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Saunders Hall on the UH Mānoa campus served as the demonstration site today for a new renewable energy testbed featuring innovative “micro-inverter” technology.

The “Kumu Kit” solar panel system was donated by Hawaii Energy Connection, LLC to UH Mānoa for installation on the roof of Saunders Hall, home to the Sustainable Saunders Initiative—a collaborative effort among faculty and students to pursue workplace sustainability. Other donations and logistical assistance were made possible from Emphase Energy and the UH Mānoa Sustainability Council. The small residential-sized system, which went live on August 14, will provide an opportunity for students to study the potential of solar energy and test different technologies for turning sunlight into electricity.

“This is a small demonstration and testing site that is vital to move UH to the forefront of research and education in these fields,” said Professor David Nixon, UH Mānoa associate professor in the College of Social Sciences Public Policy Center, and director of the Sustainable Saunders Initiative. “Our vision is to make Saunders Hall the embodiment of sustainability on the Mānoa campus, and renewable energy generation is an important component.”

The first project for the testbed will evaluate micro-inverter technology that improves the efficiency of solar power arrays. The micro-inverters communicate real-time power production data from each solar panel to a central web site that archives historical data.

“We’re particularly excited about the micro-inverters, a new approach to translating the DC power from solar panels into AC power that increases efficiency of the system by 10-15 percent,” said Jeremy Kowalczyk, physics graduate student and Energy Team leader for Sustainable Saunders.

Hawaii is blessed with abundant solar and wind resources that can be harvested to generate electricity. UH Mānoa has set goals of generating 25 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020, and achieving energy independence by 2050.

Steve Godmere and Chris DeBone, owners of the Hawai‘i Energy Connection partnership, noted that this is a great opportunity to contribute to the University’s educational and research efforts in sustainability. “Micro-inverters are an important innovation in turning sun power into electricity-they’re less expensive, more convenient, and more efficient than traditional power inverters.”

The Public Policy Center, its UH partners, and the Sustainable Saunders students will be assessing the performance and cost structure of the PV array with its micro-inverters, along with installation possibilities and barriers. For more information, visit: www.publicpolicycenter.hawaii.edu/solaronsaunders.html.

The University of Hawai`i at Mānoa serves approximately 20,000 students pursuing 225 different degrees. Coming from every Hawaiian island, every state in the nation, and more than 100 countries, UH Mānoa students matriculate in an enriching environment for the global exchange of ideas. For more information, visit http://manoa.hawaii.edu.

CMH kicks off the 2009-2010 season with Chamber Music 101, a casual event of conversation, music, and refreshments. Public Radio’s Joan Canfield will talk about how to enjoy chamber music. Members of the Spring Wind Quintet will provide musical examples and answer questions on Sunday afternoon, August 30, at 4 p.m. at the brand new Studio 909 at the Musicians Association of Hawaii, 909 Kapiolani Blvd. Chamber Music 101 is FREE. Reservations are appreciated at 489-5038.

Chamber Music Hawaii has just announced its 2009-2010 season that offers monthly subscription concerts at both Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Academy of Arts, and Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College, plus the Honolulu Brass Choir at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in December.

Music lovers have a menu of ticket options, ranging from a Season Subscription for 8 concerts, to the Favorite Four flexible package, to the new Intro Package which includes the first two concerts – a “try us, you’ll like us” offer. Ticket packages range in price from $150 to $40. Single tickets are $25, $20 for seniors and military, and free for students with ID.

Subscriptions and single tickets are available online at www.chambermusichawaii.com,
or by phone at 489-5038.

The 2009-2010 Season

GALLIARD AND FRIENDS
With J. Scott Janusch, oboe and Claire Butin, flute
7:30pm Monday, Sept. 21 – Doris Duke Theatre
7:30pm Monday, Sept. 28 – Paliku Theatre
Holst: Terzetto
Beethoven: Serenade
Martinů: Mazurka-Nocturne
Ginastera: ‘Impressions of Puna
Britten: Phantasy Quartet
Sponsored by Windward Arts Council

SPRING WINDS AND FRIENDS
7:30pm Monday, Oct. 12 – Doris Duke Theatre
7:30pm Monday, Oct. 19 – Paliku Theatre
Warlock/Campbell: Capriol Suite
Brahms: Hungarian Dances 3 & 7
Mozart/Schweitzer: Mozart Sonata
Mozart: Serenade No. 11 in Eb major, K. 375

TRIO OF TRIOS
With Thomas Yee, piano
4:00pm Sunday, Nov. 15 – Doris Duke Theatre
7:30pm Monday, Nov. 16 – Paliku Theatre
Mozart: Clarinet Trio, K. 498
Loeffler: Deux Rhapsodies
Brahms: Horn Trio, Op. 40
Sponsored by Mozart House

HONOLULU BRASS CHOIR
4:00pm Sunday, Dec. 6 – St. Andrew’s Cathedral
A holiday celebration with brass, organ and percussion
Music by Bach, Gabrieli, Praetorius, and Strauss
Thomas Osborne, Conductor
John Renke, Organist
Sponsored by Diagnostic Laboratory Services, Inc. (add DLS logo)

GALLIARD STRING QUARTET
4:00pm Sunday, Jan. 10 – Doris Duke Theatre
7:30pm Monday, Jan. 11 – Paliku Theatre
Skalkottas: Greek Dances
Rachmaninoff: String Quartet No. 2 (Unfinished)
Piazzolla: Four for Tango
Barber: String Quartet, Op.11

SPRING WIND QUINTET
7:30pm Monday, Mar. 8 – Paliku Theatre
7:30pm Monday, Mar. 15 – Doris Duke Theatre
Bartholomew: Second Suite from Razumov
Magnussen: Commission TBA
Aguila: Wind Quintet

HONOLULU BRASS QUINTET
7:30pm Monday, Apr. 5 – Paliku Theatre
7:30pm Monday, Apr. 12 – Doris Duke Theatre
TBA

TRESEMBLE
With Vicky Gorman, soprano
7:30pm Monday, May 3 – Paliku Theatre
7:30pm Monday, May 10 – Doris Duke Theatre
Ravel: Songs of Madagascar
Debussy: Sonata No. 2
Mahler: Ruckert Lieder 4 songs
Saint-Saëns: Invisible Flute

Season-at-a-Glance

Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Academy of Arts, 901 Kinau Street, Honolulu

• Monday, Sept. 21 Galliard and Friends
• Monday, Oct. 12 Spring Winds and Friends
• Sunday, Nov. 15 Trio of Trios
• Sunday, Jan. 10 Galliard String Quartet
• Monday, Mar. 15 Spring Wind Quintet
• Monday, Apr. 12 Honolulu Brass Quintet
• Monday, May 10 Tresemble

Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College, 45-720 Kea`ahala Road, Kaneohe

• Monday, Sept. 28 Galliard and Friends
• Monday, Oct. 19 Spring Winds and Friends
• Monday, Nov. 16 Trio of Trios
• Monday, Jan. 11 Galliard String Quartet
• Monday, Mar. 8 Spring Wind Quintet
• Monday, Apr. 5 Honolulu Brass Quintet
• Monday, May 3 Tresemble

Cathedral Church of St. Andrew
229 Queen Emma Square, Honolulu

• Sunday, Dec. 6 Honolulu Brass Choir

Since 1982 Chamber Music Hawaii has featured three ensembles – the Galliard String Quartet, Honolulu Brass Quintet and Spring Wind Quintet, all Honolulu Symphony musicians. Each ensemble presents two programs during the concert series along with education outreach programs in Hawai`i schools. The ensembles also collaborate to form a Tresemble for additional programs that feature a variety of repertoire for mixed instrumentation, which is frequently overlooked in many concert series. Chamber Music Hawaii has appeared throughout Hawaii, Mainland U.S.A., Europe and Asia.

To culminate the year-long commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Hawai‘i’s statehood, the 50th Anniversary of Statehood Commission will host a commemorative conference on Admission Day, August 21, 2009 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. The one-day conference, titled “New Horizons for the Next 50 Years,” will bring together Hawai‘i citizens representing different industries and interests, to reflect on the accomplishments Hawai‘i has achieved since becoming a state, while exploring the vision for Hawai‘i’s next 50 years.

Featured Speakers include:

• Bryan Clay, 2008 Decathlon Gold Medalist
• Andy Karsner, former assistant secretary, U.S. Department of Energy
• John Zogby, pollster, Zogby International
• Admiral Timothy Keating, Commander, U.S. Pacific Command
• General (Ret.) Eric Shinseki, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Sessions

• Hawai‘i’s 21st Century Global Economy (9:15 – 10:15 a.m.)
• Native Hawaiians: Cultural Navigation in a Sea of Change (3:00 – 4:30 p.m.)
• Hawai‘i Stamp Unveiling (10:15 – 10:30 a.m.)
  In coordination with the U.S. Postal Service, Governor Lingle will help unveil the official State of Hawai‘i commemorative stamp. Hawai‘i’s stamp design was created by local artist Herb Kane of the Big Island.
• Live Video Teleconference with Troops in Iraq (10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.)
  Hawai‘i’s men and women in uniform who are serving overseas in Iraq will be part of the official commemoration conference through a live video teleconference.
• Economic Forecast Luncheon (12:30 – 2:00 p.m.)
  Emerging from the Global Recession: Near Term Economic Prospects for Hawai‘i, the U.S., and the World – Featuring the annual Economic Forecast panel discussion with the Hawai‘i Economic Association and the University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization (UHERO).
• News Conference – Clean Energy Future (2:00 p.m.)
  Enterprise Rent-a-Car and the Hawai‘i State Dept. of Transportation will hold a news conference during which Enterprise Rent-a-Car will unveil its commitment to a clean energy future for Hawai‘i.

Workshops (11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)

• Military partnerships – Part of Our ‘Ohana
• Hawai‘i’s Tourism Future
• Knowledge Management – Leading Hawai‘i’s Future
• Media in Hawai‘i – The Next 50 Years
• Economic Understanding for Today and Transformation for Tomorrow
• Public Education in Hawai‘i: Past, Present, and Future
• Labor Movement: Role of Unions Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
• Preserving Hawai‘i’s Natural Resources
• Historic Overview: Historical Perspectives of Statehood
• Hawai‘i’s Energy Future: The Next 50 Years
• What does “Innovation” mean?

New Horizons Pavilions:

To further the educational and informational benefit to conference delegates, exhibit pavilions will be available. In the exhibit pavilions, delegates will be able to expand their understanding and appreciation of particular subject areas by talking with experts in each field. Exhibit pavilions (scheduled):

• Clean Energy, Technology & Green Living
• Diversity & Culture
• Business & Finance
• Hospitality & Tourism
• Health, Wellness & Aging

New Opportunities Career and Job Fair

Employment search firms, local employers, and the State of Hawai‘i Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Workforce Development Division will offer information and job search assistance to potential employees.

Entertainment

Featured performances by Hawai‘i artists – Keola and Moanalani Beamer, Raiatea Helm, Natalie Ai Kamauu, Geoffrey Keezer, Charles Kaupu, Bernice Hirai, the Chamber Music Hawai‘i Spring Wind Quintet, Halau Hula Olana, Tihati Productions, Arshielle Calatrava, Danny Kaleikini, and Ciana Pelekai.

• Evening Concert (7:00 – 9:00 p.m.)
  1950s-style concert by The Platters, The Coasters and The Drifters. Presented by Tom Moffat Productions.
• Statehood Fireworks (9:00 p.m.)
  Presented by the Hilton Hawaiian Village and Hawai‘i Explosives & Pyrotechnics, Inc.

“Bookzilla,” a gigantic sale for book lovers, will be held at Kaimuki Public Library on Saturday, September 5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Friends of Kaimuki Library are hosting the sale which will be held in the downstairs parking lot.

Choose from an enormous selection of books priced at just $1.00 each. There will also be a large assortment of CDs, DVDs, LP records, videos and audiobooks on sale.

Come early for the best selection. Proceeds from the book sale will benefit the Library. As an added attraction, Fun Fun the Clown will offer free face paintings and balloon twists for children.

Kaimuki Public Library is located at 1041 Koko Head Avenue, corner of Koko Head and Harding Avenues. For more information, please call the library at 733-8422.

Southern California residents Tyra Moe and Richard Hidalgo received the destination wedding of their dreams on the Magic Isle of Maui last September and TNT’s new reality show “Wedding Day,” a Mark Burnett/Dreamworks Production, captured the couple’s romantic journey.

The one-hour Hawaii episode airs August 8 at 9:00 a.m. EDT/8:00 a.m. CDT on TNT (check local listings) featuring a lavish wedding on Maui and special visit to Kauai.

“Hawaii is a beautiful setting for destination weddings, so it was a privilege to reward Tyra and Richard for the service they provide their communities with a dream wedding on Maui,” said John Monahan, president and CEO of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB). “To be surrounded by family and friends in this tropical island locale, while enjoying the scenery, warm weather, and activities together, created memories they will never forget.”

Wedding Day gives deserving couples across the nation the nuptials of their dreams. Tyra and Richard were selected because of their roles in serving the people of Imperial Beach, Calif. Tyra is a firefighter and Richard is a lifeguard.

Their lifestyles are chaotic and demanding and, as such, the couple had conceded their dream wedding plans to a backyard barbecue to tie the knot. However, Wedding Day and HVCB, the state’s tourism marketing agency for North America, which was instrumental in bringing the show to the islands, had other plans.

The surprise began in San Diego when Wedding Day hosts Alan Dunn and Diann Valentine gathered with Tyra and Richard’s family and friends to tell the couple they were heading to Hawaii for a week beyond their wildest expectations.

Once the excitement set in, the couple and their 50 guests were whisked away to the airport and boarded a Hawaiian Airlines flight to Maui. Tyra and Richard were pampered in First Class enjoying Hawaiian’s award-winning tapas-style menu and in-flight hospitality.

After arriving on Maui, the wedding party checked into the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort and Spa, where Tyra and Richard settled into their luxurious suite with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. The couple then met the “Dream Team” who were creating and coordinating the once-in-a-lifetime event, led by Carolee Higashino, owner and president of A White Orchid Wedding. Using her industry resources, Higashino assembled a team of wedding specialists that included Asa Flowers, Café O’Lei Catering, Envisions Entertainment, and Jamie Clark of Pacific Design Group.

In the days leading up to the wedding, Tyra and Richard enjoyed Maui’s charms, exploring the Maui Ocean Center, Alii Kula Lavender Farm, paddle boarding, and a helicopter ride. They also made a day trip to Kauai to reunite with friends and for some ziplining with Outfitters Kauai.

Meanwhile, their family and friends were busy taking an active part in creating the wedding. Construction of the show’s “signature gate” for the bride’s entrance was built by the couple’s fathers and groomsmen in the wedding party. The bridesmaids strung together fresh flower lei and created other enhancements for the big day.

All of the hard work culminated with an unforgettable wedding ceremony and reception in West Maui. Tyra and Richard exchanged their vows in a beautiful garden overlooking the ocean within a private estate, featuring songs by the Kamehameha Schools Children’s Chorus.

The reception took place nearby at the Olowalu Plantation House, which the Dream Team transformed into an exotic and spectacular setting rich in red, orange, and green tones, Hawaii inspired décor, and tropical florals. Guests enjoyed a traditional luau show by Tihati Productions with award-winning Hawaii songstress Raiatea Helm singing for the first dance.

For information about TNT’s “Wedding Day,” visit TNT.tv/series/weddingday.

Hawaii ranks number 18 nationally in a new state-by-state study on the well-being of America’s children. The 2009 Kids Count Data Book reveals that since 2000, Hawaii improved on six of the 10 measures affecting child well-being. Yet on four other measures, conditions worsened for Hawaii’s kids.

The 20th annual Data Book also contains the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s essay that takes stock of the country’s progress in keeping track of children’s well-being.

This year’s Data Book is complemented by the expanded Kids Count Data Center that contains hundreds of measures of child well-being covering national, state, county, and city information. To access information for Hawaii go to datacenter.kidscount.org/hi.

Hawaii ranks in the top 10 on four of 10 indicators.

Hawaii ranked among the ten best states in the nation on four of 10 indicators of child well-being. Hawaii ranked 2nd on the percent of children in poverty, 3rd on the percent of teens who are high school dropouts, and 10th on both infant mortality rate and the percent of children in single-parent families.

Teen birth rate increases for the first time since 2000.

Between 2000 and 2005, the teen birth rate in Hawaii decreased from 46 births per 1,000 females ages 15 to 19 to 36 births per 1,000. However, Hawaii’s teen birth rate climbed back to 41 per 1,000 in 2006, a 14 percent increase from 2005. In 2006, there were 1,619 births to teens ages 15 to 19 in Hawaii.

Percent of teens ages 16-19 who are high school dropouts remains low.

Hawaii ranked number 3 nationally in the percentage of 16- to 19-year-olds who were high school dropouts in 2007. The percentage of teens ages 16 to 19 in Hawaii who were high school dropouts decreased from five percent in 2000 to four percent in 2007. Nationally, seven percent of teens ages 16 to 19 were dropouts in 2007.

Percent of children in poverty remains low.

With only 10 percent of children living in poverty in 2007, Hawaii ranked 2nd among the 50 states. Between 2000 and 2007, the percentage of children in Hawaii who were poor decreased from 13 percent to 10 percent. Hawaii’s child poverty rate was well below the national average of 18 percent in 2007.

The American Indian Pow Wow Association (“AIPA”), in partnership with the Big Island Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc. (“BIRCD”), is hosting the 35th Annual Intertribal Pow Wow at Thomas Square in Honolulu, Hawaii on Saturday and Sunday, October 3rd and 4th, 2009, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, both days. Thomas Square Park is located at 925 South Beretania Street, across from the Honolulu Academy of Arts. Everyone is invited to attend this free event, which will feature dancing, drumming, singing, arts and crafts, and food. This is a traditional (no contest) powwow. No drugs or alcohol are permitted at this family friendly event.

As with every powwow, the drum is the heartbeat of the people, the lifeblood of the gathering. This year, Blackfoot Crossing, from Alberta, Canada, will be the host drum. Audiences will also be treated to performances by hoop dancers and many different types of traditional and contemporary native dancers, singers and flute players.

The Head Staff at the powwow includes: Head Man Dancer, Troy Delaney (Kainai); Head Woman Dancer, Cindy Dawson (Dine/San Carlos Apache); Master of Ceremonies, John Dawson (San Carlos Apache); and Arena Director Tom Rowland (Oglala Lakota). Guest drums include: 808NDNZ, an intertribal drum from Oahu.

There are ample volunteer opportunities for those who want to help with the pow wow—no experience required. For more information, call the American Indian Pow Wow Association (808) 497-7279 or send e-mail to aipa@hawaii.rr.com.

Hawaii fans who watched ABC’s “The Bachelorette” Jillian Harris bid aloha to Reid Rosenthal after their romantic date on Maui will be seeing a lot more of the Hawaiian Islands as season five of the hit romance reality show from Warner Horizon Television wraps up on Hawaii’s Big Island in a two-hour season finale on July 27.

“The feedback from viewers who watched the Maui episode has been incredible with many sharing their excitement about the beautiful scenery, the impressive diversity of activities, and how they now want to visit Hawaii,” said John Monahan, president and CEO of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, the State of Hawaii’s marketing agency for North America who had a major role in bringing this show to the islands. “Hawaii’s Big Island will be a notable contrast with its rich lava landscape, and prominent beachfront resorts. Being home to all but two of the world’s main climate zones, viewers will see just how huge, diverse, and exciting the Big Island really is.”

Jillian and the final two bachelors – Ed Swiderski and Kiptyn Locke – find themselves on incredible final dates that take them across the Big Island highlighted by an aerial tour of Kilauea volcano’s active lava flows with Sunshine Helicopters, landing beside a secluded Hilo waterfall for a private barbecue with KapohoKine Adventures, and discovering a remote black sand beach with Captain Zodiac Rafting Adventures.

After exploring the diversity of the island, the couples continue their dates with dinner and alone time at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, and The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii resorts on the legendary Kohala Coast, the sun-soaked northwest side of the island that was once a popular retreat for Hawaiian royalty.

A private oceanfront estate within Mauna Kea Resort provides the setting for what could be a life changing moment for Jillian as she makes her final decision. As the largest of all of the main Hawaiian Islands combined and home to Maunakea, the world’s tallest mountain, Hawaii’s Big Island is a perfect symbol of the enormous decision to be made there.

Hawaii has been named the top destination for weddings, honeymoons, and romance many times over the years by the readers of the nation’s top bridal publications, news and travel websites, and travel suppliers. Viewers will get a glimpse of the Aloha State’s natural beauty and relaxing atmosphere via two hours of prime time national television.

Does Jillian find her soul mate? Tune in to ABC’s “The Bachelorette” on July 27 for the season finale. For information about the show, visit ABC.Go.com/Primetime/Bachelorette. For information on Hawaii, the Islands of Aloha, visit GoHawaii.com or call toll-free 1-800-GOHAWAII.

On Saturday, August 15, Ziggy Marley brings family time to Hawaii! In support of the non-profit organization Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center (HCDC), he will be hosting a free children’s show at the center and will be performing songs from his newest children’s albums, “Family Time” and “B Is for Bob.” Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis, no reservations will be taken for the event.

Growing up, music was a significant part of Ziggy’s childhood. And now, he hopes to share it with Hawaii’s children. “I know how important music can be in a child’s growth and development, and in a parent’s connection with their children,” he says. “Music helps children to grow with open minds and open hearts and this is my message.”

“We are thrilled to be hosting Ziggy’s children’s concert at the Discovery Center,” said HCDC President and CEO Loretta Yajima. “It is a wonderful way for families to connect through music, and we’re excited to be a part of this wonderful event.”

The children’s concert at HCDC will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a performance by local ukulele master Roy Sakuma. He will be joined by a few of his students, including a child who has learned to play the instrument with one arm. Sakuma is revered as Hawaii’s foremost ukulele teacher and has been teaching for more than 30 years. He currently has 4 studios opened throughout Oahu.

Ziggy will then take the stage at noon and perform until 12:30 p.m. After the show, he will be available for autographs.

“Family Time,” Ziggy’s first children’s album, offers a collection of family-oriented reggae tunes and features the likes of Willie Nelson, Paul Simon and local Hawaii singers Jack Johnson and Paula Fuga. In this record, which was released in May, he shares with families his love of music through themes of love, unity, freedom and fun. Ziggy says that this record represents his daily family life and was inspired by his four-year-old daughter Judah and baby Gideon. Judah even lends her voice to the album’s title track. For his second children’s album, “B Is for Bob,” Ziggy re-imagines a collection of classic tunes of his legendary father, Bob Marley. This album was just released in late June.

Ziggy says, “’Family Time’ is for all families and especially the world family.” He hopes to share the message of Family Time with children and families around the world and has already performed other children’s shows at Boulder, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Santa Barbara.

Ziggy has long been involved within the children’s community. His works include: a rendition of “Give A Little Love” with the Melody Makers on the 1991 Disney compilation “For Our Children,” the theme-song for the PBS series “Arthur,” and most memorably, a role in the movie Shark Tale as the voice of the Rasta jellyfish, Ernie. He has founded the non-profit organization Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment (U.R.G.E.), which serves a number of charitable children’s causes in Jamaica and other developing countries. He is also an active supporter of Little Kids Rock, which provides children attending public schools with free musical instruments and lessons.

Seating for the children’s concert will be limited in a courtyard at the HCDC on the grass and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations will be taken for this event. Space is limited to about 200 people. While the concert is free, entrance to HCDC activity galleries requires paid admission.

For more information on the children’s show at the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center, please contact Liane Usher at (808) 524-5437 ext. 23 or (808) 375-5437 or e-mail liane@discoverycenterhawaii.org.

Later that night, ‘Ziggy Marley Live in Concert’ will be held at the Waikiki Shell. Thompson’s Productions has partnered with Clear Channel Communications and Cox Radio to bring this special event to Hawaii. The concert will start at 5:00 p.m and continue until 10:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $35, $45 and $55 and can be purchased at the Blaisdell Box Office, online at Ticketmaster.com and at all Ticketmaster outlets, including select Macy’s. To charge tickets by phone, call (800) 745-3000. For more event information, please call Hawaii Pacific Entertainment at (808) 237-3675 or e-mail umma@hawaiipacificentertainment.com or log on to www.hawaiipacificentertainment.com.

Ziggy’s concert will bring together a list of other dynamic international artists including Mysterious, the man from Trinidad; one of Jamaica’s hottest singers, Rovleta Fraser, who will break from touring with Jr. Gong and Nas to perform in Hawaii; rock, reggae and folk musician Joseph Israel and the Jerusalem Band; the young and energetic Blak Diamon from Jamaica; and the Virgin Islands’ very own reggae musician and songwriter Zion.

Major sponsor partners of “Ziggy Marley Live in Concert” are The Waikiki Park Shore and The Hotel Wailea of The Aqua Hotels & Resorts chain, Hard Rock Café, Maui Brewing Company, Mana Foods, Land of Organica, Love Fatigues and more.

In 1929, only the most intrepid adventurers were familiar with the miracle of flight. So the visionary founders of Inter-Island Airways sought out the sturdiest, most comfortable aircraft of the day to introduce Hawaii residents to air travel: the Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker.

Inter-Island Airways, later renamed Hawaiian Airlines, would go on to introduce Hawaii’s first scheduled air service between the islands with two amphibious Sikorsky S-38 planes. But it was the Bellanca that got residents used to the idea of traveling by air. And now, 80 years later, the Bellanca is returning to grace the skies over Honolulu once again.

Hawaiian Airlines has found the historic plane and is bringing it back to Hawaii in time to celebrate its 80th anniversary on November 11, 2009.

Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian’s president and CEO, commented, “It is humbling to think that the countless flights flown, the hundreds of millions of passengers carried and all the aviation ‘firsts’ our company has been responsible for started 80 years ago with this very airplane. It is a source of tremendous pride to all of us at Hawaiian Airlines that we will be bringing this seminal piece of Hawaii’s history back to where it belongs.”

Hawaiian located the antique airplane with an aviation enthusiast in Oregon and organized a largely volunteer restoration project to return the plane to flying condition at Port Townsend Aero Museum in Washington. Pratt & Whitney, manufacturer of the vintage motor that powers the Bellanca as well as the jet engines on 14 of Hawaiian’s current fleet of aircraft, is helping to underwrite the project.

“As one of the earliest pioneers of aviation, Pratt & Whitney’s proud history of designing, building and servicing dependable engines began nearly 85 years ago,” said Jim Guiliano, vice president of Global Customer Services for Pratt & Whitney. “This Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker is powered with a refurbished Pratt & Whitney WASP engine, and we are happy to help underwrite its restoration to commemorate Hawaiian Airlines’ 80th anniversary.”

Hawaiian is making plans for special flights and public appearances for the plane following its arrival and reassembly on Oahu in September.

In September 1929, company founder Stanley C. Kennedy, Jr. acquired the Bellanca theorizing that people in Hawaii would more quickly accept the revolutionary concept of flying over water to the other islands if they could see and experience the wonders of flight in the skies above Honolulu.

Thus, the company began as an operator of sightseeing tours over Honolulu with the Bellanca and later began Hawaii’s first scheduled interisland air service using the two Sikorsky S-38 amphibian planes. Hawaii’s first airline has been serving the islands continuously ever since.