How it all began...

To win any contest, you must first enter it....

When the announcer on KFAX Radio, Craig Roberts, phoned me in the spring of 1992, I couldn't imagine why. I immediately recognized his voice, and asked in a husky voice left over from walking-pneumonia, "What do YOU want?" He asked if I had ever won any prizes. Well, yes, I had won a cook book from Reader's Digest. Craig said, "I think you're going to like this prize better than a cook book." All this was being recorded and broadcast over the radio!

He told me that my name had been drawn in the KFAX Family Radio Contest, and I had won the GRAND PRIZE.... A week in the Penthouse, at Hale 'Aha Bed and Breakfast, in Princeville, Kauai, in the Hawaiian Islands! I couldn't believe it. About three months before, I had mailed in a post card to KFAX, with our names and address and phone number, AND OUR AGES (which seemed an odd request), and the answer to the riddle in the contest.

Bob had "retired" in 1985, when most companies in Silicon Valley were downsizing, so we never even dreamed of going to Hawaii. But here we were, two 64-year olds, flying off to Kauai, in June, 1992, with cameras, binoculars, sunscreen, dark glasses, funny little hats to keep our heads cool, swim suits, shorts and tank tops, sandals, and hiking shoes just like all the other tourists.

Our friends, Hugh and Phyllis Harris, who had a Time Share on Kauai, had sent us pamphlets and maps and marked everything that we should be sure to see, from the south end of the island, beginning at the gorgeous Westin Hotel near the airport at Lihu'e, to the north end at Ke'e Beach. Places to eat, places to swim or snorkel, places to photograph, shop, or attend church.

And here we were, sitting in JJ's Broiler, a cute outdoor cafe, overlooking the beach at Nawiliwili Harbor, breathing in that wonderful, fragrant, humid air, watching the sunset while eating Mahi Mahi sandwiches, and a pile of curly french fries.

We drove on north to Princeville Resort, in the dark. The guard at the gate showed us where to look for the low street signs along the avenue, and told us that Kamehameha Road was the third street on the right. We arrived at Hale 'Aha about 8:00 Hawaii time, and the hosts and owners, Herb and Ruth Bockelman were just about frantic worrying about us. They expected us about 4:00 PM... but we hadn't read their instructions that the travel agency had included in our packet. We were just toodling along at our own pace, enjoying the experience.

Ruth ushered us into the house, having us take off our shoes on the porch first (Hawaiian style), then invited us to get a cold drink at the refrigerator in the kitchen. She told us what time we should be up for breakfast, and where we could get our coffee first thing in the morning. Herb came in to visit with us in the main living room. What a beautiful couple. Cheerful, engaging, eager for us to enjoy our stay.

They had built this lovely three story home in 1990, the only "legal" Bed and Breakfast in the Resort. They chose the name, "Hale 'Aha" which means, "House of Gathering." Ruth took us upstairs to the Penthouse Suite... a 1000 square foot area complete with a kitchenette, a dining area, huge living room looking north over the golf course, an alcove with a writing desk, a huge master bedroom with windows facing east, with a view of the light house at Kilauea, a dressing room with hidden washer and dryer, and a lavatory, and a beautiful tile bathroom with jacuzzi tub, and separate shower. The balcony off the dining area faced west with lovely sunsets over "Bali Hai" mountain and overlooking the ocean. A wonderful place for morning coffee and devotions.

We had to pinch ourselves to believe we were actully here in Hawaii, and guests of these lovely people. After spending a wonderful week with Herb and Ruth and sight-seeing on the whole island, and enjoying the other guests at the table each morning, Ruth asked us if we could come manage the Inn for them that winter, so they could have a vacation. They hadn't had one since they built the place. So, that's how it all began...