Top of the World

Now you know why I didn't update my blog for two weeks. I was too busy having fun! Sarah, Doug and I took my Jeep to the 13,800 foot summit of Mauna Kea Saturday to engage in tom foolery, snowboarding and saucer sledding (my saucer sled may very well be the only one on the island) The snow was icy and the 50 mph wind pelted us with flying ice chunks and tried its darndest to knock us down. But snowboard we did. And we enjoyed it. There's something exhilarating about standing on the highest point for thousands of miles, especially when that point is a snow covered tropical mountaintop. I find a certain thrill in carving up the snow on the side of a volcano. Maybe it's that I don't get to snowbard very often, maybe it's just the elevation and lack of oxygen to the brain.

These photos show the world famous Keck Observatory (with Haleakala, the highest peak on Maui in the background) And me admiring Sarah's first ever snowboard ride.

Around the Island...

and still home in time for dinner. Yeah, it's odd to be confined to a rock in the middle of the ocean but it's a big island and there's a lot to see. And we saw it all while Jolene was here. We 4-wheeled to Makalawena where Sarah and I decided it would be a good idea to go swimming with Humpback whales-a mother and her calf. Gutsy Sarah got closer than I did- I like adventure but swimming closer than 50 feet from a 45-ton whale and her baby is where I draw the line.
We saw several other beaches, the Waipio Valley overlook, Akaka Falls, HI Volcanoes Nat. Park where we went to the end of the Thurston Lava Tube, Punalu`u Black Sand Beach, we did a little off-roading and watched the sun set from the southern most point in the US. We stargazed at the 9,000 foot level of Mauna Kea where we saw the rings around Saturn and the Andromeda Galaxy, which is 2.4 million light years away. (obviously, we didn't do all this in one day, it took a whole weekend) We finished off Jolene's visit with a whale watch, and that's where I took this photo of a baby Humpback doing a spy hop:

This is what I call cruising!


Jolene is visiting from Indiana and today we drove up Mana Road for 20 miles. It was absolutely beautiful- a perfect day. We explored an orchard and Sarah took her truck for a spin in a dirt pit.

Here is a picture of Sarah with her new puppy Kalele:

Jolene arrived Friday night and she's staying through next weekend. Yesterday we snorkled at 49 Black Sand, went to Beach 69, then cruised down to Pine Trees so she could see my favorite surf spot. (and so I could see what the beach looks like since developers cut down the famous "pine trees" last week. How disgusting!!!!

Jeep's first oil change...

Well, almost

It was a disappointing day. I am convinced the woes started back in 1998 when the Germans bought Chrysler, how un-American is that? They just don't know how to make Jeeps. Not only does my "trail rated" Jeep Liberty 4X4 have less than 6.5 inches of ground clearance (though they advertise 9.5) now I find out the oil filter is in a ridiculously hard to reach spot. I know that's minor, but it's pretty lame, too. Today would have been an exciting day for my Jeep...like a bar mitzpha at 3,200 miles. Instead it was a waste of time and oil because we couldn't get the stupid oil filter off. My dad's gonna buy a different tool and try again tomorrow. But in the mean time we had to refill the Jeep up with 5 quarts of oil that will just go down the drain tomorrow.

Stolen trailer

I am also angry because someone stole my dad's Costco trailer right out of the driveway last night. It's worth $750. I am determined to find the people with our trailer. The plan is to flatten their tires to slow them down while I figure out a way to get the trailer back. (my new Jeep did come with the tow package) I am mad at them for taking the trailer and mad at myself for not waking up and defending it. I have devised several ways in my head that would have stopped the thieves...they involve the cannon, cowboy crackers, Smith & Wesson, and even my new leatherman. My perfect scenario of defending the trailer is something like defending the Alamo or, more accurately, like the scene in Christmas Story when Ralphie saves the day with his trusty Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle. The weird part about the theft is my dad dreamed someone was trying to steal his trailer last night. He woke up today and it was gone.

Bird's Eye View

Sarah called last night to see if I would go on the best and most expensive helicopter tour on the island- FOR FREE- that was a no brainer! I am convinced we live on the most beautiful island in the world. We lifted off from the Kona Airport at 10:30 this morning, the first thing I noticed is the how much progress they've made on the construction at Kohanaiki. UGH! It makes me sick...more about that at another time. Next we flew past Hualalai (the mountain I live on) crossed the saddle then flew near the summit of Mauna Loa (the tallest mountain in the world if measured from the ocean floor to the summit) and down the mountain toward Kilauea (the world's most active volcano). We first circled Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and got a good look at Halemaumau Crater. Then we flew along Chain of Craters Road and toward Pu`u O`o Vent where the current erruption is- but it was socked in with clouds. Then we headed makai to check out the steam plume from lava entering the ocean. Lava is traveling through underground tubes froom Pu`u O`o to the ocean, so we didn't see any red lava on the surface, but the contrast of the white steam, black rocks and blue water was magnificent enough. We explored Kalapana where the 1984 and '86 lava flows destroyed the town. It was weird to see roads and houses still standing, yet completly blocked in by vast lava fields. Then we headed to Hilo, saw a cruise ship in the bay, then down the Hamakua Coast. My favorite part of the trip was next- entering Waimanu Valley. I don't even know how many waterfalls we saw there, and we flew low through the narrow valley and over cliffs. We headed west a bit and the helicopter landed on on a small flat spot between the cliffs and the ocean (the spot was somewhere between Waimanu and Pololu Valley). We got out of the chopper and explored, stood in, swam in two waterfalls and pools. They served lunch but I was having too much fun to waste time eating. Then we lifted off, saw Pololu Valley, Hamakua, then admired the beaches of the Kohala and North Kona Coast (Where we spotted a couple Humpback Whales)

I took a billion photos, and have posted a few of my favorites. 1. Sarah and I by the helicopter at our pit stop by the waterfalls. 2. The cliffs and waterfalls of the Hamakua Coast. 3. Steam Plume where lava is entering the ocean 4. A Cindercone in North Kohala covered in vegetation 5. Makalawena Beach (my favorite beach)

Lucky we live Hawaii! Words can't describe the beauty of this island, or the God who made it. This was my first helicopter ride, they're expensive but worth it. The Folks at Paradise Helicopters did a superb job of showing us the island. They were knowledgeable and full of Aloha. It was an awesome time- one I'll always remember.

High Five!

Actually, it's a four high. The new piece to our press arrived today from Shanghai, China. It came in a shipping container, in a wooden frame/ pallet and the press itself came wrapped in a fun silver bag that was all wet on the outside. It's the prettiest press component I've seen (not that I've looked at very many) It's brand new and shiny bright blue. There are four units (two are shown in the picture) that stack on top of each other. One will print black, one cyan, one magenta and the other yellow. The entire piece weighs 20,000 lbs. Once installation is complete West Hawaii Today will have a lot more color capacity and will look more beautiful than ever.

PS. Don't forget to read your news daily: www.westhawaiitoday.com

Softball

When Priscilla asked me to come play on her softball team I thought, "I have never played a day of softball in my life." Then she explained if they didn't have enough players they'd have to forfeit. And she plays for the Kona Brew Pub. The last thing I want is for the brewpub to be shamed so I said I'd do it. Of course, I was afraid I would make ass out there in the name of the pub. And I probably did because I was told I throw like a girl, but it could have been worse. I played catcher and caught a fowl ball, and the one time I went up to bat I hit the ball. I didn't get on base but you can't ask for everything. It was a good game. I had fun and the brew pub team won 8-4. Good folks, good times, my only question is, where were the suds?

24-hour Prayer

6:30 PM tonight concluded 48 hours of prayer and worship at Calvary Community Church. We passed the torch to Waimea, who will pray for 24 hours, and the constant prayer will contine through the islands for two solid weeks. A lot of people here in Kona want to see constant prayer and worship like they have at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City where a prayer meeting started more than six years ago and has not stopped. http://ihop.org

YUCK!



Sarah came back from Washington so we went surfing at Mahai`ulas, then decided to wash her truck. I am jealous I wasn't with her when she got it filthy at South Point.

Here's a before picture. There's no after picture because we were still srcubbing away when it got dark out.

New Year's:

New Year's Eve was pretty cool. Ken helped me wake up the neighbors when he came by with Karen and Korbin and we fired off our cannons. I only know three people who own a carbide cannon, and all three are identical. Check out http://www.bigbangcannons.com/

That night the whole gang went to Kona Brew Pub, the Mixx and we finished off the night with some greasy sausage at Denny's. I never get excited about New Year's, then I end up going out and having a blast. This year was no exception. Great company and tasty cold beer.

But I didn't have so much fun on New Year's that I couldn't get up to swim in the Peaman Birthday Bash. http://www.peaman.com/ Unlike Tracey, my boss, who just didn't have what it takes to drag her butt out of bed to brave the chilly water and enormous surf, I swam the half-mile race and had fun doing it. I opted out of the four-mile run, however, that idea seemed a bit silly.