July
The summer is our favorite time to be on the North Shore because the water is perfect and clear. Therefore, we of course made that proverbial trip to Pupukea. We celebrated July 4 by watching the fireworks from our lanai. We hiked the beautiful Pu`u Pia Trail in the back of Manoa Valley. There is a beautiful mini park near KCC called the Pu`u o Kaimuki mini park. This little hill has 360-degree views of surrounding areas and Dale loves to stop there every now & then from some photos. For our monthly ASL Hikers group we were planning to do the Makiki Valley Loop Trail but no ASL or Deaf students showed up. However, a young guy from Connecticut, Caleb, was in town visiting David’s boss, joined us for the hike and Deb Z allowed her Westie to hike with us.



(July 8-14, 2009) – Caleb on Pu`u Ohia Trail. See the Pali Lookout behind him.

We started at the Makiki Forest Preservation Area and began to hike up Kanealole Trail. We connected and turned left on the Makiki Valley Trail, and then we jumped onto Nahuina Trail and came out way up on Tantalus road. We followed the road until we came across the Pu`u Ohia Trailhead and followed that up & over Mount Tantalus. Next, we followed the Manoa Cliff Trail. We hiked that for a short way until we jumped onto Pauoa Flats Trail, and then followed Nu `uanu Trail down into Nu` uanu Valley. The trail drops you onto Judd trail and brings you out onto the Nu`uanu Pali Road where Deb Z picked us all up. We enjoyed a stop at Pu`u o Mahuka Heiau. This heiau has beautiful views of Waimea Bay and the North Shore. We also had the opportunity to stop at La`ie Point for some amazing views of the windward coast. Rubber Stamp Plantation had a booth at the Gay Pride Festival and DaBoyZ enjoyed being part of the festivities while working the booth. Caleb was in town for about 1 month and came along with us on several other excursions. The three of us hiked the beautiful and dangerous Kealia Trail,



(July 15-21, 2009) – North Shore from Kealia Trail

introduced Caleb to Wooly-Bully (a male honu on Laniakea Beach), took him snorkeling at Pupukea and showed him La`ie Point. Deb Z, Caleb, DaBoyZ, & our friend Laura met at Pupukea for a swim one day.



(July 22-28, 2009) – Laura in Hale`iwa

Our friend, Craig, who lives on the North Shore, came out and we all BBQ at Three Tables and played in the blue Pacific Ocean. Our friend Sara flew in from Arizona with her two wonderful kids (Kirra & Kai). Sara had some other friends in from AZ and they had rented a house in Manoa Valley. The kids were all having fun and put on a drag show for us. They all were playing in Kirra’s princess dresses! David & Dale received permission to hike a trail that is on military property on the East Field of Schofield Barracks. Unfortunately, we could not find the trailhead and ended up driving around in the mountains. Even though Dale was disappointed, they both really enjoyed the drive. Got a few more pictures of some Honu at Laniakea and finally did a photo shoot of Crawford’s Convalescent Home.
(July 1-7, 2009) – Picture of the moon on July 1, 2009


(July 29-31, 2009) – Moon shot


August
Took Caleb to Pearl Harbor



(August 1-7, 2009) – Caleb at Pearl Harbor

and then off to Waimea Bay where he jumped off High Rock 3 times! After he got his fill of that, we headed off to Laniakea Beach one more time to snorkel & see honu. Our friend, Deb L, met us there. Before Caleb flew back to Connecticut, we had a going-away dinner for him at Pae Thai. Most of the people he might while he was here came along to bid him farewell. Deb L. came by & took us for yet another trip to snorkel & swim with the honu at Laniakea and have some fun at Three Tables. Never tiring of the Pupukea area, we went two more times in August!



(August 22-28, 2009) – a beautiful dog up in the Pupukea area

David and I hiked twice in the St. Louis Heights area and had our fourth ASL Hikers group in the Makiki Preserve area.



(August 15-21, 2009) – A bird in the Makiki Forest Recreation Area on our ASL Hike

David & I were the only two present so we just strolled around the area and then headed home. We finally had the opportunity to try a Dragonfruit and boy was it delicious. Hope to eat more soon! DaBoyZ helped the Rubber Stamp Plantation with the Made in Hawai`i Festival. While attending the festival we were able to see the great Hoku Zuttermeister perform. Once again, DaBoyZ had access to a vehicle and made a stop at He`eia Park in the Kane`ohe area. Other events for this month were the Non-Credit Open House at KCC & a wedding reception. Our good friend, LisaAnn, recently got married and she invited us to her lovely reception at the Wai`alae Country Club. Her new husband, Kian, is a wonderful man. We had a wonderful evening!

(August 29-31, 2009) – Dale & Ami at LT’s Reception

(August 8-14, 2009) – No 5-star pictures

September
DaBoyZ flew to the Big Island for a mini-vacation; it had been 3 years since we had last been to the Big Island. Stayed at the Volcano Hale for the first night, where we rented a lovely little room in a house. Next morning we hiked Kilauea Iki Trail. That evening we rented a cabin at Volcanoes National Park. The last full day of our trip, we visited the Lava Tree State Monument, Kapoho Tide Pools, watched the lava flow into the ocean near Kalapana,



(September 1-7, 2009) – Lava viewing area near Kalapana on the Big Island.

and enjoyed the new black sand beach. That evening we ate dinner at Nings Thai Cuisine in Pahoa Town. The next day we met with our friend Kreanna and had some white pineapple, then headed over to our new friends Sherry & Kula’s house. We went back into Volcanoes National Park to hike the Sulpher Banks, Thurston Lava Tube, Devastation Trail, and drove out to Hilina Pali before flying back to Honolulu that evening. Once back on O`ahu we immediately began our normal route of hiking! We hiked parts of Manoa Cliff Trail twice



(September 8-14, 2009) – Looking towards Manoa Falls from Manoa Cliff Trail.

and Makiki Valley Trail three times. We also traversed Pu`u Ohia Trail, Maunalaha Trail, Nahuina Trail, Kalawahine Trail, & Pauoa Flats Trail.



(September 15-21, 2009) – Looking towards Pali Lookout from the end of Pauoa Flats Trail.

We hiked both Moleka & Kanealole Trails twice. David cut his finger at work and had to be rushed to the emergency room for eight stitches. For our ASL Hikers group we explored the amazing Pu`u Pia Trail with Lori, Ryan, Will, Jaime, & Dianne. David had to work that day so missed the Strawberry Guava picking & eating. We received free tickets to see a movie about an autistic boy. The movie title is Beautiful Son. The movie’s Hawai`i Premiere was held at the Doris Duke Theatre. We also attended a tattoo event at Dole Plantation and then enjoyed a nice swim at Pupukea afterwards.

(September 22-28, 2009) – Surfer at Three Tables (Pupukea).

(September 29-30, 2009) – September 30th moon


October
Had a birthday party at KCC for Dale's co-worker, Layce. Once again, we enjoyed the magnificence of Pupukea.


(October 8-14, 2009) – The rocks along the shoreline at Pupukea.

For the longest time we have wanted to move away from the freeway, finally a place opened up at the front of Pauoa Valley. The place was in need of some TLC so we dived into cleaning and painting the new apartment. For the ASL Hikers October hike, we enjoyed and explored Lyon Arboretum. Huy was the only other member to join us for that spectacular hike.
(October 1-7, 2009) – No 5 star pictures
(October 15-21, 2009) – Tombstone at the Catholic Cemetery on King Street


(October 22-28, 2009) – No five star pictures.
(October 29-31, 2009) – No pictures taken.

November
Met John & Ipo at a bus stop & showed them around Pupukea. John came over for dinner a few nights later. November’s ASL Hikers was a combined hike with KCC’s ASL Club. We hiked Kalawahine Trail and about 12 people showed up! Deb Z



(November 15-21, 2009) – Deb Z with Emily, picture taken after Kalawahine Trail – ASL Hikers

& David played with a Jackson’s Chameleon while waiting for the hikers to come in. DaBoyZ went to the Hawai`i School for the Deaf and the Blind for a fundraiser dinner. This was for a friend of ours whom has leukemia. Had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with Dale’s boss at her attractive home. Everyone brought something and we all had a great potluck Thanksgiving! Our friend, Kamanu, hiked up Tantalus drive with us. We took him on the Tantalus Arboretum Trail, then up Tantalus more until we arrived at the trailhead for the Makiki Valley Trail. We stopped at our favorite lookout and then went on down to the Makiki Forest Recreation Area where we met Kamanu’s mom. DaBoyZ checked out a cemetery in there new neighborhood and were thrilled to find so much history.

(November 22-28, 2009) – Old cemetery on the slopes of Punchbowl Crater.

(November 1-7, 2009) – November 1st Moon


(November 8-14, 2009) – No five star pictures.
(November 29-30, 2009) – No five star pictures.

December
DaBoyZ participated and helped with the annual Deaf Santa event at Pearlridge Center. David did the photography, while Dale helped orchestrate other aspects of the show. We both are so blessed to be a part of this event and to see the kids faces light up when they get to sign to Santa is just breathtaking.



(December 8-14, 2009) – Kid enjoying his first Deaf Santa event at Pearlridge.

Met up with our new friend Lori, from WA state, and we introduced her to the gorgeous Manoa Cliff Trail and Pu`u Ohia Trail. Lori & Dale took a day to enjoy the Christmas decorations at the Honolulu Hale. For this month’s ASL Hikers we hiked Koko Crater. Lili & DaBoyZ hiked through sun, rain, and very steep conditions until they finally made it to the top. After a quick break and a speedy warm up,



(December 15-21, 2009) – Lili in a bunker atop Koko Crater (ASL Hikers)

we headed back down the mountain. Lili had two blowouts on the trail. After doctoring her shoes and being very precautious in the way we were making our way down the mountain, we finally arrived at the bottom where her loving mother was there to rescue us! Dale made a trip up to Pupukea to watch the surf. For Christmas, DaBoyZ hiked from Pupukea to almost Pipeline.



(December 22-28, 2009) – Christmas Day on the North Shore

We watched the frightening wave action in awe! The waves were 25-30 feet high. Dale had 2 weeks off from work so he took the time to check out a long-standing church in downtown Honolulu. DaBoyZ wanted to do an easy hike so they rode the bus over to Judd Trail. Dale made yet another journey to the North Shore. He hiked from just before Pipeline to Ted’s Bakery. Afterwards, running into Ted’s for an ONOLICIOUS Haupia (coconut) Chocolate Cream Pie.
(December 1-7, 2009) – No 5 star pictures
(December 29-31, 2009) – David’s Blue Suede Shoes Hibiscus


Wishing you all a wonderful 2010 full of light, love & aloha!