Hawaii Ski Club – April 2009

President – Toby Kravet – 808-224-1065
Vice President – Jonathan Carr
Treasurer - Geoff Chu
Secretary - Paul Ferguson
Rene "Fergie" Ferguson
Gaye Chun
Bill Hodges
Anita Hodges
Alan Teramura
Linda Giers

Additional events, such as concerts, hikes, excursions, may be added. Watch your email for possible updates.

March 30 (Friday) 4:00 P.M. Pau Hana at Harbor Restaurant at Pier 38 (above Nico's).

April 5 (Thursday) 5:30 P.M. General Membership Meeting at Ruby Tuesday-Moanalua.

April 26 (Thursday) 5:30 P.M. Annual Board Dinner/Meeting for all current/outgoing/incoming Board Members this year at Oahu Country Club. Details forthcoming.

May 26 (Saturday) Volunteer Activity: Special Olympics (See below). Volunteers needed.

Those of us (including me), who had never been to Mammoth before, now know what Geoff has been talking about all these years. It's a big mountain with terrain suitable for everyone, and, thanks to Trip Committee Chair, Gaye Chun, our accommodations for Hawaii Ski Week could not have been better. We just walked across the street and clicked in/strapped on or, if we were going up the gondola, walked up the stairs to load. The weather was a bit warm for late January and the coverage a bit spotty off piste, but that couldn't be helped and, amazingly enough, the mountain held the snow pretty well on the groomed trails. Although there wasn't much of a village at the base of the resort, town was just a short drive away, and enough of us (though not me) had chosen to drive from the coast that there were more than enough cars available for trips to bars which Gaye had discovered for Pau Hanas, the grocery store, a fun evening of bowling, and, sorry to say, the hospital. Geoff used to say, "A successful trip--nobody got hurt," at the end of an accident free Hawaii Ski Week. I can't say the same this time, and one of the two accidents (two that I know about) was me: Torn ACL. I got it fixed last week and, following a loooong term of rehab, will, hopefully, be "back in the saddle again" next year.

From what I hear about Rusutsu, and from pictures and videos on our Facebook page, unlike Mammoth, there was plenty of snow, and so much the last couple of days that many of the lifts were closed. Also, the lifts were even closer than at Mammoth: There was no street to cross. A Kiwi friend of mine was there at the same time and posted a video of himself off piste in snow that looked boot deep. Don't know how many of the club delighted in the same, but I would guess, at least, a couple. Those of us who went on both trips tasted (almost) the two extremes (snow-wise).

In case you haven't already heard, Gaye, due to the time constraints of other responsibilities, has found it necessary to retire from the Board and her position as Chair of the Trip Committee. As a one time part time (doesn't that sound catchy?) resident of Jackson Hole and the local knowledge that comes with it, she deserves a lot of the credit for making last year's trip a success and did a bang-up job this year with Mammoth (How did she find those bars in town?) which turned out to be a bit more complicated, especially concerning travel, than how it started. We all owe her a debt of gratitude for the work she put in and be sure to let her know this when you see her. Fortunately, Alan, who has already whet his teeth on a couple of Japan trips, has consented to chairing the Trip Committee next year (whew!) and is already assembling a team.

For those of you who did not come to the Post Trip Party/General Membership Meeting at Sam's and are not on our email list so are reading this via the Internet, next year's Hawaii Ski Week, by vote of the membership, will be at WHISTLER-BLACKCOMB, the area that Alan, himself, nominated: His putting together the trip, therefore, should be a "labor of love." Can't wait!

Anita tells me that a number of you have already signed up to help out with Meals on Wheels on April 7 (Mahalo!), but we are more than a bit short for The Special Olympics on May 26. Please email Anita, anita@hawaiisnowskiclub.com , to volunteer for this worthy event.

Speaking of volunteering and Anita, I was surprised to find her and Bill's smiling faces on Page 5 of Kilo i'a, the periodic magazine of the Waikiki Aquarium. They were featured, alongside five other couples who, together, volunteer at the Aquarium. Volunteering to help out with special events at the Aquarium used to be one of the periodic Ski Club volunteering activities but, lately, the Hodges's and "yours truly" are the only ski clubbers left.

Still speaking of Anita, she has alerted me that Vail's Epic pass, currently good for unlimited and limited access to a total of sixty one resorts from France to Australia, is currently available to military or retired military personnel for $99.00. WHAT A DEAL! For information, Google Epic Pass/Military. Paul Ferguson already bought it and was grinning from ear to ear at our recent Board Meeting.

Hope to see some of you at our next Pau Hana and many more at the next General Membership Meeting on April 5.

MARCH PAU HANA
HARBOR RESTAURANT AT PIER 38
1129 N. Nimitz Highway
March 30 (Friday) 4:00 P.M.

This is the restaurant right above Nico's on Pier 38 where we have met a number of times over the past several years. It is a bit more upscale than Nico's and has an on-tap beer list to "die for." You can check it out at www.harborpier38.com . While happy hour prices go on at 2:00 P.M., this is probably a bit early for most of us so we are setting the time at 4 P.M. Happy hour, however, ends at 5:00 P.M. so, "Don't be late, mate." I might be there by 3:30. If you have never been to Pier 38 before, it is located off Nimitz Highway in the ocean direction just town side of the intersection with Waiakamilo Rd. The entrance has a number of signs displaying the restaurants and other business concerns at Pier 38 and is opposite (on the other side of Nimitz Highway) the strip mall containing New Eagle Cafe. Pull into the entrance, find parking on the left as close to the buildings as you can get, walk down towards the water, and look for the entrance to the stairs/elevator just before the entrance to Nico's.

TOBY

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
RUBY TUESDAY
Moanalua Shopping Center
930 Valkenburgh St.
April 5, (Thursday) 5:00 P.M.

Come to Ruby Tuesday-Moanalua for the first General Membership Meeting of the new year. Note that this is being held on the second Thursday of the month rather than the usual first Thursday as on the first Thursday, thirty nine of our members will still be enjoying the snows of Hokkaido. Come to share stories of the trips and, unless it hasn't already been announced electronically or by "Coconut Wireless," come to learn the destination chosen for our 2019 Hawaii Ski Week. The restaurant is located at the Ewa end of the Moanalua Shopping Center, across Valkenburgh St. from the Navy-Marine Golf Course. We will be in the covered lanai at the Ewa end of the restaurant. While the actual meeting will probably not start until sometime between 5:30 and 6:00, come at 5:00 to start with the grinds and the stories.

TOBY

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY
LANAKILA MEALS ON WHEELS
1809 Bachelot St.
Honolulu, HI. 96817
April 7 (Saturday)

The ski club is volunteering to help pack and, perhaps, deliver meals to homebound seniors on Saturday Morning, April 7. Our Club has been doing this for the past several years, and the event is always well attended. For more information and to volunteer, contact Anita Hodges, anita@hawaiisnowskiclub.com

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY
For The
SPECIAL OLYMPICS SUMMER GAMES
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII - MANOA
May 26 (Saturday)

Ski Club members will volunteer to help at the Special Olympics Summer Games at UH Manoa lower campus on Saturday, May 26. The yearly event relies heavily on volunteers and was an annual volunteer activity for the ski club until last year when we did not apply in time to participate. Two years ago we staffed the Healthy Athlete program, registering competitors for health and related screenings. Please email Anita Hodges, anita@hawaiisnowskiclub.com to join with other Ski Club members in this worthy endeavor. At the time of this writing, we are a bit "shy" of the number of volunteers we hoped to provide.

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.

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.