SATURDAY SCOOPS
Snorkel under the stars tonight at Hanauma Bay

Advertiser Staff and News Services

A porcupine puffer fish greets diver John Johnston, at left. Gear rental is available, but it's suggested you bring your own. Then dive in. Terry Partlon If you go ... If you can't get to Hanauma Bay tonight, mark your calendar for June 14 when there is a full moon. Vendors are still testing the waters of their hours of operation, so it's best to bring your own food and gear. Snorkel Fin rents gear and dive lights and plans to stay open Saturday nights during the summer if there is enough demand. The tram operates until about 8 p.m. Be prepared to walk up the hill if you stay later.

Locals know better: Go on Saturday nights and have the place to yourself.

Since last fall, Hanauma Bay has been open from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, but the night snorkeling remains the park's best-kept secret.

"The first night we had 500 people," park manager Alan Hong said. "It has leveled off to between 20 and 110, depending on what else we're competing against."

That's quite a switch from the daytime crowds (about 3,200 a day) at a beach that's one of the state's most popular tourist attractions and makes the national rankings for both America's best beaches and Hawai'i's most dangerous.

For Brandon Knaack, 28, of Mililani, snorkeling in the dark was his introduction to Hanauma Bay. Though he's been stationed here with the Air Force for more than two years, his first visit was by moonlight.

"I liked it," he said, after spotting parrotfish and sea urchins and safely returning to shore for a cookout with friends. "It's interesting for people to come out and see it at night."

Lifeguards recommend trying the bay during the day to become familiar with the surroundings.

"The most important thing is you should be familiar with the bay and its associated hazards," said Ron Bregman, acting lieutenant for ocean safety and lifeguard services, who works the bay Saturday nights.

Learning the night landmarks, such as remembering where the restroom lights are, can help snorkelers navigate their way back to shore.

The bay is an on-your-own experience after dark. Snorkelers can bring or rent dive lights, but don't expect guided tours.

"It's scarier because of the shadows," said Rus Storman, 28, of Kahalu'u, "and you can lose track of where you are."

The payoff of a having an adventurous spirit, though, is seeing the underwater world of hawksbill sea turtles, striped manini fish, polka-dotted puhi (moray eels) and bulgy-eyed yellowfin goatfish.

"I dive almost every weekend," said Terry Partlon, a free diver and underwater photographer. "It's such an opportunity."

Create fishing tales at keiki derby in Kane'ohe

Yes, it's time for fish tales once again. But this time, somebody will be telling the truth when they weigh in their winning catch at the Keiki Fishing Derby today at the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden in Kane'ohe.

Part of National Fishing Week, the derby is open to children 4 to 17 years old.

It's a catch-and-release derby starting at 10 a.m. and wrapping up at 2 p.m.

Prizes will be given for the most Midas cichlids, the longest fish and the most unusual catch.

To participate, follow the red fish signs to the shoreline. Children 14 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

Bring a small pole, with a barbless hook and bait (no living bait, please). Overhead casting is not permitted.

For more information, call 233-7323.

The program is limited to 200 participants.

Saturdays were made for chips, dip, poker and stories

There was a time when Saturday nights were reserved for poker.

Straights, flushes ... "did you really just try to bluff with a 10-high hand against my full house?"

Tonight, make it Poker Night again. Call your friends. Call your family. Get some chips and dip, along with the drink of your choice, and settle in for a night of card-playing fun.

It's not about the gambling, it's the people. You're guaranteed to hear more "Remember when ... " stories over the card table than anywhere else.

As long as one person knows the rules, a game can happen. Here are a few tips for a successful poker night:

• Prepare a cheat sheet for the beginners. List the hands from high to low. Be sure they know a full house beats a straight, and so forth.
• Have two decks of cards ready. You can have one shuffled and ready to go when the hand is over.
• If you don't have poker chips, use pieces of dry macaroni or pennies.
• Remember that Saturday-night poker games aren't about winning at all costs, they're about watching your friends try to outwit each other while telling stories of days gone by.

You don't have to bet money. Set up a traveling trophy for the player who earns the most chips. Set up another traveling trophy for the player who loses the most. Guaranteed: They'll want to come back to defend/shed their titles.

Bump and jump, and feel the love

The Love Festival Tour 2003 is from 9 tonight to 4 a.m. tomorrow at Club Mist. It's the 10th year of an event that loves to make crowds bump and jump.

This year's dance-music festival features Richard Humpty Vission, Aztech Sol, Neil K, DJ Reza and Josh David. Add local acts G-Spot, IKON, Sovergn T, Big Daddy Dave, DJ Lava, Kause and MC Enemy, PSI and Technique, and you've got a bash that will keep it going all night long.

There's a $20 cover to get your groove on.

Parade is only the beginning of a full day of fun in Waikiki

The 87th annual King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade starts at 9:30 a.m., beginning at King and Richards streets. It travels diamondhead on King Street to Punchbowl Street, makai on Punchbowl to Ala Moana Boulevard, then diamondhead on Ala Moana to Kalakaua Avenue, and diamondhead on Kalakaua to Kapi'olani Park.

But why just go home after the parade? There's a Folklife Festival at Kapi'olani Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Then you can make your way over to Queen's Surf Beach for Sunset at the Beach.

The entertainment and food booths open at 4 p.m., with the movie starting around 7:30 p.m.

Tonight's show is "Maid in Manhattan," starring Jennifer Lopez. Come back tomorrow night for the James Bond flick "Die Another Day."

Surf documentary premieres tonight at Aloha Theatre

Tired of trying to find Nemo?

Had enough of the Almighty Bruce?

Check out Big Island resident Andy Carlson's action documentary "A Common Thread," which premieres today at 6:30 p.m. and again at 8:30 p.m. It's showing at the Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu on the Big Island.

Carlson spent nearly one year following the surf and lives of surfers around the world. The resulting film gives a unique perspective on why surfing is such an alluring pastime to such a variety of people.

This is Carlson's first solo film project.

He partnered on his first film, "5th Symphony," which won an award from Surfer magazine.

Feeling crafty?

Don't let the 30th Annual Summer Craft Fair today and tomorrow at the Mission Houses Museum slip off your radar list of things to do.

It's a perfect time to shop for friends on the Mainland, or for your own home and family. You can pick up handcrafted mailboxes, quilts, shirts, clocks and more.

It starts at 9 a.m. and wraps up at 4 p.m. There will be more than 50 craft booths, plus plate lunches if you want to make a day of it. The address is 553 S. King St.