Office Party in Hawaii

Welcome to what Hubby's work calls an "office party." Many of his work parties are held here, at Bellows Air Station. Bellows is a military reservation, used for special trainings. It is also a destination spot for parties and tent and cabin camping. We held our family reunion here in 2006. This was actually an aloha and mahalo party for three folks departing the island.



Don't blink. I really took this picture.
The entire family is invited during work hours, on a work day to these parties. Now these folks are no beach bums. They work really, really hard when they are indoors. But on these days, Son1 finds the other kids rather quickly.

Our party was held right behind this little boy under a pavilion steps from the water. They change up the food plans each party. I secretly hoped for a charcoal barbecue. I L.O.V.E. me some charcoal barbecue. (The next time y'all get your lighter fluid and briquettes out, INVITE THE FARMERS. I will bring a heavy side dish. I promise.) Instead they catered "plate lunch."

You cannot go wrong with Hawaiian plate lunch. It is local and it is a favorite. Can you see how we ended up on the South Beach diet?!? Plate lunch is equivalent to "meat and threes" in the South. Just trade the veggies for lots of starches served with ample meat. Here is what our family ate.

We skipped the rice, but helped ourselves to Hawaiian fried noodles. Oooh they are so tasty and so greasy, but not slippery. I didn't have any Hawaiian mac salad, but that is also a huge factor in a great plate lunch. We feasted on kalua pork, grilled mahi mahi, and teriyaki chicken. The caterers also provided haupia (pronounced how-pee-uh). Hubby and I don't usually love this coconut milk based gelatin, but oooh la la this was best haupia e.v.e.r. It must have been made with shovels of sugar. Son2 packed this down like a champ.


We finished eating, and Hubby had some words to say into some microphone. I don't know. I try not to allow my kids to embarrass draw special attention to their father if I can help it. We got ready for beach time, instead.


The family hit the beach. We are getting to that age where Son1 is independent enough to hang with his daddy. So Hubby explained to him how to get his own boogie board leash on by himself.

Son2 and I hung on the beach for a little bit. We dug sand castles and revved our jeep, and suddenly I wasn't cutting the mustard, anymore.After awhile, he missed the big boys. He wasn't really ok with that.

Hubby came to his rescue.

Son2 rode small shore breaks into the sand. I love this picture because I imagine it happening again and again.



He tried surfing again, but the surf was too rough for his 17 month legs.
From Bellows beach we had a view to Rabbit Island. It is really called Manana Island, but everyone I know calls it Rabbit Island. It looks like a rabbit, and once upon a time many rabbits lived there. Now it is a bird sanctuary and Hawaiian monk seals live there.
We also saw the back side of Mokulua Islands. They are bird sanctuaries. One islet has a canyon and a black sand beach. On the other side is Lanikai Beach, one of the top ten beaches in the world.After some hard hitting waves, we packed up the family for home. Aloha ahui hou , Bellows! See the little tiny gray bridge on the bottom left of this picture? That is the entrance to the H3 interstate, through the Ko'Olau mountain range. It dwarfs against the mighty Ko'Olaus.
Just before we drove through the tunnel I snagged this picture of Kane'ohe Bay.


Sometimes I freak a little over hanging out the window for a picture. Do you?