Happy New Year!

"Hau'oli (happy) Makahiki (year) Hou (new)"

(Pronounced: how-OH-lee mah-kah-hee-kee ho)

That one just won't stick in my brain. I'll keep practicing. Sam just says, "Woof."  Sea-Sea sends her wags.

Our Christmas was merry and bright. We went to the west side of the island for the day. We enjoyed the 100 foot white sand dunes, clear skies, and beautiful waves on Polihale Beach. It's a wide and very long beach literally at the end of the road. It was a fun, jumping-around-in-the-waves day. We also went to Koke'e State Park. (More on the park at a later date. I want to keep this blog short.) It was a beach day for me, photography day for Steve, drive around in the truck day for the dogs. Pictures below are from my I-Phone.

New Year's Eve was spent at Poipu Beach. They had a music festival and fireworks show. A reggae band was the big hit of the night. Irie, Aloha -  it's all the same, right?

The dogs stayed home. We had our first experience of fireworks on the island. On the Honolulu news, the reporters spoke about staying inside on New Year's Eve if you have asthma or respiratory conditions. I was thinking, "Yeah, right!" OMG! The island air was totally filled with smoke from what seemed to be just about everyone on the island shooting off fireworks.  (They're legal here).  I guess they're illegal on Oahu, but the reporters said that wouldn't stop anyone there. Steve coughed all the way home from Poipu Beach. The dogs were fine when we got home, sporting dogs that they are...plus, Sea-Sea can't hear much anymore.

We wish you a healthy,  joyous and prosperous 2012. We value your friendships!