Monday, April 11, 2016

April Means Aloha

It's April, and that means it's time to go back to Hawaii. Last year was a wonderful trip with Susie over conference weekend. This year I was back to the islands but with my manager, Mark Coffelt. Our purpose in traveling to Hawaii was to attend the Pacific Branch Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. I stayed at the Ala Moana 2 miles west of the Pacific Branch hotel so I could get a good walk each morning and evening.
Sunday morning I flew to Los Angeles and then on to Honolulu. Last year I watched as orthodox Jewish children watched a video with other children. This year I saw something I've never seen in a airport before. A man practicing his French Horn. Only in LA.
The conference was held Monday through Wednesday at the Pacific Beach hotel in south Waikiki next to the Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant. Most of the presentations were about invasive species and their control. My favorite symposium was on honoring Dr. Monora Tomashiro, emeritus professor of entomology at the University of Hawaii. Several of his graduate students talked about their experiences working with him. It was very uplifting.
Dr. Tomashiro, his wife, and former student Faith Oi
Monday afternoon was the finals of the NCAA basketball tournament. The game started at 9 pm East Coast time which means in Honolulu it was 3 pm. We left the conference early and went to the bar at the Cheeseburger in Paradise to watch the game. The place was packed with Carolina fans. It was gratifying watching their dismay when Villanova won at the buzzer. Monday evening we took one of our cooperators, Dr. Mike Rust and his wife to dinner at the Top of Waikiki restaurant. It is a circular restaurant on top of a building. The restaurant turns one revolution every hour.
Thursday we spent the day with Dr. Julian Yates inspecting the 5 houses that have been treated with Altriset. My boss was pleased to see that all of the houses were clear of termites. It was a long week in the islands, particularly the red eye flight back to the mainland.

Random Thoughts from an Urban Entomologist