When you think of a paradise on Earth, our youngest and one of our loveliest states comes to mind.

Hawaii, which became the 50th U.S. state in 1959, is best known for its beautiful scenery, moderate temperatures and the surrounding warm waters that make it so inviting to the several million vacationers each year.

Tourists flock to the islands to enjoy world-famous beaches, view spectacular vistas and attend lively parties called luaus, where they may learn to do the hula, the traditional dance of the islands.

Dancing is Hawaii's most famous art and the symbol of the islands. The hula, which means dance in the Hawaiian language, is done to traditional island music that features the steel guitar, which was invented about 1895 by Hawaiian musician Joseph Kekuku.

A small guitar called a ukulele, which means "leaping flea" in Hawaiian, may also accompany hula dancers as they sway their hips and wave their arms to the rhythms the instruments produce. The dancers' movements interpret stories of the islands' Polynesian ancestors and often are accompanied by chants and drumming.

Arriving visitors may be greeted with circles of flowers called leis and a traditional welcome greeting of "Aloha."

I made a little hula dancer with instructions I found at www.craftsforkids.com on the Web and modified the directions for our use.

Supplies you need:

• Wood craft stick

• Wood doll pin stand

• Chenille stems, 1 each green and tan

• 2 small (three-eighth inch) pompoms

• Embroidery floss in green and black

• Tacky glue or low-temp glue gun

• Red and black fine-tip markers.

To make the skirt: bend the green stem around the stick to measure the distance for the waistband of the skirt, plus one-fourth inch. Tightly coil the remaining stem around a pencil. Cut the green embroidery floss into 8-inch lengths.

Tie each strand around the stem with a lark's head knot. (Fold the floss in half, bring the loop over the top from the back and bring the ends through loop. Pull tight.) Wrap the skirt around the stick and twist to secure. Glue the end of the coil to the doll pin stand.

For hair: Wrap black embroidery floss around a 5-inch piece of cardboard 10 times. Remove the cardboard and tie at the center. Cut loop ends and glue to the top of the stick.

For arms: Cut tan stem in half. Glue half of the stem centered on the back of the stick. Bend stems at elbows and hands.

Glue two pompoms on stick for a bodice and draw eyes and mouth above.