consider this to be the reason that your last pet died, and purchase one immediately) for a couple of days to get everything settled, and buy a new plant so new fish has somewhere to hide if moving day becomes a bit too much.

Preparation is key to getting a new fish. Remember, fish are prone to dying speedily and with minimal cause. Try not to kill yours on the first day.

Choosing the Fish

Yay! This is the fun part! Your new friend should be chosen with your specific needs in mind. Do you want a hardy, difficult to kill variety? Are you after something a bit more rare, a tropical offering perhaps, and if so do you have the facilities to care for such an aqua-beast? What kind of colour scheme are you going for in the room where the new fish will be situated (seriously)?

When it comes to the choosing of the actual specimen part, I like to stand in front of the tank and see which fish approaches me first, just like a puppy (all my life I have been trying to make these two domesticated animals interchangable ). Then I make sure the playful personality doesn't belie a tendency to eat other fish (cannibalism is not so on at my house) and doesn't have any droopy/broken/weepy bits that don't look right (chances are if the fish doesn't look right now, it'll be dead tomorrow. Fish World = Harsh World). Next you've got to get the pet shop person to actually scoop up the correct fish, and then it's time to go home!

Life With Your New Housemate

Fish are creatures of habit, and if you keep this in mind looking after your new pet should be a breeze. Try to feed every day at the same time and with the same amount. Overfeeding is the easiest way to accidently rid yourself of pet caring duties, try to give small pinches of food and watch to see if your fish eats the whole lot instead of tempting the poor thing with a massive and deadly feast. A goldfish will tend to eat until all the food is gone, instead of stopping at the full mark.

Stray away from sudden changes in atmosphere, such as drastic heating changes or changing the room the fish lives in often. It's proven that even gold fish can recognise faces, so give your fish a bit of attention during the day and it'll soon know you when you come near (note that especial excitement will abound at feeding time...it is not your face in this instance that the fish is going crazy about). Every so often as a special treat you can feed your fish a frozen (but left to defrost) pea or even buy some blood worm tablets.


Fish are, and I say this with seriousness, pretty awesome pets if you treat them right. They have personalities, quirks, habits and, most importantly, lives of enough signifigance that they deserve respectful treatment if procured as a pet for people. I'll be buying my new pet fish, Godwin II (working title) soon, and you'll all be introduced the minute I perfect the art of taking fish photographs (so. difficult.)