Happy...

The boys came across a lot of happy people while visiting Japan...

Moment of Truth...

I know I caught you Fly. Right out of midair. I can feel you in my palm. It is futile to try and escape. Now I will open my fingers one by one and reveal my captive. A testament to my lightning reflexes. And don't worry Mommy. If he should be in there. I won't try to eat him...

Hit the Road...

The bikers were off in a flash. It seems they forgot to take their women with them. Maybe they forgot in the loud rumbling excitement to hit the road again. I am sure they will remember eventually. Hopefully sometime before the 100 mile mark. Don't worry. I would never forget you. Even though sometimes I try my best to...

Cute and Fuzzy...

I found a baby bird nesting in an underground burrow near Waimea on Kaua'i. She was so cute and fuzzy. I would have tickled her chin if it wasn't a violation of Federal law...

Privacy...

Unlike Waikiki beach where everybody practically lays right on top of each other competing for towel space on an ever shrinking beach. The beautiful beaches on Kaua'i have enough space and sand to allow you to spread out. I especially appreciate the ability to talk without your neighbor eavesdropping on your conversation. Because I talk a lot of top secret classified stuff. Unfortunately. The ample space does nothing to protect my privacy from the NSA and CIA spy satellites. But that is why I bring the Reynold's Aluminum Foil. It isn't for my ham sandwich...

Idea...

I never knew what to do with my white Gilligan hat. Until now. I know where to find soda and beer bottle caps. And a fake flower. I'm not sure where to find the row of little dolls however. Time to break out the scrap material and sewing machine I think...

Real...

I have never given fake flowers or leis much thought even though I see them hanging from racks in almost every little convenience or craft store in Hawai'i. But I now realize that a beautiful spirit can make an artificial lei beautifully real...

Aggregation...

Labor Day weekend means the convergence of motorcycle clubs on Hawai'i Island with its hundreds of miles of open road and little traffic. Almost unheard of in Hawai'i. Dad caught the pre-weekend excitement. I can picture you and me right in the middle of the fun. And wow girl...do you look smokin' hot in leather. I can hardly keep my eyes on the road. Thank God for rear view mirrors...

Scary...

So much for the little plastic-half-face-rubber-band-held Caspar the Ghost mask I had as a child. Or the Lone Ranger. Kids nowadays have so much choices of gruesome stuff. These masks are a little too demonic looking for the boys no matter how much they may like them. What makes one of them more scary than the other is the poorly placed eye holes to see out. An excited kid running in the dark. Falling and getting seriously hurt. That is truly scarier than any demon...

Love...

I had to ask my kupuna why a beautiful love sometimes creates an intense lingering ache. I would have asked Ke Akua but I didn't want to bother Him with too many things when there are more pressing things in the world.

My kupuna told me that love only hurts when it is selfish, jealous and coveting. In other words. Conditional. And based upon your own wants and needs. Wow. I never expected that answer. I certainly have an uphill battle. But I am very excited to have a plan of action now. My only problem, however. Sometimes I thrive on the pain...

Shame...

This large rock is a sacrificial rock associated with a large religious structure, a heiau, on the island of Hawai'i. It is known as "Kahiholo." Kahi, meaning to cut. Holo, meaning to travel and flow. It is adjacent to the ocean and a strong current. The human body was cut open on the rock and then the body was thrown into the adjacent current to flow around the heiau walls in the water. I don't know how many of my kupuna died on this rock. I don't know how many of my kupuna ordered or participated in the killing. Either way. It is a very sad rock to be around. 

I don't understand why Ke Akua allowed this to happen. There must be some reason I don't yet understand. But when I visit the rock. I say a prayer for all the horrific death which occurred there and trauma for loved ones. I also pray for the souls of those who committed such heinous acts to appease the multitude of gods in the oppressive kapu system.

I suspect one day I will see these kupuna again. Some will hopefully be happy to see me for my expressions of Aloha in never forgetting the memory of their suffering and for trying to make sense of their tragic end. Some of my kupuna may not be able to look me in the eye knowing how I feel about what they did to some of my other kupuna. But I have already forgiven them. Just as I hope they forgive me. For some of the shameful things I have done...

Improvisation...

I visited my father on Hawai'i Island. We took a short ride. I forgot to bring a wide angle lens to capture the beautiful day. So I took my telephoto and shot an off-road light on an adjacent truck. It gave me a nice wide angle to remember that day with my dad. You need to be flexible in life. And be creative in your solutions. No matter what the hurdle...

Foundation...

I think we all unfurl in slightly different directions and at different speeds. And towards differing destinations at times. But we are all bound together at a common foundation. Our beautiful ancestral humanity. And it is in understanding the subtle strengths and weakness of our own being, in relation to this very foundation, which allows us to spread out far and wide. To reach our fullest potential...

Rumbler...

Looks like dad found some Harley enthusiasts on Hawai'i Island as well. And oooh...is that a Fatboy I see in the background...

Parents...

Kalani caught a mother coating her son with lots of sunscreen at the beach. There are hundreds of things a parent does for their child when they are small to protect them from a multitude of harm. Most, if not all, you can't recall because you were too young at the time. But it is nice to acknowledge the love and caring anyway even if you can't recollect specific instances. Because you know it happened. In big and small ways. And you are here. Alive and well. Because of hundreds of small acts of love. So thank you mother and father. Truly. Thank you for your acts of love. I love you too...

Too Far...

I don't know about you. But I think Kmart has gone way too far in their anti-theft surveillance methods at the men's pants' rack...

Picnic...

Dad caught a nice little family picnic enjoying 2000 tons of poisonous sulfur dioxide pluming out of Halema'uma'u crater at Kilauea caldera. Sulfur dioxide is sometimes used as a preservative in foods. I guess they don't have to worry about their potato salad going bad anytime soon...

Halloween...

I know it is only August. But Kmart already had Halloween on display. The boys love looking at all the macabre offerings and creeping each other out...

Tragic...

This once beautiful bird tried to eat a pizza while it was still in the hot oven. Fortunately, the injuries sustained were just cosmetic and no permanent serious damaged occurred. But it is a good lesson for us all. Be patient. Especially when it comes to food...

Butterfly...

I once came upon a beautiful butterfly...

Her delicate iridescent wings captured the golden rays of the sun...

And reflected them into the dark corners of my desirous heart...

Lured in by her delicate and fragile vulnerability. I was truly at a loss...

To reach out suddenly. I would surely lose her as she fled into the wind's merciless and tumultuous persistence...

To give chase. In desperation. I would surely lose her forever...

Destroying the very reason I exist.

So against every instinct in my being...

I quieted my breath and heart...

And in the stillness of my soul...

I captured the essence of her hopes and dreams...

And held onto them with all my strength...

Burying them so deep within...

So deep. They became a part of me.

And slowly extending my open hand...

I placed it in front of her...

And let go of every worldly desire...

Except one...

And I closed my eyes...

And as I felt her tiny soft touch...

As she climbed in...

And gently held onto my hand...

I knew she was mine...

The beautiful golden butterfly of my dreams...

She was mine...

Alternatives...

With the price of gas only going up. I decided to look at alternative modes of transportation. Electric vehicles are not bad but they have their limitations. I found a reasonably priced vehicle at Toy's R Us. The boys loved it. I figure we can charge it every night. Then they can drive to their respective schools. And then be picked up at the end of the day putting their vehicle in the trunk of our gas guzzler. 

I saw an electrical outlet in the hallway of our floor. One which the maintenance guy for our building uses when vacuuming or for running the big industrial fan after shampooing the hallway carpet. I could use that outlet at night to recharge the car battery saving even more money. As long as my neighbors didn't rat me out. I think they like me too much to squeal but you never really know.

The boys enjoyed driving the cars around the store. I trust Koa only when his older brother, Elliott, is with him. When Koa was by himself, he tried to pick up girls in the toy store by offering them a ride in his red cruiser. I came to the harsh realization that some boys just can't be trusted. No matter how cute and innocent they appear to be. Good thing I don't have a daughter. Koa's charms even overcome his missing teeth and bad bangs haircut. Scary...

Gingerly...

I noticed that in life. Sometimes people or things appear beautiful from afar. And upon closer inspection and more intimate interactions. They sometimes lose their appeal. But like these beautiful yellow Ginger from the Volcano area of Hawai'i Island. Some things look absolutely gorgeous from afar. But the closer you get. The more you learn about their fragile and delicate details. And the more intimate proximity you gain. The more beautiful and absolutely intoxicating they become...

Bone Eater...

I had picked up a B-Horror movie at Blockbuster. It was so-so. Some bad special effects. About a developer who is desecrating Native American burial grounds in the Southwest somewhere. And a supernatural Indian monster which exacts revenge. The best part was when the developer was informed of yet more discoveries of human remains and artifacts on his project. He told everyone to be quiet and send that crew, the only guys who witnessed the discovery, to work on "his project in Hawai'i" to keep them quiet and get them away from inquiring authorities. I almost fell out of my chair. Wonderful. I think I know which project this guy's workers are working on now. I am looking for them tomorrow. We have our own bone eaters...

My Queen...

When I see crown flowers. Especially lavender colored ones. I think of my Queen. I called to her once. With everything I had. And she came. It was such a profound and humbling honor...

Poipu...

Tourists and locals flocked to Poipu beach on Kaua'i. That day was hot...

Chocolatier...

I teach my boys that women love chocolate. And if you love women. Get to know your chocolate. They are becoming quite the experts. And Elliott is growing the tummy to prove it. Cacao. Food of the Gods. Anything that brings you closer to a woman. Certainly brings you closer to God. Mahalo to the brilliant Mesoamericans...

Pleasant Surprise...

I woke up this morning and unhooked Koa's Ipod Nano from the computer. The one he received for Christmas. I had added some new songs and let the battery recharge over night. One song I had come across recently, by chance, on another person's blog was a song "In My Arms" by Plumb. I never heard of Plumb. I only heard the beginning of the song, which was kind of haunting, and later purchased it without listening to the whole song because I am always too busy. I plugged in headphones to listen to the recently added songs before Koa listens to them to make sure there weren't any profanities or other inappropriate suggestions. I then opened up the web browser and loaded the Honolulu Advertiser newspaper website. Plumb's song began playing. About holding your child. And protecting them. And loving them forever.

Just then, the first image which appeared on my screen was from a front page article on the USA Women's Volleyball Team taking the Silver in the Olympics with several players from Hawai'i on the team. It was of a mother holding her son after the awards. The wave of emotion which crashed over me from the combination of the music, lyrics and visual image, was so intense, unexpected and quick, that I was caught off guard and tears erupted and streamed down my face in force. Love. Holding your child. A woman's accomplishment. Beauty. It was awesome. What a way to start my day. Then my two boys, like clockwork, came over to see what I was doing with the Ipod as I surreptitiously wiped away the tear trails. And I put one on each knee, and hugged, squeezed, and held them as I listened to the rest of the song. Wow. Mahalo no e Ke Akua. Mahalo no e na kupuna. You certainly know how to recharge my batteries...

Style...

I guess with the bent legs on entry...I'll give him a Silver for unique innovative style...