(Note: simply click on a picture, and a bigger version will open. When you're done viewing, click "back" on your browser to return. Links to other Web sites will open new browser windows — position accordingly.

Oahu: May 26 - 29

This trip was to attend the 2007 American Astronomical Society meeting in Honolulu (Carolyn is a long-time AAS member). We both met with colleagues and clients, and attended papers and press sessions for four days. Then we went to the Big Island of Hawai'i for site visits to several of Carolyn's observatory clients, and the folks at 'Imiloa Astronomy Center, where we hope to be doing some work this year. Finally, we spent a couple of days doing some hiking and photography.

For Google Earth enthusiasts, we've included tours and links to give a more global feel to the tour. Here's more info. Enjoy!
Oahu	Our entire trip!

We stayed at the conference hotel, the Ala Moana in Honolulu. It's attached to the Ala Moana shopping center, featuring the usual familiar shops and food courts, plus some uniquely Hawaiian ones, and some nice restaurants. The view from our room's lanai was toward Waikiki.

One day, while Carolyn worked inside on a press release for Gemini Observatory, Mark took the opportunity to loaf with his tunes while enjoying the view.

One thing that nearly every tourist does (or doesn't brag about but does anyway) is go to Hilo Hattie to pick up some island wearables. Overcoming his aversion to looking like Jubal Harshaw (a "paint-splashed emu") in a flowery shirt, Mark opted for the full aloha look while making like an Egyptian.

As we found out when we got to the opening reception on the first night, many astronomers at the meeting had gone aloha, too. The reception was held in the rooftop garden of the Hawai'i Convention Center, a block from the hotel. There were about 1,300 astronomers and press in attendance.

The four-day meeting included press conferences, paper sessions, and runs through the exhibit hall to see the latest from book sellers, space craft missions, and agencies.

In the evenings we had dinner, sometimes with friends, and once on our own at a lovely place called Longhi's, overlooking Mamala Bay from the Ala Moana Shopping Center.

It was a wonderfully cool and breezy evening and we enjoyed a light dinner while watching the sunset over the Bay.

After dinner, we walked over to the waterfront to see the annual lantern festival. It's held each year on Memorial Day to commemorate those who have passed on.

Changing the subject a bit, on the other side of the island of Oahu from Honolulu is Windward Community College. We had a chance to visit the college's planetarium, and spend time with its director, Joe Ciotti. A very beautiful place IN a very beautiful place.

Inside the College's Hokulani Imaginarium,, Joe gave us the tour. It's a beautifully designed Sky-Skan theater, and is complimented by an aerospace lab, Hallway of Discovery, and other up-to-date technical facilities.

We had a wonderful visit, checking out things like the hands-on aerospace lab for lower-level students.

Also part of Joe's empire at Windward Community College is a more advanced aerospace lab. The entry way to the building features beautiful models of a Hawaiian sailing vessel, a Saturn V rocket, and the International Space Station hanging above, to signify exploration.

The advanced lab has computer stations, and an immersive Elumens projection system for flight simulation.

Two other training systems include a simulated wind tunnel and a drop pit, both funded and supplied by NASA Lewis center in Cleveland.

Students can do some pretty sophisticated lessons in this lab, which is just about one of the nicest-equipped labs we've ever seen.