It Came Up Again...

     

Lucky We Live Hawaii

The uniform

I hadn't actually seen Ed in his full uniform.  I was leaving and he just happened to come

home and I had to take a picture.

Love a man in a uniform!

Only In Hawaii

The first ingredient in Kalua pork, along Kam Hiway, Haleiwa.

not something you see everyday on the mainland!

Kamehameha Song Contest

Last night the Kamehameha Song Contest on television.  I just love watching

this show.  It's something so unique Hawaiian.  This year was the 91st

year it's been performed.  Every year the students sing songs

of one specific composer.  This year it was Aunty Irmgard.  She wrote so

many songs, but one of the most famous is "Pua mana" a song

that I'm sure that every hula dancer has learned at some point.

This years Senior Class was outstanding and deserved to win!

The whole process to get to the night of the actual contest is long.  There are students

that are chosen as leaders (conductors), each class sings a men's, women's and combined

song.  It really is amazing.  I can't imagine the hours that go into it.

The people's prince...

Today is a state holiday remembering the life of Prince Jonah Kuhio.

His statue his under the big banyan tree along Kuhio Beach in Waikiki.



A Dream from start to finish...

I'm a member of the SCC (School Community Council) at Waialua Elementary.

One of the things that we do is to come up with projects that will benefit the school as

a whole.  This year we talked about doing some sort of a stage that could be used for May Day

and all school assemblies held outside.  We wanted it to have a feel/look that it belonged in the community.

Part of the problem with this project was funding.  These are tough times.  The idea for a "Fun Run"

came up and the wheels were set in motion.  The students and their families raised more than

enough money for the project. 

A Tongan friend of ours has a rock wall building business and he won the bid.  We decided on a

site at the end of a big grassy area under a huge shade tree.

(mahalo to Dale Yoshizu for some of the great photos)

 Yesterday was the final step in this process...a traditional Hawaiian/Christian blessing.

 The Kahu (minister) uses water, Hawaiian salt and ti leaves as part of his blessing.

Three girls were chosen to represent all the students and take part in this.

 He blessed the four corners, ramp and steps.

 The ceremony ended with the third graders doing a traditional Hawaiian chant.

The stage is beautiful and is something that will be used for generations to come.

Time-To-Grind

There's a new food truck here in Waialua.  A local family that used to have another

resturant.  I heard about it from the gals at school and had

to try it out.

It was onolisicious!

$5.00 mini plates that are too big to eat at one meal...

can't beat that.

Waiting...

Danno

Scott Caan was on hubby's flight from home yesterday.

Hubby seems to run into all kinds of people on his flights, could that be because he flies so much?

Anyway, when I asked him what he looked like, Terry said "short, really short".

"...not everyone can travel by bubble!"

Last night we did travel in a wonderful bubble called "WICKED"It was so fun!.

We had a super yummy dinner at Magginaos across from the Performing Arts Center.

They even have GF pasta on their menu.

All the "girls" minus Miss Emme before we went in.

Lauren and Auntie Bri with their programs. This was Bri's first time seeing it.

I follow a blog written by Erin Wilson and we found her name on the cast board.

We had wanted to meet her after the show, but they were doing several different

things after the show and couldn't find her.  I was a little sad, it would have been

fun for Lauren, but it was so late and so crazy.  Bri and I waited for

a few minutes at the stage door, but most of the cast was inside at different spots.

This is the second time I've seen "WICKED" and loved it just as

much this time.  I understand how people can see it over and over again.

I was so glad that I happened to be here during it's run and we could

all see it together. 

We're off to see...

Just a girl's night.  Traci, Bri, Lauren and I.  Can't wait!  I loved it

the first time I saw it, this time Bri and Lauren have never
seen it, so that will be fun.

Oh Please...

Can you come to Hawaii????

Grandparents Day 2011

This year Poppa got to come to Grandparents Day at Our Saviors.

It was fun watching all of the skits/programs.  We took turns

visiting each of the kids classrooms and taking the tour.

Poppa hasn't had a chance to visit their school very much, so this was nice.

After school was out, we all went to PF Changs for a yummy lunch.

We love it there because they have such a great GF menu.

Thank you Lauren and Jack for inviting us to your Grandparents Day

again.  We love you!

Tsunami 3.11.11

After a very long travel day on Thursday, I woke up Friday morning to a text message from Bri

asking about our house/neighborhood in Hawaii and had we heard anything. 

You can imagine our shock and worry.  We didn't know who to call first because of the time change.  As

soon as I got on FB, we could see messages coming through and knew that people were safe and decided

to call. 

Thankfully, our neighbors left and had returned by that time when the "all clear" sounded. 

People waiting on Kam Hiway, North Shore in the background

(Christine Watanabe photo)

Damage to the docks at Haleiwa Harbor

(Tara Moody Ormond photo)

(Tara Moody Ormond photo)

We're so thankful that all of our Hawaii Ohana are safe. 

Please keep the people of Japan in your prayers.

Off Again...

Eating Machines...

When we were in California, our neighbor Molly sent us this photo.  She told us that our crown flower tree

was covered with them and most of the leaves were gone!!!  Every year when

hubby starts to see these little eating machines on the tree he sprays it.

They love, love, love the crown flower or milk weed.

The tree is very old and so beautiful.  You can

see it in all it's summer glory in this post from a few years ago.  Most of the

crown flower trees you see are purple, but this one is white and so healthy (thanks to hubby for taking care of it).

(Molly Garner photo)

One of the very best things about this tree is that it acts as a screen/barrier

to the crazies next door.  I'm sure it will be fine in a few weeks and it's

nice to see all of the butterflies in the yard and neighborhood. But until it comes

back, there's a lot more light in our yard.

March has brought...

the most beautiful sunrises,

(Dale Yoshizu photo)

and equally beautiful golden sunsets.

Spring is on it's way!

MY NEW TOY

Yes, it was time to give up my beloved Blackberry.  It had been two years and she had a cracked screen.

I really researched the Android Smartphones.  I wanted to be able to update my blog with some

pictures taken by the phone.  This one has an 8mpix  camera which is pretty good.

This one even had more features than the Verizon IPhone.

DROID X

Marisa helped me with some of the basic stuff...I think I love taking panorama photos!

So far I'm not too frustrated by it.  We'll see

SUN!!!

FINALLY!!!

Green Le'ahi

When we were in town the other day and had some extra time, we drove to the Diamond Head (Le'ahi)

area.  We've had so much rain this season that not only is

the state's drought officially over, but Diamond Head

has a fuzzy, green covering!

You probably don't reconize it from these shots, I just realized.

Most photos of Diamond Head are taken from far away

so you see the iconic shape, but this is what it looks like

from the side and below.

Burger Love

Last night we met Peggy and David at their hotel in Waikiki to go and

have dinner at The Counter.  We took them there in August when they were here

and they loved it.  David is quite the "Hamburger Expert".

As always it was wonderful! 

Good Food and Good Friends

what could be better!