B.E.A.C.H. (Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawai’i) put on a service project on Saturday at the beach in Kahuku. It’s a stretch just north of the golf course bordering private land, so it’s normally inaccessible to the public (unless you want to walk a looooong way from the golf course).

The beach was absolutely beautiful at 8 a.m. Because it’s so remote, volunteers were the only people present all morning.

A large group of approximately 150 community members (mostly members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ La’ie North Stake) and delegates from the Hawai’i Conservation Conference (the cleanup was also part of the International Year of the Reef) teamed up to clean up what B.E.A.C.H. founder Suzanne Frazer said is one of the worst coastlines on O’ahu for marine debris. Senator Clayton Hee and Rep Michael Magaoay also made appearances.

I’m a born and raised beach bum from this area, and I’d never been to this beach before–It was a wonderful experience that I’ll never forget.

Here is the sign-in tent, where all of the volunteers registered

Upon closer inspection, the beautiful rocky shoreline was infested with nets and debris. Three ‘net crews’ used knives, machetes, and even car jacks to try and get them free of the rocks.

One crew worked for over an hour to free this tangled mass from the rocks. It then took about 10 men to carry it up the beach to the container.

The tidepools at this beach are awesome. And look what these two found (below): a nice-size fish trapped when the tide went out! They threw it in one of the coolers and took it home.

Here’s the view mauka. Talk about a glimpse of O’ahu I’ve never seen before–and it’s in my own backyard!

We had some visitors at the main tent.

Volunteers tracked all of the types of rubbish they picked up on a clipboard, from toothbrushes to little unidentifiable plastic pieces. The data collected is used for research purposes.

Hot and hungry (but happy!) volunteers pose in front of their hard work at the end of the day.

Now that’s a lot of trash!

Thanks to B.E.A.C.H. for driving all the way out to Kahuku from Hawai’i Kai early on a Saturday morning to help out in our community! Thanks also to all of the community members who came out and were able to experience something very special–I may have been sweating and sunburned by the end, but I was definitely smiling, too.

Took my sisters to the La’ie Days parade on Saturday. We staked out the corner of Hale La’a and Moana Street, where the girls (and my cousins, who showed up from across the street) had plenty of room to dive for candy as the ‘floats’ passed by.

Can you tell which ones are siblings and which ones are cousins?

La’ie-ites wait for the parade to start

The annual La’ie Days parade features our community. The turnout was great this year, and the parade itself did a great job providing a slice of everything that goes on in our sleepy little town:

No idea what this was for–just a guy pulling a set of reggae-blaring speakers disguised as a coconut…bush?

Dancers from the Polynesian Cultural Center dance-walked down Hale La’a. Props to them–it was HOT!

Westward ho! I got a kick out of this covered wagon float, inspired by the recent Pioneer Day. You can’t see him, but the ‘driver’ was wearing a hat with horns–just like an ox. It was ridiculously corny, but fun.

Kahuku marching band + a bunch of other schools are practicing for an appearance in the Rose Parade this year. I saw my old band teachers, Mr. Payton and Mr. Agena, marching along while the band played Bula Laie and Tahiti Tahiti, old favorites at Kahuku football games. Go Big Red!

Got big kids? Sign them up for Big Boyz football–I seriously thought these kids were high school players as they approached!

Of course, you can’t forget the horses! Gunstock Ranch is where I first learned to ride.

And last, but not least, a shout out to my old team, Lady Raiders Water Polo! So nice to see them out in force, especially after the scary bus accident they had earlier in the year.

These are just a few of the awesome floats that walked, rolled, and danced on through–what a great way to celebrate our La’ie!

Every July, the La’ie Community Association hosts a month’s worth of activites that include sports tournaments, a beach day, kupuna luncheon, parade, and Food Fest. I realize that July is almost done, as are most of the activities, but Saturday is the big finale day:

Fun Run, 7 am, BYUH Administration parking lot.
La’ie Days Parade, 11 am. The route usually starts at BYUH, goes up Kulanui towards Laie School, up Hale La’a, and back up Naniloa Loop to BYU.
La’ie Days Activities, 1 pm, BYUH Fields.
La’ie Days Food Fest, 1-9 pm. BYUH Little Circle.

I don’t know about the 7am Fun Run (I’m a night owl!), but the parade is always fun, and La’ie Food Fests are not to be missed. Even if you’re not from La’ie, come on by. But be forewarned: come relatively early, as the food goes fast!

The Brigham Young University - Hawaii 2008 Commencement Ceremony took place on Saturday. I decided to check it out, as I had an uncle, cousin, and several close friends finally earning their degrees.

The ceremony was very nice, and rather solemn–I give a lot of credit to Vernelle Lakatani, the school registrar, for her efforts to correctly pronounce long, tongue twister names from Hawaii, Samoa, Mongolia, China, Tonga, the Philipines, Marshall Islands, and countless other exotic countries of origin.

Of course, once the ceremony was over, the madness began.

I had to sort through this crowd to give out the 8 lei I brought with me!

I thought these signs were adorable.

Congrats to all the graduates who are moving on to the next big step in their lives, be it careers or graduate school–you worked hard for it!

My little brother graduated from Kahuku High School last night.

How did that happen?! (So quickly, I mean )

The commencement ceremony ran smoothly (if a little rowdily, as usual), and even started on time! The seniors ran the entire show, singing the National Anthem and Hawai’i Pono’i, giving valedictory addresses, and even performing a group song and dance for the crowd adapted from their songfest routine earlier this spring.

During their performance, the seniors pulled out signs thanking parents, relatives, teachers, coaches, and various community members.

I really enjoyed the remarks given by Marie Jeanne Napa’a, the Senior Class President. It was apparent that she worked extremely hard to make sure her classmates had a memorable senior year–and from the standing ovation her classmates gave her, I’d say she did a pretty good job.

Congrats to the class of 2008!
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Of course, once the commencement ceremony ended, the madness began. The area outside the CAC was a mass of humanity struggling to find all the graduates they brought lei for. Most families made large signs to wave over their graduates, however, which definitely helped. Here is the one my sister Jamie and cousin Christine made for Evan:

The sign combines Evan’s middle name, favorite phrase, and a picture of a tako he caught while diving in La’ie.

Congratulations to the 2008 Kahuku graduates, who have been awarded over $1.7 million in scholarships to date.

Congratulations to the 6 valedictorians (those students with a 4.0 or higher cumulative G.P.A.): Ana Reidy, Nicholas Sirlin, Kristian Au, Tiffany Polk, Amanda Stratton, Carlyn Hubner, and Samantha Thee. I know how much work you put in to earn those medals!

Congratulations to my cousins who earned degrees last night: Jocelyn Beaver, To’a and Tilo Hill, Amanda Soliai, and Shiloah Te’o.

And most especially, congratulations to Evan for a job well done. I’m proud of you!

My brother Evan and I after he received his diploma.

Good luck, graduates, as you go on to college, jobs, and life as adults. Now is when things really start getting exciting. Again, congratulations!!