In Hawaii for the last 5 months

After spending a couple of months in California earlier this year, we came back to Hawaii on May 5th 2010.  Jeannie's friend Shelley gave us a welcome home party at her house and invited all of their friends.  Shelley and Ed made an incredible dinner for all of us to enjoy.  Ed was a great chef preparing the best opakapaka I've ever eaten. He also made chicken katsu and grilled shrimp with many side dishes.

We lucked out and was able to rent a cabin on the beach at Bellows AFB for a couple of nights before the Memorial weekend. It's hard to rent there because they are always full. We already reserved nights for next May. Jeannie's best friend Audrey and Weiland came one night and joined us for dinner.






Waiting for a big one



Jeannie had a nice mother's day dinner with Audrey, Weiland, her mother, her kids Del, Renn, Guy, Nicki and Jeannie's son David.  Audrey and Weiland came over again to celebrate father's day.

For Jeannie's birthday I gave her a Mexican fiesta and invited all her friends to help celebrate.  We had the works, chicken mole, beef and cheese enchiladas, rice and beans, home made tamales, salsa and guacamole and of course, Mexican beer. 

Roy gave Jeannie an official Mexican pinata and filled it with at least 10 pounds of candy.



Row1: Shelley, Jeannie
Row2:Violet, Yodi, Judy, Ken
Row3: Roy, Gary, Ed, Neil, Mike, Audrey, Brian



The Birthday Girl!



Jeannie had a Mexican birthday Flan instead of a birthday cake



Since we go fishing all the time and only catch puffer fish,  Ed decided to make Jeannie a girl puffer fish hat and since it came out so good, he also made me a boy puffer fish hat.

Ed is so talented making these hats from scratch

After Jeannie's party I took her for a few days of relaxation in Kauai.  The view from our room at the Sheraton Kauai Resort in Poipu Beach.

Went for a drive to see Waimea Canyon, which is as big as our Grand Canyon

Some stops along the way...                                                

Kalalau Lookout



This is where Taro Ko Chips are made. Jeannie was talking to the owner while he was frying up a fresh batch of chips.



Took a tour to the Fern Grotto. Now you can't walk into the grotto because it's too dangerous from falling rocks so you can only stand as close as the fenced deck area.

Then went to visit the Wet and Dry Caves across from Ha’ena Beach Park.

After our trip to Kauai, we came back to organize our first chili cook off contest.



1st place=$50 2nd place=$30 3rd place=$20 



The 3 Judges
Pam, Delle, Danny

 


The winner's
Judy and Brian won with their ox tail chili.  Jeannie won 2nd for her all
beef, no bean chili and Ken won 3rd for his all pork chili.  There were at least
10 entries in our 1st annual cook off.

 

The ocean won!  Got knocked down by a big wave on the rocks in July.  Besides the cuts taking awhile to heal, I had an infection and my knee was swollen from the fall.  Couldn't walk for a good couple of weeks.  All that's left are scars to remind me not to turn your back on the ocean.

Then in August, our good friends Rick and Laura came to visit and stayed with us for a week.  We did a lot of site seeing and of course, a lot of eating and drinking!  It was great seeing them again and we have plans to see them again in February when they are back in their Costa Rica home.



Laura and Rick at Tanaka's of Tokyo

  

Ken and Rick having a great time at Side Street Inn!


 





   Spent the day at the Polynesian Cultural Center then had dinner and watched Ha the Breath of Life show.













Our friends before heading back to the airport, we all had a great visit.

Our last event before heading back to California was spending the weekend with Jeannie's high school friends Audrey, Merilyn, and Sandy.  Sandy came over from the Big Island with her husband.  We all started the weekend off having dinner at Hula Grill in Waikiki before going to see the reunion show of Society of Seven.


Merilyn, Jeannie, Ken, Weiland, Audrey, Sandy, Derrick and Dickson having dinner at Hula Grill.



Dickson and Merilyn



Jeannie and Ken



Weiland and Audrey





Sandy and Derrick

Jeannie with Bert, her favorite member of the Society of Seven group

Then we met again the next day to complete the weekend with us having lunch before we all headed our own ways.  We are heading back to California next week and spending the holidays there.  We have trips planned for Chicago and Las Vegas in the upcoming months.  Sure will miss this warm weather!