Excursion: Maui Telescopes

Sorry that my first post of 2011 is from 2010. But this is a fun excursion I want to share with all of you. Our family friends, the Jannis' recently gave us a tour of the telescopes atop Haleakala on the island of Maui. We were given access to this location because, just by chance, Dr. Joseph Janni is the Director of the Air Force Office Research.

Oh, here I am with my Brother, Mom and Dad. Yes, it was very cold.

We were able to visit 2 of the major telescopes. The first one we visited (clam shell roof) is privately managed and maintained by LCOGT, founded by Wayne Rosing, a pioneer in the development of Google. He was also given permission to use the same font and color for his company. LCOGT runs 2 telescopes. The other one is in Australia. They are both operated via scheduled internet sessions.

Another telescope we visited is planted here (on the right). It's the largest telescope on the island of Maui. Dr. Janni noted that based on the conditions and visibility, it is situated in the best location in the world. Since we were in a military facility, this is as close as I was allowed to photograph the telescope. Walking around the telescope you get a sense of how enormous it is. I wish I could show you. Think, the movie Contact.

Flashback Overture

Not exactly a new sketch, but one of the few I did in my sketchbook while on Maui (somehow most of my sketchbook looks like class notes). I drew this in the rain and you can see where the raindrops affected my ink flow. It's very magical to draw in the rain. I'm just not sure why it feels that way.

7. Star Market

This grocery store hasn't changed a bit. The tiles that line the floor are the same ones I walked on as a child. This place echoes with memories. As Maui continues to be a international destination, places like these will be turned into giant superstores that caters to the needs of tourists. So wherever you are, try to appreciate these living legends. They may not be there the next time you blink.

Star Market
70 E. Kaahumanu Ave.
(in the Maui Mall)
Kahului, HI 96732
808.442.4600

6. Sugar Cookies

Sometimes it's the "little thing" that reminds you of the holiday season. It could be the sound of your Mom calling you into the kitchen, the scent of turkey or an extra seat at the dinner table. For me, it's many of these things plus sugar cookies. It's been a tradition to receive these goodies just in time to compliment your desert. They are made by my Grandma's friend, Masako. She delivers them filled to the rim inside this coffee can. I imagine her little thing is the smell of dough baking and the smiles on those who passed out eating them.

5. Rusty

On Maui, my cat Rusty is the friendliest cat I know. He's been the family pet for about 13 years, so I think that makes him around 70 years old. Right? Anyways, he does a few things that seems very odd to me. First off: he eats with his hands. Second: he opens the sliding door and let's himself inside. Quite a remarkable feline he is. Well, it's past midnight now. Mele Kalikimaka my friend!

4. Kihei Public Library

Currently this my studio. It's a great place to do research on Hawaiian folklore and well... basically anything under the sun. I like the randomness of shelved books which can always lead to the possibility of running into something inspiring for me. I remember back in the Art Center days, I used my local Kinko's to do all my art assignments. It was cool because during the graveyard shift employees don't really give a shit about what you are doing. I was there so often, I figured out the code to make myself color copies to experiment on (really handy if your poor). I'd give this code out but it probably has been changed. So anyways...

Kihei Public Library
35 Waimahaihai St.
(across Kukui Mall)
Kihei, HI 96753
808.875.6833

3. Cafe 808

While many of my favorite kid-time food stops have vanished, this modern one still lives up to classical standards. Cafe 808, serves up local style plate lunches from $5.50 to $8.00. I highly recomend the hamburger steak, mahi mahi, hawaiian plate & the roast pork. Warning: not friendly to customers on a diet. Although I am not too familiar with the story behind this establishment, their employees have always greeted me with a warm smile and pep-y attitude. For better or for worse, this is my favorite restaurant on the entire island.

Cafe 808
4566 Lower Kula Rd.
(across Morihara Store)
Kula, HI 96790
808.878.6874

2. Tasaka Guri Guri

The Tasaka Guri Guri Shop has been around so long my Grandparents remember it as kids. Since the 1920's, the Tasaka family has been producing a unique hybrid of sherbet & ice cream for Maui residents. The name "Guri Guri" is the Japanese pronunciation for goodie, goodie. Ever since their shop first opened, Guri Guri has been served in only 2 flavors: Strawberry & Pineapple. The funny thing is that neither flavor taste like it's label. The pink strawberry has a kind of perfume-y/buttery flavor and the white pineapple has this sweet milk-like flavor. Both of them melts in your mouth and it's oh so good. Or goodie. Legend is, a business man from California once proposed to buy the recipe off the family for a million dollars. The family declined and would rather carry this secret recipe to their graves. Now that's admirable.

Tasaka Guri Guri
70 East Ka'ahumanu Ave.
(right behind Longs Drugs)
Kahului, HI 96732-2176
808.871.4513

1. Maui No Ka Oi

Being back home for the holidays can be a nice treat. When I left California for Maui at 530am it was 40 degrees. The thermostat here says it's 87 degrees outside (but it feels like 77 degrees because of our pleasant tropical winds). I prefer it warmer than colder. It truly is paradise here.