Atlantis Liftoff - May 14, 2010
One of my favorite Kamaole Sands sunset cocktail beach activities–besides the cocktails–is to point out the International Space Station and/or Space Shuttle to other beach-goers as it passes overhead. People just don’t know it’s there or that they can see it.
Tomorrow night, May 21, presents a fantastic opportunity for Shuttle/ISS. Shuttle Atlantis, on its last mission, is docked to the International Space Station and at 7:29 pm, it will begin a pass almost directly overhead of south Maui. This viewing starts at about 28 degrees above the northwest horizon and proceeds overhead until it disappears in the southeast. Hopefully, the clouds will cooperate.
For details on this and future passes visit the NASA website sighting opportunities page.
Author’s note: This flight of Atlantis is quite special for me. Just six days ago, I saw the launch from Complex 39A in Florida. There just are no words to describe that experience.
Enjoy!
February 17, 2010 – 9:18 pm
Per spec, life is wonderful in Kihei! More whales than I’ve ever seen, the sun is shining, but today it is a bit cool. Kahului set a new record low for this date, I think it was 64. By Embarrass, Minnesota standards, I guess it’s not too bad. I suppose this is where my right-wing wacko buddies say “See! This global warming stuff is all a bunch of liberal hog wash” and I say “Only morons don’t understand the difference between weather and climate.”
I’m having such great fun with my new KoAloha ukulele. Presently, I’m dong web lessons at Ukulele Underground with Aldrine Guerrero. In addition to being an incredibly accomplished performer, he’s a truly gifted instructor.
Great 5-0 tonight. Fools Die Twice cast includes Michael “Phil Esterhaus – Let’s be real careful out there” Conrad and quintessential Western actor Clu Gulager. Fans of the 5-0 drinking game will like the see-through map in this episode from season 5.
International Space Station
Have you ever seen the International Space Station or Shuttle on orbit? If you know when they’ll be overhead, they’re almost impossible to miss and Kamaole Beach III is a great place for astronomical sightings. This coming Thursday (3/12), there may be an opportunity for a “double.” The ISS will rise in the SSE at 7:02 pm, traveling NNE with visibilitylasting about 5 minutes. Here’s the double part. If the STS-119 Shuttle mission launches as planned on Wednesday, it’ll be visible starting at 7:27, following the same path as the ISS. You’ll only get about two minutes of STS-119 visibility before it disappears in the earth’s shadow.
For schedules of future sighting opportunities in Kihei click here.
February 24, 2009 – 1:50 pm
POTUS and the guv
Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Our POTUS and our former mayor.
January 7, 2009 – 9:33 pm
I’m not big on New Year’s resolutions. They seem to be loaded with “don’ts” and deprivations. I am however into lists of things I want to do. Here’s my top 10 for 2009.
10. Have loco-moco and champagne for breakfast (pau already).
9. Drive a Segway.
8. Spend more time at Henry’s for Friday pau drinks.
7. Make it through those 50+ episodes of French in Action I have on the DVR. Valerie Alain is SO hot!
6. Dabble in gluttony and sloth.
5. Donate to my local food bank.
4. Donate to my local blood bank.
3. Send an exhaust system parts catalog with all the mufflers underlined to that early-rising, chopper-driving moke living in the apartments next to Kamaole Sands.
2. Take the time to read more Charles Meminger.
And the #1 top task for 2009: Watch a Punahou boy be inaugurated president of the United States.
December 30, 2008 – 6:44 pm
A very Happy New Year to all of my blog buddies. Have a fantastic 2009!
New Years eve in Hawai`i is always a real blast, literally. Stats show that more firecracker permits are sold for New Years than for the 4th.
I plan to ring in 2009 in the comfort of the hale. A little champagne, an enormous pupu platter and maybe some Kalapana and C&K on the tune machine.
Blogs and kisses, a hui hou,
DOHR
December 22, 2008 – 7:30 pm
Some of the press made a big deal out of the fact that our president elect was “staying in a nine million dollar home in Kailua. In Hawai`i, that’s what we call a “fixer upper.”
Mr. President elect played Olomana today. I suspect traffic on a chunk of the Kalanianaole Hwy. was a bit of a challenge.
December 22, 2008 – 10:12 am
Welcome to our new blog at the Kamaole-sands.com website. My name is Handy Randy and I’ll be the Blog Master here. We’ll be covering a broad spectrum of topics including items specific to Kamaole Sands, Kihei, South Maui and the rest of the Hawaiian islands.
Over the next few days, we’ll be adding some “seed” entries and making a few changes to the look and feel of the site. Check back often. Subscribe to our feeds. Share your comments.
p.s. A big mahalo to the good folks at WordPress. They provide the fantastic software that powers this, and thousands of other blogs.
Blogs and Kisses,
HR
