2012 Year in Review – My Adventures This Year

Well once again the year is coming to an end and I like to thank everyone for reading my site and making it one of the more well known sites here on the Big Island.  A lot has happened this year… I haven’t been quite as busy as previous years as I made a commitment to myself to cut back on some things every now and then.

So here is a list of my top 10 adventures of 2012:

10. Getting a chance to meet world famous muralist Wyland at the Hawaii Conservation Conference and watching him paint a mural with children of Hawaii was pretty cool.

Wyland helps a child with a mural

9. During the Merrie Monarch, I was invited by the US NAVY to check out  Merrie Monarch Royal Court Visiting the USS Crommelin and that was cool because I’d never been on a NAVY ship while it’s been here on the Big Island.

Merrie Monarch Royalty boards the ship

8.  Sam Choy had his First Ever Sam Choy’s Keauhou Poke Contest this was a great event, however, sadly this would be the last time I saw my friend Guy Toyama who won in a category.

The late Guy Toyama shows off his award winning Abalone Poke.

7.  I’ve been fortunate enough to cover the Na Hoku Hanohano Music Awards the last few years and the Big Island did well again at the  2012 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.

Graphics Award Winner Kuhao Zane and Kamele Eskaran for Kaunaloa (Kuana Torres Kahele)

6. My son and his cousins got a chance to Swim With the Dolphins at the Hilton Waikoloa Village and that was real special for them.

Hayden and some of his cousins.

5. Having an opportunity to cover Big Island Film Festival the last few years has always been special.  You never know who you will bump into!

Huffington Post blogger Jennifer Grisanti, Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi, and Actress Eloise Mumford (The River)

4.  I got to go Skydiving…. AGAIN with Skydive Hawaii and every time I do this it’s an adrenaline rush!

BANZAI!

3. During the RIMPAC exercises, the USS Essex was based off the Big Island and I got to take an LCAC out to ship where I witnessed a MAN OVERBOARD and a Sailor Fall Off the Navy Ship USS Essex During RIMPAC Exercises

The LCAC Hovercraft that transported me out to the USS Essex.

2. Visiting the USNS Mercy for the second time was quite an experience as they flew us out there in a helicopter and then we got to travel back in with the ship and watch as the Sailors Manned the Rails of USNS Mercy as they were coming into Pearl Harbor.

The sailors pay their respect to the USS Arizona Memorial

And the number ONE adventure and/or experience I had in 2012, was getting a chance to hear and meet His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama of Tibet and he actually held my hand!

Yep… that’s me on the far right in this picture. Go figure… even His Holiness the Dalai Lama has more hair then me! (Photo courtesy of Dallas Nagata White)