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That must be why we ended up on Kauai since it’s called the “Garden Isle.” A name well deserved, since Kauai gets plenty of sun and lots of rain (at night of course) and everything grows here to make it lush. Just stick a cutting in the ground and it will take root before your very eyes. Major makes it a habit to bring in all his garden tools just so they don’t take root over night, that’s how fertile the ground can be. We have some spectacular gardens on the island that are open to the public, some free others for a fee. The biggie is the National Tropical Botanical Gardens in the south, but the one we like is the scenic Limahuli Garden in the north which is really reasonable, $10 for the self-guided tour. You get a nice booklet to help you find your way from feature to feature. The garden is truly a living classroom for all to learn about ancient Hawaiian plants and culture in the spectacular beauty of their natural setting. |
This being the year to get in shape, we have many favorite trails to hike and some new ones to try. Close by, and a favorite, is the Kuilau Ridge Trail which begins near Wailua's Keahua Arboretum and travels up to views of Mt.Waialeale (clouds permitting) and the ocean. Picnic at the lookout point or continue on to explore lush hillsides of fern and vegetation. The path connects to the Moalepe trail. Another one that is close by us is the Nou`nou trail which is on the mountain commonly referred to as "Sleeping Giant". The Nou`nou trail climbs to a peak with a sheltered picnic area. This vantage offers views of the ocean, Wailua River and Mt. Waialeale. Connie likes this one when the Strawberry Guava are in season because the trail is covered with them. YUMMY. |
Kauai County continues to work on the Walking/Bike Path. The multi-use path at Lydgate Beach Park is completed and it is a 2.5 mile segment of the first phase of a greater plan to extend a coastal trail from Nawiliwili to Anahola called Ke Ala Hele Makalae "the path that goes by the coast.” We just completed the 2nd phase of the project from the Kapa`a Boat Ramp to Kealia Beach and it is a great 4.85 mile walk. |
This spring we planted 5 Cara Cara Orange trees in the pasture. This is the start of our truck farm so when Connie retires she will have some income for travel. The Cara Cara Orange is also known as the red navel orange, it originated at the Hacienda de Cara Cara in Valencia, Venezuela. Cara Cara Oranges have a bright orange peel and pink - raspberry colored flesh. Its taste is sweet with undertones of sweet-cherry, and a low acid profile. Very juicy and best when eaten fresh out of hand, Cara Caras are also popular with chefs for use in cooked sauces. We will no doubt be sold out every week.
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 The Money |
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 The Auction |
 Kukuiolono Golf Course, a day is lost if one has not laughed. |
Amongst the work we did find some time to go on a tour of the Hindu Temple which is just a stones throw from our place. For this absolutely stunning property, the guided tour is the only way to go because it is so informative. The Temple is nearing completion and, with is golden dome, is spectacular, a must see. |
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 Lagoon Walking Path |
 The Hindu Temple secluded in a tropical forest of evergreen. |
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Connie having her fortune read by Hogwarts Professor of Divination, Sybil Trelawney and discovering that she would receive one of the new “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows” books that very night at Borders. |
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Brother Bob made a second visit this year and got us out on the tennis court to get some exercise, which was hilarious. With the bike path now long enough to do a bike ride, Major talked brother Bob in to trying it out. Bob on the Bike Path still under construction, Connie standing on the finished path above Kealia Beach and a view from the path.
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 The ocean has music for those who listen. |
August was upon us before we knew it. Connie was back to school; Major was going in daily to help with Connie’s new class. Connie thinks this is the best 1st grade class she has had, or maybe the school just took pity on her after last year’s class and gave her all the good kids. With such a good class Connie was having free weekends and we took the time to celebrate Dave’s birthday and the completion of their pool. We have always wanted to have a pool here, and now we do. We have opted to be the official house sitters when Dave & Jean travel, if they will let us.
 And just what kind of math giraffe is it? |
 Tell me whom you love and I'll tell you who you are. |
 The end of one thing is only the beginning of another |
For those of you who remember Donald Duck from 2004, well we had a visit from him, only Donald was a Daisy Duck and she brought her family of eight back to visit us. We had been in a drought and all the little water ways around had dried up, and I think she remembered that we had a pond and came back to check it out. Our pond was dry and she went on her way again. Major was quite excited when he saw all the little ducks, but he resisted trying to keep her here and let her go off to find water. Connie was happy since she is trying to keep the pets down so we can travel. |
We also had other animal visitors this year, wild pigs! We had an easy truce with them while they were in the back pasture area, but now that they have moved up to the front pasture and garden area they are no longer welcome. They have created havoc in our vegetable and flower gardens as well as those of the neighbors. We have hired a humane hog buster to relocate them or put them on the dinner table of hungry families.
Where sometimes it feels |
Speaking of dinner, Major bid on a dinner for 8 at the annual Hospice fund raiser and actually got it! So for his birthday in October, we went to a private estate located in Aliomonu for a sunset dinner full of lively conversation and delightful food. 
We also managed to get away to Oahu for a weekend to see the Lion King, what a theatrical production. This gave Connie the chance to get another pedicure and to do some shopping.
On October 27 we participated in a mystery dinner that had twenty-eight characters and an open-ended ending depending on what happened. Major was Captain Luke Pickhart and Connie was his younger wife Emily Pickhart whom he married after the death of his first wife. The mystery was, what was causing the deaths of passengers on board the Lady Rose? The ship had sailed from England to Sydney Australia. Nobody was allowed to disembark until the health department could determine the cause of death. In the end Captain Luke was shot by his son from his first marriage, Emily never found the Russian Prince and “the cast” has been arguing ever since.
Halloween (Book-O-Ween) was fun at school this year, all the children dressed as their favorite storybook characters. Questions:
Answers:
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In December Connie made it official that she would be retiring in June of 2008 and for Major to make room in the house for her. This coming year will be interesting with Connie being home and in Major’s way.
One good thing that will come out of her retirement is that Connie will get to go to Tahiti. Major promised her that when he passed the CPA exam in 1973 he would take her, now 35 years later she is going. Major has booked a 31-day cruise from San Francisco to Sydney Australia. The first stop will be Hawaii, after that we will be hitting all the little islands in the South Pacific including Tahiti and New Zealand, which we missed on our 2005 trip to Australia.
On an island. . . life is different.
We measure life by the simple things, warm days, sandy feet, and perfumed nights refreshed by rain. It’s remarkable how great a day can be filling it with nothing. You learn how to slow down and enjoy the essence of a simpler life where the unexpected is expected. Thus allowing us to experience life to its fullest making us ever so thankful for where we live.
E komo mai! Come enjoy our little paradise and leave your foot prints in the sand.
Me ke aloha,
Major & Connie
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