Hawaii 2023: July 26 – August 1: Waimea, Kauai

Our first stop on our vacation to Hawaii was to Kauai. Our time on Kauai is usually slow-paced and laid back, but this week was very busy. We landed in Lihue, rushed to Waimea, and started cooking for a BBQ that night. Caroline and her family were visiting and our time overlapped only by about 6 hours!

On top of that, Aunty Laura and her husband Bill were visiting from St. Charles, IL. Laura’s daughter, Cory, was visiting from Aspen, CO. And her son, Danny, and his family were visiting from Riverside, IL.

If that’s not enough, good family friends Tandy and Chris and their family were visiting from Seattle, WA. And we ran into multiple childhood friends of Dallas’s who just happened to be in town for a few days.

We had a very busy week, but we were very thankful to be able to spend time with so much friends and family!

1. Family BBQ
We ended up being awake for more than 24 hours but it was worth it to see so much family. Especially thankful to meet our new nephew, Luca.


Back: Danny, Caroline, Rory, Niko, Jose, Caroline, Grace, Kathy, Dallas, Makai, Cory, Luca
Front: Bill, John, Laura, Cathy, Dee, George

Makai and Grace were happy to see each other (and started playing video games immediately!)


Niko


Last time we visited Caroline, she was pregnant. Luca was born shortly after. 5 months old.

Dallas happy to meet Luca.

Makai and his dad grilling meat.

Grace had been on Kauai since the end of May – something like 8 weeks! She demands to know who invited all of these annoying boys (John, Rory, Makai). This was also 5 seconds before that ball went over the cliff into the valley.
Aunty Laura and Luca

Makai, John and Rory eating Kathy’s homemade guri-guri.

Dallas and Danny


George, Caroline, Cory, Luca, Caroline

Giant spider!

Danny, Caroline, Rory, and John Hara stayed at The Point at Poipu on Kauai. They were traveling together with Danny’s mom Laura (Fukuda) and her husband Bill Dubois, as well as Danny’s sister, Cory Hara.

It was fun for all of the kids to be able to hang out together. Makai joined Laura, Bill, Rory and John one night at Luau while the rest of us went out to dinner. Makai stayed overnight at the resort and loved swimming with Rory and John in the resort pool. They also all stayed a couple nights in Waimea with Kathy and George.

Aunty Laura (Fukuda) is Grandpa George Crowell’s first cousin!

2. Pooltime at The Point at Poipu
Dallas golfed with his parents and Danny while the rest of us had an all day pool day! Then Makai joined Aunty Laura, Bill, Rory and John for a luau in Kapaa while Dallas and I went to dinner with Danny, Caroline and Cory at Japanese Grandma’s Cafe and drinks at Port Allen Sunset Grill & Bar.

View from Aunty Laura’s room at The Point at Poipu.

First lava flow… and maybe the only one I had!

3. Japanese Grandma’s Cafe

Cory and I both wanted to try the sparkling sake. It was a big bottle – like regular wine size!

Fried wonton taco with poke inside.

Fried rice with tuna on top.

Maki roll.

Hamachi.

Lilikoi gelato.

Dallas, Rachelle, Caroline, Cory, Danny

4. Luau at the Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach

While we were at dinner, Makai joined Aunty Laura, Bill, Rory and John at a luau! Then Makai stayed overnight at The Point.

5. Kauai Rooster Hat
 Caroline liked Makai’s hat. I dug out these old photos to show how old it is! Later on she ended up finding it at Kukui’ula and buying one each for John and Rory.

6. Leapin’ Lizards!
Made me jump when I saw it move out of the corner of my eye in the bathroom in Waimea!
7. Swimming at The Point at Poipu
Makai stayed overnight at John and Rory’s and did a lot of morning swimming.

8. Salt Pond Beach
Dallas and I met up with them at Salt Pond Beach Park where we saw endangered Hawaiian monk seals on the beach.

9. Waimea Town
Dallas went home to cook. We then hit Shrimp Station and JoJo’s Shave Ice. Makai and John named all the chickens — the biggest one was named Todd, for some reason!

10. Egret!?I saw this in the yard!

11. Bon Dance at Waimea Higashi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
Later on we went to the bon dance festival. Dallas ran into multiple childhood friends, some of whom he hadn’t seen for decades!

Festival Food: Akule
(got an extra one to bring home for George! Aunty Jane, working the counter, talked me into banana bread and coffee cake too!)


Festival Food: Andagi (Okinawan Donuts)


Festival Foods: Flying Saucer


Festival Food: Pronto Pop (corn dog)



Dallas was surprised to see his childhood friend, Kari. She lives in LA now! Her parents still live in Waimea and her dad told us a lot about the Bon Dance.

We found out Tandy was in town, but Dallas was surprised to see his childhood friend Lad and his sister Rona at the dance too!


Makai and John – John wanted to know when the ninjas were going to jump out!

Bon Dance begins! The leader at the temple came from Japan via Honolulu. This was the first Bon Dance since before covid!

We found out the next day that the woman in white is Janice’s grand daughter, Dana!

12. Family Monopoly Game
Dallas and his mom found their family Monopoly set and figured it is close to 70 years old. The hotels and houses are made of wood.

13. Day at Home
We did laundry. I sat sat on the porch alternating between looking at a book and looking at the ocean. Makai helped grandpa with yard work and running errands. Dallas and Kathy prepped for a party later.

14. Makai, Meet Makai
Makai and I went to get lunch at Porky’s and the guy that took our order was named Makai!

Grilled Cheese with Kalua Pig

Kalua Pig Bowl

15. Friends BBQ
We had a big barbecue with friends and it was great to spend time with people we had not seen for a long time!!!

On one of our past trips, Dallas made chimichurri, which is not a common thing to eat in Hawaii. Aunty Nancy requested he make it again. Janice made homemade pronto pops (corndogs) and the kids loved them. Rory ate 4 in a row! Janice’s grand daughter, Dana, handmade ti leaf and plumeria leis. And funny story, we discovered I’d taken a photo of her the night before dancing at the Bon Dance!

At one point, we realized every one of the kids at the party were hapa haole so we took a photo of them all together.

Dallas invited Ladd and Rona, who we’d run into the night before at the Bon Dance. Kathy was so bummed out she didn’t get to see them because she skipped the dance. She was so shocked and excited to see them at her front door!

Caroline and I, both from Wisconsin, talked with Såfina for a while. She is going to Lakeland University in the fall for Physical Therapy and to play volleyball. I hope we get to see her and her family more since she will only be 2 hours away from Chicago!


Rory running after Janice’s wontons!


Janice’s grand daughter, Dana, hand made these ti leaf and plumeria leis!

Makai, John, Rory

Janice made homemade pronto pops (corn dogs). Rory ate 4 in a row!

Dallas, Ladd, Uncle Bob, Swede, Marissa, Uncle Bob’s brother Warren, Safina, Aunty Nancy

Xavier, Janice, Kathy, Dana (Janice’s grand daughter)

Chris, Kai, Kanoa, Tandy, Rory

Danny, Tandy, Kanoa, Kai, Chris, Safina, Nancy, Caroline, Warren, Marissa, Bob, Dallas, Ladd, Swede, George, George, Linda, Rona

All the hapa kids! Back: Safina, Swede, Kai. Front: Makai, Rory, John, Kanoa

All the hapa kids! Back: Safina, Swede, Kai. Front: Makai, Rory, John, Kanoa

Make a funny face!

Childhood friends reunited: Tandy, Dallas, Rona, Ladd, Marissa


Aunty Nancy, Uncle Bob, Ladd, Rona

Kanoa and Rory

16. Sleepover
John and Rory stayed over 2 nights in Waimea!

17. Mini Golfing 
Kathy took Rory, John and Makai mini golfing at Kukuiolono. Chris, Kai and Kanoa joined them!

18. Shopping at Kukui’ula
With Dallas and Danny golfing with George, and Kathy taking the boys mini golfing, Caroline and I had free time to go shopping!Lappert’s in Hanapepe closed and there was a rumor that the one in Poipu did too, but luckily that was untrue!

Funny sign.

Lunch at Living Foods

19. Red Salt
We went out to eat with Danny and Caroline at Red Salt in the Koa Kea Resort in Poipu. This was our first time to Red Salt. I didn’t love my entree and it was very expensive. Also felt like we were sitting in a hotel lobby. Our view was people getting in and out of the pool. For the price would expect a more luxe setting and exceptional food.



Driving from Poipu to Waimea

20. Waffles
Rory and John stayed overnight. Makai got up early and made everyone waffles.

21. Legos
Makai and John and Rory played Legos with Dallas’s old Legos many of the days of the week!

22. Salt Pond
We met Caroline and Danny at Salt Pond Beach Park. The two Monk Seals were not on the beach any more, but there was one in the water that just kept circling. Every time it came by everyone had to get out of the water!

23. Waimea Town
Afterwards we had lunch at Shrimp Station and Island Taco and JoJo’s again!

24. More swimming!
Makai went to swim at Caroline and Danny’s condo. The kids were tired from a long day!

23. Stevenson’s Library
Dallas and I had dinner at Stevenson’s Library with Tandy, Chris, Kari and Jeff.
Jeff and Kari, Dallas and Rachelle, Tandy and Chris

24. Grandpa’s Pidgin Lesson


Hawaii 2019 Day 8: Date Night in Poipu

Most of the day was pretty chill and we hung around the house in Waimea. For lunch I went out and got 1. a Subway sandwich for George, 2. a garlic shrimp plate from the Shrimp Station for myself and on a whim I got 3. The Korean BBQ chicken plate (with rice, kimchee and Korean potato salad) from Hoku’s, a new food truck in Waimea. From the chef profile on Yelp I learned that Hoku C. is the name of the guy who started the truck. He’s lived on Kauai his entire life, went to school for cooking, and worked in the industry for 20 years before starting his own food truck. Dallas really enjoyed the Korean plate!

In the afternoon I helped Kathy plan out how to put some photo collages on their stairwell. I enjoyed looking at all of the old family photos!

That night Dallas and I went out for drinks and dinner while Makai stayed home with his grandpa and grandma. We repeated a date night we did a few years ago and had cocktails at Seaview Terrace, followed by dinner at Stevenson’s. Both are at the Grand Hyatt in Poipu. I love relaxing on the terrace and I was happy to do it again. Stevenson’s was amazing as always.

Makai was sort of a punk at home, but that wasn’t really our problem. Grandma promised him chicken nuggets for dinner then forgot they had dinner plans with friends at Port Allen Bar & Grill. Makai refused to eat there and grandma and grandpa took him to McDonald’s in Hanapepe on the way home. Spoiled!
We called Kathy to see where they were at, but they’d already left Hanapepe. On a whim, Dallas and I stopped off in Hanapepe to go to the Bon Festival at the Kauai Soto Zen Temple, a Zen buddhist temple. We were talking about it at dinner and how they used to go when they were younger. Dallas asked me if I’d ever had a “Flying Saucer” and that I hadn’t lived til I had one. I realized from the description that this was basically the pudgy pies we made by campfires as kids!

The Bon Fest is a Japanese celebration that honors ancestors. It was so… festive! there was music, and dancing, food, and games. Everyone was having a great time. We got in line for a Flying Saucer. We were just going to get one to share and as we were talking to the cashier, the guys behind us stepped in and said we should at least get one EACH. Then he ordered a dozen! So we got 2. We also tried Andagi, a Japanese donut. Makai had a couple in the morning and really liked them, too!

 

Senso-ji in Asakusa, Tokyo

On our first full day in Tokyo, we decided to go to the Asakusa district in Tokyo to check out Senso-ji, an ancient Buddhist temple.

Legend says that “in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, and even though they put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Senso-ji was built nearby for the goddess of Kannon.”

The temple was completed in the year 645, making it Tokyo’s oldest temple. It should be noted, though, that Senso-ji was bombed and pretty much destroyed in World War II and had to be rebuilt later.

About 30 million people visit Senso-ji every year. I noticed a lot of people like us, pure tourists, but there were also a good number of worshipers. This is still a very significant temple for Buddhists.

senso-ji_temple_map
Click for an interactive map.

Since this was my first temple visit, I didn’t know what to expect. Every time I saw something – the outer gate, the inner gate, a big lantern, some less significant hall – I thought, “That’s it!” I didn’t realize that a lot of these temples have very large grounds, many different buildings, and gates, and gardens.

kaminarimon_gate

kaminarimon_gate_dallas
Dallas at Kaminarimon Gate
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Kaminarimon Gate

 
After exiting the Asakusa Station, we walked maybe a block before coming across Kaminarimon Gate “Thunder Gate,” the outer gate to the temple (point A on the map above). This gate was destroyed and rebuilt several times since it was first constructed in 941. The current structure was built in 1960. The giant red chochin (lantern) that hangs from the gate is 13 feet tall, 11 feet around and weights 1,500 pounds! This gate is not only well known around Japan as a symbol of Senso-ji, but also of Asakusa, as a whole.

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Nakamise Dori after walking through Kaminarimon Gate.

soft_serve_flavors_japan nakamise_snack_shop

So many flavors of soft serve!! Vanilla, green tea, black sesame, chocolate, strawberry, ogura hokkaido (red bean?), custard pudding, vanilla and grean tea swirl, vanilla and chocolate swirl, vanilla and strawberry swirl, sakura (cherry blossom), rum raisin, grape, lemon, melon, blueberry yogurt, almond jelly, mango, cookies vanilla, chocolate and banana, tofu, mandarin orange, purple sweet potato, marron (chestnut), white peach.

nakamise_dori_shopping_street
Nakamise Dori, looking back at Kaminarimon Gate.

nakamise_dori_making_cookies
Making cookies!
nakamise_dori_making_rice_crackersMaking senbei (rice crackers)!

 
nakamise_dori_doughnut
Fruity doughnut with red bean paste inside.

shin_nakamise_shopping_street
Shin-Nakamise (New Nakamise) is a perpendicular street to Nakamise Dori.

kabuki_rachelle
Spotted this kabuki display on a side street.

nakamise_dori_bike
Looking back towards Nakamise Dori. There were tons of bicyclists in Asakusa.

asakusa_view_of_tokyo_skytree
View of Tokyo Skytree from Asakusa.
nakamise_dori_sakuraSpotted some real sakura (cherry blossoms)!!

 
After you walk through Kaminarimon Gate, there’s street called Nakamise Dori (dori = street). This street is lined with small shops selling everything from fans to woodblock prints to kimonos to sweets and snacks to tshirts, etc. It might seems kind of weird to have all of this stuff for sale on temple grounds, but these shops are actually part of an old tradition of selling to pilgrims to who walked to Senso-ji. There are 89 shops that line this 250 meter street! We didn’t know it at the time, but they say this is one of the best places in Tokyo to buy souvenirs.

hozomon_gate_dallas
Dallas at Hozomon Gate

hozomon_gate
Hozomon Gate

hozomon_gate_senso-ji
Chochin at Hozomon Gate.
senso-ji_orange_tree
An orange tree on the Senso-ji temple grounds.

 

senso-ji_statue
Beautiful statues in the garden.
statue_senso-ji
 

 
Nakamise Dori stretches between the outer gate, Kaminarimon Gate, through to an inner gate, Hozomon Gate (point B on the map above). Nearby Hozomon Gate is a beautiful garden by Bentendo Hall (point L) where I took the photos of the statues.

Five-storied_Pagoda_senso-ji
Me in front of the five-storied pagoda.

The Five-Storied Pagoda (point D on the map above) was originally built in 942. It was destroyed and rebuilt man times. This current structure is from 1973.

senso-ji_dallas_fortune
Dallas getting his omikuji.

senso-ji_incense
Incense pot.

senso-ji_hand_washing
Hand washing fountain.

senso-ji_hozomon_gate
Standing in the entrance to the main gate, looking back at Hozomon Gate.

Finally to the main hall of Senso-ji (point C on the map above). I didn’t actually take any photos inside because I thought it would be disrespectful to the people there worshiping. The main hall building was destroyed in March 1945 in Tokyo air raids. In 1958 it was reconstructed. The walk up to the hall was very interesting. For a suggested donation of $100 yen ($1.00 USD), you can get your omikuji (fortune) by first shaking an octangular vessel. A stick comes out with a number on it and you match the number to the drawer with the same number. Open the drawer and pull out your fortune. There’s also an area for hand washing and purification with water. For a small fee you can purchase incense to burn. You’re supposed to waft the incense over your body for purification.

yakushido_hall_statue yakushido_hall

 
After visiting the Senso-ji main hall, we just started wandering around the outer grounds. I think these photos were taken nearby Yakushido Hall (point F on the map).

zenizuka_jizo-do_hall_senso-ji

zenizuka_jizo-do_hall

We stopped to take a break, but I saw these red banners off down the street and had to know what they were. A lot of this day went like that, actually. We just kept walking and walking and walking because we’d see something and get curious. These banners were outside of Zenizuka Jizo-do Hall (point H on the map).

shibaraku_statue_dallas

shibaraku_statue

In the far north-east of the Senso-ji temple grounds, just past Zenizuka Jizo-do Hall, is the shibaraku statue. Shibaraku is a popular piece in kabuki. This statue is of the 9th Danjuro Ichikawa (1868 – 1903), a famous kabuki actor. He is shown in the role depicting shibaraku, which was his specialty.

Killian & Liz’s Wedding Ceremony


Wedding Ceremony, Columbia Yacht Club, Chicago


Mary Beth


Bhante Sujatha


Liz, Bhante Sujatha, Killian


Bernie, Bill, Greg, Mary Beth


The Rings


Dallas, Wes, Clare


The Bracelets


Liz & Killian


Liz & Killian

Dallas spent the day of the wedding with Killian. They went out for brunch and then went to a hotel downtown where they got dressed and whatever else before going over to the Columbia Yacht Club. I wasn’t that much involved, but I did go to the club early to be with Liz and the other girls before it all began. I wasn’t technically in the wedding party, but since there were more men than women who were in the party, we ended up having a few women walk down the aisle with the men to balance it out. I was one of them along with Naoise’s girlfriend Elissa and Greg’s girlfriend Anna. So we were all there to help out and to be in photos as requested.

The wedding was to take place on the upper deck of the yacht club. The day of the wedding it was sunny, but windy all day. Same thing the day before when we rehearsed. We thought it might be too windy up there to have the wedding – skirts over heads is not a good look for the wedding party – but we didn’t think much about rain. Minutes before the wedding was to begin it started raining. Luckily, it didn’t last long. The seats were all wiped down and we fit the wedding ceremony in before it started to downpour again.

Bhante Sujatha, a Buddhist monk from the Blue Lotus Temple, officiated over the ceremony. I’ve never been to a Buddhist ceremony of any sort before and I found it really interesting. Bhante Sujatha was so calming and sweet. He kept throwing in little jokes that kind of relaxed people more. The ceremony was spiritual, but not religious, and there was even a little meditation portion where he asked everyone to shut their eyes and think about certain things. Killian and Liz symbolically got their fingers tied together as they were blessed and there was another cool part where Bhante Sujatha tied bracelets on their wrists.

Oh, and because we were on the lake and it’s just rained, the seagulls were going crazy squawking. There was even a bird fight right above the wedding. I heard that one of the guests got shat on too. And you could hear Blues Fest nearby. That’s ok, though. All adds to the experience.