Taking Down the Lanterns

The traditional Sunday morning task is to take down the lanterns. While everyone else was napping I went and took everything down and picked up the orchid. When I went to thank all the volunteers in the hall they were eating lunch; they invited me to take a plate to go. I knew I had to get some butter mochi for Evan; he didn't see it on the dessert table the night before and when we described it to him he was a little annoyed with himself for missing it. We have gotten Evan hooked on the mochi-types of desserts like kulolo, but-but, butter mochi, bibinka, etc.

I brought the orchid back and put it in the anthurium garden; it should flourish in the garden. Aunty Florence was sitting outside when I returned with the orchid; she showed me a young dragon fruit in the back yard.

Orchid from Suzanne & Manu in Grandma's anthurium garden.

Young dragon fruit.

After lunch we went to Anaeho'omalu Bay for the last swim before Sarah, Evan, Kaia, & David had to leave. Tomiko, Aunty Florence, & I followed them to the beach.

On the road to Anaeho'omalu Bay.

Kaia loves the water! Much like her older cousin Kai, who would stay in the water so long he would turn blue.

Kaia all decked out in her SPF 50 shirt and ready to enjoy the water!

L to R: Evan, Kaia in her special float, Sarah, Tomiko, & David.

Back on the beach, the house sparrows were busy looking for food around the people lying on the beach.


Aunty Florence & I stayed on the beach. While she watched the swimmers I went for a walk around the pond. The original was a fish pond built by the ancient Hawaiians; the wall on the seaward side has been enhanced with concrete but for much of the remainder they are trying to keep it as natural as possible.


There are a lot of signs around the area identifying a lot of the features. The signs included one about the kapu symbol.


Other signs explained about some of the plants around the grounds like naupaka.

This is the beach naupaka (Scaevola taccada).

Another highlighted some petroglyphs just off the trail.

The depression towards the bottom is for grinding; the rocks above surround a petroglyph.

There were a lot of signs around about feral cats, which are a problem all over the state. At this site they are fed at a specific place and are not harassed. The mongooses in the area also benefit; they come in to steal cat food but have to be cautious of the cats.

The cat on the left looks like Xander!

This cat was apart from the others; she let me get about 2 feet from her before she became nervous.

The 2 mongooses at the shelter kept an eye on the cats. This is the first time Evan had seen mongooses.

David, Sarah, Evan, & Kaia were leaving in the evening. They got out of the water with enough time to grab a maitai and nachos at the Lava Lava Club that is near the parking area for Anaeho'omalu Bay. Then it was back to the house to pick up their luggage before leaving for the airport.


Happy Belated Birthday to Adrian!