2011 National Veteran's Golden Games

the arrival of veterans at Hickam Malama Golf Course

The National Veterans Golden Age Games was held here in Honolulu for the first time. The events lined up this year was golf, swimming, shuffleboard, billiards and a host of other games. There were approximately 900 veterans attending along with their family members.
The weather was at it's best for all of the events including the luau, which was hels at the Hale Koa Hotel. It was about the scores but it seemed to me that the veterans as well as their family members were totally into the aloha spirit and definitely the weather.
I enjoyed shooting for the vets, they were a delightful group of men that seemed to enjoy all that Hawaii had to offer. It was amazing to see that the Veteran's Administration had sponsored all this for the members. It was my honor to spend the time with these men and women, I salute you all......Aloha.

veterans check in for golf

golf cart lineup

volunteers ready to start

Happy Birthday Susan

Susan and Nicole

 Tonight, we are starting to celebrate a special day for one of the ladies in our household. It is the birthday of Susan, the love of my life. We decided to have dinner in Waikiki at one of our favorite places, Dukes. We got into Waikiki a little early and walked to the restaurant and took in some of the local entertainment on the streets, there was the "Silver Man", now there are multiple silver guys, a guy dressed in a newspaper suit, a stuffed life size hairy dog of some kind, singing people and a lot of people giving massages too.
Dinner was just as we remembered it from the last time, very good, even though the prices have changed. The service was excellent, all requests were dealt with in a very professional manner. The Hula Pie was a hit at the table and it even came with a gaggle of waiters and waitresses singing happy birthday to Susan. The finale was the strolling musicians, they accompanied Nicole with two songs for her to dance the hula, she has not lost a step in her hula moves and we can honestly say that we have gotten every penny and more from her dancing instructions. She was graceful and swayed along with the trade winds to the strumming of sweet hula music. No one could ask for anything more from and evening. There was also great company joining us, Mary, Lance and Melissa, they have returned to the islands for good from Coronado, yea." It doesn't get any better than this", famous last words of another friend. Well, now it's time to say good night and I hope your day was heavenly and everything was perfect.......aloha

 the girls hanging out

 Happy Birthday Susan

 hana hou, dance for us some more

 Lance, Mary  and Meliss

two silver men and a dog

On the Westside at Ko'olina

Ko'olina golf course

the Disney Au'lani hotel

 Welcome back to Ko'olina, the area on the west side with I'hilani, the Marriot and now the new yet to open Au'lani hotels. The area has grown tremendously over the past five years. The once empty lots are now supporting the large and beautiful properties. The 4 lagoons are evolving all the time. They all are scenic and do well with small kids as well as adults.
Then there are the wedding chapels, they are shuttling wedding parties one after another, the Japanese take full advantage of these. There was one at each of the lagoons with another waiting for the chapels to be empty.
I remember when there was only one hotel and lots of empty space but now they have strategically place hotels and condominiums in those spaces. They are needed I guess to provide a relaxing environment for the tourists that what to see more of Hawaii then Waikiki.
I enjoyed the hour long walk and the awesome scenes within Ko'olina.
Hope you had an enjoyable day......aloha.

the I'hilani hotel

wedding chapel

just married

two crooked palm trees

Westsidahz last Lacrosse Game of the season

they can handle the ball

The Westsidahz Wahine Lacrosse team played their final game of the regular season. They have become a scrappy bunch of wahines, they play almost with reckless abandon. The my not have won today's game but they gave the town team a tough challenge and there was nothing to be ashamed of. There was a new girl on the team that had not played with the team all season and what an impression she made.....where were you all season?
The team is really starting to gel and played as a solid group, they will be a force to reckon with next season.
The sun was unrelenting and the field was not in the best of condition but it was a hard fought game.
They played like the matured players that they have become and we all look forward to next season, we will miss the seniors that are graduating and wish them the best of luck in their chosen directions for the upcoming years. Mahalo for an exciting season........Aloha

ready, set..........

they didn't score.....

oops, 

she could go all the way.....