Friday, February 27, 2015

Recycle Beauty...

last year the "Kokua Foundation" had a bottle cap recycling project.
the school that had the most plastic bottle caps won a concert by Jack Johnson.
Waialua didn't win last year, but we were determined to win this year.
So all during the summer and into the beginning the caps were being
collected.

Before the holidays we found out that Kokua Foundation wasn't going to 
be holding the the bottle cap contest. (I still think it's weird that they aren't
doing it, you'd think that someone or some company could foot the
bill to have these caps shipped to the mainland ,where they are then re-cycled).

Anyway, what to do with all these caps?

A very talented teacher and her enrichment academy have taken the
saying "lemonade out of lemons" to a beautiful end...



this beautiful mural on the side of one of the portables is made
entirely out of those bottle caps!

great job Green Thumb Academy!

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Throwback Thursday...

March 1967
Doheny State Beach (before the harbor was completed)
first date with my very best friend and life partner...
my  Terry
even today he has the very same classy style he did so long ago.


he still had that same board, a Wardy, until we moved here.
Geoff had used it in vintage board contest.
I remember it was a little overcast.  We met two of his friends there and one of them
took this photo (finally developing it months later...Nov 1967)
Terry had a red, 1956 Porsche coup with surf racks (wish we still had THAT).
Years and years later, I would find those same blue/black Op trunks in the bus!

This first date was 
not long after asking me that faithful question while doing a surf check at
Newport Pier, "has it been like this all day?"

3 months later we were married.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Only In Hawaii...

Can you go to Burger King in Waianae
and listen to great Hawaiian music 
at a local kanikapila...

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Animal Research Project...

almost on the home stretch so to speak of the Animal Research Project 
in A-9.
It's so much work for everyone involved.
Deciding what animal they want to research.
Taking notes.
Writing and editing the paper.
Typing the paper (yes kids do it)
so much work...


illustrating the pages

Part of the project is to make a papermache animal form of their animal.
this in itself is a project!



thank goodness for parent volunteers!
Miss Debbie has been helping with the papermache everyday.  
Next we're painting.

This afternoon we printed out the pages with the illustrations.
The packets have a deadline to be sent off to the publisher for binding, so
we may have a few days leeway if the weather will stay warm enough to dry the forms.

Lets hope these "Student Treasures" will be something everyone treasures
forever!

Monday, February 23, 2015

Coming Home...

Saturday was a beautiful day.
Coming home from hula, I came down snake road.
the view was so pretty, especially after all the VOG, and rain that we'd had the week before.


coming down snake road is different than coming down Kam Hiway.
Kam Hiway gives a view of more of the North Shore.
Snake Road just has a view of Waialua and home...
even after all of these years and seeing the view, it
never, ever gets old.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Rudeness...

wish I had a little card, a bumper sticker or a sign that said...


seems like this last week has just been full of rudeness.

When we were having lunch at Dukes, people were hovering right next
to us waiting for our table.  Even starting to ask us if we were almost done (I stopped
her from asking even before she said it all).  When we were ready to leave
I was standing up an someone was sitting down at the table with me...really?

I was at Foodland and parked next to a really big truck that made it hard to see
around the guy standing  next to my car could see and said he'd tell me when it
was clear.  I started slowly backing up as when he said it was clear.  All of a sudden
he yelled stop! I did and there was a car speeding and honking at me...couldn't wait.
The swerved around me and pulled into a parking spot 4 spaces past.  
The guy and I just stared at this couple as they got out of their car and walked into the
market.  Couldn't even wait for me to finish.

Coming back Wahiawa the other day on Kam Hiway.  A line of cars pretty much 
going the speed limit behind theBus.  It was such a pretty day...
I could see a van behind me passing cars.  They came behind me and got close, but
couldn't pass me yet.  Finally they did and another couple of cars so they were behind 
theBus.  I could see that they were trying to pass him, but couldn't because
of the traffic.  Almost to the light to come into Haleiwa, they went around him...
but funny thing they did and we all ended up at the light together!  In stead of 
taking the bypass they decided to come into Haleiwa and were behind theBus
again.

I understand that people are excited, but if they would just calm down
and chill out they really would be able to sit and eat, park and get to
the North Shore and actually be able to have a good time, and enjoy the beauty.
Rudeness so not the "Aloha Spirit"

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Lunch @ Dukes...

Sunday afternoon I went into Waikiki to have an annual lunch
with our San Clemente friends, Tim and Donna.  
It's always good to see them during their stays here.
It's funny, we didn't know them in San Clemente but met them
through a mutual friend at the beach.

Tim ordered "Korean beef street tacos".  We were joking
that we didn't know that Koreans liked tacos.


I had something called the steak and wedge salad that 
was pretty good.

I didn't try Donna's beet salad but it sure did look yummy!

after the crazy weather on Friday night/Saturday it was nice that
it was such a beautiful day!


no trip to Waikiki would be complete without visiting with Tommy.
can't believe that he's still working on the beach.
Ran into Mike too and we were talking about "the good 'ole days".
Things have changed, but not these friends.

I wish I wasn't so busy that I could go and spend hours
getting caught up with everyone.
But it was nice to visit, even for a short time.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Oh The Girls Came Back...

the Adams ohana came back to the 'hood for a visit and what better
reason to have a party!
They moved to Washington state in July (we were gone, so I didn't have to say good-bye),
and this was the first visit back to Hawaii for them.
They were the first people to move onto the street to have children, nine years
ago the girls were so little.
Now I look at them and they're young women.




such good girls.
it was like they never had left.
We were saying that this party was one just like it used to be.

I'm glad that the crazy weather that we had on Friday night/Saturday was gone
by the time the party started and I got back from town.

Still miss them terribly, but glad to see that they're doing so well.
they'll always be "the girls"

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

A Beloved Living Treasure...

Treasure...
noun: a person who is greatly loved 
                                                  verb:to hold or keep as precious :  cherish
On Saturday I attended, with my hula sisters, and other guests,
the presenting of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai'i "Livng Treasures"
honor.  This year there were six honorees one of them being my beloved
kumu hula, Ms. Alama.

I loved the theme of the program.  
"Like a tree, these honorees
have sent roots deep into the community".

Ms. Alama was as beautiful and gracious as always.



there was a short video highlighting the accomplishments and
contributions of each honoree.



Ms. Alama has touched so many over the years with her hula.


During dinner Ms. Alama walked around to every table and posed for photos 
and thanked all of us for being there.


after the festivities ended, she had a few minutes to sit and rest with her
daughter, Pua.
(not the best picture, I know, but so much going on)


it wouldn't be a blog post for me without showing the table and food.

I'm usually the one taking pictures, so I'm thankful that I actually have one of me with her.


Yes, she truly is a treasure in so many ways.

Monday, February 16, 2015

President's Day...


 I remember when February was not only the shortest month (still is),
the month that was for Valentine's Day (still is) and two school
holidays (not anymore).

We always had George Washington's birthday off, February 12th
and then later in the month had Abraham Lincoln's birthday, February 22nd,
off.  Not anymore thanks to something called "the uniform holiday act".

President's Day is now a three or four day weekend that's 
full of sales, travel and a reason to sleep in.  

Not even a mention of the father of our country or one of the greatest
presidents this country has ever had.  I saw cartoon sketches of their
faces advertising a sale on cars not even cherry pie!

I'm afraid that the memory of these two great men will go 
away, like the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance has in 
most public schools.  

Friday, February 13, 2015

Living Treasure...

so excited to attend a luncheon honoring my 
beloved kumu, Ms. Alama, tomorrow.

(photo credit: Hula Preservation Society)

It's such a special time...to honor those that truly are "living treasures"...
I hope she knows how much we love her.
**the big photo behind her was taken when she was 17 years old for
a HVB advertisement (I can't remember what the publication was)

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Parenthood...


Whenever hubby is gone for an extended time, I don't watch regular tv.
I will watch shows on my computer or streaming using Apple TV. I know that I'm spoiled because I get used to watching without any commercials (48 minutes goes fast instead of 60 with all those commercials).
That's how I got hooked on British television.
I've watched the whole 10 seasons of "Friends" (forgot what a really
great show that was).  

I'd read recently about a series ending, Parenthood.  A lot of people
were really sad that it was ending.  So I thought I'd give it a try.
It's interesting because one of the siblings has a child with Asperger Syndrome.

I've just started the first season, and I'm hooked.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

I have a friend, Dale Yoshizu,
 who does A LOT of hiking.  Everyday it seems like he's
posting photos of these incredible places.  He even hikes with a dog hiking group.
I think that's great...the dogs always look so happy.

the other day Dale posted the most fantastic pictures.


I think this might be looking towards Kahana, Kaawa and Laie towards the top.

when we've driven on that side I've looked up at those sheer peaks
and wondered if there were trails up there.  Skinny, steep, probably dangerous
trails it seems.
Thankful that on all of Dale's hikes he always brings a camera and shares
the beauty of these magnificent places.
Breathtaking to say the least!

Mahalo again Dale!

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Wahiawa Sakura...

I had heard that up in Wahiawa Heights, there were 
were Sakura (cherry blossom) trees.
I know that it's so much cooler up there (the houses even have fireplaces)
and that's why the trees thrive.

As I drove up California Ave. past all the churches, I started to
see a few trees.  Their bight pink blossoms giving them away.


Those delicate pink flowers.
I stopped an asked a man that was working in his yard if it was
the beginning or end of the beauty.  He told me that the trees were
just starting to bloom.
He said that his tree had been a gift more than 50 years before as
a celebration on the birth of his daughter.
 He told me to keep driving up to the school.

the whole playground at Iliahi Elementary School was surrounded by them.

I think we'll take another drive in a few weeks to see if the trees are in full bloom.
A little bit of Japanese beauty in Wahiawa

Monday, February 9, 2015

Aloha Dozer...

such a cool dog.
He was born in Colorado, traveled to warm, sunny Waialua and back to 
Colorado again with his "mom & dad".

He was mellow, loved to swim, could snap at flies, husk a coconut really fast and chill at the beach with the best of us.

Marisa and Travis loved him so much.  Enough that 

Friday, February 6, 2015

Flashback Friday...

early 1980's
Harold Ambuehl Brownie troop bridging up into 
Jr. Girl Scouts.

Dorothy Sisola and I had this same troop from when they were Brownies
until they left Juniors for middle school.


great memories of Camp Sherman
Cookie sales, campouts, Disneyland,
Christmas progressive dinners and good fun!

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Golden Sky...

the most perfect time of day...


Waikiki sunset
with the golden sky, water, surfer silhouettes and a sunset dinner cruise.

Another different view.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Makani...

there are so many Hawaiian words for wind I wouldn't even
know where to start to describe the last 24 hours.
Crazy, strong wind with gusts.
There were saying that it's southwest, which it could be, but
it's so windy hard to say.  Except for it being warm, it
doesn't feel like a Kona wind that brings the VOG with it.


slamming doors could be heard all over school yesterday.  
Papers flying no matter how careful kids were when opening the doors.
Crazy for sure.
During the middle of the night, every strong gust seem to send something
else blowing down the street.
Hope for a quieter night tonight.

Monday, February 2, 2015

Changing Skyline...

 last week were we were in town I noticed something...
the whole skyline of Waikiki/town is changing.
From Kakaako to Ala Moana there are at least
four huge projects underway.

 Seems like those big cranes are everywhere.

Ala Moana Center is adding a whole new wing

you can no longer check out the surf when you leave
Ward movie theaters


even off the freeway a crane stands

I was sad when I realized that the view from Ward Center is gone.
What had been a parking lot for the theaters and shops is now going to be
apartments.  
So now where is everyone going to park when they go to Dave & Busters, Buca or a movie?
Sometimes I just wonder who plans out this stuff.
So with so many high-rise buildings, will the rest of that area develop it's own weather, like the
hotels did in Waikiki?