Haunted House in Hawaii

This was our first Halloween in Hawaii, so we wanted to try and do all that Hawaii had to offer for the kids. The Saturday before Halloween, we went over to the Haunted House in Ewa put on by the Easter Seals. It was set up in an older home in a residential area, where they parked the cars in a field nearby. It was obviously a popular attraction, because there must have been at least 300 to 400 people standing in line when we got there, and after we had been in line for some time...the number
had to climb to over 500 people. Many people were decked out in their costumes, and most of the kids were very eager to get inside.

As we got nearer to going in, we began to notice some people coming back out the front door (for your info, once you "finish" the Haunted House, you exit out of the back door). They would make comments about how they couldn't go through it, one group of early teenage years kids came back out less than 30 seconds after going in. For my little one (this was his first year for a Haunted House), this spelled doom. These kids were a few years older, and bigger, than him...so why couldn't they make it through?

When we became the next in line to go, they paired us up with three teenage girls...who were in front of us, so three girls...and then three guys (me and my two boys...Mama was taking pictures of all of this from the front of the house...for some reason she seemed eager to volunteer for that job). As we began to enter through that front door that many had walked back out of, I couldn't help myself but to "bump up the excitement" with a high pitched scream...just behind the girls in front of us as we crossed the threshold of that infamous door. I think I got about 8 to 10 inches of height between the bottom of their shoes and the floor, it was a great start.



As we wondered through the maze of kiddy terror, many would have thought it was just me alone behind those girls. But if those in that Haunted House would have looked closely at me, they would have noticed that I had not two legs...but six; those of my two boys, who by the time we had walked five paces into that house had become one with my body. The youngest had become permanently attached under my right arm, the older one an odd growth on my backside. My oldest one later complained to me that he never wanted to bring up the rear like that in a haunted house again, because all of the "spooks" would get bored and walk up behind the group going through...which meant he was constantly getting grabbed and screamed at.

I noticed about a third of the way into it that my youngest one, the one located between my third and fourth rib, had both of his ears plugged with his fingers. This was quite a sight. I don't know how he even managed to walk. I think he was holding onto me so tightly that I was dragging him through the house, instead of him walking. The nail in the coffin for my youngest one was when he had to let go of me and crawl through a small tunnel...here the protests began. He began to tell me insistently that he could not go through there, and that we had to turn back. It is hard to debate with a frightened 10 year old boy while women are screaming, ghouls are howling, walking dead people are on your heels...and the 10 year old is looking at you as if you were asking him to sacrifice himself. The debate was even more complicated with the fact that my oldest one was yelling at me to hurry, because everything scary that was walking in there was coming up behind him...and he wanted no part in this debate. He fully took my side of the debate, and told the younger one that he was going through that tunnel...and he had better be quick about it.



I crawled through first, the younger one trailing me (if you want to call him being one with my legs trailing; he was actually trying to go through a one-person-wide tunnel beside me at one point...I told him that he was going to bust the tunnel if he didn't get behind me...more protests). And of course the older one bringing up the rear was constantly yelling at his younger brother to hurry up...you know, dead people and ghouls coming up from behind.

Well, we rounded a corner shortly after the tunnel episode, and low and behold my youngest one's nightmare was there. You see, some of the "characters" that worked at the haunted house would get everyone "warmed up" by visiting the kids while they were in line outside. My boys were fine with all of the visitors, until Mr. Long Faced Red Demon with a 3 Foot Tongue came out. He is pictured here. My little one instantly froze as he came around that corner, and I...being the good Dad that I am...quickly covered his eyes (it wasn't difficult, remember he was basically one with my right armpit). To make it through this room, I literally dragged him across the room, and again...the older one constantly protesting of our lack of speed. I swore that I heard my little one's toenails scraping the floor as I dragged and his brother pushed...and yes he had shoes on. The boy did not want to cross through that room.

We made it through. My wife took a picture of us as we came out the back door. I won't include it here because I don't like the way I look in the photo. But I will tell you this, the boys look happy and relieved, and I am laughing...but look worn out.

It was a great time there. My hat is off to the Easter Seals for a good time that everyone had. They put on a great show.

Breathtaking Sunsets

Hawaii is known for many things, and that most definitely includes their sunsets.

Over the last few evenings here, we have had a few "jaw droppers". My wife and I, and our two boys, often take a stroll over near the beach a little before sunset about 4 times a week. There is nothing better that I have found in my over 40 years of life that will soothe the soul and lift the heart...than to be holding the one you love, while watching the sun set over the ocean...while the huge waves crash into the rocks before you. Each time that we leave there, we always say "We will never grow tired of this". It is beyond human words how being in that moment makes you feel. Being there with your family and witnessing that together, seems to be what really is important in life.

Here are a few of those photos from the last few days of our strolls on the beach.

Mahalo!

Got the Harvest Moon Photo

Well, for anyone and everyone who was wondering if I ever got that photo of the Harvest Moon over Hawaii, I did. And for every husband who "felt my pain" for always forgetting to have your wife remind you of something...I actually remembered this time (and for all of the wives who wondered too, who knows what it feels like to be the "string around the finger" for your family) I didn't forget to ask to be reminded. Don't you just love life? I think God gives us husbands bad memories so its just another one of the 10,000 reasons why we need you ladies. God does have a sense of humor.

As you can see, it was a beautiful moon that night. My family and I (two boys, 10 and 12, with the energy equivalent of a full schoolyard of kids; my beautiful wife and myself) were walking on the beach and huge stones out on the leeward side of Oahu that night, watching the huge waves crashing in (we never get tired of that). The night was very clear, with just a few patches of clouds to make the colors in the sky even more beautiful.

Loving life in Hawaii...take care everybody.

Back from the Earthquake

Well, its been a little too long since I've blogged here...some of that I can blame on the "fireworks" this past weekend with the earthquake on the Big Island.

We here on Oahu did not go through what our neighbors did on the Big Island (the epicenter of the earthquake was the Kona side of the Big Island, so they suffered most of the damage). The latest I heard was that it was a 6.7 magnitude, larger than that of the Northridge California earthquake, although not as bad an aftermath.

Hat's off to Daiei Supermarket over near Kapolei for a job "very well done" in taking care of residents on the leeward side of Oahu. This was my first "real" earthquake to go through here in Hawaii (I've been through smaller ones, but not ones that knocked out power for most of the day like this one did). I have to say that in other places I have lived on the mainland...it would not have went as smoothly as it did Sunday, in line in front of Daiei with about 200 other people. Everyone was showing their true Aloha Spirit that day...and I was really proud to be numbered among those who call Hawaii home...especially that day.

Way to go Hawaii! You've shown the world that you truly do have the Aloha Spirit!

Mahalo!

Harvest Moon over Hawaii

Tonight promises to be a beautiful night here in Hawaii (not that there's many that aren't).

The Harvest Moon comes out tonight, the full moon that is closest to the fall equinox. From what I've read over the years, this moon got its name because it comes during the "harvest time" of the year, and with the moon being full and bright, the farmers could work and harvest all night. I guess by the time a few more decades rolls around, with the way things seem to be going, it will be renamed something like the "Fall Party Moon". Because the moon was out full and bright all night, it gave people more light to party by.

My understanding is that the moon tonight is supposed to be 12% larger in appearance (according to NASA). I hope to get a beautiful shot of it as it comes up (you know, it seems every time you are trying to get a "time sensitive" photo...it seems that your brain becomes less senstive to time just long enough that when you remember, the sensitive time isn't sensitive anymore...in other words, you blew it). But I have found my personal remedy to it, for those like me who have a recurring brain dump...tell your wife. She never forgets stuff like that. I hate that.

Now the trick is, after I finish posting this entry...remember to tell my wife to help me remember. Oh forget it, you know I'm not getting that shot tonight.

Traffic - One of my "not-so-favorite things" about Hawaii

Now here we are speaking strictly of Oahu, which is where I live. Some of the other islands have their own contentions, but Oahu definitely has its own as well.

If you are familiar with Oahu's layout, Honolulu lays on the south to southeast part of the island...with the main way in and out is H-1 (its basically an interstate...with no other state to "inter" into). We live on the leeward side of Oahu (the more dry, not so rainy west side), which means we drive eastbound on H-1 to get to Honolulu (here often referred to as "town"), then westbound on H-1 to get back home.

The traffic from about 3:30 in the afternoon until almost 7:00pm (!) is sometimes unreal. And it can get a little frustrating. During "non-traffic" times it takes us about 25 minutes to get to downtown Honolulu from our house (depending on where you are going). During the "high-traffic" times, it can take well over an hour (now for some of you in larger cities that may be no big deal, but when you live in Hawaii...things are not supposed to be so "hustle-bustle"...know what I mean?).

Now going downtown as often as I do, after a while I began to get "the hang of it"...and started figuring out how to minimize all of that traffic time (best way to minimize it is to not be on H-1 from 3:30 to 7:00...duh). And if you live here, you will begin to figure it out too (I'm not disclosing my route...if I do, my route will start to stink and I'll have to figure out another way...I know, that's selfish).

But one thing is for sure, Oahu has GOT TO DO BETTER about the traffic situation. It is something that most locals here push their local officials to "get right". And they really do need to figure something out. Case in point...a few weeks ago a tractor trailer was traveling westbound on H-1 and the top of the trailer struck a pedestrian crosswalk that went over the highway. The overpass (the concrete crosswalk) became unsafe to travel under, and they had to shut down H-1 westbound for over 12 hours! The traffic situation was all over the news that night, along with video showing these poor people stuck in traffic...and going nowhere. They told stories of how people coming home from work, just finally went back to work and slept there or in their cars. It was unreal. It really showed how vulnerable the traffic situation can be here. Something has to get done about that. Oh, the end of the story...they tore down the part of the bridge that was over the westbound lanes of H-1, and now when we drive by that spot, we all see the "half bridge" thats left. A glowing reminder of our vulnerability.

Come on Hawaii!

Costs of Living in Hawaii

Good morning everyone.

While sipping my cup of coffee this morning, phone attached to my side, headset on my head, laptop on lap...sitting on the lanai (for you southerners that would be a back porch, my view off the lanai is the picture above) enjoying a clear blue sky, 81 degrees and a gentle breeze...I was going over "financial things" in my head. Somewhere in there, I thought back to the costs we were going to contend with when we moved here to Hawaii.

We read so many things over the internet about how expensive it is to live in Hawaii. And certainly, to some degree it is more expensive. But I have to be honest with you (and some locals will definitely disagree with me here, so sorry bro's)...its not as bad as the impression you get when you are on the right side of the Pacific, instead of out here in the middle of it.

Food costs for example, both eating in and eating out... we were expecting about a 35% increase in the grocery bill, and were concerned that eating out was going to be extremely expensive. And I have to say, none of that is really the case. We shop at several different grocery stores here; Safeway, Foodland, some asian food stores like Palama Market and some organic stores like Down to Earth. Now here are the hardcore facts: Our grocery bill in the normal stores like Safeway and Foodland run about 20% to 25% more than the mainland (that's compared to Western North Carolina where we were from). The organic stores run about 20% more, but the asian food stores are actually cheaper here than North Carolina (and the selection of asian foods is not even comparable, we were shocked with all of the selections).

Now, eating out. Classic case-in-point...our very first night here when we arrived on Oahu. Tired and hungry from all of the travel, we decide to stop in at Chili's (mainland family dining restaurant chain) to get supper that night. Now expecting the worst (because of what all we read) we thought the ticket for us four was going to be "through the roof". As we started looking through the menus, much to our surprise (even shock) was that each plate was only $1 to $2 more than the mainland! We ate at Chili's from time-to-time on the mainland, so we could remember what things cost there. I myself could not believe it. It really made me wonder where the people who had written all of those posts about going out to eat, even at "normal" restaurants, were unbelievably expensive...where were they getting their information?

Gas costs for your car. Definitely more expensive here...but still its kind of "relatively speaking". I remember a couple of months ago I had some family traveling through Northern California on their way up to Oregon to visit family. We were talking over the phone about their trip, and they told me that the costs of a gallon of gas was $3.69 per gallon. At the time that they said this, the cost of a gallon of gas in Hawaii was $3.06 (now depending on when you read this, that may seem good or bad...but just pay attention to the comparison). Everytime I listen to the news and they mention where the highest gas price in the nation (speaking of the US) is, they always, always say Hawaii. But according to the story I just told you, that was not the case at all. Now dont' get me wrong, gas is more expensive out here than on the mainland. But its all relative, you know what I mean?

Cost of housing. Now this is an area that I can only make limited observations about. I know our circumstances, and I know general information about general pricing in general areas. Generally speaking. But what I will put my two cents in about, that I haven't found more than a handful of people actually do, is search, find and negotiate. The search and find they may do...but hardly ever the negotiate. Now please, negotiating doesn't mean to be a pain in the rumpus maximus. You don't get ugly or try to rip someone off. But let's say you are going to rent a home when you first move here until your home sells back on the mainland (I know there can be a million different variables here, but just stay with me). You cruise through all the websites that tell you how expensive some place is... 99% of people (or more) will take that number right there and figure its as true as the Bible. In many cases, that's just not so. Now every place will be different, and perhaps many will tell you that that is the price, non-negotiable. Fine. Go to the next one. That one tells you the same thing. Fine. Go to the next one. That one laughs at you and tells you "Sir, I hope you don't think that you can just come to Hawaii for free, do you? Homes are more expensive here". Fine. Go to the next one (do you see a pattern developing here?). Most people I know would NEVER do that. Many tell me they are too embarrassed to do that. When there are many people who own homes, that WANT someone to move in there and pay the bills, and WANT someone to call, and DON'T MIND if someone asks for a lower price. Anyways, enough of that soapbox.

For some people, I know Hawaii is unfortunately too expensive. And I know for many, job or business obligations keep them from even thinking of it. And certainly I know nothing about your personal circumstances. But for what its worth, I wanted to put my two cents in about what it looks like from here...so when you read other "bad, spooky posts" that tell you all of these unbelievable costs...dont' be so quick to believe them.

Aloha!

Weather on October 4th, 2006

Its October 4, 2006 today. Back where I lived in Asheville, North Carolina before moving here...it is the "peak-time" of the year, where the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains are at the peak of their color change. It was my favorite time of the year there, all the way through Christmas, of course.

You would think I would miss it, being the first year absent from it...but I really and truly don't. I know its beautiful, the air having a crisp coolness to it.

But the weather here in Hawaii...my gosh, I never grow tired of it at all. And don't get me wrong, I'm not a person who loves to go bake on the beach like a piece of bacon. I do love being outside. But I'm not Oscar Mayer. The weather is unbelievable here. Almost every single day, you wake up to bright blue sky with white puffy clouds. The temperature runs around 84 to 88 everyday, with a constant breeze (where I'm from you would call it a wind - 12 to 15 mph)...which keeps it feeling just perfect.

My wife and I wonder how it will be during the holiday season this year. All of the holidays are just mentally associated with colder weather (Halloween, Thanksgiving and of course Christmas). Our boys are just about out of the Halloween age (well, I'm still doing it at 41...so...), but my oldest is a pirate (Pirates of the Carribean) and the youngest is Dash from the Incredibles. I'll be going as a haole (a "non-local to Hawaii white guy") trying to be Hawaiian...no special costume required. My beautiful wife will be going as a Princess. She does that every year, although she never puts on a costume...and she never realizes shes dressing the part. But I know.

Anyways, its going to be interesting during these holidays...especially Christmas. It will be wonderful, but I'm sure different. 85 degrees with a lit Christmas tree...hmm. I've told my wife that Christmas for me this year is being here, and next year, and the next...

The photo above is where we were three weeks ago, at Hanauma Bay on Oahu in Hawaii. We spent most of the day there, the boys dragged me out snorkeling every five minutes (okay, they didn't drag me...maybe it was they ran faster than me to the beach...yeah, that was it).

Opening Day

Aloha from Hawaii, from one of the luckiest men alive.

I've come to recently call this angelic place, home.

The beautiful weather, the breathtaking scenery, the infectious smiles of the people who called it home before me...and the realization that me and my family wake up here everyday, and don't have to catch a plane to go back.

I have always wanted to keep a journal, but like most things you want to do in life...you seem too busy to get around to it. But with this blog, I can work and keep a journal at the same time.

This blog will be filled with my personal views as one who used to dream of just getting to come to this place, and now is a local...or in Hawaiian terms, a "Kama'aina". It will be a reflection on my favorite things about Hawaii, its people, its places...its beauty; done with words, photos and anything else that conveys my feelings about all of this.

It will be favorite things I've done, favorite places I've visited, great places I ate at...and hopefully I can do it in a way that's not just for me...but can let all of the people who love this place like I do, but unfortunately don't live here, enjoy it as best as they can...through me. Hey, I know its not the same as being here...but you do what you can, you know what I mean?

Above is a favorite photo of my boys playing near the beach...as a Dad, you gotta love it.