Ah, Paradise

I'm stuffed with poke pupu platters and pineapple and Beard Papa's cream puffs. We've slithered down slides at the Paradise Pool, learned about deposed queens at the Iolani Palace, and toured the lovely Grand Waikikian, our home away from home this week.

We're all exhausted, overfed and filled with knowledge of things we didn't know, like the fact that 80% of Hawaii's population lives here on O'ahu.

Kate even took a turn as kid journalist, interviewing O'ahu representatives Rebecca Pang and Sonja Swenson and chatting about Hawaiian culture.

Here's a snippet of her interview:

Close Quarters

Things I've learned so far on this Hawai'i adventure:

• You can have jet lag, even if it's just a six-hour flight and a three-hour time difference.


• Kids don't like to sit and relax and watch the view from the balcony. That's my thing.


• DVD players on a plane are as important as those oxygen masks that come down and don't inflate during a drop in cabin pressure.


• You'll pay $6 for a bag of pretzels – OR – a three-hour time difference means that kids are hungry and and ready for bed at the same time and you can't simply go down to the cafe and expect a relaxing meal.

More adventures await today ... I expect I'll learn even more.

Blogging By the Sea

OK, this is going to be harder than I thought. "Sure, I can blog from Hawai'i," I had convinced myself. Yet here I sit, on a pretty little balcony at the Grand Waikikian in Waikiki, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. No matter what, my mind can't seem to grapple with the idea of opening this laptop as I peer down at the lagoon.

For inspiration, I've downed a bag of Maui-style potato chips and an Asahi beer, hoping that will spur me into "work" mode. But alas, all I can do is stare blissfully at the blue sailboat bobbing along the beach and think about what might be the shortest route down there.

But I, over the course of the next five days here with the family on O'hau, will do my darnedest to file a report not so much to brag about FINALLY getting out of Los Angeles after a long dry spell of no travel; but also to share a little piece of my family's experiences here in our 5oth state, which, by the way, turns 50 this year.

And I've already discovered that it won't all be quiet balcony moments and beer sipping. Kate and Jack have been slapping and snarling at each other since I rattled them out of bed at 6 o'clock this morning. And Steve and I must maintain the notion that "traveling with kids" is just "close quarters with no camp or school to spare us." Kate couldn't put down Teen Beat even though the vistas of this island were breathtaking, and Jack erupted into a major crying jag after we told him the Nintendo DS was off limits while we were watching the surf. I had barely stepped foot inside the room before a chorus of "I'm hungry!" shattered the sound of the waves echoing through the room.

But I know that soon (especially once they find the pool and beach), they, like me, will be able to shed those mainland trappings and find themselves just staring out to sea, relaxed, deep in their own thoughts and enveloped by sea breezes and the sounds of the islands.

I can hope anyway, right?

Stop to Smell the Flowers

With all the fires, evacuations and general chaos consuming our smoke-choked communities over the past few days, consider finding a place to take stock of the beauty of nature over the upcoming Labor Day Weekend.

Descanso Gardens in La Cañada-Flintridge is doing its part by opening up the annual Labor Day picnic and party, Boddy's Big Backyard, for free on Monday, Sept. 7.

"We invite people who have been stuck inside or those who have been evacuated a chance to once again enjoy the outdoors," says David Brown, executive director at Descanso Gardens.

The event is named in honor of E. Manchester Boddy (pictured), who hosted several events at the gardens in the 1930s and ’40s. In addition to the flowers and trees and wonderful strolls the gardens provide, visitors will find a Model A car show, live Latin jazz and grassy spots for picnics (purchase food at Patina Catering or pack your own tasty basket).

So bring some sandwiches and refresh your soul by reminding yourself that the blooms – and the beauty of nature – will always rise from the ashes.

Music You Won't Hate

I might make several thousand parenting mistakes a day, but one area I think I've done OK in is guiding my children's musical tastes.

Some of it has been motivated by the preservation of my own sanity. Sure, we've done a little "I love you; you love me" singing (Barney knows a catchy melody when he hears one in his big, purple head). And Kate has her share of Disney/Hannah Montana/Jonas Brothers CDs in her collection. But her lullaby CD of choice? Bob Marley's B is for Bob album. Her go-to dance tune? "Twist and Shout" from the Beatles. The song runs to when her little brother is bugging her? "Brain Stew" from Green Day.

And Jack, I'm proud to say, appears to be equally evolved. He loves "Robot Parade" from They Might Be Giants, and, surprisingly, a somewhat sedate little ditty from a band called Wilco called "White Light."

Of course, a lot of our "grownup" music has a PG rating (four-letter words can't always be avoided). But like so many other parents, our quest is to find music that strikes a note with the entire family.

That's how husband Steve stumbled onto a podcast/blog/radio show called Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child. Midwest-based dad Bill Childs has created a kid-safe music haven that is packed with great tunes, running commentary from him and his adorable daughter Ella, interviews with musicians and a range of mini-interviews from kid callers (Kate made it on the show last year, which thrilled her to no end).

Steve downloads the podcast and often plays it during the commute to school, which helps him avoid the not-so-kid-friendly L.A. morning radio and starts everyone's day off right.

So check it out, and help your music-loving kid tune in and turn onto some fresh, independent musicians. Believe me, Barney will become a distant memory before you know it.