"Super Saturdays"

6.26.10. I am grateful for the end of a successful camp, attending a friend's baptism, an ono Italian meal and a night with the boys-another full Saturday!

Wow! Camp breakdown in the morning, my friend Theresa got baptized and I sang with Elder Eteaki. I'm so happy and proud of her, she's been through a lot of trials but she feels this is right for her and has a great support system at the Institute ward. Then me,Sonny and Fosi ate a scrumptious meal at the Macaroni Grill, went shopping at Wal-Mart, bought a vacuum and watched videos/played video games all night and did camp laundry. What a full and wonderful day and week!

"HEY, HEY, HO!"

6.25.10. I am grateful for work celebrations,haircuts, ward bonfires and all night kanikapila on this Aloha Friday!

What a Friday! Helped prepare for the RFP Celebration at work, sang with Derek, "On the Island" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World" and it was great! Good food, games, a video I put together and cheering another 6 years of great work helping others and then I was off to a cut and color at Paul Brown's. That evening was the bonfire and kanikapila and we had another great evening of s'mores and songs. Can we just say "hey, hey, ho"?

"A little BBQ with the Booty Shaking"

6.24.10. I am grateful for our ward camp BBQ and dance- Ono grindz and smooth grooves!Our biggest turn out of the week!

The campers went to the beach during the day and at night cooked up Dad's bbq and ward members brought desserts and starches. We ate and talked story and then we had another dance. The limbo contest was a hit-with the Morimotos doing really well and Sis. Velasco and Jen tearing up the dance floor. Another great night at camp, Sonny's having a blast this week. He started summer fun on Monday but missed Tuesday and will miss tomorrow, ah well, it's camp!

"Moanalua I Ward's Got Talent!!!"

6.23.10. I am grateful for talent night at ward camp, can we say good fun?!?!

Right before we started the talent show, there was one confirmed act-my son. He had planned all week, preparing his outfit and selecting a song, but his dance moves remained a mystery to me. By the time we started, I riled up a few more acts-the Ulimas, Parkers and Nauahis represented, of course! Sarai danced a Tahitian number, Jabrielle and Victoria a hula, Jabrielle and Jr. sang and played, me and Fosi sang and played a number, me and Bro. Nauahi sang and played. Then TJ, Sonny and Jacob danced. It was a lot of fun and we ended with a short dance and teaching the Nordgrins the electric slide! We've got talent!

"Kickball, anyone?"

6.22.10. I am grateful for playing kickball on a Tuesday evening for the first time in 20 years. It was fun. . .even though I didn't make it to first base! =)

There's nothing like kickball after a long day at work! Can you imagine? I couldn't resist playing with the kids and adults. It was a lot of fun and I did more yelling than running and when I did run, I felt like I was moving in slow motion! But all in all, kickball in the twilight hours followed by a movie for the kids with popcorn and rice krispie treats and lying on a cot under the moon and stars is not a bad way to spend a Tuesday evening!

"Ward Camp!"

6.21.10. I am grateful that ward camp started today. Here's to a week of fun ahead!

Ward camp started today and is being held at the Disabled Veteran's Hall next to Keehi Lagoon Park. Fosi is in charge and has been planning for a while and is excited. It is a beautiful, private, FREE, campground with a hall, kitchen, basketball court, campfire area, pavillions, bbq area and it is so close to home! People can go work and come for the evening activities and there are a lot planned-FHE tonight was great and movie night tomorrow, talent night on Wednesday, BBQ and dance on Thursday and bonfire/kanikapila on Friday night, break down on Saturday. Of course, only the Nauahis, Parkers and Ulimas (town/Laie) have tents set up, but it will still be a fun week! Too bad I have to work!

"18 Years Later. . ."

6.20.10. I am grateful for 18 years of marriage to Fosi Ulima. I love you. Happy Anniversary to my honey bunny and to my parents, who share the same anniversary and are celebrating it in heaven today! Happy Father's Day to my hubby and my dad!

I can't believe 18 years have gone by, it's amazing. Good, bad, happy, sad, miracles, heartaches. . .but I thank God for all of our blessings and for the lessons and growth. We're still here, still together and re-dedicating ourselves to another 18 years and then some. Can't do it without God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. We were just kids when we got married, I was 19 and he was 22. . .if we knew then what we know now. . .well, that's life, isn't it? Hindsight is always 20/20 vision. Anniversary and Father's Day all on one day! Mom and dad's anniversary and finally they're together in heaven! Grateful for the father my husband is and for the dads in my life. Sonny and I cooked breakfast for daddy and went for a little ride and enjoyed the park for an hour, then off to church, Sonny spoke on the Holy Ghost in primary and home this evening with the Parkers, a little food, cake and ice cream. I've got my health, my family, the gospel, a good job, a beautiful home, extended family and friends, music, Hawaii and my doggies-what more could I ask for? Mahalo ke Akua for these 18 years and to my honey bunny. . .I love you, Happy Anniversary!

"Books. . take me Away!"

6.19.10. I am grateful for good books that take me to another world! 11 more days until the movie. Go Team Jacob!

Ah books, I LOVE books, especially ones that you want to read over and over and never get tired of it! A busy Saturday, slept in , laundry, Fosi had a gig, I set up sound for the SA movie night at the chapel, went to Sonny's last game (which was controversial and oh so disturbing that we lost when we were robbed! anyway, I'm letting it go now. . .can you tell?), cousins over, picked up speakers, fell asleep to Avatar.

"Somewhere in Time"

6.18.10. I am grateful my husband bought and watched "Somewhere in Time" with me, one of my favorite ultra-romantic movies!

Friday night, just a long and tiring week at work, so had to enjoy the evening with my boys. Dinner at Soon's Korean food, a little grocery shopping for Sunday and a video night. Fosi bought me one of my favorite romantic movies, "Somewhere in Time" and he watched it with me! "RICHARD!!! RICHARD!!!" That part just breaks my heart and Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour win for most beautiful couple in a romance. Can we say 'eternal love'? That's the way to spend a Friday night!

"Lakeshow Baby!"

6.17.10. I am grateful that the LAKERS are the 2010 NBA Champs!!! It brought back memories of the 80s and it was great to see Magic and Kareem and the other legends! Great game!The Lakers beat the Celtics for the 2010 NBA championships.

Although I don't really follow NBA games anymore, I've been a Lakers fan from back in the 80s when I watched the rivalry between Magic, Kareem and Worthy vs. Larry Byrd and the Celtics. Good memories! A free night for me as Fosi went to the chapel with Sonny.

"Salamat for the 'Ono Grindz!"

6.16.10. I am grateful for 'ono local food today: chicken katsu from Nico's and homemade pansit from my Filipino neighbors, salamat po!

It was one of those days, when I just had to get good food for lunch. . .Nico's for me, Shona and Derek at work. Can we say 'ono loa? Katsu, fries and chocolate cake. Then, our neighbors brought fresh pansit and off to our Youth Conference evaluation meeting at church. It was good and a little tough in spots, but all meant to improve. Next YC is already 8 months away!

"The Top Secret Line Up!"

6.15.10. I am grateful that Na Wai finalized our set for KCCN's Birthday Bash on July 31, 2010. Come rock with us at the Waikiki Shell! We are SO excited!

Back to work, lots to do and ended the evening planning for Birthday Bash with the ladies. Lots of fun stuff in store, and, as usual, we're down to the wire for rehearsals. . .AGAIN! July just comes by too fast!

"Did someone say Air Conditioning?"

6.14.10. I am grateful for air conditioning in my bedroom-I spent the whole day sleeping in glorious coolness while it sweltered outside! A summertime must in Hawaii!

So I was totally exhausted from the long weekend and I stayed home from work and slept most of the day in the glorious a/c of my bedroom. Some days, you just gotta stay home from work and sleep! Relaxed at night, FHE and just chilled.

"Youth Conference 2010"

6.13.10. I am grateful for a succesful Youth Conference. The fireside tonight was wonderful, mahalo to the youth for sharing their testimonies and sweet spirits! Thank you leaders for making it happen!

Youth Conference has finally come to an end. It was a success. The day started with sleeping in, chores and saying good-bye to friends in the ward: the Alikis moving to Kentucky, the MacFarlands to Hau'ula and Sis. Sonomura to Japan on a church mission. We wish them well. Sonny went with Kaulana and Bro. Nauahi to watch Kehu's pageant (cause Allie was in it) and Fosi and I went to the fireside. It was wonderful to hear the youth's testimonies and I was grateful for everyone who put it together. We're in charge of the tri-stake youth conference in March 2011! Yikes! I am grateful for the youth and have a lot of aloha for them, I need to work harder to know them and lead them in a manner that is pleasing to God.

"Service and a Dance"

6.12.10. I am grateful for Youth Conference today: service project at Farrington and dance tonight, it was fun and great to see all the youth together, working hard. They were so good!

After an all nighter at the dorms, I slept in, went to take pictures at the service project, went to Sonny's flag football game and went to the Youth Conference dance. Boy that was an experience, the kids liked the dance and I ran a dance contest, but we had to ask a few people to go home and change, we had one girl crying, people sneaking in 13 year-olds and babies and cousins with earrings and I was spent. Other than that, it was great!

"Class Night"

6.11.10. I am grateful for KS 1990's Class Night. It was wonderful to see more classmates, to talk story, eat and dance. We had a GREAT time and everyone looked amazing! Mahalo for the party carrying on at the dorms afterwards! Aloha KS '90!

Class night at Masa's-about 100 of our classmates, some with spouses. Champ Kaneshiro was the emcee (I thought he was funny!), Kip was there doing charicatures with his new squeeze, Patty Anderson (c/o 89), picture taking, great food, lotsa drinking, a video honoring our deceased classmates, games, prizes and a dance. I was asked to give opening prayer, I had a great time seeing classmates, hugging and catching up. Everyone looked fantastic and although it was warm, it was good fun. The best part, though, came afterwards when we headed to Kapuaiwa dorms for the afterparty-drinking, eating, watching old song contest videos, talking story and kanikapila on the lanai. It was fantastic, my favorite part of the reunion, the dorms were amazing, the atmosphere warm and we all felt like an ohana-class of 85, 90 and 95 there. The house musicians-Sam Makua, Henry Lindo and Danny Palakiko were amazing and I got in a couple of songs. I had a blast talking story on the lanai with Randall Quinones, Momi and others. I ended up going home at 3am but it was worth it! As I was leaving, they were cooking on the bbq and starting a dance in the dorms. Can't wait to do it again in another 5 years-I've been missing out! Good to see everyone again.

"KS Class of 1990 ROCKS!"

6.10.10. I am most grateful for seeing my high school classmates at the Kamehameha Class Talent Night competition tonight. KS Class of 1990 rocked! Everyone in my class looks FANTASTIC!!! 20 years looked darn good on them! Imua!

Took the day off from work. In studio from 10-2, worked on 'Silly Girl', laid down everything anew. Then off to help with Youth Conference registration at the chapel. They went off to the Water Park, Fosi included, and I was off to my Kamehameha Class Talent Night with Lina. Sonny was with Tahia. All the 0's and 5's (from 1950-2000, missing 1995). It was amazing, my first time, and Shawn arranged 'Heal the World' with new lyrics. Our class had a good showing, about 60 and we did a great job, but didn't place. That didn't matter because the acts were wonderful, the food was great, the atmosphere was electric and so spirited and the best part was seeing classmates, old friends. It's been 20 years since we walked the halls of that school and they all looked AMAZING! Some look better than high school, seriously! Everyone was real happy to see each other and had a great time. I'm lucky to have a good class, I did wax nostalgic when I walked the halls of Konia, but just about friends and youth. I'm happy where I am in life and grateful for the journey, but things always look different with 20/20 vision. There's so much I would tell that young girl in 1990, but I still have several years to go and I'll look ahead to greater things. . .and plan to attend more reunions in the future. KS Reunion Week ROCKS!!! Class night tomorrow, here I come!

"GLEE!"

6.9.10. I am grateful for a wonderful Glee night performance by our Stake's youth-awesome job everyone!!!

Work, took off half day to go into studio with Danny Kennedy, Jan Luna and Koa. They worked on "Keep Hawaiian Lands", so awesome! Love working with them! The GLEE performances were just awesome, everything came together nicely and the kids had fun, the hard work paid off and there were ALOT of people there! It ended quickly, light refreshments and we were OUT! Thank GOODNESS for Bella and Don helping with sound! Ate dinner with Fosi and Sonny at Zippy's afterwards and collapsed into bed. Missed the president's reception at school for our reunion, oh well. I'll make class night!

"In Mint Condition"

6.8.10. I am grateful for a bowl of mint chocolate-chip ice cream at the end of a long day!

Work and spent the evening observing rehearsals for different wards and planning for tomorrow's Glee performance while stressing out over sound, decorations, and everything else for Youth Conference-arrgghh! But at least I have my ice cream!

"The Q"

6.7.10. I am grateful for my father-in-law's BBQ, still the BEST I've ever eaten! Faafetai tele lava!

Nothing like coming home to dad's BBQ, they had a little get together for mom's aunty. With BBQ, chicken, ribs, kalo, oyster, sapa sui, it was amazing! Great lunch for the next day!

"It's Hard to Say Good-Bye. . ."

6.6.10. I am grateful we spent the evening with our dear friends, the Alikis. Good luck and spread the aloha in Kentucky-we'll miss you guys!

The Alikis are moving to Kentucky. They're a great family and I love them, especially Tanya. I'll miss them but I know they'll do good wherever they go and spread the aloha. The ward will miss them. It was nice to spend time with them and honor them with dinner at the Nauahis.

"Another Busy Saturday"

6.5.10. I am grateful for hula today with Lise and Kainoa. With Sonny's football and a gig in Mililani, it's another full Saturday!

The day started with a hula lesson with Kainoa and Lise at my house. Being the kumu that he is, we had to do 'Kunihi ka mauna i kala'i e' and basics, then he taught us two verses of "Ali'ipoe", a dance he wants us to learn so we can dance it together anywhere (where? I don't know!lol.). It was nice, ended with pule, then off to Sonny's flag football game in Palolo. He played QB for the first time and even though he threw for 2 interceptions, he played his BEST game ever. He went all out, going after flags and eating the ground (small kine), running an almost touchdown and just giving it his all-I was SO proud of him! He also had a great week of doing all his homework and grabbing something from the treasure chest I got for him. That night, we had a great gig at Tuna's nephew, Mikey's a the Leilehua Golf Course. I sang 3 songs! Good dinner and relaxed at home. Full day!

"Mohawk Boy"

6.4.10. I am grateful for Friday family night and a great weekend ahead!

Friday night, hanging with my boys at Big City Diner's and enjoying Sonny's mohawk! He looks GOOD with it! Grateful for Bella taking Sonny with the boys today after he and Fosi helped at the Eagle Scout project today. Busy weekend ahead!

"Guitar Man"

6.3.10. I am grateful for my new guitar teacher and my first lesson! Mahalo nui loa e Hale!

My first guitar lesson with Hale and it lasted 3 hours. He's great and humble and we talked about what I wanted to accomplish and went over the chromatic scale and picked a song to work on and learned a new style of holding the guitar and playing. Won't be able to meet for another couple of weeks but looking forward to it!

"Taking it Off"

6.2.10. I am grateful for days that are full of surprises, when you are delighted at where the road takes you and who you travel with!

It was just one of those days where the road called and I just had to take off of work. So I packed up my dogs, my hubby and son, a few sandwiches and headed to the North Shore. After years, the dogs got to go back in the water at Kahana Bay, a little older and fatter, and even though they couldn't hang too long and I had to lift Mele into the car and Ma'a could barely walk that night, it was a wonderful day. I just thank and praise God for moments like this and the beauty of the sky, sand, sea and mountains. We took the dogs to visit Mom and Feala at the graves and then grabbed a cone and fries and headed home. Had a great rehearsal at Jan's house for the gig on Saturday. These are the moments that make life worth while.

"Sunset on the Beach"

6.1.10. I am grateful for kanikapila on the beach at sunset with my family-lucky we live Hawaii!!!

Back to work and after another 'talk' from my boss about lunchtime discussion and other behaviors, I was spent. So I told Fosi, let's pack up and go to the beach! We had dinner, took the ukulele and guitar and enjoyed playing music to the sunset while Sonny played in the sand. I can't count the number of gatherings I've enjoyed at Ala Moana beach park over the years, that beach has SO many memories for me. Playing music there is the most poignant, probably, so it was nice to play and sing with Fosi and my son while the sun set. Have I said how lucky I feel to live in Hawaii? Ice cream topped off a great evening and made me forget the day's disappointments.

"Memorial Day Project"

5.31.10. I am grateful that I spent Memorial Day remembering I had home projects to work on! A small sacrifice for orderly bills and paperwork!

So, I spent my holiday at home doing laundry and going through months worth of mail and bills and trying to file them, no small feat. I'm still not done, but everything is opened and all together. Although the day beckoned, my disorderly office beckoned more. Back to work tomorrow-yikes! I'm still tired from last week's activities!