About the photo at the top...

After receiving a comment from Raymond and Claudia, on my earliest Blog, "How it all began..." I feel I should explain the photo on the heading.

That is the Hanalei Valley, and the green patches are Taro plants, which are planted in ankle-deep water. The Hawaiians make their POI from the Taro root. It is a starchy staple for them. In the background is the "wettest place on earth" on top of Mount Waialale. (This year they have had a record 600 inches of rain.)

Bob and I would finish our morning work, and walk up to Princeville Center. About a mile. We'd get a cup of coffee to go, and walk across the 2 lane highway to the viewpoint overlooking the valley. We would sit on the wooden guard rail, and meet more people from all over the world, who stopped at the King Kamehameha sign. Usually we offered to take their picture for them. Bob was so good about finding out where they have been and what they still wanted to see. He was good at giving suggestions.

In that photo, you can see the sign, at the far right, and Bob is doing a "Phoon" pose. That's another story.

Claudia and Raymond came to the B&B from Germany, and we fell in love with them. She was a concert violinist, and was stuck in East Germany. Her father often played in concerts in West Germany, so Claudia would get a pass to go to the concert to hear and see her father. One time, she just didn't return. Amazing escape.

Raymond has had a business in the US, so has learned English very well. When we met them they were still like newlyweds. Ruth, the owner of the B&B got back from her vacation on the mainland in time to get acquainted with them, and heard the story of Claudia's escape.

When they left for the airport, they gave us an envelope with a gift certificate for $150.00 for their favorite restaurant in Hanalei, a cute little place called "Post Cards Cafe." We shared it with Ruth, and later with Don and Alice and Ruth. What a wonderful tip. At Christmas, their tree was decorated with lights, and Post Cards tied on with red ribbons. The food was gourmet vegetarian. Excellent.