I'm coming home!!!

Mark your calender's I got my leave dates yesterday night. And I will be home on around the 25th of march through around the 15th of April.I cant wait to see you all. I tryed to get leave for Lizzie's reception and this is as close as I could get. I hope to be able to see everyone. Please don't tell Victoria when I am coming home as she wants me to wait till its closer to tell her. I am so excited to get to come home, all the best Mark Jr

Day 7: Checking out , and going to the aquarium.

When I got back to the Hotel last night I had a message to call Nancy.----Nancy,Nancy, hum who's Nancy? ....OH YA! She was the girl that took me out to P.F. Chang's on day one. So I called her up and she wanted to go to the aquarium and get lunch. So I went!
I checked my stuff into the office since I had to check out at 10:am.

We saw sharks, many varieties of jelly fish, and a lot of the fish I had seen the day before snorkeling at Hanauma bay. I also learned more about the formation of Coral then I ever wanted to know. It was a great. They had a hands on starfish exhibit. The highlight for me was this seal.

We went to Fatty's and had a plate lunch. I was missing my friends from my hostel. So I used the old "got to go track down my skateboard" excuse. Which she probably thought was totally lame. I called the bus system and they said no one had turned my board in. And my friends had already left for the day.

I had been going through the international market place and finding out the rock bottom price for the items I was interested in. I got 9 shirts for $20 , and a cute sun dress for Elara. I talked her down from $15 to $8 .

I went back to the Hostel and met up with Corrie, Phoebe, and Tamara. I invited them to come with me to watch the sunset behind the Moana Surfrider. I was really going to miss this place and all the people I had met. I wish I would have booked ten days. I didn't get to see 1/10th of what I planned to. We headed back and ate. I decide I was going to make my last dinner a good one. So I had crab legs and sirloin. By the time dinner was over I had to jam back to get my bags, and shower up. I exchanged E-mails and gave my people hugs and waited to be picked up to go to the airport. I flew out at 11:50 and got back to cold las Vegas at 7:am
What a trip. I feel restored and ready to go back to work. What a great warm place. I will really miss the Island and the people who live there.

Day 6; Hanauma bay and sunset with my Aussie girls

On this day my German friend Stefan rented a Jeep or a "yeep" as Lars calls it. We headed up to Hanauma bay which is not very far from Waikiki.
We met the rest of our group who took the bus as we could not all fit in the Jeep. We watched a short video about being respectful snorkelers , and headed down the hill to the bay.

Hanauma Bay (pronounced "ha-NOW-mah", in Hawaiian, "Ha-nah-oo-mah") is a marine embayment formed within a volcanic cone or crater and located along the southeast coast of the Island of Oʻahu (just east of Honolulu) in the Hawaiian Islands. Hana means 'bay' and uma means 'shelter,' rendering "Shelter Bay" The "Bay" is a tautology: Hawaiians simply call this feature "Hanauma". Hanauma is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Island and has suffered somewhat from overuse (at one time accommodating over three million visitors per year).

We snorkeled and saw amazing fish, and some even saw turtles. It was so neat to swim within inches of fish that were so colorful. And some were so big.

We took turns going out in pairs to explore, as I was sitting on the beach there was a rooster and two hens running the beach looking for shade, They settled on a spot under a beach chair. It is not uncommon to see wild roosters all throughout the island.

We headed back and watched the Waikiki sunset. Then It was time to get done up to go out for Corrie's (girl from portland) 30th birthday. We had sushi and walked down to Haagen Dazs!!! Jealous?

Look for more pictures coming soon!!!

day 5; Surf the banzai pipeline , sunset at Waimea, and eat at Fatty's

I was invited to go up to the north shore and surf which I really had been wanting to do. I had body boarded at Waikiki on prior days and the surf was slow rolling and crowded.
On the way there we went past, but did not stop at the Dole plantation.
This is Waimea bay state park. and the picture above is the Waimea valley ...... so awesome looking.

The picture below is my surf group. from left to right. Bryan(San Fran.) Tamara, & Phoebe Darling (Australia) and of course ME.

I had no problem surfing, I got up and rode my first attempt. I was so exhausted though. Note to self; work out before you go next time.

This is a girl from Austria named Nathalie. Everyday she would ask me what I was going to do and I would tell her. Then in her Austrian accent she would say "Den may I join you" It was great . We are at sunset beach . Notice the turtle in the background. We all headed back to crowded Waikiki and had dinner at Fatty's Korean in the international marketplace. This was the best day so far, and we have a good one planned for tomorrow. Don't be surprised if I go there again before the year is out. I loved backpacking, hosteling, and getting to know other cultures. I'm hooked!!!!
Look for more pictures when They get E-mailed from my Aussie friends.

Mojave National Preserve

I took all three kids to the Mojave National Preserve, which is right on the Nevada-California border and is now among my new favorite close hiking places. We spent a full 8 hours in the preserve, enjoying the beautiful scenery and buildings.

We started the day on the 4-mile Teutonia Peaks Trail, which included a leisurely walk through the largest and densest (not very bright apparently) stand of Joshua Trees. It was simply amazing to see such beautiful trees, striking in their form and simplicity. Then we started to climb a small hill, from which we were able to take in the majesty of the spare landscape. As Emma and I walked back along the trail, she told me, matter-of-factly, that "Boys aren't so bad, but boys like Asher and Alex sometimes get naughty."

After the hike we visited the historic Kelso Train Depot. It was really cool. Then we took a dirt road to the Hole-in-the-Wall area of the park. The boys wanted to do a hike there, but it was getting late, so we decided to save it for another day.

We didn't even get to see the sand dunes or the volcanic cinder cones. Asher and Alex are planning a big family picnic there in the coming weeks, so stay tuned. The pictures are below:

The Kelso Train Depot (or as Emma called it, the Home Depot Train).

This was an original Union Pacific Club House, used for recreation and housing of train crews. It is now operated by the National Park Service and it is a really amazing train museum. There is a great short film and re-creations of the crew quarters. The interpretive displays rival the quality of the Springs Preserve.

I can't tell you how much I love these 1940s era posters.
So simple, but so beautiful. The kids really enjoyed this museum.


At the lunch counter.

It was a full U-shaped lunch counter, with beautiful wooden stools. The kids are pretending to write in their passport books (apparently in an attempt to look bookish, rather than famished).

On the trail.

A rose among thorns?

The Joshua Trees were huge and awe-inspiring!

The view from Teutonia Peaks Trail.

The view from the summit.

Alex on the lookout.

The kids found a cave. They thought it would be so funny if they went inside and said, "cough, cough Gollum Gollum." Three little demented hobbitses.

Day 4; Bombing a hill to Dog's place

Took a bus ride early in the morning up a street called Liliha. I chose this street because it led right down hill to Da Kine bail bonds. So as I am riding the bus I am the only white dude on the bus. Everyone that was getting on were Japanese and over 50. Below is a picture of the neighborhood . I like the architecture of the houses , couldn't have picked a better hill to skate.

So I fell 3 times and only ended up with a scrape on my palm. Which is fortunate because I was going so fast I couldn't stop. My board was swerving and I ended up going through a green light on a busy street. Finally when I was slowed down and having to push did I fall,..and fall..and fall! Below is a picture of Dog's office. No one was there but that's O.k. because they really don't like all the tourists as they are trying to run a business. There was a sign to the left saying "we wish you were still on the air" and one that said "we came all the way from Denmark to take a "pecure" with you"

As I left Da Kine I was surprised that I was right around the corner from the Iolani palace. This is a picture I took, in the distance you can see the king Kamehameha statue in front of the supreme court building.

This is a story the bus driver related on the way from the airport.

The Kamehameha Statue stands prominently in front of Aliʻiolani Hale in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. The statue had it's origins in 1878 when Walter Gibson, a member of the Hawaiian government at the time, wanted to commemorate the 100 year "discovery" of Hawaiʻi by Captain Cook. The legislature appropriated $10,000 for the project and made Gibson the director of the project, which originally included native Hawaiians but they soon were off the project and Gibson ran the project by himself. Gibson contacted Thomas R Gould a Boston sculptor living abroad in Florence, Italy to create the statue.

During this time David Kalākaua had become king and was completing Iolani Palace which was his tribute to Kamehameha and to be the destination of the statue. The statue was too late for the 100 year anniversary but in 1883 the statue was placed aboard a ship and headed for Hawaiʻi. In the proximity of Falkland Islands the ship wrecked and with it the statue, however the Hawaiians had insured the statue for $12,000 and Gould rushed to complete a second.

Before the second statue could be sent the original had been recovered by some Falkland Islanders. They sold it to the Captain of the wrecked ship for $500 and the Captain then sold it to Gibson for $875. Now Hawai'i had two statues. The original stands at the legendary king's birthplace of Kapaʻau in Kohala, on the island of Hawaiʻi. The re-ordered one stands in front of Aliʻiolani Hale.

I was riding the bus back to waikiki and saw a Papa Johns pizza so I get off the bus and I felt like I was missing something. I had left my board on the bus. It was meant for Hawai'i It had big softie wheels and was just perfect for the terrain. I was bummed out for a bit, but I had to get over it. After all I have a ton of boards and although that board had some of my best components, I was in Hawaii and I just hope it gets lots of use.

This guy had a bike I thought about making along time ago. I had the perfect bike to make it too. He was making straw hats. In the background on the left is a magician and a performer named "Basketball Man" who does a globe trotter type show. He had the perfect hustle as he gave a kid a $5 bill and when it came time to collect his tips he reminded everyone of his kindness. I am guessing he gets $70 per show. I headed back to the hotel and a guy who looked like he needed a friend tagged along with me to pick up my custom bracelet for bear cub. I also showed him the free 2:00 pineapple slices and pineapple juice at the Sheraton princess Hotel hook up.

Went back and met my people for a night of dancing. Tomorrow = North shore.

Day 3: Skate the canal , people watch

This is the canal which was very close to my place. This canal was used to drain the swampy land where Waikiki Hotels now stand. It gets dredged regularly.


Woke up early and skated the Ala Wai canal. Notice the pic of the firehouse and Diamond Head in the background. Most of the firehouses I saw had and uses an older fire Engine and always keep their bay doors open.

This guy was carving tikis in the Sheraton princess hotel Lobby. I also found a lady who hand paints bracelets so I ordered one with Elara's name on it and will pick it up tomorrow.

These are candids I caught of tourists and locals doing their thing. The one above is a guy who called a cardinal out of a tree and fed him some seeds. I really wished this pic would have came out sharp. There were a lot of exotic birds. This one is actually a mixed cardinal. Below notice the outrigger canoe and sun setting.

The picture below has two subjects. The Beautiful Moana SurfRider Hotel. And an Asian couple (notice his pink flip flops and leopard print hat.

Watched the sunset and Headed back to the Hotel to meet up with and go out with my friends.

Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole of Hawaiʻi (March 26, 1871 – January 7, 1922) was a prince of the reigning House of Kalākaua when the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi was overthrown by American residents in 1893. He later went on to become a politician and served in the United States Congress.

Flat Daddies

I had my buddy Jager take this picture today. We had a briefing the other day and they told us about this web site that makes free cardboard cut outs for the families of deployed service members. I thought it would be funny to get one, so I ordered it today. I have been talking to Victoria & Madeline from these web cam booths they have here and baby Madeline starts going crazy when she sees me. I am doing well and am slowly adjusting to the work here. I love and miss you all very much. And I am sad to have missed another family outing. I cant wait to be home and get to participate again. Take care Mark Jr

Day 2; Manoa Falls and Diamond Head

On Thursday morning everyone was getting ready for the hike to Manoa Falls. The list was full and I was wishing I had signed up when the list was empty. Well, a girl said she couldn't go because she needed to find a job. So I asked to go, and went.

we put on bug repellent and headed up the one and a half mile hike to the falls.

The greenery reminded me of Jurassic park. It was so green and thick

From left to right; Corrie(Portland)Lars(Sweden)girl from Brooklyn, Harry (Aus.)guy thats going to work on ships, McKenzie(here for school)Me

above: After the hike we drove up to Diamond Head. This is a view of Waikiki.
below: picture of Ala Wai canal. plan to skate it tomorrow. I took this pic because the view was great and I wanted to include the unique phone booth.

Above: Kalakaua blvd. The street that runs along the beach. This was Valentines day and lots of couples were walking the blvd. I watched a few street performers and went to bed early.Things I learned today: people from outside the U.S. take long holidays,as long as 10 months. ;I still have Asian hair and style envy; and Hawai'i really has a lot of aloha.

Kalākaua also built ʻIolani Palace, the only royal palace that exists on American soil today, at a cost of $350,000—an unheard of sum at the time. Many of the furnishings in the palace were ordered by Kalākaua while he was in Europe. King Kalākaua is said to have wanted to build a Polynesian Empire. In 1886, legislature granted the government $30,000 for the formation of a Polynesian confederation. The King sent representatives to Sāmoa, where Malietoa Laupepa agreed to a confederation between the two kingdoms. This confederation did not last very long, however, since King Kalākaua lost power the next year to the Bayonet Constitution, and thus a reformist party came into power that ended the alliance.