  Use of the highly sensitive Hokupa'a/Gemini curvature wavefront sensor has
allowed for the first time direct adaptive optics (AO) guiding on M8-M9 very
low mass (VLM) stars. An initial survey of 20 such objects (SpT=M8-M9)
discovered 4 binaries. Three of the systems have separations of less than 4.2
AU and similar mass ratios (Delta K<0.8 mag; 0.85<q<1.0). One system, however,
did have the largest Delta K=2.38 mag and sep=14.4 AU yet observed for a VLM
star with a brown dwarf companion. Based on our initial flux limited (Ks<12
mag) survey of 20 M8-M9 stars over 14:26<RA<4:30 hours from the sample of Gizis
et al. (2000) we find a binary fraction in the range 14-24% for M8-M9 binaries
with sep>3 AU. This is likely consistent with the 23+/-5% measured for more
massive (M0-M6) stars over the same separation range. It appears M8-M9 binaries
have a much smaller semi-major axis distribution peak (~4 AU; with no systems
wider than 15 AU) compared to M and G stars which have a broad peak at larger
\~30 AU separations.
