Spearfishing

Rusty started spearfishing pretty much as soon as we moved to Hawaii. Since there isn't a whole lot of hunting on the island, he made up the difference with spearfishing. The sport involves freediving or diving with a wetsuit, really long fins, and a weight belt to help you get to the bottom. Once you get to the bottom you try to attract the fish in various ways and hope one gets within shooting range. Then you shoot the fish and swim back to the top before you run out of breath. Mike, Rusty's brother, is part of the fun. They also have several friends that go with them. Kalani is pictured on the far left with Mike and Rusty. He is a veteran spearfisherman and has helped Mike and Rusty with equipment choice, technique, and learning the best ways to cook the fish. Also pictured is Nelson, and Ernest (not pictured) is another favorite spearfishing partner.

They have learned which fish to shoot and not to shoot. All of these are delicious fresh fish.

Kyleigh and Katelyn get excited when daddy comes home with fish. Katelyn equates the cooler with fish. Whenever she sees the cooler she says "fssshhhhy."

Neither of them are afraid to touch or hold the fish. Pictured below is Katelyn feeling the fsssshhhhy.

I like the fresh fish, too. Everybody wins.

Fathers Day

We had a fun fathers day this year. The girls and I made Rusty some fun presents. Each of the girls made him a tie and we attached candy to them. Katelyn gave him tootsie rolls and Kyleigh gave him lifesaver mints. They decorated the bags that they put them in. Kyleigh made him a wheel. We gave him the wheel in the morning and every hour he got to spin the wheel and whatever it landed on she did for him. There was a back scratch, get him a drink or snack, hugs and kisses, etc. They had fun with that all day.

We also gave him a picture frame with three pictures. In the pictures the girls are holding letters that spell dad. The idea is to take pictures with the same three letters every year and replace the pictures in the frame. How fun is that.


Mike and Holly came over for the afternoon and we had a special fish dinner with cheesecake for dessert. Happy Fathers day to Rusty. You are such a great daddy!!!

Kukiolono Golf Course and Park

Kukiolono is a golf course/park in Kalaheo. It is a fairly short walk from our house and best of all they allow dogs (on leashes, of course) which is kind of a rarity around here. We try to go on a walk up there regularly. Kyleigh's favorite is a golf ball hike. Rusty found a path that goes down into a ravine type place. It is under one of the golf holes and people hit golf balls into the ravine all the time. It is kind of like an easter egg hunt and every time we hike down there we come out with atleast fifty golf balls, many of them expensive, brand new balls. Kyleigh also loves Rusty to swing her (as seen below). She has fun and he gets a good arm workout.



Alot of times we take Kyleigh's bike and she dings her little bell whenever she is behind us, around any other people or dogs, when she is going around a rock or over a crack in the path. Pretty much all the time.

One time we left the stroller and bike in a grassy spot because both of the girls wanted to walk. When we came back a lady was standing next to our stuff and she had called the cops. I think she was afraid we had been forced to leave our things behind or something. She was nice and glad we were O.K. They called the cops back and all was well.

The girls like to take turns walking Jake. Even though he is getting older and slower we are still afraid he will see a cat or something and pull them into the ground running after it.

For this purpose we invented the double leash method. I walk Jake on the six foot leash and we give Katelyn the retractable leash. If he decides to run after something he hits the end of my leash long before he hits the end of hers and she thinks she is walking him by herself because no one is holding onto "her" leash. Everyone is happy.

Katelyn is getting so big she can almost walk the whole way be herself and she screams when we try to put her back in the stroller. The problem is that she is so independent that she wants to walk her own way. Most kids will follow when you say, "O.k., we are leaving now, see you later." Katelyn doesn't even care. When you are out of site, she is not fazed in any way. Every time we end up returning because she refuses to follow. Oh well, I'm sure it is a great trait, the kind you want your kids to have when their peers are doing stupid things.

Kukiolono (koo key o low no) is a golf course that was created as the private golf course of a man who is buried in the chinese garden that is on the golf course. He donated it to the state and it was turned over to their care after he passed away. I am thankful to generous people that give for the enjoyment of the public.