"Our plover have arrived at Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center in Punalu'u," reported Robin Makapagal, happy as a mother whose children have just returned from college. "The front-yard kolea came back Aug. 4 and our backyard kolea came back a couple of days later. It feels like the family is home."

Ann Williamson lives above the back nine at MidPacific Country Club. She looked out her window and spotted her first kolea of the season. "It made me smile," she said. "I don't know what it is about those birds that make me glad when they come and sad when they go."

There is no question that Our Honolulu is a happier place now that the kolea are back. Makapagal said it's like something was missing when they were gone. The return of the kolea has become a ritual, like the bon dance season or ching ming.

This year the kolea beat me back from my vacation. I'm swamped with kolea reports by phone and e-mail, more than 40 from all over the island. The first report came in on July 29: five male kolea on Kahala Beach, looking good.

The next day our most experienced kolea watcher, Lenny Penn, security man at the Punchbowl cemetery, reported in. His favorite kolea was Gertrude, until last year when she didn't show up. On July 30 he called in the morning to say four kolea had arrived at the cemetery. In the afternoon the total had risen to seven.

After that the snow birds came faster and faster. On Aug. 2 a plover lover who calls himself Manukolea took his morning walk and gave the following report: one kolea on Diamond Head Road, a very large male on 22nd Avenue, one at Variety School, 10 at Hunakai Park including three stay-backers seen earlier, and 10 more at Kahala Community Park.

People keep asking, "Isn't it early for kolea to come back in July?" It isn't, because last year two kolea were spotted by sharp-eyed watchers on the University of Hawai'i campus on July 29. More reports came in on July 30, 31 and Aug. 1.

I made my first kolea count on the fields behind Kaimuki High School on Saturday morning and saw seven. The next day I counted 10. Monday the total zoomed to 15 and rose to 16 yesterday. I watched for 40 minutes while two kolea disputed over territory, wondering how it would come out.

A scruffy male chased a handsome female around and around but she refused to leave. It was done gracefully and elegantly, not a blow struck. The argument was more like a ballet with time out to rest between acts. They were still going at it when I went off to breakfast.

This year some male kolea have returned from Alaska wearing their mating tuxedos. Several plover lovers have asked if this is normal. I'm not sure. I'll have to ask kolea expert Wally Johnson and report back.

It seems incredible a wild animal can make us feel better by invading our lawns. Even more so because wild animals usually don't mix with city folks.

Reach Bob Krauss at 525-8073.