Hawaii

HONOLULU -- Richard Tajiri sits in the air-conditioned trailer parked on his Christmas tree lot -- "come on, it's cooler in here," he insists -- and recalls a customer who spent two days choosing her tree. "People here live for that Christmas tree," he says. "It's very important to them, and they can be very picky. Money is not a matter." Good thing. Like much else in Hawaii -- with the exception of pineapples, sugar, leis and macadamia nuts -- Christmas trees are neither inexpensive nor indigenous.

WAIANAE, Hawaii -- The home sits on property with a million-dollar view, but its plastic roof is held down by bungee cords, its only source of lighting is a few crude lanterns, its floor is covered with sand. From here, Bert Bustamante looks out on paradise. Each evening, the sunset turns the Pacific Ocean several shades of pink and orange, turquoise and glowing blue. The dolphins come, and the whales, sometimes the seals. Bustamante's children surf and swim; his son goes out with spear and net and brings home fish and octopus and squid for dinner.

MAJURO, Marshall Islands -- A half-dozen people, birth mothers and baby sitters, sat on couches or on the floor in a modern house, holding gurgling newborns destined for adoption by American couples. Some of the infants already had been matched with American parents. Among them was Rosita Lamgrin, 21, who had just given birth to her fifth child, the first she'd decided to give up for adoption. In a nearby bedroom, another mother was changing a diaper. Cuddling a soon-to-be adopted baby was Lina Morris, operator of the Pacific Children Adoption Agency, who pioneered the Marshall Islands to Hawaii commerce in mothers and their newborns.

Given Robert Vigorito's endurance as a six-time finisher of the world-famous Ironman Triathlon event in Hawaii, many figured that his tenure with the Columbia Triathlon Association would go on forever. Those who did might be surprised to hear that Vigorito - or simply "Vigo," as he is called by many - is retiring from the organization he helped create. Vigorito, who will turn 65 in March, announced Friday that he was ending his 26-year run as CEO and race director of what is one of the area's oldest and most prestigious endurance events.

HILO, Hawaii -- He is quicker with a smile than his father was. And clearly he is what is known as a "people person," something his dad definitely was not. Yet the physical resemblance is striking. When Valparaiso plays Minnesota in the opening round of the Big Island Invitational at 9:30 tonight, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jr. will be making his collegiate debut.A freshman who redshirted last year, Abdul-Jabbar, 6 feet 6, will come off the bench as a small forward. He was not heavily recruited out of Brentwood High School.

Hungry for more? Find recipes for Chicken Hawaii and Double-Lemon Bars at baltimoresun.com/taste

On March 6, 2004 WILLIAM H. HOFFMAN, SR., 94, of Kauai, Hawaii. Formerly of Baltimore.

On February 5, 2004 ARNOLD J. HOFFMAN, MD, 69 of Kauai, Hawaii. Formerly of Baltimore.

On August 16, 2003 RONALD WAYNE CALLAHAN, Age 60 of Kailua, Hawaii formerly of Baltimore, MD, born on August 24, 1942 in Bedford, Maine. Retired as a Social Worker from Department HR. Survived by daughters, Lisa Patterson of Reisterstown, Rhonda Andrews of Finksburg; sister Barbara Beasman Hicks of Kailua, Hawaii and six grandchildren. Privates Services were held in Hawaii.

Good morning --Jonathan Ogden-- It's been a long year but at least your season ends with a trip to Hawaii.