Wow! Although we previously made it a point to visit the islands in each season, it appears West Oahu is a unique experience around the time of New Year celebrations. About a week ago tents have shown up along the roadside selling fireworks - even K Mart is selling them. Since before Christmas we have heard explosions/bombs at various times. Now that we have reached the 31st of December it sounds like a war zone out there!
The noisy fireworks are saved for the daytime while the light show type began at dusk. The noise is of such a level that car alarms are triggered here and there. Luckily John does not suffer from PTSD. He said the sounds are exactly like when he was in Viet Nam. When sounds like this would start the troops grabbed their weapons and dove for cover! We Googled (new verb) "history fireworks Hawaii" and found several interesting snippets:
"While most of America sets off fireworks on the Fourth of July, Hawaii saves its best blasts for New Year's Eve, when Asian cultures say firecrackers ward off evil spirits.
And each year, the pyrotechnics make Hawaii look like a war zone, touching off a few house fires, causing occasional eye and hand injuries, and creating so much smoke that people with asthma and other respiratory conditions suffer.. . . "
And ------
"EWA BEACH, Hawaii -- The illegal fireworks complaints are starting to roll in on Oahu, and it is not even Christmas yet.
Residents in Ewa Beach said they were bombarded with illegal firework bombs on Monday night and they want it to stop. The problem is not just in West Oahu, but for some reason this week has been particularly noisy, and frustrated families are turning to their lawmakers for help.
Rep. Kymberly Pine received eight complaints on Tuesday morning alone.
"We have noticed an increase in calls during the week. People are just getting fed up with the illegal fireworks in our neighborhood," Pine said.
The bombs have been particularly heartbreaking for one couple whose special needs child is shaken by the loud booms.
"Our youngest is special needs. He is 3 years old. So with that, pipe bombs going off, it really startles him because he is sensitive to noise," Ewa Beach resident Tessa Smith said.
Those noises can trigger seizures so it is particularly worrisome for the family.
There are also the pet problems.
"They bark quite a bit, and we hear fireworks right now, and I guess for the neighbors it's the dogs as well, because they are startled. They bark and are a nuisance," Ewa Beach resident John Smith said.
Pine said her dogs get spooked, too. The area lawmaker said many people have e-mailed that they are forced to medicate their animals more than just for one night.
"It seems like its starting earlier and the frequency is definitely worse than it was last year," Pine said.
Those who have put up with the fireworks since Halloween said enough is enough.
"If the community is more active in reporting these crimes right away, and more active more proactive in reporting these crimes that would help police a lot,"
Every year at around this time, there is talk of a fireworks ban and better inspections at the docks.
The Honolulu Police Department said it expects enforcement of illegal fireworks to be about the same as last year. The department says it issued seven citations and made two arrests last year."
Guaranteed no one will sleep through this night!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Meet Higgins
Almost everyone has had a pet some time during their life. If you have had multiple pets you understand it when I say that there are always one or two who stand out in your mind and remain in your heart forever.
This is Higgins. He was a "service" dog.
Higgins worked with a man who could not see. When Higgins was "retired" he was 7 1/2 years old and came to live with us. His working career spanned from the age of two when he completed his training until he came to us. We had been on the adoption waiting list for three years before receiving that fateful call saying we could come and pick him up. Although some service dogs do decide on their own that they have had enough of the working life, this was not the case with Higgins. The organization that had trained and placed him, Leader Dogs For The Blind, removed him from his placement due to concerns for his health. Higgins was what could be termed morbidly obese. The majority of his days were spent under a desk and his master fed him lots of people food. The vet put Higgins on a strict diet and soon enough he dropped the excess weight.
I am sharing memories of Higgins with you in the hope you might consider adopting a retiring service animal. They put in their time and really appreciate having time to just be themselves. Higgins did not bark, chase any other animals, loved all people and children and pooped on command - "park it" was all it took. Boy did we love this dog! Now that we are settled here in Hawaii we have once again gone on a waiting list. This time it is with an organization called Eye of the Pacific that provides assistance to people with sight issues. Hope it won't take another three years but you never know.
This is Higgins. He was a "service" dog.
Higgins worked with a man who could not see. When Higgins was "retired" he was 7 1/2 years old and came to live with us. His working career spanned from the age of two when he completed his training until he came to us. We had been on the adoption waiting list for three years before receiving that fateful call saying we could come and pick him up. Although some service dogs do decide on their own that they have had enough of the working life, this was not the case with Higgins. The organization that had trained and placed him, Leader Dogs For The Blind, removed him from his placement due to concerns for his health. Higgins was what could be termed morbidly obese. The majority of his days were spent under a desk and his master fed him lots of people food. The vet put Higgins on a strict diet and soon enough he dropped the excess weight.
I am sharing memories of Higgins with you in the hope you might consider adopting a retiring service animal. They put in their time and really appreciate having time to just be themselves. Higgins did not bark, chase any other animals, loved all people and children and pooped on command - "park it" was all it took. Boy did we love this dog! Now that we are settled here in Hawaii we have once again gone on a waiting list. This time it is with an organization called Eye of the Pacific that provides assistance to people with sight issues. Hope it won't take another three years but you never know.
Vog? Huh?
We have learned yet another new term from our local weatherman - vog. As far as we can figure this word is a variation on fog but the source of the fog is a volcano, thus vog. Recently we were out for a drive, as we are wont to do, and I commented to John there appeared to be a slight haze in the distance. He said, "Oh, maybe that is vog." Remember I mentioned that he is a local news and weather junkie (besides Cspan 1,2,3, and MSNBC and Fox and Cnn etc.) He then explained to me that we actually have a web page maintained by the state government (http://hawaii.gov/gov/vog) that provides "important information about vog". Apparently when one of the volcanos on the Big Island of Hawaii vents some steam it results in a concentration of some temporary increased levels (spikes) of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and particulates occurring mainly in the early morning hours in the communities closest to the vent areas. It seems to be rare for vog to reach as far as Oahu where we live but it does remind me of some of the national weather reports that talk about Los Angeles and their air quality. Of course we have the advantage of being surrounded by wind from one direction or another 98% of time so our situation is vastly different from that of LA.
I must apologize to any of you dear readers who are residents of this corner of paradise for stating what is known to all here. However, some friends and relatives are learning along with us about the wonders of our new home state. My goodness but we do love it!
I must apologize to any of you dear readers who are residents of this corner of paradise for stating what is known to all here. However, some friends and relatives are learning along with us about the wonders of our new home state. My goodness but we do love it!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Tiger Woods
People, people, people - Give me and Tiger Woods a break. Get out of his bedroom, auto, marriage, women, etc. I have been considering posting myself as his potential #13 mistress but think it may be hard to convince anyone of his interest in a gray haired, medicare age female.
So let it be. Please!
So let it be. Please!
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
"The Eddie" is On
Named in memory of famed North Shore surfer Eddie Aikau. The local news reports: "The contest is only held when waves at Waimea Bay are in the range of 30 feet or more. When conditions are favorable, 28 of the world's foremost big wave surfers are invited to Oahu to participate." The waves can't be choppy or too close together. The contest has been held 8 times in the last 25 years due to waiting for the right waves.
I learned from the New York Times that the Eddie invitations are made only to recognized world class surfers. The waves wound up being 50+ feet high. The photos below (courtesy of the Times article) give you some idea of the height of these bad boys. (click on a photo and it will enlarge)
The story of Edie Aikau is, to me, more inspirational than any I have heard of late. Eddie was the first lifeguard hired by the City & County of Honolulu to work on the North Shore. His area of responsibility was large but his assigned beach was as a lifeguard at Waimea Bay (where the contest is held). As a lifeguard he responded to calls in waves often 30+ ft high and he never lost a person. In 1971 Eddie was named Lifeguard of the year. That is a pretty big deal considering this is an island with many, many beaches.
Wikipedia tells the rest of the story better than I can:
"Lost at sea
In 1978, the Polynesian Voyaging Society was seeking volunteers for a 30-day, 2,500-mile (4,000 km) journey to follow the ancient route of the Polynesian migration between the Hawaiian and Tahitian island chains. At 31 years of age, Aikau joined the voyage as a crew member. The Hokule'a left the Hawaiian islands on March 16, 1978. The double-hulled voyaging canoe developed a leak in one of the hulls and later capsized about twelve miles (19 km) south of the island of Molokai. In an attempt to get help, Aikau paddled toward Lanai on his surfboard.[6] Although the rest of the crew was later rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard, Aikau was never seen again. The ensuing search for Aikau was the largest air-sea search in Hawaii history.[7]
The last person lifeguard Eddie Aikau rescued at Waimea Bay was a young TV producer named John Orland, who had just wrapped up production on a TV pilot called the "Hawaii Experience," starring Bob Crane from Hogan's Heroes. He was rescued on February 19, 1978, less than a month before Eddie Aikau was lost at sea."
I learned from the New York Times that the Eddie invitations are made only to recognized world class surfers. The waves wound up being 50+ feet high. The photos below (courtesy of the Times article) give you some idea of the height of these bad boys. (click on a photo and it will enlarge)
The story of Edie Aikau is, to me, more inspirational than any I have heard of late. Eddie was the first lifeguard hired by the City & County of Honolulu to work on the North Shore. His area of responsibility was large but his assigned beach was as a lifeguard at Waimea Bay (where the contest is held). As a lifeguard he responded to calls in waves often 30+ ft high and he never lost a person. In 1971 Eddie was named Lifeguard of the year. That is a pretty big deal considering this is an island with many, many beaches.
Wikipedia tells the rest of the story better than I can:
"Lost at sea
In 1978, the Polynesian Voyaging Society was seeking volunteers for a 30-day, 2,500-mile (4,000 km) journey to follow the ancient route of the Polynesian migration between the Hawaiian and Tahitian island chains. At 31 years of age, Aikau joined the voyage as a crew member. The Hokule'a left the Hawaiian islands on March 16, 1978. The double-hulled voyaging canoe developed a leak in one of the hulls and later capsized about twelve miles (19 km) south of the island of Molokai. In an attempt to get help, Aikau paddled toward Lanai on his surfboard.[6] Although the rest of the crew was later rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard, Aikau was never seen again. The ensuing search for Aikau was the largest air-sea search in Hawaii history.[7]
The last person lifeguard Eddie Aikau rescued at Waimea Bay was a young TV producer named John Orland, who had just wrapped up production on a TV pilot called the "Hawaii Experience," starring Bob Crane from Hogan's Heroes. He was rescued on February 19, 1978, less than a month before Eddie Aikau was lost at sea."
Monday, December 07, 2009
Waves! Warnings!
Today warnings on TV. Waves of up to 50 ft on the North Shore. Sorry, no photos. The roads are jammed with cars on the way to see the waves. Sand has been deposited on some parts of the road. Warnings have been broadcast to people who may plan to stand on the beaches to watch. A set of large waves may swamp the beach and pull observers into the water!
Needless to say. . . we will not be going. Instead we plan to observe as much of the Pearl Harbor remembrance activities as we can from here on the 12th floor of our building.
Needless to say. . . we will not be going. Instead we plan to observe as much of the Pearl Harbor remembrance activities as we can from here on the 12th floor of our building.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Rules, rules, rules!
High rise living is a new world. Out of necessity there must be rules that govern both behaviors and movement. For those who have always been either in military housing or a single family home, we have much to learn and are trying hard to comply.
Almost exactly 2 years ago we gave away 40 years worth of accumulations, sold our home and packed off to Peace Corps Thailand. Remaining was 16 boxes of "stuff" and my mother-in-law's small ladies desk and chair. These few items went into storage near Atlanta, Ga. A short while ago we arranged to retrieve said "stuff" and have it shipped to us. We received a call our items in the form of one crate (containing said desk and chair) and one pallet (with a mix of 16 small and medium boxes) were ready for pickup.
John and I knew from recent experience that (a) one of our two elevators is designated for freight and (b) said elevator must be properly protected with quilted pads when it is to be used. So when the call came in from the docks saying our shipment was ready the first thing John did was check the service elevator. We were in luck! For one reason or another, the pads were up. Off we went to rent a small truck and do the pickup. (photos below) Lucky for us the people at the dock were willing to take the wooden pallet and dispose of the crate (for a fee) once we emptied it.
Upon arriving back at our building our luck continued when we saw the designated unloading parking spot was open. We were happy. John pulled in and we began unloading boxes to the sidewalk. Next, out came the staff member assigned to our building. Staff: did you make an appointment? Us: Appointment?? For what?? Staff: To use the elevator. Us: But the pads are up. Staff: Oh yes they are up for someone else. Us: But no one else is using it now. Staff: But they will. Us: OK. We will hurry. Staff: You must have an appointment. Us: OK. What shall we do? Take the items back to the dock? Staff: Call the office.
We called the office to report ourselves and were told it is OK. Next time please make an appointment. As luck would have it - the people who had made the appointment - thus the putting up of the pads - had their truck show up just as we were taking the last of our items off of ours. Turns out the people who had made the appointment were not very happy with us. But we tried so very hard to comply!
For the last 41 years our philosophy has been "every day a new adventure". Condo living is indeed an adventure in itself. As long as we can be together we would not have it any other way!
Relatively small crate holding said desk and chair.
16 boxes of memories (a set of golf clubs and one vacuum cleaner)
Amazingly, this truck was exactly the right size for us!
Almost exactly 2 years ago we gave away 40 years worth of accumulations, sold our home and packed off to Peace Corps Thailand. Remaining was 16 boxes of "stuff" and my mother-in-law's small ladies desk and chair. These few items went into storage near Atlanta, Ga. A short while ago we arranged to retrieve said "stuff" and have it shipped to us. We received a call our items in the form of one crate (containing said desk and chair) and one pallet (with a mix of 16 small and medium boxes) were ready for pickup.
John and I knew from recent experience that (a) one of our two elevators is designated for freight and (b) said elevator must be properly protected with quilted pads when it is to be used. So when the call came in from the docks saying our shipment was ready the first thing John did was check the service elevator. We were in luck! For one reason or another, the pads were up. Off we went to rent a small truck and do the pickup. (photos below) Lucky for us the people at the dock were willing to take the wooden pallet and dispose of the crate (for a fee) once we emptied it.
Upon arriving back at our building our luck continued when we saw the designated unloading parking spot was open. We were happy. John pulled in and we began unloading boxes to the sidewalk. Next, out came the staff member assigned to our building. Staff: did you make an appointment? Us: Appointment?? For what?? Staff: To use the elevator. Us: But the pads are up. Staff: Oh yes they are up for someone else. Us: But no one else is using it now. Staff: But they will. Us: OK. We will hurry. Staff: You must have an appointment. Us: OK. What shall we do? Take the items back to the dock? Staff: Call the office.
We called the office to report ourselves and were told it is OK. Next time please make an appointment. As luck would have it - the people who had made the appointment - thus the putting up of the pads - had their truck show up just as we were taking the last of our items off of ours. Turns out the people who had made the appointment were not very happy with us. But we tried so very hard to comply!
For the last 41 years our philosophy has been "every day a new adventure". Condo living is indeed an adventure in itself. As long as we can be together we would not have it any other way!
Relatively small crate holding said desk and chair.
16 boxes of memories (a set of golf clubs and one vacuum cleaner)
Amazingly, this truck was exactly the right size for us!
Christmas Lights Park at Pearlridge
The holidays here conjure up much enthusiasm. Tonight when we came home after dark we were treated to a display of lights in our inner courtyard. Once we were upstairs at our door I leaned over the railing and took a photo from above. What fun!
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