Lagoon 4 Castaways

I took the kids to Ko`olina Lagoon 4 today after work. We had dropped by Sunny D's in Waipahu to see if they could fix Trib's Euk on the way out (they can't). After we left the lagoon Ben realized his slippers were missing. We doubled back to get them. The slippers were still there, white coral rocks on them holding them down. I got out with the iPhone and the Euk walked over to them and snapped this shot as the sun was going down. Yeah -- it's like that.

Pool Park & Sandwiches

After Sue went to work today we went out for some late afternoon fun
at the Thomas Gentry center.

Deep Blue

Went Scuba diving with Eric and Coach today. Eric got a deal on a boat leaving out of the Marina across from Ward Center. (video)

Hotty Spotting

Wasn't feeling too great today, but we did manage to go out as a family for dinner, and walk around in the park some. Here is Sue showcasing the new Arnette sunglasses. Do you think she likes them?

Coach Kaler on Island

My highschool swimming coach is on island for a few days. I had dinner with him, his son Eric and a couple of his friends last night at Gordon Biersch near Aloha Tower. Too much fun.

Central Oahu Recreational Facility

Sue packed us a picnic dinner. When we switched off the van today, I took the kids to CORP to eat and play in the park there. Went by Costco with the whole crew on the way home.

Big Buck Bunny

A friend recently recommended a movie to me. The interesting thing is, the movie was created by the open source community. Its a 10 minute Pixar-style animated movie. Guess what? It's really good. Best of all, the kids will watch on loop for hours.

Ninja Art

In quest for more funny T-shirts to wear on Friday, I've started designing my own. I worked on vectorizing art for an omage to the classic T-Shirt ninja page tonight. Once I get a few designs done up I'll email them to some internet T-shirt printer site. I guess I kind of worry though, what happens to my IP if I email the design to them, even if only for my own use? Better read the fine print I guess.

Adventures on Sand Island

My better half works tonight, so the kids and I went on more adventures after work. A friend showed me Sand Island a while back as a nice spot to grab a quick surf over lunch. Its a park with jettys, covered areas and big lawns on the south side of the otherwise industrial island. The boys played in the calm water behind the break wall, while Naomi and I sat and watched the surfers. (Picture by Ben! wow I think he has an eye for this stuff)

A*Team

This picture reminds me of a scene from a bad Glen A Larson television epic. Sue was due for a snorkle so I took the kids onto Schofield base this afternoon while she snapped some shots of Waimea. We went and saw a bunch of static displays of old aircraft, and then climbed around at park on base.

Bike Home

I rode the bike home after work today. Its a really nice 13 mile trek, only takes about an hour. I did this a lot last year, but this is the first time this year. I need to get back in the habit.

Starbucks

We went to the Buck on Ft Weaver today. Met newcomers to the island, Holly and her daughter Eva. Her husband Sam is in the Coast Gaurd. Regulars, Alex and Diesel were also in attendance.

Office with a View

There is a parking deck on the 6th floor of the building next to us. I found this awesome view yesterday after lunch looking for a way to check conditions on reef runway. The break is off behind the right side of the picture.

Roughing It

This weekend it was time again for OPP's annual Fathers Day outing. We
went to the Friends of Malekahana camp grounds and pitched tents, BBQ
rigs, Coleman stoves, rear projection TV equipment, and 5 channel
suround sound. It was good to get back to nature with the fellas.

Offshore Reef

A friend showed me a break about a mile out from the town side of Pearl Harbor. We took a water taxi from the marina to get to it. Between the marina and the break there is a nice calm channel running straight out with sweet consistent breaks on either side. Today the break on the right was overhead, the break on the left was waist to shoulder with longer rides. Ernie, Marhsall and I surfed the reef from about 4 till about 7. We were out after the water taxi closed for the day so we had to paddle in on our own power. Awesome fun, no crowds, consistent waves and overhead drops. (pics: top the water taxi out, bottom: Ernie goes for it)

Gales Blow through Town

Andy and Margaret Gale are in town with their kids. They are transferring to Japan and stopped in on the way there. I used to swim with them at the ODU Masters pool in Norfolk Virginia. Andy dropped in and swam with the Pearl Harbor group this morning. It was good to see an old swimmer friend in the water again.

License to Drive!

I lost a really nice watch and my first state of Hawaii drivers license the last time I surfed diamond head. The watch was resistant to 100M. Funny to think that for the next ten years every hour on the hour a quiet chime will lament from the ocean below Diamond Head. Anyway, this morning I went to get my new license before work. Just as well, I don't look much like I did when we came here 2 years ago. The old license was starting to get scrutiny.

Kamehameha Middle School's Japan Trip

Our family friends the Adams came back from Japan last week Thursday. Cecilia, went to help chaperone the Kamehameha Middle School kids including her daughter Kapua (on right in picture). They did Hawaiian style joint-sound performances at three different locations in Japan. The also detoured to see several shrines, historic monuments and of course Disney Land. Cecilia brought along our camera and took about three (3!!!) hours of footage. I've been working on that footage this week in iMovie to show the story on DVD. I've also put some of the footage here for easy access.

Hells Angels

Uncle Eric Kaler dropped by this afternoon after his golf session and enjoyed some sun on the patio with the kids and I. He didn't bring ice cream for them this time, but he did let them pile onto his two wheeled Bavarian.

Spring Program

Ben had his Spring Program at Holomua Elementary today. Sue, Naomi and I watched Ben from the field. I got some video footage Click on the picture to watch it, beware: this is for dedicated family, his performance was great, but the footage might make you motion sick!

Dim Sum

Ate lunch in China town with Eric Kaler today, then had coffee afterwards at the Red Elephant. I was hoping that Sue and I could get back there tomorrow for "First Friday". Doesn't look like that will happen this month.

Southern Swell

Surfed Hau Bush with the long board from around 5:30 until sunset. It was shoulder high faces, fun popping over the lip at the end of the rides. I got carried away and gave myself a killer surf rash.

Waimea to Chun's

In the morning I did a practice North shore swim with the Waikiki swim club starting from Waimea Bay. Ernie Bill and I swam from there to Chun's Reef and back. Probably about 3.6 miles. Super flat, wierd swimming over world famous surf breaks when its flat as a board. Saw several sea turtles one of them laying on the bottom of Chun's was probably about 300 pounds.

In the evening I watched the kids while Sue went out for girls night with the Ocean Point ladies. They enjoyed cocktails and watched Sex in the City toghether.