First Time This Summer...

Saturday night we had our friends friends from the mainland

over for dinner.  It was nice to sit outside, not too hot and it din't rain until

almost 9, then it was more of a passing trade shower.

This was the first time we'd eaten out this summer and it was sure nice.

I drove up to Kahuku and got corn on Frida and since I'd gotten 2 bags,

I decided to make mango corn salsa to have with our chicken shish-ka-bobs.

It was so good especially since I'd used all local ingredients.

Spinach, blueberry, strawberry and feta summer salad...my favorite.

Good company is always fun

It was nice to be outside in our beautiful yard 

and we went disturbed until right before we came in....so that made it even better!

Surf Art Kids...

On the last day of school and artist, Hilton Alves, came to 

Waialua to paint a marine themed mural.  Each class got a chance

to do a practice piece before Hilton started on the big one.

Hilton is the founder of "Surf Art Kids Tour"

This is such a great way to get kids involved and excited about art.

I love that he talks about protecting the oceans and the aina.

(Dale Yoshizu photos)

Right before school let out for the summer, Hilton came to our class to present

one of his paintings to a lucky student.

Since our winner was a friend of Hiltons, he asked if Bryson would mind if

he gave the painting to Kevin, our "special" student because Kevin was

so loved the painting.

Mahalo again Hilton for coming to Waialua

and making it a better place!

Hula at the bandstand...

The first Sunday of every month there is a concert of some kind 

at the Waialua Bandstand.

This month it was a performance by a local halau.

We knew some of the girls from church and school, a group of three sisters

My friend Coco also teaches ukelele at the halau and she had some of her students

there.  This brother played while his younger sister danced "Little Brown Gal"

the perfect hula smile!

We've gone to these Sunday concerts before and

have really enjoyed them all.

When it's "local" talent it really makes it more fun!

Traffic...

I was reading a recent article that caught my eye.

It has to do with the much publicized ranking of Honolulu as having

the #1 worst traffic in the nation.

Some thoughts...

* we only have 50 miles of freeway in the whole state...those being here

*our freeways are only 3-4 lanes wide, not 5-7 like in LA

*traffic is worse during the school year, once it ends flow seems to be better

*we do have carpool lanes, just getting people to carpool is a problem (like everywhere)

*Pearl Harbor is a HUGE employer and they try to stagger start/stop work times,

so we try and plan our trips   

*how can we be compared to the 405 at rush hour?

Think this "worst" deal may have been put out there

by the folks who want rail, and they don't care how much it will cost.

A Knock-Off...

When I was in Utah, we HAD to try the famous BYU

mint brownies from the Creamery.

Ever since then, I'd been looking for a recipe.

I finally found one that actually came from BYU.

Making a whole pan of chocolate mint brownies wasn't something I

would do just for us.  So since we were having a beach picnic, 

I decided to make them.

I started right when I got home from church and finally finished 1/2 hour before

leaving.  They were pretty  labor intensive...

but worth it.  

i think they may add a bit more coco to it, but 

this is one "knock-off" that's pretty

darn close to the original!

A Reunion of Sorts...

Last week I was at Kono's and I heard someone call my name.

It turned out to be one of my hula sisters from California.  They own a

place here in Haleiwa and were here for two weeks.  I called

Dave and Iris and we set up a time to have a potluck at their place,

which is on the beach at Kaiaka.

There was a ton of food...

Kalbi ribs, fried rice

one of my favorites, Spam pancake (thank you Iris)

We brought Paalakai chicken (of course)

It was nice to hang out on the grass in front of their place

 Mahalo Kathy and Terry for having us 

over for a hula sister reunion...

It sure was nice.

It's June 1st...

and there are waves!!!!

Not wind waves but a real swell

I was out really early taking some pictures and came upon the crowds...

There were some heavy trade showers but that didn't keep 

people away.

All of these pictures I took before 7 am.