Off to Maui - Special tips from Jaswinder Park of HAOLE WOOD

We have a winner from last week's posts - Jane!  My family will be away this week on Maui for Fall Break with the Boy Scouts.  Today's special guest and Maui resident, Jaswinder Park from HAOLE WOOD, offers a few tips:

Dear Boy Scouts in Maui,

While you are flora and fauna-ing it over on The Valley Isle, boo-hoo, where your toughest choice is deciding between 81 beaches of inviting sands colored by the whims of ancient volcano gods, know this: you are lucky! Whether you hit up the Sugar Cane Train on your expedition or learn how to windsurf in Kihei, please take a break from counting your farts or whatever it is you boys do for entertainment, and breathe in the (hopefully non-fermented) sweetest air on the planet.

Having never been a Boy Scout, I have, however, dated a few grown up ones, and I would like to officially go on the record to petition for some new merit badges:

1.  I will see your helping an Auntie across the street and raise you with a “Learn your Mom’s favorite shave ice flavor.” (Root beer rules.) And then surprise her with it.

2.  Mastering a little Lomilomi for that special lady in your life will take you far. A shoulder squeeze, little reflexology on the tootsies . . . Shaka to you. Well done.

3.  Roses are overrated. You will NEVER go wrong with orchids. Never.

So whether you are looking for fun or trouble in Maui, remember two things:

1.  The smeller is the feller,

2.  You are lucky, because you’ve just been given the Wahine Secrets of Life.

Mahalo!

Jaswinder Park

Haole Wood

Mahalo, Jaswinder, for joining us today at SOS Aloha!  We will look for you on Maui!   I featured Jaswinder and her creator, Dee DeTarsio at this link.   I am giving away a Maui calendar to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave ac omment about your favorite flavors for shave ice (or ice cream).

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 6, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 7.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

To learn more about Jaswinder and other adventures from Dee DeTarsio, check out her website at deedetarsio.wordpress.com.  

Even Danno and Steve like shave ice ...

Aloha to the DMZ!

The Memorial Tower for Korean Diplomats
martyred in the Aung San Cemetary in Burma, 

during an assassination attempt on South Korea's president.

Part of the Peace Wall, made with 86 stones 

from 64 battlefields around the world.

The Monument of Homesick Song 

A steam locomotive destroyed by the UN forces 

to prevent its use by North Korea.

It's hard to see, but in the circle is a huge North Korean flag.

The flagpole is about 500 feet tall, and the flag is 100 feet long.

Part of the Joint Security Area at Panmunjeom. 

The Panmungak Pavilion is under construction.

The Lowe tourist curse strikes again!

Inside the Military Armistice Commission building. 

The microphones and flag are perfectly aligned on the MDL, meaning everything on the right is technically in North Korea.

South Korea's ever-diligent guards outside the tunnel entrance.

You can't take pictures inside the tunnel.

It's a long hole in the rocks, so there's not much to see anyway.

The exterior wall of a garden near the tunnel entrance.

Mahalo, Chris, for sharing your DMZ photos with us!  What do you know about the Korean War?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blog wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, September 29, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, September 30.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

I have no idea what these represent, but I like them anyway!

Aloha to Seoul!

Hubby sent these pictures from his first tourist venture - Seoul!   Above is a view of the Namsan hill and the tower from across the Han river.

Look closely - these are locks!  From unearthingasia.com,

Thousands of locks adorn the fences [at the Namsan Tower], hung by couples both young and old, with the keys thrown away to ensure that the sweethearts’ vows to never separate are kept forever.  Now, the idea of a lock as a symbol of love is a double-edged sword.  Its a promise and commitment to being together, a vow to never separate.  At the same time, it is also the end of freedom, a symbol of being caged in prison for the rest of your life.  Fortunately for us, Seoulites has embraced the former much more than the latter.  This idea originated from local tourists a few years ago who saw the same thing at Tokyo Tower.  Recently, it’s enjoying a renewal after two stars dated there in a popular reality show.  Since then, locals flock the site, and international tourists have similarly embraced this novel idea.  Most of the locks are decorated with writings, drawings and stickers while some cannot even be called locks.  Some used chain locks for bikes shaped as hearts, as well as pink and red heart-shaped ribbons on their locks.  

From hubby, "Most of the Namsan tower; I couldn't get back far enough to get it all in!"

Seoul at night. 

Do you have a favorite spot to view the night sky?   One 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, September 29, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, September 30.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

I saw this while walking in the restaurant area of Itaewon district. 
My first thought was, "What would old Charles think of this?"

Aloha to Korean Souvenirs!

A reminder of the conflict from Wikipedia

We have a winner from last week's blogs - Carol M!

My family is a winner as we received our first box from hubby in Korea ...

Ah!  The souvenirs from the DMZ (demilitarized zone) ...

... including the tacky magnet and golf balls!

Speaking of golf, he found these ball markers for my kids ... 

... and thought I might like the "hot pepper paste" from his Hawaiian Airlines flight.   That may be too hot for me!  Do you like hot spices?  sauces?  chili?   One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash.   This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, September 29, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, September 30.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Stay tuned for hubby's pictures from the DMZ ...

Aloha to the Dole Plantation

Oahu's central plain offers a hidden gem - the Dole Plantation.   

Above is the Pineapple Express.

Here's my mother, dancing the hula ... 

 ... as I play the ukulele!

I love the colors of the Mindanao Gum (Philippine Eucalyptus)!

 The signpost reminds me of M*A*S*H*! 

Of course we spotted pineapples ...

  
... even in pink!

  
The yellow hibiscus is the state flower.

The hibiscus comes in all colors, including hot pink!

The Hawaiian Red Ginger adds dimension to the gardens. 

   

 

The fox tail palm tree caught my eye ... and camera!

Monet, anyone?  What is your favorite flower?  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, September 22, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, September 23.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

We enjoyed a bowl of pineapple ice cream 

atop a bed of fresh cut pineapple!

Things sacred to Hawaii - Heiau, Kai, and Nene

We have a winner from last week - Debby!  Kama'aina and tourists alike are winners when sacred sitee are preserved.  During our recent trip to Kauai, we visited the Hikinaakala Heiau (temple).  From Hawaiian Families for Educational Choices (at this link),

The Hikinaakala (Rising of the Sun) Heiau is one of seven sacred heiaus at Wailua, Kauai's royal center. Constructed around 1300, it served as a refuge for people who had broken kapu (taboo). On the southern banks near the Wailua river mouth is Hauola —a place long associated with the traditional practices of health and healing. The adjacent Hikinaakala- Heiau served as a place to worship the sun. It is said that the entirety of Wailuanuiaho`ano was a pu`uhonua or sanctuary of peace and safety.

The grounds, especially on a stormy day, lend itself to spirits.  

The heiau is adjacent to Lydgate Beach Park.  The beach served as the backdrops for several "tropical" films such as Diamond Head and Blue Hawaii. 

A local fisherman seeks bounty from the kai (sea) despite the weather.

The kai breathes life to the islands.

Driving along the coastal road to the North Shore, we stopped at Kilauea Point ...

... where we found a gaggle of nene, the Hawaiian goose.   Wikipedia refers to the nene as "the world's rarest goose".   Yet the nene returned from the brink of extinction to thrive on Kauai.

The nene almost form a heart between their beaks and bodies.

The coastline is breathtaking!

What's your favorite bird?  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, September 22, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, September 23.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

A closer view of the kai ...