Sister Andersen reminded me that I forgot to include pictures of my Graduation Party. When missionaries finish their missions at the Polynesian Cultural Center, the wonderful people that they worked with throw a "Graduation" Party (Good-bye party) in their honor. Because I worked for both the Seamstress and the Theater Wardrobe Departments they threw a joint party for me backstage.
Several of the women from my community Hula Halau surprised me and danced with me. I have a red dress like they have, but I didn't even imagine that they would come.
This is the beautiful quilt that the Seamstress department gave me. Fatai is standing beside me and Elizza is on the other side of the quilt. Fatai made the beautiful pink Plumeria lei I am wearing.
Fatai asked me to point out which materials I had made uniforms out of and which village or area of the PCC those uniforms were used. I knew a lot of them and I recognized that I made a mistake on one that I pointed out, but Fatai just said I did well.
Many beautiful flowers like these were on the tables for decoration.
Cathy is saying lots of nice things about our fun times working in Theater Wardrobe together.
(I wish my camera took clearer pictures.)
Cathy is giving me some beautiful Tahitian black pearl earrings and pendant as a gift from her and the Theater Wardrobe Department.
Sister Ellen Johnson always brightened our time in Seamstress.
Sister Flores was one of my "little roommates" I was taller than all my roommates for a long time. I would gather them in a group hug after family prayer and call them my "little chicks."
Sister Phyllis Andersen was so helpful to everyone she met and I really enjoyed working with her in Seamstress.
Jessica is a student from China who worked in Seamstress with me and she was in the married student ward that I attended.
Vity worked at the sewing machine right next to mine. She is a student from China and we nicknamed her "Itty bitty Vity."
Fatai runs the Seamstress Department, does most of the cutting of projects for all of us and makes the Seamstress Department a fun place to work.
A close up of my beautiful quilt.
With my friend Elizza who helped me so much in Seamstress. Elizza also did some cutting and her happy helpful nature always lifted and cheered all who worked there.
A close up of the beautiful lei that Fatai made for me. It smelled wonderful.
A close up of some of the gifts I was given.
Fresh flower leis I was given.
This cute hand towel was made by Phyllis Andersen. It was signed by many of the people I worked with
and danced with at my graduation party.
A special Thank you to everyone who made my mission so enjoyable. When I am asked what I miss most
about Hawaii, I always say, "All the people."
First we rode a boat up the Wailua River then we went on a short walk through this beautiful park to the Fern Grotto.
It looks a lot different than I remember from my visit with my husband in 1979.
I was told that that hurricane Eniki caused major damage and closed the cave that you used to be able to walk through.
Sharon and I in front of the Fern Grotto.
It was pretty, but not as pretty as I remembered.
Pictures from our walk back to the boat.
An exceptionally beautiful flower.
The boat we came up the river on.
We even had entertainment traveling back down the river.
The view from the lookout at Wailua Falls.
Wailua Falls, featured on the old TV Show, Fantasy Island.
Next we drove up to Kilauea Point and took these pictures from the lookout there.
We were about one half hour too late to be able to walk out to the lighthouse. They were closing when we got there. I guess we need to go again!
This is a Lauhala Tree. Lauhala is dried and used for weaving baskets, fans, flowers, mats and other items.
Next we drove on a beautiful drive up North to Hanalei Valley.
You can see Hanalei Bay in the background.
Hanalei Valley is about the most beautiful valley I can ever remember seeing.
A secluded beach on the way to Hanalei Valley.
One of the many beautiful views as we drove.
Ke'e Beach is at the end of the road. It is where they filmed part of South Pacific.
At the end of the road at the north side of Kauai is a hiking trail.
We didn't even make it to Ke'e Beach View.
These signs may have influenced our decision not to go up.
This is the beginning of the trail. Two 67 year old ladies in sandals didn't think it was wise to go farther.
A wet cave along the drive that had a warning sign. Hazardous bacteria in water.
Bali Hai from the song in South Pacific.
Our rental car on Kauai.
We thought this was a cute church.
Another view of Hanalei Valley from a different lookout.
Just beautiful!
More beauty.
We took a Sunday drive through the Tunnel of Trees again. (August 3, 2014)
Sunset back at out little apartment in Oahu. Sunday August 3, 2014.
This is what is nicknamed "The Coops" because it is so small, like a Chicken Coop. We stayed there the last 2 nights in Oahu. Other Sisters had moved into our bedrooms as soon as we left for our vacation.
You can't beat the view from the back side of "The Coops" Looking left.
Left middle view.
View slightly to the right.
View to the right. (Standing outside in front of the cloudy picture window of our "Coop.")
My last sunrise in Hawaii. (Tuesday August 5, 2014) I took my folding lawn chair out on the grass behind "The Coops" and enjoyed watching the sunrise and this boat sailing by as the sun came up.
What a beautiful sunrise.
I will miss the ocean and the beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
