If you're looking for a project on your own home turf, few are as satisfying as creating a garden pond. Pleasing to look at and soothing to listen to, the Kailua homeowner was hooked.

Q. What made you decide to build a garden pond?

A. "We had an area beside coconut trees where ginger plants had died, and it was a bit of an eyesore. I was in Hardware Hawaii, which has a little pond back in the garden section, and that gave me the idea. Also, the area is next to our patio slab (where we eat) and close to the house, so we can hear the sounds of water."

Q. How did you make it?

A. "We dug it out. I wanted the rim of the pond slightly above ground in case we had a terrific rainstorm and I didn't want it to overflow and make the ground next to the house wet, which could encourage termites."

With help from his two sons, Hackney dug the hole about four feet long and 18 inches at its deepest point. "We lined it with flexible pond liner and then landscaped around the rim using natural rocks and creating a waterfall at one end." Hackney then planted orchids, baby's tears and other flowers around the pond. A water lily and several fish complete the overall effect. The project took several weekends; the total cost was about $500.

Q. Biggest problem?

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Getting started Home Depot offers these tips for making your own backyard pond. Start with a simple design. Your pond should include liner, pump, filter and tubing. Pond supplies can be found at Home Depot, Waimanalo Feed Supply, Lowe's Home Improvement and Hardware Hawaii. Liner: You'll need a pond liner to keep your pond's shape. Liners come preformed or flexible. Pump: A pond pump will circulate the water and power a fountain nozzle or waterfall. Filter: For all ponds, especially those with plants and fish, a pond filter is a must. Tubing: To connect your filter, pumps, and water features. Accessories: plants, fountains, waterfalls and more.

Q. What is the best thing about the pond?

A. Bets and John Hackney love the sound of running water: "It's peaceful and relaxing and we spend a lot of time looking at it," John said. A pond also can increase the property value by several thousand dollars.

Q. How many hours does it take a week?

A. "At first many, many hours," says John, adding that pond builders will be familiar with how much work goes into the initial arranging of stones to get the effect you want. "Now the pond takes very little maintenance; removing dead lilies and replenishing water lost from evaporation may take 30 minutes a week, max."

Q. Are household pets a problem?

A. No, Monty (their pet beagle) likes to drink from the pond, but they've had no problems with cats having a fresh catch.

Q. If building another pond, what would you do differently?

A. "I'd build it bigger ... and put the water-fall within the pond, which would solve any problem with leaks."

— By Chris Oliver, Advertiser Staff Writer

Berry-delicious day at Farmers' Market

Note to foodies: A rare strawberry connection comes to fruition at today's Farmers' Market at Kapi'olani Community College. These fresh berries are from Rincon Family Farm in Waimea on the Big Island. Hours are 8 a.m.-noon.

Admission is free.

Hilo zoo invites all to a birthday bash

It's Fall Family Fun Day today in Hilo at the Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo, and the celebration includes a birthday party for Namaste the white Bengal tiger, who is 5 years old. Activities include face painting, magic tricks, keiki games and crafts, a petting zoo (1:30-2:30 p.m.), birthday cake and the introduction of Penny Ant-E, the zoo's new giant anteater.

Hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free. (808) 959-9233.

Sunset on Beach returns to Waikiki

Sunset on the Beach returns to Queen's Surf Beach in Waikiki with food booths, entertainment and movies.

Tonight's film is "Holes," the comic fantasy about young misfits who are made to dig holes in the desert and find something astonishing. Before the screening, the Laker Girls will perform a dance routine for all you ... er ... basketball fans.

Tomorrow's film is "2 Fast 2 Furious," about a drug lord and lots of speeding cars.

Events begin at 4 p.m.; the movies begin after sundown, about 7 p.m. Free admission.

Kids: Capitol district wants YOU!

Bring the youngsters to the Capitol district for HMSA's Children and Youth Day, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. tomorrow at the state Capitol, 'Iolani Palace, Washington Place and the Hawai'i State Art Museum. Among the attractions: inflatables, face-painting, storytelling, a race car display, food booths, lots of entertainment , exhibits and demos.

At 'Iolani Palace, the Living Heritage Series (as part of Children and Youth Day) offers demonstrations of lauhala weaving, kapa making, featherwork and canoe tying; and storytelling by Makia Malo.

Admission is free.

'Taste' includes fireworks at Ko Olina

Eat, drink and watch the fireworks at tonight's "Taste at Kapolei" at the Ko Olina resort. Here's a very short list of restaurants taking part in the Taste: The Bistro at Century Center, Canoes, Gordon Biersch, Marbella, Nick's Fishmarket, Sunset Grill and Zaffron.

Entertainment is by Rolando Sanchez and Salsa Hawaii, the UH Jazz Ensemble, eightOeight, Halau Hula Olana and the Hawaii Suzuki Strings.

Hours are 5:30-9 p.m. Tickets are $60 general, $25 for kids 7-12, available at the Chevron stations at Kapolei and Beretania/Ke'eaumoku. If the event isn't sold out, you can get tickets at the door, too.

It's a benefit for scholarship programs at Leeward O'ahu schools and is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Kapolei. 672-7747.

Artists who grew up amid war exhibit their works

Misuzu Fukeda was just a toddler on Aug. 6, 1945, when an atom bomb fell less than a mile from her home in Hiroshima, Japan. Her father was horribly burned and died weeks later. Fukeda was on the verge of death, saved by a blood transfusion from her grandmother.

Fukeda, now living on O'ahu, joins five local artists who will share their stories and works in "War Child," a mixed-media exhibit about growing up during World War II.

The women are Alshaa Rayne, formerly of Indonesia; Elisabeth Knoke Dieckvoss (that's a sample of her art at right) and Ria Keltz Remenar, formerly of Germany; Katherine Smith, formerly of Lithuania; and Simone Cahill Berlin, formerly of Algeria.