Losing our rights.

Having just taken a trip back to San Francisco I was reminded of a blog I wrote years back and it still remains relavent  today in many ways today.

Kids seem to have more rights in their high school then I do when I travel. OK, I don’t want to beat this air travel thing into the ground but when I saw this letter to the editor in our Sunday Honolulu Advertiser I got all riled up again.

A Kilauea, Kaua’i reader wrote to the editor about the changes to Chapter 19 concerning student rights to privacy. She stated that if they were to allow for searches in lockers, drug sniffing dogs etc. the students would have to surrender their dignity on demand.
My sentiments exactly as I’m standing in the middle of the airport having air blown up my dress. And believe me I’m no Marlyn Monroe. But surrender my dignity I had to0 or I would not have been able to fly home.
Drug sniffing dogs? I ask you , how many of us have been seated waiting to get on a plane when someone lets the dogs out and he is sniffing what ever you may have in or on you? My right to privacy? Out the door.
Then she goes on to say bad outcomes will present themselves if we… “indoctrinate our youth to accept personal space violation from figures of authority.” Have I been indoctrinated?
And last but not least, the statement that had me hitting the paper with the back of my hand and ranting to Max as he sat at my feet. “Unreasonable searches of students’ bodies and property undermines our country’s core civic values.”!!!
So when do kids in school who may have drugs in their lockers or guns or both deserve more privacy then I do when I am boarding a plane? They are not even subjected to body searches. Unlike me just because some old lady with a uniform doesn’t like the way I look and pulls me over. Is it because I am taking a flight and she’s at work? or she has to wear a mans uniform and I’m in a dress and she would like to see me look miserable rather then look like I’m going to enjoy a trip to Hawaii?
I thought after 9/11 our core civic values were done away with. I did not realize we had rights anymore. Well at least someone has rights, just not adults. I don’t fly free from harassment, someone listening to my phone calls or reading what I search on line.
All I can say is, better watch out kids, your days are numbered. Your an endangered species. Beware when you see some little squat woman speaking with an accent descend upon your locker. Don’t say a word or you may end up in detention and never go home again.

Visiting Bishop Museum

Bishop Museum is an artifact in  itself. Built in 1898, you step back in time when you enter into the main hall. 

The stair case you see here is carved from Koa. Elsewhere it is known as acacia. The Koa was cut down at the property of Princess Pauahi’s estate on the big island of Hawaii. 

The Koa was then sent to Minnesota where it was milled and sent back to Oahu where it was put into the museum. 

            A close up of the finniel carving

Charles Bishop, Pauahi’s husband,chose Minnesota because he felt that the Sweeds who lived in Stillwater Minnesota were the best carpenters. 

It was at the bottom of this stair case that a student taking a private evening tour with her class told me about her experience. 

As the guard turned out the lights they stood there and watched as a lightly scented light assend to the second floor and checked out each exhibit case and then ascended up to the third floor and do the same. It then descended to the first floor and was gone. 

Yes there are many types of artifacts and visitors to the Bishop. You never walk away disappointed. 

My computer has gone the way of the setting sun

My battery is dead on my lap top I said as I cried into my coffee cup. It’s only ten years old. 

My kids are always telling me to get a grip and keep up with the times. Ma, there is no such thing as a $1.00 movie, Ma, get over it, hardly anything is made in America, Ma, that’s just how fruit taste now. Quit living in the past. 

And so I have to accept that my lap top had a good run. Without money though I’m going to be writing my Blog from my iPhone for a long, long time. 

A good friend came to town for a few days and all of us old friends were able to get together at the Hau Tree Lanai for dinner. 

            That’s me on the bottom right. 

And like my computer that was fabulous while I had it this sunset was breathtaking and entertained me and my camera for quite awhile. Then it was gone. 

I still have my iPhone though so I can share short post and some very special moments. Here is the photo that thrilled me and once again made me realize how lucky I am to live in Hawaii. 

What are they all staring at? Not this photo the next one. 

This mother seal was the first ever to give birth on the island of Oahu. She had her little pup last year right here in front of the restaurant. Can you see it on her right?  She returned this year so that I could see it. Well maybe not but you can bet she made the reunion of old friends extra special. 

First Day Of Summer

Well here in Hawaii, the sun is shining, the birds are singing and where do the people go?  Not to the museum.

We can count on a drop in visitors at Bishop Museum when it’s a beautiful day.

Because…. They are all at the beach!

And here in Hawaii once you get to the beach what do you do?

 

Pray for surf

Have a great summer everyone.

Father’s Day

My grandson checking out the surf with his dad

My grandson started to surf last year. His father takes him every chance he gets. These photos were taken when he was just starting out. Yes it was Father’s Day last week but for this dad he has made it father’s day with his son every day of the week. What a lucky boy.

Paddling into the sunset

My grandson wanted some photos of him surfing and what could I say. An afternoon at the beach while the sun was going down and a camera? I could not say no. unfortunately the camera I have now is not the best. In frustration I gave my good Cannon to my son. Yeah I regret it but my son is doing wonderful with it and I know I would never have done that well. It is in good hands.

Going for it

It was hard for me to focus my cheaper camera and hard for me to tell where my grandson was. When he stood up I was scanning the ocean.  I only seemed to find him when he was catching a wave. Frustrating.

A father introducing his kids to the ocean

As I sat against the wall with my feet planted in the sand. I scanned the beach and watched every one in different stages of enjoyment. I saw this father with his two children and could not resist taking the photo. What an experience for these two little guys and what a great dad to take the time to introduce them to the wonderful world of the ocean.

Sun setting and the boards are leaving the water

I wasn’t the only one taking photographs. You can just see two people on the other side of the surfboards. They were taking turns with their friends standing there while they took each others photos.

Paddle boarding

The colors were like an old-fashioned post card as the sun descended. Just fabulous.

Just bobbing along

Kids and adults bobbed along as the sky turned like a color wheel. Even the water sliding back to the ocean sparkled like champagne. I may not have been able to drink it but it still made me feel as happy as though I had.

Deciding to get out of the water

Father and son take one last look and decide it’s time to get out of the water. With that decision made I packed up my camera and we headed back home. All was well in our world. My grandson was happy with his father’s day.