Pi-Pineapple!

A visit to the Dole Plantation was a must for our family. This time we added the attraction of the plantation train, which gave us a 20-minute narration and music tour of the grounds. Makana enjoyed pointing out the "pi-pineapple" plants, banana trees, and various flower trees that we viewed. More exciting, however, was that she was on a TRAIN! She loves playing with her tiny set at home and looks forward to seeing one in motion (going holoholo) around our town. This time she was actually on one that looked like those in her videos and in her train set. :)

I think on our last trip home, Mary and I were discussing how pineapples have come a long way since we were children. We'd always look forward to people bringing the fruit back from Maui or Lana'i, for their versions were much sweeter than those that were harvested on O'ahu. However, it seems as though one can't go wrong with purchasing pineapples nowadays. All seem to have the sweet variety that is very enjoyable to the taste buds. :)

Did you know (yes, we learned this on the tour) that pineapples don't ripen any further after picking (as so many other fruits do)? Hence, the best time to eat it is soon after the acquisition. :) Stephie also told me that (she learned this from the Food Network) we should look for pineapples with the same size "eyes"--should be sweet/ripe. We also learned that "yellow" doesn't necessarily mean "ripe." Since I purchase this fruit quite often, I appreciate the tips. :)

Of course, a Dole whip was necessary to top off the occasion. At the end of the tour, Makana also enjoyed changing in the trunk of the car. Any time she needed a change after this instance, she requested to do so in the car. :)

'Ohana Pictures 2008

The last time we tried to take family pics with everyone there was in May 2001, and our family has since expanded. :) At that time, Dave and I were the only ones living off island (heading for the mainland from Japan). Currently, Malia's family and Johnny live off island as well. We were all able to come together for a few days in April--WOW!

Thanks to Goose (our photographer), I was placed on the short end of the parents/kids line, but it was just fine. If you look closely, we have the advantage of the hill. Yes, Johnny looks as though he is almost as tall as Leonard (6' 2"?), but be not fooled! I'm just happy that Goose didn't make others stand on blocks to make me look the shortest again. :)

I took these pics off of Lisa's Facebook pics--THANKS! :) Our batteries went dead in the midst of the shoot, so we had an incomplete set. We are just waiting for the pics with everyone in it, as only Goose has those.

Believe it or not, we were all at Kaka'ako Park by 5:05 pm (supposed to be 5:00), except for Johnny, but he was there within a fashionably late timeframe. That is a feat! Indeed, there was much courage to be mustered to attempt this picture-taking venture, for we had the odds working against us: weather, time of day, 5 children under the age of 5, Honolulu rush hour, etc. It turned out to be quite fun in the end. :) That's Johnny getting ready as he approached the site. Stephie wore the matching blouse that Malia got for us girls. She also wore jeans--what a great look on her! :)

Bellows Fun

Dave keeps dreaming about becoming the chaplain of Bellows Air Force Station in Hawai'i, where we spent most of our nights/mornings this past trip. :) He'd gladly take the house at the end of the base that is reserved for "Distinguished Visitors." So far, no one has taken him up on his gracious offer to be the chaplain there. We did make good use of our time there, as our family and friends came out to visit. Hopefully I'll get the pics of our visitors up in another blog. :)

Makana thoroughly enjoyed playing with the water that would accumulate from the morning rain on our patio. If there was no water, she'd hope for someone to rinse their feet off with the hose to create a basin of water for playing.

Makana thought the ocean was "oh, so loud and too noisy." She also got used to her feet being dirty with sand all the time and enjoyed playing on the beach. She started getting into a morning routine of feeding the birds her cheerios or other snacks. The birds were enjoying her hospitality, for she'd say, "Come on, birdies! Let's go inside the house!" They'd actually listen to her and make themselves at home (to my dismay!). One afternoon, Makana was just outside the cabin and started making a funny noise, quite unmelodic, and the birds came flocking to her! It was an eerie sight to behold.

As we walked around the base, Makana loved to ask, "Is this our house?" Most of the cabins looked identical, so she was proud of herself when she could distinguish our cabin from the others. When we first arrived we were changing out of cabins frequently, so it made sense that she started to ask that question. She also would ask in a parking lot, "Is this our car?" Our orange Dodge Avenger rental was easy to spot in most parking lots. :)

I go hiking!

Thankfully we have a daughter who loves the outdoors, especially hiking areas. It was difficult getting Makana away from the two trails we ventured onto in Tantalus and 'Aiea. She actually put up a fight when she could no longer throw rocks into the murky creek.

For the record, Johnny, Makana didn't do a "George of the Jungle crash" as she hung from the banyan tree. :)

Makana learned to do limbo from Barney. We took every opportunity to practice this fun skill. :) For Makana, it didn't take much to go under the fallen trees.

Dave loves the pic of me going off the trail with a sign that specifically states not to do so. What the picture doesn't reveal is that I was descending, and there was no sign at the top of the road less traveled. :)