AMAZING ANIMALS

Crazy for Cats Cats, cats, cats. With 88.3 million cats in U.S. households, they've replaced dogs (74.8 million) as America's most popular pet. That's a lot of kitty litter. What is it about these sharp-clawed predators that fascinates us? Ask the ancient Egyptians, who kept them as pets 4000 years ago. Read more... Devoted to Dogs Dogs. So loyal, they allow themselves to be humiliated. What makes a dog man's best friend? In a recent study, 70 poochless people were asked to match photos of 41 dog owners with the breed of dog they owned: Labrador, poodle or Staffordshire bull terrier. The results? They were right more than half of the time (they should have been right only a third of the time)! Which suggests that when someone says, "she looks like a poodle kind of girl," they're probably right. Read more... Fascinating Frogs: Poison Dart Frog The vibrant colors of these tiny frogs is a clear signal: Predators Beware! Found in the hot and humid rainforests of Central and Latin America, these frogs have been used for centuries by Amerindian tribes in Columbia to coat the tips of blowgun darts and arrows. A steady diet of toxic insects, such as ants, is what makes these frogs lethal. Read more... Fascinating Frogs: Surinam Toad The Surinam toad is one nature's most unusual creatures. It's actually a frog, which spends its entire life cycle in tropical South American rivers and canals. Read more... Sea Otter How much do you know about those lovable, fur-faced acrobats twisting and diving in kelp beds? Sea otters are one of the few mammals, aside from primates (monkeys and apes), to use tools. Floating on the surface of the water, they sometimes place a rock on their chest, using it as a hard surface to smash open shelled food like clams and abalone. Have you ever wondered how otters carry all that stuff to the surface? In their armpits, in loose skin folds! Try that with an urchin--better yet, don't try it. Read more... Visit Origami n' Stuff 4 Kids for more origami, crafts and learning fun!

HAWAII FACTS & FUN

Geography Kaumana Cave Mauna Loa erupted spectacularly in 1880, illuminating the skies above Hilo. Fiery jets of gas and lava were launched thousands of feet skyward, and could be seen from afar... Mauna Kea Mauna Kea ("White Mountain") is a dormant volcano on Hawai'i Island, the youngest, largest and southernmost island in the Hawaiian Archipelago. At 13,796 feet, Mauna Kea is the highest volcano in Hawai'i. Hawaiian History and Legends Kamehameha, The Lonely One Legend surrounds the birth and death of Hawaii's greatest warrior-king. It is said that he was born on a stormy night, during which a bright star, Kokoiki, appeared in the heavens. Some historians believe that Kokoiki refers to Halley's Comet... The Legend of Hinaikeahi and Hinaikawai The legend of Maui's sisters, Hinaikeahi and Hinaikawai, is perhaps the most fantastic of the tales surrounding the Hala'i Hills. The Legend of Kauila at Punalu'u Long, long ago, a magnificent turtle appeared on the moonlit shores of Punalu'u. Honu-po'o-kea was no ordinary sea turtle.... Hawaiian Wildlife Hawaiian Monk Seal On July 6, 2000, the residents on the island of Kauai were treated to a very special event. A baby Hawaiian monk seal, or pup, was born on the shores of Poipu beach... Hawaiian Tree Snail (Pupu Kani Oe) Imagine walking through a tropical Hawaiian forest and hearing a faint song rising from the tangled brush. Where is it coming from? Is it coming from the trees? The ferns? The grass? Humpback Whale Visit Hawai'i during the winter months, and you may be lucky enough to see humpback whales... 'I'iwi What's that squeaky song? Peering through tree ferns, you spy a red bird high in the rainforest canopy... Kamehameha Butterfly The pulelehua, or Kamehameha butterfly, is one of only two butterflies that are native to Hawai'i... 'Opihi "Got 'opihi?" It's the question asked at every Hawaiian lu'au... Pacific Green Sea Turtle Did you know that all the hatchlings in the nest of the Pacific green sea turtle are either male or female? The sex of the turtles is determined by the temperature of the nest... Pueo (Hawaiian Short-eared Owl) What is it about owls that inspires so many myths and legends? Owls are a symbol of wisdom; their watchful eyes penetrate the darkness, seeing all... Multiculturalism in Hawai'i Aloha Festival Think September and you think of Labor Day and going back to school after a long, hot summer. In Hawaii, September also brings the Aloha Festival. Tango-no-sekku, the Boy's Day Festival On May 5th, Japanese families throughout Hawaii display beautiful carp banners outside their homes. Called koi-nobori, each streamer traditionally symbolizes a son in the household. The largest carp at the top represents the eldest son, while the littlest at the bottom represents the youngest boy. Hina Matsuri, the Girl's Day Festival Hina Matsuri is the annual Girls' Day Festival celebrated on March 3 by Japanese and Okinawan families in Hawai'i.

SUPER SCIENCE

Science: The Aurora Borealis Auroras are brilliant curtains of light most often seen in the polar regions. In the north they are called the Aurora Borealis (Aurora, after the Roman Goddess of Dawn, and Borealis, Greek for "north wind") and are most often seen from September to October and from March to April. In the south they are called the Aurora Australis (Australis, Latin for "south"), and can best be viewed from September to May. Read more... Science: Soap NASA astronaut Don Pettit experiments with candy corn aboard the International Space Station to demonstrate the hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties of soap. From NPR's Science Friday, April 10, 2009. Hosted by Ira Flatow. So how does soap work? And just what is Dr. Don Pettit saying? Read more... Science: Space Shuttle Since 1981, six Space Shuttles, or STSs (Space Transportation Systems) as NASA calls them, have flown on more than 120 missions, carrying payloads weighing up to 50,000 pounds--that's as heavy as four full grown elephants! While there are no plans to launch elephants into space, there's plenty of work to do, shuttling satellites, telescopes and parts for the International Space Station (ISS) into low-Earth orbit. Read more...