When Pam Burns isn't keeping company with the furry residents of the Hawaiian Humane Society, you'll likely find her in her garden on Tantalus.

"I used to have a social life," Burns laughs. "Now look at me."

Three years ago, Burns took over her parents' home, with its half-acre yard filled with koa trees, mock orange, azaleas, walking iris, gardenia bushes, pua kenikeni, tree ferns, agapanthus, liguleria and more.

Though she will call in tree surgeons for the big tasks, Burns mostly cares for the garden alone with the help of Klara, her devoted 14-year-old poi dog, and her cats, Lilly and Bernard. The humane society president says it's a second full-time job.

Burns says she's always been passionate about gardening, and rarely ventures into the garden without a tool in hand. "We were brought up with a love of plants. My mom and grandmother were gardeners; my sister is a coffee farmer on the Big Island, and I have two brothers who also are enthusiasts."

Burns says the biggest challenges on Tantalus are the weather (the mountain gets about 120 inches of rain annually), and planting to prevent further erosion of the cinder cone that forms the mountain.

The right tools help. Their maintenance is important too: "Clean tools off, and always make sure they're dry, to minimize rust," Burns advises. "I also spray saws and clippers with WD-40 to keep them sharp, and if they come in plastic holders, I try to put them away like that."

— By Chris Oliver Advertiser Staff Writer

Pam burns' 10 essential garden tools

Hand clippers: "Definitely, No. 1," says Burns. "They're always in my pocket for cutting flowers and removing dead twigs from branches." She looks for clippers that are well-balanced and fit comfortably in her hand with smooth cushioned handles for a firm grip.

Serrated five-inch sickle: "A great tool that I use primarily to remove iris leaves. You can shear them off at a nice angle, and when you repot plants into the ground, it's good for breaking up the tight root balls so they will spread out easily to encourage new healthy root growth." Gloves: "Cotton / latex gloves are waterproof yet flexible and strong. I like to be able to still feel the plants in my hands when I'm handling them," Burns said. ... "and of course, you need to protect your hands from injuries."

Small hand pick: "Good for loosening hard soil and digging out tough plants or for creating a small hole to pop cuttings in, such as walking iris." Rake/bin: "A rake with a flexible head will not pull plants out of the ground while dislodging leaves and debris around them." Burns owns several rakes with different size heads. A long-handled metal bin cuts down bending while clearing up.

Weeder: "The wooden-handled long shank has a serrated, forked end for getting at the root of the weed, particularly nut grass." Hedgers: "Hedgers should be long enough (about nine-inch blades) that your arms are at a comfortable angle to reach and cut easily."

Hand trowel: "Essential for digging in plants. A long handle makes it easier to ... handle!" Hose with metal nozzle: "A nozzle that goes from tight to a broad spray to accommodate different plants' needs makes watering easier, as well as for washing off the driveway. A metal nozzle endures being dropped or scraped along the ground."

Curved handsaw: "The 18-inch blade cuts down larger branches when hand clippers are too small and also (is) for cleaning off tree ferns." Serrated five-inch sickle: "A great tool that I use primarily to remove iris leaves. You can shear them off at a nice angle, and when you repot plants into the ground, it's good for breaking up the tight root balls so they will spread out easily to encourage new healthy root growth."

Earn a halo by adopting Angel

The Musubi Angel is up for "adoption" at Wabi-Sabi, a shop in Kaimuki at 1223 Koko Head Ave., No. 4.

The adoptions support Eye of the Pacific, a nonprofit that provides trained dogs and electronic sensor aids for the legally blind.

A $25 donation will yield a logo T-shirt and for a $10 donation, a logo dishtowel.

The shop offers 10 percent off all sales today, with 2 percent going to the Musubi Angel fund. Call 734-3603.

In Waikiki: concerts, art, good eats

Sorry, folks, there's no Sunset on the Beach this weekend. But there's still a lot going on in Waikiki:

• Kalapana, known for local hits such as "Naturally," "The Hurt," "You Make it Hard," "Nightbird" and "When the Morning Comes," jams again in a concert at 7 tonight in the Waikiki Shell. It's the group's 30th anniversary celebration, and Cecilio and Kapono are joining in, too. Tickets are $17.50 advance general admission, $25 reserved and $35. General admission at the door is $20. (877) 750-4400.

Kalapana also performs at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Tickets are $17.50, $25 and $35; discounts for center donors. (808) 242-7469.

• Speaking of anniversaries, it's a golden one for the weekly mainstay along Monsarrat Avenue — the aptly named "Art At The Zoo Fence." This is where folks have perused the original art and chatted up artists for 50 years. It's 9 a.m.-4 p.m. today and tomorrow.

• The monthly Brunch on the Beach on Kalakaua Avenue. Maunalua performs. Hours are 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. tomorrow. Admission is free.

Feast your eyes on art works for free

It's another Bank of Hawaii Free Sunday at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. tomorrow. The theme is "The Eyes Have It," encouraging attendees to take good long looks at the portraits and sculptures in the galleries.

Attractions include kids' activities, the Andean musical group Duchicela, the Rainbow Jugglers and interactive computer programs.

Admission is free.

Here's your chance to get on 'Apprentice'

To quote Eminem, "You only get one shot."

And that shot's today.

The hit NBC reality show, "The Apprentice," is holding auditions at 10 a.m. today at the Hawai'i Prince Hotel for its third season.

Applicants have to be at least 21, in good health and able to "sell" themselves in a short group interview. "Basically, this is your chance to show us who you are and why you want to do this," said casting director Rob Laplante.

Download an application at NBC affiliate KHNL's Web site, www.khnl.com/Global/story.asp?s=2009097.

Honolulu is one of 16 cities involved in tryouts. Finalists will be selected in September.

"We want to encourage everyone to come," Laplante said. "You don't have to have a college degree. You just have to have what it takes to excel in the business."

Islanders arena football — and fun

TV personality Tiny Tadani interviews young fans at a recent FANFest.

Regardless of whether you're going to the game, the pre-game festivities in the parking lot outside the arena, dubbed Family FANFest, is free for all. Attractions include the Islanders inflatable replica football field, a quarterback challenge, face-painting and entertainment. Fun starts at 4:30 p.m.

Admission to the football game is $25 lower bowl (reserved), $15 upper bowl sidelines (reserved), $10 upper bowl end zones; $7 youths (17 and younger).

Pop-top starlight for your patio party or mixer

Hosting a "Let's grill at my house" kind of party? These easy party lights can be made quickly, not to mention that you probably already have the bulk of the supplies in your pantry.

It also proves that, from an artistic standpoint, soda pop cans are just as awesome on the outside as they are inside.

Star Lights

• paper and pencil
• 4 multicolored soda cans
• tin snips or heavy-duty scissors
• hole punch, standard size
• 1 strand of 10 minilights

Gannett News Service

Lay the circle template on the metal and cut around it. Repeat until you have three circles. Snip out the shape of a star from each circle. Punch a hole in the center of each star to make an opening for the bulb to fit through. You might need to punch several times to make the hole large enough. Carefully press a star over a minilight.

Repeat until all the lights are covered. You should have one remaining light to use as a replacement if needed.

Tips and variations: String the stars together with ribbon to make garlands or streamers. Glue the stars around the base of a flowerpot or around a large picture frame. Or use them to decorate scrapbooks or journal covers. Instead of stars, cut out layers of flowers in various sizes and lay them on top of each other and connect with a rivet or grommet to make multilayered flowers. You can use vinyl tape to soften sharp edges.

— By Kathy Cano Murillo, Arizona Republic