The end of summer; the Wisconsin State Fair jingle and “Warm Love”; ‘American Experience: American Oz’; Lahaina burns to the ground; ‘The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human,’ by Jonathan Gottschall; ‘Game Night’ (2018)
Above is a YouTube video Marty Schwartz did for Next Level Guitar demonstrating the Open G guitar tuning. Marty explains how to tune your guitar to Open G, and then shows off some of Open G's advantages. It's an easygoing, relaxed guitar lesson, and he takes his time...
Unfamiliar Fishes is the product a very fortunate convergence. Author Sarah Vowell has a delicious appreciation for the peculiar coincidences and ironies produced when cultures clash and combine into the slaw of American history — and Hawaii, our 50th state, is a...
Preparing to visit Hawaii for the first time a decade ago, I read Mark Twain's Letters from Hawaii, a collection of the Sacramento Union writer's dispatches in 1866 from what were then known as the Sandwich Islands. Twain's letters are an enthralling portrait of...
Above is the island of Lanai in Hawaii, seen from Maui. Billionaire David H. Murdock owns 98 percent of it. He also owns Dole Food Company, real estate development company Castle & Cooke, and hundreds of thousands of acres of land in 94 countries around the world....
Saturday was when we really reached our limit. Sitting across the living room from each other, both flabby, both pasty, both exhausted by the worlds inside our laptops and the gloomy, windy, dead, and frozen terrain outside, we exchanged a glance that conceded the...
Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii — Remote broadcast of the Steve Dahl Show from the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa at Black Rock on Kaanapali Beach. Left to right: Musicians Henry Kapono and Barry Flanagan, Chicago Bears analyst Tom...
Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii — Radio engineer Mark Zerang controls the audio mixing board during a remote broadcast of the Steve Dahl Show from the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa on Chicago's 105.9 WCKG. At upper left are musicians...
Makawao, Maui, Hawaii — Olinda Road at mile marker 10, headed up from Makawao toward Haleakalā in upcountry Maui. The address of the house is 1630 Olinda Road, and according to Trulia.com, it is 3,935 square feet on a...
Mākena, Maui, Hawaii — Jeepster Commando convertible parked outside Keawala'i Congregational Church at 5300 Mākena Road.
Mākena, Maui, Hawaii — Interior of a Jeepster Commando convertible parked outside Keawala'i Congregational Church at 5300 Mākena Road.
Mākena, Maui, Hawaii — Socializing at Keawalaʻi Congregational Church after Sunday worship service.
Paia, Maui, Hawaii — Makawao Union Church, at 1445 Baldwin Ave., designed by architect Charles William Dickey and dedicated September 2, 1917, on the site of the former Paliuli Sugar Mill, donated by Maui businessman and...
Paia, Maui, Hawaii — Statue at the shrine honoring Father Damien of Molokai, who spent over 16 years ministering to victims of leprosy (Hansen's disease) at the leper colony on Molokaʻi, and ultimately contracted and died...
Maui, Hawaii — The West Maui Mountains, viewed from just off Honoapiilani Highway (Hwy. 30), between Maalaea and Lahaina.
Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii — Black Rock is a lava flow at Maui's westernmost tip, known as Pu'u Keka'a in Hawaiian. It cuts Kaanapali Beach in half, and an ocean current flows from this southern side around the Black Rock's tip,...
Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii — The setting sun shines on the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa at Black Rock on Kaanapali Beach. The West Maui Mountains are visible in the distance. [includeme...
Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii — A small wedding party is seen through the palm trees on Kaanapali Beach from the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa at Black Rock.
Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii — Amy, about to enjoy an early dinner at Aloha Mixed Plate restaurant, 1285 Front Street on Lahaina's oceanfront.
Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii — Parking area at ‘Iao Valley State Monument, a Hawaii State Park. The ‘Iao Valley was the site of the battle of Kepaniwai where the forces of Kamehameha I conquered the Maui army in 1790. At bottom is...
Near Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii — The 'Iao Needle, known in Hawaiian as Kuka'emoku, is a 2,250-foot high peak, a remnant of erosion at the end of a ridge comprised of dense dike stone. Recognized as the phallic stone of Kanaloa,...
Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii — Ka'anapali Beach, photographed from the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, looking southwest toward the island of Lana'i.
Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii — The Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa's daily cliff dive ceremony on Kaanapali Beach at sunset is performed by a cliff diver who first lights a trail of torches out to the lava formation known as Black...
Honolulu, Hawaii — The Honolulu waterfront, as seen looking northeast from the 10th-floor observation deck of Aloha Tower. Pier 13 and Pier 14 jut into Honolulu Harbor at left, with the city's 28-floor Marin Tower housing...
Honolulu, Hawaii — Aloha Tower, the iconic landmark lighthouse of Aloha Tower Marketplace on Honolulu's waterfront. At 10 stories and 184 feet, Aloha Tower was the tallest structure in Hawaii when it was completed in 1926 at...
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii — ʻIolani Palace, completed in November 1882. The official residence of King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani, it is the only royal palace to have been used by a reigning monarch in the United States....
Honolulu, Hawaii — The bronze Father Damien Statue by sculptor Marisol Escobar at the Hawaii State Capitol.
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii — The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (also known as Punchbowl National Cemetery) is located in Punchbowl Crater, just north of downtown Honolulu. It serves as a memorial to men and women who...
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii — The Hawaii State Capitol building (415 S. Beretania Street), housing the Hawaii State Legislature, is nestled at center-left among the high-rise buildings of downtown Honolulu. Farther out, at the...
Honolulu, Hawaii — The view to the southeast from the overlook area on the Memorial Walk at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu's Punchbowl Crater. The hotels of Waikiki are visible along the...
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii — The dedication stone and grand stone staircase of the Honolulu Memorial at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. The names of 28,788 military personnel who missing in action or lost or...
Near Maunawili, Hawaii — Coconut palm frond basket weaver making a basket by hand at Nu‘uanu Pali Lookout on Oahu.
Near Maunawili, Hawaii — The Old Pali Road heading toward the Nu‘uanu Pali, with Oahu's windward cliffs and the Koʻolau Range in the distance to the right. [includeme...
Near Maunawili, Hawaii — A view north-northwest from the Nu‘uanu Pali Lookout from Oahu's windward cliffs toward the Koʻolau Range. In the distance below is the area around Kahaluu. This locale is mentioned nostalgically in...
Kahuku, Oahu, Hawaii — Pacific Ocean view through hotel lobby windows at Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu's North Shore.
Oahu's North Shore, Hawaii — Surfboards for sale in racks outside the Planet Surf Hawaii surf shop on the Kamehameha Hwy. at Pupukea Rd., across from Foodland Pupukea near Waimea Bay Beach Park.[includeme...
Waimea Bay, Oahu, Hawaii — Offerings including pineapple, apples, and flowers are left on the oracle tower at Pu'u o Mahuka Heiau State Historic Site on Oahu's North Shore overlooking Waimea Bay and Waimea Valley. A heiau is...
Haleiwa, Hawaii — Waimea Beach Park and Kamehameha Highway at Waimea Bay on Oahu's North Shore, viewed from the cliff at Pu'u o Mahuka Heiau State Monument. Waves lap at "The Rock" inside the bay. Beyond it, on the point,...
Haleiwa, Hawaii — Waimea Beach Park and Kamehameha Highway at Waimea Bay on Oahu's North Shore, viewed from the cliff at Pu'u o Mahuka Heiau State Monument. [includeme...
Haleiwa, Hawaii (Oahu's North Shore) — Ruins of a building on the property of Crawford's Convalescent Home, 58-130 Kamehameha Hwy. According to the Crawford's website, in 1954 James Crawford took over a site that had been a...
Oahu, Hawaii — Watching a surfing competition in Turtle Bay from the Turtle Bay Resort on Hawaii's North Shore.
Oahu, Hawaii — Chicago radio personality Steve Dahl (third from left) posing at Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu's North Shore with a dancer and other representatives from Oahu's Polynesian Cultural Center.[includeme...
Oahu, Hawaii — The view at dawn to the east from Turtle Bay Resort, toward the resort's ocean villas on Kuilima Cove with the waters near Cherries Break beyond at left. [includeme...
Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii — Souvenir shopping for Hawaiian ukuleles, wooden bowls, salt and pepper shakers, and Hawaiian quilts at Waikiki's International Market Place. [includeme...
Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii — Lobby of the legendary Moana Surfrider hotel. Built in 1901, the Moana Hotel is often called "The First Lady of Waikiki" and had been the "Sheraton Moana Surfrider" when this photo was...
Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii — Memorabilia of 1930s and 1940s Hawaii displayed in the historic room on the second floor of the Moana Surfrider hotel. Built in 1901, the Moana Hotel is often called "The First Lady of...
Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii — Memorabilia of old Hawaii, displayed in the historic room on the second floor of the Moana Surfrider hotel. Built in 1901, the Moana Hotel is often called "The First Lady of Waikiki" and...
Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii — The Rainbow Tower of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa at left, with Waikiki Beach's other hotels and resorts beyond, and Diamond Head in the distance. In the foreground is...
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii — Toyo Shimabukuro with Amy in his Ono Hawaiian Foods restaurant at 726 Kapahulu Ave. The son of Ono Hawaiian Foods founder Sueko Miyagi Oh Young, Mr. Shimabukuro was a charming and informative host....
Honolulu, Hawaii — Cotton Hawaiian quilt on display at the Bishop Museum, artifact number 1988.214: This quilt's floral pattern is unique and not recognizable. Blue applique done on white background made by Kauhine...
Honolulu, Hawaii — Hawaiian quilt on display at the Bishop Museum, artifact number 1984.364.001: Red applique on white background with red binding along edges. Quilt pattern called "Fan and Feather Plume of...
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii — Antique scrimshaw whale tooth artwork depicting "The Sailor Boy" (artifact # 1921.014.050 at Honolulu's Bernice P. Bishop Museum) by an unknown artist from the mid-19th century. Below the etched art...
Honolulu, Hawaii — Dog teeth — perhaps 250 dog canines — made into a hula ankle rattle in the early 1800s. Displayed in the Bishop Museum, the description reads as follows: Hula Ankle Rattle (kūpe’e niho īlio)Dog...
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii — Cannibal fork displayed at Honolulu's Bishop Museum. The extent of cannibalism in Hawaii and Polynesia, in general, is a sketchy subject, greatly exaggerated by sensationalistic European and American...
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii — A Hawaiian ukulele on exhibit at the Bishop Museum. Ukuleles are commonly associated with music from Hawaii where the name roughly translates as "jumping flea," perhaps due to the action of one's...
Honolulu, Hawaii — The Hawaiian Hall of the Bernice P. Bishop Museum houses millions of Hawaiian artifacts, documents, and photographs.
Honolulu, Hawaii — Yanagi Sushi, at 762 Kapiolani Blvd., is the best sushi bar. At this hour, we pretty much had the restaurant and both sushi chefs all to ourselves. Beautiful, delicious sushi — and the chefs were very...
Honolulu, Hawaii — Kyle's Automotive, at 971 Kawaiahao St.
Honolulu, Hawaii — A stripped auto body (Geo?) parked at 1052 Kawaihao St.
Honolulu, Hawaii — Nauru Tower, a 44-story luxury condo building near Waikiki at 1330 Ala Moana Boulevard, facing Ala Moana Beach Park.
Honolulu, Hawaii — Ala Moana shopping mall center court hosts the 2003 Pacific Basin Music Festival, with performances by schools from Canada, Australia, California, and Oregon. [includeme...
Oahu, Hawaii — The Sandy Beach surf carries a bodyboard (a.k.a. boogie board) enthusiast toward shore. A popular bodysurfing spot, Sandy Beach is also the most dangerous beach on Oahu, due to its punishing shorebreak,...
Oahu, Hawaii — Waimanalo Beach Park on the windward side of Oahu, near the island's southeast tip. Waimanalo Beach is nearly 4 miles of beautiful white sand. Less crowded than many Oahu beaches, Waimanalo is also close to...
Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii — Zebra doves (Geopelia striata) huddle together inside a tiny wooden boat on the shore of the koi pond at the Byodo-In Temple in Valley of the Temples Memorial Park....
Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii — The Byodo-In Temple in Valley of the Temples Memorial Park near Kaneohe, Hawaii. This 1968 structure is a replica of the 900-year-old Byōdō-in Buddhist temple at Uji, in Japan's Kyoto...
Oahu, Hawaii — Our final approach into Honolulu International Airport takes us over Ko Olina Resort & Marina, its championship golf course, 2 miles of beach, the J.W. Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa, and the Marriott's...
Lahaina, Hawaii — The Apostolic Faith Church, with its "Jesus Coming Soon" neon sign, at 1211 Front Street. This location is a branch of the mother church — the Apostolic Faith Church at 1043 Middle St. in Honolulu, on the...
Honokowai, Hawaii — Restaurant owner and chef James McDonald (Pacific'O, I'O, Feast at Lele) plates some sample dishes for his guest appearance on Chicago radio personality Steve Dahl's show during a broadcast from Maui's...
Honokowai, Hawaii — Hawaiian music superstar Henry Kapono, Chicago radio personality Steve Dahl, and Chicago Bears analyst and former offensive lineman Tom Thayer chat during a break in a live Steve Dahl Show broadcast from...
Off Lahaina, Hawaii — A humpback whale breaches during our Pacific Whale Foundation Whalewatch Eco-tour. The brim of Amy's hat is in the bottom-right corner, and the pink hat is worn by our friend Ali Gerakaris. The island...
Near Kapalua, Hawaii — Surfers riding waves in Maui's Honolua Bay, as seen from the cliffs on Honolua Bay's northeast side.
Near Kapalua, Hawaii — Spectators watch surfers from the cliffs on the northeast side of Maui's Honolua Bay, with clouds over the West Maui Mountains in the distance. If you ever need Maui maps, a Maui beach guide, or ideas...
Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii — Lava formations eroded by salt spray at Dragon's Teeth (Makalua-puna Point) on the northern shore of West Maui. The hotel in the distance at right is the world-class golf resort, The Ritz-Carlton,...
Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii — The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, annual home of the PGA Tour season-opening Tournament of Champions, offers 36 holes of championship golf on two courses, as well as the Kapalua Golf Academy. This exclusive...
Hawaii — The island of Lanai as seen from Kaanapali Beach, south of Kahekili Beach Park and just north of Black Rock, near the Royal Lahaina Resort. From 1985 to 2012, 98 percent of Lanai was owned by Dole Foods billionaire...
Maui County, Hawaii — The Hana Highway winds around Honomanu Bay, a little northwest of Keanea.
Hana, Maui, Hawaii — A worker behind a counter in the tiny passenger terminal at Hana Airport (HNM). On the radio is Super Bowl XXXVI, but Amy and I could not care less. We are here for our Hang Gliding Maui flights with...
Hana, Maui, Hawaii — Pilot Armin Engert (right) prepares his Airborne 2000 Edge X micro-light trike at Hana Airport (HNM) before taking Amy on one of his Hang Gliding Maui powered hang gliding flights above Hana.[includeme...
Nahiku, Hawaii — Beautiful Maui home and lawn at Nahiku on the island's windward coast, seen on a side excursion off the Hana Highway. Beatles guitarist, singer, and songwriter George Harrison had an estate very near here,...
Maui County, Hawaii — The West Maui Mountains near Waikapu viewed from the air on our plane's approach into Kahului Airport (OGG). The road is the Kuihelani Highway, State Highway 380. To the right, it takes you to the...
Maui County, Hawaii — A view from the air at waves crashing against Maui's windward coast, northeast of Paia and northwest of Haiku, where the Hana Highway winds around Maliko Bay and crosses Maliko Gulch.[includeme...