Malatji's from South Africa

Laie Hawaii

   

Kualoa Ranch Movie Tour

  

  

Polynesian Cultural Center

  

Christmas in Hawaii

Journey to Bethlehem

I just love Christmas productions. I love the patched together...imperfect...off key humans all coming together with the same desire to celebrate the birth of Jesus. With limited skill, limited time, limited resources and ability, congregation after congregation offer up their “loaves & fishes” to the multitude.  These loving offerings are received into our hearts with endearment.  We are modern day followers of that star in the East; modern day souls who shepherd and seek wisdom and who are walking on that path to the Savior of us all.  It’s a beautiful thing.

Our delightful ward Christmas Party!

Good tidings of great joy!

The good tiding of great joy that the angels declared at Christ's birth are alive and well today. :)

Laurel & Dannah

Pretty decorations at the visitors center

A lovely visit from Laurel and Dannah 

Thanksgiving

Waikiki Beach

Pretty new arrangement at the luau

Thanksgiving day with all the senor couples.  

Visitors Center

Today after church I went for a lovely walk with the sun, the breeze and birds, over to the visitors center and chatted with the sister missionaries.  I sat on the bench at the Christus statue and listened to the beautiful words of Christ speaking and felt a peace and comfort and love.  I watched people take photos by the sparkling fountain and others sit peacefully on the grass just enjoying the day.  A group of Filipinos came in and sat down and the Sisters played for them the Saviors message in Tagalog.  I just love this place.

“Sounds among the vales & hills, in the woods and by the rills, of the breeze and of the bird, by the gentle murmur stirred - sacred songs beneath, above, have one chorus: God is love.” 

Visit from my Bro

               Great times with Steve & Christie Klingler family.

We sure had fun with Steve & Christie and their cutie-pies here.  (They stayed at Turtle Bay) They are just the cutest family full of love one toward another and so close and kindly gentle with each other.  Nobody brought electronic devises...just pure family time all the way ha ha!   

We were super blessed to get four assignments in Honolulu which allowed us to spend time together with them.

                                                      Laie Temple

Polynesian Cultural Center

Honolulu at Aulani

Did you know that Mickey & Minnie Mouse’s original names were Mortimer and Minerva? Walt Disney’s wife convinced him to change the names.  Yes, Change is a good thing ha ha!!



Chris and I were given four more mystery shopping assignments while we were downtown.  All four places brought up the PCC without prompting and gave it high praises!  We were so pleased.  Very different than the hotels in Waikiki. 

Hurricane Olivia

While we are feeling bad for those in the eastern US who are in the path of Hurricane Florence in the Atlantic we are again gratefully marveling as Hurricane Olivia reduced herself to a tropical storm which passed by us today:

The pointer is where we are in Laie.  Truly Laie has been living true to it's fame
as a city of refuge.  It has surely been a refuge from the storms this summer!
We hardly got any wind or rain from Olivia at all.

Mystery Shopping Waikiki

This weekend we had a wonderful time in Honolulu, staying at the Moana Surfrider on Waikiki.  We went to celebrate Chris's birthday and also as an assignment to do some mystery shopping at 3 hotel concierge desks.  We dressed comfy as tourists and asked the agent what their recommendations were for this island.  We wanted to see if they would promote the Polynesian Cultural Center and if they did, what they would say about it.

Sadly, none of them brought up PCC without prompting.  We have learned that concierges give you recommendations based on who pays the highest commission.  The Pleasant Holidays desk in the Moana Surfrider was positive about PCC once we brought it up but they did say that it was mostly for kids and families.  The Sheratan and Hyatt who use Expedia for their concierge were not so positive because they said there was too much to see and do there - it has to be an all day commitment.  (What's wrong with that? ha ha)  Hyatt told us they do not recommend the Polynesian Cultural Center because it is run by students and the Mormon church.  Ouch.

Here is one of Surfrider's photos:  

 Moana Surfrider, the first hotel on Waikiki beach

When Chris made the reservation, he asked for the Kamaaina rate (for locals) which gives you the cheapest room in the oldest part of the hotel.   What a fun surprise though, when we went to check in they upgraded us to a suite on the third floor with two balconies.  Chris mentioned that if we dropped a penny off our balcony, it would land on the beach.  What a beautiful place! We enjoyed the live entertainment from the courtyard and the amazing unobstructed view of the entire beach, Diamond Head, sunset, and the water.  We watched outriggers, catamarans, surfers, and Asians on blow up toys embark and return.  

These Banyan trees are where they used to broadcast an old radio show, "Hawaii Calls"

View from our room!!  Looks like we're on a ship!

On Friday evening, as part of Chris's bday we went to the Blue Note (jazz club with our friends from Spokane, Mike and Rhonda Fosburg.  Kimie Miner was the performer.  I love her song "Bamboo"

Fosberg's on our hotel balcony