Gail Watson Omura is the "Mrs. Dolittle" of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa, where ducks, ibis and penguins mingle with guests, and swans attend weddings by the pond, walk down the aisle and pose for pictures with the bride and groom. At least, that's what Omura says.

Who am I to disbelieve? An hour with Omura taught me stuff I never knew about swans. For example, if you stand in the way of a swan that's walking toward you, it will stop and wait until you go away. That's because it can't turn aside — it can only walk in a straight line.

Omura's favorite swan is Hihimanu, an imaginary bird that she has turned into the hero of a children's book she has titled "Have You Ever Seen a Swan Smile?" Swans smile with their eyes, according to Omura.

Her favorite animal at the hotel is Mana, the book's rascal penguin, who is spoiled rotten. That's because his father died while he was still feeding the baby penguin, so humans had to finish the job by hand-feeding. Now Mana adores people.

He's also a ham. During the filming of a talk show, Mana knew exactly where the camera was all the time.

"He's like a puppy dog," Omura says.

She claims that a swan is no different than a cat or a dog.

"They trust, they love, but with a bird you have to be more careful," she said. "Ducks are street-smart about knowing who feeds them. Swans are more adventurous and curious, a little aloof. They're beautiful and they know it."

The turtles in the pond get along OK with the penguins but they do not exactly sparkle with personality. Omura did witness how a mother turtle spanks her rebellious offspring.

"A guest called me over to the pond. I looked down and there was a mother turtle shaking her baby by one leg in her mouth under the water. I was afraid she was trying to drown it. But she let go. They came to the surface and the small turtle chased the mother as it was angry."

Omura thinks flamingos are elegant.

"The flock sleeps together, moves together, always as a group. They have a unique way of arguing. When they argue, one moves its head back and forth so the other can't peck it."

Sacred ibis are the most regal and the most mysterious, she said. She had a strange experience with one. While seated at her desk as the Hilton Grand Vacations Club coordinator, she noticed that the flamingos were in a dither, scattering here and there.

Omura went out to investigate and a gorgeous flamingo feather floated toward her on the water. A sacred ibis looked up at her, then plucked the feather from the water and laid it at her feet.

These and other adventures with the animals inspired her to write her book, which is a fairy tale based on the Hilton Hawaiian Village animals.

Reach Bob Krauss at 525-8073.