Independence Day, 2009

We're so lucky that the 60-somethingth annual Kailua Fourth of July parade passes just a block from Mom's house, and we're on the shady side of the street! This is the biggest parade in Hawaii, and today it lasted nearly 2 hours. The Navy band led, followed by the dignitaries: Grand Marshall Wally Amos, Governor Linda Lingle, Senator Dan Inouye, and others from Washington and Honolulu.

Then came the veterans: Viet Nam, Korea, Foreign Wars, and the Hummers, ambulances and Jeeps (with machine guns) from the various services. The Boy Scouts were there, several mounted horse units, several hula halau, several local businesses, churches, alumnae associations, senior groups, ... Hit of the day was the Kailua High School Alumnae, who bombarded the bystanders with water cannons - actually very welcome after an hour in the sun! If Mother cooperates (and goes to bed on time,) I plan to walk down to the beach to see the fireworks at 8 p.m.

A couple days ago, I went to Lanikai Point, about a mile from here, to photograph the point and the USGS marker at its base. A colleague and I discovered geocaching independently of each other, but at about the same time. I told him I'd photograph the Lanikai marker to add to his collection.

The view from the Point back across Kailua Bay was very beautiful that morning, too.

Look, Ma! Pineapples!

Mom's caregiver, Isy, started these little "pines" from the tops of pineaples purchased at the grocery store. They're about a year old, and the little fruits will be ready for harvesting soon, I think. Brother put them in the ground a couple of weeks ago, transplanting them from the glass mayo jars they had been living in up to now.
He also put some of the papaya seedlings up in gallon pots. (See, Alison? I'm planting mine when I get back.)

Arrived today to perfect weather - mid-80s with a little breeze, blue sky and white clouds, hills and vegetation still green, and CLEAN AIR! Anyone who lives in Sacramento knows about the bad air that comes with high temperatures and lack of a delta breeze. At this moment, I'm sitting on her lanai listening to crickets, watching geckos chase after bugs, and hearing the wind in the coconut trees and the waves at the beach a block away. Lots of flowers: plumeria, hibiscus and lots more in full bloom here.

I'm a Rosie Wall Walker

I just returned from a whirlwind visit to Hawaii - had to use-or-lose a ticket I bought last summer. My intention was to visit for Aunt Jo's birthday, and maybe persuade her to invite us to Sunday brunch at Pohai Nani. I discovered that she'd been hospitalized after falling several times, and had had an emergency hip replacement. So, I spent the better part of each of three days with her, getting her discharged from the hospital, admitted to the Pohai Nani Care Center for rehabilitation, and then sharing cupcakes in her room for an early birthday celebration. There is no phone in her room, so D and L got her a cell phone and now she's in touch with the world again.

Everyone else was fine - I had good visits with Mom and Mary; never saw the beach this trip and didn't visit the library, either! Left my laptop at home, and had a wonderful time!

And while I was in Kailua, L, C and I participated in the tenth - and last - independently-run Rosie Wall Memorial 5k race. It started at the Recreation Center right behind the Kailua Fire Station, ran down North Kainalu right past Mom's street to Kainalu Elementary School, around the school, and back to the Rec Center. C was 2nd in her age division, L was 3rd in hers, and I was 2nd in mine - in the men's category! When that teeny little error was fixed, I was 6th in my women's age division. We each got a t-shirt and a white rosebud. Results are here.

Next year, the Rosie Wall Memorial will be the 5k part of the Windward Half-Marathon.

Evidence of Life on the Beach

This is a crab hole surrounded by doggie footprints. My visitor from Sacramento mentioned the beaches on the Windward side seemed so clean and devoid of the usual detritus often associated with beaches: shells, fish bones, seaweed ... so I took this photo of a crab hole yesterday morning. It's big enough for me to stick my fist inside.

This morning is my last morning in Kailua. I'm flying back to Sacramento at noontime, and go back to work tomorrow morning. It's been a very quiet visit, but the weather has been glorious! Time for me to shower and finish packing now.

Kailua Beach

This is my favorite beach. Today, I brought Dierdre with me (we met on the flight over) to Lanikai beach, and then we stopped here at my mom's beach. The waves were good for riding - not too big, not too rough. Everything's green and blue.

Birthday Girl

Sunday was Aunt Jo's birthday. We brought her over from her home to mom's house, and Les & Dorrie came over, along with Earl. J cooked the most delicious grilled fish and chicken, and accompanied them with risotto, salad, Okinawan sweet potatoes and pineapple salsa.

For years, Rose, from the vet's office where I used to work, joked that she felt like she was eighty-eight years old. Well, today, Aunt Jo staked a legitimate claim.