June 2025

Kate went to her first Young Women's camp the week after school let out for the summer. They spent 3 nights at Camp Mokuleia. One of the funniest things she mentioned was falling asleep in her camping chair because one of her friends in the tent was snoring. She left the tent in anger and sat in the camping chair in frustration- and then woke up with the sun. 

Of course, her favorite part was all the crafts!

Wendy and I our Primary girl group to see a play at the Paliku Theatre at the Windward Community College: Legends of Olympus

We finally saw the live action Lilo and Stitch with friends! Jane is obsessed!

I went to see the musical Six with my book club friends: Juanita, Wendy, Khinna, Ali, and Leslie.

I love it so much and scored free tickets- so I took Kate with me.

Hannah and Ashley visiting for the week. They flew over to go with Kate and Jane to Camp Erdman over on North Shore. Kate and Hannah shared a cabin. Jane and Ashley shared a cabin. They were able to hang out as a group throughout the week. We feel so grateful they were able to make fun memories with their cousins. 

After picking up the cousins on the last day, we showed how we jump the rock at Waimea Bay Beach Park. This is my favorite place.

Riding the train at the Dole Plantation.

Visiting Byodo-In Temple in Kaneohe.

Watching the fish eat was so entertaining on the temple grounds.

Finally making Spam musubi!

Ward Camp

Our tent did not work with the wind, so we slept in the car and/or truck. We only spent one night at Bellows but wished we had planned for more. I was able to watch the sun rise in the morning. I have such a great love for this beach and these views. 

Primary activity at the camping grounds of Bellows.

Playing in the waves with the ward.

March 2025 (plus Fiji)

My parents came to visit at the end of February until mid-March. I took my dad snorkeling up on north shore. We pulled a giant slug out of the water- it was nuts! 

Kate and Jane were invited to Ava's birthday party.

My cute mom watching us surf at White Plains.

Kate and Jane were invited to another birthday party for Macy at Wai Kai. I even got to walk around on the inflatable boardwalks and obstacles. Super fun!

Kate's last soccer game at the Waipio fields.

Jane's coach Christ. He really made the soccer season so fun for the girls.

I started collecting aloha shirts and jean jackets from Good Will or Thrift Stores and created these fun jackets for the girls and myself. It's a fun (cheap) way to add some 'aloha' to our outfits.

For Spring Break, we took a 6 hour flight over to Nadi, Fiji. It is very similar to Hawaii and afterwards, Bryan and I decided we probably will just visit the other Hawaiian islands if we were going to have a beach/island vacation. 

Ziplining and Repelling 

Visiting the Garden of the Sleeping Giants

Kate's favorite picture currently.

Getting muddy at Sabeto Hot Springs

We took a boat ride over to Beachcombers Island for the day.

 The water was SO clear and there were tons of fish.

It was really fun to take out the underwater camera case while we were swimming.

To get to this waterfall, we had to drink kava with the family who owns the land and then be escorted down to the waterfall. We were the only ones there and the water was so refreshing. Kate hates cold water and never got in- we told her she'll regret it!

Making some stops along the Queens highway. 

We found so many shells along the beaches.

We hiked through Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park and on the way back to our car we heard and saw all these HUGE bats. They were so noisy!

After arriving back home, we went out with Kate and Jane's cousins (Alaina and Myriah) to watch the sunset at Sunset Beach Park. 

Proof of life: Sending photos to friends while watching June. Howie lives for car rides to Lowe's.

Kate's 6th grade class wearing their fun run shirts...

 

and then dying them.

December 2024

Christmas Carnival Games

Christmas Parade

Beach Cleanup with 808

Gingerbread contest winners at Bryan's work.

Wreaths Across America- National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl)

6th grade Christmas Party

19th Anniversary in Maui

Snuba/Snorkle Molokini Crater

Hiking Haleakala, Waihee Ridge Trail, and Iao Valley

Christmas Party with Aloha Eye Clinic

Bryan works 2-3 days every month at an eye clinic in Maui.

The girls had a blast staying with our dear friends, the Chambers.

When we got back from our trip, we went Christmas caroling.

After we celebrated Christmas in Hawaii, the girls and I flew to Utah for a week. The girls were super excited to be cold, touch the snow, visit cousins, and open presents from grandma and grandpa.

We drove up to Bear Lake with Kim and her family. Kate and Jane couldn't wait for grandpa to pull them behind the 4-wheeler like they saw their Koplin cousins do last year.

We enjoyed 2 days of skiing at Beaver Mountain. This was my first time skiing here and I absolutely loved it.