KALIKIMAKA

What is Christmastime like here in Hawaii ?????..lots of decorations, events, parades, and Christmas Trees...in fact it is very Merry...very few Happy Holidays...mostly Merry Christmas everywhere!
The pics below were taken a week ago in Waikiki.

A few days ago we were snorkeling in Hanauma Bay...we were not disappointed...lots of fish...the bay was created when a volcano exploded and formed a protected bay with volcanic rock which hosted the formation of coral.  They say Obama likes to come here with his fam on Tuesdays when the Bay is closed to the public.

Also check out the birds...White Egret, Red Crested Cardinal (my hand), and finally a bird I took a shot of under a bridge...then saw the same bird on a tiled mosaic in town...Aku'u.

Enjoy the Christmas season and until the next post...Mele Kalikimaka

Kathy and Dennis

Kathy on old lava flow..preparing to jump ??????

Sorry sideways

MAHALO

MAHALO...means Thank You in the Hawaiian Language...the Hawaiian people so far are very gentle,polite, and grateful...they seem to appreciate the beauty that surrounds them and are anxious to share it.

So we thought being being thankful and MAHALO would be a good theme for this weeks BLOG.

We went to Thanksgiving Mass yesterday morning at St. Anthony of Padua here in Kailua...we were greeted with Conch shell blowing to welcome parishioners. The church was full BTW. The three priests and several Deacons all wore tradition Leis and the Hymns were in the native Hawaiin Language...at the offertory 10 traditional ancient gifts were explained and brought up onto the altar including Breadfruit, Taro Plant, Medicinal Berries, Water, Rock etc...all part of survival and life on the Island...and elderly man sand a chant and did a ritualistic dance thanking God....it was awesome....MAHALO.

We hiked in a regional Botanical Garden that looked like a scene from Jurassic Park...in fact as my picture reveals...I assure I saw and heard a T-Rex in the nearby woods...we escaped safely...MAHALO

Walked in a local Bar to watch the Pats game Monday nite (we have no cable yet)...a women who entered a little later with a same group sat down next to me...here is how it went...

Me... Hey hope you're  Pats Fan

Her...Yup, I'm from Boston

Me...Me too where about

Her...Quincy

Me...Me too what neighborhood

Her...Germantown...

Me...Me too what street

Her name is Karen Halliday and she grew up a stones throw from me at 28 Sextant Circle and graduated from Quincy High in 1964...what are the chances????   MAHALO


Nine days of rain here...sunny today...off to take a swim...MAHALO

Pictures...

...are worth more than a thousand words here in Hawaii....So we made a friend...Pulo our 7yo neighbor, asked us to be his friend...and he has a pet chicken (feral) that he adopted after its mother dies...he takes it for swings in the backyard and on bike rides...her name is Ikama...

Kailua is know for kite surfing with the strong windward breezes...check it out

The chickens room everywhere...this flock at a Foodmart Parking Lot

Hey leaf rakers ...how would you like to have to rake these???

Aloha

Chickens and Kites

Well we are settling into Hawaiian Life...eating Mangos and Papaya with breakfast...becoming more mellow MAN...I know that is hard to believe...we New Englanders aren't uptight...are we???

I started work in Waikiki and a place with no consonants...Aiea...AHH-AAA-AHHH

Saw a numbers of patients in Waikiki from other countries...Australia,Ireland, Japan, and the Philippines...same problem...we forgot to take our pills with us on vacation...no problem for Americans..but I had to figure out the names, equivalents etc to Rx them and appropriate substitute...I guess I am not in Kansas anymore!

Got our Hawaiian license plates, our library cards...and a new apartment with 2 bedrooms and two bathrooms...yes there is room for you...

But we are still frugal New Englanders at heart...we are shopping for furniture at Goodwill and Salvation Army stores here in Kailua.  We were looking for a furnished apartment initially but they are few and far between and way more $$$$.

Now chickens and kites...as soon as Ryan reminds me how to add photos...I will post a few pictures and it will make sense....until then...Mahalo and Aloha

Initial Impressions

AFTER 5 DAYS IN HAWAII WE HAVE SOME INITIAL IMPRESSIONS;

Green green green..they have had a fair amount of rain  over the past several months an all the rugged jagged, beautiful mountains are emerald green

The beaches go on and on very little development outside of Honolulu..access is free and the ocean is awesome...warm and beautiful...but can be rough

People..laid back and pleasant...Caucasions, Native Islanders, Asians (lots of Japanese) all seem to be polite, and cooperative, getting along nicely.

Kona coffee rocks...smooth and rich

Chickens are ferel so you will here roosters in the AM and chickens walking around like pigeons...cool

Awesome farmers markets fruits from Asia, South America, ever heard of Dragon Fruit?

I will post some pics if I can (still learning to blog)

Seattle is Cool

Having a great time in the City go Chief Seattle...great to see MK and Megan.  The weather is well...Seattle-like...cloudy, light rain and then sunny.  Had lunch at the revolving restaurant at the space needle...AWESOME.  We did a couple tours of the city ...one by Land and one by Sea.  Interesting, there are square blue flags with the number 12 flying all over the place...it represents the fans, or twelfth player for the Seattle Seahawks...I have been having fun showing off my new DD Patriots coffee mug...and have added..."aren't you people so nice out here...flying flags with Tom Brady's number all around the city...what good sportsmanship!!!"  Fortunately we get out of town and head west early tomorrow AM !!!!  Sainte

Test

Test blog...getting ready for Seattle.

Slainte