The girls on the train

On the train with Uncle Jacob

Kaanapali sunset

Making friends at the hotel

Psyched to be flying

Shinkansen!

Arigato Mama-san!

Thanks Mom!

Shameless Plug and Halloween

The Bishop Museum Press just got their first copies of our new edition of Pacific Island Names. The above is a comparison of the previous editions maps and the new ones...maps by me on the new one.

I'm inordinately proud mostly because it was a helluva lot of work, not that we're breaking any new ground. About 40-50 maps with HUNDREDS of labels and THOUSANDS of islands....glad it's over and very nice to hold it in my hands finally.

So if you need to know where to find (and yes they are real names) Blup Blup, Rat, Ngerekebesang, Yalewa Kalou, or Bikini (pronounce bick-in-ee I think), you NEED a copy of Pacific Island Names. Might not be in your local Border's but you can always use the Museum's website....

Enough with the shameless plug.

So Halloween was insane. Ma'ema'e goes full out, no holds barred for everybody's favorite pagan holiday. Nearly every kid, teacher, and staff were in costume and since the school is convenient to town, lots of media were there too. We got to see Lily on two different channels.

The two weekends previous we spent over at Dave and Kristen's creating the Carport of Terror 2.0 (see last year's CoT here) and on the big night.....?

TRAFFIC HELL.

Instead of slogging for an hour to get to Dave and Kristen's only to have to then turn right around we did the obvious. Went to Bishop Museum and waited in line for an hour at Treat Street....and then went straight home.

Didn't get a chance to don my costume, but the kids were happy and still gnoshing away at candy two weeks later.

Princess, witch and pilot

Score!

Lily gets on TV

Fairy Princess Nalah

Ma'ema'e Halloween Parade

Ma'ema'e Room 25

Captain Jake and Tutu Kane

Lily helping Tutu Kane at the Holiday Faire

Cinnamon girl

Uncle Burke enjoys a cup of expresso while Lily & Jake do some arts and crafts

Heart of Gold

Scene: Driving in the BayZhayVay (Big Green Van) to Cole's 1st birthday party At Bellows. "Heart of Gold" by Neil Young playing on the CD player

Lily: "Dad, is this Neil?"

Me: "Yep. This is Neil Young."

Jake: "Heart of Gold....what's a heart of gold?"

M: "Well, I think he's not really looking for a heart made of gold, but probably somebody to love."

J: "Or a heart of gold?"

M (aside): "Yeah or that"

L: "Dad...Is Neil still alive?"

M (pondering whether or not to explain that recently NY underwent emergency surgery to correct a malformed blood vessel in his brain that might have ruptured at any moment leading to a fatal aneurism): "Yep, he's still alive."

L: "Dad, what does Neil's hair look like...?"

M: "Well, I think he keeps it kinda like mine...not too long and not too short. I don't think it's black....probably dark brown."

L: "Dad, does Neil have any kids?"

J: "Heart of *unintelligible* (laughter)"

M (pondering whether or not to explain that against nearly astronomically high odds, both of NY sons were born with cerebral palsy) : "Yep, two sons I think" (*NOTE: on further examiniation, 2 sons and one daughter.)

L (dejectedly): "Oh"

M: "Um..."

L: "Is he married?"

M: "Yeah."

L (more dejectedly): "Oh"

M: "Why?"

L: "I think I wanted to marry Neil Young."

J: "Heart of...doodoo (laughter)"