pictures next time

I tried to add pictures, but it didn't work. Maybe I need to change the format? someone can let me know and I will try again. Anyway, happy beginning of the Christmas Season! Love you all!

Happy Thanksgiving

Okay, so we didn't get to have the traditional Thanksgiving with friends and family. We had to settle for snorkeling at Captain Cook's monument and having grilled burgers on the boat. This was the most unusual Thanksgiving ever, but we are indeed thankful for sooooo many things. Thanks for being you and for all you mean to us. We are also grateful that we live in a beautiful place that you all want to visit!!! Lucky we don't live in North Dakota!

Halloween in Laie

Here are scenes from Halloween. Sunset Beach Elementary had a big Halloween costume parade. Aren't they cute? On Moana St., we may have had the biggest Halloween we have ever had. We're guessing that about 1,000 Trick or Treaters came to our house. We gave out about 800 pieces of candy and ran out by 8:00 p.m. when it was still going strong. We think maybe it was because kids from some areas like Sunset Beach and Kaaawa descended on Laie, since it was the only game in town on Saturday night. The rest of the island probably Trick or Treated on Sunday night. It was crazy, but fun.
By the way, we're showing three pictures of our pumpkin. Bonnie wanted me to carve a beautiful tree branch with small holes for leaves. Instead, I carved the whole tree, which let in too much light and showed all of the Christmas tree lights that were inside the pumpkin. So, I tried it again by carving a tree branch on the side of the same pumpkin. We thought it looked pretty weird, but lots of people complemented us on our great, intricate art work.

Dad the Model

One of Dad's students talked him into being a model for his photography class. He was gone for EVER! The students then had their photos on display in the lobby of the auditorium, just in time for the big Ohana meeting for all the faculty at the beginning of the year. The student titled this "Justice and Mercy". If you ask me, it's waaayyy more justice than mercy! What do you think?

Bike Path Groundbreaking

Bonnie and I rode out bikes to Gunstock Ranch on Saturday to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for a new bike path that will run from Laie to Kahuku. It is the first small step in what is called "Envision Laie", a plan to increase the size of BYU-Hawaii and the Polynesian Cultural Center. It was fun and funky: local Hawaiian style. Since we are an LDS community,
the only thing that was missing was the ti leaves and water.

Aloha Oe

It's hard to believe, but Allison has gone off to BYU. It seems like only yesterday that she was our cute little princess, our "royalty spoilty", who was constantly doted over by her brothers and sisters. Then they all left and she has basically been an only child at home for the last eight years. Bonnie and I are now empty nesters, and Allison is off to new adventures. She has looked forward to this for a long time. We pray that all will go well.

Allison and her friend, Alayna Lesuma, just before we left for the airport.

Allison's new Hawaiian quilt, a labor of love from Bonnie, with a little help from Dad and Allison.

Hike to Laie Summit

Friday was a state holiday in Hawaii, so we went on a hike to Laie Summit. We have lived in Laie for ten years, but Bonnie and Allison have never hiked to the summit, and I had only hiked there once. I thought it would be a great most-of-the-day, discover something new, feeling of accomplishment type of hike. Besides, as you can see from these pictures, it was a gorgeous day in Hawaii. In this first picture, Bonnie and Allison are picking strawberry guavas.

This is the "Hills Are Alive" part of the Laie Falls hike. There is always a breeze and a great view of both the mountains, the ocean and Laie. Somehow it reminds us of the scene in the Sound of Music where Julie Andrews bursts out into "The Hills Are Alive With the Sound of Music"

A brief rest at the pine forest.





Trail through the jungle.



Bonnie in the lush rainforest.

Big mushroom under a mossy log.

The trail was a little muddy. Bonnie enjoying a rest at the summit.

View toward Kaena Point, the farthest point north and west on Oahu.

On the trail just below the summit.

St Allison's stuck in the mud.

Panoramic view of Laie

Beautiful mountain flowers

We took a little detour to Laie Falls on the way down.

Aaaah, this feels good!!!!

It was a great hike. When we finished, we went home, took a shower, then went to Turtle Bay Resort, where we watched a presentation by a chef, relaxed in hammocks, then ate a wonderful dinner at Ola while listening to Hawaiian music and watching the sunset. Hawaii can be tough, but somebody has to live here.

Hau'ula Loop Trail Hike

Last Wednesday, Allison and I hiked the Hau'ula Loop Trail, one of our family's favorite short hikes. Here are some pictures from the hike. This first picture is in the middle of the deep, dark forest part of the trail.


Beautiful trees in the deep, dark forest.

This is one of the few places on the Hau'ula Loop trail that opens up and gives a view. Most of the trail is in the woods, with a somewhat mysterious feel.

Tree roots like these are typical on Hawaii mountain trails.

Thickets of trees are common on the way down the trail. When they are in season, this would be a great place to pick orange lilikoi (passion fruit). Unfortunately, we didn't see any on this day.

Lennie near the beginning of the hike by a grove of Norfolk Pines.

Allison at the entrance of the hike.

Drive Down Highway 1

Some colorful characters at Santa Barbara's waterfront.
Santa Barbara's Mission Cathedral
Beautiful scene on the Big Sur

Hearst's Castle
Elephant Seal. This was perhaps the nicest surprise of the day. This beach was full of elephant seals who entertained us for about an hour.

Two lovebirds on the Big Sur.
Two younger lovebirds on the Big Sur.


These pictures are pretty much in reverse order. After going to Cat and Boo's church, we spent a sunny Sunday driving down Highway 1: the Pacific Coast Highway, one of the most famous and beautiful drives in the country. Highlights were the Big Sur country, the elephant seals, a quick glimpse of Hearst's Castle and Santa Barbara. I'll see if I can upload a video of the elephant seals. They are really interesting animals. Apparently, they only migrate to this particular beach, at least in California.

Scenes from Monterey

` Here are scenes from our two-day visit to Monterey to see our niece, Catherine (Cat), her husband, Boo, and their daughter, Hajin.
One of the highlights of our trip to Monterey was riding our bikes on the 17-mile road around the Monterey Peninsula, something we did on our honeymoon 34 years ago. Here are scenes from Pebble Beach Golf Club, one of the meccas of golf.


The above picture, plus the next three, are from Point Lobos State Reserve, south of Carmel: a breathtaking area that Cat introduced us to.



Has Cat sprouted a new head? Oh, I think that's Hajin.
Sea Lions hanging around the Fisherman's Wharf area in Monterey.