Missile Threat

We started this last Saturday, Jan. 13 with
this phone alert. We were actually on a
conference call with Bill's family for a cabin meeting.
Since we didn't hear any sirens, we figured it was a
 mistake. However, it was 38 mins before they retracted it,
causing many on the island to panic.
Turns out the button got pushed twice accidentally
during a shift change.

So we decided to ride our bikes to  the North Shore with
the Dee's to watch the big waves.

It's hard to tell but these waves were nearly 40 feet. There was
no one in the water and many beaches were closed.

We had a chance to go to Kualoa Ranch with the last
day on our "Go Oahu" card that Steven and  April
gave us for Christmas.

At the end of the Pond Tour we got to crack fresh
macadamia nuts. They were delicious.

On MLK Day we decided to try and find King Kamehameha's
Summer Palace ruins off the Pali Highway. There is a hidden
pathway off the road through a bamboo forest.

On the way we saw this amazing Banyan tree.

Here is the walkway into the palace.

The shrine at the entrance.

A very large emu pit for cooking the food underground.

It was a big place.

That afternoon we did the Kahana hike with
Lenard and Bonnie Huff as our guides. Tina
and Wilf Mueller came along.

Lots of roots to negotiate.

Lush canopy of Pandana Trees

Old military bunkers.

Bamboo forest.

This swimming hole was inviting.

Myself and Bonnie cooling off in the stream.

Lenard in the "jacuzzi."

Bill was throwing rocks.

Pretty thick undergrowth. Bonnie's friend got lost on this
hike overnight, so we were glad to have them
be our guides.

Had to cross the stream twice.

Unusual mushrooms.

This lizard placed himself strategically to get the
ants crawling up the stem of the orchid.

Christmas Vacation with the Kids and Grandkids

The highlight of the PCC for the grandkids was
getting tattooed by these Fijian students.

The leis and luau were hits.

Starting a fire Samoan style.

This Maori student is helping Lily
with the poi balls.

The stick game in Aotearoa Village.

Fishing was a highlight for William.

The girls, Lily and Jane, learning the hula.

William's favorite thing to do was snorkeling in Shark's Cove,
where they saw lots of tropical fish, sea urchins, a crab
and even an octopus.

Meanwhile the other kids enjoyed getting buried in the sand.

Grandpa enjoyed burying them.

At least we knew where they were.

A great beach day at Shark's cove.

The neighbors slaughtered 2 pigs and roasted
them outside over an emu rotisserie style for their
 New Year's Eve dinner. 

New Year's Eve after our turkey dinner, that
we cooked in the oven by the way,  we
hiked the Sunset Pillboxes.

Jane needed a walking stick like Grandma
and Grandpa's.

A great view of Bonsai Pipeline Beach. We even
saw some whales in the distance.

The Byodo-In Temple.

He actually was able to ring the big bell.

Jane loved feeding the koi and the swan.

Bamboo forest at the temple.

Kids lost in the fern forest.

Happy Anniversary to these two.

Lots of very hungry fish.

Budha shrine.

At  Laie Point.

Lily the "Lttle Mermaid" in her element.

So glad to have Steven, April and family
 to ring in the New Year.

Our Best Christmas Present

Our best Christmas present for 2017 arrived Christmas afternoon.
We met Steven, April and kids at the McDonalds near the airport,
 since that was one of the few restaurants opened.

Our first day of exploring took us to Kawela
Bay. All the kids loved climbing the
massive banyan tree.

That's high enough William!

Pillbox "Zen" at Kawela Bay.

Walking out on the coral at the pillbox.

Our friend Alma (from our Ward) is one of the student
 Fijian dancers at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

We so enjoyed Pearl Harbor, especially
the Battleship Missouri and the
 Bowfin Submarine.

We had to take this  pic in front of the Missouri. It is the
copy of the same statue we saw in Normandy, France.

I am guessing that my father may have worked on building
this Douglas airplane during WWII. He worked for Hughes
and Douglas in Santa Monica, Ohio  and Pennsylvania
   during the war. The plane is the Douglas Dauntless and
was known as the "Hero of Midway" for sinking 4
Japanese carriers during Midway.  

We did finally make it on the Arizona Memorial.
It was so crowded even when we arrived at 7am,
we were lucky to get 3 pm tickets. Fortunately,
April had purchased "GO Oahu" cards for
the trip that included admission to all the
other Pearl Harbor sights while we waited.

We had to hit Seven Brother's Kahuku for their
famous coconut macadamia shrimp.

And of course Matsumoto's for shave ice.

Our "Go Oahu" card included a 2 hour sail on the Makani
Catamaran in the Honolulu Harbor.

We saw this turtle and also some whales.