Happy 20th Anniversary!

Happy 20th Anniversary!

It's like walking to Louisville, Kentucky

As seen on Facebook - I've kept at it and made the 300 mile mark a few days ago. It's the distance between Ann Arbor and Louisville, KY.  :)

Day One - Ann Arbor

There and back again to our mitten home....   

Water Lilies

Bamboo

Home

Day Nineteen - Aloha Hawaii

A hui hou

Posted one day late but this is my final Hawaii trip posting.  With each visit to Honolulu, I find it gets harder and harder to leave.   A hui hou...    (Good-bye, until we meet again)

 

 

Our last day at Kuhio Beach

 

Sunrise at LAX

Day Eighteen - Hawaii

We spent the day at Kuhio Beach.   Will be sad to leave tomorrow...

Day Seventeen - Hawaii

Michael

With only one full vacation day left we did some shopping and spent time at Kuhio Beach today.  We ate dinner at Lung Fung, which is the Chinese restaurant in Nui Valley.  I enjoyed dinner, despite tripping on the curb in front of the restaurant, much to my embarrassment.  But I must admit I still like Hee Hings better.  
It's going to be difficult to leave on Thursday...

Day Sixteen - Hawaii

Woman we saw today at Kuhio Beach

Sione's family came by today and hauled away all the tree branches and brush we had piled in the yard so one less thing to worry about before we leave.  It completely filled their pick-up truck.  A big thank you to the Tausingas and a big sigh of relief!
This afternoon we went to Kuhio Beach - Michael went surfing while I polished off another book.

Before

After

 

Day Fifteen - Hawaii

Michael and I started the day off with breakfast at the Outrigger Canoe Club with Leslie, Chelsea, Sione, Selena & Lily. A big thanks to Leslie for inviting us to what turned out to be a fabulous buffet in the perfect setting. 

Michael

Chelsea

Lily, Leslie & Selena

 Micheal and I stopped at Kahala Mall on the way back to the house and ended up buying a chair. Michael also bought a picture frame for one of his father's water colors which is now hanging in our bedroom.

Watercolor by Keith Dove (1970)

We ended the day by meeting up with Leslie, Chelsea, Sione, Selena & Lily at Ala Moana Beach Park. We took turns going out on Chelsea's SUP board. I had a really nice time.

Sione & Selena

Day Fourteen - Hawaii

Michael and I picked up lunch at McDonalds with the intent of eating at Kawaikui Park but ended up at Maunalua Bay in Hawaii Kai when we couldn't find parking. Later we went to Kailua to visit Michael's Aunt Wanda and cousins Courtney and Carol.  Nice visit.

Michael, Courtney, Wanda & Carol

Day Thirteen - Hawaii

Sugar & Michael at Roy's, Hawaii Kai

Michael and I started the day by walking around Diamond Head.  Michael then went surfing while I read a book and people watched at Kuhio Beach. Both the yard guys (made me think of yard ninjas) and the plumber showed up when we returned home. Looks like we need to have a about an 8 foot section of the sewer pipe replaced/repaired due to roots that have broken through the pipe.  We had dinner at Roy's in Hawaii Kai. We sat out on their lanai - good food, beautiful view, a very nice way to end the day.

Diamond Head

View from Kuhio Beach

Yard Ninja

Day Twelve - Hawaii

It was a pretty laid back day - the morning started off rainy but it looked like it was going to clear up so we headed to Kapiolani Park only to have it start pouring.  We ended up going to Safeway and then back to the house.  I teased Michael that we had taken his surfboard out for a car ride.

Surfboard in Mazda

Day Eleven - Hawaii

Dark Clouds - Kuhio Beach

Michael and I went to the Hawaii State Art Museum in downtown Honolulu this morning and then headed over to Chinatown to walk around and take photos.  There were quite a few pieces on display at the art museum that were created by people that we knew from our University of Hawaii days  years ago.  There was a farmers market going on in the Chinatown area - prices for fruits and vegetables seemed cheaper than the supermarket.  After leaving downtown, we headed for Ward Warehouse and browsed - favorite stores are Island Guitars, Na Mea Hawaii and Nohea Gallery. We then headed to Zippy's for mini teri-beef plates and to Kuhio Beach.  BTW, it's been super windy since last night...

 

Hawaii State Art Museum

 

 

 

 

 

 

C-Mui Center

Chinatown - Farmer's Market

     

Oahu Market Fish Display

Day Ten - Hawaii

Today Michael and I went to Waimea Bay on the North Shore.  I love swimming there - sandy bottom and the water is crystal clear.  We ate lunch at Pizza Bob's in Haleiwa (instead of our usual spot at Cholo's).  Another perfect day with my best pal.

Waialua Estates - Coffee Plantation

Waianae Range

Waimea Bay

Michael at Waimea

Day Nine - Hawaii

Very uneventful day - I went to the grocery store and post office this morning but mostly hung out at the house waiting for the plumber (who by the way never showed up). After a few dinners out (sure does add up) I bought groceries to make at least three dinners spending only about $20.  Tonight I made a pasta dish with linguini, olive oil, garlic & spinach.  

Plumeria Tree (Front Yard)

Day Eight - Hawaii & Happy Birthday Sean!

Happy Birthday Sean....    

Haupia Cake

Day Seven - Hawaii

Today was the perfect beach day. We went to Waimanalo Beach Park - there was just enough breeze to keep it from being really hot and uncomfortable.  The surf wasn't really rough so I managed to get out in the water for awhile, which was nice.  We went to Kona Brewing for dinner - a nice way to finish the day.

Waimanalo Beach

Day Six - Hawaii

I spent today waiting for the plumber. I ran a load of laundry Wednesday night and apparently there was a blockage in the sewer pipe and all the water from the washer backed up and came up the shower drain.  The bathroom and parts of all three bedrooms flooded - lots of soaked rugs and towels.  It would have really helped to have had a shop vac to suck up the water.  The plumber found roots in the pipe which means there is a breach somewhere. He is coming back Monday with a camera to determine where the problem is.  I have spent the last view days disinfecting floors, etc.  Nothing like the smell of chlorox.
Michael went for a bike ride this morning and surfed with his friend Peter this afternoon.  We had dinner tonight at Cha Cha Cha in Hawaii Kai (Mexican food).  I ate and drank too much!

Michael & Peter Go Surfing

Getting the Sewer Line Snaked

Day Five - Hawaii

Happy Independence Day!  
Michael and I celebrated by going down to the beach in front of Calvary Lutheran Church and joining Leslie, Chelsea, Sione, Selena, and Lily to watch the firework display going on in Hawaii Kai.  Leslie brought hot dogs, potato salad, chips and wine.  A very relaxing and fun evening.

 

Day Four - Hawaii

Another beautiful day.  Michael and I went to Kuhio Beach again today. Michael went surfing while I read and people watched from the comfort of my beach chair.  Several people were staking out their sites to view tomorrow's 4th of July fireworks.  It was beginning to look like a tent city - reminded me of  regatta days when Michael used to coach high school crew.

Day Three - Hawaii

Queen Kapiolani Garden

Michael and I walked around Diamond Head (about 4.5 miles) this morning and made a quick stop at the Queen Kapiolani Garden on Monsarrat Ave. I wish we lived within walking distance of Diamond Head as it would be a great way to start a day and it seems like the walk would keep you in fairly good shape.  Then we headed to Loews to purchase a chain saw - a good idea that later led to a big pile of branches and brush we are unsure what to do with.  I finally got some mac salad and a teriburger from Zippy's - really ono. :)   
We got in a few hours of beach time this 
afternoon and we stopped at the Aina Haina 
Library on the way home to so I could pick 
up some reading material for the beach.  
(4 paperbacks for $2).   Busy day...

And the pile gets larger

Diamond Head