10.15.09 -- Hawaii

Hawaii, NASA Visible Earth

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Thursday, October 15, 2009

Puzzle by Victor Fleming, edited by Will Shortz

HONOLULU (25A. Capital whose name means “sheltered bay), BARACK OBAMA (54A. Politician born 8/4/61 in 25-Across), BETTE MIDLER (17A. Entertainer born 12/1/45 in 25-Across), IOLANI PALACE (34A. With 36-Across, only official residence of a reigning monarch now in the United States), MAUNA KEA (44A. Measured base to peak, the world’s tallest mountain) and HAWAII (43D. Theme of this puzzle) are the interrelated group of this Thursday commemorative crossword -- this year, Hawaii marks 50 years of statehood.

Other -- ACHTUNG (13D. German warning), CHERUBIC (11D. Innocent-looking), DEAR ANN (38D. Start of a letter to Landers), IOWA CITY (34D. It’s west of Davenport), MADE HAY (7D. Seized the opportunity), ONE-UPPED (35D. Outdid); PIPELINE (12D. Oil conduit) and PETE SAMPRAS (40A. With 37-Down, seven-time Wimbledon champ).

Six-letter -- AKIN TO (57A. Comparable with); ALDENS (31D. Priscilla and John); AMELIA (2D. English princess after whom a Virginia county is named); ARABIA (15A. “Aladdin” setting), ARCARO (41D. Five-time Kentucky Derby winner); DEBASE (1D. Cheapen); GINNED (60A. Went out, in a card game); LA BREA (46A. Los Angeles fossil site); NAMATH (5A. The Jets’ retired #12); PAYING (33A. Like most customers); PEER IN (40d. Look through a window, maybe); PLAY AT (22D. Dabble in); SEAMED (42D. Like pant legs); 23A. “High SIERRA,” 1941 film; SONDRA (37A. Actress Locke of “The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter”); TITTER (3D. Nervous laugh).

Five -- AETNA (24D. Hartford-based Fortune 500 company); ALTAR (20A. Union site) and ATTAR (4D. It may smell like a rose); APTLY (31A. In a suitable way); A WEEK (39A. Every seven days); BABEL (48D. Early tower locale); CABIN (30A. Rustic digs); DONAT (38A. Actor Robert of “The 39 Steps”); KHAKI (45D. Uniform fabric); MACAW (52A. One talking in a forest, maybe); OCALA (26D. Seat of Marion County, Fla.); PANEL (33D. Talk show group); PARKA (32D. Cold comfort?); TIE-IN (9D. Marketing device).

Short stuff -- ACTE, ARIL, AMO, ASH, ATE, BAG, CPA, DATA, EAR, EMIT, EPH, ERE and EREI, EXAM, HAR, HERA, HIC, KOD, LEOI and LODI, NAM, PCPS, POT, PRET, RIP, SYD, XLI.

Aloha!

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Remaining clues -- Across: 1. Crunched numbers; 11. No. cruncher; 14. Spew; 19. Book after Galatians: Abbr.; 21. Earliest pope to receive the title “the Great”; 22. ___-a-porter; 27. Hammer site; 28. Something to prep for; 41. Common pollutant; 49. Some hallucinogens, for short; 50. Daughter of Cronus; 53. Potential swimsuit embarrassment; 58. “ … ___ saw Elba”; 59. Barrett of the original Pink Floyd; 61. Lombardy town. Down: 5. “China Beach” setting; 6. Relative of a husk; 10. Guffaw syllable; 18. Drop a pop-up, say; 29. Year Caligula was assassinated; 36. Ante destination; 47. Te ___; 51. Opéra division; 54. Do a marketing job; 55. Down for the count.