Hiking and learning...

Our latest adventure took us to the westernmost tip of Oahu. This is somewhere I had never been since I lived here. I had been close to this area for various school camping trips, but, had never actually gone into Kaena Point State Park. The unique thing about this park/reserve is that it's the only part of the island that does not have a road on/through it. It's the area that keeps anyone from being able to drive completely around the island. Renee and I met up with a small group of people to hike this area as part of a Native Plant hike/tour with a well known native plant expert and nursery owner. It was a good learning trip for me, and fun for both of us to be out there. Gorgeous weather, despite the fact that this is the hottest, driest and windiest spot on the island. Then we drove back along the north shore for some more fun... and of course had to stop at Matsumoto's for some delicious shaved ice!

Enjoy the couple of pics, the last one was from atop an old tower/bunker looking back. The north shore is to the left and the south/west shore is to the right. This site gives a little more info and photos http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23990/Our-Hike-Along-Kaena-Point-Trail-and-Nature-Reserve-Park-at-Sunset-Waianae-18

Lily and fun...

Thought I'd post a few pics from the last couple of weeks. We've had a lot of fun with friends and family in town recently for Lily's baptism. Also, my friends Jake and Wes from high school were both in town with their girlfriends so we hung out with them several times and had a great time. I don't have any of their pics yet, but hopefully sometime soon. Below are pics of us with Lily, a photo from the baptism, us at the Pali Lookout, a shot of us at the ASLA awards from the other night, and a shot of me with my boss Lester at the Hawaii Chapter ASLA awards. He actually took home a merit award for a recent project he designed. It was a neat water feature designed outside of a new performing arts building at the all girls school in Honolulu, Sacred Hearts Academy. I actually found a short video of it, it was still under construction around there, but you get the idea http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh_FCjj2eD8

Until next time...

Been a while...

Well as the title says, it's been a while since I posted any updates... but frankly that's because we really don't have a whole lot going on these days! Over the last few weeks it's pretty much just been work, eat, sleep, relax/do nothing. Which isn't bad from time to time, but we would like a little variety in our days. Actually last weekend, Renee and I became a two person cleaning crew and attacked mom and dad's house (with their help) and went through closets, shelves, boxes etc. and tried to help them declutter the house a bit (which also involved removing some of our boxes that are still there). We cleaned out/threw away about two to three pickup truck loads of stuff to the dump... unreal! It was two full days of cleaning/throwing away etc but it was very productive. My aunt and nana are coming out next week for Lily's baptism, so that has given extra motivation to clean house... it will be great to see them again!

Last night, my boss Lester and his wife Carolyn took me and Renee to the final concert of the summer at the Waikiki Aquarium. It was a sold out show and took place at the aquarium in an amphitheater/lawn area that was actually designed by Lester several years ago. The photos (and 1 video) are from the show... the entertainer was Willie K who is very big here, and has won numerous Hawaiian music awards. He also was telling the audience about his recent month long tour through Europe with another band, and that he was doing that to try and spread Hawaiian music to that part of the world. A really great show, he was a lot of fun and an amazing voice. Enjoy!