I was entering English and Swedish family names into the computer and may have murmured a small amount about the repetition of the same names, in seemingly, every family. Soooo, we went on a field trip to the cemetery in Laie.

I am happy I have English and Swedish ancestors.

I also discovered the Hawaiians/Polynesians are responsible for creating and maintaining their family burial plots. 

There are many that are just heaped up with dirt and sand.

   Several plots have solar lights.

I love this plot. As we have come to love and participate in the lives of the island people and their cultures, this grave, with the chairs on it, is symbolic of their lives on many levels.

Just leave the chairs. We'll be back soon, because our family is everything.

Aloha

JustServe.org

Check it out if you want to volunteer in your own community and make a difference.

If you recall, there was a line from the movie "The Man from Snowy River" that went something like this...
"I think you'd sooner hold back the tide than tame the mountains".
Keep that in mind as I try to describe our JustServe experience.

Behind Kuhuku High School is the agricultural department where the students learn to grow crops and irrigate. The crop you see is bush beans. They look great. See the trees and piles of dead branches around the perimeter? They want them gone and or pushed back. The 'Just Serve' official spotted Elder Cameron and said "you're in charge".

              So, this is Elder Cameron leading the charge!

I really did try not to laugh. This is a tropical island. Would the tide be easier to hold back than trying to tame the jungle? The jungle ensnares everything in its path!

(Getting wood was never this obnoxious).

We sharpened tools. 

We sawed trees. I heard something about needing chainsaws.

I think the pile is getting smaller. That is Seta on the right. I love how her hair is piled on her head.

The ground is appearing.

Yes, that is a machete. I think she looks a little crazed. Perhaps she's tired of breaking limbs by hand!

Noah Lee. New poster child for Just Serve/Helping Hands.

Aloha

On July 17, 1902, Willis H. Carrier designed the first modern air conditioning system.

On May 14, 2016, Cameron's had a new, updated version installed in their apartment.

Before

After

This beauty has 12000 BTU, which will make us 12000 times happier when summer arrives on the islands!

Aloha

Do you remember, in 2003, when Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her home, in Utah?

Do you remember, nine months later, when she was found?

We had the opportunity to meet her and hear her speak, this past week. She is a lovely, gracious and a very strong woman. 

                    Elisabeth Smart with Sister Colleen Earnshaw

Elizabeth and Earnshaws are in the same ward in Park City, Utah.

They asked her to come to Laie and speak. We serve with the Earnshaws in one of our branches. Lucky us!

            Elizabeth with the young women in our Sunset Branch.

         Elizabeth, triumphed, and in her own voice, its powerful.

                             

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja1gH9L9VIo

        Aloha