If can, can...

There is a local saying "If can, can.  If no can, no can."  After going surfing around a dozen times, Lance realized he probably fits in the 'no can' category.  So, he resorted to practicing low level yoga on the longboard.  Favorite poses: cow and cobra (seen below).  However, after one lesson the intrepid Iverson showed he probably belongs in the 'can' category, catching a bomb set the first time out on his own!  Check him out standing up on the wave below.  The kids also showed that they can by standing up on their papa's board.

Green Sand Beach

The last thing on our list to do on the Big Island was to visit one of only 2 green sand beaches in the world.  In order to get there, though, requires either a 4 mile hike in extremely sunny, windy conditions or driving a treacherous 'road' that requires a 4 wheel drive truck and the skills to use it.  So, we had given up on that dream. 

Enter our intrepid friend Jed Iverson.  Despite criticism from his wife, he rented an 8 passenger 4x4 allowing his family and ours to visit one of the most rare and beautiful geolgical features in the world.

After talking story with a local at the entrance to the trail, he said we should probably be able to make it without a problem and assured us that the 30 degree rocky hill we were looking at was the worst part.  Along the way we had to get out of the car and scout out the best route in order to not get stuck a number of times and had to drive at a precarious, near 45 degree angle several times.  We also had to drive through a sand ditch with 6 inch clearance on each side of the truck where the walls of the ditch were above the windows.  The rocky road caused everyone to jostle about and even resulted in a bloody lip and bruised cranium in seperate incidents.  Despite all this everyone maintained a brave face, though we all questioned our sanity at one time or another.   

Repeatedly, Jed had to hear the many backseat drivers questioning his quick decisions.  Chau throughout the ride could be heard saying "Geez louise, Jed" and "oh" or something about wondering about the rental car or if we should turn around.  But in the end everyone was amazed by Jed's great manouvering skills of the extra large Tahoe and secretly glad we didn't have to drive that path into the great unknown.



A view out the back window of the nice part of the 'road'

Our final rewarding view from the top of the cliff after a 45 minute drive of a questionable idea.



Signs

While driving around the island we see many homemade signs.  Here are some that we have seen.  They all promote a great way of thinking towards life.  Island life definitely has its pluses.

More Sea Turtles!

On our first visit to the ocean we got to see our first sea turtle and since then they continue to amaze us with their prehistoric grace and laid back aura they seem to emanate.  Enjoy the views we have experienced with the green sea turtle (honu) here on the Big Island.


Our first sighting in Richardson's Bay.



Nana and Anika catching their aura.



Can life get any better!

More sun = more honus.



Eating on some seaweed in Kona.

School's Out for the Summer!

As Anika and I are going to bed on the eve of the last day of school here in Hawaii it makes me think of many different things.  Anika has thoroughly enjoyed going to school, liked her teacher a lot, and has grown with her abilities to read.  I think she will miss not seeing her friends she has met here at Pahoa Elementary.   
I wanted to make a list of similarities and differences between the school here and in WI.  However, my similarities are few and basic:  Kids are kids wherever you go.  You have some really good teachers (co-workers) and some not so good ones.  And the speech therapist gets housed (if we're lucky) in a room about the size of a storage closet or in an actual closet. 

Here is Anika heading to her classroom in the morning.  Notice all the steps up to the portables.



Anika's work on the wall outside a classroom.

Differences:
School started August 1st!  Portables are set up as classrooms and connected by covered walkways.  There are many ELL students from micronesian places I didn't know existed.  School hours were shorter.  You can start Kindergarten when you're 4 and it's not required.  There was no music, library, or art.  Physical education was once a month.  Vog lockdowns happened a couple times.  No Kindergarten field trips.  People who make enough money have to pay for bussing your child to and from school.  They had a Ho'ike (May Day) celebration.   There is only one recess a day (10-15 min) and the classes have designated play areas for the day. 
All in all it has been a great experience for me and I have met some wonderful people.

Farm fruit and flora

Lilikoi (passion fruit) flower

Cacao in various stages of ripeness.  They change from green to red to yellow.  We haven't cut one open, but you can see the insides on a recent Kashi granola bar commercial.

We have no idea what this is, but it looks good.

Strawberry papayas in various stages of development.  If you look at the top among the leaf stems near the trunk you can see some of the flowers.

Pineapples!  The one on the left ripened to a golden yellow when it was the size of a softball and was delicious!

Limes?!  Yes, they look like lemons and they taste a little like lemons, but the landlord insists that this is a lime tree and there must have been some sort of crazy mutation or cross-breeding that happened after planting.

Here's a coconut in its husk that Anika found on the ground on our trip to the champagne ponds...

and here it is with the husk removed!

Fish and Coral

Unicornfish - look for the horn in protruding out in front of the eye.

The little neons (approximately 4" long) are cleaning the big one.