public HTable getHTable() {
        try {
            if (hTable == null) {
                hTable = new HTable(connection.getHbaseConfiguration(), tableDescriptor.getName());
                return hTable;
            }
            else {
                return hTable;
            }
        }
        catch (IOException ioe) {
            throw new ExplorerException("Error creating HTable for table " + getFullName());
        }
    }