On Saturday, June 25th we took a short drive into Kona to visit the local Farmer's Market. As we pulled into the parking lot near the market, we noticed some type of ceremony taking place under a large white tent. Once out of the vehicle, we heard vibrant music and noticed a women dressed in white with a garland of greenery draped around her neck. Many guest were lined up to sign "the book". Our first impression was the event must be a wedding. Much to our surprise, a local, told us that this was a burial ceremony. It was very much like a celebration and very unlike most burial ceremonies we have in Arkansas.
After satisfying our curiosity about the ceremony, we turned our attention to the market. There was row after row of tents that housed everything from homemade food items to fresh produce. The locals were more than happy to barter a little in an effort to sell their wares! We made our way through each tent checking our the goods. One of the produce tents proved to be especially interesting as it housed a happy lizard just lounging on the fresh papaya. Check out the video below!
As we continued to wander around the market, we ran upon a young lady selling art. We were amazed as she shared her story with us. The handpainted pictures are painted on Tapa which is derived from the Mulberry tree. Tapa is made by beating log narrow strips from the inner bark. On average it takes 2 to 3 hours of beating for each strip to obtain the Tapa material. Once the material has reached the appropriate consistency, it is then painted with traditional designs using black and brown dyes from the bark of the Mangrove and Red Cedar trees. Some dyes are boiled with copper and baking soda. Please check out the video below to hear the young girl's story and to see the beautiful artwork!
The trip to the Farmer's Market was both enjoyable and informative. It was clear that this event has a positive impact on the Kona economy as it was a very busy place! Next we are off to enjoy an authentic Luau!!
Mrs. Norton
This blog will chronicle our journey as we explore the Big Island of Hawaii. We are educators from Monticello Intermediate School where we teach a vareity of subjects. We hope that you will join us on our adventure!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Maddie Made It!
If you have been following the blog you may remember that Maddie the Mad Scientist showed up at the airport and flew with us to Hawaii. Once we arrived in Oahu, Maddie, as usual, wondered off and we could not find her. Today, we visited Mauna Kea and low and behold...guess who we found. Yes, Maddie was there. She told us she had been at the bottom of Kilaeua testing volcanic gases. Now whether or not that happened is still up in the air!! I guess Maddie will board the plane and head back to the mainland with us tomorrow! Check out Maddie's video below!
We're History
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| Gecko Petroglyph |
Saturday, June 25, 2011
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| Indonesian Ginger |
Yesterday following the trip to Hilo we visited the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens located on the Onomea Bay. As we pulled into the parking lot, we noticed how the trees soared toward the sky and how vibrant color of the flowers. As we entered the gate, a large plaque explained the vision behind the gardens. In 1977, Dan Lutkenhouse purchased the 17 acre tract because of its natural beauty. It took him eight years of hard work to prepare the the gardens for visitors. Leading away from the dedication plaque, a 500 foot long elevated boardwalk snaked down the steep-walled, narrow ravine of Kahalii Stream. The Kahalii ravine is festooned with exotic tropical growth of giant bamboo, bananas, flowering vines, orchids and ferns. We noticed an abundance of some type of nut lying on the forest floor and upon research realized these came from the betel nut palm trees. They resembled acorns that we find in abundance in Arkansas. We were so surprised to find out they came from a palm tree!! As we made our way down the path, we noticed thick vines hanging from many of the trees. The plant life below the canopy was dense and colorful. A banana tree, heavily burdened with fruit waiting to ripen, served as a resting spot for a local lizard. Many of the plants boasted beautiful, colorful flowers or seed pods. We noticed that one plant had a flower that resembled a brightly colored bird! It was very interesting! Many species of ginger grew in a plethora of colors! When touched, they felt like wax! It was the strangest thing!
As we continued our journey to the floor of the forest, we came upon a beautiful waterfall. The sound of the falls could be heard well before they were seen. Following the tranquil sound of water, the breathtaking view appeared before us. The water tumbled over the large boulders on its way to the pool at the bottom of the valley. The small stream then meandered its way toward the ocean. Continuing on our journey, we came across the Orchid Garden. A variety of species created a unique display in this area. The size and color varied greatly. We learned that the vanilla bean is the seed pod from the vanilla orchid! Who knew?? Behind the orchid garden stood a large cage that housed Macaws. These are large, colorful birds with a distinct squawk! It was quiet funny when Dr. Bramlett talked to one of the birds and the bird talked back! This unique experience was a reminder of how nature works in harmony to create a beautiful landscape. The website to the garden is www.hawaiigarden.com. I encourage you to check it out!
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| Tikki statue |
Aloha!
Mrs. Norton
The Temple on the Hill
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| King Kamehameha |
Today we visited one of the last major sacred structures on the island known as Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic site. What an interesting story you will find here! The early Hawaiians prophesied that a great leader would one day come to bring peace and unity among the islands. They were looking for a sign from the gods in the sky to announce the birth of child that would become the king. A white-tailed star streaked across the dark sky in the year of 1758, believed to be Haley's Comet. This was the very night that an infant named Kamehameha, was born in the Kohala district on the northwestern tip of the island of Hawai'i. The destined king was to be hidden away so that other kings could not find him and kill him before prophesy was fulfilled. Does the story sound familiar yet? The child grew to be a strong and powerful warrior working his way in the ranks of his family. Kamehameha had a rival that also wanted to rule the island, non other than his cousin Keoua Kuahu'ula. Kamehameha invited his cousin to view the great heiau (temple) that he and his warriors had recently constructed and Keoua willingly accepted the invitation. Now this wasn't the family reunion you would expect! Kamehameha had intentions of killing his cousin to overtake the rule of the islands and his cousin was fully aware the outcome would be death. A great battle happened between the cousins at the site of the temple and as you guessed it, he became the king. Kamehameha was successful in bringing unity and peace among the islands. His rule lasted until his death in the year of 1819.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Encountered Animals
While in Hawaii, we saw many animals. Some animals that we saw were native to
Hawaii, and some were animals we see everyday in Monticello.
We saw donkeys, chickens, birds, mongooses, mules, kane spiders, horses, and even a Billie goat. We saw sea turtles, eels, crabs, dolphins, Hawaiian monk saeal, ferral cats, and tropical fish.
An interesting fact about the kane spider is that they are not poisonous. They look a lot like our spiders at home.
An interesting bird that we saw was the honeycreeper. This bird is endemic to Hawaii which means it is only found here in Hawaii. It was a beautiful reddish orange bird with black tail feathers and white feathers underneath.
An endemic mammal to Hawaii is the Hawaiian monk seal. We actually got to see one in O'ahu on Rabbit Island that was born about three weeks ago. Be sure to check our our blog post on the monk seal and the video.
We also mentioned the ferral cats. They were everywhere! We would sit down to eat and they would be all over the restaurants. They would walk up and down the street and no owners were anywhere to be found. At one restaurant, it was said that the owner did not want the cats to be there but the waitresses liked them and promised to take care of them. We also noticed signs that warned not to feed the cats because they are trying to capture them to control the population.
Did I mention the sea turtles? Several of our blog posts have addressed them. We were able to get really close to them a couple of different times. Some of them were humongous. On one account, Mrs. Harrison was able to catch a fascinating picture with the turtles head above the water.
Hawaii, and some were animals we see everyday in Monticello.
We saw donkeys, chickens, birds, mongooses, mules, kane spiders, horses, and even a Billie goat. We saw sea turtles, eels, crabs, dolphins, Hawaiian monk saeal, ferral cats, and tropical fish.
An interesting fact about the kane spider is that they are not poisonous. They look a lot like our spiders at home.
An interesting bird that we saw was the honeycreeper. This bird is endemic to Hawaii which means it is only found here in Hawaii. It was a beautiful reddish orange bird with black tail feathers and white feathers underneath.
An endemic mammal to Hawaii is the Hawaiian monk seal. We actually got to see one in O'ahu on Rabbit Island that was born about three weeks ago. Be sure to check our our blog post on the monk seal and the video.
We also mentioned the ferral cats. They were everywhere! We would sit down to eat and they would be all over the restaurants. They would walk up and down the street and no owners were anywhere to be found. At one restaurant, it was said that the owner did not want the cats to be there but the waitresses liked them and promised to take care of them. We also noticed signs that warned not to feed the cats because they are trying to capture them to control the population.
Did I mention the sea turtles? Several of our blog posts have addressed them. We were able to get really close to them a couple of different times. Some of them were humongous. On one account, Mrs. Harrison was able to catch a fascinating picture with the turtles head above the water.
They always say...third times the charm
Strolling through the botanical gardens taking in every beautiful flower around us, we heard a strange movement in the bushes. As we looked over the rod iron fence, there he was! Right in front of us, a mongoose with his head held high. There was a no trespassing sign into the fence, so I wasn't able to chase him. However, I was able to sneak in on him and get a great picture to share with you.
Mongoose
Mrs. Grimes
Hello Hilo!
Today we drove to Hilo by way of the Saddle Road. Hilo is on the opposite side of the Big Island from Kona, where we are staying. The Saddle Road is a highway snaking between Mount Kileaua and the Mauna Loa volcanoes. When we first turned onto the highway we noticed a strong odor of sulphur which is the gas emitted for the volcanoes. If you have driven around the paper mills in Arkansas, you are familiar with the smell! After a stop at Rainbow Falls to view an impressive waterfall, we stopped for a quick bite to eat in Historic downtown Hilo. The buildings of this quaint coastal town took you back in time because history was evident in the architecture such as the Pacific Tsunami Museum. The museum holds pictures and many artifacts from tsunamis that have affected many Pacific Islands. I instantly made a connection to the tsunami that slammed into Laupahoeoe Point on April Fool's Day 1946. As many elementary children were arriving on a Monday morning an earthquake off the Aleutain Islands was creating a massive wave that would come ashore with a great force. The waters receded way beyond the norm and students ventured out to see the fish left behind only to be swept away by the next wave. A monument stands today to commemorate the 24 students who were killed. In the museum a colorful quilt can be found hanging that was made by local students in 1997 to remember the event. The story took my breathe away as I couldn't begin to comprehend such a catastrophic disaster occurring to my students.
Hawaiian Monk Seal
One of our many adventures led us to Rabbit Island in Honolulu, HI. As we arrived at Rabbit Island, we interviewed an officer with the Department of Conservation. He informed us that there was a monk seal born on the island about three weeks ago. This is very unique because only one out of five monk seals make it to adulthood. Scientists believe it may be from competition for food from sharks. Wildlife scienctists say there were over 15,000 in Hawaii in the past and the population is declining with only about 1,500 remaining.
Our Typical Day
Several students have asked what our typical day has been like in Hawaii. The answer is.....nonstop. We leave the hotel every morning around 7:30 and don't return until 7 or later at night. Katie asked about how many times we had been swimming at the beach. The answer to this is none. Actually, we did swim when we went snorkeling. Well, I don't know if you could really call it swimming. It was more like floating while trying to hold on to all of our snorkeling equipment. And, for someone like me, it was a bit frustrating. I couldn't seem to get it all together, which is normal for me.
We have seen some really amazing sites and learned so much. However, we do come in at night extremely exhausted and begin working on Facebook, twitter, and our blog. We want to make sure that we get pictures, information, and video footage for you to see as soon as possible do you can too experience.
We have been able to Skype with two of our students so far which was so neat! As you know, yesterday we skyped with Zach Jones and today we skyped with Mason Morgan from Rainbow Falls. Rainbow Falls was a stream fed waterfall that flowed into a river and ran east to the Pacific Ocean. At the top of the waterfall was a massive Banyan tree. You could climb and climb and never reach the top. The branches kept going and going, just like the energizer bunny!
We have seen some really amazing sites and learned so much. However, we do come in at night extremely exhausted and begin working on Facebook, twitter, and our blog. We want to make sure that we get pictures, information, and video footage for you to see as soon as possible do you can too experience.
We have been able to Skype with two of our students so far which was so neat! As you know, yesterday we skyped with Zach Jones and today we skyped with Mason Morgan from Rainbow Falls. Rainbow Falls was a stream fed waterfall that flowed into a river and ran east to the Pacific Ocean. At the top of the waterfall was a massive Banyan tree. You could climb and climb and never reach the top. The branches kept going and going, just like the energizer bunny!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
We "LAVA" Hawaii!!!!
We "LAVA" Hawaii by Mrs. Grimes
Just when we thought we couldn't go any further, we arrived at South Point, the southern most point in the United States. It was here that the massive waves crashed against the shore. Just around the corner, it was said that waves reached 40 feet and would pull you under if you were standing on the rocks overlooking the ocean. Words nor pictures could explain the beauty of this place. Although we weren't soaking up the rays in our swimsuits relaxing, it was a gorgeous place to be. It seemed like the world stood still.
We couldn't stay here forever, because there were many more places to visit and not enough hours in the day. We were off to the black sand beach known as Punalu'u. ( Wow, that was a tough one to spell.) Here, we received a chemistry lesson from Dr. Bramlett, dean of the math and science department at UAM. The black sand is made from iron silicate. As we walked up to the sand, a rather large sea turtle was basking in the sun on the shore. He was very friendly and allowed us to take pictures up close and personal. We were planning to bring some black sand, but it was prohibited. Just up the road, there was a green sand beach. We were not able to visit, but we did get a sample of green sand at a local restaurant. The green sand is made of magnesium silicate, or the mineral olivine.
Conveniently located near the black sand beach was an amazing lunch stop. We ate at the southern most bakery in the United States. Here we sampled a new yummy treat for dessert. It was called a Malsada, a Portuguese doughnut. Faddie the Food Critic ( videos to come) found the strawberry filled delicacy to be wonderful. There were many flavors including guava, passionfruit, taro, and chocolate. These are not as sweet as a doughnut, but very filling.
Because we had many things to do, we hopped into our vans and headed to what we had been waiting for all week!!!! We were off to Volcano National Park. Our trip through the park had to change a little due to high
levels of sulfur dioxide. We walked along the rim of the craters at Mt. Kilauea and saw steam vents. This was the main crater and lava would flow into the field and drain into the lava tubes ( resembling a straw like underground cave) heading into the Pacific Ocean. This is how Hawaii is growing, creating new land even today.
Our next stop was the Jagger Museum. This stop gave us a closer look at the crater. As we walked up to the front of the museum that overlooked the crater, the steam was rising. We were able to share this with one of our MIS students, Zach Jones. We skyped with him allowing him to see exactly what we saw. Upon visiting with the park ranger, we learned that the lava flow was about 400-500 feet below the caldera. When asked how they knew this, he said they have a camera that took still photos every 15 minutes. While we were there, it showed the levels of lava were rising and the photo looked like the lava was active and bubbly. Tonight, they hoped the embers would glow and would light up the night sky. Man, we wished we would have been able to stay around to see this!
The journey was not over yet. We kept driving along on the coast of the ocean to a lava field. This was one of our coolest stops of the day. It was here we walked about a mile atop layers and layers of lava to reach a sign that said, " road closed." This was a fitting sign for this location because it was impossible to pass. In the early 80's, lava flowed across the road closing the road forever. Piles and piles of lava covered this area, some very smooth and some very jagged and rough.
On to the next stop on our marvelous journey through the national park. The next stop was a very unique sight. It was a forest overtaken by lava. The trees were green, but the lava covered the trunks of the trees. Imagine that, more lava in the Volcano National Park. The lava cooled so quickly that it didn't kill the trees that grew there.
Boy! We have learned a lot today. But, the excursion is not quite complete. We had one more stop. We actually got to walk through a lava tube. Wow! That was really cool and we shot some video footage that we will be sharing with you later. To get to the lava tube, we had to walk down steep steps through a lush, beautiful rain forest, leading to the entrance of the tube. A cool experience in so many ways. It was cool in temperature, not what you expect being connected with lava. It was also cool in appearance. It was a dark, cool, man-made looking cave with ferns hanging from above. As we exited the lava tube, our attention was directed to a native Hawaiian bird, the apapane. This is a red bird, somewhat resembling our cardinal, however appeared smaller, more like the size of sparrow.
Who knew we could take in so much information in one day? This day was an awesome experience and we wanted to take in every moment. However, we are sitting here extremely exhausted! We have just arrived back at our room, dragging just a little, but working very hard to keep everyone back home in Arkansas informed so you can experience this journey with us. If you notice, many of our posts appear to come in the middle of the night. For instance, it is almost 11pm here and in Arkansas, it is almost 4am.
Be sure and check out our pictures that will explain some of the sites we visited today. For now, we must sign off to get ready for our adventures tomorrow. We will be departing bright and early to visit a botanical garden.
Just when we thought we couldn't go any further, we arrived at South Point, the southern most point in the United States. It was here that the massive waves crashed against the shore. Just around the corner, it was said that waves reached 40 feet and would pull you under if you were standing on the rocks overlooking the ocean. Words nor pictures could explain the beauty of this place. Although we weren't soaking up the rays in our swimsuits relaxing, it was a gorgeous place to be. It seemed like the world stood still.
We couldn't stay here forever, because there were many more places to visit and not enough hours in the day. We were off to the black sand beach known as Punalu'u. ( Wow, that was a tough one to spell.) Here, we received a chemistry lesson from Dr. Bramlett, dean of the math and science department at UAM. The black sand is made from iron silicate. As we walked up to the sand, a rather large sea turtle was basking in the sun on the shore. He was very friendly and allowed us to take pictures up close and personal. We were planning to bring some black sand, but it was prohibited. Just up the road, there was a green sand beach. We were not able to visit, but we did get a sample of green sand at a local restaurant. The green sand is made of magnesium silicate, or the mineral olivine.
Conveniently located near the black sand beach was an amazing lunch stop. We ate at the southern most bakery in the United States. Here we sampled a new yummy treat for dessert. It was called a Malsada, a Portuguese doughnut. Faddie the Food Critic ( videos to come) found the strawberry filled delicacy to be wonderful. There were many flavors including guava, passionfruit, taro, and chocolate. These are not as sweet as a doughnut, but very filling.
Because we had many things to do, we hopped into our vans and headed to what we had been waiting for all week!!!! We were off to Volcano National Park. Our trip through the park had to change a little due to high
levels of sulfur dioxide. We walked along the rim of the craters at Mt. Kilauea and saw steam vents. This was the main crater and lava would flow into the field and drain into the lava tubes ( resembling a straw like underground cave) heading into the Pacific Ocean. This is how Hawaii is growing, creating new land even today.
Our next stop was the Jagger Museum. This stop gave us a closer look at the crater. As we walked up to the front of the museum that overlooked the crater, the steam was rising. We were able to share this with one of our MIS students, Zach Jones. We skyped with him allowing him to see exactly what we saw. Upon visiting with the park ranger, we learned that the lava flow was about 400-500 feet below the caldera. When asked how they knew this, he said they have a camera that took still photos every 15 minutes. While we were there, it showed the levels of lava were rising and the photo looked like the lava was active and bubbly. Tonight, they hoped the embers would glow and would light up the night sky. Man, we wished we would have been able to stay around to see this!
The journey was not over yet. We kept driving along on the coast of the ocean to a lava field. This was one of our coolest stops of the day. It was here we walked about a mile atop layers and layers of lava to reach a sign that said, " road closed." This was a fitting sign for this location because it was impossible to pass. In the early 80's, lava flowed across the road closing the road forever. Piles and piles of lava covered this area, some very smooth and some very jagged and rough.
On to the next stop on our marvelous journey through the national park. The next stop was a very unique sight. It was a forest overtaken by lava. The trees were green, but the lava covered the trunks of the trees. Imagine that, more lava in the Volcano National Park. The lava cooled so quickly that it didn't kill the trees that grew there.
Boy! We have learned a lot today. But, the excursion is not quite complete. We had one more stop. We actually got to walk through a lava tube. Wow! That was really cool and we shot some video footage that we will be sharing with you later. To get to the lava tube, we had to walk down steep steps through a lush, beautiful rain forest, leading to the entrance of the tube. A cool experience in so many ways. It was cool in temperature, not what you expect being connected with lava. It was also cool in appearance. It was a dark, cool, man-made looking cave with ferns hanging from above. As we exited the lava tube, our attention was directed to a native Hawaiian bird, the apapane. This is a red bird, somewhat resembling our cardinal, however appeared smaller, more like the size of sparrow.
Who knew we could take in so much information in one day? This day was an awesome experience and we wanted to take in every moment. However, we are sitting here extremely exhausted! We have just arrived back at our room, dragging just a little, but working very hard to keep everyone back home in Arkansas informed so you can experience this journey with us. If you notice, many of our posts appear to come in the middle of the night. For instance, it is almost 11pm here and in Arkansas, it is almost 4am.
Be sure and check out our pictures that will explain some of the sites we visited today. For now, we must sign off to get ready for our adventures tomorrow. We will be departing bright and early to visit a botanical garden.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
I think I found Nemo!!
Yesterday afternoon we boarded a large catamaran and set out for Kealakekua Bay! The trip across the Pacific took approximately 45 minutes to reach the bay. During the trip the crew brought around snorkel gear and swim fins. This was my first time to snorkel and I wasn't sure how to feel. Mrs. West gave us a quick lesson on how to wear the mask....we all looked like aliens! As we approached the bay we saw several Spinner Dolphins playing in the water! It was amazing! Once we reached the bay, the crew gave us some rules to abide by...yes even teachers must follow the rules! Once we had been given instructions we made our way to the lower deck to take the sea stairs to the water. Before entering the water, the suggestion was made to put dishwashing liquid inside the mask, swish it around and then rinse it out. This would keep our mask from fogging up.
As I prepared to enter the water, one of the crew members handed me a ski belt (sort of like a life jacket), I put on my fins and slipped quietly into the water. The shock of the cold water nearly took my breath away. Once I warmed up, I clumsily made my way toward the shore. Taking all the instructions Mrs. West had given me, I put my mask on, put the snorkel in my mouth, inhaled, closed my eyes and put my face in the water. It took a few attempts before I was able to breathe through the snorkel, but I finally figured it out. When I opened my eyes I was so moved by what I saw below the water. The undersea world was teeming with life! The coral created a landscape unlike anything I had ever seen. A variety of coral was present including "cauliflower" coral. The colors were breathtaking! As I began to get more comfortable with the whole idea of snorkeling, I was able to concentrate more on I what I saw and less on the exercise itself. The fish were plentiful and vibrant. I saw a Parrot Fish and learned that they eat the coral and excrete sand (yes that does mean poop). Amazingly, each Parrot Fish excretes some 3 tons of sand during their lifetime! WOW!! While I did not see a sea cucumber I did learn that they take the excretion from the Parrot Fish, consume it and grind it up and then excrete a finer sand. Think about that when you stick your toes in the sand! More to come.....off to the volcanoes.
Mrs. Norton
As I prepared to enter the water, one of the crew members handed me a ski belt (sort of like a life jacket), I put on my fins and slipped quietly into the water. The shock of the cold water nearly took my breath away. Once I warmed up, I clumsily made my way toward the shore. Taking all the instructions Mrs. West had given me, I put my mask on, put the snorkel in my mouth, inhaled, closed my eyes and put my face in the water. It took a few attempts before I was able to breathe through the snorkel, but I finally figured it out. When I opened my eyes I was so moved by what I saw below the water. The undersea world was teeming with life! The coral created a landscape unlike anything I had ever seen. A variety of coral was present including "cauliflower" coral. The colors were breathtaking! As I began to get more comfortable with the whole idea of snorkeling, I was able to concentrate more on I what I saw and less on the exercise itself. The fish were plentiful and vibrant. I saw a Parrot Fish and learned that they eat the coral and excrete sand (yes that does mean poop). Amazingly, each Parrot Fish excretes some 3 tons of sand during their lifetime! WOW!! While I did not see a sea cucumber I did learn that they take the excretion from the Parrot Fish, consume it and grind it up and then excrete a finer sand. Think about that when you stick your toes in the sand! More to come.....off to the volcanoes.
Mrs. Norton
The Unexpected by your MIS Hawaii Team
As we embarked upon our journey down the scenic route in route to Pu'uhonua o Honaunau, we immediately realized things were not as they seemed...the foliage resembled that of what you would see in the tropics with beautiful, brightly colored flowers, large trees, and lush lawns. The reason this is so unexpected is because we are on the dry side of the island with an average annual rainfall of 10-20 inches a year much different from the wet side of the island with an average rainfall of 200 inches a year.
When we arrived at the National Historic Park, it was the first day of summer and our admission to the park was free. We were at first not excited about the day's activities. Immediately our ideas changed and it was not at all what we expected. We thought that this was to address only the historical part of out field study, and to our surprise it was so much more. The vegetation was as it was before European influence. It was sparse and the native plants were indigenous.
This area is also known as " the place of refuge." Tall royal palms surround the temple complex that sits on a 20-acre finger of lava bordered by the sea on three sides. The only access to the pu'uhonua (temple of refuge) was by swimming across a bay known as the shark's den. If you managed to survive, the kahuna (priest) was required, under pain of death, to offer you sanctuary and absolve you of all wrong doing. Here in the national park you can walk through an ancient Hawaiian village and see firsthand how the kings of Hawaii once lived.
Some of the interesting facts we learned today were regarding punishment. If you were to get into trouble, children 12 and under, your parents paid for the crime. If you were older than 12, you paid the price yourself. However, the most interestig fact was that if you saw someone commit a crime, you had to administer punishment. If you didn't, you were punished. Wow! Things sure would be a lot different if these same rules applied today.
While we thought the morning's events would only be historical based, we were pleasantly surprised to find that we could also walk among the lava fields, peer into tidal pools, and get up close and personal with some sea turtles. While peering into a tidal pool we found a very unusual little crab. While the crab appeared black as it scurried across the lava as soon as it hit the water it turned to the color of whatever was beneath it. AMAZING!!! That was animal adaptation at its finest. While examining the crab, we noticed that a long and slender creature swam by us. Much to the relief of Mrs. West it was quickly identified as an eel, rather than a snake. Mrs. Longing and Mrs. Norton tried to lure the eel out of its hiding place while Mrs. West stood nearby filming the event. Meanwhile, Mrs. Harrison and Mrs. Grimes searched for and found the Hawaiian sea turtle. Mrs. Harrison even wadded into the water to take a closer look.
When we arrived at the National Historic Park, it was the first day of summer and our admission to the park was free. We were at first not excited about the day's activities. Immediately our ideas changed and it was not at all what we expected. We thought that this was to address only the historical part of out field study, and to our surprise it was so much more. The vegetation was as it was before European influence. It was sparse and the native plants were indigenous.
This area is also known as " the place of refuge." Tall royal palms surround the temple complex that sits on a 20-acre finger of lava bordered by the sea on three sides. The only access to the pu'uhonua (temple of refuge) was by swimming across a bay known as the shark's den. If you managed to survive, the kahuna (priest) was required, under pain of death, to offer you sanctuary and absolve you of all wrong doing. Here in the national park you can walk through an ancient Hawaiian village and see firsthand how the kings of Hawaii once lived.
Some of the interesting facts we learned today were regarding punishment. If you were to get into trouble, children 12 and under, your parents paid for the crime. If you were older than 12, you paid the price yourself. However, the most interestig fact was that if you saw someone commit a crime, you had to administer punishment. If you didn't, you were punished. Wow! Things sure would be a lot different if these same rules applied today.
While we thought the morning's events would only be historical based, we were pleasantly surprised to find that we could also walk among the lava fields, peer into tidal pools, and get up close and personal with some sea turtles. While peering into a tidal pool we found a very unusual little crab. While the crab appeared black as it scurried across the lava as soon as it hit the water it turned to the color of whatever was beneath it. AMAZING!!! That was animal adaptation at its finest. While examining the crab, we noticed that a long and slender creature swam by us. Much to the relief of Mrs. West it was quickly identified as an eel, rather than a snake. Mrs. Longing and Mrs. Norton tried to lure the eel out of its hiding place while Mrs. West stood nearby filming the event. Meanwhile, Mrs. Harrison and Mrs. Grimes searched for and found the Hawaiian sea turtle. Mrs. Harrison even wadded into the water to take a closer look.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Zach Jones by Mrs. Grimes
We would like to take this opportunity to give a personal shout out to one of our most loyal followers coming to third grade next year, Zachary Jones. He has followed the blog everyday and given us several questions to answer. As a matter of fact, we are planning to Skype with him as well from Hawaii welcoming him to MIS. It is so exciting for us to come in at night and read what our students have written on the blog! Keep it up!
Hannah, Mrs. Harrison said hello too!
Hannah, Mrs. Harrison said hello too!
This is a question posted from an anonymous reader...
Mrs. Grimes,
How much is the price of gasoline in Hawaii? Are autos the main source of transportation or something more economical? Have a great rest of the week!!
The average price for a gallon of gas is $4.30. People travel by cars, mopeds, taxis, the city bus, and ride bikes. However, many people walk. It really depends on what island you are on as well. Honolulu was a lot busier and it was easier to walk than drive. However, we rode in a taxi and bus in Honolulu. In Kona, the traffic was not near as busy and we rode in a car everywhere we went.
Mrs. Grimes,
How much is the price of gasoline in Hawaii? Are autos the main source of transportation or something more economical? Have a great rest of the week!!
The average price for a gallon of gas is $4.30. People travel by cars, mopeds, taxis, the city bus, and ride bikes. However, many people walk. It really depends on what island you are on as well. Honolulu was a lot busier and it was easier to walk than drive. However, we rode in a taxi and bus in Honolulu. In Kona, the traffic was not near as busy and we rode in a car everywhere we went.
The Nut House
Good Morning,
After being awake for 24 hours, I was still on Arkansas time but up bright and early to begin our Hawaiian learning adventure. Day one started out with an organizational meeting and getting acquainted with the members of our field study group. Along with your five MIS teachers, we also have UAM students, professors, and teachers from around Arkansas and Vermont. We climbed into the vans and off we went!
Let me say I absolutely love traveling and exploring with other educators. When my family takes a trip we usually have to view the sites on a quick drive-by basis. That is, my husband contines driving as I say, "Oh, Wayne look!" But today we stopped at ALL tourist markers along the highway. One such stop was the Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company or as we joked "The Nut House!" The macadamia nut is grown plentiful on The Big Island because of the rich volcanic soil, abundant rainfall, and perfect temperatures. Inside the factory we watched the process of canning and packaging the nuts, sampled the many flavors, and shopped in the gift shop. Some of the most interesting flavors available were the Spam (yes, the processed meat), Chili Peppah, Wasabi, and Island Onion. Some of the flavors I wasn't brave enough to sample. During the process the nut is shelled and the shell is crushed to a fine powder that is used for energy to run the steamers in the factory. The energy from the shell is equivalent to half of diesel energy. Wow! That's being eco-friendly! Did you know that it takes 300 lbs of pressure per square inch to crush the shell of the macadamia nut and a human bite is only 200 lbs per square inch? That's a hard shell to crack!
Be sure and check back tomorrow for our next day's adventures!
Aloha,
Mrs. Harrison
After being awake for 24 hours, I was still on Arkansas time but up bright and early to begin our Hawaiian learning adventure. Day one started out with an organizational meeting and getting acquainted with the members of our field study group. Along with your five MIS teachers, we also have UAM students, professors, and teachers from around Arkansas and Vermont. We climbed into the vans and off we went!
Let me say I absolutely love traveling and exploring with other educators. When my family takes a trip we usually have to view the sites on a quick drive-by basis. That is, my husband contines driving as I say, "Oh, Wayne look!" But today we stopped at ALL tourist markers along the highway. One such stop was the Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company or as we joked "The Nut House!" The macadamia nut is grown plentiful on The Big Island because of the rich volcanic soil, abundant rainfall, and perfect temperatures. Inside the factory we watched the process of canning and packaging the nuts, sampled the many flavors, and shopped in the gift shop. Some of the most interesting flavors available were the Spam (yes, the processed meat), Chili Peppah, Wasabi, and Island Onion. Some of the flavors I wasn't brave enough to sample. During the process the nut is shelled and the shell is crushed to a fine powder that is used for energy to run the steamers in the factory. The energy from the shell is equivalent to half of diesel energy. Wow! That's being eco-friendly! Did you know that it takes 300 lbs of pressure per square inch to crush the shell of the macadamia nut and a human bite is only 200 lbs per square inch? That's a hard shell to crack!
Be sure and check back tomorrow for our next day's adventures!
Aloha,
Mrs. Harrison
Mrs. Norton in Paradise
Paradise is a word I associate with beauty, serenity and awe inspiring. I have seen some pretty places in my time, but none that I would consider paradise...until today. We drove down a narrow road, crossed one lane bridges and admired an abundance of floral beauty before we arrived at "paradise". Literally, at the end of the road, the mountains rose majestically above the deep blue water. The shadows cast by the clouds danced across the mountainside creating a patchwork of light and dark. Far below, a small cave was carved out of the rocky mountain base. We saw a variety of birds and a couple of mules that had a daily view of paradise. Amazing plant life grew along the roadside and we were able to collect some amazing specimens including wild guava! I felt very blessed and humbled as we loaded the car to head to our next destination.
Aloha Oukou!
Mrs. Norton
Aloha Oukou!
Mrs. Norton
New Experiences
Today was a day filled with lots of new experiences. We visited downtown Kona where we saw black crabs crawling on the lava near the sea wall, visited a macadamia nut factory where we tasted many flavors of macadamia nuts (even some that were kona coffee glazed, don't you know that I was happy), and stopped in the town of Kahala.
While in Kahala we visited a monument that was erected in honor of King Kamehameha. King Kamehameha was believed to have been born around 1753. He is credited with unifying all the inhabited islands of Hawaii. He was a peaceful king who encouraged trade. He was also credited with opening Hawaii to the rest of the world. Because he was so important to the people of Hawaii, they have created a state holiday (celebrated on June 11) in his honor much like Presidents Day is celebrated nationally.
While at the monument Mrs. Grimes encountered another mongoose. Of course a chase ensued. Mrs. Grimes moved swiftly towards the creature, camera in hand, as the creature moved swiftly away from her. Unfortunately, the mongoose won and Mrs. Grimes was unable to get a close-up photograph. Hopefully we will see another one tomorrow and the third time will be the charm.
After the mongoose chase, we noticed a majestic Banyan tree standing not far from the monument of King Kamehameha. We stood in awe of the size of the tree. The tree was so large that all five of us couldn't reach around it!!
There are so many amazing and unusual natural wonders here. I can't wait to share them with my students for years to come.
Aloha, Mrs. West
While in Kahala we visited a monument that was erected in honor of King Kamehameha. King Kamehameha was believed to have been born around 1753. He is credited with unifying all the inhabited islands of Hawaii. He was a peaceful king who encouraged trade. He was also credited with opening Hawaii to the rest of the world. Because he was so important to the people of Hawaii, they have created a state holiday (celebrated on June 11) in his honor much like Presidents Day is celebrated nationally.
While at the monument Mrs. Grimes encountered another mongoose. Of course a chase ensued. Mrs. Grimes moved swiftly towards the creature, camera in hand, as the creature moved swiftly away from her. Unfortunately, the mongoose won and Mrs. Grimes was unable to get a close-up photograph. Hopefully we will see another one tomorrow and the third time will be the charm.
After the mongoose chase, we noticed a majestic Banyan tree standing not far from the monument of King Kamehameha. We stood in awe of the size of the tree. The tree was so large that all five of us couldn't reach around it!!
There are so many amazing and unusual natural wonders here. I can't wait to share them with my students for years to come.
Aloha, Mrs. West
Lava Graffiti
Aloha from Kona!
As we drove down the Queen Kaahumanu Highway this morning, I noticed a lot of writing in the lava fields. All of the writing was done in white creating a nice contrast to the dark brown and black lava. (BTW...the black lava is from a more recent lava flow!) The writing consisted of simple messages such as words of encouragement, political messages, messages to honor/remember someone as well as proclamations of love. People pick up white coral that has washed up on the beach to use in creating their message. If we get a chance to go to the beach this week, we hope to find some white coral to create a message that will read "Go Billies Go" before we leave on Sunday. Take a look at our pictures and see if you can pick out the lava graffiti!
Aloha!
Mrs. Longing
As we drove down the Queen Kaahumanu Highway this morning, I noticed a lot of writing in the lava fields. All of the writing was done in white creating a nice contrast to the dark brown and black lava. (BTW...the black lava is from a more recent lava flow!) The writing consisted of simple messages such as words of encouragement, political messages, messages to honor/remember someone as well as proclamations of love. People pick up white coral that has washed up on the beach to use in creating their message. If we get a chance to go to the beach this week, we hope to find some white coral to create a message that will read "Go Billies Go" before we leave on Sunday. Take a look at our pictures and see if you can pick out the lava graffiti!
Aloha!
Mrs. Longing
Don't leave home without your camera
Trying to take in every minute of being in Hawaii, Mrs. Longing and I started off the morning on a hike to find the ocean. Because of so many flight delays and cancellations, we had to be flexible with our schedule, just like we do with teaching. We were unable to get the boat today, so that trip will be tomorrow. (for those of you following our schedule)
On our way to find the ocean, we located a Kane spider. Even though these are not poisonous, they are still creepy looking creatures and are not welcomed anywhere near me. When we arrived at the beach, it was not at all like we expected. The sand was dirty and would not be a place I would like to spend the day. When I think of Hawaii, I think of white sand beaches and beautiful water. From afar, the water looked dark and muddy. Little did we know, the water was as clear as glass when we walked closer. Much to our surprise, we even saw a sea turtle and a yellow tropical fish that had washed almost to the shore. It was amazing! We were so upset that we chose not to bring our cameras to capture these animals.
Then, we had our orientation meeting with the rest of our group and got started on our day's activities. We headed for downtown. We ate lunch at the Kona Inn restaurant. When the earthquake hit off the coast of Japan in March, it created a tsunami that traveled across the Pacific ocean and crashed into the big island of Hawaii. This caused major damage to local businesses and hotels. The tsunami waves actually washed up to the hostess station in the Kona restaurant. Some of the hotels and businesses are still working to rebuild.
When we finished lunch, we ventured out to the shore where we saw a brown sea turtle that blended in with the rocks, and black crabs. The crabs were located on the black lava rock and were hard to see. Just like the animal adaptations we learn about, these animals too adapted using their surroundings to camoflauge in with their environment.
On our way to find the ocean, we located a Kane spider. Even though these are not poisonous, they are still creepy looking creatures and are not welcomed anywhere near me. When we arrived at the beach, it was not at all like we expected. The sand was dirty and would not be a place I would like to spend the day. When I think of Hawaii, I think of white sand beaches and beautiful water. From afar, the water looked dark and muddy. Little did we know, the water was as clear as glass when we walked closer. Much to our surprise, we even saw a sea turtle and a yellow tropical fish that had washed almost to the shore. It was amazing! We were so upset that we chose not to bring our cameras to capture these animals.
Then, we had our orientation meeting with the rest of our group and got started on our day's activities. We headed for downtown. We ate lunch at the Kona Inn restaurant. When the earthquake hit off the coast of Japan in March, it created a tsunami that traveled across the Pacific ocean and crashed into the big island of Hawaii. This caused major damage to local businesses and hotels. The tsunami waves actually washed up to the hostess station in the Kona restaurant. Some of the hotels and businesses are still working to rebuild.
When we finished lunch, we ventured out to the shore where we saw a brown sea turtle that blended in with the rocks, and black crabs. The crabs were located on the black lava rock and were hard to see. Just like the animal adaptations we learn about, these animals too adapted using their surroundings to camoflauge in with their environment.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Today's Adventures
Today's Adventures
Today, we arrived on the "Big Island." Our fifth and final team member arrived safely to meet us in Kona. Just a couple of interesting things about today's events that we would like to share. When we first arrived, we went to the grocery store to pick up a few items. Groceries are more expensive and we are trying to save money by eating in our rooms for breakfast. We even bought a frozen pizza for lunch. Here are a few examples and prices for some of the items we purchased.
12 pack of Cokes $10.29
Gallon of Milk- $8.27
Watermelon- $11.63
Cereal-$6.99
Frozen Pizza- $10.88
Hairspray-$2.89
We also encountered a mongoose in the grocery store parking lot. We tried to take a picture of it. I chased it through the parking lot, sandals on, stumping my toe on a speed bump, with my camera in hand trying to get a picture. Here is a tidbit of information for you about the mongoose population. Did you know that in the early 1800's, mongooses were introduced to the islands of Hawaii in order to control the rodent populations on sugarcane plantations?However, these efforts have come back to haunt the islands of Hawaii and the survival of various native species, especially birds.
Today, we arrived on the "Big Island." Our fifth and final team member arrived safely to meet us in Kona. Just a couple of interesting things about today's events that we would like to share. When we first arrived, we went to the grocery store to pick up a few items. Groceries are more expensive and we are trying to save money by eating in our rooms for breakfast. We even bought a frozen pizza for lunch. Here are a few examples and prices for some of the items we purchased.
12 pack of Cokes $10.29
Gallon of Milk- $8.27
Watermelon- $11.63
Cereal-$6.99
Frozen Pizza- $10.88
Hairspray-$2.89
We also encountered a mongoose in the grocery store parking lot. We tried to take a picture of it. I chased it through the parking lot, sandals on, stumping my toe on a speed bump, with my camera in hand trying to get a picture. Here is a tidbit of information for you about the mongoose population. Did you know that in the early 1800's, mongooses were introduced to the islands of Hawaii in order to control the rodent populations on sugarcane plantations?However, these efforts have come back to haunt the islands of Hawaii and the survival of various native species, especially birds.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Steve...Our Tour Guide
Aloha! We had the best tour of Oahu today! Our tour guide, Steve, was extremely knowledgeable of the island because he has lived here all of his life. The most memorable places that we went today were Pearl Harbor and the Dole Pineapple Plantation. We traveled 120 miles around the island. We were almost blown away at Pali Lookout! Thanks, Steve, for a great day and lots of information!
Aloha!
Mrs. Longing
Aloha!
Mrs. Longing
From Mrs. West
"The Adventure Begins"
It is 4:13 "Arkansas" time on Friday, June 17th and I have officially set a few new personal records for longest time awake, longest time sitting in one seat, and longest time hanging over an open body of water as I have been on this plane for nearly eight hours. As I sit in my cozy little seat next to Mrs. Grimes, I am amazed at how our journey has played out so far. It all started at what seems like days ago (as I have not slept for more than twenty minutes at a time in over 36 hours) when I picked Mrs. Longing up at her house so that we could leave from my house at 3:30 a.m. for the airport. While sleep was discussed somewhere during the course of the night, it literally flew out the front door when a bird flew into my house through the chimney, knocked itself silly on my daughters bedroom wall and had to be rescued (via a towel being thrown over it) and set free by Mrs. Longing (my hero) somewhere around 11:00. After that excitement, I decided that I should probably finish packing and since I would just have to get up in a couple of hours anyway, a decision to just stay up was made.
Once at the airport, check in was a breeze. Although Maddie, The Mad Scientist, got a few strange looks. It's hard not to stare at that amazing head of hair that Maddie displays.
Since being on the plan we have seen some amazing sights. We have encountered clouds in the most amazing shapes and colors as the rising sun gave life to the sky. We have crossed the Guadalupe Mountains, the Edwards Plateau, the San Juan and the Chocolate Mountains. Yes, you read that correctly, the Chocolate Mountains. From the view point of the plane, the mountain tops really did look like little ribbons of chocolate amidst sea of creamy white. We have also viewed humanity in its most sincere way. Mrs. Grimes and I met a mother and daughter who were traveling to "make a wish" come true. The daughter was a sixteen year old who was winning the battle against cancer and feeling strong enough to try surfing tomorrow. As her mother and I visited, her strength was obvious and I was reminded that troubles such as a bird loose in my house are just small pebbles on the road of life. As I recounted the bird story with her she told me that she had once known a ninety year old Italian woman who said that a bird flying in your house was good luck. I could't help but smile thinking of the timing. The bird could have flown in my chimney on many previous occasions, or even tonight when no one would have there to set it free. But...it flew in as we where about it embark on the adventure of a life time for our MIS kids. I love how God never ceases to amaze me with his timing and cleverly crafted intertwining of lives.
Mrs. West
It is 4:13 "Arkansas" time on Friday, June 17th and I have officially set a few new personal records for longest time awake, longest time sitting in one seat, and longest time hanging over an open body of water as I have been on this plane for nearly eight hours. As I sit in my cozy little seat next to Mrs. Grimes, I am amazed at how our journey has played out so far. It all started at what seems like days ago (as I have not slept for more than twenty minutes at a time in over 36 hours) when I picked Mrs. Longing up at her house so that we could leave from my house at 3:30 a.m. for the airport. While sleep was discussed somewhere during the course of the night, it literally flew out the front door when a bird flew into my house through the chimney, knocked itself silly on my daughters bedroom wall and had to be rescued (via a towel being thrown over it) and set free by Mrs. Longing (my hero) somewhere around 11:00. After that excitement, I decided that I should probably finish packing and since I would just have to get up in a couple of hours anyway, a decision to just stay up was made.
Once at the airport, check in was a breeze. Although Maddie, The Mad Scientist, got a few strange looks. It's hard not to stare at that amazing head of hair that Maddie displays.
Since being on the plan we have seen some amazing sights. We have encountered clouds in the most amazing shapes and colors as the rising sun gave life to the sky. We have crossed the Guadalupe Mountains, the Edwards Plateau, the San Juan and the Chocolate Mountains. Yes, you read that correctly, the Chocolate Mountains. From the view point of the plane, the mountain tops really did look like little ribbons of chocolate amidst sea of creamy white. We have also viewed humanity in its most sincere way. Mrs. Grimes and I met a mother and daughter who were traveling to "make a wish" come true. The daughter was a sixteen year old who was winning the battle against cancer and feeling strong enough to try surfing tomorrow. As her mother and I visited, her strength was obvious and I was reminded that troubles such as a bird loose in my house are just small pebbles on the road of life. As I recounted the bird story with her she told me that she had once known a ninety year old Italian woman who said that a bird flying in your house was good luck. I could't help but smile thinking of the timing. The bird could have flown in my chimney on many previous occasions, or even tonight when no one would have there to set it free. But...it flew in as we where about it embark on the adventure of a life time for our MIS kids. I love how God never ceases to amaze me with his timing and cleverly crafted intertwining of lives.
Mrs. West
Friday, June 17, 2011
The Things I Learned Today.....
June 17,2011
As I pulled out of the driveway at 3 a.m., I had no idea what the day would hold. None of us slept last night so we were a little delirious. We have laughed, cried, and talked a whole lot. As we arrived at Carrie's house, she and Terri had encountered a bird. A bird came through her chimney into the house and the two of them had to rescue it and set it free. As we pack up to leave, Carrie stepped in a mud hole as she was shutting the gate at the end of her drive. We had one napkin and a small cup of water. You can imagine the looks of her new hawaiian flip flops. That was just the beginning of our trip. We knew we were in for an adventure and we were ready!
We arrived at the airport, checked in, said goodbye to Landon, who graciously drove us to the airport, and departed Little Rock, headed to Houston. No problems and we all made it through security....even Maddie, the Mad Scientist! Arriving in Houston on time, we had an hour to spare to get on our next flight. The flight from Houston would be an eight hour flight. Not looking forward to it and getting very sleepy, we waited for the announcement to board the plane. Karen and Terri went ahead of us and then Carrie and I boarded our plane and found our seats. In just a few minutes, one of the flight attendants came to the seat next to us as we were buckling our seat belts and getting settled in, and introduced herself to a family. Wow! They must be special to get a personal greeting, I thought, and they were. It was the next introduction that made an impression on my life. Carrie and I met Brianna VanBuren, a 16 year old teenager from Florida. She is battling cancer and is coming to Hawaii with " Make A Wish." Her mother, Joanne, began talking to us and sharing about all this organization had provided for Brianna. In the last year, Brianna has had many set backs and spent many days in the hospital. Brianna has a boyfriend that just graduated high school and he is on the trip. Brianna's first choice was Japan. However, due to the tsunami's, she had to choose a different location.
Joanne said that every time Brianna has a set back, she wants to get married because she thinks her life is about to end and she wanted to get married on the beach before she died. Brianna had a plan that her dream of a beach wedding could come true in Hawaii. However, Joanne had another plan. She suggested they just visit Hawaii and Justin, her boyfriend, could come with them....typical mom! Ha! As I sit here and watch Brianna, with her head laid in her mother's lap, I think about how many times we are faced with a tsunami in our own lives. Do we take it and make a hawaiian vacation out of it like Brianna, or do we dwell on the things we have no control of changing?
Never in a million years did I think I would learn a lesson on a plane headed to Honolulu. The lesson learned was a life lesson, and here it is....Thankfulness.
I am thankful for my health and not having to struggle daily like Brianna. I am thankful for the " Make A Wish" foundation that provides opportunities like this that otherwise wouldn't be possible for children. I am thankful for wonderful parents that take care of me and attend to my needs and wants just like Brianna's mother, in sickness and health. I am thankful for a healthy child that I have been blessed with as a parent. However, I am most thankful for opportunities like this that remind me that it's not all about me. It's so easy to get caught up in my own little world. I need reminded often that my purpose as a mom, teacher, wife, and friend, is to put others before myself. My "wish" for today is that I would remember this day as a reminder to myself to put others first, to look at the glass half full because it could always be worse, and to always look for reasons to be thankful. It's amazing the lessons we can learn 34,000 feet in the air when we can't sleep!!!!!
As I pulled out of the driveway at 3 a.m., I had no idea what the day would hold. None of us slept last night so we were a little delirious. We have laughed, cried, and talked a whole lot. As we arrived at Carrie's house, she and Terri had encountered a bird. A bird came through her chimney into the house and the two of them had to rescue it and set it free. As we pack up to leave, Carrie stepped in a mud hole as she was shutting the gate at the end of her drive. We had one napkin and a small cup of water. You can imagine the looks of her new hawaiian flip flops. That was just the beginning of our trip. We knew we were in for an adventure and we were ready!
We arrived at the airport, checked in, said goodbye to Landon, who graciously drove us to the airport, and departed Little Rock, headed to Houston. No problems and we all made it through security....even Maddie, the Mad Scientist! Arriving in Houston on time, we had an hour to spare to get on our next flight. The flight from Houston would be an eight hour flight. Not looking forward to it and getting very sleepy, we waited for the announcement to board the plane. Karen and Terri went ahead of us and then Carrie and I boarded our plane and found our seats. In just a few minutes, one of the flight attendants came to the seat next to us as we were buckling our seat belts and getting settled in, and introduced herself to a family. Wow! They must be special to get a personal greeting, I thought, and they were. It was the next introduction that made an impression on my life. Carrie and I met Brianna VanBuren, a 16 year old teenager from Florida. She is battling cancer and is coming to Hawaii with " Make A Wish." Her mother, Joanne, began talking to us and sharing about all this organization had provided for Brianna. In the last year, Brianna has had many set backs and spent many days in the hospital. Brianna has a boyfriend that just graduated high school and he is on the trip. Brianna's first choice was Japan. However, due to the tsunami's, she had to choose a different location.
Joanne said that every time Brianna has a set back, she wants to get married because she thinks her life is about to end and she wanted to get married on the beach before she died. Brianna had a plan that her dream of a beach wedding could come true in Hawaii. However, Joanne had another plan. She suggested they just visit Hawaii and Justin, her boyfriend, could come with them....typical mom! Ha! As I sit here and watch Brianna, with her head laid in her mother's lap, I think about how many times we are faced with a tsunami in our own lives. Do we take it and make a hawaiian vacation out of it like Brianna, or do we dwell on the things we have no control of changing?
Never in a million years did I think I would learn a lesson on a plane headed to Honolulu. The lesson learned was a life lesson, and here it is....Thankfulness.
I am thankful for my health and not having to struggle daily like Brianna. I am thankful for the " Make A Wish" foundation that provides opportunities like this that otherwise wouldn't be possible for children. I am thankful for wonderful parents that take care of me and attend to my needs and wants just like Brianna's mother, in sickness and health. I am thankful for a healthy child that I have been blessed with as a parent. However, I am most thankful for opportunities like this that remind me that it's not all about me. It's so easy to get caught up in my own little world. I need reminded often that my purpose as a mom, teacher, wife, and friend, is to put others before myself. My "wish" for today is that I would remember this day as a reminder to myself to put others first, to look at the glass half full because it could always be worse, and to always look for reasons to be thankful. It's amazing the lessons we can learn 34,000 feet in the air when we can't sleep!!!!!
On our way!
We made it through security and are about to board the plane! We have already had many adventures! Be sure to check the blog to hear all about them! We will be answering questions posed by MIS students throughout the journey! Look for today's photos to be posted later this evening!
Aloha!
The MIS Hawaii Team
Aloha!
The MIS Hawaii Team
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Finalizing Plans
Today the Hawaii team will meet at MIS to finalize plans for Friday's departure! The school alert call will be made today to let our students and parents know how to follow the blog site. There is still much packing to be done! Information regarding the itinerary will be shared soon!
Aloha for now!
Karen
Aloha for now!
Karen
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