Hi, everyone!
Last time I wrote, I had to stay inside to enjoy a sunbeam because it was too cold to be outside. Then Grandma dressed me in my aloha shirt and told me we were taking a trip!
Last Friday, we got up very early and Aunt Kara drove us to the airport. We got a flight to Chicago. From there, we were supposed to fly to Denver but that’s not what happened! When the great big plane to Denver was fully loaded, the pilot told us there would be a delay while the ground crew looked at a dent in a cargo bay door. Three hours later, we all had to get off the plane and the flight was canceled! By then, we had missed our connecting flight to Lihue. Instead, we took a flight to Seattle and connected with a flight to Lihue on another airline! United Airlines paid for our lunch in Chicago, and I got my own seat on the flight to Seattle. We had pretty views of the Cascade Mountains before we landed there! Our Alaska Air flight to Lihue got us there four hours later than our original plan, and we barely made it to the grocery store in Koloa before it closed for the night. Last year, Grandpa hid a bathroom scale in our resort unit in the hopes it would still be here this year. It was!
Saturday morning, we woke up early because of the time zone difference and had a sunny breakfast on our lanai. Then we went to the Puhi farmers’ market in Lihue. Grandpa had pre-ordered bread from Midnight Bear bakery to pick up there. I like looking around the market to see what’s for sale!
Grandpa noticed a stand selling khanom kroc! These are little coconut pancakes that we used to eat in Thailand. He bought some for us to try and they were yummy — just like the ones in Bangkok. I watched the cooks make a batch!
We took all our purchases home and ate savory pastries for lunch on the lanai. Then Grandma and Grandpa had to drive back to the airport to pick up our luggage. The airline sent us to Seattle, but they sent our suitcases to Los Angeles! I was happy when everything we brought was with us again!
For Christmas, Thomas wanted to give Grandma and Grandpa t-shirts from Puka Dog. When you wear that shirt and order a Puka Dog, you get a free lemonade. Grandpa got his shirt, but Grandma’s size was sold out. Buying that shirt was the number one item on Grandma’s to-do list after the luggage arrived. We had to use the greenbelt path to get to Puka Dog because the driveway route is closed for roofing work. Then, since we were already nearly there, we went check out the beach. I’d never seen sea weed on the beach before! There were lots of sea turtles around, and I thought that’s what they eat!
We all went back down to the beach to watch sunset. It was cloudy, but pretty!
We had a pretty sunrise on Sunday. When we had breakfast on our lanai, two magpies perched on the roof next to us. I think they expected us to feed them!
After breakfast, I got busy saying hello to all my flower friends!
When Grandma and I went to the beach, we saw more sea turtles! I was hoping to see a monk seal, too, but there weren’t any on the beach. There’s a new border around the life guard tower! Grandma said we should go look for the nenes we saw last year near the fishponds at the Kanei’olouma native village site. We saw some other wading birds, and then two nenes flew in and landed on the pond!
After our walk, I helped Grandma cut up the white pineapple we bought at the Puhi farmers’ market. First, we sawed off the crown of leaves. Then we sliced off the skin. After that, we needed to cut out the eyes. Since they line up in rows, we cut narrow channels under the rows and popped them out. White pineapple cores are sweet and not too chewy, so they get cut up and saved, too! After the pineapple was cut up, I watched a football game with Grandpa. Our team lost!
Monday morning, Grandma and Grandpa and I took a walk all along the shoreline from Shipwreck Beach back to Poipu Beach. First we went to the turtle cove and saw two turtles there. Then we stopped at Makahuena Point to look for whales. We saw lots of spouts and whale backs! Some of the spouts were baby-sized. When we got to Poipu Beach, wd saw sea turtles and a monk seal! Grandpa calls that the Kauai marine trifecta. One of the volunteers watching the monk seal was my friend from last year!
The roofing crew was busy at work when we got back from our walk. Some of the roof tiles need to be cut to fit odd corners, and the saw is very noisy! I could watch from our upstairs lanai. That’s where we went to watch sunset, too!
Tuesday, when Grandma and I went to the beach, there were no turtles at all! There was a monk seal, and I was careful to follow the sign instructions!
Grandma and I decided to take the long route back from the beach. We walked along the borders of Kanei’olouma native village site. When we got to the front, I was happy to see that the tikis were back in position! They represent the four most important gods of the native Hawaiians, and they also served as season markers by casting shadows according to the sun’s position. I made a new tree friend on the walk back!
I got to see my friend Lynell-san when we picked up lunch at Dim ‘N Den Sum food truck. She knew I was coming, because Grandpa put in the order in my name! The furikake fries were yummy! After lunch Grandma and I walked to the fruit stand to get more apple bananas. I think we’re set for more adventures!
Love,
Lion-san
You have some nice traditions and going to Hawaii annually is one of them.
Re pineapples: I always unscrew the leaf crown from the pineapple rather than cut it off. Works nicely.
Very windy here in New Paltz today.
Betsy