Trip to Puerto Rico!
December 31, 2006 - January 7, 2007

We visited Puerto Rico for the holidays and had a great time with our family and sightseeing around the island. This was our first visit to PR in more than two years and we are grateful for all the fun we had, all the love we shared and all the great food we ate!

Here are a few photos, enjoy!

Laura and Diana with their grandfather.
Grandpa is carrying a tray of "Arroz con Gandules" (rice with pigeon peas), a Puerto Rican favorite. - January 1, 2007

New Year's Day 2007
With the family in Corozal

Visit to Casa Bacardi in Cataño.

El Portal de el Yunque
Caribbean National Forest

Coca Falls
Caribbean National Forest (El Yunque)

Yokahu Tower
Caribbean National Forest (El Yunque)

Laura and boyfriend Joe
Centro Cultural Turistico Cibuco
Corozal, Puerto Rico

Laura, Diana and Joe, playing dominoes with Abuelo Felix
Corozal, PR.

Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico.

A view from my aunt's home in Corozal

Saying goodbye to the family. Dia de Reyes
January 6, 2007 - Corozal.

ALOHA!!

Trip to Ohio
December 27-31, 2007

We traveled to Ohio to see friends and attend Gwen's family reunion and her brother's wedding. We had a great time!

The Riveras
Burr Oak Lodge
Burr Oak State Park, Ohio

See you all Soon!

A long trip is now ahead of us. However, we are looking forward to spending time with our families in Ohio and Puerto Rico!

See you all very soon!

Aloha.

Christmas 2006
Merry Christmas from the Riveras

We enjoyed a quiet evening at home and a delicious Christmas Eve feast.
We thank God for all His Blessings.

At home, Christmas Eve.

December 24, 2006.

Cutting the Ham.

Our Christmas Eve dinner. We thank You, Lord, for this food.

Christmas Morning 2006.
Trixie awaits for the opening of the gifts.

Christmas Day 2006

Christmas Day 2006

Christmas Day 2006

Christmas Day 2006

Peace on earth.
Aloha!

All I Wanted for Christmas...
By Juan Rivera, December 25 2006

Cool! Check it out! I love flashlights!

Look! Another flashlight! Yes!!

Sorry, I meant to say THREE Flashlights!

Uhh correction, make that FOUR, Four flashlights...

Oh right.. A new key ring from Gwen.
Wait! What is this? It also has a mini flashlight!!!

I will just add them to my collection of flashlights. Next time there is a power outage, our home will be the brightest one in Kihei.
(And yes, I did find another flashlight in the closet after we took this photo!)

Aloha!!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2007!

A Holiday Message from Juan Rivera

Aloha!

THANKSGIVING DAY 2006

We are thankful:
For our marriage and our love for each other, for our health, our families, our friends and our jobs. Thanks be to God for all the blessings he has bestowed upon us in the last year.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Here are some photos of our Thanksgiving Celebration.

Aloha to all!

Wailuku: Halekii-Pihana Heiau in Waiehu and Kepaniwai County Park at Iao Valley

Today we visited the remains of the an ancient Hawaiian "Heiau" or temple, at Halekii-Pihana State Monument and the Cultural Heritage Pavilions at Kepaniwai County Part at Iao Valley. These two parks offer the conveniences of being close to the city, close to each other and have easy access to people who want to go for a short walk.

Halekii-Pihana Heiau in Wailuku.

Kepiniwai County Park has a series of pavillions and monuments, dedicated to the people from China, Japan, Korea, The Phillipines, Portugal, Puerto Rico and the American/European Missionaries that came to the island at the beginning of the 20th Century, in search of a better life working in the sugar plantations of Maui.

Chinese Pavilion

Monument to Puerto Rican immigrants on Maui.

Korean Pavillion.

Aloha!

McGregor Point &
First Humpback Whale Sighting of the Season

Today we visited McGregor Point near Maalaea. The intent was have some fun "geocaching", or seeking "hidden treasures" using GPS. Although we never found the geocache, we did enjoy the views of the ocean, as well as discovered this monument to the Scandinavians on Maui which - since it is off the beaten path - we had never seen before.

Later in the day, we went to Kam II beach to enjoy the sunset. From there we had our first humpback whale sighting of the season: A goup of whales somewhere near Molokini islet. We watched them through our binoculars as they came up to breathe several times. So yes, the whales are officially back.

Aloha!

Trip To Arizona
September 30 - October 8, 2006

We visited Arizona, where we spent a wonderful week exploring the natural wonders, Native American ruins and modern cities of the State as well as making a brief incursion into Nogales, Mexico.

We took over 300 photos of our trip, and while we pick the ones that are going to make the final cut for the blog entry, here is a link to Yahoo! Photos, where most of them are already posted for your view and enjoyment.


Yahoo! Photos Link


Aloha!

Friends of Haleakala Service Trip to Paliku Cabin

September 2-4, 2006

On Labor Day Weekend 2006, we joined a group of 8 other hikers, and accompanied by a guide from the Friends of Haleakala and two Park Volunteers, for a hiking, camping and service trip to Paliku Cabin, located at the bottom of the eastern rim of the Haleakala Crater. We started on Saturday (9/2/06) at the Haleakala Summit, hiking down the Sliding Sands Trail, across the bottom of the crater, arriving at Paliku Cabin for a total of 11 miles.

On Sunday, we did volunteer work at the ranger's cabin doing inventory of tools and equipment and on the surrounding fields, pulling out invasive, non-native plants.

On Monday, we hiked seven miles from Paliku Cabin to the Kaupo Gap Trailhead, where we were pickd up by a van that took us back to the Summit to get our cars.

Here are some photos of the hike.

At the Summit, prior to the start of the hike.

Starting the hike at the Sliding Sands Trailhead. The Big Island of Hawaii is partially visible above the rim of the crater on the far side.

At Slinding Sands trail, looking towards the Ka Moa O Pele volcanic cone.

Our guides, Mellisa and Matt, explain some of the features on the crater. This is at Sliding Sands trail, about two miles in, looking towards Koolau Gap.

Hiking down Sliding Sands Trail

At the bottom of the crater, about five miles into the trail, looking towards the Haleakala visitor center.

About 8 miles into the hike, looking towards Paliku.

Arriving at Paliku Cabin, mile 11 of the hike.

The Nene were there to greet us.

Sunrise at Paliku, September 5, 2006,looking west towards the Visitor Center, locted at the rim near the center of the photo. Even though I was about 9 miles (As the crow flies) from the Visitor Center, I could see the camera flashes of people taking photos of the sunrise from there! I could also see the headlights of cars heading down the road from the sumit.

A bunch of happy campers, just before we left the Cabin to hike down Kaupo Gap.
Front: Jeanne, Mayumi, Melanie, Ruth, Wen-Lu, Melissa (Park Volunteer), Richard and Mary
Back: Steve, Gwen, Juan and Matt (Friends of Haleakala Guide).
Chuck (Park Volunteer) took the photo.

Hiking down Kaupo Gap. Big Island of Hawaii is visible in the background, near the ridge.

Hiking down Kaupo Gap. Big Island on the Background.

After seven miles and several hours of grueling hiking down a very steep, poorly maintained road, we made it to the trailhead. From here, we took a van back to the summit to get our car and go home.

Aloha!!