We had a beautiful day for Christmas, the weather couldn’t be any better than we got. We went to beach to celebrate our Christmas day in the morning, and whales were flipping their huge tails, shooting up water in the bay, it was the first time of this winter we have seen.

There were some good waves, I joined Sonny and other kids, had lots of fun doing body surf.

Water and kids are such a combination, kids can play in or with water for hours. But not me, I grew up to be afraid water and stayed away from water. In my village the grown ups told us all kind of tales about a dragon who lived in water, before anyone close to waterfall in the jungle could hear the dragon’s roars. It’s hard to understand why they tell such tale, maybe that’s how they grew up themselves and believe those tales. Or maybe that’s how mountain people think  about water, since they don’t have much knowledge about big lake, river, or ocean.

I didn’t get any access to find the simple joy of playing in water. For my confident in the ocean, I came from a long way.

Ever since I’ve met my water play mate Joni at beach, we will stay in the water as long as the kids. We, two middle aged women with a group of kids, like mothers of a school fish, play with them in the water for hours. I understand why kids can stay in water for so long, because I can do it too, very easily. And I can understand their joys, because I had the same simple joy in my heart, very truthful. When I’m playing in water, I’m totally relaxed; like a child, released from grown up world,  happy and wild to be a child.

I took lots of Sonny’s pictures at beach before, now we hardly have any, since I’m in water all the time.

We had parties with our local friends of several years on Christmas day. We spent  Christmas day in a very special way two years ago.

After breakfast we took a walk, half way down the hill with a half dozen bags of coffee. Clear blue sky over our heads, warm sunshine shone down on us, past vegetable farm, mac nut farm, flower farm; the trees and plants we are so familiar, and again so special in our joyful and appreciate eyes in that moment. We saw beauty of the place where we live, felt so lucky to be here.

We paid a visit to a famous Hawaii’ artist, Herb Kane, who lived on our country road. Traded our coffee for copies of his art book. When Terry told him those books would be sent to our relatives’ kids as a present, he wrote the kid’s name and his signature on each book; cut out thick paper and wrapped each one. He wrote on the book for Sonny ” Wishing you fair winds and following seas on all your life’s voyages.”, so beautiful and touching.

I was awed by this kind, gentle artist. While Terry and Mr. Kane talked in his studio, Sonny’s curiosity led him wondering into different rooms.I followed him, I saw his simple house and got a chance to look at his art hanging on the walls, those must be very special pieces to him.

His book ” Voyagers ” was the first book introduced to me by Terry, the first year I moved to here. The first time I came close to painting, fascinated by his arts and his story, and a dictionary to help me along the way. Through his art, I see a big strong Hawaii’ man in the river of Hawaii’ culture and history.

Mr. Herb Kane past away this year. For 2, 3 months, every time when we drove by his place, we couldn’t believe that he wasn’t there anymore.

For this Christmas, my memory brought back the special moment meeting this great man, and all my respects to him. He was the kind of gentleman, the only one I’ve ever met.