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November, 2016
EXECUTIVE ORGANIZATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President – Toby Kravet – 808-224-1065
Vice President – Jonathan Carr
Treasurer - Geoff Chu
Secretary - Paul Ferguson
Rene "Fergie" Ferguson
Roy Manzoku
Bill Hodges
Alan Teramura
Scott
Parmley
Linda Giers
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Club Historian
Jo Yee
Newsletter Editor
Toby Kravet
(Click on Contacts for e mail addresses)
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Additional events, such as concerts, hikes, excursions, may be added. Watch your email for possible updates.
Every Monday evening (except on holidays and, of course, during Hawaii Ski Week): 4:30 P.M. A group of ski club members and their friends play tennis at Keehi Lagoon courts, off Lagoon Drive. Stay in shape and share refreshments afterwards!
October 28 (Friday) 4:00 P.M. Pau Hana at Blue Tropix Bar and Grill.
November 3 (Thursday) 5:00 P.M. General Membership Meeting at Irons. Christmas tee shirt sale (See below)
November 16, 5:30 P.M. (Wednesday) Board Meeting at Henry Loui's.
November 24 (Thursday-Thanksgiving) Volunteers from the Ski Club will join a host of volunteers from other organizations to help the Salvation Army feed the needy at Blaisdell Center. There will also be a potluck brunch for both volunteers and anyone else from the Club who wants to drop by. This all happens in the morning before we are off to our own Thanksgiving celebrations.
December 1 (Thursday) 5 P.M. General Membership Meeting at Irons. Presentation on what to consider when selecting skis for rent or purchase (see below).
December 18 (Sunday) 5:30 P.M. Annual Christmas Party/Packet Pickup for Jackson Hole at the Esplanade, 500 Lunalillo Home Rd. (where we have held our Christmas Parties and Post Trip Parties for the past several years).
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
It was good to see so many of you at the Kick-Off Meeting three weeks ago, and even though we missed Geoff's culinary skills this time around, everyone seemed to enjoy the copious, catered food. Mucho Mahalos to Paul and Fergie for arranging the meal (not to mention securing the venue and taking care of our tee shirts for sale and door prizes).
Talking about tee shirts, please note the fact that we will be selling Club shirts for $10.00 at the November 3 general membership meeting. Such a deal! At this price, you can buy several for Christmas gifts and have plenty of time to send them to the continent.
Talking about the continent, an old friend who has moved from Hawaii to Bend, Oregon, posted a picture on Facebook of Mt. Bachelor with snow on it: Apparently, some die-hards are already climbing and skiing the cone. Also, I read that Arapahoe Basin opened last Friday. Jackson Hole has had the snowiest October in 16 years with 49" already. Let's hope it continues.
The Thanksgiving holiday is only one month away, and Roy reports that, this year, we are short of volunteers to help the Salvation Army serve Thanksgiving dinner, at lunchtime, to the needy at Blaisdell Center. We have been doing this for over twenty years and usually get a good turnout. Be sure to contact Roy, roy@hawaiisnowskiclub.com, to volunteer at this worthy event.
As of a week ago, the head count of renewing and new members totaled only forty six which is even less than the fifty one signed up for Jackson Hole, and don't forget that you need to be a member to go on the trip. The 2015 - 2016 membership year expired on September 30. Just looking at the list of names who have not yet renewed, I know a lot of you mean to do so but might have been/are out of town or just "slow on the draw." I normally wait until the end of November to remove non renewing members from the email list and will do the same this year, but please don't wait until the last minute to renew. The membership form, now autofill, can be found on our website, www.hawaiisnowskiclub.com , at the "Sign Up" link. Just type your information right onto the form at the website, print it out, and send it in with your check for $25.00 (Single) or $35.00 (family). Our mailing address can be found on the form.
See you at the meetings and activities.
A hui hou kakou,
TOBY
UPCOMING SKI CLUB ACTIVITIES:
PAU HANA AT BLUE TROPIX BAR AND GRILL
PearlridgeCenter
98-151 Pali Momi
Aiea, Hawaii 96701
October 28
(Friday) 4:00 P.M.
The third time will be the charm. Following two
cancellations, We WILL go to Blue Tropix
this time for sure. Blue Tropix is located in Pearlridge where
Denny's used to be, across the street from Chili's and American Savings Bank.
If you are turning in from Kamehameha Highway, it is on the right hand side just
before the pedestrian overpass. If you are coming from Moanalua Rd.
(recommended due to traffic considerations) and turning down Pali Momi in the ocean direction, it, of course,
will be on your left just after the pedestrian overpass. There's lots of parking including the
roof-top and Sears. Live music, a pool table, a dart room, about 20 TVs, $3.00 draft beer, Happy
Hour specials, and onolicious food are the draw. Check out Blue Tropix on
Yahoo.
BILL AND TOBY
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Irons Table and Tavern
Navy-Marine Golf Course Club House
943
Valkenburgh St., Honolulu, Hawaii
November 3 (Thursday) 5:00 P.M.
Come to Irons Table and Tavern for our
November General Membership Meeting. Also
as it is getting close to Christmas, we will be having a tee shirt sale:
Club tee shirts which normally go for $14.00 will be sold for $10.00 at the
meeting. Buy some shirts as Christmas gifts for your family and friends
with plenty of advance time to mail them to the continent.
Also, Jonathan, who has just recently returned from his Oregon "estate," will be
on hand with latest information regarding Hawaii Ski Week and will be able to
answer any remaining questions you might have. We like to start ordering
food and drink around 5:00 P.M., and actual Ski Club "business" won't begin until
sometime between 5:30 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. If you are on Nimitz Highway
under the freeway structure and going in the Pearl Harbor direction, you
take a right hand turn onto Valkenburgh and look for the entrance, on your
right, to the Golf Course. You can also get to Valkenburgh from Radford
Drive off of Salt Lake Blvd: In this case, the entrance would be on your
left. Hope to see you at Irons on November 3.
TOBY
TRADITIONAL THANKSGIVING VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY
SERVING AN EARLY THANKSGIVING DINNER TO THE NEEDY
Blaisdell Center
777 Ward Ave.
November 24 (Thursday) 11:00 A.M. - 1:30 P.M.
The ski club will again help the Salvation Army serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner (but at lunchtime) at the Blaisdell Center on Thanksgiving Day, November 24. Please let Roy know ASAP roy@hawaiisnowskiclub.com , if you will join in this event. The Ski Club has been helping out for over twenty years, but we are currently short of volunteers for this year's "edition." Ski Club volunteers will have own potluck "brunch" in an area adjacent to the parking structure, and all Ski Club Members, not just those volunteering, are invited to join the potluck. The shift begins at 11: 30 A.M., but volunteers need to be there by 11:15 A.M. for a briefing. The time for the potluck will be announced by email.
ROY & TOBY
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Irons Table and Tavern
Navy-Marine Golf Course Club House
943
Valkenburgh St., Honolulu, Hawaii
December 1 (Thursday) 5:00 P.M.
Come to Irons Table and Tavern for our
last General Membership Meeting in 2016. As it will be only six weeks
before our trip to Jackson Hole, many of you will be renting skis, and a few
might even consider purchasing while you are there, Board Member Alan Teramura
will be bringing several kinds of skis to the meeting and giving you some tips
on what to consider while dealing with rental and sales staff.
His presentation will include such issues as the relationship of ski shape to
the type of snow and terrain you intend to ski, appropriate ski length for your
size and weight and how that might change with ski shape, etc. As usual,
many of us will be getting there a bit early, around 5:00 P.M.,but actual Ski Club "business" won't begin until
sometime between 5:30 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. Hope to see you at
Irons on December 1.
TOBY
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY
&
HAWAII SKI WEEK PACKET PICKUP
The Esplanade, 500 Lunalillo Home Road
December 18 (Sunday)
5:30 P.M.
Once again, Sylvia "Sam" Wright has reserved the recreation room/terrace at the Esplanade for our traditional Ski Club Christmas Party. Also, as Hawaii Ski Week, this year, will be a little less than three weeks away, this will also be the packet pickup for the trip. As usual, this is potluck, BYOB, and, of course, we will have the traditional grab bag gift exchange. Bring a grab-bag gift with approximate value of $15.00 if you wish to participate in the exchange. You are given a raffle ticket, and when your number is called, you have the option of choosing a gift from the "pile" or one that has already been chosen, thereby forcing the original chooser to choose from the pile again: In previous years, the circumstances with some gifts have been beyond hilarious. To get to the Esplanade, turn left off Kalanianaole Highway at Lunalillo Home Road, the last traffic light before the highway goes up the hill towards Hanauma Bay. Drive in the mountain direction approximately .6 of a mile and look for the looming white building complex on the left. While there is limited at the building (eleven guest stalls in the circle at the entrance) there is normally plenty of street parking available. The recreation area is right on the ground level beside the lobby.
TOBY
HAWAII SKI WEEK, 2017
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
January 7 - January 14
Hawaii Ski Week 2017 will be at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, January 7 - January 14, and registration is directly with our travel agency for the trip, Ski.com. Click on https://events.ski.com/GroupListing.aspx . If this does not work, Go online to www.ski.com, click on "GROUPS" at the top of the page, scroll down and click on "JOIN A GROUP" on the right hand side, and our trip should appear with a link to the registration form. The form will have the prices, flights (may change) and lodging details. You can view these things after entering your name. If you don’t want to continue registering, you can log out.
Jackson Hole Resort features 2,500 acres of skiing with an
aerial tram which takes skiers 4,139 feet to the top of the mountain at 10,450
feet in 12 minutes. They also have an eight person gondola, and, new for the
2016-2017 season, another 8 person gondola serving the base area, 8 quad lifts,
1 triple and 2 doubles. The club will be staying in Teton Village, which is the
name of the area near the lifts. The cowboy/rancher town of Jackson, Wyoming is
a 12 mile bus ride away for a fare of $3 one way.
For those of you who
like hotel-like accommodations, we have reservations at the Snake River Lodge
(SRL). The SRL is very near the aerial tram and 150 yards from the gondola. Your
price at the SRL includes daily breakfast and a package of other benefits. We have unbundled the lift tickets, since
they are the same price as the ones offered by Ski.com. So, the SRL package
price is $844 for a double queen room. The king deluxe is higher, but if we get
12 rooms assigned, it will be a free upgrade.
We are also offering 2, 3
and 4 bedroom condos on West Michael Drive in Teton Village. The 4 bedroom Wind
River condos are 100 yards from the Moose Creek quad chairlift. The 2 and 3
bedroom condos are 200 yards from the lift. You can also take a free shuttle to
the tram station and the base area of Teton Village. All condos have 1 bath per bedroom. We
will try to get the most single beds we can in the condos. The condos are $550
per person for 3 and 4 bedroom and $625 for a 2 bedroom.
The registration and your $200 deposit are due by June 30. We
have blocked rooms based on what we think demand will be. To guarantee you get
the room you want, please register as soon as possible. That will also help us
gauge demand. If you have roommates, please send us a list. Airfare right now is
$995. We expect this to come down some, and there may be schedule and airline
changes. We will keep you informed about it. Your deposits are fully refundable,
and options can be added or deleted, up to September 30th.
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Jonathan, jonathan@hawaiisnowskiclub.com .
THE TRIP
COMMITTEE
PAST SKI CLUB ACTIVITIES:
HIKE ON LOWER TANTALUS TRAILS
FROM PU'U UALAKA'A STATE PARK
October 15 (Saturday) 9:00 A.M.
Dawn broke with rain which, perhaps, discouraged all but three die-hards, Wanda Sowell, Peggy Duvall, and Jonathan Carr, from finding their way to Pu'u Ualaka'a State Park. The rain, however, stopped by 8:50 A.M., and the four of us walked to the front of the park for the 180 degree scenic view of Honolulu used in many promotional videos and fights, clandestine mob meetings, and rubouts on any number of Hawaii 5-0 episodes. Alas, by 9:15 nobody else, not even Steve McGarrett, had arrived, and we started on the trail. Remarkably, the ground, at least at the beginning, was on the drier side despite the very recent rain, the temperature was comfortable, and we made reasonably good time down the hill to the Nature Center turnoff. It was at this point that Peggy lifted one foot to show us a sole that was falling apart, and it appeared fortuitous that we were only a few hundred feet from the Nature Center. Peggy and Wanda elected to leave the trail at the Nature Center and walk up the road or try to find a ride to the park (or so we thought) while Jonathan and I finished the hike: If their car was still in the lot when we got back, I would drive down to the Nature Center to get them or pick them up on my way down if I saw them walking up the road. The last three quarters of the hike was a bit muddier than the trip down but not bad (my shoes had not been immersed). Jonathan and I got back to the park by noon and, finding their car still there, I went down to Nature Center to get them: Alas, no Wanda and Peggy. I was able find Peggy's cell number via a bit of internet detective work with my smartphone and call her: It turned out that she had decided that her shoe could withstand the hike up the trail we had come down, and they had reversed direction rather than stop at the Nature Center. Right near the end of the trail, they had made a wrong turn, come out on Round Top Drive above the level of the park, and kept walking up the road which is why I had not seen them while driving down. Having chastised myself in a previous newsletter for getting lost on hikes, I now bequeath my Wrong Way Corrigan crown to Peggy and Wanda. Enjoy it while you can: You may be giving it back to me on the next hike, whenever that will be.
TOBY
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
THE HAWAII SKI CLUB IS ON FACEBOOK
If you are on Facebook, add the HSC as a “friend.” You will be up-to-date with recent HSC activities that members upload. The HSC Facebook page has photos from members on ski trips and at Club activities. You can also include your personal photos and announcements relating to the club for all HSC members to view.
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Contributions from the membership to future newsletters are encouraged and will be greatly appreciated: Please e mail them to Toby (see Contacts) no later than 9 calendar days from the end of the month. Thanx much.
Updated club info available at http://www.hawaiisnowskiclub.com/