North Shore Petroglyphs...

the recent HUGE (50+ feet) surf that we've had here on the North Shore

has uncovered something that's truly amazing.

Petroglyphs!

these are usually covered by 10 feet of sand and 

are around 1500 years old!

I'm amazed that these are so well preserved.

My friend, Brisha-Poata Te'o shared these great photos with me.

She braved the changing tides to get them.  I must say they're well worth it.

Such a special treat and to think in a few weeks/months they'll probably

be covered again for who knows how many years.

Mahalo again Brisha for sharing.

I'd love to know the story that they're telling.

Kendama Craze...

a few months ago the kids at school started showing up with this wooden toy, Kendama.

They play with them at recess, lunch after school…pretty much all the time.

I've watched them do it and am amazed at some of the things that they do

with them.  One of my hula sisters little 4 year old boy brings one so he can

play with it while he waits for her.

I read up on them.

It's a Japanese toy that maybe was invented in 1777!!!

It's a ball attached to a string that's attached to a wooden

hand-held piece.  So the top of the piece has a spike like thing where the 

ball (that has a hole in in) can be held.  There are three other sides that

have bowl-shaped pieces that the ball can rest in.  

So you then try to land the ball on one of these spots…it's hard!

we've been having in-door recess because of the rain, so some of the boys

play with them in the back of the room.  

They paused for a bit and let me take a few pictures.

the grands on the mainland had never heard about these before…

like pogs are they only a Hawai'i thing?

At least they're doing some type of muscle movement.

Ka Ua...

we're in the middle of winter here, which means rain.

In the Hawai'ian language there are over 100 words that describe rain…

where it comes from, if it's coming down slanted or straight, pouring or light,

down the mountain or across the water and when it comes.

I don't mind the rain all that much.  It makes me want to cook/bake when it's 

been cold, rainy and blustery like the last few days.

I think it was 6 years ago when the rain was really bad.  12 inches an hour at

Scholfield…that's a lot of water coming down.  

That's when it gets dangerous with the rivers over-flowing and Lake Wilson

filling up.

but it seems like even when there's just a little break in the rain and the sun comes out

there's always a rainbow to be seen.

no rain…no rainbows.

The Haumana...

this is one of the best movies about hula in a long, long time.

it can be seen "On Demand" or at special screenings.

Helps explain the special meaning of hula and the love

so many of us feel for it.

Never Fails...

just had our windows and screens washed/cleaned in the whole

house on Friday...

this morning after church,

this is going on...

never fails…

car washed it rains,

windows washed it rains.

A Happy New Year...

last Saturday we had a bit of a New Year celebration with my

hula sisters from the class before ours.

There was so much yummy food!

I loved the tempura and sushi

I brought "snow puffies" from Paalaakai Bakery to share.

it was especially nice that Ms. Alama could be there to celebrate with us.

I must say it was hard to get up and dance after all the food.

Super Swell...

today brought some crazy stuff on the North Shore

50+ foot waves, rain, crazy wind, traffic, the air smells like salt and tons of water everywhere …

so many people were taking photos all over the North Shore.

I borrowed some to try and show a little bit of what was going on today.

It doesn't really give the feeling of what it's like.  I don't think even film would.

water coming onto Kam Hiway at Haleiwa Beach Park

a little spot called "Chocolates" by Surf & Sea thats normally flat was the only place surf able today

this mornings paper

on shore winds and tons of water

Rocky Point houses fighting a battle 

water washing over the wall at Haleiwa

crazy winds

my friends Lala and Jamie selling shave ice at Waimea

3 tables closed out

parking lot at Haleiwa Beach Park covered in sand and water

not sure if this is 50 feet but it's HUGE

so far the houses are still standing thank goodness

it really was a crazy, awe-inspiring day.

Aloha Brown Family...

some friends of ours from church are moving back to the mainland this week.

There were two "good-bye" parties for them.  On Saturday afternoon people

got together for pizza and other potluck food at Ali'i Beach Park.  It was a nice

evening and the kids got to run around like crazy.

since I'd been in town that morning for hula, I had stopped at 

Liliha Bakery and brought cocopuffs.

On Sunday evening there was a potluck dinner at another friends house.

I love Samoan food, especially chop suey!

I'd been in Laie side that afternoon for the blessing so I went to Hauula and got

garlic chicken from Papa Oles.

Aloha Brown ohana, a hui hou.

Kasanita's Blessing

On Sunday I went over to Laie to Maafu and Kirsten Latu's new, sweet baby

girl, Kasanita receive a father's blessing.

It was such a moving experience…Maafu actually spoke the blessing in Tongan,

and I didn't know what he was saving but I could feel it.

When their youngest son, Trevor, was born was when Maafu was working towards

getting his GED and I was his tutor. We had quite the system with me holding

the baby while he typed or he held Trevor while he dictated to me.  

Now Maafu is at BYUH working towards his degree and working at PCC.

I couldn't be more proud of this sweet family.

After church they hosted a luncheon at one of  the fales in TVA.

I loved all of the Tongan food!

I'm so happy that I got to share this special event with such a sweet, special family.

Day of Service...

Angels...

we have a dear friend who is in hospice care.

She's been there longer than anyone  expected.

Every 10 days or so we go over to see her.

I went over to see her the other day and she was showing me

all of the Christmas decorations; flowers, mini-trees, poinsettias,

and handmade ornaments.

I'd just missed seeing her dear sister.  Her niece, is spending everyday and

night with her in what has become a home-away-from-home.

What an outpouring of unconditional love for this sweet, feisty angel.

we had home hospice care for my in-laws.

The hospice caregivers are true angels.

After my visit, I sat in my car and thought about all of these angels that

are among us, and how really lucky I am.

Early Morning Light...

I get up very early.

One of the very best things about getting up early is seeing things like this.

I could see the big, full moon from the kitchen windows and knew I wanted a picture .

I drove down to Haleiwa Beach Park.

It was so pretty.

There were so many people doing the same thing.

one bad thing…I went off without my good, big camera.

Oh well it was still worth it.

Lucky we live Hawaii

A Solution? ...

today I went up by Laniakea.

the barriers blocking the parking lot went up while we were on the mainland.

coming from Haleiwa there were cars parked down by the ranch.

going back towards Haleiwa,

there are cars parked from Chuns and people were walking along the side of the road.

I did see people crossing the street but no tour busses.  

so the traffic (not too much) just went by.

I'm sure when theres surf, it must be slower.

This is winter after the contest season, so this probably isn't the 

best time to see if this is a real solution.

Watercress Heaven...

I love watercress.

One of my very favorite salads is watercress & tofu with an oriental dressing.

In Aiea on Kam Hiway, is Sumida Farm  that has been growing watercress since 1928.

Right there next to the hiway with thousands of cars going by every single day.

This is probably the biggest watercress farm on Oahu.

As I understand it, since watercress doesn't grow in dirt, it loves 

the natural spring water that in this area comes from Pearl Harbor.

(thank you sweet Marisa for the photo)

I've tried several times to get a good photo of the farm, thanks to dear friends

for great photos that I couldn't get.

It's funny to drive by and see the scarecrows.

It seems like they are always harvesting watercress, I think because

it grows so fast.

I like that Sumida Farm is right there in the middle of a large population area,

but nothing has really changed for them.

Good To Be Home...

when I was sitting in the airport waiting for my flight, 

I got to talking to a family that had been to Disneyland and gone

for about 8 days.  We were talking about the cold weather

and lack of humidity in CA.

Then the food talk started…

the dad said "they eat so many potatoes!"  I never 

thought about it, but I guess that's true.  Not a lot of rice.

Arlette and I wanted to get together before Monday and talk about 

what I'd missed and the upcoming weeks.

We decided to meet at a local Hawaiian place after I was

finished with church.

We couldn't resist…

had to have "local" food…

loco moco!

After that and two diet cokes later…

no sign of jet-lag until about 6 o'clock when I really

wanted to go to bed!

Just about then was when the thunder, lightening and rain started.

Love my sweet family and friends in California, but

I'm so glad to be home!

Shipping Home...

while looking on the internet for little treats for my upcoming 

Downton Abbey party, I came across an address that was 3 miles away!

I even bought hubby some of his favorite British/Canadian treats.

When you live on the most desolate island in the world,

it's hard to come by imported treats w/o them being very expensive...

so today I'm sending off 3 boxes of treats and 

various other things that we had here that were part of Terry's family.

I'm getting excited to share with my fellow

kamaaina Downton friends.