It was a beautiful day for a May Day celebration in Kapiolani Park! The bandstand was decorated…read morewith an abundance of colorful pua (flowers),happy craft vendors,fantastic food vendors and the restroom trailers were brand new,convenient AND air conditioned!!!!! Ha ha ! There was an alternative covered stage with slack key guitar only...it was so mellow,u know--back yard kine paina style !!!! A sweet little local kupuna approached me and I thought she was going to tell us to move to the side or something but she kindly asked if I was a former May Day Lei Queen!!!!! Oh my goodness I was speechless & embarrassed! My husband was just beaming with smiles. I said "nooooo",I'm just a retired hula dancer & so happy to see the entertainment from a spectator's view !" She said she could arrange for me to dance hula impromptu right now. I graciously declined and giggled all the way to find a seat to watch the performance. My husband said " you're MY queen " Aww ! So sweet! Here's a pic of our mountain of a plate lunch! Aloha!

Hawaii Tesol is a wonderful nonprofit made by in-service teachers who truly believe in helping…read moremainly new student teachers learn how to be better English as a Second Language teacher. It really is all about the events that TESOL presents- mainly the teaching ESL conference held in the spring. I was lucky enough to be able to present at the spring conferences a few times- all the participants are eager to learn and eager to share. Many practical lessons and a bunch of real research one could use in their college studies. The fall get to know you events are the most fun and most laid back- there is food and more food and then a chance to talk and meet some of the different organizers- many are Professors at UHM or BYUH or HPU and some are admin for private ESL schools here in Oahu. Anyway it is a wonderful way to get to know more ESL teachers and get more resources. There really are great folks that are so interested in good teaching- some know other languages and some that are only English speaking- it takes all kinds of teachers and it really improves (especially teachers that have never really taught before) abilities to teach English better. Why do I like it? I am not so much as learning more about ESL but being able to talk and share about my own ESL teaching experiences and reflection- being a part of a learning community is really important too. If you are a student- wanting to teach English, ESL or another language but are in school here in HI - I would highly recommend looking into joining the group events. Past events 14 Feb 2014 Hawaii TESOL Spring Conference 2014 13 Nov 2013 Fall Professional Development Workshop: Online Education 04 Oct 2013 Call for Participation to Hawaii TESOL Conference 2014 30 Sep 2013 Fall Activity Exchange/ Round Table Discussion 15 May 2013 Spring Language Experience 02 Mar 2013 State Conference Follow up Workshop 16 Feb 2013 Hawaii TESOL Spring Conference 2013 08 Nov 2012 Call for Participation to Hawaii TESOL Conference 2013 07 Nov 2012 Fall PDW--The Problem of Orkish: Exploring Second Language Acquisition in Virtual Environments 24 Sep 2012 Fall Activity Exchange/Round Table Discussion What is Hawai'i TESOL? Hawai'i TESOL is committed to building a community of professionals teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) in the State of Hawai'i. Hawai'i TESOL works to promote the highest standards in employment and instruction, improve professional support and interaction, and increase public and government recognition of the ESL field. Hawai'i TESOL provides ESL professionals in Hawai'i with opportunities for networking and professional development. We welcome all who share our goals to join with us in our efforts. Hawai'i TESOL welcomes all interested individuals to active membership and seeks the involvement of all its members. Hawai'i TESOL offers four major activities a year.

This was my first time attending a comedy sketch event. I had my +1 with me and we made it past…read morethe UH football traffic down to the agora across the street from Fisher's. The main show was a mix of comedy sketches and YouTube videos, but the wow factor here was the musical duo Sheen. (or is it Shean ?). I looked for their FB page but I could not find them, these two singers made my night. If I ever have a venue where I need music I will guarantee hunt these 2 down! Their covers blew away the original singers. This event was a kick off for fundraising the 2015 Sketch Comedy Festival coming this March at the Honolulu Museum of Arts.

I got the notification from Yelp and I just had to check this out! I love comedy. After getting my…read moreconfirmation, I was on my way! The presentation was very well presented. It was great having special guest Fernando Pacheco (former Jimmy Eats World band member and currently Pimpbot). I did not laugh as much as I hoped but there were some funny moments. The actors acted really well. I wished that there were less youtube videos because I had seen some of them before, but it was still good to watch. The music duo SHEAN was really good! The girl sings very well and has a really good voice. The guy plays the guitar well and knows how to sing! I wish them the best of luck. Free pupus and drinks were on hand. I chose water and grapes since I'm still dieting. I was happy to find healthy choices! What a great kick off event and good luck to Hawaii Sketch Comedy!

The Honolulu Pride Parade provides a safe space to be yourself, be accepted, be celebrated, be…read moreLOVED...because YOU matter. Find me for a mom hug, or this guy (sorry didn't get your name!) for a dad hug. Eat your vegetables! And brush your teeth. Love, Mom

Went to the Honolulu Pride Parade for the first time in October with some friends. It was a lot of…read morefun! Lots of businesses and community organizations walking in the parade. Lots of colors, music, costumes, and fans. This parade is very family friendly, and lots of groups gave out candy, stickers, and other swag. Unfortunately, it feels very corporate. There was a festival after the parade at the Waikiki Shell. It was free, but you had to register online ahead of time. And no water bottles were allowed inside. Lots of security. I appreciated this positive celebration of the LGBTQ+/mahu community in Hawaiʻi!

This is a show hosted by the Rock and Mineral Society of Hawaii 2-3 times a year. This year's and…read morelast year's shows have been happening in the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort Kou Ballroom. All the vendors and experts are from Hawaii too - so as you can guess, it's not that big, as no one is flying in from mainland or overseas, but it's got a bit of everything and the folks are friendly and are happy to share their knowledge with other gem enthusiasts! It's my first time at this show so I didn't know what to expect. It's definitely smaller than what I've been to. There were maybe around 15 vendors? But each vendor had their own niche - fossils, meteorites, cut loose gemstones, jewelry, amber with trapped insects, rare specimens, polished crystals, etc. the show had a bit of everything and the prices were actually reasonable! It's a good, quick dose of mineral exposure without having to fly to Tucson. The folks were very friendly and some were so nice to give out little free gifts for the Keiki. The ladies at the very front gave my son a Dalmatian jasper. He saw the black spotted rock and immediately picked it out. It's also heart-shaped! If you're curious what a gem show is like, this is a good place to start as admission is free and they validate parking for just $10 for pretty much half day. (But the hotel parking structure is terrible, so tight it can't have 2 cars turning into and out of the ramp at the same time.) It's also great to see what these local folks have to offer. Also, you got to see the minerals found in Hawaii on display! There's sulfur from Kilauea, 2 olivine specimens from Hualalai, and a beautiful calcite cluster of crystals from O'ahu!

"Geek Paradise- Hawaiian Style"…read more Initial event here in Hawaii. As described on their Facebook page: "a curated craft market specializing in "hand"-themed crafts of all kinds; clothing, accessories, toys, home decoration, furniture, art... if it's geeky and made by hand, it can be found at a GeekCraftExpo. This expo can be found around the country in areas such as Seattle, Portland and Madison Wisconsin. They feature items made by local artisans so each expo is unique unto itself. This initial Hawaii expo features 29 artisans and occupied one of the ballrooms on the third floor of the convention center. As the Facebook page indicated, they kept it small for this initial expo to gauge response and help it to grow. Always nice to see the creativity of artists in the community. Of particular interest was the remarkable miniature origami figures that were made used to make more intricate figures- this was located at the Seiartsu table located at the mauka/Ewa corner of the room. The admission fee for those over age 12 is FREE if you preregister through event brite- otherwise it's $5 at the door. A promising beginning and a great way to spend some time this weekend to feed your inner geek.

If water were a kiss, I'd send you the sea,…read more If leaves were a hug, I'd send you a tree, If night was love, I'd send you the stars. But I can't send you my heart because that's where you are... I love poetry and the above reminds me of the love affair between Anjin-san and Mariko in the TV mini-series, Shōgun. Mysterious, taboo, and scandalous! Yet we're talking feudal Japan here and an English sailor played by the TV Icon Richard Chamberlain. Mom loved Richard Chamberlain of Thorn Birds to Shōgun fame- she loved those TV mini-series. Toss in some Dr. Kildare and now we have Mom loving Sir Richard Chamberlain for decades. No wonder I love drama, romance, and the occasional shenanigans. Richard Chamberlain also has a special place in his heart for Hawai'i. He loved the island lifestyle and up until recently had a mansion on Tantalus. He enjoyed his walks on the Hawaiian beaches, sometimes with his partner, sometimes alone. And why his fans dedicated a bench on Magic Island in his honor... The Richard Chamberlain Bench... I discovered this special bench several years ago and posted it on yelp to share. I shared this secret place with Traci R., Nadine C., even held a UYE with The Richard Chamberlain Bench part of my walking tour. The love for this simple bench spread once friends understood who he was, oh, and that view! Fran, Angel, Lora, Lyla, Victoria, Kelly, amongst others made the journey to find this special place. This was in my other Yelp life. No carnival rides here just a place to sit, reflect, enjoy the moment. I've come and gone and I've come back home to reclaim my kingdom of Richard Chamberlain;) The views of the south shore is amazing, toss in a sunset and you now have the best seat in the house. Sometimes I picnic here or nearby. I always remember that one needs to share to fully enjoy life, so if I see tourists, or a fisherman, or someone taking a nap... I'll let it be. It's for all of us to enjoy. So where exactly is The Richard Chamberlain Bench? Let the photos guide you, go with the flow... In the end, I recommend The Richard Chamberlain Bench to romantics, dreamers, wanderers, heck to all. In fact, he's still alive and well at 84 years young and very much active in film and the arts. I hope knowing the history and how the name came to be helps one understand... how a simple bench came to be loved so much... kinda like Mom's love for Dr. Kildare... or so I was told... "Only by living at the edge of death can you understand the indescribable joy of life..." -Shōgun

I'd often see my Yelpie friend, Eric Robert R. (ERR), check in at this landmark and wondered where…read moreit was. Instead of going from bench to bench at Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park, I asked him to take me there. ..and he did! Richard Chamberlain is an actor who was born in Beverly Hills, CA, in 1934. He is a graduate of Pomona College; served in the military; co-founded the Los Angeles theater group, Company of Angels, and lived in Hawaii for a period of over 20 years. His Hawaiian television show, "Island Son", lasted for 18 episodes. He has received many awards such as Golden Globes for his acting roles in "Shogun", "The Thorn Birds", and "Dr. Kildare". In 2000 Richard Chamberlain's star arrived on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2004, the Senate of the State of Hawaii recognized him for his role in helping to preserve Hawaii's environment. In 2006, I was lucky enough to see him perform live in "The King and I" at the Hawaii Theater in Honolulu. I was so happy to see the Bench in real life! It's situated in such a calm place with a spectacular view! The sound of the constant waves and the feeling of the cool breeze under the warm Hawaiian sunshine was truly what tourists seek when they visit our Island Paradise. This experience confirmed my appreciation for my Hawaii nei. It's so cool that the Hawaii fans of Richard Chamberlain have honored him with this bench! Lucky we live Hawaii. ..Hawaii no ka oi!

I wish they'd bring Hawaii Winter Baseball back for good. Its refreshing for the people of Hawaii…read moreto watch real professional baseball for once. I remember going to a couple of Honolulu Sharks games back in the day at the stadium. At the time I had no idea who I was watching until I recently found a box of old HWB memorabilia and autographs. Turns out that I got autographs from Todd Helton (Colorado Rockies), Tadahito Iguchi (San Diego Padres), and I think Hideki Okajima (Boston Red Sox). I didn't get a chance to see any of the recent games with big draft names like Buster Posey and Joba Chamberlain. However, I hope some form of the league returns back to the islands.

Good news baseball fans. After a 2007 hiatus, Les Murakami Stadium is back open in 2008. What…read moredoes that mean? You can go see potential future major leaguers either on the UH campus or in Waipahu (all depending upon your location and mood). As a S.F. Giants fan, I'm interested to see how super prospect Buster Posey does for the Waikiki Beachboys. Murakami Stadium has general admission tix and, due to today's small crowd, only the lower deck was open. People sauntered in and could sit almost anywhere they liked (behind home plate, down the lines, in the shade, in the sun, etc.). They offer some of the traditional concession fare (hot dogs, sodas, bottled water, beer, etc.) but also had some surprises (ex: saimin, Gordon Biersch related items). It's a family friendly experience, especially with the reasonable 2008 ticket prices (adults $6, kids 4-12 $3, kids under 4 FREE). The ballpark atmosphere for the day game was mellow and reminded me some of spring training games in Arizona.