2011 Obon Dance Schedule O’ahu

It’s Bon Dance season!  Yay!  See you at the nearest Hongwanji!  Thank you, bondance.com for the schedule!

June 18 (Sat.): Ewa Hongwanji, following 6 p.m. service (677-4221)
June 24-25 (Fri./Sat.): Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin, following 6 p.m. service (536-7044)Preview
June 24-25 (Fri./Sat.): Wahiawa Hongwanji, 7:30 p.m. (622-4320)
July 1-2 (Fri./Sat.): Moiliili Hongwanji, following 7:15 p.m. service (949-1659)
July 2 (Sat.): Kanehohe Higashi Hongwanji, following 6 p.m. service (247-2661)
July 8-9 (Fri./Sat.): Koboji Shingon Mission, 7 p.m. (841-7033)
July 8-9 (Fri./Sat.): Wahpahu Hongwanji, following 6 p.m. service (677-4221)
July 15-16 (Fri./Sat.): Haleiwa Shingon Mission,  following 6:30 p.m. service (637-4423)
July 15-16 (Fri./Sat.): Rissho Kosei Kai, 6 p.m. (455-3212)
July 15-16 (Fri./Sat.): Shinshu Kyokai Mission, 7:30 p.m. (973-0150)
July 16 (Sat.): Waianae Hongwanji, 7 p.m. (677-4221)
July 22-23 (Fri./Sat.): Higashi Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin, following 7 p.m. service (531-9088)
July 22-23 (Fri./Sat.): Jikoen Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 6 p.m. (845-3422)
July 22-23 (Fri./Sat.): Wahiawa Ryusenji Soto Mission, 7:30 p.m. (622-1429)
July 22-23 (Fri./Sat): Haleiwa Jodo Mission, 8 p.m. (637-4382)
July 29-30 (Fri./Sat.): Palolo Hongwanji, following 7 p.m. service (732-1491)
Aug. 5-6 (Fri./Sat.): Manoa Koganji, 5:30 p.m.  (988-4905)
Aug. 5-6 (Fri./Sat.): Waipahu Soto Zen Temple Taiyoji, 7 p.m. (671-3103)
Aug. 6 (Sat.): Wailaua Hongwaji, following 6:30 p.m. service (637-4395)
Aug. 12-13 (Fri./Sat.): Shingon Shu Hawaii, following 6 p.m. service (941-5663)
Aug. 12-13 (Fri./Sat.): Pearl City Hongwanji, following 6:15 p.m. service (455-1680)
Aug. 12-13 (Fri./Sat.): Soto Mission of Aiea-Taiheiji, 7 p.m. (488-6794)
Aug. 19-20 (Fri./Sat.): Jodo Mission of Hawaii,  7:30 p.m. (949-3995)
Aug. 19-20 (Fri./Sat.): Mililani Hongwanji, 7 p.m. (625-0925)
Aug. 19-20 (Fri./Sat.): Soto Mission of Hawaii Shoboji, 7 p.m. (537-9409)
Aug. 27 (Sat.): Aiea Hongwanji, 7 p.m. (487-2626)
Aug. 27 (Sat.) Nichiren Mission of Hawaii, 5:30 p.m. (595-3517)
Aug. 27 (Sat.) Kapahulu Senior Center, 5 p.m. (737-1748)
Sept. 3 (Sat.): Okinawan Festival, 5:30 p.m. (676-5400)
Sept. 17 (Sat.): Autumn Okinawa Dance Festival at Hawaii Okinawa Center, 5 p.m. (676-5400)

 

May is Hawaii Military Appreciation Month!

Not to be overshadowed by the historic events of May 1, 2011, May, is actually Hawaii Military Appreciation Month.  Activities for the month include Living History Day at the Hawaii Army Museum on May 21, USO Military Appreciation Day at the Honolulu Zoo and various other activities.  Sometimes, businesses will also offer military appreciation deals so always ask for a military discount where ever you go on the island this month! It never hurts to ask!

A Historic Day for this Army Wife!

My husband, after running the first annual North Shore Marathon in Haleiwa, came limping down the stairs to tell me to change the channel to CNN. The kids, very involved with a movie, was upset with me taking over the TV but I knew it must have been important if he would come down the stairs after running another grueling 26 miles.

Once he made it downstairs, I saw his eyes and saw the headlines, “Osama Bin Laden is Dead”. It finally was beginning to sink in what had just happened. I couldn’t believe it! Letting out a short scream, the news was still settling in. My husband I just embraced for a moment… absolutely flabbergasted at what we were witnessing, but we knew that it was a historic moment.

For my Soldier and I, it certainly was an emotional one. Our Army story began after the events of September 11, 2001. The economy was down, we felt a sense of loss in corporate America and that’s how it all began when he told me he wanted to join the military. Nuts! was what my immediate reaction. Nevertheless, I went along with the idea and my husband became a Soldier.

Eventually, he received an assignment that took us to Fort Hood Texas. In the wake of the first days of the War on Terror, we delivered our first child… quietly and without family. We felt that it would be best to keep the families safe and to avoid air travel. We saw plenty of movement at Fort Hood and we knew then that the war was real and there was no turning back.

Nine years and three year-long deployments later, we are in beautiful Hawaii and all the emotions we felt nearly 10 years ago when we witnessed the attacks on our country came back.  All the emotions we felt every single time my Soldier left on deployments, all the emotions we felt every single time we learned a Soldier lost their life, it all returned when we heard the news today that the leader of Al Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden was killed. When we heard, that the Central Intelligence Agency Director, Leon Panetta, a homegrown Monterey, California boy, where my husband and I originally call home, lead the attack where they ultimately found and killed a terrorist who eluded capture for so long.

What an eventful day for my husband and I. Although one life was lost, this one particular life had claimed war on innocent people in our country and caused terror for everyone. Justice, I believe, has been served.  I am proud, as always, of being an American and proud of my husband and every person who hasand continue to serve in our military.

Another Reason Why I Love Being an Army Wife!

Yesterday, I had another opportunity to fly in an Army UH-60 Blackhawk.  As the Officer-in-Charge was briefing us, he said it was a once in a lifetime opportunity for most.  Right then I knew that I was lucky.  It was the third time in an Army helicopter and the second time doing so in Hawaii.  and oh what a beautiful day it was to fly.

Good thing we were provided ear protection!  Riding inside a Blackhawk is the loudest of all Army aircraft.  We climbed to 2,000 feet and flew with the doors open for an unforgettable experience.

We flew from Wheeler Army Airfield following Kunia Road down to H-1.  Had an bird’s eye view of the Waianae mountain range.  Only a handful of people would ever see it from this height.  Once we reached H-1, we flew towards Pearl Harbor and Ford Island, turned around and flew back the same route.  It was a very short flight, the shortest out of my previous ones.  Nonetheless, I was a very happy passenger! One of the perks of being an Army Wife!

Just wanted to thank EVERYONE (2-25) involved for a well organized event!  Everyone was absolutely professional at every stage and it just made the experience ever so sweet!

Here’s my view from a UH-60 Blackhawk over Kunia

Waianae Mountain Range. If you peek over, you can see Makaha

Part of the Naval Fleet in Pearl Harbor and Ford Island. Part of Waipahu below.

Flying over O’ahu

Ewa Beach, My Home!

Waipio, where my office is located!

Here’s my bird, first one on, last one off, happy passenger!

Here’s my Hawaii

Landed safely in beautiful Wheeler Army Airfield, Wahiawa, Hawaii

Hot and Destructive: My Hawaii

Although My Hawaii is the land of where the happy people live, it is also a land of volcanic destruction. There was exciting activity on the Big Island this past weekend as Kilauea developed a new fissure.

From Hawaiian Lava Daily

Take a look at a raw video of what a new fissure looks like.  What a magnificent showcase of annihilation and rebirth. Only in My Hawaii.