The Big News

A few years ago I sent out an email informing everyone that I was getting married. News spread fast, my inbox was flooded with mail and I received phone calls from as far as Germany. Most people who read my message failed to realize it was sent on April Fool's Day.

But this time it's for real. Chris and I are engaged. He proposed to me a couple of Sundays ago at a special spot on the beach at Kukio. We've already been working on wedding plans and the big day is set for June 7.

Blog readers already know my history with Chris includes hiking, caving, and learning how to spearfish and dirt bike. We met at church and got to know each other during pastor Bruce's well-known Theology 301 class. We're still amazed at how much we have in common and how much fun we always have together. My mom says I couldn't have done better and I think she's right. It's a pretty cool deal...I guess I never thought this would happen to me. And I have to admit it's still a little shocking when I catch a glimpse of the diamond ring on my finger!

It's that time again...

...time to post this important document. So far I am in 4th place out of 8 people in our annual work contest. What does it say about the competence of our newspaper staff that I am ahead of both our sports editor and one of our former sports writers?

The Day that Lives in Infamy

I've always wanted to visit the sunken USS Arizona and see the memorial for those who lost their lives on December 7, 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Jen and I got the chance Thursday during a day-trip to Oahu. We also toured the USS Missouri. Japan officially surrendered on her deck in 1945 when she was docked in Tokyo Bay.

Andi on the deck of the USS Missouri:

The base of a gun turret on the USS Arizona protrudes the water in Pear Harbor:

Dare Devil Kids


My sister, Jen, is here visiting with her daughters, Lydia and Camille. We spent the day on the Fairwind's snorkel cruise to Kealakekua Bay. The kids are pretty good swimmers, and at age 6, Lydia is already an expert snorkeler. But the ship's slide was the big hit of the day. The other passengers got a kick out of watching the little girls fly down the slide squealing with delight, much to the chagrin of some teenage boys who were at first afraid to try the slide. The kids love a good thrill, it's no wonder we're related!

Camille makes a splash:

Lydia's turn:

Great snorkeling:

Family photo:

Priorities

More play time this weekend. Chris and I took the Jeep down the "awful" 4WD road to Keawaiki and hiked to a Queen's Bath. Sunday was church, cooking on the grill, my second dirt bike lesson, and yesterday was surfing, building pine wood derby cars and yet more grilling. You're probably wondering when I do chores and such. In life, you have to have priorities.

Holoholo to Halape

Wow, I'm behind on the blog again. I was feeling pretty burned out and in need of a break, so I went with Sierra Club on a three-day backpack trip in Volcanoes National Park. It was just what I needed!

The plan was to hike seven miles down the pali to Keauhou, but the vog (smog from the volcano) was thicker than I have ever seen. As soon as we got out of the car we started choking. So we decided to take the coastal trail in. Wind along the ocean blew away the vog, but this trail was three miles longer than the other. Just when I had enough of the scorching sun and trekking over heat-soaked lava rock, we arrived in paradise.

Keauhou was an unexpected oasis along the rocky coast. We camped beside a calm bay with fresh water springs and black sand bottom tide pools.

The next day we took a side trip to Halape before hiking to Apua Point for the night. Sunday morning we sat on the beach sipping Howard's homegrown Kona coffee while watching the sun rise.

Looking to escape the crowds? Hike eleven miles from the end of Chain of Craters Road and Halape is yours to enjoy.

Peaceful Paradise- A fresh water spring and sandy tide pools refreshed us after a day of hiking.

Sunrise over Apua Point.