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What a (Re)treat!

Our Kamehameha ETS Team held its annual retreat on November 13-14. It was a great two days of team building, service, and fellowship. We started the day with a tour of Kawaiaha’o Plaza to learn about our different departments at KS. Then we got to visit the Our Kaka’ako office.

We were given a walking tour of Kaka’ako and visited some of the businesses. Here we are relaxing in one of the “parklets”.

Then it was lunch time. We drove down to the Alley Restaurant at ‘Aiea Bowl. This is the signature dish, the Tasty Chicken. Noms.

Then it was “game on.” Unfortunately, I did not bring my “A” game. I believe my lackluster performance was due to the pink trim on the shoes.

We had an absolute blast! It was a great 1st day….

The morning of Day 2 was dedicated to service projects. Our group was given the theme of “conservation.” We volunteered to help out the Kumuola Foundation in Mānoa Valley.

We spent a few hours weeding around the taro patches. Not a bad office view….

Here’s our group pic with Kuki from the Kumuola Foundation. Photo courtesy of @summer_sun.

Lunch was at Dave & Buster’s in Ward. We had a private room and shared presentations about our service projects. We were treated to a buffet lunch and Power Cards. Too fun!

Mahalo to our amazing team and our amazing leaders for a great retreat. What a treat….

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Moleskine

I have a Moleskine Notebook. I use it to jot down thoughts and ideas. Sometimes I feel the need to “unplug” and just use a pen to think & create. I’ve drawn cartoons, compiled lists, composed songs, and even ranted in this little notebook.

I use it for journaling, especially on trips. I take notes to remember things. Then I usually post to my blog when I get back home.

Sometimes I use it for Bible study. Journaling helps me to retain scripture better. It makes it “stick.”

I have taken my Moleskine to Australia, Italy, Spain, Thailand, China, and France. It has become a memento of some of the best times in my life….

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Kalihi Noms….

Every year I come out with a list of my Top 10 favorite places to eat near campus. Here’s the new one….

10. Family Roots Café has great panini sandwiches. The bread is toasty & crunchy and the ingredients are always fresh.

9. Pongo’s Kitchen has an amazing Sesame Chicken plate. I think it’s the best chicken dish in town.

8. Natsunoya Tea House has great food and is located behind our campus. We cater our bentos from here.

7. ‘Akahi Dining Hall is our very own cafeteria on campus. Ono Hawaiian food! We’re so blessed, but the wait in line for students can be quite long at times.

6. Nico’s Pier 38 has great seafood and ambience. What I like best here are the desserts! The Salted Caramel Crunch is crazy….

5. Lili’s BBQ is a new place at the end of King Street. One word, “brisket.”

4. Kikuya has become our EdTech Team’s go-to place for celebrations. We’ve become “regulars.”

3. Ethel’s Grill just reminds me of my childhood. This is pure comfort food.

2. Alicia’s Market across of Nimitz has a vast selection of poke and ridiculous Crispy Roast Pork. So ono….

1. My #1 fave is Helena’s Hawaiian Food. The Short Ribs Pipikaula is incredibly awesome! The short ribs hang from the kitchen’s ceiling before being fried up. I believe that the secret ingredient to its amazing flavor is the cook’s hair gel rubbing against the dangling meat.

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Home Away From Home….

Blessed to be servicing Kamehameha Schools-Hawai’i this school year. I fly out early every Thursday morning, stay overnight, and fly back early Friday evening. Hawai’i Campus has been a 2nd home.

And the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel has been my “home away from home.”

The rooms are pretty nice. Not quite up to 909 standards, but nice.

I keep my carry-on prepacked. I use a Nike Skateboard backpack. It holds my laptop and one set of clothes.

Auntie at Budget usually hooks me up with a ‘Stang. Sweet….

I’ve been sampling many different eateries in Hilo. Lots of good places. My fave has been the Hilo Bay Café. (My per diem can’t cover Takenoko.)

Great food, great ambiance, and great location!

Oh, and ridiculous desserts. Noms….

This is the Liliʻuokalani Gardens. The views here are spectacular.

So blessed to have this opportunity. Mahalo e Ke Ali’i Pauahi….

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My Testimony

“My grandfather was a Buddhist priest. A hundred years ago, he came from Okinawa to Hawai’i to open a Buddhist temple. A hundred years later, his grandson (me) traveled from Hawai’i to Okinawa to help plant a Hope Chapel church.

My father fought in WWII. He was part of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry. Growing up, he was an alcoholic. We never got along. I used to ask God, “Why did You pick him to be my father?” It wasn’t until later in life that I realized that “Maybe God picked me to be his son.”

I went to McKinley High School. There was an amazing student who impacted my life. Her name was Vicki. She lit up the room. She could make friends with the “mokes under the tree” or with the “immigrants on the Math Team.” I couldn’t believe that she was sick. I heard the gospel for the first time at her funeral. The person who impacted my life the most was not a pastor, but a teenager (or a young person much like yourself.)

I used to think, “I wish I could be a Christian. Too bad I’m a Buddhist.” A year later, I was listening to a transistor radio (the thingy with a dial, an antenna, and a square battery.) It was Greg Laurie. He said, “You need to believe in Jesus. It doesn’t matter what religion you are.” I received Christ over the radio.

My mom received the Lord in the hospital. Her last request was for me to leave home and to live my own life. I decided to stay and take care of my dad. He slowly became one of the sweetest persons that I’ve ever known, and we truly became the very best of friends. After years of prayer, he received the Lord in the hospital.

My sister is the most important person in my life. She’s the only family that I have. She faithfully serves the Lord. Her son leads worship at Inspire Church. (You probably know Grayson.)

 I am blessed.

My grandfather was a Buddhist priest. He made his home in Chinatown and raised a family. A hundred years later, his grandson has made his home in Chinatown at Inspire City Church. And he has found a family.”