Aloha Festival 2014...

last week I got my 2014 Aloha Festival

ribbon!

So exciting!  I love the theme this year because it has to 

do with the round-the-world voyage of Hokule'a

promoting aloha.

Aloha Festivals were started in 1946 as a way to promote Hawaiian culture.

It used to be that you could buy ribbons at 7/11 and lots of other places.

They came with a book that showed the discounts that were given if you

wore your ribbon.  Now you go online to see them.  I haven't really done

that yet.  

I love going to the parade in Waikiki in September.  They would film

the parade and on Thanksgiving day it was shown on the mainland as part 

of their parades.

Maluhia Honua

Puakenikeni...

one of my very favorite flowers is Puakenikeni.

I love the different smells it gives off as it changes from pure while, to yellow

finally to orange.

Saturday night I met some friends at Aulani.

One of the musicians and I had talked before about Puakenikeni and how

there isn't really a song written about the blossoms when they first open in 

the early morning, still wet with dew.

So for their show that night he'd made three Puakenikeni leis for them to wear.  He 

remembered our conversation about the scent.  When they were done for the evening,

he gave me his beautiful double/double lei.  

Puakenikeni is such a fragile flower that it doesn't take much for them to start

turning brown.

I took it off for the drive home and snapped a quick picture of it sitting on my

hat.

as soon as I got home, I wrapped it and put it in the refrigerator.

The next morning I wore it to church and the whole chapel was filled with

the sweet scent of Puakenikeni.

Laie Days Parade...

Saturday morning, I stopped by Laie and got to watch the "Laie Days Parade"

with the Latu family.  

I think it might also be part of a "Pioneer Day" celebration.

This was a great little parade.

PCC was out in force

the boys got LOTS of candy that was thrown by the marchers

Kahuku football team marched

 and gave out more candy

golf carts were decorated

Boy Scout troops marched

and of course the last thing were the horses.

It was fun to sit in the shade at a perfect spot and get caught up with one

of my very favorite little families.

Pioneer Day, Hawaiian Style...

just because we don't live in Utah, we still celebrate those pioneers.

Pioneer Day, July 24th, is the perfect time to have a ward picnic/bbq.

It was the perfect day, there were trade winds and no rain.

we had hot dogs, hamburgers, watermelon, chips...

perfect

some of the men went down really early to get a spot at Ali'i Beach Park.

There were several huge trees that had the best shade.

everyone had a great time!

 there were games for adults and kiddos.

Some people even went in the water, like little Miss Dorothy.

yup, Pioneer Day is the perfect excuse for a BBQ

Air At Last...

air conditioning has come to A-9!

Last week when I had to drop off some stuff in the classroom, right away

I saw these two very large boxes.  

I had to take a picture.

There had been some fund raising going on to get air conditioning to

the "A building" and we were told that A-9 and A-10 would have to

wait.( I guess some years ago the upstairs had all 

the upgraded wiring put in, but for some reason not downstairs.)

 OK, we had resigned ourselves to it, when it was really hot we'd

just go spend time in the other classrooms (just kidding).

So as I was leaving I saw the principal and asked him about it.  Yes, it

was true...those air conditioners were for our room and it wasn't some 

cruel joke (oh lets store these in here for now).  

I texted Arlette right away, we were doing the happy dance for sure.

over the weekend I drove by the school and saw this!

Yesterday, Tumua told me to try them out...

I turned them on (they were set at 60, I didn't do that)...cool air!

A blessing... really appreciated!

Until I went outside to leave...

81 degrees (feels like 92 with 79% humidity)...

when it gets hot like it has been the last few days, I know where I'm spending the night!

Oh Scrap...

last Friday night our RS had a "Super Craft Night".  I "taught"

a class on scrapbooking.  Actually what that meant was that I brought

a lot of my supplies and helped them put together a page.

Everyone had fun and did a great job!!!

We used the RS room, set up long tables and had the ac cranked up!

Everyone did so great (forgot to take a photo of everyones pages)

I liked how each one showed that persons story and style.

I realized how much I miss scrapbooking and the creativity of it.

This night reminded me of all those years I got together with friends

at a store and would scrap the night away (way past midnight sometimes).

I don't miss dragging all my stuff around... now that's a pain...but

it was short-lived compared to the fun it was.

Haleiwa Obon...

last weekend was the last of the bon dances in Haleiwa.

there are two Jodo missions in Haleiwa and they both have

bon dances on different weekends.

The biggest is the Haleiwa Jodo.  

what makes this one so unique is that they do a lantern floating ceremony.

I just love this tradition.  This one is much smaller than the crazy one that's done 

at Ala Moana on Memorial Day.

We used to do lanterns when the one in town was held in Ala Wai canal with

canoes pulling the lantern out to the entrance.

I love watching the families...old, young, very young all dancing around

to the beat of the drums.

24...

we were talking to our friend Steve about summer tv watching and he 

asked if we were watching "24-Live Another Day".  We hadn't heard of

it and since Steve has given us some really good tips (Black List) we thought

we'd watch it.

Just watching once and we were hooked.

except for an hour of news, we've only been watching "24".

After watching one episode of "Live Another Day", we went back and got caught up on that.

then I found all the seasons on Amazon Prime.  We watch it through Apple Tv on the

big screen or at the MH on the smart TV.

So we don't have any commercials and can watch the whole thing in 48 minutes. so we

watch about 3 episodes a night and really can't wait for the next one.

Each episode is 1 hour of a 24 hour day.  

it's nice now to know the back story on the characters.

There have been some surprises that's for sure.

We both understand how this show won so many awards in the years it was on, it's that good.

We just finished "Day 5" but will have to wait until hubby gets home to start "Day6".

Can't wait.

"What would Jack Bauer do?"

Nani Ka'ala...

the other morning on my way to hula, I was facing Mt. Ka'ala waiting to turn.

It was so beautiful in the early morning sun.

Because of all the rain, the hills are so green...

more shades of green than I could ever imagine.

The gate at goat road was open so I went down there to 

take a few quick iPhone photos without any power lines

in the pictures

people are always taking pictures of the ocean in Hawaii, 

but the lush green of the hills are just as breathtaking.

Nani Ka'ala

Hot, Hot, Hot...

the last 4 days have been so HOT.  I hate it.

I know it was more humid other places, but without our trades, 

it's almost unbearable.  Everyone is feeling it.

then today this happened...

Guy Hagi was right!

and the trades are back!

Omyage...

our sweet neighbor has returned from their yearly trip to Japan.

She brought us back the best cookie/cracker that I've ever had.

I love the wrapping paper that always covers the box...real artwork

beautiful inside box

that held these little beauties...

they were so thin,

 then spread with the thinnest layer of chocolate, vanilla or strawberry.

they melted in your mouth they were so thin...

amazing!

there was also a cute little magnet with cherry blossoms and Mt. Fuji

yes, Japan is on my bucket list just because of treats like this.

Arigato Naoko,

your kindness is much appreciated

94 Years Young...

on Saturday after hula, my hula sisters and I celebrated one of our own, sweet Elsie.

She just turned 94!!!!  94 and she still climbs those 31 steps each week and

is better at remembering most of the songs than the rest of us.  

We told her that it was her choice (not Burger King) where she wanted

to go.  She choose Doraku and wonderful Japanese restaurant.

I had the Opah (my favorite) it was done misoyaki style and was wonderful. 

they were so nice, they even brought Elsie her own dessert...

tempura brownie.  I must say it was pretty darn good.

We had to try the tempura ice cream.

This was probably the best green tea ice cream I've ever had.

The tempura is really interesting and worth it.

Sweet Elsie is my idol.  She still lives alone, and takes care of herself.

She doesn't drive anymore, but she's fine with that.

She always tells me that "I'm slowing down".  I tell her she deserves to.

She's taken hula from Ms. Alama for 30+ years I think.

The love of hula and her sweet spirit keep her 94 years young.

Friendship and Eggs...

the other morning I got together with these two ladies ...

one of them is living in Utah and the other is just so busy,

we only get to talk at church.

we went to Pizza Bob's (would never go there for dinner I don't think)

and had there ok breakfast.  It's close, it's air-conditioned and there's

endless Diet Coke with lemon.

Coco and I had the omelet with avocado, mushrooms, onions and cheese,

Kay ordered the fish and eggs.  I'm pretty sure that this is a Hawaii thing, fish

on a breakfast menu.  It was actually very good.

We talked for hours.  Listening to each other.  Supporting each other and not judging each other.

It was so nice that each of us in our own time, had come to the same conclusion on

the answers/help we were seeking.  That's a good thing.

When one of us looked at the time finally we'd been there for 4 hours!

We laughed that maybe we should order lunch and keep talking.

Coco and Kay I love you two so much.

No Words...

to describe the most beautiful sunset last night.

Guy Hagi the weather guy called it, so lots of people were ready.

between Instagram and FB I had 50 different views, each 

one as beautiful as the last.

Since Being Home...

flying in on a sunny day is probably the best.

I usually fly in at night, but since we changed our tickets

we got to see home from the air.

we went to one of our favorites...

Kakaako Kitchen

for a mahi sandwich on a taro bun...yum

all of the shower trees are in full bloom, so theres lots 

of places to park in the shade

ate Kahuku corn and watermelon two nights

in a row for dinner.

had to finally go to the market

and had to go to Lowe's and buy a new dishwasher...

yes, we've been busy