We are here for the new School year start. Here is Kea, then Jarrod getting on the Kam bus at 6M

Then we have Kamaile and Chloe on her bed, and Noah next.

We are so busy, we don't get to see the g'kids much. But just being here is a treat.

Seminary

We have fabulous teachers. They work well together. Sometimes combining classes to bring about the effects they need. Isn't the Book of Mormon wonderful!
The husband of one teacher is making a Liahona. Several of us told him to ask Bro. Pulotu to carve one for him. He told us it has to work. So he is building one and putting a compass in it. In the MTC we met a couple going to Boston, who had one made but it didn't work. Get it!? We teased this brother that he needed to have faith and be righteous. It's fun to see the creativity here.

Confirmation

I wanted to put Justin's pic here along with his wife Chynna and son Logan. But my computer at home won't cooperate. So I will tell you about the confirmation that was held Sunday at the Aliamanu Ward. This is the ward my sister Angie, and her daughter attends. Gracie, Gabby and Angie were there, and I got to see some very old friends from the ward back when my mom was alive. That was 31 years ago. Justin was given the Holy Ghost at the beginning of Sacrament Meeting, and he was sustained as a new member of the church. Then when priesthood meeting began, Jace gave him the PH. Jace had to explain to Justin that he was now going to have the PH conferred on him. Justin thought all that happened at the Confirmation. So Jace verbally explained his own line of authority, which he has memorized, coming from his dad on back to Jesus Christ. Jay was impressed that Jace had that memorized, he hadn't done that himself. Jace also explained to Justin some of the responsibilities that he will have from now on. After the 3 hour block, I saw the men outside of the building talking, and Jace told me later that he was concerned that Justin needed to have more help in his new membershop role. The missionaries hadn't really explained much to Justin, and the one missionary is returning to Utah Tuesday. Justin's wife Chynna, doesn't know that much about the PH. She came from a home where her dad was not as active. So Jace is wanting to stay close to that couple, even closer than they have been before. Jace is also very aware of the fact that Jarrod will have the PH conferred on him in October. And Jace is preparing Jarrod even more earnestly.

Baptism

New member, almost is: Justin Hirosaki    He was baptized today, and will be confirmed tomorrow.  He is married to Chynna, who is a lovely young woman who is a very close friend to Jace and Taran.  She and her friend Brooke, used to tend our grandchildren, especially when Noah and Kamaile were babies.  They are still close to the family, and we have all blended into one large family, with those gals calling us Tutu and G'dad.  Justin and Chynna have a beautiful baby boy, who was blessed in March.  They live in my sister Angie's ward at Aliamanu.  There was a huge support for Justin by the members of the ward today.  Members of the  church who work with Justin also supported him by attending today.  Bishop Tanaka asked Justin if he wanted to bear his testimony, Justin's response was, "do I have 1 or 2 hours."  Justin has come a long way to this point.  We go back into Honolulu tomorrow for his confirmation.  Remember when we used to hold the confirmations over to the next day, now it seems so unusual for that to happen. But we will drive into town again and support his confirmation, and Elder McQuivey will join in the circle, when Justin is confirmed.  

Statehood 50th anniversary

Statehood Day in Hawaii is a holiday today August 21.  Many offices were closed, public schools out, and no seminary this morning.  Kamehameha Schools did not observe the holiday, obviously, if you are familiar with the history of our Hawaiian ohana.  I was 20 years old when Hawaii was made the 50th State.  I was an aide at the Republican Convention in Hawaii that year.  I knew I could  vote for my governor, when I turned 21 and vote for the President of the United States.  I could have two Senators, and have representatives.  But I remember that the Native Hawaiians were not happy about this happening.  And we are seeing many of the Hawaiian rights being swallowed up in the Constitution of the U.S.  Ue Ka 'aina.  Cry for the land.  That was the fear by the Natives  50 years ago, and it still is today, as the media covered the march on the Iolani Palace, by a group of Natives.  Ue ka aina, indeed.  We are seeing it all over the Island chain.  The military continues to use the Makapu'u area for artillery training, just as they bombed  the Island of Kahoolawe for years.  I am hapa haole, the other hapa Hawaiian, but my life began at Queens Hospital in Honolulu, on April 17, 1939.....raised on the Big Island and on Oahu, before I went to Utah.  Utah has become my "home", but I must admit, I continue to call Hawaii, Home.

And it came to pass........

....that we are still excited about being here. We are covering the LDS Employment Resource Center, teaching Institute, coordinating the 13 seminary classes. We had 15, and we combined classes this year. Eveything is running so well, but we still wake up at 4:30am, to be out of the apartment by 5:35, to attend our two wards where the classes meet. The Hau'ula Makai Chapel holds 6 huge classes from 4 wards. While the Laie Stake Center holds 6 classes from 5 wards. Elder McQuivey drops me off at Hau'ula while he goes to Laie, and then he picks me up after seminary. I am supposed to sit in on classes and do some evaluations. But I am supposed to make an appointment to do that the day before. All of the teachers have told me not to call, or they would worry all night, just show up. So I haven't done that yet, but I need to do it soon. Already tomorrow is a holiday for the 50th year celebration of Hawaii being made a State of the United States of America. I was 20 years old when that happened, and I was a sophomore at the Church College of Hawaii. I could now vote for my governor, and have two senators, and representatives from my "state"..... But I didn't know what other kinds of impact the statehood would make on this land of Hawaii. The Kamehameha schools will not have the day off tomorrow, just the public schools.

Hump Day

Yes, yesterday the 17th of August, was our hump day.  I don't know how I feel about that.  I am not looking forward to May 17th.  For those of you who know us, we are not the celebration kind of couple.  So it came and went without fanfare.  We just went along the day doing our thing, or the Lord's thing.  

Kapua and Al

Cancer survivors.  We were the third "eldest class"  1953 had 5 members, 1955 had one, and we had 16 at best to start, anyway.  What fun.

Relay For Life

My Class of '56 participated in this Alumni RFL for Cancer.  We met on Kapalama campus of Kamehameha School at 6pm to start the walk, and then Kapua and I left, while the rest of our team continued the walk through the night until 6am this morning.  It was  impressive, about 1,000 people met for this event.  Our own class raised almost $4,000 before we left at 8:00pm,  I was privileged to be a part of this event.  Kapua is a survivor, and so is Al Pauole, I will post a picture of those two.  I should have done that here.  

the BOM

Our seminary teachers are da best, and the students are awesome. We love this work.
Felicia, the storm has dumped rains, but it is manageable. Some flooding in some areas. The hurricane season is not over.

Hurricane Felicia

I show my cover photo as a calm sea. But raging east of the Islands is a hurricane that was a stage 2 just 2 days ago, but is dissipating to a Tropical Depression at this point.  Nevertheless, we will have some kind of effect as it swings by in 20-30 hours from now.  We noticed this morning that the park across the street here, Kakela or Kokololio as it is now named, is empty.  I suppose the people decided to stay home, just in case the hurricane hit sooner.  Smart move.  The stores were selling out as people were preparing for the worst.  Jace, our son filled all the car tanks with gas, and the extra gas tanks too.  Even if the cars don't go anywhere, he would have gas for the generator.  We felt the effects of no power for 15 hours last January.  Jace saved the day with his generator.  Our fridges and all other appliances functioned like normal.  We cooked for neighbors too.  The generator noise is annoying, but we had to count our blessings.  

Voting of Redundant Strays

I learned about this at the workshop two weeks ago.  When talking about the Liahona, and the two spindles,  I found out about how it worked when used with righteous effort.   I still have lots more to learn. 

 It's been great with the new Seminary year, to see these teachers doing such a great job, with their creativity, and their love for the gospel and for the students.  Their enthusiasm is fabulous.  The students are bright eyed, and bushy tailed so early in the morning after a fun Summer break.  I love this work.

Home......

....it's all relative. I think this is home, but Jay is homesick for Utah. I talked with a missionary couple due to return home to Provo in December. She tells me they have mixed emotions about leaving. They love the people here, and yet, they are looking forward to going home to Utah. They have family there. We have family in both places. Here and in Utah. So that makes us longing for two places in our hearts. No, make that three. Massachusetts holds another place in our hearts, at least 8 places.

Seminary began again today

"Oh what joys of the heart....."  Happiness is the Plan of Salvation.  It was indeed a delight this morning to greet our teachers.  I was at the Hau'ula Makai Chapel, while Elder McQuivey went to the Laie Chapel.  I was supported by our Stake president's counselor over the Seminary.  We saw prepared, beautiful, handsome teachers.  They were ready and they were excited.  Elder McQuivey went to the Laie Stake Center where 6 other teachers were prepared and excited to teach.  We hope this enthusiasm continues through the next 9 months, before we have to leave our mission.  

I saw many different presentations of the Plan of Salvation, Plan of Redemption, Plan of God, and yet, they were the same.  Each of us have our own visual image of it all, when trying to explain it to others, but it is the same.  

Oh I love the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I love my Savior, my redeemer, my God.

Ua tele na ou maua, 'ou fo ai ai

I love attending the Samoan Ward.  I sing my heart out and I listen carefully for the words I do understand, especially the Sacrament prayers.  We both enjoy the spirit that is there in rich abundance.  It is truly the Lord's church, and we are part of His army of missionaries, and we love every part of it.  

The Tongan ward is also spiritually rich, and the people we've come to know, we love dearly.  We visit the singles wards in the two community stakes in Laie.  Such special, sharp young people. We get to have them share their lives with us in Institute each week.  

We are so richly blessed.  We have much to share with the world.  

We have a loving supporting family back home in Utah too.  They take care of mom, and they live good righteous lives, affirming the goodness of the gospel.

Me Kealoha Pumehana, O Mililani, a me Ke McQuivey

Envision Laie

Elder McQuivey went to the town meeting on Thursday while I taught our Institute class.  This was a very important meeting.  The church has invested a huge amount of money to present this to the community for their support so it can go to the City and County in Honolulu to get the land rezoned for building 1200 homes, a strip mall, an elementary school, a light industrial park, parks and virtually set up a planned community that is much needed on this side of the Island.  I don't now how to turn this picture around on this site.  Sorry!  This was passed by the board, but not after 4 hours of namecalling by the usual dissidents.  We are involved.