Posted on

Mashup

Our team held its 2nd annual Mashup today at Bishop Hall on the Kapālama campus. It was a huge success. There were approximately 45 educators in attendance. Mashup is a combination of what we like from conferences (experts presenting on relevant topics) and what we like from unconferences (educators empowered to choose their own PD.)

We had an absolute blast (as we always do….)

Mahalo to our amazing team (and to our amazing friends.)

We celebrated the day, our event, and Kimble & Marc’s birthdays at Kikuya’s. Good times….

Posted on

NYE in Mauka

It’s been a longstanding tradition to celebrate New Year’s Eve with amazing friends in Mililani Mauka. It’s always a great time!

One year, the neighbors brought in a truckload of snow.

Another year, the neighbors’ friend “Buddah” came riding in on a motorcycle. Bald, wearing leather, and covered with tats, he held two rolls of firecrackers (5000s) in his hands, lit them, and spun around in the middle of the cul-de-sac.

One year, I tried relighting a string of “bombs” at the top of the firecrackers.

Something that I’ll try not to do anymore….

The New Year’s feast is always amazing.

Always….

After dinner, we play a little fireworks. “Pyro time.” After midnight, we have ozoni (mochi soup.)

But mainly, it’s all about celebrating life with great friends. So blessed to have these guys in my life.
Happy New Year!

Posted on

“More Than Just A Cup”

I go on a “holoholo” excursion twice a year (on my birthday and at the end of the year.) Today, I went to the Surfers Coffee Bar in Wahiawa. It’s run by Surfing the Nations, a non-profit, humanitarian organization.

I picked up Brian, and we met up with Tom Bauer, the STN founder. He is truly an amazing person. He shared the vision of STN and entertained us with incredible stories.

He gave us a tour of the facility and the offices, where 75 interns volunteer from around the world.

We then went into the Surfers Coffee Bar to talk story.

Tom was so kind to treat us to coffee. I had the Macadamia Latté. It was awesome.

The coffee bar is an inspired space with surf art covering the walls. The staff was extremely nice. I truly enjoyed my time here.

Can’t wait to come back again soon.
We ended the holoholo with ramen at Santouka.

It was a blessing to meet Tom & his staff. Yes, it was far more than just a cup….

Posted on

Kool-Aid Gang

Woh. This is us just a “few” years ago. We met at UH’s Frosh Camp program and became lifelong friends. Miles coined the nickname the “Kool-Aid Gang” way, way back….

Thanks to Sharon & Donna, we’ve kept in touch over the years via our annual Christmas party at the Natsunoya Tea House. Good times!

We book a private room 1-year in advance. It’s truly become our tradition. We were upgraded to the “deluxe” room this year. It used to be reserved for the Samurai Sword Society of Hawai’i. Rumor has it that the members drank too much sake last year, and an argument broke out….

The food is ono, and the conversation is always amazing. We talk about family, work, travel, and UH Football woes. Sometimes Alan will drop a Barack Obama story. Mainly, we just catch up on each other’s lives. And we laugh out loud.

Besides the usual Grab Bag, we always play Donna’s hilarious dice game. おもしろい! Lordric was the big winner this year. Too fun.

So blessed to have these people in my life.

“If you let me,
I could be your good friend
I know that if you let me
We could walk together

We’re not so different you know
Though we may have different dreams
When they fall apart, we hurt the same it seems

I’m so sure, so don’t you bet me
I just know that if you let me
I’ll show you that I could be your good friend

Someone to share your good times
Someone who you can count on
That someone who, when you turn to,
Won’t turn away”

Posted on

Thankful….

….for everything.

Last year, I posted my Thanksgiving Top 10 list. This year, I would like to add “everything else.”

Vince lives in the park next to my church. We met him through our outreach ministry at Inspire City. Vince is an amazing person. He went through difficult circumstances. He is an inspiration for me. I now see things differently. Vince has changed my life, and I am thankful to know him. And I will never take anything for granted….

“Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing,  in everything give thanks….”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18