Hi, Everyone!
Grandma and Grandpa and I spent last Saturday getting ready for Uncle Steven and Aunt Kara to join us. Grandma made butterscotch scones for breakfast, then we went to the Saturday Farmers Market in Lihue. We got a ti leaf lei from the Heavenly Haku lady, and she showed me how she makes leis and head wreaths. Then we bought bread from Ursa-san at Midnight Bear Bakery and a low acid pineapple and some apple bananas. So we were all set when Uncle Steven and Aunt Kara’s plane arrived!I was happy to see them!
On Sunday, we all took a walk to Makahuena light. We saw whales and turtles right away! Uncle Steven and Aunt Kara showed me a rock bridge just beyond the point that I hadn’t seen before. It was fun to watch the waves coming under the bridge and crashing on the sides. Then we had Puka Dogs for lunch. Puka Dogs are Polish sausage served in big buns with yummy tropical fruit relishes. Grandpa like mango relish and lilikoi mustard on his! We walked down to the beach to watch the sunset. No green flash, but it was very pretty!
Monday was the day for the Sunshine Market. Uncle Steven and Aunt Kara were at the beach, so I went with Grandma and Grandpa. I made some new friends and saw some pretty flowers. We bought some purple sweet potatoes so Grandma can make a sweet potato pizza sometime this week. I was excited to see longan and rambutan, just like the ones I ate in Thailand.
Monday evening, we all went to the Hawaiian music festival E Kanikapila Kakou. Auntie Fran was showing how she makes leis, and she gave Grandma and Aunt Kara fancy ones she had just made. I watched the hula lesson, but it was hard for me to keep up with all the arm motions. While we were waiting for the concert to begin, Aunt Kara let me wear her lei. And at intermission, I got to make friends with the lady who was singing and dancing hula at the concert. She is a grandma too!
It started raining while we were at the concert, and it was rainy and very windy on Tuesday. So I helped Grandma make snickerdoodle cookies. The dough needs to be rolled in cinnamon sugar before it is baked, and that makes a crispy shell on the outside of the cookie. I was a good helper for serving the cookies, too! Later in the day, the rain stopped and we took a walk to the beach. This turtle was taking advantage of the big waves to get close in to the rocks to eat the weeds growing on them. We watched him for a long time! Tuesday was Aunt Kara’s birthday, so we went to the Beach House for dinner. We watched the sun set while we ate, then I helped Aunt Kara blow out her birthday candle.
On Wednesday, it mostly stopped raining, but it was still windy. So we all drove to the north shore of the island to see the waves at Kilauea Lighthouse. Grandpa and Aunt Kara had to hold me so I didn’t blow away! It was too windy for most of the birds, but we saw six albatross flying out to sea. They are pretty birds in flight, with very long wings. We drove on to Hanalei before we turned around to head back. I showed Uncle Steven and Aunt Kara the overlook for the Hanalei valley taro fields. After we got back to Poipu, we watched the sunset again, and then we watched the full moon rise.
Next, Bill-kun and Karin-chan and their mommy and daddy are coming to join us. We haven’t all been together since Uncle Steven and Aunt Kara’s wedding!
Love,
Lion-san