Amateur Astronomy?

I know that on the big island astronomy is somewhere around the #3
employer. But that's the professionals. Are there many amateur
astronomers out there, taking advantage of the light pollution
regulations and enjoying dark skies?

David Wallace <daw@world.std.com> wrote in message news:<1062743710-sch@news.lava.net>...
> I know that on the big island astronomy is somewhere around the #3
> employer. But that's the professionals. Are there many amateur
> astronomers out there, taking advantage of the light pollution
> regulations and enjoying dark skies?

hi david,

i don't know the answer to your question, but you're right, the skies
from the highlands on the big island are beautiful.

i'm interested in david's question applied to maui. actually, i have
an even simpler question - where's a good place to go set up and view?
down where i am in lahaina you can find dark skies but there's a lot
of turbulance. heading up to hosmer grove is a long ways to go. are
there any dark sky sites up in olinda, or maybe over towards pukalani
or makawao where there are less clouds? i was thinking of a park or a
trailhead.

thanks,
keith