Malaekahana

Hubby and I took a detour into Makaekahana Park.  I'd never been in there and he had, but it

had been many years ago.  This is such a pretty park.

Huge old trees, so there was plenty of shade from the ironwood trees for the camp spots.

You can see the weather wasn't so nice, but such a pretty beach.  This time of the year,

it's pretty windy over there, but still nice.  That's Laie Point off in the distance.

right offshore is Goat Island.  We found out that at a low tide,

you can wade out there, it's a bird sanctuary.

 Plenty of open space for picnicking

Makleakahana, another hidden treasure

All Time Favorite...

 Yesterday our cable, internet and phone were out for hours.  Hubby suggested we

watch a movie, his choice.  First choice..."Once Upon A Time In Mexico"...no. His

second choice was this movie...

We've seen this so many times and actually own 3 copies of it. 

It's still so darn funny. 

We were laughing so hard that one of our neighbors came over to see what

we were laughing about. 

We both decided the reason it's so funny is that it reminds us of

funny holiday stories we've had over the years.

It's a classic...have you seen it?

The Decendants...

I'd read this book almost two years ago, then found out they were making a movie

from it and I couldn't wait!

Hubby and I went the other day.  He thought it was going to be a "chick flick", but came

away loving it as much as I did.

Loved the opening voice over...that's a true picture of living here.

The director got it right...leaving shoes outside the door, gecko sounds, goats, even the

old kamaaina house decor.

Sometimes I think "local" audiences are the hardest to please.  There are so

many wrong depictions of Hawaii...we can appreciate when someone actually

gets it right. Not often movie audiences clap throughout a movie.

So, if you'd like to see a great movie about modern Hawaii, this is the one.

*the girl's language can be rough*

also loved the soundtrack, pure Gabby.

Thanksgiving~Hawaiian Style...

You can take your turkey to the imu at the high school and cook it there ( I heard it was full),

Thanksgiving was beautiful with warm water and off-shore trades blowing

(Sunset Beach)

We had our traditional Kaamooloa Road Thanksgiving Feast at the

Watanabes next door...30+ people

                                                 tables were decorated with the flowers

that I had made last week for church....majority of them came from

cuttings in our yard

Malia LOVED my cranberry sauce

no words can describe the goodness...

We're so thankful for another year of

"Hawaiian Style Thanksgiving."

Thankful Thursday~Family

They mean the world to me

Happy Thanksgiving

1/2 hour East...

I'd always wanted to just drive for 1/2 and hour and see where I was at the end of that 1/2 hour.

This morning I had to go to the east side and decided this would be the perfect day.

At about 28 minutes, I was at the Malekahana Bike Path, so I figured Laie would be the 1/2 hr mark.

Laie is well-known for several things; the LDS Temple,

BYU Hawaii

Polynesian Cultural Center

and Hukilau Cafe.

There are a lot of other things that make this a great place...

the re-done Laie Palms Cinemas (two smallish screen, really good popcorn and cheap prices!),

Laie Village Center,

Laie Point,

a great little market,

more round-about signs than anywhere else,

also probably more ulu (breadfruit) trees than any place else on Oahu

and

the famous Hukilau Beach.

We love Laie for its mellow local feel.



Can't Wait...

*can I just say I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this invite.

So classic, just perfect for a classy couple and a very classic venue

Monkey Business...

Sweet Sadie turned 1and had a party that was full of "monkey business"

It was held at a cute little water park in Scholfield Barracks.  I didn't know that

anyone could go and use those facilities (except the PX). Really a nice park.

Kelsey, Sadie's mom made the cutes cupcakes that looked like monkeys! The kids played

a few games, find the banana, etc.

Happy Birthday Sadie, you're the cutest monkey ever!

A Classic...

Our neighbor, Ed, recently got a classic...a 1988 Chevy El Camino.

It's such a cool car.

What is it about those classic cars?  Just plain coolness!

Hubby and I can appreciate just how cool this car is.

These classic cars have history, they have class but most of all they bring back memories~ cruising,

drive-in movies, races, car hop service and more.

Mahalo Ed for bringing "coolness" to Kaamooloa Road!

Thankful Thursday~Faith...

Everyday I'm thankful for my Faith and what it means to me...

(pinterest image)

Life is so much better because of it...can't imagine a life without it.

Welcome Home...

Our neighbor, Billy, is home from his deployment in Iraq.  Doesn't seem like a year

ago we were bidding him aloha and a hui hou. 

Its so good to have him home and safe. 

The surprise welcome home party was at Steve and Christine's house again.

Christine made all of her wonderful "heavy pupus".  Everything Billy loves!

Welcome home Billy! Glad you're back!

Wall Street comes to the North Shore

I came across this protest the other day.  A guy told me it was a fragment group

from the Wall Street protest that are going on in town.  This was across

from the Turtle Bay Resort.

Right next to them was this group of HPD officers, part of the

special task force.  I knew this because they were wearing their

"aloha shirt uniforms". 

These new "uniforms" are supposed to help the officers blend in :)

We don't get much of this type of thing going on out here...

most protesters don't want to drive out this far.

Just thought it was funny because if you've ever been to Turtle Bay,

there's not a lot of traffic like Haleiwa.

I caught one of the officers taking a picture of the group...wonder what

that will be used for?  

600!

If someone had told me almost 4 years ago that I'd still be
writing my blog, I would have laughed.
I never thought that I'd find stuff to write about our life here, but
even with some post about our family on the mainland, most of
this blog has been about life here in Hawai'i.
My blog has been more of a journal for me... a chronicle of
the good, the very good and some pretty bad. 
I've never wanted to dwell on the bad, but since it has been such a HUGE
part of our life here, I had to mention it. 

I'm always surprised when someone tells me they read my blog or I see the counter change( I added
the counter because I was curious).

So, I've been through three cameras, thousands and thousands of
pictures.  I've loved it all...
here's to another four years of
"North Shore Notes and Living Our Dream"

You may notice that I have a new blog header/design.  In honor of my 600th post, I asked
our very talented and bright daughter-in-law, Bri if she could design something new for me.
Needless to say...I love it! Thank You, Thank You. 
Please check out just how talented she is by clicking on the
Emerson Grey Designs 
button on the my sidebar.