ISLAND HOPPING
Lend a hand on your vacation
Hanalei Colony Resort on Kauai’s North Shore and a nearby botanical garden are offering a Beach and Botany package that combines a tropical vacation with a volunteer project.
The five- and seven-day packages include at least two four-hour-per-day sessions at Limahuli Garden aiding with tasks in three activity levels, from easy to strenuous.
The prices range from $1,964 to $2,324 depending on dates and length of stay.
For reservations or more information, call toll free 800-628-3004, visit www.hcr.com or email aloha@hcr.com.
Prince Hotels offer seasonal specials
"Fall Into Winter" discounts are being offered at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel on Hawaii island, and at the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki.
Dates and beginning per night rates are:
» Waikiki, $189, Oct. 1-Dec. 27.
» Hapuna Beach, $189, Oct. 1-Dec. 22.
» Mauna Kea Beach, $299, Nov. 1-Dec. 17.
For details, visit www.PrinceResortsHawaii.com/Fall or call 866-774-6236.
GLOBE TROTTING
‘Star Wars’ is coming to Legoland
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. » Legoland Florida says it will expand to add an interactive "Star Wars"-themed area in November.
The Central Florida theme park made the announcement Thursday.
Star Wars Miniland will include Lego scenes from the six-movie series of films as well as the animated "Clone Wars" television series.
The section will follow a chronological path through the "Star Wars" timeline. Some of the 2,000 Lego models will be more than 6 feet high. Visitors will be able to activate animations throughout the scenes using interactive buttons.
Memorial presents events for 9/11
PITTSBURGH » The Flight 93 National Memorial in southwestern Pennsylvania is holding four days of special programs leading up to the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Scheduled events include:
» A panel examining how children experienced 9/11 and expressed their feelings through letters and art.
» Talks by journalists who filed the first dispatches from the crash site near Shanksville, about 75 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.
» A discussion by members of FBI investigation teams who worked at the crash site.
Other events are scheduled during the four days, including an array of 40 candle lanterns, a reading of the names of the 40 passengers and crew who died and musical performances.
United Flight 93 was traveling from Newark, N.J., when it was hijacked. It crashed after passengers and crew decided to fight the hijackers. The 9/11 Commission said the terrorists likely wanted to crash the plane into the White House or the U.S. Capitol.
A full schedule of events is available at the park website, www.nps.gov/flni/index.htm.
Wisconsin fall colors arrive early
MADISON, Wis. » Fall colors are starting to show in Wisconsin a little ahead of schedule.
Trent Marty, who directs the Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Forest Protection, says the warm summer days recently along with the cooler nights help bring the colors out.
The Mercer area in northern Wisconsin is already at 30 percent peak, and the Medford and Hayward areas — just a little south — are at 20 percent peak.
Marty says even though there were heat and drought conditions in southern Wisconsin, the forests are in good shape.
The intensity of the fall color season is dependent on the weather in September and October.
