HUMOR-O-RAMA

During COVID-19 we started gardening. We're big fans of Monty Don and consume his shows; over and over and over! All the great benefits of gardening are true. It's great exercise, relaxing, de-stressing, and incredibly rewarding when we sit on the lanai sipping our Lychee Cooler (see previous post for recipe) and survey the beautiful results. (It's also a great time to shake off all the bad puns and wordplay that don't work and refocus on a new caption angle.)

And, one of the best benefits, the wildlife comes! Now, we don't have deer and other fabulous wildlife we saw during our upstate NY leaf peeping trip, but we welcome all the birds and bees to our trees and plants.

I grew up eating lychee and I always loved it. My father, from Thailand, prepared it as a dessert. We'd have our dinner and then, when in-season, we looked forward to a cool, sweet bowl of lychee over ice.

Here in Hawaii, it's still a treat for me. And, it also brings back good memories of my dad. Since discovering the Lychee Cooler, I always make sure to buy extra; even at $20 for a two pound bag.
It's a simple recipe.

Lychee Cooler

• 2 lbs of lychee (seed and skin removed)
• handful of mint leaves
• 1 freshly squeezed lime
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup of ice

Blend all together, then enjoy!
(It’s good wherever you are in the world.)

The Hau Tree Lanai at the Kaimana Beach Hotel is many different things to locals. A great breakfast with an incredible view. Located across from Kapiolani Park, the beach is a favorite for relaxing and meeting up with friends. The swim to the windsock is a favorite mini-workout for triathletes. (All three verifiable by me!) The Hau Tree Lanai also has some literary history with Ernest Hemingway and Robert Lewis Stevenson.
Read Civil Beat’s: Ernest Hemingway, Robert Louis Stevenson And The Hau Tree Lanai

Every surf spot has a sense of locals only, but in the end it's just a love of the ocean. A not so secret neighborhood surf spot. With Diamond Head on the horizon, even if the surf is small, it's a great session and worth it to just get wet.

Although the three Kona Low systems brought historic rainfall and widespread destruction, there have fortunately been no confirmed fatalities so far—a notable outcome given the severity of the flooding.

On a brighter note, the rain also nourishes the islands, enhancing their lushness and vibrancy. Koko Head Crater, for instance, takes on different personalities throughout the seasons—here, it’s especially green and full of life.

That's Diamond Head in the background. The sunsets are incredible. 🌅

H‑1, one of Hawaii’s four (H-1, H-2, H-3, and H-201) Interstate highways, is the main east–west freeway on Oʻahu, running from Kapolei through Honolulu and ending near Kahala. From there, the road continues as Kalanianaole Highway through Hawaii Kai. The drive begins at the eastern edge of Hawaii Kai and heads toward Hanauma Bay.