Memorial Day Weekend

Grandma on top of the island.  Behind her is Diamond Head and Waikiki

All the graves were marked with an American flag and Lei

Some of the many Scouts that volunteered that day to decorate the cemetary for Memorial Day tomorrow.

The Sweet Couple decorating a Grave.

Last night we had an enjoyable and relaxing time on the Al'i Kai Catamaran Dinner Cruise.  It was so fun to be on the ocean.  I briefly got whoosy, but it was worth the change of pace of being on water vs. land.  The cruise left from Honolulu and took us east towards Waikiki and the Diamond Head Crater.  The sunset was short and cloudy but still beautiful.

This morning we went to church.  Following the meeting and lunch we took the Pali Hwy through the mountain to the Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetary of the Pacific.  The Scouts from the ward and from the entire island went there around 11 a.m. to place a lei and flag on each grave.  It was a sight to see.  As we were going up the driveway to get to the cemetary, hundreds of scouts in uniform came walking down from the cemetary from volunteering the last few hours.  It was remarkable to see all the work they had done.  The punchbowl lies up a giant hill/mountain and inside the hill is the cemetary. 

My favorite part was watching this sweet older couple at a grave.  The wife was taking some native plants and flowers of Hawaii and individually cutting and placing them in a vase for the grave they were sitting at.  The husband sat patiently next to her holding an umbrella for his wife to keep the sun and heat off her shoulders.  He sat in the sun the entire time, switching his hands back and forth to hold the umbrella above her head.

After the cemetary we decided to take a right at the bottom of the hill.  I mostly do the driving because I get car sick so easily, especially around all the turns.  We were really grateful we went that way because it took us up the mountain and around and around to another mountain.  We located some boys at the top of the mountain selling lemonade.  They told us to keep going around and we'd find a State Park.  Wow!  What a view into the entire South shore.  We could see Diamond Head on the left and all the way to Kapolei to the right.  We were on top of the island.

I'll post pictures as soon as I can.  Dinner tonight:  yummy chef salad and garlic bread.  Tomorrow we are having a day with Jason and that night, dinner with the Peterson's daughter and her family.  Jason is comparing it to a blind date since we've only spoken to them by phone. 

We wish you and your family a very peaceful and enjoyable Memorial Day.  We feel very blessed to have so many people risk their lives for our freedom as well as the Plan of Salvation.  Mahalo.