Duncandoings: June 2016

ALOHA!!- Hawaii Day 7

Monday, while Mom went back to work, Maddie was game to try some rainforest hiking with me, and while we never did find the (shorter) trail we were looking for, we had a pretty hearty climb around Makeana Loop, snacking on lilikoi along the way!!

We then went over to Goat Island, which you can walk/wade/swim to from the beach, but there is so much coral and waves, that it was hard not to get a little scraped up! It was a fun and calm little island--like something out of Dr. Dolittle (or Dr. Seuss?), with most of the land roped off for birds to nest in the flat bushy growth. (No pictures, as the trek would've destroyed my non-waterproof camera!) We swam around there for a bit before going back, and getting packed up for our early flight, and then enjoying one last nice meal with Mom (shrimp curry w/ ulu at Pounders--fabulous!) before the Missionary FHE, where we heard from a young Dr. w/ Sr Missionary advice, and a dear couple that has just been called to be Temple President/Matron in New Zealand, followed by Mom leading her Ukulele group in "Aloha 'Oe" which they play for every departing missionary. We also got to meet good friends of Dad & Kathy who are serving there. So many great people, so wonderful to see Mom's mission life upclose, and so special to be with Mom and Maddie in such a beautiful, beautiful place. The aloha spirit takes the beauty of the area, and really puts it into the hearts of the people! I left feeling MUCH better about where Mom was, and SOOOO grateful for the chance we had to be there with her! She was such a fabulous hostess, to know every good spot to visit and eat, and to give up her schedule and food and car--we simply couldn't have asked for anymore!!

Even from all the flying I've done, I've never boarded a little plane with an outdoor ramp like this!

ALOHA-Hawaii Day 6

We went to Mom's ward with her on Sunday--LOVING all of the countries represented there in her married student ward. After a lovely dinner with the roommates, we enjoyed a tour of the Temple Visitor Center, (where Uncle Gene and Aunt Andrea just finished their mission!) and learned more of the history of Laie (Mom let me read a book about the history as well--so fascinating that even anciently, the city of Laie was set apart as a place of REFUGE--and the LDS Hawaiian Temple is one of the earliest temples built!!--the 5th!, completed in 1919--really special place

Hale Laa Rd: Sacred House

Laie Point

Laie Piont

ALOHA--Hawaii Day 5

Saturday morning, we attended the baptism of a sweet girl in Mom's ward (everyone celebrates with beautiful leis!!), before a giant macadamia nut pancake breakfast at Hukilau Cafe. Then we drove south again (with an otai drink on the way?) for visit to Bishop Museum, which is one of the largest collections of Hawaiian historical artifacts. It was a beautiful school that had been repurposed as a museum, and Mom and Maddie enjoyed practicing stick dancing, while I tried to figure out the mystery of tapa/kapa and poi. They even had a planetarium that we almost made ourselves sick with, watching the navigation shows (I think it is safe to say that by Saturday, we were slowing down a bit with exhaustion!) We came home in time for Ken's Fresh fish--ahhh--it was pretty amazing, and we saved half for lunch on Sunday--mmmmmm---so much good food!! Was this also the day for the acai bowl?--or Ted's bakery brunch??--we fit both in at some point!

ALOHA!!-Hawaii Day 4

Get a load of these Geckos on this sign (and all over the place!). Friday morning we got up and enjoyed the gorgeous Waimea Valley!! Mom's PCC badge seemed to get us deals everywhere, and this place was Garden-of-Eden Beautiful!! They sing these Hawaiian a capella songs as the gates open, and every view was lush. I was gone over theses giant gorgeous monkeypod trees! We walked along through these paths of paradise (complete with misting rains to bring out our ponchos), and then got to swim out to Waimea Falls in SUCH refreshing water! We spent the rest of the afternoon/evening back at the PCC, where Maddie got to be a Tahitian Dance volunteer! We had garlic shrimp out by the food trucks, and enjoyed the spectacular Night Show w/ fire, dancing, and beautiful music. I even splurged on their specialty frozen dessert (rainbow sherbet over fruit cocktail) the students sell all over the park. Mom had never tried one before, and as the worker struggled to manage his tray full of treats, and getting change, I got to pretend-live my dream of being an employee there myself and offer to hold the tray for a few minutes. :)

ALOHA--Hawaii Day 3

Mom couldn't take the whole time off we were there, so I joined her for her sunrise walk up Temple Hill before she left, and Maddie and tried snorkeling at Turtle Bay while she was at Seamstress. At first I was disappointed to not see more colorful coral reef or formations, but once I saw the FISH, it was AMAZING!! We spent an hour just floating around right in the mix of schools of bright pink fish, rainbow colored fish, star fish, blow fish, seahorses, and SO MUCH. Incredible! We met mom for a BBQ lunch at the AMAZING Polynesian Cultural Center, then toured as many fabulous shows as we could the rest of the afternoon while she worked at Settlement. She had a well-marked map of when to do what, and even gave us pointers of the best seats for the Canoe Pageant. I did not know what to expect of the PCC, but I was totally blown away!! The cultures were SO vibrant and talented!!!--the music filled my soul to tears over and over--I just could not get over how beautiful so much diversity could be, and kept thinking how much the rest of the world needed to see this kind of outlook--all of the African tribes in civil wars, the Middle East, India, and all over--to see differences celebrated instead of dividing just made me so happy to be part of humanity!! I could easily see how God could so easily love ALL of his children in all our variety!! So fabulous!! We ended that night with a beautiful trip to the temple (Maddie did some baptism names before us) w/ a couple of other sister missionaries, had some soup in the cafeteria, and then topped it off with LOADED shaved ice at Angel's Ice Cream---Yummmmmmm!!