Another "a hui hou"...

when I was in Hilo I saw Charlotte and her friend Rick.

When we all got back to Oahu, we met up again with our neighbor, Molly.

We introduced Rick to the pupu menu at Haleiwa Joe's

Since Charlotte left Hawaii I've seen her enough times that she gets her

own "label".  I always tell her "it's not goodbye~ it's

a hui hou" (until we meet again).

I'm lucky that I've always gotten to say "a hui hou" and not good-bye.

A Visitor...

our friend from home, Charlotte, was in Southern California

for Christmas with her family from Maryland where she lives now.  We decided to meet for brunch.

It was so nice to get a chance to really visit.

We got caught up on all the neighborhood news and just life in general.

Charlotte was basking in the warm (ha) California sun while

I still had on a sweatshirt!

It's really nice to make an effort to meet at least when we're on the same coast!

again…

a hui hou Charlotte

Pupus For Charlotte...

 Charlotte was here for a long weekend, leaving last night to

go back to cold DC.

Molly, Billy, Char, hubby and I all met up at 

Haleiwa Joe's for some early lupus before her flight.

I love ordering a bunch of different things and then sharing them...

mushrooms, Joe's ceviche, wings, blackened ahi,

edemame, a Wedge salad...yum

just the right amount of lots of different things!

(hubby trying to hide from us taking his picture)

and the final delicious treat...Love Cake, the perfect ending.

so once again, a hui you Charlotte.

We'll miss you, sorry the license thing didn't work out. 

hana hou, a hui hou

Last night a group of us went to a new restaurant in Haleiwa.  It was Charlotte's

last night in Waialua for awhile.

Marisa and Charlotte

yummy fries...tempura batter and truffle oil,

2 kinds of poke...

chicken wings...

1 handed Billy...

and his "Hawaiian sandwich".  All kinds of meat...

portabella burger...

and a Wedge salad.

 once again...aloha and a hui hou Charlotte.

See you soon!

4th @ Turtle Bay

Yesterday we went to Turtle Bay Resort again for the 4th of July celebration.

We took Charlotte with us this year.  It had been a beautiful day here on the North Shore.

When we got to Turtle Bay, found a parking spot (they direct you), got our chairs and walked a

short distance to the grass and that was it.  Hubby and I decided this year to stop @ Stortos and

get a sandwich on our way up, but Charlotte got a yummy looking gyro.

We ran into a lot of friends/neighbors.

It's a fun place because you sit right on the "golf course grass", they have a ton of

food booths and even bounce houses for the kids.

It was funny, Charlotte and I were talking, hubby had gone to the restroom,

and all of a sudden I heard counting  and the lights dimmed and the first

firework was set off...so not ready to take any cool pictures, so I just snapped

a couple and that was it.

Aloha and a hui hou Charlotte

Our good friend and neighbor, Charlotte left this morning for another adventure on a much colder side of the country. Have fun and be safe!

Charlotte's Change of Command

Last Friday I flew to Hilo to attend our friend and neighbor, Charlotte's Change of Command ceremony. Charlotte was giving up her command of the Kiska. I was glad that I got to go over and witness this wonderful ceremony. It was very bittersweet for her, she's giving up a ship that she loves to attend school in Maryland. From one extreme to the other.Charlotte held her ceremony on Coconut Island, in Hilo Bay. It was a beautiful setting. No rain at all, which was very strange.

Charlotte prsented each member of her crew with a ti leaf lei. The new commander is walking behind her during this inspection.

She had her family fly in from the mainland. She was surprised by her girlfriend Amy and her daughter, who came for the ceremony.

After a wonderful dinner of "local" food, YUM, everyone that was left relaxed and carried on some traditions of their own.

The end of a perfect day, at the end of a tour filled with ups and downs, what better thing to do than jump into Hilo Bay?

Mahalo nui loa, Charlotte for inviting me to such a special day.