Hukilau...

a couple of weeks ago my friend, Pam, told me that her family was coming

and would I mind teaching her granddaughter a hula.  I decided to do "Hukilau"

because it's in English and the motions are pretty simple.

Such a sweetheart!

Spree already takes dance, so she was very into this.

We talked about the story of the song and

what the motions meant.

She and her sister both had on their grass skirts and were ready to dance.

I don't normally do things like this, but so glad I did.

Thanks Pam and Jessica for asking me.

Called to Serve...

we have three kids from our ward that are leaving this next week

to go on missions.

Two of them, their last Sunday was this week.

Nati to Kansas City

Stefanie to Australia 

and Dodge leaves later and is going to Mexico City.

Sunday afternoon, Nati's family had a luncheon

at WES.

There was so much Samoan food!!!!

I think the mean had been cooking for days!

there was a film crew there filming Nati and his family and lots of friends

the Elders enjoying another meal

this cute couple and her sweet grandma

Stefanie 

Dillon and Nati

 Nati and Tala

Kansas City ...

with this smile and personality

you'll love him!

Flossie the Floozie...

this girl with the lame name, Flossie, looks like she's changed

course.

I figured out a long time ago that it's better to be prepared than not.

So when they made the first forecast, I started making plans.  I brought in our

emergency kit.

Since hubby isn't home yet, I asked some boys from church to stop

by and roll up our tarp and move the sandbags in front of the laundry room 

(it will flood, if there's too much rain at once).

I've got water, food and batteries and our emergency kit.

So I'm in good shape.  The rain is one thing and can be a pain, 

it's the wind that can be bad.

The latest update is saying that the storm is breaking up and

not going to be as bad as it could have been.  So the winds and

rains aren't as going to be as bad.

I'm just thankful that there is so much coverage on the radio and TV on 

what's going on.

I think having one of these is also a great idea.

(Marisa Vera photo)

So I'm glad that Flossie has decided to break-up her party.

*** we had a 3.5 earthquake at about 10:30 this morning off Waimanalo

Waikiki Flashback Friday...

early morning Waikiki,

my favorite time of day.

this is a photo of a scrapbook page, no idea when it was.

Anatomy of a Plate Lunch...

a plate lunch ALWAYS has the same thing...

we've noticed that more places are offering brown rice 

and green salad instead of white rice and mac salad.

Now you see them in styrofoam containers (or some biodegradable thing).

Not too many years ago they came in a white, square box with a round

plate inside.  I remember seeing people walking with maybe two-three boxes

tied together (no plastic bag).

When Geoff and Bri were getting married, we were hosting the rehearsal dinner

at Duke's in Huntington Beach.  We wanted an up-scale version of a plate lunch...

rice, mac salad and fish/chicken.  The catering girl had a hard time understanding what

it was.  She gave me "we can't do that.  You can't have 2 starches on the same plate".

Needless to say, my friend Gloria (Duke's Waikiki) had to call and explain it to her...

it was ok, it was "local style".

As it turned out, everyone loved it.

Plate lunches are really something that's unique to Hawaii.  Some places offer a 

"mix plate", teri beef, mahi and shoyu chicken.  You can find mini-plates, 1 scoop rice,

smaller meat.  There's places like Kakaako Kitchen that serve an "healthy" plate 

lunch...but still same idea.

Plate lunches...the orignal fast food.

Onward Ever Onward...

Happy Pioneer Day!

Carly & Erik...

Saturday these two got married...

it was a beautiful day in Laie

and a glorious afternoon and evening at Carly's grandparents

it was so fun...

a classic car as a photo booth

for the whole Swim family...

and other very, very cute couples

great food!

Hot Dogs!

Ribs!

That Wonderful Salad!

Waialua Bakery ice cream sandwiches

and cotton candy!

Congratulations Carly and Erik!

Welcome Home...

Friday afternoon I went to the airport to 

welcome home sweet Cindy, returning after 18 months

from Boston.

Her mom was so nervous to see her, but excited.

lots of welcome home lei

Welcome Home,

Sweet Cindy!

Waikiki Dancing~ Flashback Friday...

the other day when I was looking for photos of Noah,

I came across these.

Not sure when this was, but it's after they re-did the

beach desk.

I know it was after 4 in the afternoon because 

that's what time they start the music.  I'm not even sure who took this

photo.

This was just an impromptu moment

between Tommy and I.  I would guess this is a Sunday

with Harry Kapono and we were just getting into the music.

Even from this blurry photo, I can see Tommy laughing.

That I do remember...how funny we both thought it was...

Good times in Waikiki

Memories.

Waimea...

I went to Waimea to buy tickets for a concert that going to be 

there in a couple of weeks.

I got there right when they opened, so I ran into...

three of my most favorite people in the world,

Coco, Aunty Kanani and sweet Marisa.

All three of them are working at Waimea

and I was so happy I got to talk story with them for awhile before they got

super busy.

 Since Marisa is the food manager, she asked me if I wanted to take a ride with her

out to one of the sites to drop of the cute worker and the supplies.

It's hard to believe, but I've never been far back into the canyon, so

I jumped at the chance.

We dropped the girl and supplies off and Marisa took me out by the waterfall.

I only had my phone with me, so these are the best pictures I got.

lots of people already out there swimming.

There are now life guards and you have to wear a vest, but it still looked like fun,

Marisa took me all around the park looking at the beautiful plants.

Hubby would be in heaven!  He's got so many books on tropical plants that

here they are actually growing.  I want to take him back so he can see them.

 We came across this sign and these little ones...

sweet Marisa showing me her office

how great is that?  I loved it.

I had watched a piece on "Hawaiian Miles" on the plane coming home

a few weeks ago about Waimea.

Marisa, Coco and Aunty Kanani and the other employees chant every morning

before the park opens, asking for permission to work there and to protect the beauty of

this place.

Mahalo Marisa for my little mini-tour of beautiful Waimea Falls.