San Francisco Interlude

  SAN FRANCISCO OLD HOME WEEK AT THE ACADEMY The Chief Penguin and I had the great pleasure of returning to San Francisco and the California Academy of Sciences for the 10th anniversary celebration of its new building. Ten years ago, when he was the Chief Penguin of this wonderful museum, we sat on the …

Maui: Around the Island

MAUI We were fortunate that our friends on Maui who were hosting us had no ill effects from Tropical Storm Olivia, not even any rain.  We delayed our arrival there by a day (the airport had been affected) and the flight the day after the storm was a bit bumpy. We ate lots of good …

Kauai: Chocolate Farm Tour

CHOCOLATE (Think of the old TV commercial that goes, “chaaaaaawclett”) One of the most different and fun activities we did this time in Hawaii was the chocolate farm tour.  Lydgate Farms is home to the state’s largest cacao orchard (more than 1,000 trees) and makes single source chocolate and chocolate tea from these trees.  Their …

On the Road: Beautiful Kauai

Kauai is a gorgeous island of greens and blues and dark red earth.  There is an intensity to these colors that combined with the island’s lush foliage makes for saturated hues that embrace you.  We stayed on the east side of the island and explored the northern shore, Kilauea Lighthouse, Princeville, and Hanalei.  We would …