A live Nativity. I love the last rays of sun on the palm trees.
This scene is the front of the University. Mele-Kalikimaka is of course Merry Christmas.The picture at the top is a mosaic of 1/2 inch tiles depicting the dedication of an elementary school by Pres. David O. McKay when he envisioned a school of higher learning that would teach students from nations all over the world. Note the woven backdrop in the manger scene. The local students wove that from coconut leaves.
The Hukilau Marketplace is part of the Polynesian Cultural Center. This part is free and open all day. Plenty of retail stores, food trucks and food kiosks, with live music and performers.
This is the Aloha Center at the University. It is the student activity center and bookstore.
Oh dear, island Santa with beach shorts!
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Dec. 15 was Commencement & Graduation. Graduation is held 3 times a year after each semester. The Registrar's office handles the whole event with weeks of preparation. It was a really busy and fun day. Drums, music and dancing were all party of the celebration.
Elders Ronald Rasband, Educ. Comm. Kim Clark, and University Pres. John Tanner all spoke. Wonderful messages! Elder Rasband invited his good friend, Donny Osmond up for an impromptu message. Donny and wife were there for daughter-in-law Alta's graduation. Donny's son Chris and Alta were in our Ward.
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Meet Cecilia, an intern in the counseling office with Steve. This is her chosen 'English' name. Many foreign students choose a favorite name to use. Their given names are difficult to say or even to remember. She's from Hong Kong. She said Steve reminds her of her grandfather. I guess we're old.
Graduation is such a huge time to celebrate. Many students had leis up to their eye-balls!
Leis are made of everything from flowers to candy to money.
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This is a great family friendly 1.6 r/t mile hike to Manoa Falls with a 150 foot waterfall. It's located in the middle of Honolulu. Very jungle like, I could picture Jane and Tarzan there!
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We took a dolphin watching boat trip on the other side of the island. There were several whales breaching the water, of course it is difficult to get pictures since you never know where they will jump. Our neighbor, Wes Himle, was lucky with this photo. A turtle swam with us for a while. Sadly we didn't see a single dolphin but we got a voucher for a free trip since it was guaranteed to see them.
Impromptu photos
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Mele Kalikimaka to all of you! This is our Christmas card for this glorious year of 2017 full of many new experiences on our mission. We spent Christmas morning face timing and skyping with all our children and grandchildren. It almost seemed like we were really with them. Then it was off to the movies, 'Greatest Showman', a musical we loved. We even took a walk in the ocean to say we were in the water on Christmas Day. Love to all family and friends.
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