I have discovered a new pool. The pool itself is not new, just the discovery. Scott Pool at Pearl Harbor is my new favorite pool.

Our older daughter completed a Jr. Lifeguard training there last week, so we spent a lot of time in and near this recreation center. I am not complaining.

She loved the program. The trainers were excellent. They worked the kids hard, making them run and swim and do push ups. They watched instructional videos and practiced saving techniques. While my daughter is not CPR certified, she is now proficient in that department, as well as first aide, and plans to get her certification soon. Not bad for a 12-year-old. These leaders definitely inspired her.

The pool inspired me. It is 50 yards, not too warm and not too cold. There are all kinds of people there: parents, kids, military personnel, making it busy, but not too crowded. The staff are friendly and efficient and there's tons of them.

There are two lanes set aside for swimming laps at all times. People share nicely, making room for slow ones like me. Something about the 50 yard length and family friendly environment were conducive to my swimming farther and longer each day.

The kids have a blast too. There's two diving boards: three meter and one meter, a slide and a climbing wall.

The bathroom is clean and has showers with private stalls, along with lockers for the regulars.

The surrounding park makes it green and peaceful with shady trees, a picnic pavilion and playground.

There's also a snack room with an impressive selection of vending machines. It's not very often you see Yoo Hoo offered in a vending machine. The ice cream machine seemed to be the favorite among the kids.

I am pleased to add this pool to my repertoire of places to take the kids and swim laps while they have fun.

We didn't have a whole lot of plans for this weekend. Our younger daughter was coming home from Camp Erdman for a quick break, our older daughter had a program on Saturday night, otherwise I was looking forward to time at home with the family.

But when Hiro from Kids Hurt Too called on Wednesday to remind us that Kids Hurt Too would be paddling in the Dragon Boat Races at Ala Moana Beach Park on Saturday and Sunday I knew we had to reorganize so that our kids could participate.

It was a bit hectic in terms of our family schedule, but totally worth the effort.

On Saturday both girls got to go in the boat for the morning race. My husband and older daughter paddled in the noon heat and just my husband joined the group for the afternoon round.

We were the only team that had mostly kids and all the other groups were very supportive. We finished in the top three every time. The fact that there are only three boats racing at a time is inconsequential.

Of course it wasn't about the competition, it was completely for the experience. How often does a kid get to paddle, or beat a drum or wave a flag in a brightly colored canoe that looks like a dragon gliding across the water.

This was certainly a first for our family. I have always heard about the races, but never made it out to Ala Moana to check them out. Of course the west side was in full representation as we always bring our Waianae chairs.

By Sunday morning I was kind of burnt out and would have considered passing on another day at the beach, but the older girl was pumped and roaring to go. My husband stayed back to return the younger one to Camp Erdman.

Once again, it was completely worth the effort. The kids paddled in three more races, the last being the best. The kind and generous group from Hickam Nahoa mingled the two teams in the two boats which gave the kids a bit more power. They also graciously changed places in the winning department allowing Kids Hurt Too to go home with a third place trophy. Everybody was ecstatic.

I heard Cynthia telling one of the kids on Saturday that you are always a winner as long as you finish what you start. Wise words. That's exactly how it turned out for the kids from Kids Hurt Too.

We went out to celebrate my friend Monica's birthday last night. There's something about Monica's birthday that always brings together friends for a fun night out. I think it's because it is in June and we are all in a summer fun mood. Nobody ever wants to go out for my birthday in December, the day after Christmas, too close to the holidays. June is the perfect month for a birthday, as if anybody can plan when to be born!

I can remember a birthday of hers from a long time ago at Studebaker's in Restaraunt Row (now it's Oceans) when we had a blast. We've been celebrating together for a long time. There was another at Rumors in the Ala Moana Hotel that included a limousine ride.

Rumors has been her birthday spot for a while. So when I called her up last week to find out the plan, I was surprised to find out that we would be going to Ige's near her home in Pearl City, pleasantly surprised. I'd never been there before, but the fact that it is closer to home and the promise of live entertainment were music to my ears.

It was a ladies night out. So I left my husband home with the kids, picked up my friend Catherine and headed off to Ige's Restaurant and 19th Puka, located at 98-761 Oihana Pl. in Aiea. It's just off of Moanalua Rd., across from Buzz's Steakhouse.

I had no idea what to expect, but showed up at 7 pm ready for a fun night. We had a blast.

Ige's is a family restaurant, cocktail lounge and nightclub all wrapped into one. It was just getting crowded when we got there with families and other large groups sitting at long sets of tables eating, drinking and talking story. There were kids and grandmas and groups like ours. The relaxed and casual atmosphere lends to just that, a relaxed and casual time. Who wouldn't enjoy that?

The menu is awesome. It features ahi and steak and saimin and salmon and tons of other choices. This family business, born out of a home kitchen and lunch truck, knows how to serve up food local style. Portions are generous and prices are reasonable. The customers around me looked very satisfied.

We only had pu pus, which were more than enough for me. I embraced the edamame. I forgot to take pictures of the food until the waitress brought out andagi, an Okinawan fried dough, in honor of Monica's birthday.

The band started to play at 8:30 pm. By then the room was less crowded, but there were still a lot of people there. Shining Star, the band, plays oldies from the 60's, 70's and 80's and a special version of "Happy Birthday." I know this because they sang to Monica.

I left early, family duty always calls. We wished Monica a happy birthday and with plans to come back and bring our families next time, were on our way for the short drive back to Kapolei.

Happy Birthday, Monica. Thanks for being born in June so that we can have a fun night out every year and thanks for being a GREAT friend.

Honolulu City Council Member Todd Apo spoke this morning at the Rotary Club of Kapolei's weekly meeting.

He gave an update on future development in the Kapolei area with special focus on Ko Olina and the burgeoning UH West Oahu along with the Department of Hawaiian Homelands area.

He also gave details about the proposed route for rail transit including specific reasons why it should travel through Kalaeloa as opposed to Kapolei Parkway. His suggestion is that it better suits the demographic of typical rail riders.

He addressed questions of sustainability through agriculture as well as traffic issues affecting local residents.

He confirmed what I have been saying at the dinner table these past few months. The opening of Roosevelt Avenue near Costco has relieved traffic congestion along Kamokila Blvd. and Farrington Hwy.. Promises of even more relief come with the opening of Kapolei Parkway and the "North South Road."

What I liked about Todd Apo is his enthusiasm about Kapolei. He is optimistic about the future and clearly cares about West Oahu, working hard for what he believes are its best interests.

Over one hundred Kapolei business community members gathered at the J.W. Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa Ocean Ballroom yesterday for the Kapolei Chamber of Commerce's quarterly luncheon to learn more about keeping Kapolei green, safe and clean.

I was among that hundred. Fellow Rotarian Barbara Lum Lee invited me to join her at the First Hawaiian Bank table and I readily agreed.

Thank you, Barbara. It was a great opportunity to hear what the speakers had to say and to meet more of the Kapolei community, not to mention the delicious lunch.

Back Row: Maeda Timson, Paula Ogimi, Lorraine Gershun, Barbara Lum Lee, Natasha Clarin. Front Row: Keith Timson, Paula Kalima, Harold Nedd

Michael Horton was missing from the table so I took another picture when he got back.

City Council member Nestor Garcia emceed the event with a gentle reminder that we should all make Mr. Blue Tooth our new friends by July 1. Meanwhile, Kapolei Property Development's Theresia McMurdo stayed behind the scenes making sure everything ran smoothly , which at her hand, they always do.

Speakers included: City Managing Director Kirk Caldwell who said that in a difficult economic climate, Kapolei is a place of hope for our state, Charlotte NC's Chatham Olive who encourages us to support the rail from an environmental standpoint and both Mel Kaku and Annie Lam who addressed emergency preparedness, especially within the Campbell Industrial Park and surrounding areas.

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Ms. Maeda Timson of Neighborhood Board fame and her husband Keith who were also at the FHB table. It was nice to put a person to the name. She told me about the upcoming fair sponsored by E.K. Fernandez and D.A.R.E. to be held 4th of July weekend at the Kapolei fairgrounds on Farrington Highway and Fort Barrett Road.

It was two hours well spent. Thank you to the Kapolei Chamber of Commerce who are Working together for Kapolei.