HAWAII MAGIC

LANAI, HAWAII - Some tourist destinations advertise they have places where you can swim with dolphins. Here, the dolphins swim with you.

After a round of golf at The Challenge at Manele, a poorly named but wonderful layout on the Hawaiian island of Lanai (pronounced Lan-ay-ee), yours truly had a chance to take in a few minutes at Hulopoe Bay near the Four Seasons at Manele Bay. I'd seen a few spinner dolphins in the bay when I get to the beach, and they were fun to watch. They love to play by launching themselves in the air and doings rapid-fire spins or even backflips.

What I didn't know until I saw others out in the bay is that they love showing off for humans. It's awesome to watch them do their stunts and tricks from up close, and it's even more awe-inspiring to don a mask and snorkel and let them dance and swim around you in a group of 25 or 30. Truly one of the most amazing experiences of a lifetime.

CRIME WAVE

The Lanai Police Department gave out three speeding tickets in October, according to the Lanai Today newspaper. Apparently, folks got the message as that dropped to zero in November.

And you thought the Maytag repairman was lonely.

CAN CON

A stop for lunch at the Blue Ginger Cafe in Lanai City (a town of a couple thousand folks) reveals a great plate of Chicken Katsu (deep-fried, battered chicken that's sliced into small sections and doused with a sweet sauce) that weighs about a pound, including rice and salad, for ten bucks. The cafe also has a small section of magazines and books to read. Prominently displayed the other day was a copy of Alice Munro's novel, The View from Castle Rock.