Visit to Hawaii, Volume 8

On Tuesday we drove to the Pali Lookout. At this spot there is an opening in the Koolau Mountain Range. As a result, winds come whistling through the gap at amazing speeds! There are stories, which I ALMOST believe, of people trying to commit suicide by jumping from the cliffs but being blown back to safety by the winds. The view from the Pali is beautiful. My pictures do not come close to doing it justice.



Below you will see what is dubbed "the most difficult golf course in the world".

This plaque identifies the location of the Battle of the Nu'uanu Pali. "It was here in 1795 that King Kamehameha and his warriors defeated the O'ahu armies by sending them over these steep, forested cliffs and claiming his victory and uniting the Hawaiian Islands." (I borrowed the last sentence from an historical website.)

This photo shows Kaneohe Bay and much of the Windward side of the island.

Visit to Hawaii, Volume 7 (Always wear a Wildcat shirt when you are out of town!)

On Monday, Daddy and Tommy decided to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center. It is a fascinating place but I have been several times and didn't feel that I would get nearly $100 worth of enjoyment (or learning) from it. I stayed at the apartment and played with my iPad, knit a little, wrote postcards, read, and enjoyed the view. When Barbara came home from work, we went in search of a business that would prepare a framed print, that Barb was going to re-loan to Jed and Kim, for transport to Oregon with Jane when she flew to the mainland on Thursday. We pretty much struck out. One young man suggested Barbara buy the supplies to pack it herself at PWS (Pack, Wrap, and Ship). Turns out there is one of those at the Sears in Ala Moana, right across the street from the apartments. I took my iPad because I wanted to download something from iTunes that needed a wi-fi network to be successful. We decided to meet at the Apple Store and separated. My download took no time but, when I tried to call Barb to rearrange our reunion, her phone was not on. (It seems as if Tommy is more like my youngest sister than I am. She does not turn on her phone unless she needs to call someone!!! Mine is on and within reach except when I am asleep!) Turned out to be a good thing that we did not connect 'cause we might have taken a different route home.

I was wearing a Wildcat state champs shirt tht evening, as I did for most of my trip; I have three from 2010 and two from 2009! We were walking along chatting when I heard a, not very loud, voice say, "Wildcats?" Another said, "El Dorado?' - and pronounced it correctly!!!! I turned to see two men, strangers, on a bench. I asked, "Where are you from?" They answered, "El Dorado." Still amazed, my brilliant reply was, "Arkansas?" Turned out both men were clients of Goodwin Animal Hospital and knew Tom well! One of the guys works for Murphy and his wife has a popular burger joint, Lipseys; the other man had been married to Tom's accountant. I still have not recovered from the "small worldness" of this encounter!

Visit to Hawaii, Volume 6

On Sunday, the Jurkens/Davis/Johnson clan was joined by three friends of Daddy's, Pat Takahashi and Jen and Terry Williams, for brunch at the Hale Koa. Everything was yummy but I have to mention the macadamia nut pie, in particular!!!! After brunch, some of us went on to 1901 for a longer visit. John was pretty tired by the recent social activity so he and Jeffrey went home. Mr. Takahashi did not join us either. I was able to get cute pictures of:

Jane,

Jeffrey - he did come upstairs long enough to get some suitcases for Jane,

and Barbara!

While we were talking, Terry Williams noticed some whales surfacing just out from the small lanai. Tom, especially, was fascinated. Even after the company left, and daily during the rest of our visit, he would sit on the lani with the binoculars to his eyes searching for whales.

Visit to Hawaii, Volume 5

On Saturday, the four of us from 1350 (Daddy, Barb, Tom, and I) met the Davises (Jane, John, and Jeffrey) at Barbara's hotel for a wonderful brunch! Jeffrey is going to be starting a (paid) blog reviewing video games. His publication will be called THUMBS ON FIRE so I took a few pictures of him looking as if he is in pain and astounded by the fact that his thumbs are flaming. A friend will add the flames through the magic of technology. This one is my favorite of the ones I took.

After brunch, all of us went to visit Mom's niche at Punchbowl. Usually, when the family gathers here, they call me but this time they didn't have to!

On Saturday afternoon, Daddy, Jeffrey, Tom, and I went to a play, I HATE HAMLET, at the Diamond Head Theatre. We enjoyed the production and our time together.

Visit to Hawaii, Volume 4

For many years my parents had a tradition, one that my daddy carries on to this day, of meeting with Jane for lunch on Fridays and then having puu puus for TGIF with Barbara in the evening. We picked Jane up at her office and went to one of their very favorite places for some great Italian. Jane, as always, knew everyone in the place! Barbara eats lunch (for free) at her hotel, the Sheraton Waikiki, every week day so she never eats dinner. She does nibble on some cheese and crackers or chips and dip on Friday evening as she and Daddy visit and unwind. Often, I have to push back a little jealously when they talk about their Fridays together but this time I (and Tom) got to join them in their festivities!

During breakfast, I was fascinated by the window washers working on the building next door. I just cannot imagine doing this, what seems to me to be, death defying work every day! These workers are swinging through the air well over thirty stories high!

Visit to Hawaii, Volume 3, Chapter 2

Somehow, I got very confused and wrote two entries for Thursday. Since I added some new info the second time, I will keep them both!

Thursday, February 10 was a designated as the golf day for our visit. Daddy and Tommy left fairly early for their tee time out at Hickam. I played on my iPad, wrote postcards, and waited for Barbara's various appointments ( sofa cleaning, new drapes, and bathtub refinishers) to show. None of them did so she called everyone, gave them a piece of her mind, and rescheduled! Then she and I left for Ward Warehouse, our traditional shopping heaven! We had a really good time and I got lots of souvenirs bought!

Daddy and Tom did not have as much fun on the golf course as we did shopping. Both of them were having an off game and then Daddy managed to injure his left hand. He had new grips on his clubs and, while swinging, he hit the ground before he hit the ball. The grip tore a huge hole in his palm. Luckily, they were playing with a third year medical student, who was just finishing an OB/GYN rotation in Hawaii. He had decided to play golf on his last afternoon in the islands before heading home to New Jersey. Between the vet and the doctor-to-be, the bleeding was stopped and the hand was wrapped. (This medical student is a West Point graduate; Tommy and Grandpa had been very impressed with him, even before he had to put his first aid training to use!) I avoided Daddy's bandaged hand in this picture of him in his back-to-back state champs shirt!

Visit to Hawaii, Volume 3

Thursday, February 10, was kind of a lazy day for me. Tom and Daddy went to play golf and I stayed at the apartment. I decided to take a few location shots.

View from the small lanai.

This is the pool that my mother was in every morning by six a. m. It is the perfect place for private aquasize. I followed her excellent example several mornings but then the pool was closed for annual cleaning.

Barbara took Thursday off. She had appointments with several service providers, who all let her down. She and I spent the afternoon at Ward Warehouse, our favorite place to shop. We had such a good time and I got a lot done souvenir-wise!

Early on, Thursday night had been designated as a PIZZA NIGHT with the Davis family. Barbara drove us out to Hawaii Kai; it is hard for me, sometimes, to remember that Jane lives a half hour or more away from Dad and Barb. I picture them together all the time having fun together without me. We had lots of fun conversation and many laughs. John had had a few bad days and was not up to joining us though.