It was a true privilege to dive at the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tubbataha includes two large atolls and the smaller Jessie Beazley Reef, 93 miles southeast of Puerto Princesa. For diving it is accessible only by liveaboard boats, March through June. There were a number of boats present but crews work to coordinate their activities so that dive sites do not get crowded. Diving can be a challenge, as currents are hard to predict and often change mid-dive. The challenges are worthwhile given the beauty of the pristine reefs and walls. We enjoyed very healthy hard and soft corals, huge sea fans, enormous barrel sponges and abundant sea life. There are a few areas of coral rubble, resulting from past typhoon damage, but even those show new life creeping in.

Huge schools included trevally, Bumphead Parrotfish, barracuda, sweetlips, anthias, Gray Reef Sharks and Sailfin Snappers. We noted morays, Green Sea and Hawksbill Turtles, scorpionfish, triggerfish, Pigmy Seahorses, Napoleon Wrasse, angelfish, batfish, lobsters, Marble and White Tail Rays and Garden Eels.

We made four dives a day for five days, one night dive in the calm area near the Ranger Station, and two dives at Jessie Beazley Reef on our last dive day. Dives were done from two rigid inflatables, boarded by ladder from the Azores, with short rides to and from the Azores.

Our visit included a stop at the ranger station, elevated above the reef on stilts, where rangers serve two months at a time. They also sell a variety of attractive tee shirts, hats and other small items.

The Atlantis Azores crew was wonderful, highly attentive to preserving the beauty of Tubbataha and clearly enjoying their jobs. Food was great with an excellent variety for each meal. Our cabin was small but comfortable and the boat includes a large dining area with adjacent lounge, dive deck with plenty of room for cameras and a partly covered open top deck.

Our cruise back to Puerta Princesa was a bit rough but we had plenty of time for drying and packing of gear. The Atlantis staff was ready at the dock with boarding passes for the short flight back to Manila. We enjoyed an overnight stay there and then a pleasant  overnight flight back to Honolulu.

Link to photos is below:

We added a day trip to Verde Island with three wonderful dives there. Verde Island is often called the “Center of the Center of Marine Shorefish Biodiversity.” We had lunch on shore at a very pleasant beach side grotto.

The Atlantis restaurant is terrific, with a wide ranging breakfast menu (and artfully crafted coffee drinks), soup or salad to start lunch and dinner, and four main dish options for each meal. They also provide a Mongolian Barbecue as a lunch or dinner option. Service was terrific. The wait staff knew our names and preferences from day one.

The resort is crafted into the hillside with curving stucco walls (even inside the rooms), lush greenery and a central swimming pool. We also took advantage of the spa for massages. Rooms are air conditioned with large showers. Free wifi is provided throughout the resort.

Facilities for diving are great, with a large gear room, rinse tanks, hot showers and a separate photo room. All dive staff were great. We were very impressed with Rodil, our guide for most dives.

We were sad to leave but definitely plan to return!

Photos are at the link below.

This was our first trip back to Palau since February 2020, just before the COVID lockdown. We were again quite pleased with the professionalism and care provided by Fish ‘n Fins. They set up accommodations and very pleasant kayak and land tours, as well as diving. Dives were two per day, with lunch provided (usually on a Rock Islands beach) with option of a third dive. Dive boats are very comfortable with plenty of room for both wet and dry gear, and good locations for backroll entry. The ladders are substantial and crew quickly takes cameras and other gear handed up, and will take BC’s if desired. The guides are very conscientious about the environment and clearly enjoy showing off the wonderful underwater life of Palau. The boat drivers are also happy to show off the Rock Islands, including reminders of WWII (bunkers, guns, cave storage areas). The weather was quite windy and often rainy, limiting options for dive sites but the boat drivers and guides were good at picking best options (including those with fewer dive boats). There are almost always interesting wrecks such as the Iro when conditions outside the reef are not good. Palau has clearly benefitted from limitations on fishing, with sea life and coral improved significantly since my first visit in 2001. Accommodations at the Palasia were clean with excellent housekeeping. The hotel could use of bit of updating and the breakfast buffet was not as good as it was pre-COVID. There are excellent restaurants in Koror and we especially love the Taj. The Etpison Museum is worth a visit and also has a nice, large gift shop.

Since 2012, I have been aware of the wonderful organization that is Family Programs Hawaii.  I learned about the organization while I was in CASA training, and a representative came to speak with us.  We were left with a flyer about the Holiday Party being held in December, and opportunities for sponsorship.

I went home that afternoon, showed the flyer to Wayne, and told him that we would be donating.  Later in the fall, when the website was open for donations, we sponsored a $500 table, never knowing what precisely we accomplished. 

Little did I know that my attorney (my mentor) on two of my CASA cases was a member of the Board of Directors.  When we were at a hearing in January, she turned to me to thank me for sponsoring the table, and asked about how I found out about Family Programs.  And then we resumed business as usual. 

Fast forward to fall 2013, my first year of law school.  I think the entire faculty and my fellow students knew why I was in law school - to give a better voice to children in foster care.  Mei was still my attorney, and I donated again to Family Programs Holiday Party.  Come January, she turned to thank me again. 

Later in 2014, we went through two extremely stressful placement and termination of parental rights trials.  It was exhausting, and I withdrew for a month from the CASA program, only to return more determined to help the children in foster care.  And again, Wayne and I continued to sponsor a table at the Holiday Party. 

In the New Year, Mei invited me to the Family Programs rebranding party, where the courtship to join the board began.  Several iterations of my resume and months later, I was voted onto the board of directors.  I was overwhelmed and ecstatic at the same time. 

We sponsored another holiday party, and I attended for the first time with Wayne.  It was amazing!  I don’t think that I have ever seen so many children with looks of joy on their faces.  For one child in particular, this was the first time she had ever received a wrapped gift.  It tugged the heart strings. 

Fast forward now to 2016.  I have graduated law school, passed the bar exam, and was treading water while waiting to take the MPRE.  I was approached by our then CEO/President, Paulette Bethel, and our existing Chair, Jeff Case, to take on the reins of Board Chair.  After a bit of conversation back and forth, I agreed.  I was nominated and confirmed in November 2016, with the Chair position to begin January 1, 2017.   Wayne and I became Elf sponsors, and we attended again.  This time, we got their early enough to do setup, and Wayne had the assignment to hand out stuffed animals to children and foster parents who filled out their commentaries.  I should have taken pictures of some of the testimonials.  We brought joy to over 1200 foster children that day, which is the one day a year many siblings get to see one another, as they are placed in different resource homes.

So here it is, giving Tuesday.  Everyone is bombarding you with requests to donate money - Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, the Hawaii Children’s Action Network.  As am I.  I have given small amounts to the other programs, but Family Programs Hawaii, and foster children, remain my passion in life.  We have sponsorship levels for the holiday party ranging from tables to larger sponsorships.  You can even click on the “other amount” section, and give a smaller amount.  The money being brought in will be used next year to help these children and their families.  And every penny counts.

So, on this giving Tuesday, I give because every child deserves a happy, healthy home.  If this resonates with you, if you are able, please donate at http://www.familyprogramshawaii.org.  The donate button is at the bottom of the page.

Mahalo nui loa. 

Aloha, 

Stephanie

There are different tiers of sponsorship, and any donation helps.  Wayne and I are “Elf” level sponsors, which feeds approximately two tables of ten.  Again, any small amount donated helps.  The link for sponsorship is here:  https://family-programs-hawaii.networkforgood.com/projects/21206-donate.  All donations in support of the Holiday Party are tax deductible.

Family Programs helps Hawaii’s children stay in healthy homes.  Our focus areas are prevention, support and transition.  We not only work with children in foster care, we help at risk families identified before the state steps in.  Our partnership with Argosy University, and Dr. Steve Choy, is fundamental in building stronger, safer families.  Our end goal is to put ourselves out of business through education and, when necessary, intervention.  We have supported the State of Hawai`i as the foster care program evolved, and we continue to work for the benefit of Hawaii’s families.  We also mentor children in the foster care system as they “age out” of the system, and prepare for their adulthood.

Our temporary foster home, Ho’omalu O Na Kamali’i provides temporary shelter to children who may need special placement.  Our Family Strengthening Center (located in several places) helps families remain together.  Nau E Koho helps Hawaiian youth entering college, Project Visitation enables siblings to see one another when placed in different resource caregiver homes.  And we provide training and support to resource caregivers as well.  To do this, we need your help. 

As we move forward to the end of 2017, and the beginning of a new year, I ask that you consider donating to help Hawaii’s families at https://family-programs-hawaii.networkforgood.com/projects/21206-donate.  They will be empowered by your support. 

Mahalo.

To our surprise, we really enjoyed ourselves!  Great food, inexpensive prices, NY shows.  Really a wonderful time.  I have an earlier blog post regarding that trip earlier in your reading material :)

When I started law school, the pressure was super intense.  Not just on me, but also on Wayne.  He started having those school related dreams where you've skipped class the entire semester, and then were headed into the final.

Not good.

The first real respite we had was Thanksgiving in Las Vegas.  We did it on a whim, and had a wonderful time.  Then it was back for first semester finals.  We spent the holidays in Palau (diving, what else) that year, but Palau is a little far for a three day weekend.

Thus was born our red eye flight in/red eye flight out of Las Vegas.  We were flummoxed by the casino resorts.  Smoke, lights, bells and whistles.  Too much.  Then we were advised to go to the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas to eat at the Wicked Spoon buffet.  Immediately we were hooked - you can almost completely avoid the casino floor, and the noise is fairly contained.  The second floor can get a bit jammed, but you can circumvent the noise in several manners.

We love Las Vegas, and although they often get the front desk wrong, we really enjoy the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

With that in mind, on October 24th, Wayne and I joined Mom and Dad on our first ever Southwest flight and went from SAN to LAS.

I originally had fabulous ideas about going to a dinner theater the first night, but to be honest, I slept so poorly in the Home Away vacation rental, I had no energy.  So we checked in, and went to the Todd English P.U.B. for lunch.  While at lunch (they have the most magnificent brown butter lobster roll), our waitress informed us that Todd English is parting ways with MGM, and the restaurant is about to be renamed "The Pub."  Sad day.  Ah, well, we shall see what happens.

We all agreed that there was no room for dinner, and met up in Mom and Dad's hotel room to watch the sun set and see the colors of Las Vegas.  And have a little scotch.

The next morning we met at The Henry for breakfast before heading off to the Valley of Fire.  The Valley of Fire is famous for its 40,000 acres of bright red Aztec sandstone outcrops nestled in gray and tan limestone, and it contains ancient, petrified trees and petroglyphs dating back more than 2,000 years.  There are a number of hiking trails (not accessible in the summer unless you are part camel and withstand the heat), and because of the play of light off of the sandstone, it is our favorite park for photography.

We took Mom & Dad down Mouse's Tank Trail, which contains petroglyphs.  Mouse’s Tank is named for a Southern Paiute Indian renegade (“Little Mouse”) who used Valley of Fire as a hideout in the 1890’s after he was accused of killing two prospectors and other crimes in the area.  

And then it was back to the Cosmopolitan for lunch at China Poblano - a Chinese/Mexican tapas restaurant that is quite good!

Dinner was with an old friend of Dad's, Bruce Homis, with whom he used to officiate basketball and umpire.  Much as I expected, Bruce did not remember me, but that's ok.  He and Dad reminisced and enjoyed themselves (we ate at the Italian American Club), and we met Bruce's lovely lady, Judy.

From there, home to the Cosmopolitan again for the final scotch and a trip to slumberland.  We all left our respective ways the following morning after breakfast at The Henry again, and all arrived at our houses at relatively the same time.  

We still love Las Vegas.

Thank you to my family for helping me to share 50 - the 40s were fantastic, the 50s can only get better!

Aloha

Then it was off to the Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla.  I had been here many years before, during a business trip when I worked for Booz Allen.  There is a lot of construction going on, so the parking situation was a bit confusing, but Wayne and I navigated through and made it.  The air was dotted with multiple hang gliders that swooped close as we made our way to the aquarium.  

Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Birch Aquarium features more than 60 habitats of fishes and invertebrates from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest to the tropical waters of Mexico and beyond. An oceanographic museum showcases research discoveries by Scripps Oceanography scientists on climate, earth, and ocean science and includes interactive elements. So, needless to say, lots of happy children running around in an aquarium filled with Halloween decorations.  The exhibits are small, but representative of the Pacific Ocean stretching from California to Micronesia.  A pleasant way to spend 1 1/2 hours. 

If you couldn’t tell, I’m really enjoying infrared photography.

And then on to vacation rental.  My parents had dropped off their luggage earlier, but the house cleaner was still going strong when we arrived.  We did a short walk down the block where the house is located, came back, and were able to come in.  After scoping out the house, we chose a room, and awaited the parental, sister and nephew’s arrival.  Following a communal dinner, it was time for bed.

Saturday morning came, and our days diverged.  For Wayne and me, it was a post brekky trek to Chico’s (it is bloody hot here, I packed the wrong clothes), where I took advantage of sale prices on summer wear, and to Patagonia for Wayne - new shirt and shorts.  Pam and Will took off to get Scott and Kate (the bro-in-law and niece), and they spent the afternoon at the Embarcadero touring the USS Midway.  Apparently quite difficult to get the kids out of the simulation chambers.  Mom and Dad went to the Mission District on a Dia de la Morte mission.  Photo cred to my dad.

From there, regrouping at the home.  It was the Yankees’ last chance game, no chance of eating out with bro-in-law here.  He’s a season ticket holder and quite the supporter.  So, for Batzer dinner night, we ordered in pizza and Greek salad from a local establishment to be delivered.  Passable thanks to the spicy sauce and premium mozzarella.  

Sunday was our last day together as a large group.   First stop was the breathtakingly amazing brunch at the Hotel del Coronado.  I don’t think that Wayne and I made it past the seafood/sushi tables.  If you haven’t been, it’s a must.  The Del (as it is affectionately known) is a historic beachfront hotel in the city and island of Coronado, just across the Bay from San Diego. It is one of the few surviving examples of an American architectural genre: the wooden Victorian beach resort. It is the second largest wooden structure in the United States, and was designated a California Historical Landmark in 1970 and a National Historic Landmark in 1977.

Again, the Crown Room Sunday brunch is not to be missed!

From there, it was a change of clothing and a trip to the San Diego Zoo.  While the zoo is often touted as the best in the United States, largely I think to its preservation work, there are still a lot of rare animals in cages and behind glass that do not get to roam freely.  We prefer the Safari Zoo Park (Wayne and I) and the Bronx Zoo, where the animals have more of a chance to roam freely. 

We spit into two groups, Jaffees going to the left and the Spengler/Batzer quartet to the right.  Mom, Dad, Wayne and I took the bus after the obligatory photo op.  Oh, and screw Storipass, we bought the hard copies and were supposed to be able to download the photos as well.  Guess you have to read the fine print a little more closely.  Which would imply bringing your reading glasses to the zoo...

It was still bloody hot, so we traversed only a small portion of the zoo after our bus ride, and then we headed to see Ice Age 4D, which was fun, and then to ride the SkySafari back to the entrance.  By the time we made it there, it was about 4 pm, so we headed back to the ranch to a left-over plus roasted chicken dinner.  Jaffees made it back a wee bit after us, and we all made a night of it.

Monday was Jaffee return day.  Pam, Scott and Kate did spin class in the morning overlooking Child’s Beach, where the sea lions were out.  I woke up Will, we fed him, and all got ready to go down to La Jolla Shore Drive.  When we arrived, the Sea Lions were still out, and we had a lovely time visiting with them.  Will was quite pleased, and definitely into some camera work. 

Wayne and I headed to the post office to mail my too warm clothing back home, and then got back to the house in time to say farewell to the Jaffees.  Then Mom, Dad, Wayne and I checked in for our flights to Vegas, and headed off to Temecula wine country. 

Our first stop was a recommendation made by an umpiring friend of my father’s (and I used to work with him, too).  The winery was Bel Vino.  My advice, don’t go.  The staff was completely unprofessional, the wines nondescript.  There were no notes or discussion of the characteristics of the wine outside of “Yeah, it’s sweet, you probably wouldn’t like it), and our server was approached in the midst of our tasting and told to move the tasting area to a different location.  Recommendation = 0. 

Next was the winery for which Dad secured a Groupon - Mount Palomar.  The staff was wonderful (in one of the ratings, a customer said that as soon as you walked in the door you were treated like family), knowledgeable of the product, and actively engaged.  We enjoyed ourselves so much that we joined the club and bought several bottles to be shipped home.  Lunch was at their adjacent eatery, and it was marvelous.  Super high marks for Mount Palomar.

The back to the casa for a final night of leftovers. 

This morning we leave at 8 am, headed for Sin City.  Looking forward to a little peace and quiet! 

We hung out in the United lounge and got a little breakfast, and then headed out to MWR to pick up tickets to the zoo (for Sunday) and for the La Jolla aquarium.   

We went to Balboa Park after getting the MWR tickets, and then went through the Japanese Friendship Garden.  Lots of beautiful bonsai trees, flowers, and a cutting from a tree that survived the bombing in Hiroshima, a gift to the garden after the founding of the garden.   You can find out more about the garden at http://www.niwa.org/.  Tours run twice daily, once of the upper garden, one of the lower garden.

From there, it was on to the Scripps Aquarium in La Jolla.  It’s a small aquarium, with a small petting cove out back overlooking the Pacific Ocean and La Jolla town.  At about the same time, Mom, Dad, Pam and Will were touring around in La Jolla looking for sea lions. 

Yep, family trip sandwiched between a 75th and 50th birthday. 

We made it to our rental house, which wasn’t ready yet, so Wayne and I walked around the neighborhood a bit. 

I’m looking forward to editing and uploading shots taken yesterday with the infrared camera - my latest passion - and sharing.

Then it was family reunion time, we gathered and had dinner in the rental.  Hopefully, on to bigger and better things tomorrow :) 

Coloring with Monkey Boy to make sure he stays out of trouble.

At the Japanese Friendship Garden. 

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]]>Stephanie BatzerTue, 03 Oct 2017 16:15:22 +0000https://thebatzers.com/bblog/2017/10/3/its-crunch-time-for-feast-in-the-field57dddec13e00be77caa1512b:59b4a06c8419c20a25cfdb04:59d3b79a2994ca08bc264f95On Sunday, October 8, 2017, Family Programs Hawaii will be celebrating more than 30 years of legacy for foster children and families in Hawaii by hosting the first ever “Feast in the Field for Children in Foster Care” event at Kualoa Ranch.

​Ticket sales are moving along, and we (Family Programs Hawaii and its Board of Directors) are nearly 2/3 of the way to our goal of selling 150 seats - a huge accomplishment for this first time event supporting children in foster care. That means we have at least 50 seats left! And some of them have your names on them!

Feast in the Field will be a dinner located on one of the highest plateaus on the Kualoa Ranch lands with spectacular views of the ocean and mountains. Chef James Aptakin, Executive Chef at Turtle Bay Resort, and a former foster child himself, is providing a spectacular menu that highlights the very best farm to table experience from Hawaii’s wonderful local farms and ranches. We will be offering carefully selected wines to match the menu, and both live entertainment by Kimie Miner and signature cocktails will get the evening started. The event will also support a “zero landfill” green policy and use all natural leaf and biodegradable bamboo serving dishes for each table, and centerpieces of organically grown herbs.

Family Programs Hawaii provides services to prevent children from entering foster care, support children and families involved in the foster care system and transition emancipating youth out of foster care.

The direct cos­t of critical services for these children and the families who care for them has increased in recent years, while resources have not. In order to fill that gap, we have developed what we hope you will find to be a unique and exciting event.

I love these children, I love this organization, and I hope that I will see some of you there.​

The Feast is listed on Eventbrite at ​https://www.eventbrite.com/e/feast-in-the-field-tickets-36283141854?ref=eios&aff=eios

Mahalo nui loa. 

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]]>Stephanie BatzerThu, 28 Sep 2017 20:11:02 +0000https://thebatzers.com/bblog/2017/9/28/join-us-at-kualoa-ranch57dddec13e00be77caa1512b:59b4a06c8419c20a25cfdb04:59cd5756b0786990ce535c20As I have said before, I serve on the Board of a nonprofit that has a truly unique event coming up on October 8th, and it would be great to see you there.  It is called Feast in the Field for Foster Kids, and it is a multi-course gourmet, farm-to-table dinner out at Kualoa Ranch overlooking spectacular views of the ocean and the Ko’olau mountains.

The meal is being prepared by celebrity chef James Aptakin, who was himself, a foster child.  All of the dinner’s ingredients are from local farmers, ranchers, and fishermen, and the meal, alone, will be spectacular!  But in addition, Hawaii star Kimie Miner will be  performing - a rare chance to enjoy this amazing young talent - and we have a number of other surprises that will make this truly an evening to remember.  The tickets are reasonably priced, and all proceeds from the event will benefit Family Programs Hawaii, and help care for more than 4,000 foster children and their families across the state.

The date is a Sunday, but it is just before a Monday federal holiday (Discoverer’s Day), and the evening will begin and end early (5:00 - 8:30 PM).  Tickets are going fast, but there still are some left.  You can get them on Eventbrite at:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/feast-in-the-field-tickets-36283141854?aff=eac2

Hope to see you there! 

As a reminder, Feast in the Field for Foster Kids, and it is a multi-course gourmet, farm-to-table dinner out at Kualoa Ranch overlooking spectacular views of the ocean and the Ko’olau mountains.

The meal is being prepared by celebrity chef James Aptikan, who was himself, a foster child.  All of the dinner’s ingredients are from local farmers, ranchers, and fishermen, and the meal, alone, will be spectacular!  But in addition, pop star Kimie Miner will be performing - a rare chance to enjoy this amazing young talent - and we have a number of other surprises that will make this truly an evening to remember.  The tickets are reasonably priced, and all proceeds from the event will benefit Family Programs Hawaii, and help care for more than 4,400 foster children and their families across the state.

The date is a Sunday, but it is just before a Monday federal holiday (Discoverer’s Day), and the evening will begin and end early (5:30 - 8:30 PM).  We hope to see you there. 

For individual tickets, please go to http://bit.ly/2vlrozr.

If you are able to lend a sponsorship the event (comes with seats!), please go to http://bit.ly/2wKoMsL.

And watch Chef James on Monday, September 25th at 8:20 on KHON!   

Mahalo nui loa..

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]]>Wayne BatzerFri, 22 Sep 2017 06:01:07 +0000https://thebatzers.com/bblog/2017/9/21/myanmar-memories57dddec13e00be77caa1512b:59b4a06c8419c20a25cfdb04:59c4a55fc534a5aa23dda999The current tragedy of Rohingya refugees in Myanmar (Burma) brought back memories of a wonderful dive trip in 2003, with a land visit to Kawthoung (Victoria Point during British rule). I have posted photos in the travel section of our website. I have also donated to relief efforts for the refugees to Unicef:

and the International Rescue Committee:

Three years ago, I was invited to join the Board of Directors of this wonderful agency (see more about it at http://www.familyprogramshawaii.org), while in the midst of law school. 

Yep, law school.  The very first time I stepped into a courtroom as a CASA, I knew I needed to be a better advocate.  So I took the LSAT, applied to law school, and was accepted.  Roughly 3 years later I passed the bar exam, and another six months later, I was sworn in as an attorney.   

I was on sabbatical from the Board of Directors while studying for the bar exam.  After I passed, a new opportunity opened up - Chair of the Board of Directors. 

I love this organization, and the things that it does.  With some mild trepidation (I had time on my hands, but not the fund raising skills), I took on the challenge of Board Chair. 

It's been a year of change, our mission is refocusing on strengthening families, we are in a partnership with Argosy University to do the same, as well as to do assessments for Family Court. 

But underneath it all, we still help kids.  And that is what Feast in the Fields is about.  Chef Aptakin will be cooking a field to table meal, and Hawaii's own Kimie will be our musical guest.  Our chief purpose is to raise unrestricted funds to support foster kids and families in Hawaii. 

The price may seem steep, but the experience will be well worth it.  Feast in the Fields will be held at Kualoa Ranch, and the agency will be providing bus transportation from various locations on Oahu.  Or you can treat it as a weekend away, and stay at the Courtyard Marriott in Laie.  That's what Wayne and I are doing. 

Individual tickets are going for $175, and there are sponsorship packages available.  The cause is worthy, Chef Aptakin, formerly in foster care himself, is donating his time.  The food and the entertainment (Kimie Miner (!) singing, and a cattle herding demonstration!) will be first rate. 

Please join us, we would love to have you there.  And the foster keiki and families on Oahu will thank you.  As will I. 

For individual tickets, please go to http://bit.ly/2vlrozr.

If you are able to lend a sponsorship the event (comes with seats!), please go to http://bit.ly/2wKoMsL.

We all thank you in advance.

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]]>Wayne BatzerSun, 17 Sep 2017 18:12:31 +0000https://thebatzers.com/bblog/2017/9/17/rebirth-of-our-website57dddec13e00be77caa1512b:59b4a06c8419c20a25cfdb04:59beb794bce176ef93328a4dStephanie started a website with photos and blog back in 2010 using Apple iWeb software. This worked well for a while but Apple stopped support of the program and website maintenance and software use became more complicated. I was never very comfortable with adding content and Stephanie drifted away from posting given the intensity of law school. However, once she completed law school she was on the lookout for new educational options. She signed up for some photo classes at the Honolulu Museum of Art School and had a great time. The timing of those classes did not fit well with my work schedule but then Stephanie mentioned a Saturday class, Building a Website with Squarespace, taught by Sarah Smith. The schedule worked well for both of us and we signed up. The class has been very stimulating and the first session helped us to get organized and then explore options on our own. As a result, the website is reborn with photos and this blog. Stephanie plans to republish some of the past travel blog entries and we will include travel photos. For those on Oahu, the class will be repeated in October and we highly recommend it!

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Our crew consisted Captain Randy (our first time with him), Chef Kevin (second time), Engineer Cliff (three out of five of our trips), DMs Cameron (second time), Celia & Jeremy (both new for us).

Our fellow passengers were cousins Kari & Kirsten (east coast mainlanders), Seiko & Nobu from Japan, Ushesh from California & Stephan from Switzerland, Dean & Barb (also east coast mainlanders), and Gillian & Oliver from Zurich by way of New Zealand and Germany, respectively.

Our trip yielded 27 dives at 14 locations, one of which was new for us!  It's a rare trip down the Kona coast that gives us that.  Some of the highlights of the trip included a pod of dolphins, manta rays, frogfish, bi-color anthias, a viper moray, bandit angelfish, and tinker's butterflyfish!  And, naturally, the highlight of the trip was the "pelagic magic" night dive, 3 miles off the Kona coast.  Truly a magnificent exhibit of migrating deep sea life.

For a look at the Captain's Log, go to:  http://bit.ly/2ffYwjz

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This summer has been my personal hell - studying for the bar exam has created shades of fragility I did not know I had.  I have been pretty good all summer, studying six days a week, outlining all my essays, taking all my practice multiple choice exams.  But it doesn't really add up to a ball of rice at this point.  After the morning essays, the afternoon practical exercises, and two three hour sessions of multiple choice questions, I have absolutely had it.   

I was fortunate to have the support of Wayne this summer, and the tutoring of Bryan Henderson, a young attorney from Atlanta who has coached me in my essay writing.  I had a mini meltdown the Saturday before the exam, but Bryan was there with me for these last few weeks, and has helped me build up my confidence.

But, I mean, really, this exam was probably the two worst days of my life.  I pray that I do not have to do this again.  Not even watching former law students playing Pokémon Go outside of the Blaisdell has lifted my spirits at all.   

The one thing that is back is my appetite.  I am starving.  I'm glad that we stayed at the Courtyard Marriott, and that I was able to get a good sandwich for each day.  And tonight we will celebrate at Ruth's Chris for dinner.   

But I am burned out.  The MPRE was really nothing compared to this, and I still need to take that one again. 

Cross your fingers and say a good prayer for me, once is about the only amount of time that I want to spend preparing for this exam. 

To my fellow test takers, best of luck with your scores!  To me, please, please, please do not need to take this exam again. 

In 2009, I turned to Wayne, unhappy with my life as a consultant, and suggested that I complete the pre-med requirements at our local community college.  Wayne countered with the thought that I apply for the Master of Social Work program instead.  I did, and on a wing and a prayer, I was accepted.  I thought that I would be going into mental health for military families, but it just didn't gel.   

While I was taking "Social Work and the Law" with Sandy Kato, I found out about the Court Appointed Special Advocate program in the Judiciary, and I applied to become a volunteer guardian ad litem.  The minute I stepped into the courtroom, I absolutely knew I needed to go to law school to give these families a better voice.

Wayne sent me the link - repeatedly - to sign up for a practice LSAT.  I signed up, took the test, and scored well enough to consider taking the exam for real.  So I did, and on December 2, 2012, I submitted my application after taking the exam.  Exactly one month later I had my score, and two weeks after that I received the call...the call welcoming me to law school.  Elisabeth Steele Hutchison became my new best friend.  Well, next to Kaki, my partner in crime and football for the three years of law school.  Go Etes!

And now it's done.  My parents are here to see their eldest get her doctoral degree, and kick off my summer of suffering while studying for the bar exam.  

I do have to thank my family for putting up with three years of silence, my husband Wayne for three years of nightmares relating to missing final exams, my new friend Kaki for being a sanity board, and my "old" friend Dianne for being my walking companion over the past three years.  It truly took a village to make it through the last three years. 

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]]>Stephanie BatzerWed, 29 Jul 2015 19:35:00 +0000https://thebatzers.com/bblog/2017/9/17/off-to-noaa57dddec13e00be77caa1512b:59b4a06c8419c20a25cfdb04:59bece43b078692f7874b1e8July 29, 2015

This summer I signed up for Dean Antolini’s Domestic Ocean and Coastal Law class.  I absolutely love taking these environmental law classes - I learn so much about our environment, I get to do research and advocate, and I get to go on field trips!  Gotta love those field trips.

Most unfortunately, I was unable to go on the fish market/auction trip or on the Makai to Mauka field trip.  Wayne and I had done the second field trip before, so that wasn’t so bad, but I was dying to go see the fish auction.  Unfortunately, that morning was my inaugural Board of Directors meeting for Family Programs Hawaii.  I needed to go to that one.  But that was ok - this field trip was more than awesome.  We went to the newly inaugurated (well, inaugurated last year) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Daniel Inouye Pacific Regional Center (NOAA PRC) on Ford Island.  

The NOAA PRC is on the northwest corner of Ford Island, and it is constructed using two aircraft hangars, Buildings 175 and 176, which were constructed in 1971.  The NOAA PRC had to incorporate these two hangars, still riddled with bullet holes from that fateful day, December 7, 1941, a result of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  These hangars are part of the National Historic Register, and thus much red tape ensued in trying to consolidate the NOAA activities on Oahu.  It is home to the National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service, the National Ocean Service, the National Weather Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Center and Marine and Aviation Operations, the International Tsunami Information Center, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center among several others, to include my beloved Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

The building is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold rated building.  What is a LEED building, you ask?  I’d be very happy to tell you!  LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across energy savings, water efficiency, carbon dioxide emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.  Points are awarded to those categories, and the total sum yields the rating.  The certification threshold for gold is 60-79 points.  You can see the guide to certification here.

One of the features is the parking lot - not only does it serve as a parking lot, it captures rain water and routes it to collection tanks that provide water for irrigation and flushing the toilets in the restroom.  There are automatic blinds on the Diamond Head and Ewa windows that adjust during the time of day, controlling the direct sunlight entering the building and contributing to the air conditioning and energy management.  Notice the use of daylight to minimize the amount of power needed.  I just wouldn’t want to clean those windows!

The building has a fascinating air cooling and ventilation system.  Cold ocean water from wells deep below the building go into cooling towers on the roof.  This cools the air, which flows downward into a main shaft in each hangar, travels under a raised floor, and is vented into the office spaces.  The warm air rises and is carried out by the ducting in the false ceiling.  I don’t know that the system is perfected, we were sweating bullets as we went through some of the laboratory spaces.  The building is powered by a large photovoltaic system - amazing.

The ground floor lobby, exhibits, library and dining facility are a large part of Building A, which interconnects the space between the two renovated hangars.  The walls are adorned with photos that used to grace the walls of the NOAA facilities in Hawaii Kai - I was happy to see my friends had been transported.

But enough about the building, time to talk about the field trip!

The class met at the Arizona Memorial parking lot at 8:00 am (well, there were one or two stragglers, but not bad), and those of us with military ID (and car stickers) divvied up the visiting crew.  We needed to be across the bridge before 9:00, as it was going to be opened from then until noon.  We got across the bridge without incident and made our way to the beautiful structure you see above.  We gathered in the dining area outside the (very popular) cafeteria, and waited for our hosts.  Paulo Morin and Mike Lamier greeted us as I scurried around getting the field trip waiver signed.  Not many people read the waiver, but it was quite clever.  Hazards of the trip included crossing a bridge and having conversations with federal employees.  Very witty, Dean, very witty.

We were given a very brief tour of the lobby where Mike told us about the construction of the building, and explained the eco-friendly features contained within.  We were all duly impressed!  Well, I was.  From there we entered into the workspaces.  The interior conversion of the hangar was truly impressive.  Like the connecting building, the hangar makes use of available natural sunlight, and there are research/relaxing areas where you are surrounded by the beauty of Hawaiian plants.  The spaces are very open, and sound definitely travels.  We really needed to be on our best behavior while there.

From there we went up to the second floor, and walked through the geospatial cubicle area, where we were further chastised to whisper while transiting through the area.  I can see that a group of our size would be rather loud, and could cause some serious disruption of any and all work efforts.

We made our way to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center control room.  I personally would call it a war room - multiple displays and computers are behind a glass wall, which is fronted by a conference room.  This is the room where the Center team members give their press briefings any time there is an event that requires coverage and monitoring.  The computer room and conference room were empty of employees, but we were assured that if an event occurred, the room would be swarming with team members.  I can believe it.  As a side note, this is a much, much better place for the Warning Center than its predecessor.  The former Warning Center was in Ewa Beach, right in the tsunami flood zone.  I cannot imagine how difficult it would be to go to and from work if an event actually occurred.  I have bicycled past the old Warning Center, and it is relatively modest.  It would be hard to house all the scientists simultaneously.  I think.  The new NOAA building seems like it may be in a flood zone, but I’m going to have to check that out.  We were reassured that the building itself is certified tsunami-proof, and in all my time working on Ford Island, I never experienced flooding.

We got to go outside in the socializing zone, and to see the ships (one of which was the NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer), along with the Sea-Based X-band radar (that one is the property of the US Navy).  Magnificent, but in 91 degree weather with no trade winds, I wanted to go inside quickly.

From there we were transferred over to Alan Andrews, a dedicated, energetic, and enthusiastic scientist who does bond radio carbon dating and lead radium dating of fish.  His work helps to give life history parameters for marine organisms, lending insight into the longeivity of different species.  Alan uses a micro drill to go into an odelisk extraction from the ear bones of fish.  Based upon levels of radiation in the bones, he is able to date them by comparing it to radioactive fallout from atmospheric atomic experimentation.  He also is able to determine age and maturity levels of the fish, and estimates that the life span of fish is grossly underestimated.  His findings then are presented in order to inform policy makers on how to regulate commercial and private fishing.  His species of the moment, or the species information he shared with us, was of the orange roughy.  Very neat.

Following this we did a quick tour of the fish dissection/extraction room, Science on a Sphere (a room sized, global display system that uses computers and four video projectors to display planetary data on a six foot diameter sphere that looks like a giant, animated globe), and then we were whisked off to the conference room to be regaled and impressed by NOAA scientists.  We were first impressed by Kelvin Gorospe of the Reef Fish Monitoring and Management Science Center.  Kelvin is part of the Fish Ecology and Monitoring Team.  The team goes out and does assessments of the types, number, and size of fish throughout the Hawaiian islands.  The amount of work that is done by the team members is incredible.  For the stationary count, working in pairs, they go dive for a half an hour, collect the data, and then come back up to enter the information into a database.  Each diver operates in a virtual cone that extends 7.5 meters on both sides, yielding a 15 meter radius of responsibility.  They also do towed diver surveys to target rare, large (>50 cm) species.  The last method used is remote underwater videography, which is exactly what it sounds like.  A remote controlled device with video camera within.  This work is part of the Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program, and provides scientific information that supports ecosystem approaches to management and conservation of coral reefs.  They travel on the NOAA ships Hiʻiʻalakai and Oscar Elton Sette, monitoring 1200 nautical square miles.  Human impacts on the numbers of fish and coral are grim.  Now comes the question of how to improve our human actions in order to rejuvenate and regenerate our reef ecosystems.  

Wayne and I have both been through training similar to that done by the team, albeit only for the island of Oahu.  The training was hosted in the Waikiki Aquarium, and we both did many dives where we did our counts and submitted the results online.  Wayne did so many of them that his name was actually listed as a major contributor on the website.  This was sponsored by Reef Environmental Educational Foundation (REEF).  I think this is what started me down my environmental conservation/preservation path.  At least where the ocean is concerned.  Click on the word REEF above if you are interested in learning more.

Next up with the National Marine Sanctuary Supervisor, Malia Chow.  The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary was designated in 1992, and it was the only single species sanctuary in the Nation.  The original proposal was only for Kahoʻolawe in the 1970s, but then all waters and islands were later proposed to be included.  There is a Sanctuary Council comprised of private citizens, members of the business community, and government.  There was little cultural representation originally, but the council is now largely comprised of Native Hawaiians.  Malia is moving the Sanctuary in a new direction.  The March 2015 Draft Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement have proposed an ecosystem based sanctuary rather than a single species sanctuary.  It will be interesting to see how this develops, especially if the Pacific Northwest Humpback Whale distinct species is delisted.  But donʻt get me started on that.

The last part of the day I participated in was the briefing led by Athline Clark, the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Superintendant. The Monument was established by Presidential Proclamatin 8031 on June 15, 2006.  It is managed by the Department of Commerce (NOAA), the Department of the Interior (US Fish and Wildlife Service), and the state of Hawaii (Department of Land and Natural Resources).  The Monument is also a World Heritage Site, designated as such in 2010.  And itʻs big, measuring approximately 140,000 square miles.  This makes it the largest fully protected conservation area under the U.S. flag.  It would stretch from New Orleans to Las Vegas.  Take that, Texas!

Interesting facts to know, the Monument has over 70 airplane wrecks and over 60 shipwrecks.  And did you know that the Vietnam cease-fire was signed on Midway Atoll?  I didnʻt, and I went there.  Shame on me.  And, because of limited access, stones were studied at Mokumonomono that allowed cultural heritage practitioners to return to the main Hawaiian islands and reconstruct heiaus.  Impressive.  The Monumentʻs purpose is to preserve access for Native Hawaiian cultural activities, to carefully regulate educational and scientific activities, foster visitation in a special area around Midway, to prohibit unauthorized access to the Monument, to phase out commercial fishing over a period of five years, and to ban other resource extraction and waste dumping.  Thatʻs a huge order.  

We were behind schedule, so we were limited in our questions and answers during these presentations.  I left shortly after, and missed the final brown bag presentation in order to get to school in time for my final Professional Responsibility class.

Iʻm going to miss taking my Domestic Ocean and Coastal Law class.  Thank you Dean A!