Recycle Beauty...

last year the "Kokua Foundation" had a bottle cap recycling project.

the school that had the most plastic bottle caps won a concert by Jack Johnson.

Waialua didn't win last year, but we were determined to win this year.

So all during the summer and into the beginning the caps were being

collected.

Before the holidays we found out that Kokua Foundation wasn't going to 

be holding the the bottle cap contest. (I still think it's weird that they aren't

doing it, you'd think that someone or some company could foot the

bill to have these caps shipped to the mainland ,where they are then re-cycled).

Anyway, what to do with all these caps?

A very talented teacher and her enrichment academy have taken the

saying "lemonade out of lemons" to a beautiful end...

this beautiful mural on the side of one of the portables is made

entirely out of those bottle caps!

great job Green Thumb Academy!

Throwback Thursday...

March 1967

Doheny State Beach (before the harbor was completed)

first date with my very best friend and life partner...

my  Terry

even today he has the very same classy style he did so long ago.

he still had that same board, a Wardy, until we moved here.

Geoff had used it in vintage board contest.

I remember it was a little overcast.  We met two of his friends there and one of them

took this photo (finally developing it months later...Nov 1967)

Terry had a red, 1956 Porsche coup with surf racks (wish we still had THAT).

Years and years later, I would find those same blue/black Op trunks in the bus!

This first date was 

not long after asking me that faithful question while doing a surf check at

Newport Pier, "has it been like this all day?"

3 months later we were married.

Only In Hawaii...

Can you go to Burger King in Waianae

and listen to great Hawaiian music 

at a local kanikapila...

Animal Research Project...

almost on the home stretch so to speak of the Animal Research Project 

in A-9.

It's so much work for everyone involved.

Deciding what animal they want to research.

Taking notes.

Writing and editing the paper.

Typing the paper (yes kids do it)

so much work...

illustrating the pages

Part of the project is to make a papermache animal form of their animal.

this in itself is a project!

thank goodness for parent volunteers!

Miss Debbie has been helping with the papermache everyday.  

Next we're painting.

This afternoon we printed out the pages with the illustrations.

The packets have a deadline to be sent off to the publisher for binding, so

we may have a few days leeway if the weather will stay warm enough to dry the forms.

Lets hope these "Student Treasures" will be something everyone treasures

forever!

Coming Home...

Saturday was a beautiful day.

Coming home from hula, I came down snake road.

the view was so pretty, especially after all the VOG, and rain that we'd had the week before.

coming down snake road is different than coming down Kam Hiway.

Kam Hiway gives a view of more of the North Shore.

Snake Road just has a view of Waialua and home...

even after all of these years and seeing the view, it

never, ever gets old.

Rudeness...

wish I had a little card, a bumper sticker or a sign that said...

seems like this last week has just been full of rudeness.

When we were having lunch at Dukes, people were hovering right next

to us waiting for our table.  Even starting to ask us if we were almost done (I stopped

her from asking even before she said it all).  When we were ready to leave

I was standing up an someone was sitting down at the table with me...really?

I was at Foodland and parked next to a really big truck that made it hard to see

around the guy standing  next to my car could see and said he'd tell me when it

was clear.  I started slowly backing up as when he said it was clear.  All of a sudden

he yelled stop! I did and there was a car speeding and honking at me...couldn't wait.

The swerved around me and pulled into a parking spot 4 spaces past.  

The guy and I just stared at this couple as they got out of their car and walked into the

market.  Couldn't even wait for me to finish.

Coming back Wahiawa the other day on Kam Hiway.  A line of cars pretty much 

going the speed limit behind theBus.  It was such a pretty day...

I could see a van behind me passing cars.  They came behind me and got close, but

couldn't pass me yet.  Finally they did and another couple of cars so they were behind 

theBus.  I could see that they were trying to pass him, but couldn't because

of the traffic.  Almost to the light to come into Haleiwa, they went around him...

but funny thing they did and we all ended up at the light together!  In stead of 

taking the bypass they decided to come into Haleiwa and were behind theBus

again.

I understand that people are excited, but if they would just calm down

and chill out they really would be able to sit and eat, park and get to

the North Shore and actually be able to have a good time, and enjoy the beauty.

Rudeness so not the "Aloha Spirit"

Lunch @ Dukes...

Sunday afternoon I went into Waikiki to have an annual lunch

with our San Clemente friends, Tim and Donna.  

It's always good to see them during their stays here.

It's funny, we didn't know them in San Clemente but met them

through a mutual friend at the beach.

Tim ordered "Korean beef street tacos".  We were joking

that we didn't know that Koreans liked tacos.

I had something called the steak and wedge salad that 

was pretty good.

I didn't try Donna's beet salad but it sure did look yummy!

after the crazy weather on Friday night/Saturday it was nice that

it was such a beautiful day!

no trip to Waikiki would be complete without visiting with Tommy.

can't believe that he's still working on the beach.

Ran into Mike too and we were talking about "the good 'ole days".

Things have changed, but not these friends.

I wish I wasn't so busy that I could go and spend hours

getting caught up with everyone.

But it was nice to visit, even for a short time.

Oh The Girls Came Back...

the Adams ohana came back to the 'hood for a visit and what better

reason to have a party!

They moved to Washington state in July (we were gone, so I didn't have to say good-bye),

and this was the first visit back to Hawaii for them.

They were the first people to move onto the street to have children, nine years

ago the girls were so little.

Now I look at them and they're young women.

such good girls.

it was like they never had left.

We were saying that this party was one just like it used to be.

I'm glad that the crazy weather that we had on Friday night/Saturday was gone

by the time the party started and I got back from town.

Still miss them terribly, but glad to see that they're doing so well.

they'll always be "the girls"

A Beloved Living Treasure...

Treasure...

noun: a person who is greatly loved 

                                                  verb:to hold or keep as precious :  cherish

On Saturday I attended, with my hula sisters, and other guests,

the presenting of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai'i "Livng Treasures"

honor.  This year there were six honorees one of them being my beloved

kumu hula, Ms. Alama.

I loved the theme of the program.  

"Like a tree, these honorees

have sent roots deep into the community".

Ms. Alama was as beautiful and gracious as always.

there was a short video highlighting the accomplishments and

contributions of each honoree.

Ms. Alama has touched so many over the years with her hula.

During dinner Ms. Alama walked around to every table and posed for photos 

and thanked all of us for being there.

after the festivities ended, she had a few minutes to sit and rest with her

daughter, Pua.

(not the best picture, I know, but so much going on)

it wouldn't be a blog post for me without showing the table and food.

I'm usually the one taking pictures, so I'm thankful that I actually have one of me with her.

Yes, she truly is a treasure in so many ways.

President's Day...

 I remember when February was not only the shortest month (still is),

the month that was for Valentine's Day (still is) and two school

holidays (not anymore).

We always had George Washington's birthday off, February 12th

and then later in the month had Abraham Lincoln's birthday, February 22nd,

off.  Not anymore thanks to something called "the uniform holiday act".

President's Day is now a three or four day weekend that's 

full of sales, travel and a reason to sleep in.  

Not even a mention of the father of our country or one of the greatest

presidents this country has ever had.  I saw cartoon sketches of their

faces advertising a sale on cars not even cherry pie!

I'm afraid that the memory of these two great men will go 

away, like the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance has in 

most public schools.  

Living Treasure...

so excited to attend a luncheon honoring my 

beloved kumu, Ms. Alama, tomorrow.

(photo credit: Hula Preservation Society)

It's such a special time...to honor those that truly are "living treasures"...

I hope she knows how much we love her.

**the big photo behind her was taken when she was 17 years old for

a HVB advertisement (I can't remember what the publication was)

Parenthood...

Whenever hubby is gone for an extended time, I don't watch regular tv.

I will watch shows on my computer or streaming using Apple TV. I know that I'm spoiled because I get used to watching without any commercials (48 minutes goes fast instead of 60 with all those commercials).

That's how I got hooked on British television.

I've watched the whole 10 seasons of "Friends" (forgot what a really

great show that was).  

I'd read recently about a series ending, Parenthood.  A lot of people

were really sad that it was ending.  So I thought I'd give it a try.

It's interesting because one of the siblings has a child with Asperger Syndrome.

I've just started the first season, and I'm hooked.

I have a friend, Dale Yoshizu,

 who does A LOT of hiking.  Everyday it seems like he's

posting photos of these incredible places.  He even hikes with a dog hiking group.

I think that's great...the dogs always look so happy.

the other day Dale posted the most fantastic pictures.

Pu'u Manamana Peak

I think this might be looking towards Kahana, Kaawa and Laie towards the top.

when we've driven on that side I've looked up at those sheer peaks

and wondered if there were trails up there.  Skinny, steep, probably dangerous

trails it seems.

Thankful that on all of Dale's hikes he always brings a camera and shares

the beauty of these magnificent places.

Breathtaking to say the least!

Mahalo again Dale!

Wahiawa Sakura...

I had heard that up in Wahiawa Heights, there were 

were Sakura (cherry blossom) trees.

I know that it's so much cooler up there (the houses even have fireplaces)

and that's why the trees thrive.

As I drove up California Ave. past all the churches, I started to

see a few trees.  Their bight pink blossoms giving them away.

Those delicate pink flowers.

I stopped an asked a man that was working in his yard if it was

the beginning or end of the beauty.  He told me that the trees were

just starting to bloom.

He said that his tree had been a gift more than 50 years before as

a celebration on the birth of his daughter.

 He told me to keep driving up to the school.

the whole playground at Iliahi Elementary School was surrounded by them.

I think we'll take another drive in a few weeks to see if the trees are in full bloom.

A little bit of Japanese beauty in Wahiawa

Aloha Dozer...

such a cool dog.

He was born in Colorado, traveled to warm, sunny Waialua and back to 

Colorado again with his "mom & dad".

He was mellow, loved to swim, could snap at flies, husk a coconut really fast and chill at the beach with the best of us.

Marisa and Travis loved him so much.  Enough that 

Flashback Friday...

early 1980's

Harold Ambuehl Brownie troop bridging up into 

Jr. Girl Scouts.

Dorothy Sisola and I had this same troop from when they were Brownies

until they left Juniors for middle school.

great memories of Camp Sherman

Cookie sales, campouts, Disneyland,

Christmas progressive dinners and good fun!

Golden Sky...

the most perfect time of day...

Waikiki sunset

with the golden sky, water, surfer silhouettes and a sunset dinner cruise.

Another different view.

Makani...

there are so many Hawaiian words for wind I wouldn't even

know where to start to describe the last 24 hours.

Crazy, strong wind with gusts.

There were saying that it's southwest, which it could be, but

it's so windy hard to say.  Except for it being warm, it

doesn't feel like a Kona wind that brings the VOG with it.

slamming doors could be heard all over school yesterday.  

Papers flying no matter how careful kids were when opening the doors.

Crazy for sure.

During the middle of the night, every strong gust seem to send something

else blowing down the street.

Hope for a quieter night tonight.

Changing Skyline...

 last week were we were in town I noticed something...

the whole skyline of Waikiki/town is changing.

From Kakaako to Ala Moana there are at least

four huge projects underway.

 Seems like those big cranes are everywhere.

Ala Moana Center is adding a whole new wing

you can no longer check out the surf when you leave

Ward movie theaters

even off the freeway a crane stands

I was sad when I realized that the view from Ward Center is gone.

What had been a parking lot for the theaters and shops is now going to be

apartments.  

So now where is everyone going to park when they go to Dave & Busters, Buca or a movie?

Sometimes I just wonder who plans out this stuff.

So with so many high-rise buildings, will the rest of that area develop it's own weather, like the

hotels did in Waikiki?