And the work continues

Ross Cleaned all the windows and screens
Downstairs bathroom in progress

The work inside continues

Now the after pictures

The kitchen cabinets came from Oahu
Upstairs bathroom. You can see the giant mango tree from the shower window

Upstairs bathroom sink

Ross was able to get a few pictures of what the main house looks like since the contractors applied their skills to the place. The contractors were not completely finished when these pictures were taken. Thank you again Ross for the tease. Can't wait to see the place on Feb 20th

More before shots

One of the downstairs bedrooms. Both of the downstairs bedrooms have a sliding glass door
Downstairs bathroom
Kitchen sink window

Here are a few more before shots. The plastic covering the big opening is the upstair bedroom window seat

Before and afters

If you scroll down in the blog you will get a general idea of the outside of the houses, now it is time to get down to the nitty gritty and show you what the inside before pictures look like, then I will post a few afters (we do not have to many of these yet)

more from 4851 wainiha powerhouse road

The wainiha project continues...... We found a great contractor to come in and finish what the previous owners had left unfinished. Bathrooms, kitchen, laundry room. we added a few things to the list, like a puka window in the upstairs bathroom shower. You can look out at the giant mango tree this way. Brother Ross is in the main house keeping the crawlies from coming in, and the container from LA is on the water headed for Nawilili harbor as I type! It will arrive on the 16th Feb. Leah and Zoe (my grandpuppy) will arrive on Feb 12th to live with Ross in the main house. It was a lot of fun working on the place the last time we were there in Dec. 22 truckloads of green vegetation (thank you Brysone & Kathy) to the dump. Cutting back the jungle. Lots of clean up with more fun to follow. Leah and I had a chance to load up the container she ordered with a washer dryer, kitchen table, chairs, sofa, and living room furniture. Three queen size beds, and all the other little things you need to put a house together. Mirrors, clocks, rugs, towels, bedding, pots pans etc. We get to see all the completed work for the first time Feb.20th. Thank you Ross, for cleaning all the windows and screens, and keeping the crawlies at bay. A Big thank you to Leah and Corin for packing the container. Lets hope this is a beginning of good times to follow for all. We are soooo greatful and thankful to all that supported this project.

4851 Wainiha Powerhouse Road, Hanalei, HI 96714

For years my heart has been drawn to the Islands of Hawaii, with ample opportunity for exploration. Where did that desire spark? Was it my father's pictures and stories from when he lived on Oahu and the Big Island in the 40's? Was my connection with Hula spurred from watching my dad's wahine tatoo on his arm dance? What ever the inspiration was, now has become a reality for me.



The first of August 2007 we got a phone call from a really sweet friend on Kauai (who quickly became our realtor), asking us if we wanted to live on Wainiha Powerhouse Road, Kauai (this is the area where we stay while on Kauai), to which our answer was "TELL US MORE!" With Brother Ross on island, we called Ross immediately to go and check out the property. One third of an acre with two houses, surrounded by the lush Wainiha River Valley and Mountians. After a quick family pow-wow we said YEESSS!!! Then the rollercoaster ride began. Two and a half months later 4851 wainiha powerhouse road is now a reality for our family. WE ARE SO GREATFUL!! And thrilled beyond belief. This is a dream that we had put in front of us 10 years down the road, so much for the best laid plans! As our dear departed friend Quentin would say "FAR OUT! It's about time!). When God tells us that he wants for us to have the desires of our hearts, God's not joking. We are excited to see how this place will be used for the greater good.

Summer at Keeler Kai

This summer has been a blast working in the yard, jamming with Peg & Anne Marie, hula, ukulele kanikapila with true friends. Can't believe it is almost over! We are so blessed to live in such a beautiful place.

Greater Love

Aole ko kekahi kanaka aloha i oi aku i keia, o ka waiho aku a kekahi i kona ola no kona mau hoaloha.

Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends

White Christmas

"I'am dreaming of a White Christmas, just like the ones I used to know. Where the tree tops glisten, and children listen, to hear sleigh bells in the snow. I'am dreaming of a white christmas, with every christmas card I write, may your days be merry and bright, and may all your christmas be white!" Those lyrics penned by Irvine Berlin bring back some of my strongest childhood memories of Christmas. A few weeks back, my sister Penny treated my mother Billy Jean and I to the play White Christmas at the 5th Ave. theatre in Seattle. We made a girls night out of it, dinner at the union street grill, and walk down the city block to the theatre, and then we started dreaming! The costumes were awesome, as well as, the music, and acting. At the conclusion of the musical the snow started falling on the audience! Thank you Penny for the lovely evening, and I hope that your Christmas's are merry and bright!

The painter within

When I was in my early teens, my aunt Madeline who is an accomplished artist taught me how to tole paint. My brief intro into the world of painting left me yearning for more. Thirty seven years later that yearning has had a chance to take root. After a quick two hour errand to Michaels craft store I happened to come across a class in progress. The ladies were painting and it looked like they were having fun. Well I signed up for the next class, and after hounding all of my neighbors for their Michael and Joanne 50% off coupons, purchased my supplies. The pictures are my first projects. My teacher Loretta is so much fun, and really helps us with our painting.

The knitting projects in my baskets at home have some stiff competition!

Snow days

The snowstorm here was wild! It took a couple of weeks before all of the snow went away. The damage was kept to a minimum here at Keelerkai, just a broken seal on our big kitchen picture window,our poor neighbors did not fare so well. They had broken pipes and major flooding. Hawaii is sounding better and better all the time, however, you can't beat the beauty of freshly fallen snow.

This one's for Janice

After much encouragement, I have been urged to post. So much has happened since my last post. A job, snow and wind storms, painting classes! And yes, now the holidazes are upon us. Life is good, even while you are trying to figure out the next phase of your life!

For my friend Pablo Prado

You see Pablo, I do love cats. The picture is of my beloved Cocoa (aka Modie). He lived to be 17 years old and is no longer with us. I have not had the desire to replace his huge kitty paws in this household as his spirit is still all over this place. We love this cat immensely, he was the best. When he wanted a drink, he would go to the bathroom, sit on the counter until we turned on the water faucet for him. No bowl for this kid! Only fresh would do. Then on hot days he would sleep in the sink, or was he just waiting on us to give him a drink? We were graced to have Modie for as long as we did, and he will always hold a special place in our hearts. Missing your motor Modie Mo!

UW Crane Trip

This was the goal, but the winds picked up and we had to be satisfied with exploring the area. which we had no problem doing.





So instead of exploring the treetops, we went sub-terrainian. This is Ape Cave. Ape Cave is 12,810 feet long-- that's almost 2-1/2 miles long! It is the longest intact lava tube in the United States, and the second longest in the world.
Ape Cave lava tube, which formed in one of these basalt flows ... (Cave Basalt flows about 2,000 years ago) ... is the longest lava tube (12,810 feet or 3.9 kilometers) in the conterminous United States (similar tubes are found in Oregon, California, and Idaho) and one of the longest in the world. The cave was constructed by a pahoehoe flow that crusted over; soon after, the molten lava on the inside drained away, leaving the outer crust in place. Lava stalactites and stalagmites and flow marks can be seen on the walls and floor of the cave. Lava stalactites, conical or cylindrical deposits of lava that hang from the ceiling of a tube, are formed by dripping; stalagmites are similar in shape and are formed on the floor of the tube by the accumulation of drips from the ceiling. Some time later, a sandy lahar flowed into the cave, possibly in A.D. 1480 or 1482 because the deposit contains white pumice granules that resemble W tephra.

views from Washington

Here are a few views from Washington. The first two are from Mt Saint Helens blast zone. The Envc. club went to the UW canopy crane and got to explore St. Helens instead