Christmas is coming! Here's the information on this years parade. Save the date! 

If you don't celebrate this holiday and live in the Ewa Beach community, please make note of that date and time so you can adjust your schedule accordingly due to traffic changes that morning. 

Learn more about the Ewa Beach Lions Club at their website: http://www.eblcf.org/

I have been asked by this supplier to SHARE these promo codes. If any of these catch your eye, feel free to use them. Share them and forward them. Enjoy!
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http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P7GGYR0  Claim Code: EJ6YDMLL    $5 off a Grill Brush and Basting Brush set

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OAZNYUO Claim Code: ZQBW3B7M   $5 Iphone 6 wallet case
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http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OA004B6  Claim Code: Y4MDLW4B    $4 off  Iphone 6 case

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RJQM9NY  Claim Code: QZ9QJRWO  $7 off  Meat claws and digital thermometer

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S0EF7VU  Claim Code: 7LKTQDFU      $6 off baking cupcake pans

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W9AA7LG  Claim Code: Z69Q9SBX      $7 off  Sport Phone Armband for Iphone 6 Plus/6 5 4 Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge/s6 S5 S4 S3 Note Nexus Lg Nokia Moto Oneplus HTC Etc and Larger Devices
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X5I5SOC  Claim Code: 7JXPEHET        $6 off a wine opener
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http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00INTB0ZO  Claim Code: 6JLJ53NH         $6 off floating bobber for Go Pro's

I am looking for photographers who take the following types of shots:
Underwater
Ocean/Tides
Flowers/Leis
Dogs!
Men (of Hawaii and Las Vegas)
Women  (of Hawaii and Las Vegas)
Scenic shots of Hawaii
Scenic shots of Mariana Islands, Guam

If you have these shots sitting in your albums and would like for them to be considered for publishing/printing in our calendars, please email me at mariao@islandergroup.com for more information.

To see examples of the scenic, men/women, and Hawaii calendars, click here


Here's an example of the Paws in Paradise calendar


​Thank you!

After working at my job for the past 7 years, things started to become very hum drum. When you find that you can do your job in your sleep and it becomes mundane, you have a choice to stay where you are or "find new cheese". I opted to go out and find new cheese. 

This time, as I ventured on the search for new cheese, things were different. I'm no longer a fresh college grad. I had over 20 years of experience tucked under my belt. Yes, my experience was chop suey and not all in one field, but it made me a very well rounded candidate.   This time, my search was not for more money. It was for more happiness and satisfaction. We spend 8+ hours a day at our jobs, shouldn't we enjoy being there and enjoy what we do? 

If you live in Hawaii, then you know the horrifying ordeal of the traffic here. It has gotten progressively worse and will not improve for a long time. This time, when I decided to look for a new job, I dug my heels in and stuck very closely to what I learned in the PSI seminar I took over 20 years ago (thanks to an employer who knew the value of that seminar and paid for me to take it). 

When I mapped out what I wanted for my future job, I made it very clear. I wasn't looking for just "a job". I was looking for specific details that made my goal much easier to achieve. The hardest part about reaching my goal was having patience. We all want to jump at the first opportunity that comes knocking but that's not always the answer you really want. 

I made it a point to find a new job that was not far from home. A job that offered me something that was always challenging. A job that paid me enough to be able to continue to be a strong contributor to our household. I was not going to make a career move based solely on how much they were going to pay me. It was going to be because it was the job that fit all my requirements. 

In about two months, I landed a job that is not only fun, challenging, and makes me feel good at the end of the day. Management is phenomenal. Can you imagine going home with a headache because you were LAUGHING all day? Right now, one of my goals is to help find more photographers to help build our arsenal of photos to print in calendars. Men of Hawaii and Las Vegas? Women of Hawaii and Las Vegas... yyyyyeah....

Now, I can get up at 7:00 am and ENJOY coffee and breakfast with my 3 year old. I have time to spend with her versus sitting in gridlock to get to the office. It takes me (at most) 15 minutes to get to work if I drive straight from home. Now that I start later, I do the drop offs in the morning. When I head into work in the morning the only stop I have to make to get to the office is at a stop sign as soon as I get off the freeway. My drives now do not have the word "traffic" associated with it.  My mornings do not start off on a bad foot because I hear how bad the morning traffic is. Because I don't have to drive in it. 

I am in the office 8 hours a day. Yes, just 8. Not 9 with a one hour lunch. It takes me 15 minutes to get home after I get off of work and the only stop I make on my entire drive is at the stoplight in my subdivision. 

It took some time to land this job. A job that feels like it was made for me. But I am so glad I'm here.

I reflect back on the events that helped move me to where I am now. Though not all pleasant, I realize now that if it were not for those unpleasantries, I would still be in the position I was two months ago just "existing". 

There's a reason for everything. It didn't make sense to me at the time but it all makes sense to me now. 

All I can say is, "Thank you, Father."