Naginata, Easter morning

Yesterday at naginata practice.
We're happy for Marie as she dons her first  Gi (practice outfit) and Tanto (dagger)
Happy Easter Sunday

The cross in front of our church sheds it's dark drapery and renews it's look with white and Hawaiian flowers.

The morning light and bird songs streaming through open windows gave such a feeling of quiet peace and beauty to the white, arched sanctuary.
Chairs were set up for the Honolulu Brass which accompanied the choir in one of my favorite hymns, Christ the Lord is Risen Today, and the Hallelujah chorus from the Messiah.

Just in case it gets hot.
But this morning was cool and sunny.

Poor Penny, Ruscello

Poor Penny has to wear the dreaded COLLAR.
She went in for a routine teeth cleaning and came out with burns on both sides of her tummy.
While under anesthesia one of the techs thought she was cold so she put warming pads next to her, but they were too hot, and the resultant burns are going through the messy healing process.
Of course she couldn't see around her so she bumped into things.

With the soft blue collar she could reach her wounds and lick off the silver sulfadiazine cream I put on them twice a day.
So the Vet gave her a clear tougher collar and now she keeps bumping into things because she can see around her but can't
gauge the circumference of it.
Scabs are beginning to form so hopefully it'll heal soon.

Ruscello Restaurant in the new relocated Nordstrom at Ala Moana Mall.

It has a more open and lighter feel than the basement  cafeteria style on in the old Nordstrom's with outdoor seating.

The skirt steak.

Grilled salmon and vegetables, like the ones served in the old restaurant.

There is a bar and an open kitchen.

Great to see Liz and CL again

So happy to see newly arrived Liz, who stopped by the Reef Lounge to say hi while we were having a light supper before going to my hula lessons.

Looking happy after our traditional Tonkatsu dinner at Bairin.
At our dessert stop for gelato.

We also went to Nico's for their short ribs.

R's ahi,

our short ribs.

Kona coffee ice cream and chocolate cake for the four of us.

Forgot to add this Japanese dragon  from the Honolulu Festival Parade.  A big production with those men on top keeping the fires going.

This somehow looks like a painting.
We were walking along the beachfront of the Hale Koa Hotel after the parade.

Colorful fireworks over Waikiki.

Last dinner, on the night before they left, at a new restaurant for us, the Ocean House at the Reef Hotel.

Very oceanside and busy.

Butter was sprinkled with red salt.

Prime Rib was on special.

Butterfish

Ganache cake 

The sun was a big ball that dipped quickly into the horizon.

Honolulu Festival Parade

                      Honolulu Festival Grand Parade, 3-13-16

Many dragons, like this Japanese floating one,  stalked Kalakaua Avenue today.

There were many island groups represented this year.

  ..as well as old European ones like these Flag Throwers from Italy

                             ....and Asian cultures, like this reenactor group from Japan representing the Kawanakajima Battle of the civil war era.

Sakuran, a Japanese courtesan from a tv series,  also strolled down Waikiki.

A lively Mexican group!

From Chinese culture..

Two Chinese dragons and many lions, from Hawaii's Lion Dance schools.

A drone flew by too.

This Japanese group danced down Kalakaua Ave. in their wooden getas or clogs making lively clicking sounds on the road.

Hi, Liz and CL

There they were under the Fendi sign.

One of the large lantern floats from Japan.

The grand fireworks show put on by the Nagaoka fireworks group was beautiful over the ocean.