Oh Those Swaying Palm Fronds!

Ever wonder about all those gorgeous palm trees in Hawaii? I knew there had to be at least a b’zillion different types, so I decided to do a little research.

There are three species you can find in landscaping and in the wild on the islands. Coconut Palm, Pritchardia Palm, and Christmas Palm.

It may surprise you to learn that the Coconut Palm is not native to Hawaii. But they grow everywhere on every island, right? Absolutely, and that’s because the coconut can float across oceans. Those tough guys can survive anything! After they plant themselves, the seed can grow into a tree as high as 50 or 60 feet. No messing with them, huh?

There are about 19 different varieties of the Pritchardia Palm making their home in Hawaii. These palms are endemic to the Pacific Islands. The varieties vary depending on the island. Some of these grow as tall as 30 feet. All of the Pritchardias are single-trunked with fan-shaped leaves.

The Christmas (or Manila) Palm is mostly found in landscaping and has a stocky trunk with bright green, stiff palm fronds that stick out and arch from the top.

I have some palms that I take out on my deck during the summer. I love them—both when indoors and outdoors. But those babies had better not try to reach even 10 feet high!

For more information on palms and more links, click here:

http://www.ehow.com/list_7626493_tropical-hawaiian-palm-trees.html

Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

No Longer LOST!

Several weeks ago I talked about my love of Hawaii Five-O, both the old TV show and the new one. I also posted about Kono and about Danno.

Now it’s Chin Ho’s turn! You might be familiar with the actor who plays Chin Ho Kelly—Daniel Dae Kim. He starred as Jin-Soo Kwon on Lost. You might think from his performance on the hit show that he speaks with an accent. Naw—Daniel grew up in Pennsylvania and New York and speaks English without an accent.

Another hit show he appeared on was “24.” For two seasons he played a CTU Agent.

Daniel is perfect in the role of Chin Ho (in my humble opinion.) By the time you read this, the season of Hawaii Five-O will be over, but if you’ve been following the show, he’s had a rough time of it—first proclaiming his innocence in a theft involving the Hawaii police, and then trying to take the blame. Poor Chin—so conflicted.

Fanpop.com

If you adore Daniel Dae Kim and want to read more, visit his official web site:

http://danieldaekim.com/danieldaekimcom

Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

Oh, We’re Going . . .

To a Hukilau!

Maybe you think we’re going to a party, but a hukilau is actually going fishing with a net and the Hukilau Song was created to have fun and hang loose. Ten-year-old, Kimo, in my Hawaiian Island Detective Club series likes to have fun with this song. ’Course he uses his own words to sing an irritating song to his sister, Leilani.

I’ve danced to this song a few times (not very recently, however!) and I thought you’d all enjoy seeing the words and watching a video of a couple dancers. Click the link below the words to see the dancers. Enjoy!!

Ah, what a beautiful day to go fishin'

The old Hawaiian way

And the hukilau nets were swishin'

Down in old L`ie Bay

Oh we're goin' to a hukilau

Huki-huki-huki-huki-huki-hukilau

Everybody loves the hukilau

Where the laulau is the kaukau at the l`au

Oh we throw our nets out into the sea

And all the `ama`ama come a-swimmin' to me

Oh, we're goin' to the hukilau

Huki-huki-huki-huki-hukilau

Oh we're goin' to the hukilau

Huki-huki-huki-huki-huki-hukilau

Everybody loves the hukilau

Where the laulau is the kaukau at the great l`au

Oh we throw our net out into the sea

And all the `ama`ama come a-swimmin' to me

Oh, we're goin' to the hukilau

Huki-huki-huki-huki-hukilau

Huki-huki-huki-huki-hukilau

Huki-huki, hu-uki-huki, hukilau-au...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMgys3wB73o

For more information on the song and its history, please visit this site:

http://faculty.weber.edu/tpriest/FacetsMdl_files/Hukilau.html

Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

Diggin’ Danno!

Here I am again, chatting with you about Hawaii Five-O.

First, I have to mention that if you didn’t see my recipe for Loco Moco on May 25, click on the date and take a look. The other day I was watching an episode and Chin Ho (Daniel Dae Kim) mentioned something about doing an order for some loco moco! Cool, huh? Well, I thought it was pretty cool.

Fanpop.com

For this blog, however, I want to comment on my favorite character, Danno (or officially, Danny Williams.) He’s certainly not the Danno of the 70’s show, but he has managed to totally captivate me. Could be his acting. Hmm . . . or maybe it’s how cute he is both in his physical appearance and in his personality. Scott Caan is the son of James Caan, and like his father, Scott seems to weasel his way into your heart.

Danno is divorced and has relocated from New Jersey to Hawaii to follow his young daughter who is being raised by her mom and step-dad. The show does a great job of involving the family in a number of episodes.

Danno and McGarrett often times have very different views on how to handle situations. It’s fun to watch the banter between the two.

For bio information on Scott, visit this site:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004790/bio

Here’s another site that will give you more information on Scott, photos, and also some reviews of some of the episodes!

http://www.starpulse.com/Actors/Caan,_Scott/

Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

Hau’oli La Makuakane!

Hope all you dads out there are planning on having a wonderful Happy Father’s Day (Hau’oli La Makuakane!)

Remember how I said on Mother’s Day I wished I could be in Hawaii? Well, my husband feels pretty much the same. He looks Hawaiian and would fit right in, so we really should get ourselves back over there, huh?

Unfortunately, I didn’t get him a trip to the islands, but my kids helped out so I could get him a combination anniversary and Father’s Day gift. It’s a wonderful Pendleton blanket commemorating the Oregon Ducks’ trip to the National Championship last year. They didn’t win, but it was very close and the first time ever for the Ducks. And they were the PAC Ten Champions! The blanket is numbered and part of a limited edition.

I love my Pendleton blanket and my husband is always trying to steal it. So, now he has his own—and it’s a collectible one featuring his favorite college team.

Only one problem—not something he’d use in Hawaii!

Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

Hau’oli la Ho’omana’o! (Part 2)

Last Thursday I wrote about my anniversary and indicated that almost exactly thirty years later my daughter and her husband were married in the same church.

As promised, here are some photos of her wedding, and I’ll throw in a couple from mine again so you can see how the church has changed a bit, but is still the same building.

Her reception, however, was not a luau. It was an amazing sit-down dinner with tons of dancing and fun. Many friends and family commented that it was the best wedding they’d ever attended.

Our wedding, thirty years before Ashley's. Same church!

Thanks for helping us celebrate two wonderful marriages!

Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

Hau’oli la Ho’omana’o! (Part 1)

That’s Happy Anniversary (Hau’oli la Ho’omana’o.) My husband, Harrison, and I have been married a long time now! Tomorrow is our thirty-third wedding anniversary. It’s not one of the landmark ones, but isn’t every anniversary special?

Even though we’re not celebrating by going to Hawaii (Crummies! I was hoping to do that) we will celebrate with our kids and go out for a special dinner.

We have three children, Ian, Ashley (and her husband, Dave,) and Shane.

Ashley and Dave’s anniversary is also coming up in a few days. It’s their third. They were married in the same church almost exactly thirty years after us!

We had a "fruit" luau for our reception. A couple of my friends danced, and I performed a traditional hula that a bride dances for her new husband.

Enjoy these photos from our wedding. I’ll continue this post on Monday with some photos from Ashley’s wedding. Celebrate with us!

Hmm . . . maybe next year all six of us will make it to Hawaii. Great plan, don’t you think?

Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

Meet Me At McGoo’s

Imagine my surprise when driving away from The University of Hawaii, Manoa, I spotted my old stomping ground, McGoo’s Pizza. I don’t know how much of a hang-out it’s been in recent years, but just a few years ago (I saw you snicker!) when I was going to school there, it was the hot spot for me and my friends. Ice cream at the school cafeteria was a close second—I can still taste the coconut!

But, if you plan to visit, you won’t find it located in Puck’s Alley, right next to campus. What’s a Puck’s Alley, you ask? Keep visiting my blog and I’ll be sure to do a post and I’ll tell you more!

We visited Honolulu and the university in June of 2007 and one month later, in July, McGoo’s closed. They have opened several new McGoo’s Pizza Wagon locations, one of which is in a lot next to Puck’s Alley. Ahh . . . but it just won’t be the same. Here’s some interesting information on McGoos, its closing, and the new pizza wagons:

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Jun/27/br/br5027849163.html

Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

Ready to Cruise?

Four years ago this month our family of five took a cruise around the Hawaiian Islands. We visited Oahu, Kauai, Hawaii, and Maui.

After we arrived in Honolulu (on Oahu) we spent three days exploring the island before boarding the ship. I even got to show my kids the dorm where I lived, Hale Laulima. It means The House of Many Hands. The thing I loved most about my dorm was the open, cement block walls in the hallway. A great tropical breeze wafted through there, twenty-four/seven! I also showed them The Atherton YMCA where I stayed before getting a spot in the dorm.

Click here for information on Atherton—and, yes, they still house overflow students there:

http://www.ymcahonolulu.org/accommodations/charles_atherton_house

We loved swimming with the turtles on the North Shore and gorging on Shave Ice at Aoki’s in Haleiwa.

Click here for more information on Aoki’s:

http://www.aokishaveice.com/Aokis/index.html

I’ll post more blogs about my favorite spots over the next month or two. Keep checking back to learn more!

Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

www.cheryllinnmartin.com