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"

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!

A Vintage Christmas...

Last Sunday we had lunch with Dave & Iris at "The Alley" 

(my second time in a week!).

During lunch they just happened to ask us if we'd read the paper yet.

Both Terry & I hadn't since we had church.

They told us that there was an article about them in the "Life" section

about their Vintage Christmas collection.

we've been to their house and seen it all set up and it's really something to behold.

I've never seen anything quite like it, except maybe at Rogers Gardens in Newport Beach.

These photos really don't do it justice.

At www.staradvertiser.com, there are 23 pictures of their house...

but it really should be seen in person.

(star advertiser photos)

Yes, that's a real sleigh inside their house!

The tree in the background must be 25 feet tall!

I love that they have a story to tell about all of the ornaments.  It really is

interesting!

Hula Sisters...

I was sorting through pictures on my phone and came across these two...

can't believe I didn't post about this.

One of my hula sisters from CA, Audrey, was here and wanted to

meet Iris and I for dinner.  It was her choice where she wanted to go 

and I was so glad that she chose The Willows.  I hadn't been there

in ages and it's always a good, fun place to go.

The three of us all dances for Baby Pua as Ms. Alama's daughter is

called.  We started with her when she had her studio in a very small, narrow

room.  

We were talking about our first hoike and how much we practiced...several times a week!

What a magical night it was at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach.

Lots has happened since those fun times.

The best part of this evening was that even though we hadn't seen each other in years,

we still have that special "hula sister" bond.  

I don't think it ever goes away.

Pasta Bella...

I'm not a big fan of Italian food as much as I am of Mexican or

local food.  Arlette and I had been planning on going out to dinner

when she had a free night.  She suggested Assaggio in Mililani.

I'd never been there before (just the whole Italian food thing) and

it was well worth the wait...

the menu had pages and pages of things that sounded so wonderful.

So I finally settled on something that had some ingredients that I truly love...

roasted peppers, portabella mushrooms,  basil and balsamic.

Oh My Goodness

it was so good! The chicken was so tender it melted.

I should have taken a picture before I started eating it, but the smell was heaven 

for starters we ordered one of my very favorite salads...

caprese

I could have just had that and nothing else.

Arlette had something that was chicken and shrimp.

I loved mine too much to even try hers.

so good!

so much food, probably lunch and dinner tonight.

The lycée sorbet and canal were the perfect ending.

Nice to actually talk about something other than A9, especially

after her big observation that morning.

I'm glad I finally got to try Assaggios, it was well worth it.

Happy Birthday From A-9...

Mrs. Lloyd!

Yesterday was Mrs. Lloyd's birthday and the  kids were so excited to

surprise her with the cards they made.

I got a Chantilly cake from Paalakai Bakery for her

and the kids thought that they should have had some too...

Happy Birthday Allie, we love you!

Only In Hawaii...

food at funerals

after every funeral here, there is food.

If the service is held at a church, the food will more than likely be donated by friends.

If the funeral is held at a mortuary, the food will be catered.  There are a couple of

restaurants that have contracts with the mortuaries, and their food is always pretty

much the same...sushi, noodles, mac salad, chicken, meat, namasu and andagi.

There are always "to go" containers so that people can take leftovers home with them.

It's nice to sit around afterwards and talk to friends about the person that you just

said good-bye to.  

Aloha My Sweet Elsie...

Last night family and friends said aloha to my dear, sweet Elsie.

94 years young and still dancing hula!

She was taken from us suddenly but I know she was ready.

Elsie loved a good party,

fretted about not remembering her hula,

worried that when we'd take her home, we'd get lost in Manoa

she loved Burger King and lunch after hula

we celebrated her birthday at a really nice restaurant this year

and just loved being with her

she still climbed those darn 31 stairs every week to dance her beloved hula...

we will miss her cool hands, warm heart and her sweet spirit...

I visited her the day before she left us and I know that she could hear me when I told

her how much we loved her and would miss her...

aloha oe my sweet Elsie

Gloria...

yesterday my friend Gloria posted that she was going to make a delivery

out here on the North Shore (she does beautiful crafts) and wanted to

know if anyone wanted to meet at Luibuenos for dinner.

Since it's still HOT and I know that they've got great AC,  I decided to go.

I'm glad I went and got to sit and talk story for a long time with Glo and her friend Kime.

I'd first met Glo when she was working at Dukes HB in the early days. I didn't realize that Kime

had also worked there so we knew some of the same people (Macie).

Kime was telling us about some really big changes that are coming to Hawaii (she's in a business

where she'd know those things).  I wonder where all these people are going to go?

On my way home I was thinking about the first tsunami after moving here and how Gloria

called and asked me to come to her house.  That's where I went, to her house in Pearl City

and watched it on their tv.  

I don't get into Dukes Waikiki as often as I would like so I don''t get to see Glo as often...

I miss that and I miss her... it's that 30 mile drive that's a killer!

Love you Glo!

Cherr-i-o Miss Roxy...

Roxy, a tech specialist at school is going to study in England (I can't stand it!)

for a year.

At last weeks meeting, there was a "surprise" (she knew) going away party for her.

the party combined foods that she'll miss; poi donuts, chow fun, somen salad, etc

and our take on foods that she'll have in England...

fancy desserts

tea sandwiches, aged cheddar, water biscuits

marmite, salt & vinegar crisps

and our take on "fish & chips".

 We love Roxy & will miss her, especially when there's a computer problem

and her first question to us is "did you turn it on?"

Many Things To Celebrate...

yesterday after (way after) Na Hula we went to a family celebration

for the Sato family.  They had many things to celebrate...daughter and her

family visiting from Texas, a big birthday, a retirement, a company

doing really well.  Most of all they wanted to celebrate this little lady,

my sweet Elsie.  94 years young.

She was nice enough to invite all of us, her hula sisters and our

spouses.  

Sharon and Leialoha

some of Mitzi and Henry's food

(local style, chili and rice)

my hubby was happy with the hot dogs!

 our Makaleka came after taking Ms. Alama to the cemetery (but Ms. Alama was

exhausted to attend).

we were laughing at the Coke can I got...

wish it had said "sistahs"

It was a very long day, but worth it in the end, getting to spend more

time with my sweet hula sisters.

Love them!

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.

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.