Hawai'i is home to a handful of talented tandem surfing teams. The intriguing water sport dates back at least to 1915 when Duke Kahanamoku gave a three-hour presentation on "Hawaiian Style Surf Shooting" in Australia for the New South Wales Swimming Association. He hadn't brought a board, so 15-year-old Isabel Letham's father helped him make one from sugar pine. Kahanamoku ended the demonstration by having Isabel, an accomplished swimmer and body surfer, try tandem surfing for the first time. After four waves she was "hooked for life" and became an accomplished surfer and teacher, mentor to many who loved the sport of surfing and swimming. See a video clip on tandem surfing on Edgy Lee's blog http://lifeisgood.honadvblogs.com or find more on the sport at http://news.pacificnetwork.tv/LifeIsGood and http://SPORTS.pacificnetwork.tv/HotPicks.

— Pacific Network TV

FAMILY NIGHT

PET THE ECHINODERMS AT WAIKÏKÏ AQUARIUM

Explore the "Weird, Weird World of Echinoderms" at the Waikiki Aquarium's 2009 Family Night.

Doors open at 6 tonight. The whole family can play games, make crafts and touch some of the nonvenomous sea creatures, such as urchins and sea cucumbers, until 8:30 p.m.

Entrance is $12 per person ($10 for Friends of the Waikiki Aquarium) and admission includes a free echinoderm gift. Kids under 2 are free. For registration or information, call the Waikiki Aquarium Education Department by 2 p.m. at 440-9011.

—- Treena Shapiro