diff --git a/bin/api b/bin/api
index b62f155..baba2db 100755
--- a/bin/api
+++ b/bin/api
@@ -11,22 +11,38 @@ function fatal(msg) {
   process.exit(1);
 }
 
-var bindTo = config.process.api;
+function credentialsFunc(id, callback) {
+  db.getAuthKey(id, function (err, key){
+    if (err) return callback(err);
+
+    var credentials = {
+        id: id,
+        key: key,
+        algorithm: 'hmac-sha-256',
+        user: id
+    };
+
+    return callback(null, credentials);
+  });
+}
+
+var apiOptions = config.hapi;
+apiOptions.auth.getCredentialsFunc = credentialsFunc;
+
 // Create a server with a host and port
-var server = new Hapi.Server(bindTo.host, bindTo.port, config.hapi);
+var bindTo = config.process.api;
+var server = new Hapi.Server(bindTo.host, bindTo.port, apiOptions);
 
 console.log("api starting up");
 
-server.on('bound', function(host, port) {
-  console.log("running on http://" + host + ":" + port);
-});
-
 // now load up api handlers
 apiLoader(server, function(err) {
   if (err) fatal(err);
   db.connect(config.db, function() {
     // Start the server
-    server.start();
+    server.start(function() {
+      console.log("running on http://" + server.settings.host + ":" + server.settings.port);
+    });
   });
 });
 
diff --git a/client/client.js b/client/client.js
index 7330ae7..8768a41 100644
--- a/client/client.js
+++ b/client/client.js
@@ -1,12 +1,19 @@
 if (typeof GombotCrypto === 'undefined') {
   var GombotCrypto = require('./crypto.js');
 }
+if (typeof URLParse === 'undefined') {
+  var URLParse = require('./urlparse.js');
+}
 
-;(function() {
+(function() {
 
-GombotClient = function(host, port) {
-  this.host = host;
-  this.port = port;
+GombotClient = function(path) {
+  var url = URLParse(path);
+
+  this.scheme = url.scheme;
+  this.host   = url.host;
+  this.port   = url.port;
+  this.path   = url.path || '';
 };
 
 var xhr = typeof jQuery !== 'undefined' ? jQuery.ajax : require('xhrequest');
@@ -21,8 +28,11 @@ function request(args, cb) {
   var req = {
     url: url,
     method: method,
+    type: method,
     data: args.data,
-    headers: {},
+    //dataType: 'json',
+    //accepts: {json: 'application/json'},
+    headers: args.headers || {},
     success: function(data, res, status) {
       try {
         var body = JSON.parse(data);
@@ -32,16 +42,24 @@ function request(args, cb) {
       body.session_context = {};
       cb(null, body);
     },
+    processData: false,
     error: function(data, res, status) {
       cb('Error: ' + data + '\nStatus: ' + status);
     }
   };
   if (method == 'PUT' || method == 'POST') {
-    req.headers['Content-Type'] = 'application/json';
+    req.contentType = req.headers['Content-Type'] = 'application/json';
   }
   xhr(url, req);
 }
 
+function mergeArgs(args, def) {
+  args.scheme = def.scheme;
+  args.host = args.host || def.host;
+  args.port = args.port || def.port;
+  return args;
+}
+
 GombotClient.prototype = {
   // get "session context" from the server
   context: function(args, cb) {
@@ -49,28 +67,55 @@ GombotClient.prototype = {
       cb = args;
       args = {};
     }
-    args.host = args.host || this.host;
-    args.port = args.port || this.port;
+    args = mergeArgs(args, this);
     args.method = 'get';
-    args.path = '/v1/context';
+    args.path = this.path + '/v1/context';
 
     request(args, cb);
   },
   account: function(args, cb) {
-    args.host = args.host || this.host;
-    args.port = args.port || this.port;
-    args.method = 'put';
-    args.path = '/v1/account';
+    var self = this;
+    args = mergeArgs(args, this);
+    args.method = 'post';
+    args.path = this.path + '/v1/account';
 
     // compute the authKey
-    var keys = GombotCrypto.derive({
+    var headers = GombotCrypto.derive({
         email: args.email,
-        password: args.password
+        password: args.pass
       }, function(err, r) {
+        self.authKey = r.authKey;
         args.data = JSON.stringify({email: args.email, pass: r.authKey});
         // send request with authKey as the password
         request(args, cb);
       });
+  },
+  status: function(args, cb) {
+    args = mergeArgs(args, this);
+    args.method = 'get';
+    args.path = this.path + '/v1/status';
+
+    var url = args.scheme ? args.scheme : 'http';
+    url += '://' + args.host;
+    if (args.port) url += ':' + args.port;
+    url += args.path;
+
+    // compute the authKey
+    GombotCrypto.sign({
+        email: args.email,
+        key: args.key,
+        url: url,
+        host: args.host,
+        port: args.port,
+        method: args.method,
+        nonce: args.nonce,
+        date: args.date
+      }, function(err, r) {
+        if (err) return cb(err);
+        args.headers = r;
+        // send request with authKey as the password
+        request(args, cb);
+      });
   }
 };
 
diff --git a/client/crypto.js b/client/crypto.js
index 1891f9f..586fab0 100644
--- a/client/crypto.js
+++ b/client/crypto.js
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ if (typeof URLParse === 'undefined') {
   var URLParse = require('./urlparse.js');
 }
 
+if (typeof Hawk  === 'undefined') {
+  var Hawk = require('hawk');
+}
+
 var GombotCrypto = (function() {
   // the number of rounds used in PBKDF2 to generate a stretched derived
   // key from a user password.
@@ -115,48 +119,56 @@ var GombotCrypto = (function() {
       if (typeof cb !== 'function')
         throw new Error("missing required callback argument");
 
-      // how about if the key is poorly formated?
-      var keyBits = sjcl.codec.base64.toBits(args.key);
-
       // normalize method
       args.method = args.method.toUpperCase();
 
-      args.url = URLParse(args.url);
-      // add a port if default is in use
-      if (!args.url.port) {
-        args.url.port = (args.url.scheme === 'https' ? '443' : '80');
-      }
+      // how about if the key is poorly formated?
+      //var keyBits = sjcl.codec.base64.toBits(args.key);
+
+      var url = URLParse(args.url);
+      //// add a port if default is in use
+      //if (!args.url.port) {
+        //args.url.port = (args.url.scheme === 'https' ? '443' : '80');
+      //}
 
       setTimeout(function() {
         // see https://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-ietf-oauth-v2-http-mac-01
         // for normalization procedure
-        var hmac = new sjcl.misc.hmac(keyBits);
-        var body =
-          // string representation of seconds since epoch
-          args.date.toString() + "\n" +
-          // random nonce
-          args.nonce + '\n' +
-          // normalized method
-          args.method + '\n' +
-          // path
-          args.path + '\n' +
-          // hostname
-          args.host + '\n' +
-          // port
-          args.port + '\n' +
-          // payload
-          args.payload + '\n';
+        //var hmac = new sjcl.misc.hmac(keyBits);
+        //var body =
+          //// string representation of seconds since epoch
+          //args.date.toString() + "\n" +
+          //// random nonce
+          //args.nonce + '\n' +
+          //// normalized method
+          //args.method + '\n' +
+          //// path
+          //args.path + '\n' +
+          //// hostname
+          //args.host + '\n' +
+          //// port
+          //args.port + '\n' +
+          //// payload
+          //args.payload + '\n';
 
-        var mac = sjcl.codec.base64.fromBits(hmac.mac(body));
+        //var mac = sjcl.codec.base64.fromBits(hmac.mac(body));
 
-        // now formulate the authorization header.
-        var val =
-          'MAC id="' + args.email + '", ' +
-          'ts="' + args.date + '", ' +
-          'nonce="' + args.nonce + '", ' +
-          'mac="' + mac + '"';
+        //// now formulate the authorization header.
+        //var val =
+          //'MAC id="' + args.email + '", ' +
+          //'ts="' + args.date + '", ' +
+          //'nonce="' + args.nonce + '", ' +
+          //'mac="' + mac + '"';
 
-        var headers = { "Authorization": val };
+        var credentials = {
+          id: args.email,
+          key: args.key,
+          algorithm: 'hmac-sha-256'
+        };
+
+        var headers = {
+          Authorization: Hawk.getAuthorizationHeader(credentials, args.method, args.url, url.host, url.port, args.nonce, args.date)
+        };
 
         // and pass a bag of calculated authorization headers (only one)
         // back to the client
diff --git a/etc/config.js b/etc/config.js
index 80b1c3a..0b0949a 100644
--- a/etc/config.js
+++ b/etc/config.js
@@ -21,7 +21,10 @@ var config = module.exports = {
   },
   hapi: {
     name: "Gombot API Server",
-    docs: true
+    docs: true,
+    auth: {
+      scheme: 'hawk'
+    }
   },
   db: {
     hosts: [ 'localhost:8091' ],
diff --git a/lib/api/v1/account.js b/lib/api/v1/account.js
index b0e904f..f692289 100644
--- a/lib/api/v1/account.js
+++ b/lib/api/v1/account.js
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@ var B = Hapi.Types.Boolean,
     S = Hapi.Types.String;
 
 module.exports = {
-  method: 'PUT',
+  method: 'POST',
   handler: handler,
   config: {
-    auth: false,
+    auth: {
+      mode: 'none'
+    },
     description: 'Stage a new account',
     schema: {
       email: B(),
@@ -22,7 +24,6 @@ module.exports = {
 };
 
 function handler(request) {
-  console.log('$$$$$$$$$$');
   db.stageAccount(request.payload, function(err) {
     if (err) request.reply(Hapi.Error.internal("error staging account"));
     request.reply({
diff --git a/lib/api/v1/context.js b/lib/api/v1/context.js
index aae8fdf..2619298 100644
--- a/lib/api/v1/context.js
+++ b/lib/api/v1/context.js
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@ module.exports = {
   method: 'GET',
   handler: handler,
   config: {
-    auth: false,
+    auth: {
+      mode: 'none'
+    },
     description: 'Get "context" for subsequent operations',
     response: {
       server_time: N(),
diff --git a/lib/api/v1/status.js b/lib/api/v1/status.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..82411d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/api/v1/status.js
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+var Hapi   = require('hapi');
+
+var B = Hapi.Types.Boolean;
+
+module.exports = {
+  method: 'GET',
+  handler: handler,
+  auth: {
+    mode: 'hawk'
+  },
+  config: {
+    description: 'Check authorization status',
+    response: {
+      success: B()
+    }
+  }
+};
+
+function handler(request) {
+  request.reply({
+    success: true
+  });
+}
diff --git a/lib/db/json.js b/lib/db/json.js
index 6af972f..9ff7218 100644
--- a/lib/db/json.js
+++ b/lib/db/json.js
@@ -7,17 +7,25 @@ module.exports = {
       db = {};
       cb(null);
     }, 0);
+    return this;
   },
   stageAccount: function(data, cb) {
     var account = {
       pass: data.pass,
       email: data.email,
-      staged: true
+      staged: false
+      //staged: true
     };
     setTimeout(function() {
       db[data.email] = account;
       cb(null);
     }, 0);
     return this;
+  },
+  getAuthKey: function(email, cb) {
+    setTimeout(function() {
+      cb(null, db[email].pass);
+    }, 0);
+    return this;
   }
 };
diff --git a/lib/views.js b/lib/views.js
index 0638df0..c61a441 100644
--- a/lib/views.js
+++ b/lib/views.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 const fs   = require('fs');
 const path = require('path');
+const db   = require('./db');
 
 // generated from public key during packaging
 var appid = 'gbmmgmjoeplelogofbnjpmkmpodpfaif';
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ function setup(app) {
   });
 
   app.post('/join_alpha', function(req, res) {
-    console.log('got new alpha user email:', req.param('email'));
+    console.log('got new alpha user email:', req.params.email);
     res.redirect('/download');
   });
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e5ecf22..3e613da 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -4,13 +4,14 @@
   "version": "0.0.1",
   "private": true,
   "dependencies": {
-    "hapi": "git://github.com/lloyd/hapi#7e6cf0",
+    "hapi": "0.9.2",
     "walkdir": "0.0.5",
     "express": "3.0.2",
     "nunjucks": "0.1.5",
     "irc": "0.3.3",
     "awsbox": "0.3.3",
-    "temp": "0.4.0"
+    "temp": "0.4.0",
+    "hawk": "0.0.6"
   },
   "optionalDependencies": {
     "couchbase": "0.0.4"
diff --git a/test/api.v1.account.js b/test/api.v1.account.js
index 4660e2a..3de8356 100644
--- a/test/api.v1.account.js
+++ b/test/api.v1.account.js
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ describe('the servers', function() {
       should.not.exist(err);
       should.exist(r);
       servers = r;
-      client = new Client(servers.host, servers.port);
+      client = new Client('http://' + servers.host + ':' + servers.port);
       done();
     });
   });
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ describe('/api/v1/account', function() {
   it('staging should return success', function(done) {
     client.account({
       email: 'foo',
-      password: 'bar'
+      pass: 'bar'
     }, function(err, r) {
       should.not.exist(err);
       should.exist(r);
diff --git a/test/api.v1.context.js b/test/api.v1.context.js
index 36d1839..cbfab53 100644
--- a/test/api.v1.context.js
+++ b/test/api.v1.context.js
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ describe('the servers', function() {
       should.not.exist(err);
       should.exist(r);
       servers = r;
-      client = new Client(servers.host, servers.port);
+      client = new Client('http://' + servers.host + ':' + servers.port);
       done();
     });
   });
diff --git a/test/api.v1.status.js b/test/api.v1.status.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1ca88db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/api.v1.status.js
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+const
+should = require('should'),
+runner = require('./lib/runner.js'),
+Client = require('../client/client.js');
+
+var servers;
+var client;
+
+var test_user = 'foo';
+var test_pass  = 'bar';
+
+describe('the servers', function() {
+  it('should start up', function(done) {
+    runner(function(err, r) {
+      should.not.exist(err);
+      should.exist(r);
+      servers = r;
+      client = new Client('http://' + servers.host + ':' + servers.port);
+      done();
+    });
+  });
+});
+
+function createAccount(email, pass, cb) {
+  client.account({
+    email: email,
+    pass: pass
+  }, function(err, r) {
+    if (err) cb(err);
+    cb(null, client.key);
+  });
+}
+
+describe("/api/v1/status", function() {
+  it ('should pass authorization', function(done) {
+    createAccount(test_user, test_pass, function() {
+      try {
+        client.status({
+          email: test_user,
+          key: client.authKey,
+          nonce: 'oh hai',
+          date: new Date()
+        }, function(err, r) {
+          should.not.exist(err);
+          should.exist(r);
+          done();
+        });
+      } catch (e) {
+        done(e);
+      }
+    });
+  });
+});
+
+describe('the servers', function() {
+  it('should stop', function(done) {
+    servers.stop(function(err) {
+      should.not.exist(err);
+      done();
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/crypto.sign.js b/test/crypto.sign.js
index c0b5598..3ef7c71 100644
--- a/test/crypto.sign.js
+++ b/test/crypto.sign.js
@@ -77,7 +77,8 @@ describe('GumbotCrypto.sign', function() {
         should.not.exist(err);
         should.exist(rez);
         (rez.Authorization).should.be.a('string');
-        (rez.Authorization).should.equal('MAC id="bar", ts="1352177818", nonce="one time only please", mac="Zt21WXS7nkwIUdocxbzMBsXKv+0NREsxQ7aBHA9MS4w="');
+        //(rez.Authorization).should.equal('MAC id="bar", ts="1352177818", nonce="one time only please", mac="Zt21WXS7nkwIUdocxbzMBsXKv+0NREsxQ7aBHA9MS4w="');
+        (rez.Authorization).should.equal('Hawk id="bar", ts="1352177818", ext="one time only please", mac="2JSJGewL+/9eoCKgf51mEbhI4cZuEVqNEeZkC3SfXp4="');
         done();
       });
     });