Kendall Giles

Just got back from a trip to Hawaii: 4 nights on Oahu in Waikiki. Lest you think it was all fun-in-the-sun, I went there to present a paper at the Hawaii International Conference on Mathematics and Statistics.

I did manage to slip away for a quick round of sightseeing, and I'll post a few pics shortly.

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While in Hawaii I went to Hana Lima 'Ia, which is a wonderful store in Honolulu where they teach you how to build your own ukulele. I would have loved to have taken the class, but it lasts for 10 weeks and I was only in town for 4 nights.

But I did buy one of their Mahogany and Rosewood kits. I also got a brief overview of how to make it from Asa Chock, though I have to admit I am really looking forward to their book (hopefully coming out this fall).

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Here's a pic from the East side of Oahu, looking out onto Rabbit Island.

For those who've had high-school biology, you can guess what happened to the rabbits humans put on an island with lots of food and no predators.

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Here's a really cool underwater dragon-type creature I spotted, just before he spotted me and dove under a rock.

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Winery in Virginia has come a long way since the early colonists struggled to replicate the wines they produced and loved in Europe. It was much harder here, since the Virginia climate has harsh winters, hot summers, and plentiful rains that cause a host of problems for tender grape vines.

But the struggles of the good people of Virginia paid off, as today Virginia produces world-class wines: they have cultured vine hybrids that are rugged enough to thrive in the climate, have experimented with the soil types and elevations to know which terrains and locations are most suitable for plantings, and through many years of experience and support of fellow Vintners have developed the know-how to produce wines that everyone can love. There are more than 80 wineries scattered across the state, in scenic settings run by good, friendly people.

I think Thomas Jefferson would be proud.

Technorati Tags: culture, living, virginia