HONOLULU, HAWAII: The abundant and varied marine life that inhabits Hawaii's magnificent Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve speaks to all who visit in the universal language of natural beauty. That's a given. What administrators of the popular tourist destination had to contend with is the practical language gulf it faces in educating visitors from around the world of the treasures of the site. One treasure in particular being the coral reef that rings an ancient volcano crater, inundated by the rising ocean level thousands of years ago, that is accessible by a visitor's trolley.

The solution: a new marine education center using state-of-the-art audio technology coupled with a carefully crafted crowd management system. Key to the PA is a Sennheiser infrared (IR) wireless system for the center's seven-minute, multiple language audio-video orientation. Frequently faced with a multi-cultural mix among its one million annual visitors, the city and the county of Honolulu hinged its informational, safety and environmental preservation program on an effective communications system.

As visitors enter the site and purchase tickets, they file into a 1,600-square-foot theatre in groups of about 125 people, about 75 of whom would use the translation headsets. Using a wireless touch panel controller, a system operator activates four Pioneer DVD players that have presentations recorded in different languages, initially English, Chinese, Hawaiian, Korean and Japanese. The DVD players are linked together with a Dave Jones synchronizer. While one primary language, often determined by the predominant makeup of each group, is delivered over ceiling-installed speakers, other languages are transmitted via an infrared light signal to Sennheiser HDI1029-PLL8 multi-channel receiver headphones.

While standing up or leaning against rails visitors select the language they want from one of eight possible channels, and view a seven-minute video clip projected onto a 9 ft. high by 14 ft. wide Draper screen. In addition, a 42-inch Sony plasma unit delivers close-captioned information in English for the hearing-impaired. Afterwards, the doors to the preserve area open up and the theater is prepared for the next group.

The designer of the of new centers AV system, Chris Waidzunas, with Hawaii Pro Sound and Video, selected the Sennheiser infrared system for its track record of reliability and quality.

"We've installed other brands besides Sennheiser in past installations, but this equipment offered the best quality and durability for what we wanted in this project," Waidzunas says. "The headsets, which fit under the chin instead of over the head, are good-looking, have a contemporary design and are easy to use and comfortable. I've worked with a number of different types of equipment, but Sennheiser is my preference."

The Sennheiser system consists of two SI 29-5/NT five-channel rack-mounted modulators that combine signals from the DVD players into one infrared light signal sent to two ceiling-mounted SZI 1029-W emitter panels. The white emitter panels, installed high enough to avoid any interference, in turn transmit the infrared signal to the Sennheiser HDI 1029-PLL8 battery-powered headsets in the hands of visitors.

In addition to the two modulators and two emitter panels, the city's initial purchase included 75 of the multi-channel headsets; 150 pairs of EP 405L replacement latex ear cushions for the headsets; 50 BA 90 spare rechargeable headset batteries; and one L 2950-2/NT battery charger case.

The SI 29-5/NT modulators are mounted along with the additional audio-video equipment in a 70-inch tall mobile rack housed in a closet at the rear of the theatre room. The charger is also on a movable cart that's rolled out to the floor at day's end so the headsets batteries can be recharged overnight.

Waidzunas says an infrared wireless system was chosen over a radio frequency (RF) system because it's a "well-behaved, reliable technology that stays inside the room." RF is particularly challenging to use in Hawaii because of an abundance of military and government installations whose radio signals can disrupt RF transmissions.

Patrick Lee, sales manager for the Audio Visual Co. of Aiea, Hawaii who installed the system, says he endorsed the specification of Sennheiser equipment because of his experience with it in other installations.

"It's a very reliable system with nice off-axis coverage, with little dropout," Lee says. "The quality of the audio is very good."

Waidzunas says the Sennheiser system's reliability and ease of use was a key consideration for use in the center because it lacks staff trained in audio technology. With the site accommodating up to 3,500 visitors per day in a steady stream that must be acquainted with the attraction, the system must be as foolproof as possible, he says.

Installation of the audio system took about two weeks to complete, and was one of the last components to be installed in the new visitor's center, which was opened in mid-August. Additional languages, including possibly German, Spanish and French, will likely be added later, necessitating installation of another DVD player.

"We think this is going to be a good system for the center and we foresee them being able to really bring the Aloha spirit to those who speak different languages, allowing them to fully appreciate this park and its wildlife," says Lee.

EQUIPMENT LIST:
(   2)   SI 29-5/NT five channel rack mount modulators
(   2)   SZI 1029-W white emitter panels
(  75)  HDI 1029-PLL8 multi-channel receivers
(   1)   L 29-50-2/NT charger case
(  50)  BA 90 spare rechargeable batteries
(150)  EP 405L replacement ear cushions, latex, pairs