Kalani I Ka Lewa - Ascend to the Heavens

Last week my son's school hosted a Curriculum Fair.   The statue in front of the school is:

Kalani I Ka Lewa.

Ascend to the Heavens.

Education enables the students to soar ...

David, left, presented what he learned about Math - Angle Measurements and Grid Type.   Rei, right, displayed famous Egyptian women - Hatshepsut and Cleopatra.

 Egypt was a popular theme - Megan posted about mummies!

Jack built a medieval castle - long live history!

In the other 6th grade class, the students created covers for their favorite book.

I loved ANNE OF GREEN GABLES!

The yellow submarine comes from DIVE.  What is your favorite children's book?   One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.   This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, May 18, 10 pm in Hawaii. 

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

David has outgrown his 4th grade teacher!

Aloha to Fort Shafter and Palm Circle

Fort Shafter is the oldest military installation on Oahu.  It sits atop a ridge line, overlooking Honolulu and Pearl Harbor.

The highlight is Palm Circle with its parade ground and plantation houses.

The houses are assigned to the general officers, including the Australian liaison to Pacific Command.

The palm trees line the circular road around the parade field ...

... perfect location for retirement ceremonies, as featured in an episode of H50 (at this link).

Palm Circle was also featured in the movie PEARL HARBOR with Ben Affleck and Kate Beckinsale.  Do you have a favorite "war" movie - any decade?   One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, May 11, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 12, at The Reading Reviewer (at this link).

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii   

Aloha to the Queen Lili'uokalani Botanical Garden

Queen Lili'uokalani, Hawaii's last monarch, often visited her garden along the Nu'uana Stream.  She bequeathed it to the city for the public's enjoyment. 

The garden is home of the Waikahulu Waterfall.

The developing garden includes native Hawaiian plants ... 

... including the Ma'o, "Hawaiian cotton", a member of the hibiscus family.   Do you have a favorite garden?  One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, May 11, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 12.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

The city has grown around the garden.

Aloha to Kahala - Statues Galore!

Following up to my pictures of Kahala (at this link), I offer you pictures of the statues galore along Kahala Avenue.  They decorate the properties owned by eccentric Japanese billionaire Genrshir Kawamoto.  Sadly, he has allowed the properties to fall in disrepair (at this link)  ... but his statues are entertaining!

The statues suggest heavenly peace ...

... but the neighbors roar that the eccentric is "wreaking havoc" with property values.    What do you think of the statues?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's posts wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, May 11, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 12, at the Reading Reviewer (at this link).

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Aloha to Kahala - Wai'alae Beach Park

Kahala is an affluent neighborhood east of Diamond Head.   I drove to the Wai'alae Beach Park to start my photo safari.

  
Kahala is located on the southeast corner of Oahu.  It doesn't offer expansive beaches ... but unique topography.

 Love this little island of palm trees!

It was fairly quiet in the natural cove ... but I could hear the waves roaring in the distance.

The beach leads to the Kahala Hotel and Resort (at this link) ... 

 ... the hotel is home to several honu (turtles) ...

... and the Dolphin Quest.  The hotel works with Sea Life Park to care for the honu and nai`a (dolphins).

I'm a sucker for waterfalls!  I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one commenter from this week's comments.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about dolphins - check out their names on the hotel website at this link.  What's your favorite name?   Mine is Liko.

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, May 4, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 5, at The Reading Reviewer.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Up close photo of a plumeria flower placed in a tree trunk. 

Aloha to Eagle Scout Project, World Book Night, and Makahiki Scout Exhibition

Aloha!  We have been busy in Hawaii ...

My son completed his Eagle Scout project - the Hickam Heritage Trail.  I posted pictures here, here, and here.   He presented the project to the Hickam Library - the starting and ending point for the trail.

April 23 was World Book Night at this link.  I was honored as a "giver" ... and I gave away copies of James Patterson's MIDDLE SCHOOL:  THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE to Boy Scouts from military families.  Many scouts have deployed parents ... reading provides them comfort and humor during the family separation.

April 27 was Mahakiki - the Aloha Council's Scouting Exhibition.  The piper led the units to the flag ceremony.  Check out more pictures from Makahiki at this link.

What's been happening in your corner of the world?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, May 4, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 5, at The Reading Reviewer (link).

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Aloha to World Book Night USA and Kalihi-Palama Public Library

Aloha!  World Book Night is April 23.  From its website (at this link):

World Book Night is about giving books and encouraging reading in those who don’t regularly do so. But it is also about more than that: It’s about people, communities and connections, about reaching out to others and touching lives in the simplest of ways—through the sharing of stories.

I applied to be a "giver" of middle age books.   I was assigned to pick up my books from the Kalihi-Palama Public Library.  

Auntie Brenda, the children's librarian, created a wonderland for children to explore.

On the day I picked up my books, the toddlers were making sand paintings.

Check out the World Book Night events at this link, including the Kick Off events on Monday, April 22:

Ann Patchett and James Patterson at Parnassus Books in Nashville. More details here.

Lisa Scottoline, Walter Mosley, and Hillary Jordan at B&N Union Square, More details here.

Neil Gaiman, Lisa Genova and Vanessa Diffenbaugh at the Cambridge Public Library. More details here.

Mike Perry at the Calhoun Memorial Library in Chetek, Wisconsin. More details here.

Jesmyn Ward at the Pass Christian Library and Bookstore joint event in Pass Christian, MS. More details here.

Michael Lewis at Mrs. Dalloway’s in Berkeley, CA. More details here.

J. R. Moehringer at an arts space hosted by local booksellers. More details here.

Alexis Smith is one of the author and musical guests at the Holocene club in Portland, OR. More details here.

Nora Roberts at Turn the Page Books in Boonsboro, MD. More details here.

Mark Twain will be at the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver, CO, in conjunction with the Douglas County Library. More details here.

Curious what book I am giving away?  Come back next Wednesday for pictures!

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii