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WELCOME TO LIFE IN FLIP-FLOPS! Click Here To Visit: MY WEBSITE

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Monday, December 31, 2012

Hau'li Makahiki Hou!

Lights Above Our Hotel In Maui
Happy New Year!!
Hau'li Makahiki Hou!

My year has been filled with many blessings. I hope you can look back and see blessings in your life as well. Sometimes it's difficult when there are hard times along the journey, but I've found that the look back reveals much more than the difficulties. It's all about God's provision and his blessing through those tough times.

I have been blessed with a wonderful "growing" family (see my post on I'm Gonna Be A Tutu! if you're wondering), a career as a newly published author, a faithful, growing audience of readers (both book and blog), and many supportive friends.

I don't make New Years Resolutions. I'd rather go into a new year reflecting on the many blessings from the past year that I'll be bringing into the new one.

What about you? What has blessed you in 2012? What do you look forward to in 2013? Do you make resolutions? If so, what are they?

Praying for you, my wonderful readers, that your 2013 will be a year filled with blessings--no matter how rugged the journey may be!



Aloha, and Mahalo for visiting!

--Cheryl
The Hawaiian Island Detective Club
Book One—Pineapples in Peril
Available NOW Everywhere!
Book Two—Menehunes Missing
RELEASES February 5, 2013
Book Three—Ukuleles Undercover
RELEASES August 14, 2013

Posted by at 2 comments:

Thursday, December 27, 2012

I Visited Kalama Intermediate School!!

Me and Kalama Librarian, Jody Brown

 Yes! While on Maui I had the opportunity to visit Kalama Intermediate School and talk with kids there about writing and being an author. And the librarian, Jody Brown, gave me a beautiful, sweet smelling Tuberose Lei!

 I loved talking with the kids there. It was very different than my normal talks with kids on the mainland, as usually here I get the opportunity to educate kids about Hawaii, its culture, history, and beauty. While visiting Kalama, I had the opportunity to talk with the kids more in-depth about writing--especially since they were 7th graders.

 I had the chance to read the first chapter of Pineapples in Peril and they had the opportunity to ask questions about writing and being an author.

 What a wonderful, amazing time! I hope I can get back there very soon, but for now, it's on to other school visits and more writing!
Me Speaking on Writing to 7th Graders












Samuel Enoka Kalama Intermediate School
Beautiful Greenery at Kalama!!






































Aloha, and Mahalo for visiting!

--Cheryl
The Hawaiian Island Detective Club
Book One—Pineapples in Peril
Available NOW Everywhere!
Book Two—Menehunes Missing
RELEASES February 5, 2013
Book Three—Ukuleles Undercover
RELEASES August 14, 2013

Posted by at 4 comments:

Monday, December 24, 2012

Mele Kalikimaka!!


That Means
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Hope everyone enjoys their time with family and friends on this very special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The lighted trees were outside the hotel where we stayed in Maui a few weeks ago. Here are a few more pictures from the lovely decorated hotel. Enjoy, and have a very blessed Christmas!





































Aloha, and Mahalo for visiting!

--Cheryl
The Hawaiian Island Detective Club
Book One—Pineapples in Peril
Available NOW Everywhere!
Book Two—Menehunes Missing
RELEASES February 5, 2013
Book Three—Ukuleles Undercover
RELEASES August 14, 2013

Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, December 20, 2012

'Twas The Night Before Christmas


Ahh, yes! You remember the story, right?

But you’ve probably never heard it quite like this (unless you’re one of my Hawaii readers or you read this post on my blog last Christmas—but don’t spoil the surprise!)

Pidgin English is a unique form of English spoken in the islands. When I lived there I loved hearing my friends slip into pidgin. Most people speak it only when with friends, simply enjoying the relationships and having a good time.

One of my characters, Kainoa Onakea, uses pidgin every once in a while. Don’t worry, if you’re reading and not familiar with pidgin, another character’s comments will let you know what he means. I hope his use of it here and there adds a realistic touch to life in Hawaii.

Click on this link for a great rendition of The Night Before Christmas in pidgin.


And, if you’d like the words in writing, here’s another link. They may or may not match exactly, but you’ll get the idea.


Enjoy, and Mahalo for your support this year!

Aloha!

--Cheryl
The Hawaiian Island Detective Club
Book One—Pineapples in Peril
Available NOW Everywhere!
Book Two—Menehunes Missing
RELEASES February 5, 2013
Book Three—Ukuleles Undercover
RELEASES August 14, 2013

Posted by at No comments:

Monday, December 17, 2012

A Very Merry Pidgin and Hula Christmas!


I love listening to Pidgin English, especially when is involves the Christmas story. Here is a wonderful video I found. It has a conch shell horn, the Bible story read in pidgin, and a hula danced to Away in the Manger.

Enjoy as you contemplate this season and the birth of God’s son, Jesus.


Merry Christmas, and please keep visiting. My next post will be a delightful Christmas classic done in pidgin!



Aloha, and Mahalo for visiting!

--Cheryl
The Hawaiian Island Detective Club
Book One—Pineapples in Peril
Available NOW Everywhere!
Book Two—Menehunes Missing
RELEASES February 5, 2013
Book Three—Ukuleles Undercover
RELEASES August 14, 2013

Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, December 13, 2012

How Do You Decorate Your Tree??


Decorating my Christmas Tree every year is one of my favorite things to do. Every year our family goes to a U-Cut and finds a Noble Fir. I like the space in-between the branches so the ornaments can hang and be seen!

I remember the days when the kids helped--and hung their own ornaments on the tree. It was a great family experience to be treasured forever. But, now, I decorate my tree with lots of glitz and fun--and a different color theme each year. Here are my themes:

Gold, Burgundy and Glass
Greens, Champagne, Wood, Pears and Partridges (Pears and Partridges from my mom)
Silver, Pink, Purples and Blues (my grandma's ornaments--she loved pink!)

AND--this year--Reds, Silver and Glass

What about you? How do you like to decorate your tree?? Enjoy!







Aloha, and Mahalo for visiting!

--Cheryl
The Hawaiian Island Detective Club
Book One—Pineapples in Peril
Available NOW Everywhere!
Book Two—Menehunes Missing
RELEASES February 5, 2013
Book Three—Ukuleles Undercover
RELEASES August 14, 2013

Posted by at No comments:

Monday, December 10, 2012

Banyan Tree Lighting in Lahaina!


The Wonderful Lighted Banyan Tree in Lahaina!

I just LOVE small town celebrations--especially at Christmas! We're from a small town in SW Washington and I so enjoy the tree-lighting ceremony held in our quaint little downtown.

This year, on December 1, 2012, I was in the little town of Lahaina, Hawaii on the island of Maui, for their Banyan Tree lighting ceremony. The Banyan Tree is amazing all by itself. Add the buzz of excited people, the school band playing Christmas music, and the countdown to the lights--WOW--it's Christmas!!

Enjoy the short little video as well as the still photo, and the picture of me and my hubby under one of the many trunks and wandering roots of the incredible Lahaina Banyan Tree!


Cheryl and Harrison
Under One of The Banyan Tree's Many Trunks



















Even Santa Came!


Aloha, and Mahalo for visiting!

--Cheryl
The Hawaiian Island Detective Club
Book One—Pineapples in Peril
Available NOW Everywhere!
Book Two—Menehunes Missing
RELEASES February 5, 2013
Book Three—Ukuleles Undercover
RELEASES August 14, 2013

Posted by at 10 comments:

Thursday, December 6, 2012

December Has Arrived!


It's December!! And if you’re like me, you’re going to watch a lot of Christmas movies during the month.

The movie, Silent Night, is based on a true story that happened in a cabin in the Ardennes Forest on Christmas Eve during World War II. I really enjoyed the movie, and was surprised to hear about all the factual information actually used in the movie. Hollywood, of course, had to increase the drama and conflict, but overall it reflected the essence of what happened.

Then my son informed me about the real-life little boy in the movie, Fritz Vincken, and how he came to America as an adult to locate the American soldiers and did find one of them who had been a part of his special Christmas Eve in 1944. He stayed in America and eventually settled—guess where??? Yes—Hawaii!

So, how cool is that??

Fritz became a baker and lived in Honolulu until shortly before he died on December 8, 2002 in Oregon. Another connection for me! I grew up in Oregon, and only recently moved across the Columbia River into SW Washington.

Do you know any amazing movies based in Hawaii or about Hawaiians? Or, maybe a true story with a Hawaiian connection? I especially love a great story that is also TRUE!!!
Snowfall in My Greenspace
Aloha, and Mahalo for visiting!

--Cheryl
The Hawaiian Island Detective Club
Book One—Pineapples in Peril
Available NOW Everywhere!
Book Two—Menehunes Missing
RELEASES February 5, 2013
Posted by at 2 comments:
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