Getting to the sound check was dicey because Isaac and Gigi were stuck on our special bus that, for a time, was not allowed to cross the 14th Street Bridge.
The Boys take the stage opening the 2009 Hawai'i State Society Inaugural Ball.
Melenani dancing at the Inaugural Ball.
On of the events before the 2009 Inauguration was a reunion
reception near DuPont Circle in Washington, D.C. for Punahou School
alumni. President Obama, AOL cofounder, Steve Case, and Leokane Pryor, are some of Punahou's more well-known alumni. Leokani may be among the most talented. He is a fabulous singer, a most entertaining hula dancer, and a good friend..
We are pictured with Steve Case, the reception host, and our lei greeters, Kukana and Daniel.
The Aloha Boys with Melenani, one of our beautiful and talented hula dancers, on a Seqway. Melenani mastered the Segway immediately.
Aloha Boys at the Wolf Trap Barns with Grammy award winners Kohala (Charles Michael Brotman, Ruppert Tripp and Charlie Ricaido hiding behind Rupert), Sonny Lim, Jeff Peterson, and Keoki Kahumoku. This gang entertained the Hirabayashi Ohana for nearly a week while staying at the Hirabayashi hale in Northern Virginia. Great food, music, and most of all, company.
The Aloha Boys with a couple of the Washington Redskins cheerleaders at an event for wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital.
The Aloha Boys at the Rosslyn Spectrum with Aunty Kanani Awai all the way from Haleiwa.
The Aloha Boys represented the City Arlington, Virginia, at the Joan of Arc Festival in Arlington's sister city of Rheims, France. The centerpiece of the City of Rheims is the magnificent Cathederal of Notre Dame, where, we were told that 17 kings held their coronations.
During our trip to Rheims, we were privileged to attend a high mass at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in honor of Joan of Arc. .
Isaac is inside the enormous Cathedral of Notre Dame trying to get our attention so that we could attend a champagne reception in the museum adjacent to the Cathedral. Rheims is the champagne capital of the world.
Irv with one of our new medieval British friends from Cantebbury, England, at a reception in Rheims.Steve and Tina were loads of fun. We enjoyed several meals with them during which we sang bawdy medieval songs while trying to drown out the rowdy Germans and their Oompah band in the adjacent room. The Brits have attended the Joan of Arc Festival in Rheims for many years. Interestingly, they drive on the left side of the road as the leave Britain and travel through the tunnel to drive on the right side of the road in France.
The Aloha Boys observing the Brits prepare for a performance.
Martin took us on a walking tour of Rheims that included an incredible Farmers Market with an unbelievable selection of cheeses, meats, and, as depicted here, olives.
Amazingly, many well-preserved Roman ruins are found in and around Rheims. Did we tell you that Rheims is the champagne capital of the world?
Herve-Patrick Piel, a doctor of veterinary medicine, and his wife Danie, and Martin Lorson were our gracious hosts. Here, they are showing us a delightful little eating, and drinking, establishment that is like a museum. Interestingly, we found that in France, wine generally costs less than soft drinks.
Arnauld arranged for a taxi ride to Paris where we checked into our hotel then took the metro to Champs de Ellyse, walked to the Arc de Triomph, walked to the Eifel Tower, then took the metro back to the hotel and walked around looking for an internet cafe. We finally found one.
The Aloha Boys beneath the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
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It was like a wind tunnel under the tower.
Isaac parking a Smart car in Paris near our hotel.
Shakas in front of a McDonalds in Paris, just around the corner from our hotel.
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Isaac filling the elevator at our Paris hotel.
Glen and Irv sitting in the window at our Parisian hotel. Very interesting place. to say the least.
Going home.
Playing Lei Nani in Aunty Myrtle's backyard just like she would have wanted.
For more kanikapila photos go to http://gallery.me.com/lylespain#100089&bgcolor=black&view=grid.
The view at the end of the Alaka'i Swamp trail looking toward Hanalei Bay. This is why we need to return home someday.
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