Alex's Senior Lu'au

The Lu'au was up the hill at the Kamehameha schools campus (private school for only Hawaiians). I hadn't driven up to that campus in years. I can't believe Alex (who came to visit me in Egypt) is a senior.

I missed her dance performance and they were just walking off when I walked into the chaotic gymnasium. I thought to myself, I don't have kids and I don't know anyone who has kids that are seniors so I'm sure I wont see anyone I know. Walked in awkwardly looking for Gisele and calling her to no avail. Then she spotted me, good thing too, cause her hair was all straight and I wouldn't have recognized her if I'd seen her first.

We sat down and I went straight to get my plate of Hawaiian food. I was so excited.
This is poi. Its so ono!!!! (delicious, helwa) Its made from the taro root. In Egypt they have this and its called ol'ass. I know what some of you are thinking...stop it!

Here is my plate of wonderful Hawaiian food. Ok from the top left clockwise we have - chicken long rice, kalua pig, poke (raw fish chunks), rice, squid lu'au (made from the leaves of the taro plant), lomi salmon (smoked salmon, onions, tomatoes and salt), pineapple, okinawan sweet potato (purple inside), haupia (sweet coconut dessert). Need I say more?

Me and Gigi. She got yellow ginger leis for all of us.

Oh yeah, so as I said earlier how I thought I wouldn't know anyone there. Well this is my high school classmate from Kauai (0uter island) and his wife. Their son was a senior. Oh and they have like a whole clan of other kids too. It was great to talk with them and connect.
The beautiful senior, Alexandra, with her sister Faye and her nephew, Kamaku, and her grandmother standing behind.

All the seniors were performing and these guys did the hula. The girls danced too but I thought this was a great shot. They are dressed in more ancient style costumes Hawaiians wore long time ago.
This little girl was too cute!

Oh and another surprise! I saw some friends who I knew from small kid days. I went and said hi and the husband said hi like he wasn't surprised at all to see me even though its been a long time. He said "I knew that was you walking by but she said no you were in Egypt." I told him I was and just got back. So that's why he wasn't surprised when I walked up. They are too funny.

Their son is a senior in Alex's class. I remember him when he was 4 yrs old and now he's all grown. Its strange. My mind cannot process it.

His band performed and he played the drums. They were great. I was super impressed.

They were the grand finale for me. Headed home, posted this and now off to sleep. Aloha!