Day 7; Thursday - AND SO WE DID!

Today we decided would be our first day up North.  Yesterday Haunani told us about go phones at Walmart so we decided we would go and check that out first...and what do you know a cute little smart phone for just under $20! But we had to get credit at the not so cute price of $45...however it did give us our GPS back and a means of contact while on the road to our family in Hawaii and in Australia.  The very helpful guy at Walmart opened it up and registered it and everything we needed done to get it operational...so big ups to him and Aunty Walmart.  Next it was back on the rd and Northward bound.

Big ups to my chauffeur for the week...only once did you get in
on the wrong side of the car...lol!! xox

The Chinamans hat...I remember Aunty Mate talking about this
a long time ago and every time I see it I think of her :)

Even on a cloudy day the Hawaiian backdrop is amazing.

We stopped to visit Jason & Kekai...Shaun and Jason grew up together and if anyone has the stories on Shaun its Jase... You really get more of an insight into your spouses childhood and teenage years when they have a friend as good as this...I'm glad they are still good friends today and that we were able to spend a tiny bit of time with them.  They are also somewhat of the celebrities and very worthy role models in Laie; both graduating with their Masters at Brigham Young University this year while having and raising 3 beautiful bubs...good on them we say and hope they don't mind me stealing this cute pic to share on my blog...

Congratulations Guys! Job well done!

A nice visit with them both catching up on life and envying their small studio apartment with beach frontage...waaat??? The life!

Next we're off to Papa ole's for the best dang Hawaiian BBQ on the island! When I look at these photos now I wish we had done a plate each but one between the 2 of us really was sufficient...

With extra mac salad please!

Next we went to the BYU bookstore for a look, last time we were here we picked up a few BYU T-shirts and things for 25% off no discounts this time but found a few cute tie pins for the boys and other bits n pieces.  We also found this hanging on the noticeboard...we just finished visiting with one of the cuties...

Next we thought we would just drive north some more, find Teds bakery (referral from Cole) find a beach to swim at and just do what ever we felt like....and so we did!

We were told earlier in the week that Haunanis hula class or Halau was on Thursday and I was very keen to go...we knew we would be late because we were still in Laie (an hour away) half an hour before class was to start so we made our way back down to Waimanalo swiftly but carefully and got there in pretty good timing... Haunani was up dancing, Aunty was dancing a bit too...this little princess was laxing out and her sister was keenly watching on...

I felt privileged to be able to get up and join in, though I was nowhere near as graceful I'm super happy that we made it for the time we did.  I was introduced to the class by the Kumu hula (hula teacher) as a Kumu in my own culture and later on invited back to do small workshops with her and the ladies which I am absolutely ok with!
The Native Hawaiians love Maori and Maori culture...all over the island we were told how cool our "accents" were....but because Maori has successfully revitalized our language & culture it is something Maori is greatly admired for in Hawaii...especially as they strive to do the same.

I told them I would bring my whanau back and we will do workshops
where ever they want us to do them!