We’ve made it TWO YEARS now and it has been an incredible ride. We can’t help but look back at the magical WEEK we spent with you all in Mexico. Thanks for the best kick start to a wonderful life. We are truly blessed to be so in love and with such incredible friends and family. Here’s a few of those photos that are just a marker of how special our wedding week was:

We’ve decided that it is absolutely necessary to play tourist every once in a while and so we have begun the Booz’n and Cruz’n summer fun! Join us every second Friday of the month for some fun in the sun! It doesn’t get any better than a full bar and bartender and the wind in your hair all for the Kama’Aina rate of $15.00 bucks!

Just another day at work and another day in paradise! This time my “client” and I visited the Foster Botanical Gardens in Honolulu. Our goal for the summer was to visit all five of the gardens on Oahu, only 3 more to go! Now… for a little history on this spectacular garden:

Foster Botanical Gardens can trace it’s origins all the way back to 1853 when Queen Kalama leased a portion of her estate to a young German doctor. The doctor, a lover of nature and a botanist in his spare time built a gorgeous home and began to expand the already impressive gardens on the land. He is credited for introducing many new species to the area including the lychee fruit, mandarin oranges and several bird species. After twenty years of island living, the doctor returned to Germany, selling the estate to Captain Thomas Foster and his wife. “Captain” and his wife continued the upkeep and expansion of the garden and upon Mrs. Fosters death in 1931, the land was given to the City and County of Honolulu. Over the span of 27 years, more then 10,000 new species of trees and plants have been introduced to this hidden gem in the heart of a bustling city. What began as a small chunk of land leased from royalty has grown into over 13.5 acres of tropical plants, some rare and endangered.

Some of our favorites included:

“The Walking Tree”- this tree can literally “walk” it’s way to a water source by branching out and slowly creeping towards it’s life source!

“Silk Palm”- The pods of this palm burst open releasing snow like puffs of silky cotton. The puffs floated around the gardens looking like snow and were so much fun to catch and play with!

The closest thing to snow we will ever get out here:

Here’s a shot of the pods, we were told that this filling was once used as the stuffing for the old Ford Model T’s:

“Breadfruit Tree”- At last I get a glimpse at the “fruit” which sustained so many of the islands once upon a time. In Hawaii the breadfruit is known as “ulu” and can be baked, steamed or broiled much like a potato.

“Nipple Fruit”- Hands down my favorite tree that we came across and quite self explanatory:

“Cannon Ball Tree”- Again this one is self explanatory but none the less worthy of a blog photo:

Bark and leaves of a common palm:

All of these times we’ve been hiking straight to the waterfall at Maunawillies and skipping the breathtaking views of the Windward Mountains. We finally took the slight trail off to the right of the direct route and wound up with some stunning views of cascading waterfalls (dry during the summer months) and giant drops offs into never ending green valleys. We managed to get right up to these waterfall shoots on our last hike up here but unfortunately forgot to bring the camera. These photos are from my hike with the kids from work, they were too tired to make the trek to the waterfall bases so we had to stop early and turn around

Another work adventure and another great discovery. Ho’omaluhia or “To make a place of peace and tranquility” was exactly that. This place was gorgeous and I’m so excited to take my mom and dad here when they FINALLY visit! (Mom, you’ll be able to walk around here no problem and Dad, you’ll go nuts over the different tropical plants and banana trees!)

These were the coolest leaves ever! The sun was shinning right through the center casting a beautiful flower shape onto the ground:

It has always been a tradition of mine and my families to attend a Memorial Day ceremony in honor of my grand father Wendell who passed away in the Vietnam War. I have been to ceremonies all over California, some big, some small and each with it’s own unique way of commemorating the service and honor of our loved ones who have passed. This year, Ryan and I attended Hawaii’s 10th annual Na Lei Aloha (Lantern Floating) celebration. This was by far the most special ceremony I have ever attended. You have to check out the video at:

www.lanterfloatinghawaii.com

Lantern floating is a time-honored Buddhist rite, originating in Japan, conducted in order to pay respects to our ancestors and to comfort the spirits of the deceased. Lanterns are said to ferry spirits “from the sea of delusion to the shore of salvation”. Through the lantern floating ceremony, the prayers of everyone are united…prayers for a future in which harmony exists among all people. It was estimated that over 34,000 people joined on Ala Moana beach this year to be a part of the 700 lanterns being sent out.

“It’s not a Hawaii thing or a Japanese thing. It’s not a buddhist thing. It’s a “Human Thing” and this is exactly the feeling that we had.

Here are some of the amazing photos from this event.

My first quiche and it was DELICIOUS!!!

Check out our spread-Yum: