---

---

Native plants inspire literary collection

WATERMARK PUBLISHING

For generations, Hawaii's flowers and plants have inspired authors, poets and songwriters -- from the creation chant of the Kumulipo to the travelogues of Robert Louis Stevenson and Mark Twain.

Jim and Virginia Wageman's book, "A Literary Lei: Flowers & Plants of Hawai'i," matches images of 50 flowers and plants to excerpts from literature, popular song, prayers and native chant, with authors ranging from David Malo, on the sweet scent of the naio tree, to contemporary poet W.S. Merwin, on mountain ferns.

The book, from Watermark Publishing, sells for $19.95 in paperback. Jim Wageman will be signing copies of the book as follows: tomorrow, noon at Borders Ward Centre; Sunday, noon at Borders Waikele; June 12, 2 p.m. at Borders Express, Pearlridge; June 18, noon at Borders Express, Kahala Mall; July 23, noon at Borders Express, Windward Mall, and at "A Midsummer's Night Festival" at Foster Botanical Garden (see right for details).

For more information, call 587-7766.

---

BACK TO TOP
|

---

Modern technology gives pools a natural look

Backyard pools have come a long way, from sterile rectangular or lap styles to organic, free-form shapes. These days, even more artifice is required to create the "back to nature" ambience people dream of.

"Now homeowners are going for more amenities (such as) hydrotherapy spas and adding rock features, including meandering river paths and waterfalls, to match their tropical landscaping," said Norman Perry, vice president of All Pool & Spa. "They want it to look as though God built it last week."

Perry said the trend is already big in Hawaii but is also taking off in Arizona, New Mexico and California.

Wendell Lee, head designer at The Groark Companies. in Kapolei, said, "(In) eight out of 10 residential projects, homeowners want a natural design that fits our tropical environment."

Pool designers achieve this by adding rock work to existing pools. The technical elements are disguised by lava rock boulders and glass fiber reinforced concrete, or GFRC. "The goal is to make it so you can't tell it's artificial," said Lee.

Existing pools can be upgraded for about $10,000 to $25,000 for an average-size pool of about 400 to 600 square feet, Lee said, "depending on how extravagant you want to get."

The existing pool structure must often be reinforced to support the rock and waterfall.

For those starting from scratch, adding water features can add about 25 to 35 percent to the cost of building a basic pool.

"You see these kind of water features going into the pools of higher-end homes, more predominantly as part of construction from the mid- to the upper end," Perry said. "Given the fact that the market has accelerated, with enough time they'll get their money back (in resale value) because of its uniqueness. That's what makes it attractive. Every one built is unique in and of itself."

Fiber-optic lighting adds flash

Most of us first encountered fiber-optic lighting in a smoky black-lit room plastered with fluorescent posters.

If there wasn't a lava lamp in view, there was usually one with thin strands of plastic, clumped together at the bottom and spread out at the top like half-cooked angel hair pasta, each lit up at its tip.

"That's fiber-optic. Not too many people know what it is," said Clarence Nishimoto, owner of Hawaii Fiber Optic Lighting, who's hoping that will change. "I'm trying to educate the public," he said. "It's gotten more sophisticated since then."

Now you might see them at work in signs and enhancing water features in ponds and pools.

What started in 2002 as a post-retirement hobby when Nishimoto landscaped his front yard after leaving his job at Verizon and relinquishing his auto repair business, is now a fledgling company. Business picked up after being mentioned in a local remodeling publication, and "I'm trying to spread the gospel about it," Nishimoto said.

His front yard is now a showcase for his work, featuring five ponds, three waterfalls, two rivers and two fountains.

"At night it's illuminated. ... The waterfall looks like lava, and it changes to eight different colors."

The light show runs from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily at 94-430 Niu St. in Mililani.

The illuminator, or light power source, can run from $100 to $2,000. The average cost of enhancing a waterfall over a pool is just under $1,000, excluding labor.

"You can be as creative as you want, but the more extravagant, of course, the more costly."

---