The Amazing Pineapple!

Yes, the Hawaiian Islands are famous for many things, including PINEAPPLES.

Did you know it takes eighteen months for a pineapple to mature? Wow! Now, don’t they taste even sweeter and more special?

So what would happen if someone vandalized the fruit growing in the fields? It would be devastating to the crop and the plantation.

This scenario becomes very real in Book One of The Hawaiian Island Detective Club series, Pineapples in Peril.

Visit my website (link below) for a teaser to book one, which releases on October 1, 2012.

Aloha, and Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

The Hawaiian Island Detective Club

Book One—Pineapples in Peril

RELEASES OCTOBER 1, 2012!!

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

mailto:cheryllinnmartin@yahoo.com

Happy Memorial Day!

On The Way to the Arizona Memorial
at Pearl Harbor on Oahu

I hope you’re taking time today to remember those family members and friends you’ve lost.

Part of Sunken Arizona

My grandparents passed away a number of years ago, my parents more recently. My family still spends time talking about fond memories of time spent with each of these relatives.

I hope you’re spending time with those you love and will take some time to share memories about those who are no longer with you.

The Missouri

While in Hawaii in 2007, my family visited Pearl Harbor. What a wonderful experience. To read more about this amazing place, visit one of my past blogs by clicking here:

Pearl Harbor

Aloha, and Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

The Hawaiian Island Detective Club

Book One—Pineapples in Peril

RELEASES OCTOBER 1, 2012!!

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

mailto:cheryllinnmartin@yahoo.com

The Swells Are Great!

Leilani Akamai is a great surfer at age 13. She has a seven-foot longboard that she loves. So, why does she ride this particular board? I think you’ll enjoy reading a past blog I wrote about Leilani and Surfboards in general. Click here:

SURFBOARDS

Aloha, and Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

The Hawaiian Island Detective Club

Book One—Pineapples in Peril

RELEASES OCTOBER 1, 2012!!

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

mailto:cheryllinnmartin@yahoo.com

ABC’s of the HIDC!

Beginning July 2, 2012 I will be doing the ABC’s of The Hawaiian Island Detective Club.

So, what does that mean? Every post From July 2 Forward until the release date on October 1, 2012 will be a letter from the alphabet (in order), and will focus on Hawaii, Pineapples in Peril, and the characters in particular.

It will be a fun trip through the alphabet. Many of the letters will have multiple words associated with them. Hmm . . . wonder what I’ll plan for X and Z???

Hope you’ll join me and learn some fun things about the islands and Pineapples in Peril along the way.

I’ll remind you again as we get closer to the magical July 2, 2012 Date.

Aloha, and Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

The Hawaiian Island Detective Club

Book One—Pineapples in Peril

RELEASES OCTOBER 1, 2012!!

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

mailto:cheryllinnmartin@yahoo.com

All The Little Birdies . . .

Go Tweet, Tweet, Tweet!

Yes, I’m now on Twitter!!!

Check out the button on my blog and on my website—it’s the big blue bird that says Follow Me!

If you’re on twitter, please consider following me. I’ll be doing a lot of tweets using the hashtag #HIDC for The Hawaiian Island Detective Club.

As the release date gets closer and closer, I hope to create a lot of “buzz” about the #HIDC and book one, Pineapples in Peril.

Hope you’ll join me so we can help each other “tweet” our songs!!

Aloha, and Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

The Hawaiian Island Detective Club

Book One—Pineapples in Peril

RELEASES OCTOBER 1, 2012!!

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

mailto:cheryllinnmartin@yahoo.com

Hawaiian Loaf

This is Banana Bread On Steroids!

My friend, Brenda, gave me this recipe and it’s a winner! We ate one loaf and froze the other. A couple weeks later we took out the frozen one and it was just as great as the day I’d made it. Just ask my son—he particularly loved it.

Brenda sent me a couple other recipes using pineapple (she loves pineapple and knows my first book in The Hawaiian Island Detective Club is entitled Pineapples in Peril.

Look for another recipe from Brenda in the future! And in the meantime, enjoy your Hawaiian Loaf!

Hawaiian Loaf

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 cup mashed ripe banana

4 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 20-oz. can crushed pineapple, undrained

1 cup flaked coconut

1.  Beat butter with electric mixer until light & fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar until light. Add eggs; beat well. Stir in banana.

2.  Combine flour, baking powder & baking soda.  Add to butter mixture, mixing just until smooth.  Fold in pineapple and coconut.

3.  Spoon batter into 2 greased and floured 9x5 loaf pans. Bake in preheated 350-degree oven about 60-70 minutes.

Aloha, and Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

The Hawaiian Island Detective Club

Book One—Pineapples in Peril

RELEASES OCTOBER 1, 2012!!

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

cheryllinnmartin@yahoo.com

Mahhhhhhhm!

Ahhhh, yes—what mom hasn’t heard that pleading holler from a child? When you read Pineapples in Peril, you will quickly learn that this particular whine often springs from Kimo’s mouth. Kimo is Leilani’s annoying younger brother.

Olivia Akamai is a wonderful mom, even though Kimo and Leilani occasionally frustrate her to the max. I remember driving my mom crazy at times. How about you?

My mom passed away four years ago. I miss her very much and think about her often. What about those of you who didn’t have a mom in your life or haven’t had your mom around for a while? Was there or is there Another Woman In Your Life who supported you, gave you advice, and loved you?

If we have or have had a wonderful, loving mom or another caring woman in our lives, we are truly blessed.

Happy Mothers’ Day!

Aloha, and Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

The Hawaiian Island Detective Club

Book One—Pineapples in Peril

RELEASES OCTOBER 1, 2012!!

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

mailto:cheryllinnmartin@yahoo.com

Break Out The Sunglasses!

Salvatore Vuono
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Sunshine in the Pacific Northwest is somewhat rare, but oh what a treat when it does shine! What about Hawaii?

The warmest month of the year in Honolulu is August with an average high of 88.9 degrees. The coolest month is January with an average low of 65.4 degrees.

The warmest month of the year in Hilo (on the big island) is September with an average high of 83.4 degrees. The coolest month is February with a monthly average low of 63.5 degrees.

Where I live in Southwest Washington, the warmest month of the year is August with an average high of 82.5 degrees. Hmm . . . almost like living in Hilo! Our coolest month is January with an average low of 33.9 degrees. Not quite like Hawaii, huh?? Sigh . . .

Grab your sunglasses and come visit me in August!

Aloha, and Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

The Hawaiian Island Detective Club

Book One—Pineapples in Peril

RELEASES OCTOBER 1, 2012!!

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

cheryllinnmartin@yahoo.com

Boy’s Day is Saturday

Saturday, May 5th is Boy’s Day in Hawaii. In Japan they have combined the Boy’s Day and Girl’s Day celebrations and honor both on May 5 as Children’s Day.

Families in Hawaii (particularly those with a Japanese heritage) will hang Carp Banners outside their homes, each one representing a son in the family. These banners are called Koi-Nobori.

As you would suspect, the largest carp is at the top and honors the oldest son. The smallest at the bottom honors the youngest son in the family.

Other items on display in the homes might include swords, bows, arrows, and special Boy’s Day dolls (like the dolls displayed during Girl’s Day) called Musha-Ningyo. These dolls are elaborate and represent warriors and legendary heroes.

When I lived in Hawaii my male friends celebrated girl’s day with us by bringing us guava cake. I’m not sure what we did for the guys, but it must have been something REALLY, REALLY SPECIAL since I can’t recall! Hey—I think girls deserve to be spoiled, don’t you?

For more information on the history of this celebration, please visit this site:

Boy’s Day

For more information on the Boy’s Day dolls, click on this link:

Boy’s Day Dolls

Aloha, and Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

The Hawaiian Island Detective Club

Book One—Pineapples in Peril

RELEASES OCTOBER 1, 2012!!

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

cheryllinnmartin@yahoo.com