The Sleeping Dragon

Next week:

Southwest U.S.A.

Brandon, Alex and I decided it was finally time to see the Grand Canyon:





We left the Grand Canyon and drove to Las Vegas via the Hoover Dam:

The drive home took us through Death Valley:

Jawbone Canyon

I went mainland in August. Goat Hill aka Costa Mesa, CA.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday the family went camping at Jawbone Canyon. Near Mojave, it borders Sequoia National Park.


Trailers at our campsite in the distance:

Court Staff

Sadly, Levetina, Ned, and I are all leaving the court this month.

High Court & District Court staff (Temu really doesn't want me to go):

Tina, Esther, Me, Aliiao:

Airport Beach, Again

As my time here winds to a close I've been spending a lot of time at various island beaches. A leisurely stroll to Airport Beach for the nicest time of the day:

Front Page News

Big news in the territory (outside of our own quarter) is the closing of one of the two tuna canneries. That's not what caught my eye. Check out those eclipse-watching glasses:

Sunday Morning...

Along with a bike ride, NPR podcasts, Dodgers Gameday, and heavy amounts of Black Sabbath, this is how I spent my Sunday:

Independent Samoa

Back in January, Ned and I took a trip to Independent Samoa.

Sliding Rocks:


Activities include sliding down the waterfall and jumping off the wall:

Transporting a whole pig:

Lalomanu:


Decent clarity:

Classic beach activity in any culture:

My Dad calls this the nicest time of the day:

Evidence of a post-pisupo (i.e. canned corn beef) cooler drag:

"Scrub It, Kook"

Sunday was setting up perfectly; nice-sized south with a long period, well-timed tide, and offshore winds. My first wave turned into a wall of death which I somehow escaped unscathed after getting sucked up and over the falls, much to the amazement and amusement of Jason and Xavier. The next 2 hours produced some incredible in and out barrels.

Unfortunately, my last wave of the day didn't treat me so well. There's video somewhere which I'll try to upload. For now, enjoy:

"Heavy scab, bra. Scarred for life..."

World Famous Lasagna

Our friends Polu and Moi invited us to their house in Leone for some of Moi's world famous lasagna and to meet their new baby, (who has the honor of being graced with the best name of anyone I personally know), Fa'amomoi Masaniai IV.

Leone Bay:

Coastline:

Ned, summoning Poseidon:

Waves:

Ned, Polu, and Moi IV:

Moi w/ the W.F.L.:

We made a valiant effort to take down the W.F.L.:

Ofu Memorial Day

A group of us returned to Ofu for Memorial Day weekend. Until I get around to uploading my pictures, I'll leave you with these taken by Ned and Sarah.

Riding in the truck:

Hanging out:

My slow style front flip:

Aunu'u Snorkeling

Tutuilla (as viewed from the water off Aunu'u):

Coral:

Boat Ride

For the visiting judges and clerks the High Court Marshall arranged an around-the-island boat ride with the Marine Patrol. Ned and I gladly invited ourselves to join.

We left Pago Pago Harbor around 8:00 a.m. heading east towards Aunu'u, then around the north side, arriving back in Pago Pago after 3.5 hours. A large amount of the north side is inaccessible, thus we were able to see parts of the island we never would otherwise.

Ned, Judge Tashima, and Dan:

Navy divers are currently attempting to remove aviation fuel from a long-ago-sunken ship in Pago Pago Harbor:

Aunu'u:

Dan and Marshall Nix off Afono/Vatia:

Pola Island / Cockscomb Point:

Waterfall cascading directly into ocean:

West End (a/k/a "Palagi Beach"):

On the dock: