Symphony on the Prairie

The Indianapolis Symphony plays concerts outdoors during the summer at Connor's Prairie. Saturday several of us attended the tribute to Louis Armstrong and the music of New Orleans. It was a beautiful night to hear old favorites. The swan at the bottom represents a Mardi Gras float which moved during the playing of "When the Saints Come Marching In."

A Vacation in Maui

After leaving Taiwan, I took a week to visit the Hawaiian islands of Maui and the Big Island --Hey!! It was on the way home. :-) -- One of the first sights we saw once we got to our hotel was this beautiful rainbow. An omen for a lovely start to our vacation.

We found many gorgeous beaches and sights along the road we explored. The water was rough because of a storm out at sea, but I was very happy just to enjoy the beauty.

Parasailing

Honoring Ancestors

The Heritage Gardens honor the numerous ethnic groups which have settled in Hawaii.
Japan

Korea

The Taiwanese

The Portuguese

The English

Kukaemoku--on the island of Maui

The West Maui mountains are the steeply eroded remains of a very ancient shield volcano and in their midst lies the lushly beautiful 'Iao Valley which is now a State park. Commonly called "'Iao Needle," its Hawaiian name is Kukaemoku. It was revered as the phallic stone of Kanaloa, god of the ocean, and it was also used as a lookout post by the defenders of the island. "During periods of warfare, the peak was used as a lookout by warriors. It was here that some of the Maui warriors retreated from the forces of Kamehameha I during the Battle of Kepaniwai.

Enjoying an Hawaiian tradition--the Luau

An Hawaiian luau consists of a large banquet with many types of food including poi (taro root) and pork cut in the ground until very tender. The shows include native dancing and singing and are lots of fun.

The fire dancer

Our hotel on Maui

4th of July on Maui

Finding a lovely beach

We found this lovely beach on our drive around the Big Island.

Helicopter ride over Kilauea

While on the Big Island, we took a 2-hour helicopter over the active volcano, Kilauea. I got very sick but could still enjoy the beauty of the country. The

The cone of Kilauea
Red-hot lava
Valley of the Waterfalls

Churches on the Big Island

We found this church when we took a road not on the map. We enjoyed walking through the cemetary and finding out about the native Hawaiian families who are buried here.



Another quaint church