Aloha Spirit

DOLE's Train Ride and Garden Tour

2009-11-11T18:58:00.001-08:00

WE RETURNED TO DOLE PLANTATION TO CHECK OUT THE 'TRAIN RIDE' AND GARDEN TOUR. WE GOT A DISCOUNT IN THE STORE FOR MORE PINEAPPLE CANDY AND A TEE SHIRT FOR BEING MILITARY, TOO. LOVE THIS PLACE!!!

These pictures are a mixture of Teenie and mine. Enjoy! *click on images to enlarge*

Oh, yes, this is a coffee tree. Just looking at it makes me want another cuppa!

I love pics of folk walking away. These are my boys:

A pretty pond full of Koi and . . . it started to sprinkle a bit at this point, but we were almost done and it was refreshing. It certainly wasn't hot today, by any means.

Just as the train rounded the bend to pull back into the 'station', these clouds were starting our way. Life's a gamble, as is the weather even in sunny Hawaii.

Loveliness on a pond. See the raindrops?

SB was about ready to go home at this point. Having had a bit of a run in with Teenie whilst in the gift shop on our way in, and, refusing to eat (moody!), he was getting hungry and fed up with us tourists.

I love how the sunlight trickles through the palms.

A white Hibiscus for y'all.

I kept calling these nanners, but they are plantains. Geesh! I'm old, give me a break!

The pineapple conveyor belt machine thing.

On the ride, you can smell the fermentation of the pineapples . . . it's a bit nauseating after a bit.

Owwww, Lawd. This is nectar of the gods. I swear it. Dole Whip is divine!!!!

Pineapple garden shapes. I was around the other side before I "saw" they were pineapples. I'm so daft!

Okay. I'm done. Stick a whole pineapple in me 'cos I'm done. I can't wait for folk to come visit so we can have a VALID excuse to go up and consume more Dole Whip. Okay, and ride the train again. I'm just that much of a child.

Pineapple Haven Part Deux

2009-09-07T17:31:00.000-07:00

Proof that pineapples have nuts inside.

Squirrel Boy had to be in the Uke one.
Teenie requested a pose here.
I just think Teenie is delicious here.
Crickles and a tiny ass pineapple. I drew some attention as I laughed (cackled, more like) at some of the tiniest pineapple evah!

Oh, look! Home is just seventeen miles away.
For your reading entertainment (click to enlarge).
More reading for you. Hey, this stuff is interesting!

Very pretty fruit.

More in a post below.

Pineapple Haven

2009-09-07T17:23:00.000-07:00

Labour Day at Dole. The weather was perfect in the late morning. We have already determined to return for the garden tour and train ride another time. Many reviews I have read say the train is hokey for the money, but we're a hokey going family. I would rather have the experience than not. Then I can call it what I want.

Worth the price tag, actually. Pay the dosh and get lost.
Here's the kids before we all got separated.
Hey! there's Teenie behind the hedge!! I might get outta this place if I put the camera away.
Just minutes under an hour, Chief had us safely navigated through the maze. Good thing. I had to piss like a racehorse.

U.S.S. Utah Memorial

2009-09-02T12:32:00.001-07:00

On Sunday, my husband took Crickles and I to see the U.S.S. Utah memorial on Ford Island. When we got home, I vowed to go back and take pictures . . . so I went back with my older two yesterday and took some pictures. I have to say, I went to a website USSUtah and read more about this ship and crew. You can go there, too, if the fancy strikes you. The sad truth is: if I did not live here, I never would have known this memorial existed. My life is richer for the knowing - people died here (even if the Japanese during the time did not want to target this training ship to begin with . . . ) defending our freedom. In the years since the war, how many of us truly hold dear the meaning of the word "freedom"?

Teenie with some of the rusted ship behind her. Click on pictures to enlarge, if you like.

The dock with the plaques.
This is the plaque my kids are reading in the prior picture.
Flag pole plaque.
Rest in peace, those who died here.
The U.S.S. Utah was a battleship built in 1909 in New Jersey. During her time in Pearl Harbor, she was a training ship. An interesting fact, sadly, is that there is also the remains of a twin child here. Apparently, the father was going to have a burial at sea for her, but when the ship was struck, her ashes went down with the ship.
These pictures don't do it justice, to tell the truth. I'm not angry about this. Disgusted and sad. As a mother, it really tears at my heart.

Spam - It Hits the Spot

2009-08-11T15:30:00.000-07:00

First a nice shot of the waves at the beach yesterday.

Spam - It hits the spot.

Well, not my spot, but plenty of people out there are supporting Hormel's product of gelatinous meat product. Apparently it is a BIG deal here in Hawaii.

I would like to buy a can of the innocuous stuff, but I'm quite frankly afraid to. Even in the name of science. Why? When I was a child, I vaguely remember someone opening a can of Spam and it making that sickening vacuumed sucking sound as it - and what looked like clear to mildly yellow jell-o - plopped out onto a plate. Yuck! I am a visual person. Back then, I could hear fairly well, too, so I was an audio person as well. The two together created a deep-seated fear of Spam.

Irrational as it is, it is.

Until I went to a cabin owned by my SIL and her husband, gracious folks that they are. Her MIL made some delicious Japanese fare . . . with Spam! I ate it. I knew what it was before I ate it. I did not want to offend anyone and also, it did not look like it did "way back when". It was pretty good. A nice, salty, hammy taste and texture.

I found in the commissary the other day that they even sell the stuff in vacuum-sealed packets in single, fully cooked slices. I almost caved.

I'm just that afraid of the glop and liquid that may surround this product. I have heard that it is not like that any more . . . but still . . .

So, the kind of Spam I've been buying does come in a Spam can . . . but its contents are 130 pieces of puzzle. We have all four of the puzzles currently offered. Here's a group picture. I'm sure if we decided to eat the puzzles with a little salt, it might come close to what Spam tastes like. I'm kidding!

When I finally do "cave" to the crave . . . or mere curiosity, I will definitely blog about it.

This is what we do when we live in Hawaii and it's threatening Tropical Storm Felicia. Puzzles, sew, and wait. I do not know what we are waiting for. I do hope it is absolutely nothing. We can have a lot of fun with nothing going on.

Some Pictures Worth Seeing

2009-07-28T23:37:00.000-07:00

Tonight's evening sky:

This is a rainbow shower tree. The pinkish yellow one. It's fun to just stand beneath one and gaze upward into the branches. It's a colourful swirl of delight.
Here's a yellow-white rainbow shower tree:
Now, aren't you glad you came by?

Pretty Pictures to Share with You

2009-07-12T22:15:00.000-07:00

I have no idea what many of these trees are called, but they are beautiful. These pictures were taken by Moi at Punchbowl. I hope you'll let me know if you enjoyed them. To see them in more detail, click on them to enlarge. More pictures and commentary are on my other blog:
http://cuppajoe2go.blogspot.com .

Okay, I didn't take this one. Teenie did. She's so good. Daddy so bad!
Here's Crickles, feeling all better after a bout with his body dealing with immunizations. He is fascinated by coconuts.
I do know this one: umbrella tree.

Busy Bees

2009-07-10T09:07:00.000-07:00

That's one thing I see rarely here: bees. When I finally saw one near the Queen Lillies the other day, I stopped to watch it a while. They usually make me flee, because I have this strange notion that if I stand by they'll come and sting me. I hate being stung. It's very irrational of me.

Anyhow, this morning I am driving (for the second time) the kids to the base clinic to check their tuberculosis tests and then popping over to my youngest son's school to register him. I think they are having a uniform sale today as well. I'll check that out. If I read correctly on line, it's buy five shirts and get one free. Six shirts? Before I judge on that, I'll find out what he needs.

After that, we are going to come back to the condo and "play" tennis at the courts here. We will actually be banging the ball back and forth, no real scoring and not really playing as we haven't a clue, but the kids want to try it in real life as opposed to on the Wii. We bought rackets and balls last night . . .

. . . should be fun.

Lovely Mass

2009-07-06T10:45:00.000-07:00

We attended Mass at the lovely St. Augustine by-the-sea in Waikiki yesterday morning. Parking was a bit difficult, but Mass was good. The homily was poignant and timely (at least for this gel). Apparently the priest is leaving next week for Rome . . . finishing up the canonisation stuff of Fr. Damien, if I heard correctly.

I'm almost finished reading "Hawaii". Except for all the whoring and meanness of some of the male characters, which included the constant use of "g-d d---" (I abhor the use of it, frankly), it's a good book. Not much was said about Father Damien's role in the leper colony (a main character dies there and there is mention of his landing there and then later his death), but I have his story in another book on my shelf to read later. Thanks be to God! What a fine servant of the Lord Damien was to those people (who were forgotten).

I have a busy week ahead with physical appointments for kids so we can register them for school; and, registering them for school. There is much coffee to be consumed as well.

Spending Time with Aloha

2009-07-03T16:28:00.000-07:00

Reading this (it will take me days upon days . . . it's thick, not that I read slow). But, I am savouring it as well.

Koi. They are so pretty.
This was taken at the Fort Meade Commissary before we moved. I happened to have my camera with me when we went it . . . they were just finished setting this "summer" display up and my girl lamented that she didn't have her camera. I said, "I do, for once!"
A palm by the condos pool. The breeze felt when poolside is just a gift from a God Who loves us in every way.
Happy 4th of July to you all. Pray for our country and our leaders. Thank someone for serving our country by praying for them.

I Miss My Poochie

2009-06-29T04:12:00.000-07:00

Here I am with Hols and Squirrel Boy. This was taken at B and B's while staying there. She came to stay a night or two with us so we could get her to her grooming appointment or some such thing.

Before the move out . . . I will not miss that sofa! Here she's looking at me longingly; pleading to be played with. I look at this picture and look at her little hind leg and want to pinch her bottom. I have a thing for backsides. Confession: I'll grab her tail and tell her, "Oooooo, I love your butt!" It's an "illness."
Here she is wanting to come out where I am. I just love it.
Pretty soon, baby doll, we'll be in our own home and romping and stomping with you on a daily basis!

Some Poolside Shots

2009-06-25T16:14:00.000-07:00

The lovely pool.

This one is to show (primarily my friend, Dawn) all that on occasion I will "suit up". I don't swim - yet. Yet. I'm thinking about learning now that I'm almost 40. I didn't learn when I was young, because I had tubes in my ear drums five different times, spanning the time I would have normally bothered to learn. Then, after the last set of tubes came out, I thought "I'm not missing anything" and "I'm scared to get water in my ears" and "it doesn't look that fun and I hate being wet". Now that I'm in "hot arsed" Hawaii, I'm rethinking this.
Some nice Red Ginger.
A view of a building looming over the pool.
*pics taken by me*
I accidentally, somehow, managed to delete the pic of SB going into the hot tub . . . I'm too lazy to put it back in.

Looking Down

2009-06-24T17:28:00.000-07:00

. . . upon a delicious breakfast my girl made herself.

. . . out the wide open window in our living room. . .

. . . try not to puke!

29th Floor View-Tastic

2009-06-24T14:50:00.000-07:00

Okay, that beach is endlessly gorgeous. The airport is to the far far right (not in picture), but the drive is less than twenty minutes from here. The long, shorter building is a "mall". We trekked it yesterday and were disappointed.

Loads of buildings . . . condos, apartments (flats, people, flats!), mountains and such. There's a Nordstrom Rack store under the roof of the front "copper" toned roof. Hmmm, maybe I can afford to shop there . . .
More beach.
Close up of beach.
Ah, yes, the prize winning shot: sunset. This never tires me. It's just God's g'night wave to us.
*photos taken by Teenie.

Beautiful Flowers

2009-06-23T12:45:00.001-07:00

Coral Hibiscus

Bougainvillea
Hibiscus (red or Chinese, I think)
Bird of Paradise
Queen Mary's Spider Lilly
When/If I can remember I'll put it here, but these are everywhere.
Plumeria
Some really cheeky shite
Parrot's Beak

*top two pics taken by Teenie; others taken by meself*

I Miss These People

2009-06-22T12:09:00.001-07:00

Me and "J". I just miss all the giggles! Do you know, whenever I was at her house, she was always cooking. Her heart is pure and light. I will shoot myself if I don't try really hard to keep in touch with her and her family. They are just that decent a family!

LISA! I miss joshing with you, big time! *I haven't worn a sweatshirt since I left Maryland*

The guy on crutches and his wife took in Galadriel, where she is happy to live. I am certain that this was the best thing for her now. The move and the subsequent living arrangements would have been the end of her. (going L to R, of course). "C" - I miss just hearing the Spanish lilt to her speaking and her laugh with it's little squeak. "T" and "L" and "A" - such devoted ladies and hard workers; always at the Church doing -doing - doing. Well, we all were, but I was the least of them.
This is "A". She made me a mantilla. It's gorgeous and I will show it to you all some time.
"J" put together a shindig for our going away. YUM! That's "B" (of "B" and "B") leaning on the wall. She is the go-to planner! Generous beyond mention!! To the right, seated, is "K", "B's" partner in crime. Then there is JoMary leaning in to get some more grub. Her back is to us, but that is "R" (leads the MCCW group with "H") and last is "M" who is at every function helping out everywhere and is the quietest of souls.
All of them, and many not picture . . . I miss them all. They all richly blessed each one of us. God places us among many of His good people. It's His way of loving us along to goodness and generosity ourselves. Because, this life is never about us . . . but Jesus, Others, and then You. Joy is only found in that way. Jesus puts the Others in Your life. How are you loving them today?

Driving About

2009-06-18T00:54:00.001-07:00

I think I took this one our second day here. Needless to say, the youngest has new shorts as of today. I couldn't stand seeing him in jeans (he pretty much dislikes the two he brought with him and has never liked shorts to begin with; however, he sweats relentlessly and says it doesn't bother him, but it makes everyone else sweat seeing him sweat). Kissteen: he will not be a future carpet layer. *wink* Got him some shorts from the worlds largest Navy Exchange today in Pearl Harbor. Pretty wicked. He's very pleased with the ones he got.

This is the classic shot most people get on postcards from folks on holiday here: Diamond Head from Waikiki. It's pretty impressive and you get a closer look from the zoo.
Regan may like this picture. It's a Bird of Paradise. There are different colour variations, but they all look like birds. I love birds and I appreciate this flower immensely.
I'm not sure if this is the statue for Duke Kahanamoku (surfing legend) or not. There's another statue across from the entrance to the zoo, which is lovely but we couldn't get a good shot from across the road. The surf is something else at this beach. It will be a long time before my kids surf it . . . if ever.
A view of Northshore from the passenger seat of our car. It was calm according to my husband, who said in the cooler months the waves are impressive. I didn't read that in my O'ahu Revealed book (by Andrew Doughty) - yet. I'm on that section.
That van sorta fit in with my idea of surfer wheels.
H-3 going back to Waikiki/Honolulu. The kids thought it would take a long while (an hour? more?) to get back to the hotel . . . nope . . .
. . . we looked over our shoulders to the right and looked back upon a very beautiful town/city called Kane'ohe Bay. I could see us living on this side of the island.
. . . we approach the tunnel . . .
. . . we pop out the other side about two minutes later (if that!) and about fifteen minutes later we are in our hotel parking garage.
Seriously. O'ahu is not large by any means of the word. But, what makes it special? The weather is always nice, but it's the people. People here are just about the most friendly I have ever met. I'm sure there are some real classic stinkers, too, but I have yet to meet any. I bet when I do, they'll be imports (like us) who haven't learned to relax and let the aloha spirit embrace them. For some it takes a lifetime. I'm so there already.

Honolulu Zoo

2009-06-16T00:28:00.001-07:00

With a military discount, we got in for $13! Otherwise it would have been $25 - which in my books is still rather reasonable. It's a small zoo, but a nice walkabout. Some exhibits were without critters . . . I always wonder where the critters have gone off to. Then, some exhibits have shy critters (i.e. the hyena, the lion, the orangutan). But, other than that, it's a quaint little hour to spend. We skipped the kiddie part (basically domestic animals - ah, yeah, they smell terrible) and we skipped the gift shop (don't tell anyone, 'kay?). This sign was cute. I've been to two of the zoos on this sign. If you can guess the two correctly, I may send you some shortbread cookies shaped like pineapples.

Gotta love these turtles. How funny are they?
This honking huge tortoise swam over to check us out partly above water at first, then it disappeared in the water and we could barely make it out when he got to us and popped back up for a peek. We laughed so hard. Look at his nostrils. I love nostrils.
This bird was in the enclosure that was supposed to have some warthog in it, I think. No warthog. There was a mama peacock and chicks though. This bird acted as if it was the proud papa . . . it came over straight away to tell us to mind our own business. I think that's what it was on about. I clucked at it and it "charged" at us and clacked back!
This is one of the five Sumatran tigers at the zoo. So worth seeing. We were lucky they weren't all just lying about. This one got up and moved around and even snarled a bit.
The kids with a peacock. They could name this zoo the Peacock Zoo. There are that many of these things flocking about.
And, this is the gratuitous shot. He's so cute when he gets to experience live animals. My happy boy.

Some Pictures to Beautify this Space

2009-06-16T00:05:00.000-07:00

Here's a mama and her ducklings . . . they followed her until she must have signaled them to go to the other side of the chain link fence. They popped through the links . . . but mama couldn't find the opening herself. By this time more people were coming and she panicked and scooted further up the line and her babies popped back out and followed her. Cute stuff!

Here we are on our way to the Zoo (more pics of that tomorrow). Live birds! I love this! We were so hot and sweaty by the time we got to this point (about two blocks from the zoo) I was about to throw in the towel. Come to find out, today has been one of O'ahu's hottest days on record. Yes, that is a cookie bag. Ever eat a shortbread cookie from HI? Yum.
Waikiki beach. The kids were just touching the Pacific for the first time. Awwww shucks.
Okay, I had my turn, too. I don't think it's fair I have a huge arse. Really. I should be able to eat a lot of anything I want (like those Honolulu Cookie Company shortbreads, for example) without such negative consequences. Oh, but if it stays hot, I may sweat out all the calories.
A flower I never tire of: hibiscus. Gorgeous. My girl has a photographers eye.

Aloha, Friends

2009-06-14T18:25:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine suggested that I journal about our Hawaiian adventures separately from my main blog and my "cooking" blog, so that is what the intention is with this blog. I will post mainly our adventures here. For example, when we go to the zoo, Diamond Head, hiking anywhere around the island, travel to another island, or when we go to North Shore. There will be pictures and commentary - just like a regular travel journal.

My intention is to continue to blog mainly from Ora et Labora (my other blog) at http://cuppajoe2go.blogspot.com .

I must be insane, but here I go again.

Today we spent time in/at the pool at the hotel and some time at the beach on Waikiki. We had our first shave ice, too. They were huge, but so refreshing in the heat of the day. Mine was pina colada. Yum. I'm the only one who finished theirs. It's just juicey ice! My kids all said the same thing: it's making my tummy hurt. Too sweet and cold, I reckon. Well, I chunk on ice often so I'm used to having no feeling in my gullet. Ha. I have feeling there, just I'm used to the insides being chilled.

Mahalo for your patience as I get this up and running in the next few weeks. I don't know if my husband will allow me to upload the camera software on this laptop and if not, I have to wait until we have a place to live and can use one of our PC's. Either way, though, pictures can be added later. That may be the route I have to take.