Category: States

Morning on Island of Kaua’i

Lihue HI

Sunrise at our hotel in Kapa’a. Yes, it really looks like this!
Our first encounter with malasadas! Portugese donuts filled with various fillings. I had the mango – yummy!
This was the view from the front of our hotel.
At the Lihue Airport, yellow hibiscus bushes! Yellow hibiscus is the Hawai’i state flower.

Our first Luau

Lihue HI, Island of Kaua’i

We plan to go to three luaus while in Hawai’i. This is the first one, the Luau Kalamaku at Kilohana Plantation.
This show told the story of how Kaua’i was originally settled by ancient Polynesians, presenting the voyages between Tahiti and Hawai’i. Ultimately, Kalamaku, child of the new land, carries the fiery torch of one family’s future. Excellent story and performance!

Hawai’i!!

Island of Kaua’i

In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. -Psalm 95:4-5

Known as the “Garden Isle”, it has lush green rainforests, cascading waterfalls, and some of Hawaii’s most spectacular scenery. This is an amazing part of God’s creative majesty!

90 percent of the island is not accessible by car. So we took a helicopter tour of the island.

We also learned a little about the Hawaiian language. Every word in the Hawaiian language ends with a vowel, and all words do not contain two consonants together.

We booked a helicopter tour of the Island of Kaua’i. First helicopter ride for both of us.
First stop: Manawaipuna Falls, also known as Jurassic Falls. These falls were featured in the opening scene of Jurassic Park.
As we turned around the bend of the mountains toward these falls the helicopter pilot turned on the theme music from Jurassic Park. It was pretty cool!
The pilot was also very cool about pictures. He took this with a prop that he has been using for years.
Okolele Canyon.
Waimea Canyon, known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.
Waipo’o Falls.
Close up at the Nā Pali Coast.
Nā Pali Coast.
Nā Pali Coast.
Mount Waialeale Falls. These cascade down 2,950 feet! We would never have seen these falls except by helicopter.
Mount Waialeale Crater.
Back at the heliport. The pilot photobombed us!
Wailua Falls.
Afternoon at our hotel.

National Infantry Museum

Fort Moore GA

Impressive museum at Fort Moore in Columbus GA.
Capture of Redoubt #10 at Yorktown VA, 1781.
The Battle of Antietam, Sharpsburg MD, 1862.
Battle of Soissons, France, 1918.
Daniel Inouye would go on to serve as US Senator from Hawai’i 1963-2012.
Recapturing the Rock, Corregidor Island, Philippines, 1945.
Millett’s Bayonet Attack, Soam-Ni, Korea, 1951.
Air Assault at Landing Zone X-Ray, Ia Drang Valley, Vietnam, 1965.
Infantry Operations in Iraq, Northwest of Bayji, Iraq, 2003.
M2/M30 4.2 inch Mortar.
Vietnam jungle scene.
Operation Tapeworm, Iraq, 2003.
Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, 2001-2014.

Jimmy Carter National Historical Park

Plains GA

Our 39th president Jimmy Carter was born in this hospital in 1924. He was the first president born in a hospital.
President Carter grew up in this farmhouse on his family’s farm.
Carter’s parents bedroom.
Ruth, Carter’s sister’s bedroom.
Jimmy Carter’s bedroom.
Kitchen.
Dining Room.
Back porch.
Indoor bathroom.
Outhouse…
A 2-holer!
The farm.
Jimmy Carter’s father’s store.
Jimmy Carter attended Plains High School.
The stacks of books demonstrate the discrepancy between “white” and “black” schools. In 1941 When Carter graduated, Plains High School library had 2,928 books, while the “black” school Wards Chapel Church School had 30 books.
Carter grew up in Plains Baptist Church.
Jimmy and Rosslyn were married in Plains United Methodist Church.
As adults the Carters attended Maranatha Baptist Church. Jimmy taught Sunday School here.
Former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter ran for president in 1976, the first presidential election I was able to vote in.
Carter’s presidential campaign headquarters in 1976 was in the Plains depot because it was the only place in Plains that had a telephone!
Inside the depot today are displays related to the 1976 campaign.
You can get peanut ice cream here – delicious!
Downtown Plains is literally one block long, on one side of the street!
Jimmy’s brother Billy became quite the celebrity in 1976 during the campaign. He was outspoken and took full advantage of the fame. He even created a fad – Billy Beer!
Monument honoring Plains’ favorite son, President Jimmy Carter.
President Carter’s singular significant achievement during his presidency was the Camp David Accords which outlined peace between Egypt and Israel.
The last year of Carter’s presidency was overshadowed by the capture of American diplomats in the US Embassy in Tehran Iran by Muslim terrorists.
After his presidency Carter established the Carter Center to push for world peace and Habitat for Humanity which built homes for the poor. Here is one of his hammers he used on Habitat for Humanity projects.
The Smiling Peanut is one of the top Roadside America attractions! It was donated to Plains in 1976 to focus on Carter’s toothy smile.
President Carter’s actual Nobel Peace Price. Pretty cool to see in in person.
Another award for Carter.