Memorial Day Weekend 2009

I went to the Eagle Camera Club meeting on Wednesday evening, and they decided to take a little field trip over to Merrill Park in Eagle where over 600 flags had been set up for Memorial Day Weekend. I decided to continue with this 'Memorial Day' tribute by going up to the Veterans Cemetary above Dry Creek Cemetary in Eagle, ID. This was a good exercise for me. Previously I hadn't really paid attention to Memorial Day and it's significance. It was an awesome experience. I saw many people come to the graves of their loved ones with flowers and talk. Every grave in Dry Creek and the Veterans were each and every one provided with a flag of it's own. It was quite dramatic to enter the premises. If required respect and honor.

Here are a few of the pictures taken from this weekend.

Oahu - Week 4

Just a couple more days of the tropics. I was so exhausted after my Kauai trip, I took some naps this Saturday. I did go out that evening to Amuse Wine Bar with a few folks.

Jan and Barry and I. Beatrix is taking the picture.

Beatrix and Jan

On Sunday, I went on a hike with the local Sierra Club to do the Judd Trail up in Nuuano Valley. You can hike on this trail to the Jackass Falls where folks like to jump in and cool off. I was surprised to see it was all locals and kind of reminded me of a Japanese IWOW group. There were about 12 of us and the hike leader did tell us a lot about the vegetation. There is a great book out called 'A Hikers Guide to Trailside Plants in Hawaii' by John Hall. Must get that before I come over here again.

Tonight, Roger wants us to go to Elks Club down in Waikiki to hear Melveen Leed.

The Elks Club turned out to be a fantastic evening. I love Melveen Leed to begin with. She has been around for so long producing such great Hawaiian music. She used to jam at Gabby Pahanui's house in Waimanalo. How cool is that? I was in awe of being able to hear her. It was a laid back entertainment environment.l What I got to say to Glenda and the rest of the IWow group that I went to Kauai with, it is only in the tourist locations where you see thin young women doing the hula. Most of the local venues, you see anything but young and thin. Just the aunties and tutus are out in their muumuus doing hulas for us if they feel like it.

One note for Bobbie. One singer got up and sang a couple of more country western type songs. The aunties and tutus were out there doing line dances in their mumus to the beat of achey breakey heart. You would have been proud. Tonight was a great highlight. The musicians were fantastic.

We then came back to the house and sat on our lanai overlooking the city (remember, Cyn?) while drinkng wine and eating cheese and crackers.

A couple of 'light bulb' moments came over me this trip. I have been previously been trying to bicycle while here and here is not really very conducive to cycling. However, hiking trails abound on this island and you can get away from the rat race by just getting on one of the trails. So I think, more hiking in future trips.

Monday: Pack and get ready to head home. Lots of errands and trying to get Eloise set up in the Silver Sneakers program here. See everyone in Boise.

Kauai - May 2009

8:00 a.m. Friday May 8

Today we begin our Kauai trip. Cynthia had come over on Tuesday to spend a few days in Oahu and then together we would fly over to Kauai to meet Marla. Bobbi and Glenda will hopefully arrive in the late afternoon. Our plans, at this time, are to do a moon light walk on the beach under the full moon. Pictures forthcoming on the blog as we go through the trip.

8:00 a.m. Saturday May 9

The whole gang arived safe and sound. We all hung around the condo and watched the full moon over the ocean and munched down on chips and salsa and enjoyed some wine.

Glenda went out already this morning to check out the beach and to find the bike path. We will be going out cruising to check out the island here shortly.

Marla has a Maui story to tell here later. She went snuba diving and saw manta rays and fishes and a large sea turtle.

More later......

Evening - Saturday May 9

Today the gang went to the Tunnels to snorkel. Bobbi is our photographer for the day and here is a picture from that activity. There was a monk seal on the sand which seemed to nap the entire time we were there. Cynthia was in dive heaven snorkelling out to the outer reefs to see all the fishies. It was Glenda's first snorkling experience. Marla and Kathryn got sunburned and now have lobster legs, but prefer to refer to it as 'snorkling legs'.

Soon to go out for a moon light stroll on the bike path to the nearest beach bar.

Monk seal at Tunnels Beach


Evening - Sunday May 10

Happy Mothers Day!! Today the gang, including Susan Hawkins, from Anchorage, went on a hike with the Sierra Club to Ho'opi'i Falls. It was lush and green and hot and humid but very enjoyable. We were also on a mission to pull out a couple of batteries out of the trail. We hiked to the lower falls and then the upper falls, both of each were beautiful to view. There were 27 people on the hike, but it worked out ok. The Sierra Club guide was Karen who was very informative and a great guide. Marla says it was like walking through the fairy forest. There was also a fairy mobile (an old vehicle for fairies that was all rusted and which the forest was claiming back).

Here are some pictures of the day.

Marla on Sierra Club Hike at Ho'opi'i Falls

Bobbi enjoying Ho'opi'i Falls


Evening Monday May 11

Today the gang plus Susan took a zodiac boat ride down to Na Pali coast. We also went snorkling. It was sunny and beautiful for most of the day. We saw schools of spinner dolphins and some bottlenose dolphins. The spinner dolphins were playing around the boat and did some spins for us on their jumps. We also saw turtles. Marla took some video of the dolphins for us.

The scenery was fantastic. We saw Niihau Island. We also cruised by the longest sand beach in the island. We saw and even went into several caves. There were also many waterfalls.

On our return ride, the weather got windy and the seas rougher. There was plenty of 'Yahoos!', drenched faces and bucking bronco rides including airbornes moments off of the zodiac as the wave disappeared under us.

Glenda is our photographer of the day. Here is a couple of pictures by her.

Na Pali Coast from Capt Joe's zodiac.

Tuesday - May 12

Bobbi getting too close to edge at Waimea Canyon Hike

Today is hiking day. We drove up to the end of the road on the ridge of Waimea Canyon, stopping at several lookout points along the way. At the end was the Pihea Trail which we took down for 1 miles and then returned.

Kalalau Valley

After a quick lunch at Kokee Lodge, we hiked 3.7 miles round trip on the Canyon Trail. It was up or down on the trail, but provided spectacular views.

We got down off the canyon rim in time to view the sunset on the beach before heading home

Living the good life:

Glenda and Kathryn discover the massage chairs at Costco in Lihue..




Wednesday _ May 12

Today was snorkel day. We drove up to the north shore and first went to Hideaway beach. We had to find the beach first in Princeville area and it was quite a climb down a cliff to get to the beach. The snorkel was worth it, however, and there were lots of variety of fishes to look at.

In the afternoon, all but Marla got a lomi lomi massage in Kileaua town. Very cool indeed.

Afterwards, Marla, Bobbi and Glenda went to Seafoam Beach to snorkel some more. I think they have got the snorkel bug.

That evening we all went down to ResoreQuest just down the road for some pupus and entertainment.


Thursday May 13

WOW!!! All but Bobbi took the helicopter ride around the island. Again, WOW!!!

Our last day on Kauai - May 14

Today we went to the National Botanical Gardens just west of Poipu. It was a grand experience. We took the tour which lasted around 2.5 hours around the grounds with a great guide. The area was spectacular with all type of trees, shrubs and flowers. The colors were great.

Oahu - Week 2

It's May already. What happened to April.



I started the month off deciding to go check out 'The Boat' for the early run to get some pictures. I drove down to Aloha Tower where you can catch 'The Boat' for the 6:30 a.m. schedule. The Boat is part of the transport system, ('The Bus' and 'The Boat') to get commuters into Honolulu from Barbers Point and back. It only costs $2.00 and you can transfer to the bus. What a deal!!


While at Aloha Tower I took this picture a little after sunrise.



Heading out, I took some pics of Honolulu and Diamond Head on the Boat.

Saturday, I got up again early, early to get some pictures of Diamond Head and Honolulu from Roundtop and Tantalus Drives. It's such a nice drive anyway, and really nice in the early a.m. before everyone gets up. The panaramic shot I posted last week is actually from this Saturday.

Saturday night, I went to a pot luck at Barry's house along with Beatrix, Jon and another couple Steve and Sharon and their new baby. Barry cooked some great artichokes. There were so good and he had a great dip for them. Photos should be forthcoming from Barry and Beatrix once I can get a photo or two off of them. Great time together and a great view from the lanai.

Sunday, morning I met Patricia, Jan, Perry and one other for an easy cycle through town. We med at the park at the end of Sand Island Park, and cycled through the area and worked our way down Nimitz to Alamoana, then crossed over to China town where we can cycle on the bus/cyclist only Hotel Road to get through the busy section, We biked around Iolani Palace, the state capitol and buildings, mission homes and other historic sites. Of course after our main ride, Patricia and jan ride up to moana

More fun to come...Cynthia gets in on Tuesday

Oahu - Week 1

Well I made it to Oahu. I have been here a week now, but have not had as much good luck with pictures as I would like, but got a few in as the week went on. The one above I took at sunrise from roundtop and used Photomerge in Photoshop to merge 4 picstures together.

On the first friday night after I got here I went to my Auntie's neighbor Carol Retirement party. She had worked almost 42 years, minus a few pregrency months at the PACCOM (the Pacific Command). The retirement party was at the new aircraft museum on Ford Island, It was quite a cool location to have a party. So others who want to be surrounded by historical planes, this would be a good place to plan your party,

On Saturday, I took a short hike up Maunalua Trail with my DSLR. I tried to take some pictures around the old Damien homesteads but was such contrast in the pictres, even the HDR wouln't come through,

On the next morning I got up early early and drove on out to Makakilo Point to see the lighthouse and the sunrse.

Sunday night saw me at the Chart House with Beatrix, Jan, and Barry, then up to top of the Ilikai to see the city lights.

Here are a couple of birdies from the backyard. They are waiting for Eloise to put out the birdseed.