It's been awhile since I've posted. Quite a lot has happened. And nothing at all has happened too. For two weeks we spent entertaining my dad, who was visiting from the Mainland. He's never been to Hawaii and never flown over the ocean. So this was a big adventure for him, to say the least. We spent two days in Waikiki, one of which was spent touring the Arizona Memorial and the Battleship Missouri. I know he enjoyed it, although it just about killed him. Dad can't walk too far or too fast these days. He insisted he would start a regimen to build his stamina and strength as soon as he gets home. Of course, he also vowed to do that weeks ago so he would be in shape for his visit here. I'm sure he walked more during the past two weeks than he has in years. Maybe in decades.
Nonetheless, I think he enjoyed himself, despite the rain. We toured the island, checked out the visitor's center and museum at Volcano's National Park and ate out a lot. He loved Nori's Saimin and Snacks and papaya fruit, which we had several mornings for breakfast. Lucky for Ron and me, Bill O'Reilly was on vacation for much of my father's visit, so dad wasn't compelled to watch every day like he does at home. He did manage to catch a little NASCAR one Sunday.
The tractor has been idle more often than not lately because of the rain. Dad did get the chance to drive it one day. The ground was so soggy for awhile there that we had standing water in the grass with little ponds forming everywhere. It's dryer now and we actually made some good headway over the weekend clearing grass. I know clearing grass sounds easy. This, however, is not your ordinary grass. It is locally known as cane grass and actually grows vine-like out of the ground. We have years of it, snarled and piled 5-6 feet high.
Last weekend marked the 43rd annual Merrie Monarch Festival. It's probably the premier hula competition in the world, with Halau (Hula Schools) traveling from all the islands and around the world to dance. The talent is top notch, with both ancient-traditional and modern hula represented. The parade on Saturday was great. Plenty of color, music and believe it or not, hot sunshine.
There's talk that the gas cap in Hawaii will be repealed soon. I don't get it. We have the highest prices in the nation, yet legislators want to eliminate the cap. They say it's because it hasn't worked. I just wonder what the prices will look like once there's no limit on what wholesalers, and subsequently retailers, can charge here.
That's all for now. Until next time, Aloha!
Nonetheless, I think he enjoyed himself, despite the rain. We toured the island, checked out the visitor's center and museum at Volcano's National Park and ate out a lot. He loved Nori's Saimin and Snacks and papaya fruit, which we had several mornings for breakfast. Lucky for Ron and me, Bill O'Reilly was on vacation for much of my father's visit, so dad wasn't compelled to watch every day like he does at home. He did manage to catch a little NASCAR one Sunday.
The tractor has been idle more often than not lately because of the rain. Dad did get the chance to drive it one day. The ground was so soggy for awhile there that we had standing water in the grass with little ponds forming everywhere. It's dryer now and we actually made some good headway over the weekend clearing grass. I know clearing grass sounds easy. This, however, is not your ordinary grass. It is locally known as cane grass and actually grows vine-like out of the ground. We have years of it, snarled and piled 5-6 feet high.
Last weekend marked the 43rd annual Merrie Monarch Festival. It's probably the premier hula competition in the world, with Halau (Hula Schools) traveling from all the islands and around the world to dance. The talent is top notch, with both ancient-traditional and modern hula represented. The parade on Saturday was great. Plenty of color, music and believe it or not, hot sunshine.
There's talk that the gas cap in Hawaii will be repealed soon. I don't get it. We have the highest prices in the nation, yet legislators want to eliminate the cap. They say it's because it hasn't worked. I just wonder what the prices will look like once there's no limit on what wholesalers, and subsequently retailers, can charge here.
That's all for now. Until next time, Aloha!
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