a COOL treat and a COOL treasure

After spending 4 1/2 hours at the MH pool with these guys...

they cooled off with shave ice

Lauren is always looking for treasures

this time she REALLY found one

it was a discrded lizard (or snake?) skin

Grey was the lucky one that got to take it home "to show my Daddy".

COOL!

SC Cafe

Even now when we go back to SC, we end up eating at SC Cafe a lot. I couldn't even tell you how long it's been there, I know since my kids were in HS. There have been three owners that I can remember. The current owners have been there the longest. It's only open for breakfast and lunch. Probably the one thing I like about it the most, is that it doesn't matter when we go, we always run into someone we know. they had just opened when I showed up at 7am. Still the same local surf stuff on the walls, same booths (recovered) and same mis-matched dishes.The majority of the time, I will always get this...

real, homemade, from scratch, cooked oatmeal! I just love it with bananas, a little milk and a little brown sugar. All these years, it's never changed. If you eat this for breakfast, probably won't eat again until dinner.

Even these two love it!

The third generation of Moysa family enjoying SC Cafe!

(building Poppa's jelly tower while waiting)

August~Fogest

(I know that's not a real word, but what rhimes with August?) This is El Camino Real in San Clemente. Up until today, this is what it has looked like the whole time I've been here. Every day, all day. Cold and damp...no fun! Burrrr

Na Hula 2010

Another year of Na Hula is over with. This is the longest running (since 1941) non-competitive hula festival in the state. Everyone put in so much work to make this happen.

Even before we dance, there is a lot going on downstairs...tying leis, getting dresses and putting on our lei po'o. I can actually say in all honestly, I had a GREAT time! It was fun and rewarding. After so many hours of hula practice, a lot of Ibeprofin, I can say I was proud of us.

Makaleka performing her solo. She put in so many hours to make this happen. Hope she was proud of us.

Ms. Alama being introduced after the show. She and her sister have taken part in Na Hula since 1941. Amazing!

A huge Mahalo to everyone that came to support me. I really do appreciate it. Thank you to all my friends that traveled from Waialua and friends who came down from Waikiki (time away from beachn' it).

I love and appreciate you all.

Billy & Jamie

Tonight we attended a fun wedding. Billy and Jamie are two really great people. The reception was held at Billy's grandparents fale/lawn. There were so many people there it was amazing. Billy's dad owns the local nursery and his mom owns Waialua Bakery in Haleiwa. The food was yummy, it was catered by a neighbor. Jamie and her dad sang a very special song together that was really heart-warming.

the Happy Couple

Their first dance. Since Billy served his mission in Western Samoa, some of the Samoan members of our ward made them traditional leis and...

got everyone up to do a Samoan "Wedding Dance". The little kids were running around and gathering all the $$ that was thrown at them.

The happy couple leaving for an Alaskan cruise (but first they had to catch an overnight flight to the mainland) through a wall of bubbles.

Congratulations Jamie and Billy. Your reception was good fun!

80!

Last Saturday was Ms. Alama's 80th birthday. She was "sort-of" surprised with a birthday luncheon at a really, really good Chinese resturant in Waikiki. There were 70+ people there to celebrate this special day with her. One of my hula sisters, Nancy, also has the same birthday

there was a delicious cake made by one of her students

a very, very touching video from her family on the mainland, Pua, Kuulei, Kuupua, Kalani and Keoni. The girls even danced a special hula for their tutu

It was an honor to celebrate this special day with this very special lady. I know that my life has changed since knowing her.
(that's 15 strand Pikake lei she's wearing, a gift from her haumana, students)

Happy Birthday Miss Alama

and wishing you many more!

More Best of Summer 2010

Early morning rainbows because of all the rain
lack of surf, so swimming laps is possible

last of the mangos

Coming down the hill to home...beautiful Waialua

Aloha and a hui hou Charlotte

Our good friend and neighbor, Charlotte left this morning for another adventure on a much colder side of the country. Have fun and be safe!