Yes, new project gives a hoot about Hawaiian owl

In the interest of pueo protection and research, state officials are asking the public to submit information about sightings of the Hawaiian owl, an endemic subspecies listed by the state as endangered on Oahu.

Such spottings may be folded into a yearlong project started last month, which aims to to survey the pueo’s population size, location and habitats. It will help guide methods for surveyors to gauge populations, including on lands slated for development, and help the state better manage the pueo, considered sacred in Native Hawaiian circles and known as an aumakua (ancestral guardian) that protects people from harm. For more information, see www.pueoproject.com.

Hawaii high on Vietnam vets’ R&R list

As veterans mark 50 years after the Vietnam War, the most indelible memory for many was the time spent away from it: on Rest and Recuperation (R&R). According to numerous Web accounts, Hawaii was the most popular of the R&R spots. But, because it was within the U.S., it was basically reserved for married soldiers because wives and families could meet them here without visa troubles.

It also required soldiers to spend a longer period in Vietnam first before they qualified for the trip — six months instead of three, more than most of the destinations. Good things are worth the wait.