tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386679745084978482024-03-12T21:48:19.695-10:00Cynthia On The MoveLife stories and experiences from a California native.sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-15908680903788057042012-02-02T23:08:00.002-10:002012-02-02T23:11:05.520-10:00I've moved - to a new site!Hi Everyone,<br />I've moved to a new site. Join me at: <a href="http://cynthiachristian.com">cynthiachristian.com</a><br /><br />We've been celebrating the Year of the Dragon around here.sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-58523116114515720572012-01-07T12:06:00.009-10:002012-01-07T13:06:31.125-10:00Big Wednesday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCqG_3o19BkRLt7_gEgJkxPPWfbjEqRrAqcXjy-T9JDKmTtozTx2T6bQByATfcNn93t0nO5yR8D9xWwiZHAPenCKlmu057l0RukVjW6KstHtgx7sfDvLwPTdQokGemxjs6M6axair64oM/s1600/Sunet+Beach+big+wave.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCqG_3o19BkRLt7_gEgJkxPPWfbjEqRrAqcXjy-T9JDKmTtozTx2T6bQByATfcNn93t0nO5yR8D9xWwiZHAPenCKlmu057l0RukVjW6KstHtgx7sfDvLwPTdQokGemxjs6M6axair64oM/s400/Sunet+Beach+big+wave.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695025972230506066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldRrCLjDJKrMjhBbp59i8hloySaE2m2Sw-dYP1ABYimxbGMdHS4xr2f6wsVRHEDv9TtuyNPOGM7cblku80YUrBg6ZwDxzTm9Y2HuBH_1gBM7NwvrJZJ-J9LhGV2hRYezcrEY_FwZ7sbGW/s1600/Sunset+Beach+wave.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldRrCLjDJKrMjhBbp59i8hloySaE2m2Sw-dYP1ABYimxbGMdHS4xr2f6wsVRHEDv9TtuyNPOGM7cblku80YUrBg6ZwDxzTm9Y2HuBH_1gBM7NwvrJZJ-J9LhGV2hRYezcrEY_FwZ7sbGW/s400/Sunset+Beach+wave.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695025645642606530" /></a><br /><br />Tuesday evening I received this text from Hawaii Dept. of Emergency Services:<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"Hi Surf Warning Oahu, 10 am Tues. to 6am Thu. North 25'-35'. Take precaution against dangerous waves."</span><br /><br />Wednesday morning we drove to North Shore to watch the waves. We stopped at every beach we could to take in the awe of Mother Nature. I don't think we saw any 25-30' waves, but the waves were intense. Lifeguards taped off certain beach areas and stood over the crowds to keep people off the beach. Waimea had the most surfers. Pupukea had a jet ski and a helicopter hovering over a group of surfers out in the distance. We never saw any of them take a wave. The weather was perfect. A slight breeze, sun, mid-70's. I'd say blue sky, but there was a persistent haze of <a href="http://www.konaweb.com/vog/index.shtml">vog</a> from the Big Island.<br /><br />When we arrived on Sunset Beach, the wind had picked up. Sand was kicking up along the dry areas. Waves churned with more white wash and spray. I couldn't help but picture three guy friends from high school. They were surfers and loved the movie <span style="font-weight:bold;">Big Wednesday</span>. They couldn't wait for its box office release. They quoted lines from the movie on a regular basis. They surfed when they could, mostly in Newport, San Onofre and Dana Point, but they also traveled to their secret surf/camp spot in Mexico. They were a lot like the guys in the movie. Thank goodness they are all still alive and didn't have a Vietnam war, like the movie characters. <br /><br />Off in the distance I captured the last moment of a whale flipping his tail in the water. I looked out his direction and watched the explosive sprays from his blowhole shoot above the ocean along the horizon line. I may not be out there on a board floating as one with the ocean, but I sure appreciate the beauty and movement from Mother Nature's ocean world.<br /><br />Here I was on January 4th standing on the beach where most of the movie was filmed. This was my <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077235/">Big Wednesday</a>. I don't surf. Never have. But I was mesmerized by watching the waves roll in and crash on the rocks, reefs and beaches. This was the day I realized my life had changed. I live on Oahu now, not California. I left things behind, physical things, but also, a whole lifetime of memories in California. Life isn't the same. People have passed on, friends moved away and life is all new here. It was time for me to embrace the new. I turned to Mark who said, "We are so lucky. We live here." I agreed.sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-52824703511054895152011-12-29T13:49:00.006-10:002011-12-29T14:11:25.259-10:00Christmas Service in Hawaii<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWklnjNOSkc46hyDbOHV4PUevEwgvU5fwbeZu9_wqos85whsmjlQ0aPvqVV9R9qPCkC-Xumd29F2qbdXKVAuiT4YQ8C6QTEp59_v9xPTDwi-6N1J7mNeMzTGRoRk6Gq3vIeIU2TpWMMR_/s1600/Christmas+Day+Service.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWklnjNOSkc46hyDbOHV4PUevEwgvU5fwbeZu9_wqos85whsmjlQ0aPvqVV9R9qPCkC-Xumd29F2qbdXKVAuiT4YQ8C6QTEp59_v9xPTDwi-6N1J7mNeMzTGRoRk6Gq3vIeIU2TpWMMR_/s400/Christmas+Day+Service.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691705032625350418" /></a><br />Christmas Day we went to church. Greenery and candles lined the pews and walls, along with native antherium, ti leaves and weaved palm fronds. We sat in a pew and faced the high altar, waiting for the service to begin. At 10:30, the bells in the chapel rang joyous tunes. Still facing the front, we waited for the choir to enter in front of us, but we heard another sound. A conch shell called parishioners to enter the church. A conch shell. Only in Hawaii. But wait....<br />during the Prayers Of The People, the priest from Tennessee, prayed for King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma. And the choir sang the Queen's Prayer - in Hawaiian!<br /><br />The Queen's Prayer translated to English:<br />(Lili'uokalani)<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Your loving mercy is as high as heaven and your truth so perfect. I live imprisoned in sorrow; you are my light; your glory, my support. Behold not with malevolence the sins of humankind, but forgive and cleanse.<br />And so, O Lord, protect us beneath your wings and let peace be our portion now and forever more.</span>sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-35947307530003588532011-12-09T17:27:00.014-10:002011-12-09T17:56:07.434-10:00Honolulu City LightsHere are photos from Honolulu City Lights, put on by the City and County of Honolulu at Honolulu Hale. There is so much more than what I've posted here, but this gives you an idea of the color and lights that surround City Hall and adorn the interior.<br /><br />The lobby was filled with rows of Christmas trees, each decorated by a different city/county department, such as Office of Emergency Services which had a "Be Prepared" tree, complete with a can of Spam hung as an ornament. <br /><br />Mark, our friend "Jake", and I wandered the lobby and inhaled the smell of fresh pine trees. "It finally feels like Christmas," we remarked.<br /><br />I may go back again before the season is over.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGPHKDFUBHv9m4rqPn2mqGME7ZBa5MxmYOEjGruYacprd-_kNy06rDAISqjRoXQ_EeoIczA2JDUGBnFMZ1pnB_4ewraXu7KW1R1s4KNY7cVMdXOvkw2-Xo_DxldDy0GWLHxJo1SyLXKiq/s1600/HCL23.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGPHKDFUBHv9m4rqPn2mqGME7ZBa5MxmYOEjGruYacprd-_kNy06rDAISqjRoXQ_EeoIczA2JDUGBnFMZ1pnB_4ewraXu7KW1R1s4KNY7cVMdXOvkw2-Xo_DxldDy0GWLHxJo1SyLXKiq/s320/HCL23.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684338954789029362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDaE2ZNBiAa_5nW92GlPhg4Qlk7EMTZCTr9U_FXqZnuYRZ5fCWGbN9CGS0naCy9IR-JOayxYRTDLiernLf0db-LOmxbTrDaOyL0cKL-eOJhj3OgJjjbM4CO91fw7oUsZc1TC_vf0CLb3h/s1600/HCL21.jpg"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCHDBxlUCtXXbUAeiY0sDwH6Q8vOfSAv3XuzuNm8oZ5GGLC3ATfRNxlOoOnZbhVE8FftyWBC4pKoPC6qw4-oZsVqhTwv7bgOyjWyv4JhC-_rm7wCM2Zj9BqJbrBHP_qn-1Nq0H8Tvluo3/s320/HCL3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684336881947663122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXFTonfgkWrO6_nOIQc3jxip92TLz84A1kFT3t6US7P39PeNWwGmB5XeWws9EFODn_h3re8cW7ZWo-Z3ekVJI0072mNm82-srL4gZNMNNf_YtdtmAMtVxuQ2RVkGhyphenhyphenvw87-usK7xTouRY/s1600/HCL2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXFTonfgkWrO6_nOIQc3jxip92TLz84A1kFT3t6US7P39PeNWwGmB5XeWws9EFODn_h3re8cW7ZWo-Z3ekVJI0072mNm82-srL4gZNMNNf_YtdtmAMtVxuQ2RVkGhyphenhyphenvw87-usK7xTouRY/s320/HCL2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684336694412224610" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqnqEpTozs_T0K5HNfbMFyjb8PMATOmVAB9EUHwq8UjLFlrfRmrYJmXa82W6hsEVq8U8703bgDXVoHlikfyKg_fV1iwoWRNAzziDP8jsoNJg9Vp2jbK6gSK0mAyHvGq7Vg7gKS_pny4_P-/s1600/HCL1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqnqEpTozs_T0K5HNfbMFyjb8PMATOmVAB9EUHwq8UjLFlrfRmrYJmXa82W6hsEVq8U8703bgDXVoHlikfyKg_fV1iwoWRNAzziDP8jsoNJg9Vp2jbK6gSK0mAyHvGq7Vg7gKS_pny4_P-/s320/HCL1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684336543434148658" /></a>sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-66482702721338904382011-12-05T22:22:00.011-10:002011-12-05T22:32:00.996-10:00Christmas In Hawaii<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3j_Z3iED6zf_QpUdBtQHKpTXhQCYt5DRO7b3HdtdEGvgOH3BwL0jj_eQfiTdKxRw1__yFDI70H2R9uwpPOucWHwzRi4hucB9gJurZIKMYlUDgQy1_4Yak9uoNRORBuu1y1t9Rfk8B3zF/s1600/Hula+Dancers+at+Ala+Moana.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3j_Z3iED6zf_QpUdBtQHKpTXhQCYt5DRO7b3HdtdEGvgOH3BwL0jj_eQfiTdKxRw1__yFDI70H2R9uwpPOucWHwzRi4hucB9gJurZIKMYlUDgQy1_4Yak9uoNRORBuu1y1t9Rfk8B3zF/s320/Hula+Dancers+at+Ala+Moana.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682930272436454818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgexTwO2BhNmXxNYFvqY9h0ug4n2-VaITvvasKLg482DxGBvwbUOsgux-DBBl9eEWHhz8duKqLCdH6sHXarIY2TJJL04ssvBfS-cnDyDBqhJCYTfYa8mO6X2Sx7FV6G1lhwV0w2NaQEz3/s1600/%2522.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgexTwO2BhNmXxNYFvqY9h0ug4n2-VaITvvasKLg482DxGBvwbUOsgux-DBBl9eEWHhz8duKqLCdH6sHXarIY2TJJL04ssvBfS-cnDyDBqhJCYTfYa8mO6X2Sx7FV6G1lhwV0w2NaQEz3/s320/%2522.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682930212670289714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTXLTXaeE3TdIr9IV3HF5OiPetrvR0wVIz_M1k18ARRqFbY6VkWF9S0_xQQlgmV-5h4p8TI6WERJXa9IPHF_AxEfKMyXiRgMV8anER6_rYyYgKcYKfNgaeX1XpwCzNgezcWEJFoJaMrkc/s1600/Antherium+Tree.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTXLTXaeE3TdIr9IV3HF5OiPetrvR0wVIz_M1k18ARRqFbY6VkWF9S0_xQQlgmV-5h4p8TI6WERJXa9IPHF_AxEfKMyXiRgMV8anER6_rYyYgKcYKfNgaeX1XpwCzNgezcWEJFoJaMrkc/s320/Antherium+Tree.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682930145917742018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfcaMzfleaU2NGYvqj_7945jMJr76_FX0CPBD9TBJyFiKdzBEadTe6kuoJrJ5GE9_lqFYc8jO83aKtLErO6XSYgJDPj1zJuag5j-aRnCQ6Z3qPpf-rOdR5XHErPZHvtY6msvAakx8zToJ/s1600/Christmas+Tree.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfcaMzfleaU2NGYvqj_7945jMJr76_FX0CPBD9TBJyFiKdzBEadTe6kuoJrJ5GE9_lqFYc8jO83aKtLErO6XSYgJDPj1zJuag5j-aRnCQ6Z3qPpf-rOdR5XHErPZHvtY6msvAakx8zToJ/s320/Christmas+Tree.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682930073306224866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNG4f6KssPzkCXOPr4_U2OX0ZAewHYILmymjm0mcw68ODRNE2Bdg4_EXm_jMWVSGPIJtMEviuntc3p3r3-8Ypahdw2MRfromHjxW-gO7qo4IM1-MGd63jgjnZJY0rehGVK70hEBi58FOz/s1600/Hawaiian+Wreath.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNG4f6KssPzkCXOPr4_U2OX0ZAewHYILmymjm0mcw68ODRNE2Bdg4_EXm_jMWVSGPIJtMEviuntc3p3r3-8Ypahdw2MRfromHjxW-gO7qo4IM1-MGd63jgjnZJY0rehGVK70hEBi58FOz/s320/Hawaiian+Wreath.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682929971102169010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh530gWp6tFjQk8EQAUxifmz9OtuO_yPTxAxiilHPcipgjK_OPGwrQnV1Nh5FvlaMD7TCFUDRg21fabHxPltgYcUomvNSruy4zd4U3euvisEbumQOibF_Al9-Q3F39QEdu77CZt5GpBa-l/s1600/Manger+Scene.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh530gWp6tFjQk8EQAUxifmz9OtuO_yPTxAxiilHPcipgjK_OPGwrQnV1Nh5FvlaMD7TCFUDRg21fabHxPltgYcUomvNSruy4zd4U3euvisEbumQOibF_Al9-Q3F39QEdu77CZt5GpBa-l/s320/Manger+Scene.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682929894146358178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsBOLZAZhRGYVQZEDvreNnUoGVkPVGVzyxAWs39VH2S3dU6wozkfHsLlXKG_tbxiAsaO4j3zCdrNuvhLv_fzd_OXNX6nFIKt3bt4C1Zn6gO34eastTyzo_za38zPSHFapY2-r8EgnbOPa/s1600/Many+Christmas+Trees.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsBOLZAZhRGYVQZEDvreNnUoGVkPVGVzyxAWs39VH2S3dU6wozkfHsLlXKG_tbxiAsaO4j3zCdrNuvhLv_fzd_OXNX6nFIKt3bt4C1Zn6gO34eastTyzo_za38zPSHFapY2-r8EgnbOPa/s320/Many+Christmas+Trees.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682929820695075538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7uapDc-Qk5TU9vyCREEW64lHLeoWXjPml2T5a1zhzdCIm9c1Epeo80YdepbKO0x2Ez6rsBAA21_VFxiDQDl9ZgKj3wz0ntA-LrUsftLTYRyoQAlyctvrE_OAGfZyVO8U0Oa70daedH9z/s1600/Menehune+Santa%2527s+Elf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7uapDc-Qk5TU9vyCREEW64lHLeoWXjPml2T5a1zhzdCIm9c1Epeo80YdepbKO0x2Ez6rsBAA21_VFxiDQDl9ZgKj3wz0ntA-LrUsftLTYRyoQAlyctvrE_OAGfZyVO8U0Oa70daedH9z/s320/Menehune+Santa%2527s+Elf.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682929739064765122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1suqt2XjAiwAPJGOxcyYq5O5Hmgb0QoxGOyIKkBZFuLTiz3uEIU2hJ8jzmVoFlkTfc6tAnA_yjmI9jpDq2Pu1WwieWjW6639cBdIq_1KNoAuH1HLaxB1nNhncykWc8eoB_vyS_J79JmUY/s1600/Menehune+Toy+Shop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1suqt2XjAiwAPJGOxcyYq5O5Hmgb0QoxGOyIKkBZFuLTiz3uEIU2hJ8jzmVoFlkTfc6tAnA_yjmI9jpDq2Pu1WwieWjW6639cBdIq_1KNoAuH1HLaxB1nNhncykWc8eoB_vyS_J79JmUY/s320/Menehune+Toy+Shop.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682929664839855858" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CEjOD4KXyMlGu68NrHOn1rqWJNdG2Aku3G4KVmaWgpJTuxVBMqIwXuaKlFyyGvuZKwylSCjmC2Jn-yVz3MMowMbci0166KVcdTXZcYSOif72abccueInEv-FVmV5UxMHNTJt6gDDQCwm/s1600/Santa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CEjOD4KXyMlGu68NrHOn1rqWJNdG2Aku3G4KVmaWgpJTuxVBMqIwXuaKlFyyGvuZKwylSCjmC2Jn-yVz3MMowMbci0166KVcdTXZcYSOif72abccueInEv-FVmV5UxMHNTJt6gDDQCwm/s320/Santa.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682929590340183474" /></a><br />I wondered how Hawaiians would decorate for Christmas. Would Santa come in a canoe rather than down the chimney? (Yes, he does. In Waikiki, at least.)<br /><br />Here are photos of Christmas decorations I've taken all around the island. Look closely, you'll see ukeleles in wreaths and Santa's workshop isn't run by elves. The Menehune help Santa with the toys on Oahu. <br /><br />I was surprised to find the manger scene at the Kahala Mall.<br /><br />The real Oahu decorations are at <a href="http://honolulucitylights.org/">Honolulu City Lights</a>. I haven't made it down there yet, but I will and I'll share photos when I do.sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-14274154092958932242011-11-27T16:16:00.003-10:002011-11-27T16:46:03.935-10:00Black Friday and Peace On Earth<span style="font-style:italic;">Peace on Earth, can it be<br />Every child must be made aware<br />Every child must be made to care<br />Care enough for his fellow man<br />To give all the love that he can</span><br /><br /><br />Remember those lyrics? <span style="font-weight:bold;">Peace On Earth</span>. <br /><br />The Christmas carol duet performed by Andy Williams and David Bowie rang out over the airwaves as I listened to the radio in my car on Black Friday. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Every child must be made aware<br />Every child must be made to care</span><br /><br />I wondered, who is teaching the children to care about others?<br />It left the teaching curriculum a long time ago in California. <br /><br />Churches? <br />Hardly anyone I know still goes to church or brings their children to church.<br /><br />The state? Daycare? Babysitters? <br />Who?<br /><br />Then I came home and turned on the TV news. Pepper spraying fellow humans to greedily take an Xbox, people trampling, grabbing, pushing and even shooting in order to get what they want.<br /><br />I mused over the degradation of our society and over the loss of people giving of themselves to help others. My grandparents taught me to leave things behind so others may also have them. <br /><br />I was reminded of a time in Tahoe when I went to Safeway at night right before a blizzard was due to come in. There were two bottles of windshield wiper fluid left- the kind that doesn’t freeze and is vital to driving in snow and slush. I could have used two bottles, but my grandpa’s voice came to me. “Take two and you’ve taken from someone who might desperately need that bottle. You only need one.”<br /><br />I left the other bottle there for someone else. I mentioned to a friend that night there were only two bottles of fluid left and that I had left the other one there in case someone really needed it. He seemed pleasantly shocked that I had considered another person and that two bottles was more than I needed at that moment. <br /><br />Thinking of others isn’t the norm anymore. I really wonder what happened to our society.<br /><br />What has this world come to? How do we find our humanity again? Where are the grandparents?sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-18802028822179137212011-11-10T11:07:00.004-10:002011-11-11T12:59:47.388-10:00Let's Help the Small Business During APECShoppers are staying away from Ala Moana Shopping Center. Restaurants near the APEC Conference are closing their doors for the rest of the week. Small businesses have laid off employees for 4-7 days.Shopkeepers at Ala Moana Shopping Center are telling their employees to take a break and buy a cup of coffee to support other retailers.<br /><br />APEC is hurting commerce in the Honolulu area surrounding the conference locations. <br /><br />So, Mark and I decided to have dinner tonight somewhere in town, near the conference, but not in the secured zone. We want to help the local businesses. Anyone have ideas of where we should eat? <br /><br />Let us know if you want to join us.<br /><br />Update: The Chart House restaurant in Honolulu had an "APEC Stimulus Package" last night. We ate there when we saw the special - 40% off food! When have you ever heard of 40% off a dinner? I don't think I ever have. My mahimahi fish dinner was $18. They took $36 off our final bill. That's a deal!sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-45003097619322295062011-11-07T12:45:00.006-10:002011-11-07T13:01:28.472-10:00APEC Traffic Fears<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrj0K9QCJpnvUq7TxhHJPHOPBhHr2ypiiY15l_qLO_FS0mJNcco-2ZQQPeYjV_0KElT_EpCS4jG-uULinpf_QG2_bZIKfu21qgghr099CvjRd3-UTYFhTtiBngl8WddOD6tRz7yFxwL8D1/s1600/Empty+Waikiki+Beach.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrj0K9QCJpnvUq7TxhHJPHOPBhHr2ypiiY15l_qLO_FS0mJNcco-2ZQQPeYjV_0KElT_EpCS4jG-uULinpf_QG2_bZIKfu21qgghr099CvjRd3-UTYFhTtiBngl8WddOD6tRz7yFxwL8D1/s320/Empty+Waikiki+Beach.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672392862925750402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-27h63lPT5zHf6UaKfTh4E6HunVBtulUOL63T3LbHvAlo-7YdjkwaWNHr6TdoT1X4E0s9-Wu5PZWYpD4-EKf_-XiKAwQXhQW4BAcAwBJGWXRLXBmTBeCqMTfsuNV4wbRKyR4J3HZf10ky/s1600/Empty+Waikiki+Beach+2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-27h63lPT5zHf6UaKfTh4E6HunVBtulUOL63T3LbHvAlo-7YdjkwaWNHr6TdoT1X4E0s9-Wu5PZWYpD4-EKf_-XiKAwQXhQW4BAcAwBJGWXRLXBmTBeCqMTfsuNV4wbRKyR4J3HZf10ky/s320/Empty+Waikiki+Beach+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672392773849890658" /></a><br />APEC's in town. (<a href="http://www.apec.org">Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation</a>)<br /><br />Streets are closed for security reasons. High-level delegates from 21 countries are here. Traffic warnings are posted everywhere. Beaches are shut down. Residents of Waikiki enter their own residences only with proper I.D.<br /><br />Mark and I went to dinner in Waikiki on Saturday night, figuring it would be our last chance to visit for at least a week. We were shocked to find how empty the streets, hotels and restaurants were. Even Waikiki Beach was empty. Did everyone stay away, fearing massive traffic and hassle from APEC? The opening ceremony for APEC was on Sunday, yet Saturday was empty in Waikiki. <br /><br />Maybe this is how we end traffic in Honolulu after all-just create traffic fears so bad that no one wants to enter the city.<br /><br />I am heeding advice to stay away. Today I am home, hunkered down in our apartment. The streets may be empty, but I wouldn't know. I'm writing. And reading other people's writing. And that's a good thing.sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-4749761588795533442011-10-22T08:49:00.004-10:002011-10-22T09:15:49.349-10:00Mainland Culture ShockI've been on the mainland for a week now. LAX was the first stop and, boy, did I have a shock. I've been living island-style and Los Angeles rudeness was appalling. I exited the plane and headed straight for the restroom, where the woman behind me was right up on my back. Personal space means nothing here. Women pushed in line, also something that never happens in Hawaii. <br /><br />The hallway floor of LAX was covered in grime, gum, dust and litter. After more rushing and pushing at baggage claim, Mark and I rushed out to the shuttle to take us to our hotel. Where were the soothing tropical tones at the LAX Sheraton? Nowhere. "So, L.A." I remarked at check-in. The Sheraton is decorated in shades of gray, accented with black and bold geometric shapes. Trendy and hip, yes. Soothing and serene, no.<br /><br />Our friend, picked us up and drove us to Barney's Beanery in Santa Monica to watch the USC-Cal football game. Good friends and food helped our shock, but, seriously, does everyone in Santa Monica drive a BMW?<br /><br />Back to the Sheraton, where I couldn't wait for the next leg of the journey, to Georgia and the hospitable south.<br /><br />Our flight to Atlanta didn't start well. Delta charged us a huge amount of money for our baggage fees. When we had boarded, Mark and I tried to tell the flight attendant how the baggage fees were over the top at Delta. She argued with us. The passenger next to us, who travels all the time, confirmed what we were saying. She argued with him. The man in the seat across the aisle also told of his baggage experience with extra fees and the flight attendant continued to argue with all of us! We all agreed, we never fly Delta unless we have no choice, and Atlanta airport is pretty much only Delta. <br /><br />Atlanta airport is huge and crazy with lots of people, but it's clean and organized. People are aware of personal space and many offered to help me with my bag. Mark and I said our goodbyes for the rest of the week. I was staying in Georgia, while Mark was continuing on to another destination.<br /><br />Off to the hotel for me at the Gateway Center, where I took a clean, efficient tram to my hotel directly off the airport terminal.<br /><br />The following day was a drive to southern Georgia to watch my Godson play college football. I wanted to be full of rest and energy, so I went to bed at 9:30 PM Atlanta time. Uh, that made it 3:30 PM Hawaii time. I didn't fall asleep for a long while. The clock on the nightstand read 3:30 AM last I saw before I finally fell asleep.sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-50882150736809621612011-10-10T13:29:00.004-10:002011-10-10T13:56:07.073-10:00Shopping on Base<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVZcyYMgw0hjrzZvkU21NOPWTsdH1AwrQsZX3WhyphenhyphenC7cCDIZIC2jsp3GUaUE498Swf3T4hGumGdAh3fXLJwbYByPt2_ufb7f0M7hYJP_dUQHT-niZqwFmE9JPgNH8X8_IEpkPGNKJ61VIG/s1600/MCBH+Parking+sign.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVZcyYMgw0hjrzZvkU21NOPWTsdH1AwrQsZX3WhyphenhyphenC7cCDIZIC2jsp3GUaUE498Swf3T4hGumGdAh3fXLJwbYByPt2_ufb7f0M7hYJP_dUQHT-niZqwFmE9JPgNH8X8_IEpkPGNKJ61VIG/s320/MCBH+Parking+sign.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662012130596842482" /></a><br />Oahu has a huge military presence. Each section of the island has some kind of military base/post/camp on it. When heading to the North Shore, we pass Schofield Barracks and Dillingham airfield. I've never been to Pearl Harbor for the tour. I need to do that soon. I have been on Hickam/Pearl Harbor and recently, the Marine Corps Base Hawaii. <br /><br />A friend of mine is a Marine wife. I went with her to MCBH to help her with her baby and do some shopping at the Base Exchange. Not having much experience with the military, I noticed everything. With ID, we entered the base through the sentry gate. No one sped. No one was in a hurry, or they didn't show it at least. Single family homes on nicely paved subdivisions sat to the right of us in the car. Plenty of space on the roads for the number of cars and plenty of parking in the lot. We pulled into the lot and parked. When I got out of the car, I saw this sign... pregnant women get preferred parking! Look at the sign, it's in Marine Colors. Of course, as a Trojan, I thought of USC's Cardinal and Gold colors. I'm pretty sure there's no parking designated for pregnant women on USC's campus, though.<br /><br />Inside the Base Exchange I was mesmerized by everything in one building. TV's on one side, Hallmark cards next to me, holiday decor in front of me, home items to the right and clothes for men, women and children/babies in the back. We wandered through the bath/home section. I love "one-stop" shopping and this building had it all. I could see every section from any other section. Shelves were clean and orderly. Leave it to the Marines to be organized and to make parking easier for pregnant women. Walmart on Keeaumoku Street, are you listening?sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-11490543129072424612011-10-06T09:30:00.011-10:002011-10-06T09:43:10.124-10:00Colors of Paradise<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACgR6DlQR3zN92hrRlod4aPC9LaY1UICtZ_S378g6XUd_zllqVZHknJAaDXBO98BVB31A9YZMh_vUvn0X80VCPj-ILCyBW7XfATVpqyDDSHPz7kuqYOYLnF28m0VvWvWyYsjgI0Y1-FBb/s1600/Sunset+Ala+Moana+Harbor.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACgR6DlQR3zN92hrRlod4aPC9LaY1UICtZ_S378g6XUd_zllqVZHknJAaDXBO98BVB31A9YZMh_vUvn0X80VCPj-ILCyBW7XfATVpqyDDSHPz7kuqYOYLnF28m0VvWvWyYsjgI0Y1-FBb/s320/Sunset+Ala+Moana+Harbor.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660466847490979506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNaUDjkIBrdhUDFI0Ic4uOGxPABqjQoiN8ua4rHIJdiHRBTcjYigEDwBveouKkHx4EnMMqXiE1vvG7d-BxkHeB2mFAKGhqUVAJ7b2dtQqdN-gA9ezCRakMbKVUn-AQEzEcBe2SgHbL68w/s1600/North+Shore+sunset+colors.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNaUDjkIBrdhUDFI0Ic4uOGxPABqjQoiN8ua4rHIJdiHRBTcjYigEDwBveouKkHx4EnMMqXiE1vvG7d-BxkHeB2mFAKGhqUVAJ7b2dtQqdN-gA9ezCRakMbKVUn-AQEzEcBe2SgHbL68w/s320/North+Shore+sunset+colors.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660466609665531218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1um-ky2MyCP_ZDkXZQzUKsaYKX6mtVj_fNhI27h6UCpWwbrANWSrPwDC4NiD1l8JprgIL7uBK8fvxWmVfA41xzrbq3xrDdZHizgNbaQN6HAiT4_HRJ3HlI4gaFknsB331ZHVIaVFRHEz/s1600/Golden+Sunset.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1um-ky2MyCP_ZDkXZQzUKsaYKX6mtVj_fNhI27h6UCpWwbrANWSrPwDC4NiD1l8JprgIL7uBK8fvxWmVfA41xzrbq3xrDdZHizgNbaQN6HAiT4_HRJ3HlI4gaFknsB331ZHVIaVFRHEz/s320/Golden+Sunset.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660466501000436306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKEqHCxuy8AK5e6e42e-x91-6x4b9F1tJwIymhW9Ox9fQ5VlrERClibQlyqsoWJEjj75FagyaJAdYiQj3Wd7Neg_w3Tq4u-uVgT_5IVPqv6l36QpnhAje5WMsWH5iR8ghjsi5F_nVwkEw/s1600/Waikiki+Sunset.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKEqHCxuy8AK5e6e42e-x91-6x4b9F1tJwIymhW9Ox9fQ5VlrERClibQlyqsoWJEjj75FagyaJAdYiQj3Wd7Neg_w3Tq4u-uVgT_5IVPqv6l36QpnhAje5WMsWH5iR8ghjsi5F_nVwkEw/s320/Waikiki+Sunset.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660466424956964930" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HL4O7KkVtuQP9b8V4wgH715xJ2Yu9SFaIvQgeJOuFSPauXkCv4UKyg7GsRQBKNKtqVoVen4wxxus8Q7ytFTnKoyuPMMPfSm0yOqflxhkvQO_n8jvQ7J7_oyGpQMhFJdR7MhRXrOVgPMs/s1600/Cloudy+day.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HL4O7KkVtuQP9b8V4wgH715xJ2Yu9SFaIvQgeJOuFSPauXkCv4UKyg7GsRQBKNKtqVoVen4wxxus8Q7ytFTnKoyuPMMPfSm0yOqflxhkvQO_n8jvQ7J7_oyGpQMhFJdR7MhRXrOVgPMs/s320/Cloudy+day.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660465450475257106" /></a><br />Grey skies and rain greeted me again this morning. Lest you all think Hawaii is always green and sunny with blue skies, here's a photo looking over H-1 freeway in Honolulu. <br />I've included photos from last week, just to cheer me up. We had spectacular sunsets all week long. Let's hope for more gorgeous weather again soon.sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-76733572674675960532011-10-04T18:07:00.009-10:002011-10-04T18:35:24.330-10:00Follow The Tourist Bus<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5x6pvvX5ZlTcPrmSU_fAX3rdP0gtDiU32dMA1xIv56Z_M5mkz6BSMB-38ELJ64AgGcI9eAoyQmB0dH3m_LWzhTPW6P19NfrhKBMF0UvPjWijV2qtaNMy8JvuG-JJtul17fR29N8bNi6h/s1600/Lady+Columbia+at+Punchbowl.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5x6pvvX5ZlTcPrmSU_fAX3rdP0gtDiU32dMA1xIv56Z_M5mkz6BSMB-38ELJ64AgGcI9eAoyQmB0dH3m_LWzhTPW6P19NfrhKBMF0UvPjWijV2qtaNMy8JvuG-JJtul17fR29N8bNi6h/s320/Lady+Columbia+at+Punchbowl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659861402635347138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswfIwzR84unJiJAd5GOTBmTsOBLXBNrR44M34GapKNzDHV1Qc599tRaMik4Pc5o7V8v6ZT4HaSq0AfgKcdsrZCCvE0hiCgYN2DyDVigXID-e27Oaug0R_V3bkVo7ZdWMFiEyvB2jtSsOq/s1600/Honu+Brutus+and+Iron+Man.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswfIwzR84unJiJAd5GOTBmTsOBLXBNrR44M34GapKNzDHV1Qc599tRaMik4Pc5o7V8v6ZT4HaSq0AfgKcdsrZCCvE0hiCgYN2DyDVigXID-e27Oaug0R_V3bkVo7ZdWMFiEyvB2jtSsOq/s400/Honu+Brutus+and+Iron+Man.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659860625253827858" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-u2KMe5YhgbGMTIYJ_438ggufI77D39IRomn8LekV31K0sWInIqAEiAG1vnxrIU4GpN_jM0NLGGZaynzWQjI27xbKx3UeWmrM5Y6UbmrBi_uJDcVbdx3iEWFm0inx2SAyjIKFM-qLhOE/s1600/Round+Top+Downtown+View.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-u2KMe5YhgbGMTIYJ_438ggufI77D39IRomn8LekV31K0sWInIqAEiAG1vnxrIU4GpN_jM0NLGGZaynzWQjI27xbKx3UeWmrM5Y6UbmrBi_uJDcVbdx3iEWFm0inx2SAyjIKFM-qLhOE/s320/Round+Top+Downtown+View.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659860114773353666" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6jGfQosHFznsF5wDOg08cKXC0YTMeibYygEXzY0sUPXsngM0NIP84CwVIdeEKzKy4nY_H78aTMGpIvPlf5cbWE1FeSx6yYowLUu91P3_l6WS4u-MiJ1G4mHSdJYqShsZIdh2aBvGQJLu/s1600/Round+Top+Tall+Buildings+and+ocean+view.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6jGfQosHFznsF5wDOg08cKXC0YTMeibYygEXzY0sUPXsngM0NIP84CwVIdeEKzKy4nY_H78aTMGpIvPlf5cbWE1FeSx6yYowLUu91P3_l6WS4u-MiJ1G4mHSdJYqShsZIdh2aBvGQJLu/s320/Round+Top+Tall+Buildings+and+ocean+view.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659859990540472946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbKhQXdua97VAAieIbWao5y_oMuBAnldj0Mt6iUt-SfJ72K29zkSK1dmYO1OPXIpV-00-D7cfI9DKAFCd46UGO1HudXoy6L-x_yrjvgJMDZNH2X0LOQXpBVy0VKQ9g_qNC2mNHoLxUHu3/s1600/Round+top+Diamond+Head+View.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbKhQXdua97VAAieIbWao5y_oMuBAnldj0Mt6iUt-SfJ72K29zkSK1dmYO1OPXIpV-00-D7cfI9DKAFCd46UGO1HudXoy6L-x_yrjvgJMDZNH2X0LOQXpBVy0VKQ9g_qNC2mNHoLxUHu3/s320/Round+top+Diamond+Head+View.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659859879888193538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaklJZTApzfpcHstCpk6ZIqnInAj006xgDWkCocJBok3cTVjtq4njPa_3Zg0tQBo6IsxHao5UmYvpnYO0lTLtIQmZhj0vgoQXmN_xz_TFOshK0tmhgotsUSx5PKjeB7o3xkYduN_Zl1XY/s1600/Round+Top+Diamond+Head+View+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaklJZTApzfpcHstCpk6ZIqnInAj006xgDWkCocJBok3cTVjtq4njPa_3Zg0tQBo6IsxHao5UmYvpnYO0lTLtIQmZhj0vgoQXmN_xz_TFOshK0tmhgotsUSx5PKjeB7o3xkYduN_Zl1XY/s320/Round+Top+Diamond+Head+View+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659859719808166322" /></a><br />We visited Punchbowl National Cemetery on Sunday. You'll recognize the statue of Lady Columbia from Hawaii Five-0's opening sequence. (Both the original and the new show.) She symbolizes all the grieving mothers. <br /><br />Punchbowl is located in a dormant volcano crater. It's green and peaceful, even with the tourist bus driving around. The casualties from the attack on Pearl Harbor were the first people to be buried there, at least in modern times. I've been told it was a sacred place for Hawaiians in the past. I'm guessing they used it as a burial ground also. If anyone knows the story, please let me know.<br /><br />It looks as if they are refurbishing/landscaping there. Wait a few weeks, then visit.<br /><br />Tantalus Drive is at the entrance to Punchbowl, so we took it to where it joins up with Round Top Road. Our goal was to reach the lookout point in the park. I felt a little woozy driving up in altitude along the curvy lane. The lookout point is spectacular and worth the drive. Here are photos which show Diamond Head, University of Hawaii Manoa, Magic Island at Ala Moana and downtown office buildings.<br /><br />The North Shore was our next stop, where we again saw a tourist bus. We visited our Honu (Sea Turtle) friends and learned they eat the seaweed found on this particular North Shore beach. After the Honu eat, they rest upon the sand and let the sun and water restore them.<br /><br />Of course, we had to eat at some point as well. Off to Kua Aina Sandwich Shop in Haleiwa for dinner. Yum! Go there. You won't be disappointed.sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-89644159096174698942011-09-30T19:19:00.002-10:002011-09-30T19:26:41.976-10:00Found on the Beach<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHFd5Zxt0j-lJc5ClDRb1KFFUw_c5PxJ2cz9O1ltpLdpGNzPRIZz9FZWgtPQVpf9se9_yqV3Hz0880_MG-ou6A2RA6Atuleas7oGbMuwZTrNnMQ3y2n1o5R5HAbc8FH84Jrory39x80aF/s1600/Keys+on+beach.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHFd5Zxt0j-lJc5ClDRb1KFFUw_c5PxJ2cz9O1ltpLdpGNzPRIZz9FZWgtPQVpf9se9_yqV3Hz0880_MG-ou6A2RA6Atuleas7oGbMuwZTrNnMQ3y2n1o5R5HAbc8FH84Jrory39x80aF/s400/Keys+on+beach.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658390788853803010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdeJ2zrg_ZHN_y49JyzBZLKlie1xegn2G-Vs9TuT4e485r1D15Nl6H5oBayho1GdAlHdHSv9rUyHuAGpJmyY56w9xhgRdeMBGEP1E8SxtKiVZWksqXTdm-EyHW2VVfpy4EeEzwzlk61EO/s1600/Honu.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdeJ2zrg_ZHN_y49JyzBZLKlie1xegn2G-Vs9TuT4e485r1D15Nl6H5oBayho1GdAlHdHSv9rUyHuAGpJmyY56w9xhgRdeMBGEP1E8SxtKiVZWksqXTdm-EyHW2VVfpy4EeEzwzlk61EO/s400/Honu.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658389324970229554" /></a><br />Look who we found on the beach. Isn't he gorgeous? We sat and watched him for at least a half an hour. Hawaiian Sea Turtles are endangered, so we kept our distance. He opened and closed his eyes a few times, just to see if we were still there.<br /><br />A few days later, while at another beach, we saw the branch sticking out of the sand. Someone had lost his key and the person who found it in the sand took the time to find a branch and hang the key from it. Fast forward a few days later and the key and branch were still there. <br /><br />Honest and courteous people on Oahu. If you lost your car key in the sand, it may still be there.sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-67912073420711053662011-09-24T20:05:00.009-10:002011-09-25T09:20:58.193-10:00Musical Surprises<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBpK1BaqJerXQaglmDipDf7OeXsQ4Tds91nEsd5JpQgu9rzFIEimU5oL4NywBqYpqB4rOaDguyB3wb7D0hMKmQOi9-knshD6NNql4nXrWRb4fqlSSFJbRsZh9idwo1n3I4NaJO7gJTMBN/s1600/Elvis+at+Blaisdell.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBpK1BaqJerXQaglmDipDf7OeXsQ4Tds91nEsd5JpQgu9rzFIEimU5oL4NywBqYpqB4rOaDguyB3wb7D0hMKmQOi9-knshD6NNql4nXrWRb4fqlSSFJbRsZh9idwo1n3I4NaJO7gJTMBN/s400/Elvis+at+Blaisdell.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656178607419369474" /></a><br /><br /><br />Mark had to work today, so I took the car and ran errands all over the island. First stop was Blaisdell Center where I thought I'd buy concert tickets to Earth, Wind and Fire. Turns out the concert is already almost sold out; only a few tickets left and in not so good seats. We decided to put the money into an island hopping trip.<br /><br />On my way back to the parking lot, I spotted Elvis. Yes, Elvis lives on the Blaisdell Center grounds. I stood in front of his flower-bedecked statue and remembered watching Elvis' Hawaii concert on TV when I was a kid. I was sitting on the floor of our family room in the Bay Area, with the boxy Zenith TV set upon the carpet. Elvis was sparkly and sweaty. I remember my father yelling to my mom who was washing dishes in the kitchen, "Come look how fat Elvis is." With dishtowel in hand, Mom entered the family room. "Must be drugs," was her answer. She shook her head and went back to the dishes. <br /><br />I left the Elvis statue and continued on to other errands. Office Depot was very uneventful. The bank, however, is a story for another time.<br /><br />Later that afternoon, while sitting in the car, I listened to KKOL 107.9, which plays mostly rock hits from the 60's,70's and 80's. I was on a two lane road, during a bright gorgeous Hawaii afternoon, the kind where the sky is really blue, the green trees and plants and hills are almost emerald in color and the flowers that grow on the tips of trees pop with orange, yellow and red. The DJ announced he was playing a set of songs from the only musical family to have a grandfather, son and grandson as superstars. <br /><br />Surprisingly, the next minute I was singing out loud to Hank Williams Jr.'s, "Family Tradition." Country music guided me all through high school and college, especially Hank Williams Jr. I could feel better instantly singing one of his songs while driving to the then unspoiled ranch lands in Orange County. There was also a night in college spent at my sorority sister's cattle ranch, listening and dancing to country music under the oak trees and stars. Although it seemed weird to drive through a tropical landscape and hear a song from days I spent in California grasslands with farms and ranches nearby, I felt happy belting out the lyrics today. Thanks KKOL.<br /><br />Music of all kinds can be found here. Earth, Wind and Fire, Elvis and Hank Jr. all in one day. Nice.sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-58735943253404836872011-09-18T21:30:00.011-10:002011-09-20T11:06:33.621-10:00Where's Minnie Mouse in a Grass Skirt?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYl3GvvtDXRiNtNdEUh35mUkphbSusdFl1JT9LSB0SM8ZupE6OnSWawyqvvGJnFwvQR4pKgG_9-FmVDsDFwVjeQOeyOmi0BgH14_kvOr874QXOOAf4NMT3jGU9uRMCmWl87nRMcwRS5XB/s1600/Aulani+Front+pond.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYl3GvvtDXRiNtNdEUh35mUkphbSusdFl1JT9LSB0SM8ZupE6OnSWawyqvvGJnFwvQR4pKgG_9-FmVDsDFwVjeQOeyOmi0BgH14_kvOr874QXOOAf4NMT3jGU9uRMCmWl87nRMcwRS5XB/s320/Aulani+Front+pond.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653975347965588562" /></a><br /><br /><br />I love Disneyland, but the thought of Disney opening a resort in Hawaii left me cringing. I thought it would be cheesy and a tacky rendition of the Tiki Room. (Yes, the Tiki Room is tacky, but it's make-believe and I thoroughly enjoy it.) <br /><br />Disney Aulani Resort's Grand Opening is this week. We didn't know that as we drove up to their entrance in Ko'Olina. Apparently, media is already on site and the hotel is prepping in a big way. Colored search lights lit up the sky once it was dark. The beach has a stage set up with big lights; the type found on a film set. We stood above on the hotel grounds as hula dancers rehearsed under the watch of Disney choreographers. We were told Good Morning America is showcasing the grand opening later this week. <br /><br />The property is nice, not cheesy at all. Disney really did their research. We ate dinner at Ama Ama restaurant, where Liane, our waitress, told us how Disney had a difficult time creating Aulani. This wasn't a made up Disney, Cinderella-type story. Disney had to exemplify a real story, the Hawaiian story. Other than Chip and Dale playing games with the kids and the rock formation around the pool, not much that looks like Disney is visible. Hawaiian images of kapa cloth patterns, Pele on a building, torches designed to look like kukui nuts were visible. I missed the small details at first and I wondered who would drive all the way out here for a Disney escape. Halfway through dinner, I told Mark, "I feel like we're on vacation." Disney had done it. They had transported me to vacation mode while only a few miles from home.<br /><br />A side note, our dinner at Ama Ama was excellent. Great flavors blended together in everything we tried. I had a delicious Burrata and tomato salad with sweet white corn dressing and tender smooth beef filet. <br /><br />Okay, enough from me. I'll be quiet now and let you enjoy the photos. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XTtFDRF39qoqWnhhkpz6BR9lhzRWDDRG8W2bpOaYhXOHar_hUQBwAOWUuA-B3MRCkeHrnuhdpAeNxUh-hmueR7jsD8LwSQeG5x4Fp3ZFXon5grKjUcxA7GgHZkDdeVzfKO9q2UHIyQdO/s1600/Aulani+Sunset.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XTtFDRF39qoqWnhhkpz6BR9lhzRWDDRG8W2bpOaYhXOHar_hUQBwAOWUuA-B3MRCkeHrnuhdpAeNxUh-hmueR7jsD8LwSQeG5x4Fp3ZFXon5grKjUcxA7GgHZkDdeVzfKO9q2UHIyQdO/s320/Aulani+Sunset.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653970711082715394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDW0YlIBaCK7frmGNCPvm_M2mZUtzsSAy-29jr1sPWDBcmfYjLkahUkoPK9Wg3WD-4RCLCDjDp7X-2VrWxG0cWhV6hzcFhD6aUEYkXWhYHItd3V1uMMCKOS4hDgLugGFkECavSnsxEmIS/s1600/Aulani+Sunset+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDW0YlIBaCK7frmGNCPvm_M2mZUtzsSAy-29jr1sPWDBcmfYjLkahUkoPK9Wg3WD-4RCLCDjDp7X-2VrWxG0cWhV6hzcFhD6aUEYkXWhYHItd3V1uMMCKOS4hDgLugGFkECavSnsxEmIS/s320/Aulani+Sunset+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653970627914789234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwqWk0yFOmKNEWnO86O4AhOUvpb2NmXR2315yeWrILDe2eKFtT-rGdR-GkvVWPQ_KA1sky13HDussrNal3CfQfGkAxRRHaxjvfnjM2smkgS9_1nBF0td4GS07lJl7I08rigOz9rQWSXAG/s1600/Aulani+Pool+Area.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwqWk0yFOmKNEWnO86O4AhOUvpb2NmXR2315yeWrILDe2eKFtT-rGdR-GkvVWPQ_KA1sky13HDussrNal3CfQfGkAxRRHaxjvfnjM2smkgS9_1nBF0td4GS07lJl7I08rigOz9rQWSXAG/s320/Aulani+Pool+Area.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653970503957571266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-rmWesIK4z7PPHr7vNRhRiehsp9vzHaGJAZw8rZTwLzVA91CHYTuEviY_2sRuT5tSkmGEIGmzjzkRfULlb-UFtgrVTCZuLCV8h5TubWNM4Hr7SxINAUXuu4ofwrRPT16oq0JevuLL3dz/s1600/Aulani+Buildings+and+pool.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-rmWesIK4z7PPHr7vNRhRiehsp9vzHaGJAZw8rZTwLzVA91CHYTuEviY_2sRuT5tSkmGEIGmzjzkRfULlb-UFtgrVTCZuLCV8h5TubWNM4Hr7SxINAUXuu4ofwrRPT16oq0JevuLL3dz/s320/Aulani+Buildings+and+pool.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653970391296356226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukqFPIfKzQjZogFx5QfitOSDKzwHRLnd1pRecnJO6_K76mN1hA2fkUy2QSCFrLn1e-b8V2dapmH194gh0XpklOg4Fe3OSruBuOzDaYSZ-1rGbvTrEG-NhQQqW0qzOnPlfEEunGiV5roU8/s1600/Aulani+Beach+and+men+dancers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukqFPIfKzQjZogFx5QfitOSDKzwHRLnd1pRecnJO6_K76mN1hA2fkUy2QSCFrLn1e-b8V2dapmH194gh0XpklOg4Fe3OSruBuOzDaYSZ-1rGbvTrEG-NhQQqW0qzOnPlfEEunGiV5roU8/s320/Aulani+Beach+and+men+dancers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653970282108287762" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOm4iqn-ClEVjB5bk7hYWGTjlGTwLq-FdUEp5cNudzbppMELmUKncku4GEujSweTDfD3sJGGwGFgn0RaN3SBvxPjVawCLLoxPjqlzQcV43aYySVuEMuCytCyWPuhQ_SafPpxKP7u_MJqxi/s1600/Aulani+Ama+Ama+restaurant.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOm4iqn-ClEVjB5bk7hYWGTjlGTwLq-FdUEp5cNudzbppMELmUKncku4GEujSweTDfD3sJGGwGFgn0RaN3SBvxPjVawCLLoxPjqlzQcV43aYySVuEMuCytCyWPuhQ_SafPpxKP7u_MJqxi/s320/Aulani+Ama+Ama+restaurant.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653970176406535954" /></a>sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-23213512432348179372011-09-17T20:56:00.005-10:002011-09-17T21:24:06.135-10:00Aloha Festival<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlDOQ-3uj519jkH4elX-SiEILTTwj7Hs9e79ItC2gjWFG2IG2cf6EwZg1QjPfayK9xa0_jZIL3fORRLgRR_yOW2r3xmaQ9rdDCP8KnfNO9iHjIindg7Bt55YJ7LsNE_uf1dhS5I-1KBlC/s1600/Lei+stand.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlDOQ-3uj519jkH4elX-SiEILTTwj7Hs9e79ItC2gjWFG2IG2cf6EwZg1QjPfayK9xa0_jZIL3fORRLgRR_yOW2r3xmaQ9rdDCP8KnfNO9iHjIindg7Bt55YJ7LsNE_uf1dhS5I-1KBlC/s400/Lei+stand.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653595509125415586" /></a><br />After watching the USC football game at Jimmy Buffett's in Waikiki, we wandered onto Kalakaua Avenue for the start of Hoolaulea, part of Aloha Festival. Tented booths lined the mauka (mountain) side of Kalakaua Ave. Cars were blocked from the street and only walkers and strollers wandered down the avenue. It was so quiet without the cars, we could hear birds in the banyan tree near the Duke Kahanamoku statue. The first stand I saw was selling poi mochi. I swear, there's a way to put poi in everything. <br /><br />The man at the lei stand started talking to me about the dancer with a sign asking for money for "Chronics of Narnia". (Whatever that is.) The lei man and I laughed about his drug induced dancing ability.<br /><br />We watched tourists line Waikiki beach waiting for sunset. <br /><br />Our return walk held the interesting discovery. Just before the Honolulu Police Department's Waikiki sub-station is a fenced off area with four large rocks. These rocks were placed in honor of four Tahitian healers who wandered the island with miraculous healing abilities during the 1500's. When it was time to return to their island of Raiatea, they asked that four large stones be placed near their residence. They gave their spirit power to the stones before their departure. <br /><br />I've walked Waikiki along the beach many times and this is the first time I've seen this healing space. It's also the first time I've walked Kalakaua Ave without cars. The tradewinds were blowing slightly, just enough to keep the festival goers cool. Bandstand areas were preparing for tonight's music. The Brothers Cazimero were playing at a later time. It looked to be a perfect evening to enjoy a concert, good food and artist wares. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOz2UQ0nTKuYEVuGvIKeeoU5hF5rvE5lqC2z1RFv4Uagu8a5KtD7O9uEKuMLnj8drSYQ6d9SYD1VpxRJdEwljPjFFMVOtbS52QplcO5ocSXAkHnZzdecdB6a0KwRUneHU1TuTi24Vyf0G/s1600/Tahitian+Healer+Stones+Waikiki.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOz2UQ0nTKuYEVuGvIKeeoU5hF5rvE5lqC2z1RFv4Uagu8a5KtD7O9uEKuMLnj8drSYQ6d9SYD1VpxRJdEwljPjFFMVOtbS52QplcO5ocSXAkHnZzdecdB6a0KwRUneHU1TuTi24Vyf0G/s320/Tahitian+Healer+Stones+Waikiki.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653590254449623730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEils4_ped2kGXPwSV6fmE3FXk_Z7KKOYa7hOamyQokvQPSJu6objP1ciQ6N2G-fbpLrkrjbPAinaZfCo72SuJy29es_JhO8rq7PUBo0GBY9tK8imeZ2YxMFbuyxjI22fiorPE8W4_gS1qrS/s1600/Poi+Mochi.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEils4_ped2kGXPwSV6fmE3FXk_Z7KKOYa7hOamyQokvQPSJu6objP1ciQ6N2G-fbpLrkrjbPAinaZfCo72SuJy29es_JhO8rq7PUBo0GBY9tK8imeZ2YxMFbuyxjI22fiorPE8W4_gS1qrS/s200/Poi+Mochi.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653590055082178962" /></a>sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-42246610599232305512011-09-15T17:32:00.008-10:002011-09-16T00:08:15.949-10:00There's Silver in Them Thar Hills<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtXJO2gVWo0s88vH5op7LjvsyFxpOhLUL2mBXs3zDe8-p8pdB0S3ld9k7M6RlmMk87tGE96CXWpr91lnT6jwuRTQ4TKw0v0PKiBZyBmz9YysH4hgxy8lcjixAnNkx5tTO-WLes8R6xzMN/s1600/Queen%2527s+from+lobby.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtXJO2gVWo0s88vH5op7LjvsyFxpOhLUL2mBXs3zDe8-p8pdB0S3ld9k7M6RlmMk87tGE96CXWpr91lnT6jwuRTQ4TKw0v0PKiBZyBmz9YysH4hgxy8lcjixAnNkx5tTO-WLes8R6xzMN/s320/Queen%2527s+from+lobby.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652796118350228386" /></a><br /><br />It was a dark and stormy….okay, I’m not Snoopy sitting on my doghouse with a typewriter trying to write the great American novel, but it was gloomy and gray today. <br /><br />Low clouds hung over town as I watched the fuzzy bands of rain move across the windows of our apartment. I moped about the weather at first, thinking of the San Francisco days of fog for weeks on end and how the gloom could bring me down. Then I thought about the past few days and how great the weather has been, after all, we went to the beach late afternoon yesterday and watched the dogs sprint across the waves, happy to be on their evening walks. A couple, visiting from somewhere, took photos of themselves on the beach with the sea-blue ocean behind them. Then they kissed and hugged, obviously happy and in love. <br /><br />Every time Mark and I go to the beach, I’m instantly in a better mood, and yesterday was no exception. The water temperature was 82 degrees. It was like stepping into a saltwater bathtub, but with kids, surfers and dogs sharing the big tub with me.<br /><br />So this morning, I realized it can’t be perfect weather all the time and I resigned myself to today being a gloomy day, which will remind me to appreciate the nice days. <br />But I forgot, I’m in Hawaii.....(nature always has a surprise)<br /><br />I had to drive around the island for a few meetings today. With windshield wipers on, I first gazed out at the cloudy grayness in front of my car. Then I looked up the mountains. The rain had created ribbons of silver, rustling streams of water, falling between the lush greenness of the mountain peaks. Waterfalls were everywhere!<br /><br />(Sorry, no photo, since I was driving.)<br /><br /><br />After appreciating the scenic drive, I had to stop at Queen’s Hospital for a test. It’s like driving up to a hotel. Queen’s is the main hospital in Honolulu, yet it doesn’t seem very big. I guess I’m comparing it to San Francisco Hospitals and Stanford Hospital. The landscaping is kept up with native Hawaiian plants. The parking lot was full, so I had to go to valet parking at the entrance. People were crowded around the drop-off area and not one person honked or yelled. Everyone quietly sat and waited and appreciated the moment, even in a stressful place like a hospital.<br /><br />I asked for directions and only one person knew where I needed to go. I asked for a certain wing, but apparently no one uses its name. There’s very little signage in Hawaii. Street signs are tough to find and addresses are almost non-existent. Once I told them what department I needed, everyone told me, "Go down the hall to the elevators and get off on the third floor."<br /><br />As I wandered the hospital hallways, I was struck by how clean it was. There was no run down furniture, no gum on the floor or cigarette butt smashed into the pavement outside, maybe that’s because outside is not pavement. Nope, it’s stone. <br /><br />A beautiful hospital, surrounded by tropical vegetation, with clean surroundings and calm, smiling people; is this why people live so long in Hawaii?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDEx2ySAQCTm3y3iUTW4p9ZWhltjRU8UFVMpCKJGUH9bqwo_U6LPVgomWCYaOEHPdTGB3i17all22i-maZ-IcPOIv9OqjA8r6nkEc4PAvlbguYUJItvWFMuiR46upd_0qjTu-mOTTSeRV/s1600/Queen%2527s+outside.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDEx2ySAQCTm3y3iUTW4p9ZWhltjRU8UFVMpCKJGUH9bqwo_U6LPVgomWCYaOEHPdTGB3i17all22i-maZ-IcPOIv9OqjA8r6nkEc4PAvlbguYUJItvWFMuiR46upd_0qjTu-mOTTSeRV/s320/Queen%2527s+outside.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652795598289209490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GdRgYBPz1musPrX_zdnPuLgOk5ThncoCa8-SVmQ19l7rrXs6mS1Ro8k9fJ61xPO87JTxnUurNzUeUkulyQFQlAT8YOx548sTGGd2SQxN4qG1zX9z6CSmhQ0FXh6nOQW6yBbejrR4sI-9/s1600/Queen%2527s+clean.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GdRgYBPz1musPrX_zdnPuLgOk5ThncoCa8-SVmQ19l7rrXs6mS1Ro8k9fJ61xPO87JTxnUurNzUeUkulyQFQlAT8YOx548sTGGd2SQxN4qG1zX9z6CSmhQ0FXh6nOQW6yBbejrR4sI-9/s320/Queen%2527s+clean.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652795453313104514" /></a>sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-55252154072580912782011-09-15T16:35:00.003-10:002011-09-15T16:39:51.127-10:00Even in Hawaii, We Won't Forget<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNDs-8lubLoTj2k8uXMbYQRk2xdM3tv5iOBWCOhj1fC7u123W1N7T0sdJe-duVEmVKxzyFY96AqJl1OhPEB4yzchmfvwQgwx2mIcCltOxzjFjJoTCwj-DAcQSkJTWYEM_q8fEUZnydMre/s1600/9-11+FDNY+sign.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNDs-8lubLoTj2k8uXMbYQRk2xdM3tv5iOBWCOhj1fC7u123W1N7T0sdJe-duVEmVKxzyFY96AqJl1OhPEB4yzchmfvwQgwx2mIcCltOxzjFjJoTCwj-DAcQSkJTWYEM_q8fEUZnydMre/s400/9-11+FDNY+sign.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652780727554010098" /></a><br /> <br /><br />Sunday morning I opened the blinds to find a nice Hawaiian day greeting me. Then I saw the American flag flying off my neighbor’s lanai across the street and I remembered. 9/11. Ten years later. <br /> <br />I was asleep in my San Francisco apartment that day, when my sister called me at 6AM. “A plane flew into the World Trade Center.” In my sleepy head, I pictured a small plane with a student pilot who made a horrible error.<br /> <br />When I turned on the TV and saw the images, I couldn’t imagine it was really American soil where this was happening. But it was. Being on the West Coast, I felt so very far away from the people of New York and Washington.<br /> <br />Here, in Hawaii, ten years later, I feel even more removed from the East Coast. I watched the TV coverage sporadically throughout the day. At 2:00 I saw the two shining beams coming from Ground Zero and for a moment I thought they were showing coverage from last year. Why? Because it was dark in the images the TV was broadcasting and it was the middle of the day here. I never really comprehended how far away Hawaii is from the whole Mainland. <br /> <br />When Mark and I watch the end of the 11:00 news, we see CNN starting their morning shows. The anchors have their morning cup of coffee, and Ali Velshi talks about the stock market for the day. The upcoming day. The one they are just starting while we head off to sleep. <br /> <br />At least the woman across the street reminds me first thing in the morning that I am an American. And in case anyone on Oahu missed her flag, the Fire Stations won’t let Hawaiians forget. The sign is still hanging in front of the Fire Station, complete with dried lei from last Sunday.sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-27524979609778110872011-09-13T17:46:00.002-10:002011-09-13T18:05:41.946-10:00Football, Five-0, and a North Shore Sunset<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkfWepEpT7jQuXW_9HO-RmzkCQ3WMsPXE2KKbeG_3VtKaIjTMbFimW_GkRCY7jj458J1ur7_2wfnEmuFiQg1yp-En9mEh152M6tc4pVi_vyooYXfBZkkgHnn0VWCnRHl9mksqTUV_opXa/s1600/Lost+Shaker+of+salt+plate.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkfWepEpT7jQuXW_9HO-RmzkCQ3WMsPXE2KKbeG_3VtKaIjTMbFimW_GkRCY7jj458J1ur7_2wfnEmuFiQg1yp-En9mEh152M6tc4pVi_vyooYXfBZkkgHnn0VWCnRHl9mksqTUV_opXa/s320/Lost+Shaker+of+salt+plate.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652061372500715410" /></a><br /><br />Last Saturday Mark and I watched the USC game with the USC Alumni Club of Hawaii at Jimmy Buffett’s in Waikiki. I thought the plates were fun. Look at the shaker of salt! It was a crazy ending for a football game, with the NCAA, two hours after the game ended, granting USC a touchdown the refs had said didn't count. Oh, and I won the halftime raffle! I never won before because I was always the one hosting the raffle in the Bay Area Alumni group. I'll be writing soon with my new USC pen.<br /><br />After the game, we had a few errands to do so we didn’t try to view the Hawaii Five-0 premiere on the beach. We'll wait until September 19th for the season opener on CBS. Last year we had a party and invited everyone over for dinner and viewings of the original show, before watching the series opening. This year, it will be just us. Our friends are back in the Bay Area. <br /><br />Remember that friend of mine who grew up here? Well, her sister is an extra in this year's season. She's in the opening scene for the Governor's funeral held at Punchbowl. I guess it was a long day for the extras on that shoot.<br /><br />We also visited the North Shore last week. Mark had asked a few people where to go and we found ourselves on a beautiful, open beach with only two people on it for miles and miles. We left the locals on their beach area and headed to Waialua and the old sugar mill to check out the local artisans and see their wares. It wasn’t much to see. Unless you are a surfer and want a specialty surfboard, most items can be found on other parts of the island. Don’t let the video on Hawaiian Airlines fool you. It looks larger in the video than in reality. <br /><br />After Waialua, we headed to Haleiwa for dinner. Check out the sunset that night! We hoped to find Hawaiian turtles (honu) on our day trip. We didn’t see any. But standing on the beach, we saw the sunset in front of us, a rainbow behind us, and a group of little girls to grown women practicing the hula to a drum to our right. <br /><br />We walked to our car saying, “We get to live here.”<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4dqGgLABx3IvuV2fifTwkycim4AwTuo7kY1wvsdQ3A-Im6PgVBjbBdUSkBEEKMb3MWdGZWQYaBluX4JN5wHhoubJ1vxZHHfZ1taTO4E46G9TiI0mAHq0l3x6zZAB5VfOvgLrsOiAeW9Z/s1600/North+Shore+Perfect+Sunset.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4dqGgLABx3IvuV2fifTwkycim4AwTuo7kY1wvsdQ3A-Im6PgVBjbBdUSkBEEKMb3MWdGZWQYaBluX4JN5wHhoubJ1vxZHHfZ1taTO4E46G9TiI0mAHq0l3x6zZAB5VfOvgLrsOiAeW9Z/s320/North+Shore+Perfect+Sunset.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652057920879617906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoUGWS6aXoiY5oNZbpmGNMbbyUhs77256tgSV3QGP0K73AzR_hkzoZwKI1m27ucl1B5W6OOExzTsuFMG5CfMCedja7j0rX6qIzZREoKNiWyEqYqtEA7xcxiQvOY6YfiLGGYI5VA8EBU-b/s1600/North+Shore+Sunset5.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoUGWS6aXoiY5oNZbpmGNMbbyUhs77256tgSV3QGP0K73AzR_hkzoZwKI1m27ucl1B5W6OOExzTsuFMG5CfMCedja7j0rX6qIzZREoKNiWyEqYqtEA7xcxiQvOY6YfiLGGYI5VA8EBU-b/s320/North+Shore+Sunset5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652057675794678946" /></a>sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-76854477865316584032011-09-05T15:43:00.003-10:002011-09-05T16:16:27.997-10:00USC Football AmnesiaFootball season started without me. I’m a USC alumna and for the past few years, I planned game watching parties for the USC Alumni Club in the North Bay Area. Each season, Mark and I would fly down to a game or two at the Coliseum in Los Angeles and, of course, attend the game when USC played Cal or Stanford. But this year, football season snuck up on me. The weather is in the high 80’s, there’s very little tradewind breeze blowing, there are no changing of the leaves to autumn colors….how am I supposed to know it’s football season?<br /><br />Last Saturday, I had plans to meet a friend at 10:00. At 8:55 AM I was reading the morning news and drinking coffee. Mark turned on the TV to find the USC-Minnesota game. I had completely forgotten about the game. I checked in on Facebook and found post after post from USC friends. Many friends attached photos from the Coliseum, the tailgates, a photo of Traveler (the horse). <br /><br />There was no planning for a game watching party here in our apartment. No wearing USC shirts and hats. No cardinal and gold pom-poms to be seen. <br /><br />I watched the opening drive of the game, then left to meet my friend. When I reached home and checked my cell phone, there was a text from the gang at our North Bay game watching party, saying they missed us.<br /><br />With tropical weather and geography outside our door, I forget about Mainland rituals and traditions. But USC is important to me. It’s a great school that does great things and I want to be with my Trojan Family during football season. It’s what binds us together. So, this Saturday I will be with the <a href="http://www.uschawaii.org/football.htm">USC Alumni Club of Hawaii</a>, watching the game at Jimmy Buffet’s in Waikiki. Join us. I’ll be the one in the USC shirt.<br /><br />Fight On!<br /><br />Update: Hawaii Five-0 has their Season 2 premiere on the beach in Waikiki this Saturday. I don't know the time yet. What do I do if they schedule it during the USC game? Such are the awesome choices when living on Oahu.sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-39810673019021875812011-09-01T09:59:00.009-10:002011-09-01T11:07:31.035-10:00The Garden Isle<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSB2Q6FsACh3aK75NPZjb4dfrMzezwWhlSZs0RnHFXiKGlAcYbIxhZABdrGzGabmjuZ-6Hrg_AWGvywogXi-DM4LyOwCsl0Po6hpdQVSDfSWT2jPgMmy6Ph7YL6XOzny9O8IhGTqH0CfN/s1600/Lihue+Sugar+factory.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSB2Q6FsACh3aK75NPZjb4dfrMzezwWhlSZs0RnHFXiKGlAcYbIxhZABdrGzGabmjuZ-6Hrg_AWGvywogXi-DM4LyOwCsl0Po6hpdQVSDfSWT2jPgMmy6Ph7YL6XOzny9O8IhGTqH0CfN/s320/Lihue+Sugar+factory.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647500800139269634" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJQxBSBPsEXOR4vk971T4k2Pq2-V6qbFAmM5vu4l70o_welLrOxOquL8zBMzIiqAGZqBQW4dYpdDJ3GEvKe4WKf_WyevYMFKF9mNaUhPTXuAGhaHg_j9vHO_6Pjef82RmXdeKEHv7lkXR/s1600/view+of+valley+on+way+to+Kalaheo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJQxBSBPsEXOR4vk971T4k2Pq2-V6qbFAmM5vu4l70o_welLrOxOquL8zBMzIiqAGZqBQW4dYpdDJ3GEvKe4WKf_WyevYMFKF9mNaUhPTXuAGhaHg_j9vHO_6Pjef82RmXdeKEHv7lkXR/s320/view+of+valley+on+way+to+Kalaheo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647495471326972690" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGe-6vSFwKzNyizHxpdkTGzCwyrshdNnMXMvVmP5rnWSmtebZ8ODDbZUWiHgmK0eMv30lSnWnDvaD44a2bGIF6OFsvdNOkxhdwvMmMEpbZ5ESs-tnKqz9FHhWre2D8KvvVl47bqbRLn7Z/s1600/Menehune+pond.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGe-6vSFwKzNyizHxpdkTGzCwyrshdNnMXMvVmP5rnWSmtebZ8ODDbZUWiHgmK0eMv30lSnWnDvaD44a2bGIF6OFsvdNOkxhdwvMmMEpbZ5ESs-tnKqz9FHhWre2D8KvvVl47bqbRLn7Z/s320/Menehune+pond.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647494578902157122" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtJuVuCmBN6YBTgQOHxwyynxzajrgwcMT7te6lm2n1cms7tX_6NIo7zM4-TAsJBmS8WBXyaw17P5xsmEi8dKVyCCYP3DkSiAhtMHBq4sKgN34AHxe_HvhbHrdHQYbtt2RI0-j-j8swLPc/s1600/Marriot+Kauai.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtJuVuCmBN6YBTgQOHxwyynxzajrgwcMT7te6lm2n1cms7tX_6NIo7zM4-TAsJBmS8WBXyaw17P5xsmEi8dKVyCCYP3DkSiAhtMHBq4sKgN34AHxe_HvhbHrdHQYbtt2RI0-j-j8swLPc/s320/Marriot+Kauai.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647494435569056946" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigm8tMMGiBz_OBrsEaTL3vAMD9cr47wY6vvmFlAVIRN0J7CGwECJcH7ukS-leoP6uoBngpuVsMCSYmHp0M_AbDNk6iaeupC5tUha6me1lWedqj3UgVzdGX7BjiylQu2hvPlJyTFqluuwF8/s1600/Kauai+Coffee+Company.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigm8tMMGiBz_OBrsEaTL3vAMD9cr47wY6vvmFlAVIRN0J7CGwECJcH7ukS-leoP6uoBngpuVsMCSYmHp0M_AbDNk6iaeupC5tUha6me1lWedqj3UgVzdGX7BjiylQu2hvPlJyTFqluuwF8/s200/Kauai+Coffee+Company.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647494037591398802" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMfXyjyfmWm_Z80tWLkewSiDG4bQ2pxB7AAi4LaR19AuSjneuA3LJvlDG_gCl1kdB4ICxdaaZ8BqPM8ow-vnNH-iRhDjPxMpKKxZeE26NHgO3uAmBIRXYR4xjKpyL0OQDASrzj0PitH5M/s1600/Hanapepe+Swinging+Bridge.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMfXyjyfmWm_Z80tWLkewSiDG4bQ2pxB7AAi4LaR19AuSjneuA3LJvlDG_gCl1kdB4ICxdaaZ8BqPM8ow-vnNH-iRhDjPxMpKKxZeE26NHgO3uAmBIRXYR4xjKpyL0OQDASrzj0PitH5M/s200/Hanapepe+Swinging+Bridge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647493909480555490" /></a>
<br />It's a swampy day on Oahu. I raised the shades on our living room windows around 7:30 this morning and found water (or extreme condensation) on the inside of our window sills. Eighty-four percent humidity creates water puddles on the INSIDE of our apartment.
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<br />After turning on the air-conditioning, I sat down to a smooth, rich cup of Kauai coffee, purchased at the Kauai Coffee Company last weekend. Mark and I journeyed to the Garden Isle, where one of his friends, born and raised on Kauai, gave us a "local boy" tour.
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<br />Kauai lives up to its name. It's green, lush, open and relaxed. I'm not one to sleep easily unless I'm in a dark, quiet room with a comfortable bed. I fell asleep on a lounge chair at the Marriott pool late Saturday afternoon. But let me back up to the beginning.
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<br />Mark and I flew from HNL to Lihue on Friday, a 20 minute flight. We stayed at the Marriott. I highly recommend it. It's an easy shuttle ride down a back road through the Marriott golf course to the hotel.
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<br />Twenty minutes later we were having drinks and appetizers at Duke's, watching the NCL cruise ship leave the harbor, bound for Honolulu. We waved goodbye and made dinner reservations for the following night.
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<br />Saturday morning, Mark's friend picked us up and took us to breakfast at <a href="http://www.kalaheo.com">Kalaheo Cafe & Coffee Company in</a> Kalaheo, his hometown. The Paniolo (cowboy) breakfast of eggs and bacon and hash browns filled me up for our sightseeing.
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<br />We drove to Poipu to see the Spouting Horn. Most tourists know the Spouting Horn is a blowhole where waves come through an opening in the lava and "spout" water high into the sky. But they don't know that the blowhole used to be much larger. Back in the days of sugar cane fields that reached from mountain to sea, the owner of the Poipu sugar plantation was upset that the blowhole spouted sea water 1/2 mile inland and covered his sugar crops. "So my uncle and the plantation foreman came here and cut the blowhole in half," said our "local boy".
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<br />Hanapepe is a small town where <a href="http://www.lappertshawaii.com">Lappert's</a> ice cream started. No ice cream for us, we went straight to the swinging bridge over the Hanapepe River. Yes, river. Kauai is the only island in the state to have rivers.
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<br />The swinging bridge was used by sugar plantation children to cross the river and climb a trail up the adjacent hill to reach the schoolhouse. The bridge is still used although I'm sure there's another school somewhere. Near the bridge we saw two gravestones, one etched in Hawaiian from the year 1910.
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<br />Others might recognize Hanapepe as the setting for the mini-series, <span style="font-style:italic;">The Thorn Birds</span>, although we didn't.
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<br />Much of Kauai is homesteaded; lands were passed down through families over generations. We saw areas which I won't write about because I want to preserve the old way of almost communal-style living. Families have goods from their lands that they won't sell, they will only give away to friends or trade for other goods.
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<br />I came away with a new appreciation of giving to the land and each other, in order for the land to give to us and as a way of helping our own communities. I wish we had more of that kind of living all over.
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<br />The weather was spectacular both Friday and Saturday, with noticeably less humidity than here on Oahu. We took advantage of the weather to attend the Kauai County Fair. We sat under the tent to watch the keiki talent show and eat a plate lunch. The garden section was my favorite. Tropical flowers filled the area with bright colors and fragrant air. It's a small fair, compared to most others I've been to, but with the standard exhibits; two or three rides, high school booster booths, and community and state organizations. We didn't make it to the livestock area.
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<br />I don't know if I could live on Kauai, it's a little too small for me, but it sure is a place to visit and relax. Every single person we met was friendly, nice, helpful and easy-going. I can't wait to nap on the pool lounge chair again.
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<br />Photos are of: Hanapepe bridge, Menehune Pond, Kauai Marriott, Lihue Sugar factory where sugar cane was loaded onto boats in Lihue harbor, view of valley on the way to Kalaheo.
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<br />sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-14517390953798893252011-08-25T12:03:00.005-10:002011-08-26T09:56:12.970-10:00Home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1iONOvmmyu61e_hh2z_dUKJuqhB2kziivQJ81aOHfaF9tfiyx6Svm7R74oLwX1GPK1f23KSFV95DY1BLbllHXkjl0i3WJq1gqm9ZigFa8VlSt6QhgPOMbxreASuolnc6WuuxlAIESa9O/s1600/IMG_0814.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1iONOvmmyu61e_hh2z_dUKJuqhB2kziivQJ81aOHfaF9tfiyx6Svm7R74oLwX1GPK1f23KSFV95DY1BLbllHXkjl0i3WJq1gqm9ZigFa8VlSt6QhgPOMbxreASuolnc6WuuxlAIESa9O/s400/IMG_0814.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645255871647632578" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAINOK-6l-SaF7tYalqI9FbTkRFKzlDYMt5dyOYp8XYw6OGnq4TnZ9ZDten8u6wo97iUkRartJ-3tvhDNi9i5F4sg7YdkYKHCswFbAFwa8F4RqT2pKftl3z0QYURJnCbxA724ungo_0P1/s1600/IMG_0919.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAINOK-6l-SaF7tYalqI9FbTkRFKzlDYMt5dyOYp8XYw6OGnq4TnZ9ZDten8u6wo97iUkRartJ-3tvhDNi9i5F4sg7YdkYKHCswFbAFwa8F4RqT2pKftl3z0QYURJnCbxA724ungo_0P1/s200/IMG_0919.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644920276759939314" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjSpkEg8GKFsDZxt3_aTQEu-au3fMjU_PBwFARtwlYnHL1vafbyV-xeauO06KRzbWCGXS5KwVLGT1DUPFl36ZrDD22IFYbpwbPp_zfMBQg-8-kp3k7O3Ir9W7MJbNINWAv5OdqTi40AkQ/s1600/IMG_0928.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjSpkEg8GKFsDZxt3_aTQEu-au3fMjU_PBwFARtwlYnHL1vafbyV-xeauO06KRzbWCGXS5KwVLGT1DUPFl36ZrDD22IFYbpwbPp_zfMBQg-8-kp3k7O3Ir9W7MJbNINWAv5OdqTi40AkQ/s400/IMG_0928.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644919993065972306" /></a>
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<br />On my way back to SFO, I stopped to visit Mark's parents and to see a furry friend who's getting on in years. I didn't have much time. I needed to return the rental car and get to the airport.
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<br />Later, I walked through SFO to my departure gate and came across this exhibit from the show, Beach Blanket Babylon. If you haven't seen it, go the next time you are in San Francisco. Big hats are an understatement in describing the show's props.
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<br />During my visit, people asked if I missed California. I had to say, "Yes". California is where my roots are. I'm a third generation Californian, it will always feel like home.
<br />I told them, "Hawaii is beautiful, but I haven't been there long enough to say it feels like home."
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<br />I was in a state of limbo in regards to where home was. A five hour flight gave me time to realize "home" is a state of mind. My roots are in California, but home is where I feel welcome and safe. I landed in Honolulu where Mark greeted me with a lei, a hug and a kiss.
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<br />The following morning, the golden sunrise greeted me in the comfort of my home.
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<br />sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-52882208795697800592011-08-25T11:38:00.004-10:002011-08-25T12:00:25.911-10:00Tahoe Highlights<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3Ww6-6EgiLpu5AkUXbPZIaQsyeFnRe6aC-ZfiDEryabEDAOzxIgPhI89D4zQWCqbRMzbJs1srzlfAbfnRRJUZmu1EFeBh3cUK76NsUkQ6kI4VSFDBw622HxTAu6mSND-fMCXM2hdD6Zg/s1600/IMG_0885.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3Ww6-6EgiLpu5AkUXbPZIaQsyeFnRe6aC-ZfiDEryabEDAOzxIgPhI89D4zQWCqbRMzbJs1srzlfAbfnRRJUZmu1EFeBh3cUK76NsUkQ6kI4VSFDBw622HxTAu6mSND-fMCXM2hdD6Zg/s320/IMG_0885.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644916250662045106" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQOb-Hd2mw2lEaBNjP1jKIlvJhW9e7wTtnQAxEj90ZKVWNoBURsqfsxNlCVXcio8XkbmjDaSq5iCea33pwGi9exOcKxZIdCxKla8vmfrBBnV0QWBT9MoGHMp4nxuyYozjejfqq4CgJcNh/s1600/IMG_0858.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQOb-Hd2mw2lEaBNjP1jKIlvJhW9e7wTtnQAxEj90ZKVWNoBURsqfsxNlCVXcio8XkbmjDaSq5iCea33pwGi9exOcKxZIdCxKla8vmfrBBnV0QWBT9MoGHMp4nxuyYozjejfqq4CgJcNh/s320/IMG_0858.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644915955985164306" /></a>
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<br />A few other highlights from my three days with my Community of Writers friends, include dinner at Plumpjack cafe where Johnny Moseley, the Olympic Skier, sat at the table near us and again at lunch on the deck at Sunnyside Restaurant.
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<br />The lake is stunning this year. The epic snowfall from last winter has created a full, healthy, deep "Tahoe Blue" lake. The Truckee River dam was opened three days before I arrived. Full water in the lake and the river created a summer water spectacle all over the area.
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<br />After saying goodbye to my writer friends, I ventured over to the North Shore and said hello to friends I've known since I lived there. These wonderful people let me stay with them for another three days. When I lived in San Francisco, these friends had a key to my place and were welcome anytime. I, too, have a key to their place. It's like they are my Tahoe brother and sister.
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<br />I took a morning to have a cup of coffee by myself and enjoy the blue sky. A full schedule of visiting friends came after my coffee break. Nothing fills me up like spending time with friends, especially Tahoe friends. They are down-to-earth, friendly, "California casual" type of people.
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<br />The nights I stayed at my friends' house, the sunset washed the blue sky with shades of pink. The last night, the full moon rose over the mountains to the east and reflected like scattered diamonds on the lake. Beautiful.
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<br />sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-55961189337088917552011-08-23T20:41:00.007-10:002011-08-26T09:46:53.744-10:00The California Native Returns<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXeXV6I_qzXF6HFoDfdAeYowpS0lGqXPkFGftK-MiR_1o-Kq-21jtkPaeAA52yyulHnhw4UP3_MTXUJHErczHpLDbvg4w6KcHtqtOWKGmIGaT5CSFBCsDIDjrN_jDNik57jbcShl93Z1W/s1600/SVCW+sign.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXeXV6I_qzXF6HFoDfdAeYowpS0lGqXPkFGftK-MiR_1o-Kq-21jtkPaeAA52yyulHnhw4UP3_MTXUJHErczHpLDbvg4w6KcHtqtOWKGmIGaT5CSFBCsDIDjrN_jDNik57jbcShl93Z1W/s320/SVCW+sign.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644309856298186786" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XsEk1zTcpQ8ZL552-IyooBBAhaQJH7AcIvVuLN4agqZGBpRG57IFajiib-nsNiISua8tW_i9tPsQwwPsIlF3xzQpW-0Ze0LMFPzSD5vCut9XgHjRRurgMBuVjxm-yDGjwNVUlQwYG_O1/s1600/Ikeda%2527s+strawberries.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XsEk1zTcpQ8ZL552-IyooBBAhaQJH7AcIvVuLN4agqZGBpRG57IFajiib-nsNiISua8tW_i9tPsQwwPsIlF3xzQpW-0Ze0LMFPzSD5vCut9XgHjRRurgMBuVjxm-yDGjwNVUlQwYG_O1/s320/Ikeda%2527s+strawberries.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644309710240203282" /></a>
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<br />I made it to Lake Tahoe. Since I landed late at night into SFO, I checked into a hotel before attempting to drive up the mountain. From the airport cop, to the shuttle driver, to the woman who checked me in at the hotel, all of them spoke so quickly, I had to ask multiple times for them to repeat what they said. I couldn’t listen fast enough. All this “talking story” on Oahu the past few months made me an attentive and patient listener. Hawaiians take their time when speaking.
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<br />The next morning, I couldn’t wait to drive on Interstate 80 in four lanes and have the speedometer reach something higher than 50 MPH. After picking up my car at the rental center, I meditated while driving 65 on the freeway with other cars and watched open fields and sunflowers and almond trees whiz past me. I was reminded of when I was a kid.
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<br />California back then was mostly agricultural. We used to pick apricots in the lot next door to us. We’d drive as a family to a field nearby and pick cherries on land that is now Apple Computer headquarters. My great aunt and uncle lived next to Adobe Creek in Los Altos, where I grew up before we moved to Newport Beach. Many Sunday mornings my mom and dad would ride us on the back of their bicycles (without helmets) to the family house in Los Altos Hills. After riding down the long driveway and passing fruit trees along the way, we’d enter through the kitchen door at the back of the house where my great-aunt’s homemade hot cross buns sat on the counter waiting for us. My sister and I would sit at the table and pick up a bun to find it still warm. Then we’d walk into Adobe Creek and pick blackberries.
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<br />THAT is the California I remember.
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<br />So when I found myself on I-80 following this Chevy Truck, I really was transported to the California of the 70’s. It has the old black and gold license plate. I can’t believe this truck is still on the road. Hey, it’s for sale too!
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<br />Of course, I HAD to stop at Ikeda’s in Auburn. It’s a family owned restaurant/farm/fruit stand. I almost cried when I saw the half flat of organic, fresh picked strawberries for $8.29. A small clamshell of organic strawberries is sometimes $8.99 on Oahu and that’s after sitting on a ship for a week.
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<br />I picked up strawberries and peach muffins and continued to Squaw Valley where I was meeting members of the awesome group #9 from the 2007 Squaw Valley Community of Writers.
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<br />Lake Tahoe has a distinctive smell, it’s of pine, but nowhere else have I smelled the pine trees like I have in Tahoe. When I arrived in the parking lot and stepped out of the car, I inhaled a big lung-full of Tahoe air. Ahhh! I love Tahoe. Have I mentioned I lived there for a few years? It’s a magical place.
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<br />And speaking of magic, the people who run the Squaw Valley Community of Writers manage to create magic year after year. Four years after attending the conference, my friends and I found each other in our rented condo. Happy to be together, we laughed and screamed and hugged. We’d come from as far as Vermont and Hawaii to meet up once again. We’ve reunited a few times before and it’s always great, like we’ve never been apart.
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<br />This time we came to support two of our own - Sara J, Henry and Jessica O’Dwyer. Both of these ladies read from their published books to the 2011 participants, alumni and local folk who came to hear past participants read.
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<br />Sara’s book, <a href="http://sarainvermont.blogspot.com">LEARNING TO SWIM</a>, came out in February. Sara was first of the alumni readers to address the group. She spoke to the audience about how her confidence was shattered the first time she attended the conference and how she went home and didn’t write for a year. The audience gasped. Sara then shared about her experience in 2007. When she said she’d found her writing family at the magical conference that year, I wasn’t the only one who, for one second, stopped breathing and felt tears in my eyes.
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<br />A few readers later and Jessica was reading from her memoir, <a href="http://mamalitathebook.com">MAMALITA</a>. I’d heard Jessica share stories that aren't in the book at her book launch last November. Even though I’d heard one of the stories before, it touched me again about how much struggle a mother will go through to adopt the child she loves.
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<br />At the end of the alumni speakers event, I turned to another of our 2007 group alumna and said with pride, “Our girls were great.”
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nDabFUz3gLKigjSQ-LuqY8k3ff3npaStsXBePsyd-M44gtiQNLTygWpihZ-VNenMtupnuwZPVNr3PmjxzGG5wwd6Kai63IuAedi-iYJZXhri4nSczVSiUlrv6Sk7CLTc9zPsQD62TJQx/s1600/Old+Chevy+Truck+on+80.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nDabFUz3gLKigjSQ-LuqY8k3ff3npaStsXBePsyd-M44gtiQNLTygWpihZ-VNenMtupnuwZPVNr3PmjxzGG5wwd6Kai63IuAedi-iYJZXhri4nSczVSiUlrv6Sk7CLTc9zPsQD62TJQx/s320/Old+Chevy+Truck+on+80.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644309089607576770" /></a>
<br />sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238667974508497848.post-36337261581525474922011-08-17T19:52:00.008-10:002011-08-17T21:41:47.918-10:00Honolulu Hale<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLbFn1CUtaABhG04HfFzxquXPjzov2v7MQfY4CD4z_SrwYJNY2hnyiGlijChAO-ZvvkBtJ8OfZ048IegShlmGO9E1l2tq3MlE34XDhr_q2gxy36ptSq82qUAIYzrAmbjnp_0HQM_X0eSu/s1600/RH+Band+City+Council.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLbFn1CUtaABhG04HfFzxquXPjzov2v7MQfY4CD4z_SrwYJNY2hnyiGlijChAO-ZvvkBtJ8OfZ048IegShlmGO9E1l2tq3MlE34XDhr_q2gxy36ptSq82qUAIYzrAmbjnp_0HQM_X0eSu/s320/RH+Band+City+Council.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642097706279526450" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAlHLlMxYDDP9b0rCGBsK3ScoiyxBGDuqTBKczs_L4Jz97PBzxEVSacKcjODA7TV7e0CLQL954V5Fk-JVqVCMVJVjNacblRIPPz6j9EhKd9WzEKtqKc-M2tFGFsb5sM_EQ912XWyDIuZR/s1600/City+Council+ceiling.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAlHLlMxYDDP9b0rCGBsK3ScoiyxBGDuqTBKczs_L4Jz97PBzxEVSacKcjODA7TV7e0CLQL954V5Fk-JVqVCMVJVjNacblRIPPz6j9EhKd9WzEKtqKc-M2tFGFsb5sM_EQ912XWyDIuZR/s320/City+Council+ceiling.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642073325942018562" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQT-YC16ukOHSjWlGNY6foqzbZAScKTJgmqbQRYe7V8vQjUQYM_RVXxhgMwfn6hQbKJDLY3D1J27Fiuv-fj7lpcBEZ662eoaTutva8wQv93RJclEo0-id4oZDTBWqsSfgf7Xy2lxW1oJL/s1600/City+Council+ceiling+chandelier.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQT-YC16ukOHSjWlGNY6foqzbZAScKTJgmqbQRYe7V8vQjUQYM_RVXxhgMwfn6hQbKJDLY3D1J27Fiuv-fj7lpcBEZ662eoaTutva8wQv93RJclEo0-id4oZDTBWqsSfgf7Xy2lxW1oJL/s320/City+Council+ceiling+chandelier.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642073246437216674" border="0" /></a>
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<br />I came home from Lake Tahoe last night. I'll write about my week later, but for now, let me tell you where I went today. The Mayor of Honolulu's office. Yes, I met Mayor Carlisle. Not even five months here and I've been to a City Council meeting and I met the Mayor.
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<br />In order to protect the privacy of people involved, I'm not saying why I was able to attend City Hall today, other than it was for someone getting recognized.
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<br />The Mayor is a funny, easy-going man, who made a few jokes. His staff is excellent. They had every detail down. When we walked into the Mayor's outer office to wait for the Mayor, they said, "Relax, help yourself to some coffee. It's supposed to be fun here." (He has a Keurig coffee maker.)
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<br />Oh, and everyone wears a lei....the person getting honored, the family and support people for the honoree, the council members and the Mayor. In between items on the agenda, the Council takes a short break and three musicians play during the interludes! I think it's members of the Royal Hawaiian Band. It's so nice to sit and listen to the soft sounds of Hawaii while the Council readies itself for the next agenda item.
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<br />The City Council Chambers in Honolulu Hale have gorgeous old painted ceilings and light fixtures. I've uploaded a photo of the ceiling, a chandelier, and the view from the mayor's outer office.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeocWiKYJ5dw6XNRN_OmW4CCplOUjz4YPmA7VQgKNZZtzlYRV6Rqp6k6KL8bgez9ldE8t0n8SyeHmmz2Oke2OCL7GmLdUlk_fyLxhwwO0p8Ho3FDSUDkwspzsbpAUEQXy7iy8twV7oo_8/s1600/view+from+mayor%2527s+office.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeocWiKYJ5dw6XNRN_OmW4CCplOUjz4YPmA7VQgKNZZtzlYRV6Rqp6k6KL8bgez9ldE8t0n8SyeHmmz2Oke2OCL7GmLdUlk_fyLxhwwO0p8Ho3FDSUDkwspzsbpAUEQXy7iy8twV7oo_8/s320/view+from+mayor%2527s+office.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642073414662935906" border="0" /></a>
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<br />sfcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16494958492407436843noreply@blogger.com0