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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, May 23, 2002

Full moon fun: Activities for sky watchers

• Events this weekend

By Tanya Bricking
Advertiser Staff Writer

At Waimea Falls Park on the North Shore on a weekend like this, you can tell by the Sleepy Hollow look of tree branches silhouetted against a full moon that people are being seduced by the sky.

Somewhere between Lanikai Beach and the Mokulua Islets, kayaker Brian Smith has felt it, that feeling stirred by the way the moonlight hits the water and the way the waves sound a little more mesmerizing than when the sun is shining.

At Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden in Kane'ohe, volunteer hike leader John Sullivan also has witnessed the power of the moonlight serenade.

On weekends like this, when the lunar calendar is prime for gazing skyward, Sullivan likes to tout the Night Walk tours that explore the wonders of white flowers that open at night and spice trees that smell like after-shave lotion.

But he talks as much about human nature as the scientific stuff. He likes to tell the story about a couple that lagged on one of those star-dusted nights. The pair in their 50s didn't listen to his botanical insights. They strayed from the group but came back later and apologized.

"They said they had something important to talk about," Sullivan said. "He proposed to her."

On weekends like this, when sky watchers recount stories about Polynesians using the moon for navigation and prehistoric cultures using the mystical sphere to measure time, people turn poetic about the scenery of the Islands and its creatures.

At the Honolulu Zoo, Amanda Kaahanui, the education coordinator, offers a nighttime glimpse at the nocturnal nature of hippos, who show off their huge teeth when she tosses them apples for a pre-midnight snack.

At Sea Life Park in Waimanalo, senior education associate Lee Ann Morikami delights Girl Scout troops and adults with fun facts about how sea lions and seals snooze.

On weekends like this, beach walkers come out at night, flashlights are not a nighttime necessity, and a south-shore swell can send a flood of surfers into the water off Waikiki.

"It's the most amazing thing," said Smith, manager at Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks, as he talked about what it's like to kayak or surf at night.

Surfing becomes more of a sensory sport. Even the smaller waves seem worth the ride, he said. And, he said, paddling out to the Mokuluas off Lanikai as the moon rises over them is almost a spiritual experience.

"You pretty much follow the path of the moon right out to the Mokes," he said. "You can see every constellation and star. The full moon just makes it."

It doesn't matter how many times the moon goes away and the cycle begins again for it to be impressive, said Rom Duran, Honolulu's former parks director who has been to Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden many times and still comes back for moon walks.

"It's the tranquility of the area," he said. "It's so close to all the urban development, but when you're back here, it's like you're totally lost."

On weekends like this, all you have to do is look around to appreciate living here, said Tom Penna, a University of Hawai'i student who has guided people on cultural moonlight tours of Waimea Falls and often comes just for enjoyment.

"There's almost nothing better than a full-moon walk in Waimea," he said. "The best thing you can ever give someone is to let them feel how special Hawai'i is, and Waimea does that. It's a place that makes you feel good. It doesn't matter what facts are said. It's a feeling."

All you have to do is look up to be seduced.

Reach Tanya Bricking at tbricking@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8026.

• • •

Events this weekend

Aston Full Moon Concert Series begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Kapi'olani Park Bandstand, featuring Na Kane Nu, Tino & the Rhythm Klub, Baba B and headliner Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom. It's free.

Sea Life Park's Moonlight Tour, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, 41-202 Kalaniana'ole Highway, Waimanalo. Guide Lee Ann Morikami introduces park patrons ages 4 and older to snoozing seals and dozing dolphins. It costs $7 for ages 4 to 12 and $10 for ages 13 and up. Bring a jacket and flashlight. Phone 259-2512 to reserve a spot.

Moon Walk at Waimea Falls Park, 59-864 Kamehameha Highway, Waimea, 8:30 p.m. Friday. Moon walks begin at 8:30 p.m. each month on the Friday nearest the full moon. A guided tour offers a glimpse at some rare flowers that bloom in the moonlight. Walkers are welcome to explore the garden on their own. Bring a flashlight. No reservations are necessary. It costs $3 per person, $5 per couple or $7 per family. For details, phone 638-8655.

Honolulu Zoo's Moonlight Tour, 151 Kapahulu Ave., Waikiki, 6:30 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday. Find out what happens behind closed gates at the zoo at night in a two-hour walking tour. The tour is recommended for children 5 and older. It's $10 for adults, $8 for zoo society members and $7 for children 12 and under. Pick up your tickets at the Honolulu Zoo Society office or phone 971-7195.

Night Walk at Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden, 45-680 Luluku Road, Kane'ohe, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday. It's free, but reservations are required. Call 233-7323. Wear walking shoes and bring insect repellent, rain gear and a flashlight. The gate opens at 5:30 p.m. for picnics.