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Malaki 27 – ʻApelila 02, 2022

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In the air high above the continent heading to Houston TX, along comes this elder airline stewrd showing the infamous shaka at me and saying, “eh brah… this one Waipahu haole” it’s so funny how he started talking pigeon.

Touchdown Houston, TX… One more connecting flight to go!

Wow! Fancy bumping into my partner in crime/bruddah in Texas! What a surprise as we were to meet at our destination!!

Loving to bar here at George W Bush Intercontinental Airport in TX…

Cheering to our final destination… Ready or not here we come!! Be afraid, very afraid! Looking forward to our adventure…

Finally landed in San Francisco International 15 minutes earlier than expected… hooray for United! I think it’s safe to say that I do miss United 747 jet liners, these newer fuel-efficient smaller the jets or just that SMALLER and cramped. And let me tell you I am definitely not wide-bodied, (maybe wide stomach but that’s not the case) and it was an uncomfortable 5 hour flight from Hawaii.

San Francisco International Airport

Since I have a two and a half hours layover, it’s only fair to say that I’m out too hunt for breakfast… Daniel K Inouye International Airport take notes! Most if not all bars, restaurants and shops are open at 6 a.m. here (*draw happy face here)

No I do say this is the pretty clean airport…

Simple perfect warm breakfast… A nice hot cup of chai latte and filling my tummy up with a nice warm bacon and cheese croissant.

Well my next stop will be to George W Bush International Airport in Longhorn country. I hear my partner in crime from Kentucky will probably crossed my path in Houston to are connecting flights. Sounds like a race to Oaxaca Mexico

Well signing off for now until my next destination Texas. Aloha

Well today’s the day that I start my adventure and I’ll be heading out to the Daniel K Inouye International Airport at around 7:30 p.m. for a red eye flight that will take me to San Francisco International for the next leg.

Today has been a little overcast with little rain here and there and as of now the weather decides to come down cats and dogs. My Uber driver for today, rather tonight, is a good friend Christian.

Made it Daniel K Inouye International Airport in the rain, thanks again to Christian the Fantastic Uber driver LOL.

I could never understand why it is required 3 hour check in time for international flights.

And why is it Gordon Biersch is closed and it’s only 8 p.m. Not good.

So this place has to do, at least food and alcohol is served. If I have to wait 3 hours for my flight might as well enjoy.

Preparing myself for Mexico by having me a tall glass of Dos Equis beer…

My crispy taquitos that’s pretty good had a cost of $15… Should have ordered an entree.

Well looks like I got 1 hour to go before boarding. Hoping it’ll be a smooth flight to my first destination of San Francisco.

Finally heading to my gate… Hoping the flight will be as empty… Wishful thinking? Well, see you on my next leg of my adventure…

December 2016:

As the dawn of a new year looms, I am thinking back of this year’s great adventures in making memories with famlies and friends old and new.  For me, it has been one of the best years in a very long time.  Years come and go, but memories last forever!  I am grateful of being able to revisit places of my home and exploring NEW places that I have not been to.  I now wonder… why in the world did I wait so long to go out on this great adventure in this world of ours?  To you, I say… don’t wait! Get out there and be a wonderer!

January 2016:

Began a fun new way of seeing the islands in a different perspective thanks to Chris Young!  Aerial Photography and Videos via our drones.  Most definitely a fun way to do something we love!

My first drone P1

Flight over Spitting Cave

The Drone Masters, Chris included

The Ka’iwi coast side

Yes… I have a lot more to learn.  I have already lost P1 and crashed P2A (aka MosQuito) three times!  Big thank you to Chris for teaching me the ropes and being an inspiration.

May 2016:

Was my first time traveling solo to a place unknown and to finally meet up with someone I have not yet met.  We both knew one an other only through social media (G+) for years. This adventure was exciting and sort of nerve wrecking for me as I didn’t know what to expect!  Welcome to LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY!  “Bluegrass State.”  As it turned out… it certainly is one of the “Top” trips of the year for me!

Robin Moore, my host for the week was not only an awesome person to me, but he also calmed my nerves when he greeted me at the airport with a nice cold bottle of Kona Brewery Longboard beer in hand!  Something that will be embedded in my mind and heart forever…first impression that matters the most!  My feeling about finally meeting someone such as Robin for the first time… was a feeling like I knew him all my life!  A long lost brother from another life perhaps?!

Good ol’ Louisville International Airport

My ice cold beer upon my arrival!

My brudda Robin & I at the Louisville Waterfront

Louisville Waterfront, KY

My roommate for the week… Primo, a very fun loving Italian Greyhound.

Kentucky, known for their bourbon

What a fun tour of Maker’s Mark

A “wow” visit to Natural Bridge

Just a great day, amazing vastness of natural beauty

At The Old Talbott Tavern in Bradstown, KY for my first Hot Brown! Onolious it was 😉

Where baseball bats are made

Louisville Water Tower (The best water tower I’ve seen)

Yes, you cannot leave Louisville until you’ve had a Mint Julep!

There are still so much to see in Kentucky as we haven’t even scratched the surface of things to see and do!  Mahalo to Robin (and Primo) for being such wonderful hosts.  Hoping to return again soon!

In continuing on to the next leg of my two (2) weeks trip… which besides being another first,  has been so very special to me for 3 reasons!  #1: I got a travelling partner!  My brother Robin (my host in Louisville), #2: I’ll be visiting my eldest sister and brother-in-law Michelle (Mary) & Shawn Hockensmith and #3: Family (nieces) from Oakland, CA Janessa & Stacy met there as well!  Welcome to Minneapolis, MN “The land of ten thousand lakes.”

Yup, we both made our flight out after an all night of bourbon drinks!

The gang is all here! My sis Mary, brother-in-law Shawn, brother Robin, myself and the nieces Stacy and Janessa keeping warm at Sturgeon Lake, MN

A very beautiful place at the cabin on Sturgeon Lake

We are ready for the cold train ride

Train from Duluth to Two Harbors, MN

Our trip to Hawks Ridge and Gooseberry Falls, MN

This has been an “eye-opening” trip for me, and I thank Robin for really pushing me to go and visit his home state of Kentucky which made it easy to than visit family in Minnesota.  Still so much more to see and do in both places which only means… “to be continued.”

July 2016:

An awesome time with hālau members as I got a chance to revisit one of my many favorite places, Papahana Kuaola, located in the ahupuaʻa of Heʻeia in the ʻili of Waipao on the island of O’ahu.

Lush

Calming

Majestic

With a touch of the old

I have always found my calm when coming to the this place… away from the noises of everyday traffic.  Just listening to the moving stream waters, the light drizzle of rain and the cool breezes that comes down from the Ko’olau is so satisfying.

August 2016:

Has taken me south of the island chain to Kona on the island of Hawai’i.  And welcoming back to the islands… Robin who arrived on the next day from Kentucky.  We were hoping to get some drone footages and photographs of waterfalls to no avail.  We also was hoping to catch the hula hālau (I belong to),  conducting a cultural ceremony at Pu’u Koholā Heiau and we missed out on this as well when we arrived just minutes too late.  Well, we did get to take some good shots of our time there.  Robin jump in to try his hand at some cultural crafts at Pelekane.

Puʻukoholā Heiau National Park shrine was built by Kamehameha I and completed in 1791.  Located in Kawaihae, Hawaiʻi

Robin goes right into the cultural crafts on the beach of Pelekane.  He never fails to surprise me… a true kanaka at heart!

A beautiful ‘Io perched on a kukui tree on the grounds on my nephew’s home in Hōnaunau-Nāpoʻopoʻo. 

Here is Spike

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Kīholo is one of Hawai’i island’s largest bay.  A beautiful black sand and pebble beach about a couple miles in width.  Wainānāliʻi pond is an important habitat for our honu (green sea turtle). 

Cooling off in the cold pool of Wai O Keanalele at Kīholo  with bruddah Robin, myself and my nephew Kekoa.

Awesome Kealakekaua Bay

Puʻuhonua City of Refuge National Historical Park, Hōnaunau, Kona, Hawaiʻi

One of the many lava tube you’ll see on the island of Hawai’i.

Robin on the famous Punalu’u black sand beach and ancient surfing area in Pāhala.

A great hike to Papakōlea, a green sand beach located near South Point, in the Kaʻū district.  Next was a visit with tūtū Pele at Hawai’i Volcanos National Park.

A end to a great adventure in Kailua-Kona for a fire knife dancing fundraiser with my Kona ohana.

Kona, Hawai’i… I will definitely return!  Mahalo piha to my ohana Kekoa & Heidi for being our gracious host.  And yes, these necklaces were made by Kekoa.

November 2016:

Took me back home to the island of Kaua’i to remember a wonderful loved one lost.  Definitely, a bittersweet homecoming for me as we honored my aunt Rehina Ancheta during her Celebration Of Life.  I also got to spend my time with the families I love as well as visiting places of my childhood.  Kaua’i will always be a go to place for me to reenergize my mind, body and soul.

The north swells were coming in at Kaweonui point on the northern side of Kaua’i.

A panoramic view of beautiful Hanalei.

Hanalei Pier.

On Kaua’i, it isn’t the bugs that we shoo… it’s the moa, as my grand nephew Reyson demonstrates.

Kaua’i will always be my home, to rejuvenate the mind and forever my spiritual place.  I know I can always return here at anytime as the majority of my ohana remains on this beautiful part of paradise.  There will always be great times and lots of aloha there!

December 2016:

Took me on my last adventure of the year visiting with family Janessa Ramos & Stacy Wong who hosted me for the week on the West Coast of Oakland, California!  Yes, it was a cold time of year for this guy from Hawai’i, but their warm hospitality made up for it as well as the alcohol 😉  I have been to this state of California visiting parts of Los Angeles and San Diego many year ago.

Oakland, California was a large area to cover with so little time, we again barely scratched the surface of places to see.  And of course, the rainy weather didn’t make it any easier as well but, I was happy to get as much sightseeing as we could.  Not to forget all the food eateries and breweries as well.  Yes, I will need to revisit this place again…

A walk along Lake Merritt in beautiful downtown Oakland

Myself, Janessa and Stacy waiting patiently in the rain for a well worth it breakfast at Sequoia Diner

Beautiful fall leaves from a Japanese maple tree in the backyard

The queen of the house… Kiko

Spent a awesome morning sampling great tasting wines at both Bella Vineyards & Wine Caves and Truett Hurst Winery in Healdsburg, CA.  What I loved about these places besides the good tasting wines is the fact that they are “pet friendly.”

Yes! Kiko did join us on our wine tasting.

At night over the Bay Bridge in San Francisco.  If you look on the top left post, you will see an ‘auku’u (Black-crowned night heron) sitting still.

I finally got to be right next to the icon… The Golden Gate Bridge.  Such an awesome sight to behold.

On my last day I spent on the calm shores of Robert Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda, CA.  Not like the beaches I am used to seeing back home in Hawai’i.

Big mahalo going out to Janessa, Stacy and Kiko for hosting me on my last trip of this year.  I was sure fun, even though the weather was a little on the wet side.  But, great memories were made on my short stay… will definitely be coming back to “the land of the oak grove.”

And thanks to all who have followed me on my Adventure 2016… look forward to 2017!

#TOBECONTINUED