Aloha Menehunes and friends of Menehunes,

Mele Kalikimaka and Buon Natale as 2018 draws to a close. WOW!! What a year!!

2018 marks 50 years since Air Force Academy graduation and 20 years since our retirement from the active duty Air Force and 18 years on our beautiful Island.

But, it's not all history. Still a lot of current events like climbing Olomana Peak here on O'ahu and Eagle Peak at the Academy during the 50th Reunion (with only one functioning knee!!). This year's 1.2 mile Waimea Bay Swim took 61 minutes. Broke the 8,000 flying hour mark and was honored for the second year in a row as the Best Instructor Pilot in Hawaii by the FAA. We're still truckin' ……..

Mary (aka Nonna) spent much of the year travelling to help Sarah and Jacques with our three grandsons, Jon, Joseph and Peter and to help Nathan and Sundi with our new granddaughter, Valor. It's really amazing to watch them all grow up so quickly and to develop into such beautiful, intelligent and VERY ACTIVE children. The Energizer Bunny has nothin' on these kids …..

Vic has enjoyed his eclectic schedule of lifeguarding, teaching school and teaching flying. No saves this year for lifeguarding, but, lotta pool time at Tripler which has a swimming pool that rivals and even exceeds the standards for many Five Star hotels. Teaching school has been a wonderful distraction at both Le Jardin Academy and at Assets High School. Mostly history and Spanish with occasional forays into geometry, chemistry and English. Flying has taken a clear First Place in the activities list with Vic flying FOUR TIMES AS MUCH NOW as he did when he was on active duty. That includes 1,199 landings in a 365 day year which averages out to one landing EVERY 8 HOURS for a year. NOT boring holes in the sky. More importantly, Vic's students are excelling: 5 accepted for Air Force pilot training, 2 accepted for Army pilot training, 3 airline pilots and 1 flight instructor with an airline contract as soon as she gets 1,500 hours. NEWS FLASH: She got the hours and is now flying for Sky West …… : !! Nice Christmas present : : :

Hope to hear from you all and see you out here on our sunny Island. Ciao for now

Vic and Mary