Kyle in the Ho'olaule'a Hula Show

Ho'olaule'a is a Hawaiian word meaning “a gathering to connect in joyful celebration, to unite in joy.” “Ho'o” means the process of moving toward one another; “laule'a” signifies a joyful celebration of sharing food, dance, games, uniting and connecting in a festive atmosphere.

Yesterday we went to the Ho'olaule'a Show put on by the students in Kyle's School who participated in a Hawaiian Studies class this school year. Kyle's class had Hawaiian Studies every Wednesday. Reeve's class did not have a Hawaiian Studies class this year. We should have arrived earlier to get better seats! It was standing room only and we were in the very back.

The Royal Court

The Queen danced a special hula

Kyle after the show...

Kyle's class dancing the hula. Kyle is in the back row on the right as you look at the computer screen. His hair is slicked back and in a pony tail...again I apologize for our waaaayyyy back view!

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Stella ~ Birthday Girl

Our lil Stell turns 3 tomorrow!

 Stella, you radiate happiness on every level! We're so lucky to have you in our lives. I love your unique cuteness and how special you make us all feel when you're around. You are so quick to give a compliment. You are ever ready to help anyone and everyone!

 We went to Maku'u Market today to sell our solar supplies, off-grid laundry supplies, and "fun" supplies (juggling sticks...as seen carried by Stella)

 Stella got all dressed up in her birthday dress. We had a great day, despite the down pours.

 Reeve took these pictures and video below with Tom's phone...um, I think the lens needs to be cleaned, as they are slightly blurry.

A fellow vendor took a couple of pictures of our booth several weeks ago. Today he gave us the hard copy photos. Super nice of him to do that!

On a closing note...we will be participating in "screen free" week, aka "digital detox" week from April 30-May 6th. That means (in our family) no blogging or social digital media sites. The computer will only be used for business purposes this week. I'll post more pictures after May 6th :)

Birthdays & Boats

April is a birthday month around here...pictures from Reeve's 12th Birthday:
For Reeve's Birthday we had a potluck at Poho'iki Beach Park. The weather was cloudy/rainy all day, but the kids had a great time. It didn't phase them. We set up our tent by the picnic table that has a view of the ocean in the front and the playground in the back.

 Stella brought here bike...

 That's all the pictures I have from Reeve's party :(. Last weekend we watched a friend's bought be lowered into the water. He's been remodeling it for nearly 3 years. It has an electric motor and the batteries for the boat can be powered by a generator on the sail and by a couple of solar panels that they will set up as an awning on the deck.

 Stella...pensive...

 She really, really wanted to ride on the pink boat!!!

 You can barely see it, but hovering over the grass is a remote control helicopter that has a camera for taking video/pictures from up high. It was very cool!

 Yesterday we went to a friend's potluck beach birthday party for their two boys (Reeve and Kyle's age). It was a perfect day!

 In the picture below, right in the center, you can see Reeve (black swim shirt).

 Below...I was busy keeping up with Stella...

Um, yeah, I can totally handle beach birthday parties! Life is good :)

Duck Eggs, New Truck, & Night Market Dancing

Our duckies are now 6 months old and in the past couple of weeks they've laid a grand total of 2 eggs!
I was hoping for more by now, but recently we've been told not to expect eggs before 8 months.

Above is a picture of Reeve with the second duck egg. The shells and good and hard and they are pretty darn tasty, if I do say so myself!

When we sold the minivan the hope was to replace it with a truck. We searched and waited and searched and then bought a 95 Mazda extended cab truck...there are seatbelts for 6!

Stella loves the truck and she's convinced Papa bought it for her because it is blue. Now to put it to work by getting some cinder and cinder soil! Maybe even some trees as there is a huge plant sale happening soon at a local nursery. Actually they only sell to the public once or twice a year. It's happening on the same day as Reeve's birthday party, but maybe we can squeeze it in before the party.

A picture of our amazing banana tree that, when it rains, stands in a little pond known by the Rayes as "Banana Lake".

See that purple flower? That means a new bunch of bananas is forming.

Last Wednesday we went to the Kalapana Night Market for the first time. Fun!

(Above: Reeve with his juggling sticks, aka jolly sticks, flower sticks, and devil sticks)
We met up with some friends there and had a great time listening to the live music, eating pizza baked in a stone fireplace right in front of our eyes, and watching Stella and her friend dance the night away.

 Stella started the night out in an outfit she picked out with a jacket. By the end of the night she was only wearing the skirt on the dance floor!

Stella really really wants to hold her pets. She's constantly chasing the ducks around the yard hoping beyond hope that she will be able to just "hold and love" them. Well, she outsmarted them! She put some food in their duck house and then crawled in after them and shut the door!

They could not escape and she was able to "hold and love" them. Alice was the only smart one and did not get trapped in the house with Stella. She stayed in there for a good 30 minutes holding and loving those duckies.

Good News Updates: We sold our house to a wonderful family that I know we love and cherish it as much, if not better!, than we did. Tom passed his Contractor Law Exam and Contractor Electrical exam...inching ever closer to getting that Electrical Contractor certification. He has one more exam to take on the 20th for his Ventilating and Air Conditioning Contractor License.
Aloha!!