)(*#j()xsuj)(*#+_+_!!

Glorious Kodiak

Sometimes you just need a different perspective on things.

Narrow Cape. First attempt at deer hunt, not so successful. Now I am on my own and need to find a replacement hunting partner as someone has to fish!

Whirlwind of events

Visiting collections volunteers with a docent at Queen Emma's Summer Palace.

The Palace is an all-volunteer-run open air historic building. We helped to inventory objects on exhibit and made suggestions for care and preservation. The volunteers are very enthusiastic and dedicated, but facing challenges such as having no environmental controls and a small budget can lead to issues, such as mold and use of non-archival materials.

Doris Duke's house - Shangri La. Breathtaking at night!!!

Wall at the Manoa Heritage Gardens. Smaller rocks make up the interior of the hand built wall. When there are earthquakes, the center settles, making the wall stronger.

Manoa is a lush valley just outside the city.

We heard a really awesome story about a princess and her evil fiance.

No, not able to share it! You'll just have to go hear it for yourself. I heard many legends in a few days.

Anthony explaining how taro grows like ohana (family).

The big shoots (mother/father plant) create small shoots (keiki, children).

It also has something to do with a story of two brothers. Again, not going to remember the details. It was really hot and concentrating was difficult. It was a good story though! Here's what I googled:

Ho’ohokukalai and Wakea came together to create a child who was born premature and alu`alu, watery or deformed. They named the child Haloa Naka Lau Kapalili, buried it into the ground and after Ho’ohokukalani wept upon the grave the kalo plant sprung forth.

Tumeric

I miss u mama

I love her faces!!!

And what was Abby doing while I was gone?! Well, being Abby!

Drawing, painting, counting, reading, playing, playing, playing, playing, writing (she can write her name! She holds a pencil correctly and she's still three!), getting marker on herself, food on cheek, sticky hands, bathing till she's a prune, watching TV and playing video games (who do you think she does that with?), falling down, jumping, making silly faces, wearing princess dresses, swinging, whining, kissing, hugging, sleeping, etc.!

Day 2

What is up with those weird fake plastic trees and bushes? Oh, those are real!

I have never been this close to a gorilla! He was in no way interested in me.

Snapping photos of the sunset is the THE THING to do in Waikiki apparently.

Day 1

The first two days were VACATION! Let me tell you, it's real hard work relaxing on the beach!

I did have to shell out some $$$ so I could leave Kodiak early though. We were going to have a big storm, and if I did not leave early, I would have not had the two days of beach time. Lesson learned - vacation at the end of trip!

Banyan tree!

I stayed on the far side of Waikiki, next to the park and zoo. It was just bordering the tourist section, so it had all the amenities, but not total tourist hell.

FLOWERS!

The closed War Memorial building. There were earmarked funds to repair this structure, but somehow they the project did not begin, and the funds are no longer available. The only part open is the public restroom. There is a HUGE homeless population in Honolulu, and frankly with the weather and public facilities, it's probably one of the more desirable places to be if you don't have someplace to live.

I am definitely jealous of the weather - yoga outside at sunset with Diamond Head in the background!

The high rise hotels freak me out. Glad I stayed in a small hotel the first few days.

Museum conference in Honolulu

You may have expected me to post something like this....

or this, which I will, but honestly, despite the gorgeous weather and beach time, the most rewarding part of the conference trip to Honolulu was attending (and presenting) and participating in the events!

On one day, a group of collections professionals volunteered for a day at Queen Emma's Summer Palace. It was a rewarding experience. I learned a lot about Hawaiian material culture and had fun to boot!

Explaining the art of kapa at the Manoa Heritage Center.

The conference was a joint conference and having people from the Pacific Island Museum Association was awesome! I have a keen interest in the South Pacific and being able to learn more about countries like Vanuatu was amazing. I will be writing about this more, but will say briefly that unlike Alutiiq culture, which was all but decimated by the conquest of the Russians and Americans and the loss of life due to the introduction of diseases, the people of Vanuatu are in a much different situation. The former Vanuatu Museum Director and now Minister Ralph Regenvanu is working to pass laws so that indigenous people can, for example, pay for services with traditional economic means, like yams.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Regenvanu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapa

Honolulu bound

Leaving behind Kodiak autumn to......

present at the Western Museum Association / Association of Tribal Libraries, Archives, and Museums / Pacific Island Museum Association joint conference!

Almost looks like Kodiak, except...

there's lots of SUN and

clear water you can actually get in (with just a swim suit)!!!

Dress Up

Abby is all about dress up these days.

Princess Ruby! (Abby's nickname)