It Came Up Again...

     

Lucky We Live Hawaii

The uniform

I hadn't actually seen Ed in his full uniform.  I was leaving and he just happened to come

home and I had to take a picture.

Love a man in a uniform!

Only In Hawaii

The first ingredient in Kalua pork, along Kam Hiway, Haleiwa.

not something you see everyday on the mainland!

Kamehameha Song Contest

Last night the Kamehameha Song Contest on television.  I just love watching

this show.  It's something so unique Hawaiian.  This year was the 91st

year it's been performed.  Every year the students sing songs

of one specific composer.  This year it was Aunty Irmgard.  She wrote so

many songs, but one of the most famous is "Pua mana" a song

that I'm sure that every hula dancer has learned at some point.

This years Senior Class was outstanding and deserved to win!

The whole process to get to the night of the actual contest is long.  There are students

that are chosen as leaders (conductors), each class sings a men's, women's and combined

song.  It really is amazing.  I can't imagine the hours that go into it.

The people's prince...

Today is a state holiday remembering the life of Prince Jonah Kuhio.

His statue his under the big banyan tree along Kuhio Beach in Waikiki.



A Dream from start to finish...

I'm a member of the SCC (School Community Council) at Waialua Elementary.

One of the things that we do is to come up with projects that will benefit the school as

a whole.  This year we talked about doing some sort of a stage that could be used for May Day

and all school assemblies held outside.  We wanted it to have a feel/look that it belonged in the community.

Part of the problem with this project was funding.  These are tough times.  The idea for a "Fun Run"

came up and the wheels were set in motion.  The students and their families raised more than

enough money for the project. 

A Tongan friend of ours has a rock wall building business and he won the bid.  We decided on a

site at the end of a big grassy area under a huge shade tree.

(mahalo to Dale Yoshizu for some of the great photos)

 Yesterday was the final step in this process...a traditional Hawaiian/Christian blessing.

 The Kahu (minister) uses water, Hawaiian salt and ti leaves as part of his blessing.

Three girls were chosen to represent all the students and take part in this.

 He blessed the four corners, ramp and steps.

 The ceremony ended with the third graders doing a traditional Hawaiian chant.

The stage is beautiful and is something that will be used for generations to come.