I had the pleasure of hearing Lt. Governor Duke Aiona speak at the Kapolei Rotary meeting this morning. He spent much of his time talking about the accomplishments of students at both Kapolei and Farrington high schools. The gist being that the youth of Hawaii are a promising bunch of whom we should be exceedingly proud. I have had the same sentiments lately, and not just because I’m a high school teacher. I’ve been thinking this about some teenagers that I don’t even know.

Yesterday, I was at the Hawaii Publishers Association Annual High School Journalism Awards Banquet. Before the main awards are given, Larry LeDoux from Hawaii Pacific University always gives a journalism scholarship to a student or two.

This year one of those recipients is a young lady from Kapolei High School. Mr. LeDoux introduced her and her parents and then called her up to stand on the stage while he told of her high school accomplishments. Boy was I impressed. Not only has she been on the yearbook staff for three years, but she is involved in school clubs and activities and a member of the National Honor Society. The thing that I kept thinking was, “Her parents must be so proud.” I look forward to feeling that way about my children some day and hope that they choose to be such a fine student.

Before the Lt. Governor spoke at the meeting this morning a couple of other Kapolei High School students spoke to us. They were reporting on their recent talent show and subsequent donation to the Well of Hope Foundation. The Kapolei High School student body adopted this Foundation and have been supporting it this year. Various clubs and organizations on campus raised money for this foundation whose goal is to provide clean, clear drinking water for five villages and area residents in the Samasenbet area of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. www.wellofhopefoundation.org.

They held a campus wide talent show and all proceeds went to the foundation. These are teenagers working for a cause campus wide. Very impressive. Just as impressive was their presentation in front of the adult crowd. They spoke well and with confidence. In a time when many teenagers are choosing apathy and sloth, video games and too much soda, graffiti and drugs, these teenagers are making the choice to accomplish something. They are reaching for high standards in academics and reaching out to the community and others making our lives and world a better place.

Lt. Governor Aiona, I concur with your enthusiasm as well as optimism. In light of these teenage examples, there is certainly a deep well of hope here in Hawaii. And some of them are living right here in Kapolei.

A big MAHALO to Pastor John and his group from Hope Chapel Kapolei. They really stepped in to help the swimmers from the recreation center of the Villages of Kapolei.

The VOK pool will be closed from April 14 to June 20 for resurfacing. This could have been a potential inconvenience, but not anymore. HCK has offered use of their pool. They’ve been residing at the former gym at Kalaeloa since last year which affords them use of the olympic sized swimming pool that rests adjacent to the gym.

VOK rec center members can swim in the Kalaeloa pool from 2:00 pm until 6:00 pm Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. They can also enjoy this pool on Sundays from 12:00 noon until 5:00 pm. The swim team will be working out there as well Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4:00 pm until 5:00 pm. They are also beginning registration for swimming lessons later this month.

This is an excellent incidence of community members working together for the greater good. Hope Chapel Kapolei is setting a great example for the rest of us.

I can’t wait for the new and improved VOK pool to reopen. I’m sure it will be nice. Meanwhile, see you on deck by Hope Chapel Kapolei. I know I’ll be happy.

This is for my friend Douglas B. who lives far away, but is always good about keeping in touch. He likes my blogs sooooo much that he subscribed to the RSS feed. I had no idea what that meant.

It turns out that if you click a certain button, my blogs (or whichever one you choose) will automatically be sent to your e-mail. It’s really cool. But then I started to feel really responsible, like I had to post more often or he might be disappointed. It’s not like he just checks them every once in a while to see if maybe I’ve posted something. He knows when I do. Sorry Doug, I’ve been busy.

Then I thought that maybe more people would like to subscribe–to mine or somebody else’s. It’s really easy. Caryn gave me some good instructions: Click on the orange button that says RSS feed, under the e-mail address. It should take you to a page that says, subscribe to this feed using: and then a pulldown with a few options. After you’ve picked the one you want, hit ’subscribe now’ and it will add a bookmark to your browser.

Click on the bookmark and a list of all the entries pops up. I guess I’m a glutton for punishment. If more of my friends subscribe I will feel responsible to all of them. Like I don’t have enough to do.

There’s several fun events coming up in Kapolei that I’m excited about.Performing Arts Center of Kapolei will present “Flower Drum Song” from April 4 through 11 in the Kapolei High forum. Show times are at 7 p.m. on Fridays, and at 1 and 7 p.m. on Saturdays. Call Rachelle Amparo at 692-8200 for more information. I love their performances and so do my kids. This will be a welcomed treat.On Friday, April 18 Kapolei Rotary Foundation will hold its annual evening at Lanikuhonua at the Ko Olina resort. Tickets are $40 each or $500 for a reserved table for ten. It includes fines wines and beers plus dinner by Outback and Roy’s as well as live music by Shining Star and a beautiful location. Call 672-6909 for more information.This is my favorite Kapolei Rotary event. It’s the reason I got interested in Rotary several years ago and joined. And it wasn’t because of the wine. Lanikuhonua is truly where “Heaven Meets Earth” and one of my favorite spots on earth.Finally, that same weekend, Island Pacific Academy is holding its annual Mardi Gras fundraiser on April 19 at the JW Marriot Ihilani Resort and Spa from 5-10 pm. Tickets are $85/person with open seating. There will be: silent and live auctions, funny money gambling at craps, roulette, and black jack tables, live entertainment by Nueva Vida, buffet (including two bar drinks.) For information and reservations: call 674-3523 x520 or email BAxelrod@islandpacificacademy.com .While we won’t be attending this one this year as it is the first night of Passover, I highly recommend it. We’ve had a blast the past several years and I’m sure this one will be no exception. But watch out during that live auction. With all the excitement (and 2 drinks included) I was waving my fan quite freely last year. I don’t regret a thing I bought.If you know of any fun stuff coming up in Kapolei, please let us know too.

One of the things that I like best about spring in Hawaii is when the yellow shower trees bloom. The brighter sun, bluer sky, warmer ocean, and longer afternoons are nice too. But I love the shower trees.   Whether lining the freeway median or dotting the surrounding hills and communities, they shout out a friendly greeting to me as I travel east on H1 from Kapolei to town or most places in between.  The vibrant and delicate yellow petals remind me of the tissue paper flowers we used to make for grade school art projects to celebrate the cherry blossom festival in Japan or even D.C..  And I can always count on them. Every year they are there no matter what. Never afraid of sticking out from the plain and mundane background. These shower trees bloom in all their glory to greet me and other travelers as well as the sunshine and the spring.  I have been unable to find very many in Kapolei to cheer me on my way for local errands. We noticed a measly few in a couple of backyards in the Villages of Kapolei. I’m familiar with another along the driveway of a particular unit in the Ko Olina Fairways. But that’s about it.  Yes, they make a lot of rubbish as their lovely petals fall. But I think it is worth it for the trumpet of color and excitement they bring to the beginning of each spring.  Where are your favorite shower trees? Are there any others hidden in Kapolei?