Update on Feast in the Field for Foster Kids

Chef James will be on KHON on Monday at about 8:20 AM to promote Feast in the Field, Family Programs Hawaii, and demonstrate a Spanish Pono Pork stew.  That's FOX, channel 2! We are incredibly excited that Chef James has such a strong belief in the Family Programs Hawaii mission, and in supporting Hawaii's at risk families. 

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As a reminder, Feast in the Field for Foster Kids, and it is a multi-course gourmet, farm-to-table dinner out at Kualoa Ranch overlooking spectacular views of the ocean and the Ko’olau mountains.

The meal is being prepared by celebrity chef James Aptikan, who was himself, a foster child.  All of the dinner’s ingredients are from local farmers, ranchers, and fishermen, and the meal, alone, will be spectacular!  But in addition, pop star Kimie Miner will be performing - a rare chance to enjoy this amazing young talent - and we have a number of other surprises that will make this truly an evening to remember.  The tickets are reasonably priced, and all proceeds from the event will benefit Family Programs Hawaii, and help care for more than 4,400 foster children and their families across the state.

The date is a Sunday, but it is just before a Monday federal holiday (Discoverer’s Day), and the evening will begin and end early (5:30 - 8:30 PM).  We hope to see you there. 

For individual tickets, please go to http://bit.ly/2vlrozr.

If you are able to lend a sponsorship the event (comes with seats!), please go to http://bit.ly/2wKoMsL.

And watch Chef James on Monday, September 25th at 8:20 on KHON!   

Mahalo nui loa..

Feast in the Field for Foster Kids

Many of you know that about five years ago, I became a volunteer guardian ad litem in the Court Appointed Special Advocates program.  Here, I finally found my "niche" as a future social worker and attorney.  I have dedicated much time, love and energy towards this program, and subsequently to Family Programs Hawaii.  Our current tag line is "We help kids," but that mission is expanding.  We help families, even before social services need to intervene. 

Three years ago, I was invited to join the Board of Directors of this wonderful agency (see more about it at http://www.familyprogramshawaii.org), while in the midst of law school. 

Yep, law school.  The very first time I stepped into a courtroom as a CASA, I knew I needed to be a better advocate.  So I took the LSAT, applied to law school, and was accepted.  Roughly 3 years later I passed the bar exam, and another six months later, I was sworn in as an attorney.   

I was on sabbatical from the Board of Directors while studying for the bar exam.  After I passed, a new opportunity opened up - Chair of the Board of Directors. 

I love this organization, and the things that it does.  With some mild trepidation (I had time on my hands, but not the fund raising skills), I took on the challenge of Board Chair. 

It's been a year of change, our mission is refocusing on strengthening families, we are in a partnership with Argosy University to do the same, as well as to do assessments for Family Court. 

But underneath it all, we still help kids.  And that is what Feast in the Fields is about.  Chef Aptakin will be cooking a field to table meal, and Hawaii's own Kimie will be our musical guest.  Our chief purpose is to raise unrestricted funds to support foster kids and families in Hawaii. 

The price may seem steep, but the experience will be well worth it.  Feast in the Fields will be held at Kualoa Ranch, and the agency will be providing bus transportation from various locations on Oahu.  Or you can treat it as a weekend away, and stay at the Courtyard Marriott in Laie.  That's what Wayne and I are doing. 

Individual tickets are going for $175, and there are sponsorship packages available.  The cause is worthy, Chef Aptakin, formerly in foster care himself, is donating his time.  The food and the entertainment (Kimie Miner (!) singing, and a cattle herding demonstration!) will be first rate. 

Please join us, we would love to have you there.  And the foster keiki and families on Oahu will thank you.  As will I. 

For individual tickets, please go to http://bit.ly/2vlrozr.

If you are able to lend a sponsorship the event (comes with seats!), please go to http://bit.ly/2wKoMsL.

We all thank you in advance.

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Rebirth of Our Website!

Stephanie started a website with photos and blog back in 2010 using Apple iWeb software. This worked well for a while but Apple stopped support of the program and website maintenance and software use became more complicated. I was never very comfortable with adding content and Stephanie drifted away from posting given the intensity of law school. However, once she completed law school she was on the lookout for new educational options. She signed up for some photo classes at the Honolulu Museum of Art School and had a great time. The timing of those classes did not fit well with my work schedule but then Stephanie mentioned a Saturday class, Building a Website with Squarespace, taught by Sarah Smith. The schedule worked well for both of us and we signed up. The class has been very stimulating and the first session helped us to get organized and then explore options on our own. As a result, the website is reborn with photos and this blog. Stephanie plans to republish some of the past travel blog entries and we will include travel photos. For those on Oahu, the class will be repeated in October and we highly recommend it!

Life on the Kona Aggressor II

This was our second dive trip of the year, both of which were on the Kona Aggressor II.  Each time we have sailed, there has been turnover of captains and dive guides, but each time is always wonderful.  If you are kamaʻaina (you live in Hawaiʻi), this is the absolute best value for diving Kona.

Our crew consisted Captain Randy (our first time with him), Chef Kevin (second time), Engineer Cliff (three out of five of our trips), DMs Cameron (second time), Celia & Jeremy (both new for us).

Our fellow passengers were cousins Kari & Kirsten (east coast mainlanders), Seiko & Nobu from Japan, Ushesh from California & Stephan from Switzerland, Dean & Barb (also east coast mainlanders), and Gillian & Oliver from Zurich by way of New Zealand and Germany, respectively.

Our trip yielded 27 dives at 14 locations, one of which was new for us!  It's a rare trip down the Kona coast that gives us that.  Some of the highlights of the trip included a pod of dolphins, manta rays, frogfish, bi-color anthias, a viper moray, bandit angelfish, and tinker's butterflyfish!  And, naturally, the highlight of the trip was the "pelagic magic" night dive, 3 miles off the Kona coast.  Truly a magnificent exhibit of migrating deep sea life.

For a look at the Captain's Log, go to:  http://bit.ly/2ffYwjz