Paradise

Aloha from Kimo & Kalina !! As many of you may remember, Jaime (Kimo) and I (Kalina) had plans to spend our 25^th anniversary (April 2010) in Hawaii, but had to postpone our trip due to Jaime's illness. Well, what a difference a year makes !!! So, on Saturday the 23^rd, our journey began.

Day 1 in Paradise:

Our first day dawned beautiful and sunny here in Oregon. We couldn't have asked for a better send off! I have to start by telling you that this trip was full of “firsts” for both of us. To begin with, it was the largest plane I have flown on.........2 isles, 7 seats across. I have to start with our arrival on Oahu. I have never seen water come in so many shades of blue. Of course, I've seen pictures and postcards of Hawaii, but you still don't believe it....until you see it. We arrived in Oahu in the early afternoon and immediately headed for the condo at Ko Olina. Knowing we would probably be wiped out after our 5 hour flight, we purposely did not plan anything for our first day. So once we checked in, we spent the remainder of the afternoon relaxing. We did, however, go down to the beach to witness a beautiful sunset. 

Day 2 in Paradise

The next day we headed to Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial. This was one of the main reasons we wanted to spend part of our trip on Oahu. And we were not disappointed. The “tour” began with a 20 minute film about the circumstances surrounding the attack, as well as footage of the attack and the aftermath. Having set the tone, we then were loaded onto a boat for a short ride out to the memorial site.

There is actually not a lot to the memorial itself. It is simply nothing more than a long, open walkway where at the end is a large marble wall that lists the names of all those that perished that day.

However, I cannot begin to explain the feelings it evoked in us as we walked across, and looked down upon that burial ground. It is very true, what they say....you can actually see an oil sheen on the surface from fuel that still seeps from the ship. Here's what Jaime posted on his facebook profile: “Yeah was not prepared for the emotion that overwhelmed me there. I was sad to see so many that saw it only as a tourist stop and not what it truly is. At least everyone was reverent in their speech (volume wise). I saw a name on the memorial, J.R. Hall. Just sharing two initials with one of those heroes all of a sudden made it very personal and very meaningful. Hard to explain...” Like Jaime, I was truly saddened that many people saw it as a photo opp. Especially people younger than us. For us though, it was an incredibly moving experience. One that will certainly leave a lasting impression.

Then, to pick up the mood, we headed to the North Shore for our surfing lesson ! Yes, I said surfing lesson. We had a little time to kill so we had lunch and then decided to indulge in some famous hawaiian shaved ice – yummmm.

When we were planning our excursions, trying to find a surfing lesson, I came across the North Shore Surf Girls. And it was the perfect choice. Unfortunately, Jaime has a bum shoulder and had to throw in the towel after just one wave.....paddling back out was just too painful. I, however, was able to stay out (barely) and catch 3 or 4 waves!!! Oh what a blast =) I have to tell you though, I couldn't believe how shallow it was out there. For most of the time, our instructors could actually stand up. And we could see the bottom!!

OMG! Absolutely incredible, especially for us who grew up on the gulf coast. And the neatest part – we can say we actually caught some waves on the North Shore !!!

Day 3 in Paradise

This was, by far, our busiest day of the trip. Our first stop was Waikiki to do a little shopping at the International Market. The best part --- lunch at Puka Dog. 

OMG....definitely a must do on our culinary list. This was also the day we got the most rain (or showers as we like to call them in Oregon). But as I posted on facebook..........a rainy day in Waikiki, still a good day !!

We then headed back through the central part of the island (toward the North Shore) and stopped at the Dole Plantation for a tasty treat – pineapple soft-service ice cream with pineapple (for me) and coconut (for Jaime) topping. 

Again.........yummy :-) We did spend a few minutes and walk through the grounds for a look at some of the many pineapple varieties they have from all over the world. 

The most fascinating part – a stop at the koi pond. Seriously. 

They have fish food that you can purchase and feed to the fish. And they are so accustomed to being fed that all you have to do is step up to the railing and they will congregate at your feet. It was actually kind of creepy, like something out of a horror movie.

We then continued north, again through North Shore, Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach. I thought Jaime was gonna wet his britches when he realized we were driving through these places, places that he had read about in surf magazines as a kid. And it was beautiful. This was all our on way to our next stop – the LDS temple. 

We only stopped long enough to take a few pictures and yet it was enough time to appreciate its beauty. Later that evening, as we drove back to our condo, we got a glimpse of it all lit up. It is truly beautiful. On a side note, that only members of our church will appreciate.....as we left the temple, we noticed a house directly across from the temple grounds that had a name placard that read “Monsons”. What are the chances ???

Our final destination that day was the Polynesian Culture Center. Unfortunately we didn't arrive until about 3 pm, so we didn't have much time to visit all the different villages. 

But what we did visit was very entertaining. Our tickets included dinner – which was awesome – and the show, “Ha, Breath of Life”. And they definitely saved the best for last. The show was simply amazing. It was full of dancing and singing – what could be better --- a Polynesian musical !! But it truly was an amazing production....so beautiful. We were treated to a taste of all the different polynesian cultures, both in dance and dress. All while they weaved an incredible story. Truly the high point of our evening.

Day 4 in Paradise

This was a travel day for us as we moved from Oahu to Maui. Our flight was right in the middle of the day, so again, we didn't plan any activities. Upon landing, we were treated to a water dance of sorts. As we came in for our landing, we got a glimpse at Ho'okipa Beach, a favorite for windsurfers and kitesurfers. And the beach was super busy that day. Once we were settled into our condo, we spent a little time to get a bite to eat and get a feel for the lay of the land. Then, we picked a spot on the beach and settled in for another beautiful sunset. We finished our evening with a Hawaiian shaved ice at the local marketplace on South Kihei Rd. Don't know if I could ever get enough shaved ice :-)

Day 5 in Paradise

The day dawned beautiful and sunny, but what else would you expect in paradise, right? With free time on our hands, we headed to the beach again. We took advantage of the warm weather and headed straight for the water. Still, amazed at how clear it was. After our swim, we found a spot on the sand to let our swimsuits air dry. This, however, came with a sand storm of sorts ! We really got a taste for how windy Maui is.

Our next voyage was around the west side of the island to Lahaina for our anniversary luau. It was during this drive around the edge of the island that I really got a sense that we were truly on an island. What a great time we had that night!! First of all, the food was amazing....best buffet I've ever eaten at.

The mahi mahi was to die for....but I digress..... This is the traditional turning of the pig. It's a whole ceremonial thing.

Our next treat was an extraordinary sunset. 

We were then treated to a good show, and a fun host. 

Jaime really got a kick out of him cuz he was very Don Ho like. Bottom line – what a great anniversary celebration !!

Day 6 in Paradise

This had to be the funnest day....We headed into the mountains of Wailuku for a zipline tour. 

For those that aren't familiar with this, it's a series of cables strung along the side of the mountain that you literally hang from and zip down. This was a series of 8 cables, 2.5 miles of cables in total. 

The last in the series is the 3^rd longest in the world. 

And the view............no words are adequate. You could literally see across the neck of the island, from harbor to harbor. 

And, of all the choices for zipline tours, we definitely made the right choice. 

Not only were they a lot of fun, they made it more personable by learning all 13 of our names, they were so knowledgeable on the island's flora and fauna, and they included an “eco” element by providing the opportunity to water some of the “endangered” plants they had planted in hopes of helping to remove them from the endangered list. Truly a phenomenal experience.

Once we were down from the mountain, we headed to Ho'okipa Beach to try and get an up close look at the windsurfers and kitesurfers. And we learned that it was just as impressive up close. It had been a long day already, so we didn't last long at the beach. Our next stop was a late lunch in Pa'ia. After eating what Jaime claimed were the best fish tacos he's ever had, we headed back to the condo. Our next meal – dessert at Ono Gelato. Yummmmm And boy, did I sleep good that night having been sufficiently worn out.

Day 7 in Paradise

Our last full day on the island.......... We had a few more gifts to pick up, so we headed to the Marketplace and I couldn't resist another shaved ice treat. Seriously. With time to spare, we made our way to the Ma'alaea Harbor to catch a charter in order to do some snorkeling. 

Again, we made the perfect choice for this excursion. We left at about 1:30 pm with only 13 people on our tour, when we arrived at Molokini Islet, there was only 1 other charter boat anchored. (the early tour left at 7:30 – yes, that's a.m.--- they had over 100 people on board, and 30+ boats anchored at Molokini). Again, a perfect choice. 

However, all this paled in comparison to our snorkeling experience.....the first time Jaime and I have snorkeled.

Here's what Jaime posted on facebook: “Spent the afternoon snorkeling at Molokini crater. It was almost a spiritual experience. The fish (all very colorful) would swim right up to you. The water was crystal clear...all the way to the bottom. Wow...” It was truly amazng.... Molokini is basically a bird sanctuary and nature preserve. There are rules against touching anything/everything. This became a little challenging because, as Jaime said, the fish would literally swim right up to you. Still can't believe how crystal clear the water was, yet so blue from the surface. 

After almost an hour in the water, Jaime and I were shocked to realize we were the last ones left in the water !!! Sadly, as the boat began to move away from the island, we saw our one & only sea turtle in the water.....almost as if he realized we were leaving and it was now safe to come out!!! On our hour commute back to the harbor, we were served a delicious bbq lunch and then simply relaxed on the top deck, taking in the sunny day. When we left the island, the crew set up about 4 fishing poles across the back of the boat, and surprisingly enough, they snagged a fish!!! Huge fish !!! I mentioned to Jaime that I almost wish we had snorkeled earlier in the week, but at the same time I was afraid that had we done that, we wouldn't have wanted to do anything else the remainder of the week !!!

So, how did we finish this day? Well, we had to see one last sunset on the beach, and then our last meal --- dessert at Ono Gelato!!!

Day 8 in Paradise

Our flight didn't leave until 1:15, so we had a laid back morning....our biggest decisions were “where” and “when” to eat. And we were again treated to another beautiful day in paradise. We were so fortunate throughout our entire trip to enjoy absolutely perfect weather. Very little rain, and when it got really (ok, relatively) hot, we could count on the winds for a perfect breeze to cool things off. We couldn't have asked for a better trip --- it was perfect.

And we apparently brought the sunshine back with us....our first day back was beautiful and warm. I hear the rain is back tomorrow.

So....here's what we learned: GPS has a problem with Hawaiian pronunciations. Our girls can actually survive on their own – and not starve !! It truly is a small world....at the luau, we sat across from a lady from Clackamas and another from Happy Valley! Then on our zipline tour, we visited with a couple that, not only were from Bend, OR, but the husband grew up in Bellaire , TX.....what are the chances ??? You can make a reggae version of just about any song. The residents are all happy and friendly. It would seem the kids are allowed to wear their swim trunks to school. Almost everybody looks better with a tan.

Did we enjoy our trip, you ask? Well, let's just say jaime is shopping for a condo on Maui while listening to an island station......

4th of July

It was a great weekend !!!

For my family birthday meal, I chose breakfast. And we actually had Justine (and her boyfriend), Kayleigh and Chris with us! (Darci is in Texas with my mom and grandma, for the summer.)

We tried a restaurant that Justine had heard of through some facebook friends. It's called Slappy Cakes and their "claim to fame" is a griddle built into every table top. You buy the pancake batter and add-ins, and you cook your own pancakes - right at your table.

The really funny thing - Chris doesn't like pancakes !!!! Luckily, they have other options.....

It's a very popular place...we had to wait about 45 mins for a table. But it was well worth it.

As for the rest of the weekend.........it was great!!! After church on Sunday, we went to Kayleigh and Chris' for a bbq. We gave them a new bbq grill FOR CHRISTMAS !!! And I felt kinda bad, cuz we spent the first 2 1/2 hours watching Chris put it together ! But we were rewarded with an awesome tri-tip dinner.

Then Monday, I played hookie - with my bosses !!! Scott's family lives in eastern Washington (Mattawa), so we drove up that morning to his brother's orchard for a tour. He raises cherries and apples, and while we toured....we ate....too...many.....cherries !!!

(This is "Stonehenge", right across the river in Washington.)

I left my heart, in San Francisco

As mentioned in a previous post, we had plans to visit Hawaii for our 25th anniversary. And as plans sometimes do, ours changed when Jaime got hepatitis.Once he was back to work full-time, providence came knocking in the form of a business trip to San Fran. So we seized the opportunity to create a mini-vacation………..consolation.

Jaime flew down on Monday, and had training from Tuesday through Thursday. I joined him Thursday evening. What followed was three fantastic days, not for the faint of feet. We purchased a 3 day pass on the Muni (which includes various modes of transportation) and we were off and running. We stayed in Oakland, so each day began with a commute across the bay on BART. Friday, we were in complete tourist mode as we braved the waters of Fisherman’s Wharf (Pier 39) where we picked up several unique Christmas gifts. Then we were called to Ghirardelli Square… And you guessed it….an ice cream sundae for lunch!!! This concluded our first day, so we headed to the hotel to rest up for the next leg.

Day two dawns…. Again, armed with our Muni pass, we felt it our duty to get our money’s worth, and try every mode of transportation the pass had to offer. Our first stop was back to Fisherman’s Wharf to purchase new jackets (to combat the gale force winds). Now, armed & dangerous, our first stop was Coit Tower. We were immediately rewarded with some fantastic views of the city, the bridges, and Alcatraz Island. We then paid the $5 elevator toll, and were further rewarded. Along with more shots of the city, the bridges, and Alcatraz Island, Jaime took several shots of the neighborhoods below. They really seemed to appeal to him and I think it might have been due to the lack of yards (no maintenance required). I also realized, as we took shot after shot of the various views, for us it’s become all about the view….no matter where we are. I can only determine that our appreciation comes from living in such a flat area for so long.
Well, the adventure had only begun. You can't go to San Fran without seeing Lombard street. The funny part, it's only about a block long!! As we walked down hill, trying to get a good pic, we had a great view of those driving the distance. And each of them sported a huge smile and they slowly drove the short block!
We then headed off to see the famous “painted ladies” (think Mrs. Doubtfire, and that Bob Saget show…). We spent several hours making our way across town, up hills (at which point I promised to reflect on our time here before complaining about any of the hills in Portland), on and off buses, to finally reach them.As I pointed out to Jaime the fact that we had spent several hours in our pursuit, he corrected me by saying, “we spent several hours exploring this city”. And then he reminded me that with him, “it’s as much about the journey as the destination.”

Our next stop….The Stinking Rose for dinner. But not before we passed through Chinatown and Little Italy. Of which I can only remark about the smell and the truly odd things that they put in bags and sell. With full bellies, we headed back across the bay to rest up for the last leg. Thinking our day was through, until we realized Jaime had left his backpack in the restaurant……..so off we went to retrieve it. I can only say that at this point, we felt we were becoming seasoned travelers through the city. But boy did my feet hate me when we finally got back to the hotel. Thankfully, I had chocolate waiting….

All good things must end….. we ended our trip with a beautiful drive. Our first stop was the Oakland temple. What a great way to start our last day, and a Sunday to boot !! Then it was off to Berkeley, where we got a glimpse at the houses that Jaime’s dad grew up in. And if you go to San Fran, you have to go across the bridges. So from Berkeley we headed through Sausalito, across the Golden Gate Bridge. Then through downtown and across the Bay Bridge. We decided to take a detour to Treasure Island, which is very interesting…. Then we were back where we started – Oakland. Our last stop was Jack London Square for lunch and a little Ben & Jerry’s!!!

So, it was a great week / weekend, with fabulous weather. And we’re already trying to plan our next visit…..

Kittens, Kittens, Everywhere !!!

Well, as kittens tend to do, they are growing by leaps and bounds. In fact, when they were about a week old, I told Jaime I thought they had doubled in size in just one day !!

They’re about 8 weeks old, which means cat food and litter boxes. Until now, we’ve tried to confine them to one room; that ended a few weeks ago. They have been liberated !!! And Shelby (our 100 lb aussie / lab mix) is not too sure what to think.

In addition to the kittens (who remain temporary residents), we have added another dog to our collection of animals. A few months ago, Justine found a small dog wondering near a busy street close to our house. Surely I don’t need to tell you the rest of the story….. She’s been named Lucy.

I’m still trying to get Justine to take her to the vet so we can see if she has a micro chip, and ultimately return her to her first home. Until then, we won’t be able to determine how old she is, though she undoubtedly is still a pup. And until recently, a very well behaved one. Apparently she has decided the proper amount of time has passed, and she can now make herself at home. The problem…she usually picks our bedroom floor.

Our one solace is the promise that the girls will be taking said animals with them when they finally chose a place of their own. Until then, we will continue to build our ark…

Kittens !!!

Last week, I suddenly found myself pulling kitty midwife duty....

I came home at lunch and discovered our kitty was in labor. She kept meowing rather loudly at me trying to get me to follow her. Once I did, I discovered she wanted to have her kittens in the clothes hamper. So I was forced to put her birthing box on top of the hamper, and it took some time to convince her it was better than the hamper.

Once we agreed on the birthing center, I was stuck.... If I even started to act like I was going to leave, she let me know of her disapproval.

After a few short hours of trying to find a comfortable position, she finally began the actual "birth" part. The first one took longer than I thought it probably should, so ran her to the vet as a precaution. While there, they graciously suggested an xray, so I'd know how many to expect.

I was somewhat shocked to discover we had a total of 4 on the way.

So, after successfully birthing the 2nd one, they sent us on our way. She did really good until the last one, then I had to help it along and play surrogate mother to get it breathing. I still wasn't convinced the last one would make it, cuz it just kinda laid there.......it wasn't the least bit interested in nursing or anything. Thankfully, by the end of the night, it was moving around and nursing with the rest of it's litter mates, and you couldn't even tell which one it was.

Belknap has turned out to be a great mommy, which is good since she's so young. She is very attentive, and really likes to snuggle up with them. Once we got her and the kittens moved into a bedroom, she doesn't like them being out of it, for any length of time. I took them all out today so that I could change the bedding, and she waisted no time at all trying to carry them back to the bedroom !! I had to hurry and carry them all back, and once there, she snuggled right in again!