Colors of Hawaii.....

Lei's and more lei's! Christine was given an honorary award from the museum and many, as traditional, congratulated her with lei's. The gorgeous flora and flower lei's flamboyantly color my memories. Even on drab rainy days, rainbows bring the bright hues back as if to say another beautiful day is coming. Oh yes, Hawaii, I'll return...
Aloha, and muhalo (thank you) for a beautiful six months...

Surf, Speedo's and Sharks

Water shades of blue from deep cobalt to lucid turquoise will forever remind me of here. Speedo's are something I'll miss ??? and the surf lifestyle. Two shark reports from the North Shore yesterday. The shark was actually entangled in the surf board leash at the Hale'ewa Beach area. The surfer dove off and shark bit the board and leash to get free. There is a whole world under water to watch!

Memories of everyday Waikiki

Beautiful Hawaii! I loved the sunsets at the yacht marina while enjoying a Mai Tai, watching the chess players at Queens Beach, and walking the cool shade path along the Ali Wai Canal. Can't believe its time to go.... its been a week of good-byes to Sapper, Girlfriend, and now Hawaii. So I won't say farewell - for I will return to paradise!

Sapper in Kuwait....

A first ever phone call from Kuwait as Sapper has landed. Quite a 25 hour flight via Seattle and Ireland. Eleven hour time difference from here and yes he's keeping track of Hawaii time.

Farewell dinner for Sapper and Sapper II by "PTA," a group of teachers that have been just great friends. Send off party was a celebration of all major holidays in 2008. So they had Christmas, New Years, St. Patricks Day (cute costumes - hope to get a photo), Fourth of July and Halloween all at one party. So clever these teachers, so creative and talented. A big thank you for their thoughtfulness, kindness, and party planning abilities!

Only in Hawaii...

First, in reference to the sand Santa at the Sheraton Waikiki, this couple has found their niche. They travel the world creating massive (this one is 10 tons) sand sculptures. Photo in previous blog is a shaka-waving, surfboard-riding Santa. Creative, clever, and a great way to make a living!

Sign posted in my elevator: the hallway odor is "kona" winds blowing through the rubbish slide. So they closed the slide - where to put garbage now?

70 mph winds at Schofield Barracks tore down trees, telephone poles, and damaged some homes. North Shore is without electricity tonight. Sapper flew out just in time....

Oahu Ocean Safety lifeguards (NOT an easy job) kept busy in North Shore mainly Waimai Bay with 18 rescues, Portuguese man-of-war-stings, and warned of box jellyfish influx. Ouch! Surf was up 20 to 40 ft. Five inches of sand covered low coastal highways - oh the problems of paradise.

A sight to see - a 20 story, 436' long satellite rocket launch platform dwarfs Aloha Tower and the Super Ferry.

Favorite Christmas Decor

And my favorite is the Sand Santa! Instead of a sand castle it's a sand Santa at the Sheraton Beach Lobby entrance - how creative. And what a fun job! The most gorgeous Christmas trees and decor is at the Hilton. Note the elves in the large Christmas tree! They have another tree that I will re-photo to do it justice. And I love the big pot with tree on top with ribbon! Classic, esquisite Christmas at the Hilton.... but that sand Santa...think I'll go play in the sand! PS - GO WARRIORS! Univ of Hawaii won all 12 games this season!!!

More Christmas Decor

The silver star Christmas tree goes with the zebra at the Hyatt. It looked a little gaudy during the daytime but I'll check it out when lit. The floral tree is at the Outrigger and is very colorful and Hawaiian. The Sheraton colors with pinks and turquoise are stunning. Got any decorating ideas yet?

Christmas Decor....

The Lion King Broadway Show was fantastic - but no photo's were allowed. It was Joe's Christmas present to me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Joe sang along to the song - Hakuna Matta - no worries! The costumes were fantastic so if it tours in your area do go see it! Also did a hike to Diamond Head Crater - you can see for miles and miles. Then I started on a hotel hike for best Christmas Decorations and found "Betty" at the Hilton. Not Christmassy but cute. The zebra is at the Hyatt - not sure about the silver baubles though!

Holiday Photo's

A beautiful sunset, a Christmas Parade, and a few drinks of togetherness! Happy Thanksgiving!

Back to nature with....

Pman and Cknldy enjoyed the natural beauty of Hawaii. They visited Arboretums, Pineapple Farms, and Japanese and Chinese Temples. Note the treetrunk colors in the gum tree trunk. Beach chickens rushed to greet them as if they speak the language (I think they do)! By flight, train, bus, car, moped, and hiking they managed to see much of Oahu's beauty and fun. Did I say hiking? Pman even joined a TurkeyTrot race!

Bizter shopped, sunned, and shopped some more! Toured Northeast Oahu to see Hanama Bay, Blowhole, Pali Pass and all things in between. She has the makings of a true Hula girl...

All Together Now...

Last night after dinner at Cholo's was silly fun! Great to have Sappers girlfriend join us. Sat on beach with 6-pack and enjoyed our togetherness until the bizter laid on an ant pile. Things were quite jumpy after that but all made flight times. Thus the ending to a great, GREAT, G R E A T Thanksgiving weekend. Next come the highlights....

Last Sunday's Entertainment

Last Sunday was Art and Crafts in the Kapioloni Park and Pacific Island Day. These dancers are from Tahiti. I was thoroughly entertained....isn't he cute?

A New Zealand beard!

Sapper's home from New Zealand and he had an awesome trip! Actually it was an adventure tour with cave repelling spelunking, helicopter access bike riding, and bungee jumping. All had Rambo toughness ratings! He has a DVD of his head first bungee jump down 85 ft! And you wonder why Mothers worry...... Mom here are the birds I watched as we spoke on the phone.

St. Augustine by-the-Sea

Beautiful St. Augustine by-the-Sea church is right off Waikiki Beach. The stain glass windows are beautiful. Each arch V along the side is also a stain glass window so the church is full of light. I could not understand the priest, and the music included one who held their notes forever... Then it was Lulu's for lunch - my favorite Seared Ahi Salad with feta and capers---soooo good!

Koi and Parrot

Many beautiful Koi - Japanese Carp-will be auctioned off on ebay this week. They are on display at the Hilton Hawaiian Village along with the AMA convention-go figure. The bidding starts for this beautiful blue top koi at $2,000. Sounds to me like some smart fisherman could get rich quick if the lake fish were more colorful! The parrot colors are just beautiful - love this blue and yellow with white face with black accents. We all should dress like animals!

Stack and Rack Shopping!

Yes, right here in downtown Honolulu is a Walmart and Sam's Club however they were not easy to find! In the middle of the block is a Walmart flag - and no obvious entry. The entry is through the parking place so if your walking its puzzling. The store is surrounded by a parking garage, then another floor of parking, and on the 4th floor of parking is Sam's Club. Aha! It's a very good use of mid-block space.

So there I am without my camera (had to lighten load for hike to Walmart) watching the sunset when I see 12 sailboats out! Beautiful! The place I'm staying is at the yacht club marina and it was the first time I'd seen so many boats out. They continued to sail after the sunset with lights on in various colors. I was sound asleep before they came in...... Aloha

Another Hula!

Faster, faster, faster - how do they do it?

Deployment Ceremony...

Deployment Ceremony was so special not only because we were farewelling Sappers Combat Battle Team but also some returning after 15 months in Iraq soldiers were present. They had just arrived late the night before! Full circle experience, coming and going, a soldiers life! Even Lt Gov was present with many other VIP's. And I must admit they played Aloha, tears did appear in my eyes....

Twinkle in their Eyes!

Definitely caught a twinkle in their eyes and big smiles while Sapper and special girlfriend danced. The unit had a "deployment luau" at the Hale Koa hotel in Waikiki. The food and entertainment were excellent! Great group of soldiers!

Movies on the Beach!

Now this is the way to go to the movies! Sit in the sand or bring a lawn chair add some drinks and food and its movie night. The screen is humongous easily seen and heard. Watched a short documentary about ? - I forget so it was not memorable but the dinosaur movie - T-Rex was good. Kinda like when Godzilla ate the people on the beach then climbed..... Not really but entertaining. Check out the "Duke." This statue commemorates the hospitality and Aloha spirit of the Waikiki surfers. Aloha!

Saturday Morning Walk

I just love living in Honolulu! It may look like a concrete jungle but it is not at all. I'm staying on a high floor in the building indicated in the photo.This morning I walked through Ala Moana Park
with the beach on one side and amazing trees on the other side. I love the gnarly tree trunks, their bark tells of survival through the years. After a breakfast of Eggs Benedict Florentine, the Yacht Club fish were waiting with wagging fins. They always swim to say Hi, yet I've never seen anyone feed them. (I think my camera takes great photo's.) Sapper is surfing the big waves in from the North today. They are expected to be @ 7 ft high. Talk story later....

From colorful lei's in the window to incense, honor and alms to revered idols, Chinatown is full of wonderful sites. The history of the different families who supported each other through Associations is still present today. Have you notices I haven't mentioned shopping? That's another definite trip!