Memorial Day Weekend

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend! It was a very busy one on this end, hula, music, parties, one at a time and sometimes all together. Spent some time in beautiful upper Kula and in Kaenae. Jacarandas and views are the draw in Kula and helping my wife gather Jobe's Tears for lei and enjoying the beautiful coast in Kaenae. Got to spend lots of great time with friends and ohana.



We really had a great time at an Auntie Mame party in Ha'iku on Saturday night. I got to wear my tux with a turban and a gold loop earring and hang out with a beautiful and ever energetic tattooed woman in a red feather headdress and boa, my wife Denni. Mahalo to Tony for taking this great photo for me.




On Saturday I drove past the Makawao Veterans Cemetery as they were beginning to set the American flag on each grave. There are so many men and women who gave their all for us, fighting for their country and families even if they sometimes did not believe in the cause. My uncles who were my namesakes, my parents both had a brother named Jack, gave their lives as bombardiers in WWII, one was lost in the Pacific and my fathers brother is buried in the giant Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Alvo, France. I hope to make a journey there someday in the not too distant future. Blessings and appreciation to all who have served including my sons Bud and Terry, may our future be one of peace.

Upcountry Jacarandas

The Jacaranda trees in Makawao, Haiku, Pukalani and Kula are in full bloom and the color is spectacular! Take a drive from Hana Highway up through Ha'iku to Makawao, then along the Old Haleakala Highway out of Makawao and finally the road to Ulupalakua. You won't be disappointed, lots of great roadside spots for pictures. The colors and views along the upper highway are spectacular. The blossoms are starting to fall and look like purple snow beneath the trees, don't miss this if you get the chance.

Upcountry Fun

Yes, there really is night life in upcountry Maui. Two Ha'iku (ha-e-ku) fun lovers, Omar and Shareen, are hosting Zodiac parties at various venues and they have been a blast. People here seem to like any excuse to dress up and party. Omar and Shareen are in the photos below. Omar has formed a new band called Omar and the Soultones and they have a pretty good cover from jazz to rock n roll.



The parties have featured the belly dancing of Mariyah and her fiery troupe and the aerialist thrills of Nastassia. Below are Mariyah and one of her dancers.



The band also has a beautiful young singer named Isa accompanying Omar on vocals, below are two photos of Isa in action.



Did I mention Isa is a belly dancer too?




I've had a lot of fun shooting these parties, covered the Pisces and Aries parties to date and I'm looking forward to the next, whatever it is, I'm still working on remembering the zodiac calendar signs.