|
|
|
|
September, 2012
EXECUTIVE ORGANIZATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President – Toby Kravet – 808-224-1065
Vice President – Kevin Okawa
Treasurer - Geof Chu
Susan Murata
Jon Kleinschmidt
Momi Kleinschmidt
Jonathan Carr
Roy Manzoku
Sandy Herron
-----------------------------------------
Club Historian
Jo Yee
Newsletter Editor
Toby Kravet
(Click on Contacts for e mail addresses)
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
September 6 (Thursday) 6:00 P.M. General Membership Meeting at Seven Palms Bar and Grill.
September 8 (Saturday) 8:30 A.M. Hike from the Koolau Golf Course.
September 20 (Thursday) 5:30 P.M. Board Meeting at Henry Loui's.
September 21 (Friday) 4:30 P.M. Pau Hana at Pinky's Pupu Bar and Grill, 970 Kalaheo Avenue (right at the corner of Makapu Blvd.), Kaneohe.
Septmember 29 (Saturday) 11:45 A.M. Volunteering to feed the homeless at IHS Men's and Women's Shelters. Details for our own lunch, probably at a nearby restaurant, are still in the planning stage.
October 4th (Thursday) Annual Kick-Off Meeting, this year, at Geof's condominium complex off Lewers St. in Waikiki. There will be free parking within two blocks of the building. More specific information to follow.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
I returned, last Wednesday evening, from my 16th ski trip to New Zealand's South Island. Unless we can go to snow country for an extended period, know somebody there with a spare room or have our own second home and can go on a moment's notice following a storm, we always need to plan way in advance and pray for the snow gods to smile on us. This year, for me, and for Todd Withy and Malia Orque who were down at the same time, they (the snow gods) didn't (smile). For Dennis Nakaoka, with whom I skied one day, they may have smiled on him since he came down after my holiday started and planned to stay another week, more or less, after I came back. Out of my 11 days skiing , 2 were clear with pretty good snow, 3 were O.K. most of the day, and the other 6 were in the low clouds with poor visibility. Also, it was on the warm side, and except for 1 mountain, Treble Cone, on 1 day, off piste was too icy to ski. I was often reminded of my 2 guiding principles: (1) The worst day skiing is better than the best day working; and (2) the best place to ski is the place you are already at on that day. -----and by the way, on 1 day I did get rained on and spent the latter part of the afternoon drinking beer in the base lodge. ------And finally, I am going back, yet again, next year.
On the "home front," upon returning from New Zealand, I was pleased to hear that the number of participants for the coming Japan trip had grown to 27, and we are already thinking about having some type of trip ending party as has been our practice at end of our Hawaii Ski Weeks. I had the opportunity to speak with several skiers in New Zealand who were familiar with Japan ski areas and was told that the Hakuba area, although it doesn't have the drier snow of Niseko where the Club travelled a few short years ago, has bigger mountains and normally receives plentiful dumps.
Sam Sneads just called to re-confirm our presence on September 6th so I hope to see you there. Also I hope to see some of you on the September 8 hike and September 29th volunteer effort.
Aloha,
TOBY
UPCOMING SKI CLUB ACTIVITIES:
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Seven Palms Bar and
Grill (formerly Sam Sneads)
Navy-Marine Golf Course Club House
943
Valkenburgh St., Honolulu, Hawaii
September 6 (Thursday) 6:00 P.M.
Come to our next General Membership Meeting at the usual location on September 6th. Although the meeting begins at 6:00, come before 5:30 P.M. to take advantage of the "Sunset Specials" on dinners.
TOBY
HIKE FROM KOOLAU GOLF COURSE
September 8
(Saturday) 8:30 A.M.
This will be a considerably shorter (about 1.75 miles, round trip--unless you opt to go the extra distance to the Pali Lookout, approximately another mile round-trip) than the Moanalua Valley hike (about 6.5 miles for those of us who went all the way). This, however, will be a bit more technical on portions of it (rocks, roots, and the need to duck under branches) and, therefore, will be a bit slower going. The route will vary from typical Hawaiian trail to old, paved pathway, to concrete road (the Kailua portion of the old road coming down from the Pali,). We will detour to a waterfall, retrace our steps, end up on the old road, and walk up to a grassy area between the two viaducts coming out of the Pali Tunnel. Those who who are more adventurous and want a longer journey can go under the viaduct, climb a approximately 6' wooden ladder with a missing rung or onto the frame of a broken, wooden staircase, hoist themselves onto a wall, go up a short trail going to the old road coming down from the Pali Lookout, and walk the road up to the lookout. Following whichever end point you choose, you will return by by the same route but re-enter the trail system at a lower point than previously used to exit onto the road (just to make it more interesting), and end up back at the Koolau Golf Course parking lot. To get to the Koolau Golf Course parking lot, turn off Kamehameha Highway, running between the Pali and Likelike Higways, onto Kionaole Rd. If you are coming from the Pali, it is the first left after you go under the H3 overpass: There is a turn lane. If you're coming from the Likelike side, it is the right hand turn, of course, before the overpass. Take a left down Kionaole Rd., at first paralleling Kamehameha Highway, and just follow the signs to the Golf Course/First Presbyterian Church. Park by the trail head in the upper left hand corner of the parking lot. See you there.
TOBY
PAU HANA AT PINKY'S IN KAILUA
September 21 (Friday) 4:30 P.M.
Escape the crowds of Honolulu, jump in your car and get on the H3, Likelike (less traffic now that we have the H3) or the Pali, and come to Pinky's Pupu Bar and Grill in "laid back" Kailua. Set beside a canal, the restaurant is decorated in art deco Hawaiiana (rattan, canoe paddles, sculptured fish and tiki torches) is brightly lit, even around a horseshoe- shaped bar near the entrance. The family-casual menu is local all the way and has an extensive pupu menu. This is a great location for all, including families and those who don’t drink alcohol. Pinky's is located at 970 Kalaheo Drive at the intersection of Kalaheo Drive and Mokapu Blvd. If you are coming from Honolulu/Pearl City side via the H3 or Likelike and continuing down Mokapu Blvd., it will be on your right (Aikahi Park Shopping Center will be on the far side of the intersection on your left). You will have to take a right onto Kalaheo Drive and then a quick left (if there is no traffic) or turn around a little ways down Kalaheo and drive back to get into the parking lot. There are small tables in the bar and longer tables in the restaurant, and history at this venue (we've been here several times in past years) tells us that we will be seated in the restaurant after our group reaches enough "critical mass" to justify it (to the restaurant management). See you at Pinky's
TOBY
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY
THE INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN SERVICES
September 29
(Saturday) 11:45 A.M.
For the next community service event we will serve lunch at the Institute of Human Services on Saturday, September 29: www.ihshawaii.org/about/our-mission
The following information is from Catherine
Graham, Volunteer Coordinator at IHS:
"Thank you for gathering your
group to come to the Institute for Human Services and volunteer to help our
guests! We are all looking forward to having your group here on Sept. 29 from
12:00pm – 1:00pm (please arrive about 15 minutes early) to serve lunch at the
IHS men’s shelter. I believe that your group will have a wonderful time helping
the guests here at our shelter.
Additional important
information for you and your group:
1. Respect the confidentiality of our guests - no
cameras please
2. Sign in and out with reception
3. Parking is very limited, so please carpool
4. Wear appropriate clothing - Closed shoes, long
pants, no tank tops etc.
5. Please have each volunteer return the attached Hold
Harmless form on day of volunteering - all volunteers under 18 need to have a
parent or guardian sign the form (form already sent to Ski Club members with
separate announcement).
Thank you for taking the time
to contact us - it is through your kokua that we make a difference in the lives
of Oahu's citizens who are homeless"
We need 10 volunteers to serve lunch
at the Men's Shelter at 350 Sumner Street and 10 volunteers to serve lunch at
the Women's Shelter at 546 Kaaahi Street. Please note that we need to arrive at
IHS by 11:45 am. As Catherine noted, we should carpool, so I will let volunteers
know of other volunteers in their area. Please respond to me,
roy@hawaiisnowskiclub.com
as soon as possible so that I can give Catherine our head count.
We plan to meet for lunch after the
event.
Please come out and help the IHS to serve the homeless population.
ROY
ANNUAL KICK-OFF MEETING
ALOHA TOWERS CONDOMINIUM, DIAMOND HEAD TOWER
2215 ALOHA DRIVE, WAIKIKI
October 4 (Thursday)
For our annual Kick-Off Meeting, the one General Membership Meeting of the year when the Club pays for the grinds, rather than hold the event at Seven Palms or another Restaurant as has been our recent custom, we will be holding the event in the Recreation Room at Geof's "condo" complex. By buying all the food ourselves, rather than paying a restaruant to cook and serve it, we should be able to feed, without problem, all the prospective new members we hope you will be bringing with you (along with your checkbook to renew your membership) and have more gifts to raffle and/or silent auction. For those of you who went to Big Sky last year, this is the same location where we held the packet pickup party for the trip. Start thinking about whom you might bring. More information on time, parking instructions, etc. will follow in the coming weeks.
TOBY
HAWAII SKI WEEK 2013
The trip dates to Hakuba, Japan are January 18-26,
2013 via Narita airport. Flights are via United
Airlines.
Four packages are being sold for the ski
club. Please fill out the registration form, attach a copy of your passport,
and mail it in. If you take the land package, but make your own air
arrangements, please be at the Narita airport arrival area before the group
flight arrives.
-Depart HNL on Jan 18. Land at Narita on Jan 19 at 4 pm.
-Private coach transport to Hakuba (5.5 hours with 2 break stops) with
English speaking escort
-7 nights accommodation in Hakuba is at the Mominoki
Hotel, ski in/walk out.
http://www.mominokihotel.com/index-e.html
-Ski rental shop is at the
Mominoki hotel
-5-day lift tickets will be good at 9 Hakuba mountains
-Daily Breakfast is included
-Rooms are western style with two twin beds for
a double.
-Departure back to HNL from Narita airport on Jan 26.
More Details to be shared as they become available
You can find the registration form in the Trips
section of our website,
www.hawaiisnowskiclub.com.
TRIP COMMITTEE
SUN VALLEY IDAHO
February 22 - March 2
You and your friends have until September 15th to sign up
for this HSC trip to Sun Valley. This past week all HSC members were emailed a
sign-up form and specific information about our ski trip to Sun Valley, Idaho.
Complete the sign-up form and mail it and a check ($400 deposit per person) to
the Hawaii Ski Club, Attn: Sun Valley Trip Committee, P.O. Box 3004, Aiea, HI
96701. If, for some reason, you did not receive the emailed sign-up form,
you can find it in the Trips section of our website,
www.hawaiisnowskiclub.com.
From Ski Magazine:
The more things change, the more they
stay the same at Sun Valley. America’s oldest ski resort celebrates its 75th
anniversary this year, but its cardinal virtues—and few shortcomings—have
endured since Sonja Henie filmed Sun Valley Serenade here in the 1940s.
Getting to Sun Valley has never been easy. But once you arrive, you discover
that Sun Valley’s isolation also keeps the crowds away. It’s a “well-kept secret
and the locals like it this way,” whispers one reader.
Baldy offers
top-to-bottom fall-line skiing, featuring “leg burner” runs that are “long, fun
and world class” for accomplished skiers. Baldy Mountain is “more challenging,”
while another mountain, Dollar Mountain, has perfect beginner/easy intermediate
terrain and excellent ski schools. Last season’s less-than-optimal weather cycle
left some patrons wanting for snow, but the resort still received high marks for
its massive snowmaking system and silky grooming. On-mountain dining is another
strong suit, earning a solid No. 3 (as ranked by Ski Magazine). No wonder. At
Seattle Ridge, one of the resort’s “extraordinary daylodges,” they’ll cook trout
to order. Upscale appetites will flock to the renovated Roundhouse restaurant
and the “nice addition” of the new gondola that serves it.
But Sun
Valley’s calling card might just be its No. 3–ranked service. The staff gets
high marks for everything from “remembering names and faces” to “carrying skis
from the shuttles.”
The overall effect: “You’re treated like royalty.”
The “old school ambience” extends to Ketchum where restaurants like the Pioneer
Saloon draw raves. All this adds up to making Sun Valley a truly “grand
destination” that’s “being reborn.” One fan sums it up as “the last of the
really special ski resorts.” Which only seems fitting, since it was also the
first. —Allen St. John
SUN VALLEY TRIP COMMITTEE
PAST SKI CLUB ACTIVITES:
BIKE RIDE #2 – THE EAST SIDE “W0RLD TOUR”
August
11 (Saturday)
After a brief “liquid sunshine” blessing, an eager group of 9 wide-eyed adventurers set off from the Park and Ride in Hawaii Kai to embark on a “world tour” of east Honolulu architecture. During the two hour ride the group encountered an amazing variety of homes, including a beautiful Colonial that looked like it came straight out of a picture book, classical island Japanese and Chinese (complete with Moon Gate), Spanish Haciendas, and that one house that I still can’t figure out if it’s a home or a museum of modern art. Add to that a bunch of homes that can only be described as HUGE, with a seemingly endless variety of etched glass double entry doors and custom fabricated metal gates! On the way home we stopped to take in the sights at scenic Kawaikui Beach Park and the historic Kanewai fishpond next to Paiko Lagoon. OPPA!!! As a fitting end to our world tour the group met at the Greek Marina restaurant after the ride for lunch. The restaurant featured a wide variety of Greek favorites such as Gyros, Souvlaki, Moussaka, Calamari and Greek salads, as well as other Middle Eastern delicacies like Falafel and Baba Ghanoush. A well-earned feast was enjoyed by all!
KEVIN
PAU HANA AT LONGHI'S
August 24 (Friday)
Despite the more "upscale" venue, Pupu selection, and prices for our August Pau Hana, 15 members and guests showed up for the August get together at Longhi's Ala Moana. Except for the afternoon traffic which led to a lot of later than normal arrivals, all seemed to have good time. Given the good turnout, maybe we'll do it here again. Thanks, Sandy, for setting it up.
TOBY
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
SNOWBOARD FOR SALE
Craig Shaffer still has an unused size 141 snowboard for sale. $250.00. Craig may be contacted at 261-5989.
-----------------------------
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/