Gettysburg and Arlington

Sadly, my father passed away this year. Dad, a U.S. Marine, had the honor of having his ashes interred at Arlington National Cemetery. For this solemn occasion, we first visited Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, followed by a service and memorial at Arlington. Here are a few pictures, for the memory. Dad was the best, and is greatly missed.

Big Island

I'm running behind, but running on. We went to the Big Island a few weeks ago to celebrate five years. I walked every morning, and ran a bit, but it was really a vacation--and a terrific one at that. We went to our first luau, in Kona. We drove to Hilo for the Merrie Monarch Festival, the Hawaiian Islands celebration of all things hula. A visit to the Tsunami Museum, of all places. We went to the top of the island, to Hawi and the Pololu Valley Lookout, pictured below. The Sweet Potato Kitchen was sweet. We toured a chocolate farm, in addition to visiting fruit stands and coffee farms. We watched eight sunsets over water, and left longing for more.
 

Pololu Lookout

Hilo Farmers Market

 

Buried pig, unbured pig, at the Luau

Chocolate Pods

King Kamahala Statue - near Hawi

The Painted Church