Shortened Little Travelogue of my amazing week in Hawaii. Spoiler alert: We did NOT make it to Aulani... And yes, this is the short version.
(PART ONE - I forgot about the only-so-many-images -rule)
Sunday: I had to get up at 5:20 to be able to leave my house 5:30/40 and make it to the airport by 6 for my 7:30 flight. Of course, even taking Benadryl the night before I was up by 5, so no problems there. My flight seemed
very long, despite there not being any crying children or anything around me. I had some good conversations with my seat-mate, who got his Engineering degree in India (where he's from), is in his third year of his doctorate program studying Sustainability at ASU, and had another 9 hour flight (ours was 6.5 from Phoenix to O'ahu) to Australia that day to get to his conference. I was so glad I didn't have another long flight after that! We arrived about 11 AM local time, and I was met at baggage claim by my parents. I was so happy to see them! 6 months is too long! I'm trying not to think about the next year they'll still be so far away, even though we talk often and can Skype and Facetime. We met up with my siblings and went to church, then enjoyed walking around the beautiful temple there that's right across from my parents' apartment. We all grabbed dinner at my parents', since they had been stocking up for the possible Hurricane Lane issues (which didn't happen in O'ahu, thankfully) and had a completely full fridge and freezer! Later we went to the rental house I was staying at with my siblings, with a detour to Laie Point, which was awesome, and then took a nice walk on the beach in front of our house. My BIL led us on a random jungle excursion to the next beach, which was slightly exciting considering we girls were still in our skirts or dresses from church and we were all wearing flip flops... By 8 pm local time (I was pretty wiped out, and by the time I got to bed I'd been up 20 hours!)
Monday was a packed day. I was up about 4 AM, and once someone else was awake to tell them where I was going, I walked down to the beach (just across a road and a park) and watched the sun rise. That was cool. Then by 7 AM we were "next door" at Pounders beach. You know, since we were all more or less on AZ time still. And I had a good time, other than a possible allergic reaction to something in the water at first (my ankles and feet were so itchy and had hives!). And the part where I did get pounded into the bottom of the ocean, face-first. Those waves don't mess around. And then we were touring the Polynesian Cultural Center (where my parents serve in various capacities) since just before lunchtime through like 9 PM, luau and amazing Disney-quality (I thought) night show inclusive. We were pretty worn out after that full day!
Very busy day
Tuesday! We hiked Manoa Falls early in the morning, where it rained on us 90% of the time, and was kind of crazy, but also amazing. The canopy of trees was so beautiful! Then we did the catamaran after a quick lunch in Waikiki, which I adored, then went snorkeling for several hours at Shark’s Cove, and had dinner at Seven Brothers. I’d never done most of those things, and it was awesome! I was so glad my parents were able to take some P-Day time and join us for the last half of the day. I had never snorkeled before, and it was awesome! This is the day we had reservations at Aulani, but after the big buffet the night before at the luau, and all our busy-ness, we weren't really up to stuffing ourselves again to the tune of $50 a plate at Aulani's buffet. We were tired! I will see it someday, and wasn't upset about it. If I had really wanted to go, my parents would have taken me down Saturday or something.
Wednesday! We went snorkeling (again) at Three Tables, and I wasn't enjoying it as much because my mask was pushing on my face in places that were sore from the day before, but then. Then. GUYS WE SWAM WITH A SEA TURTLE! Totally made my whole trip!! Oh, and also spent several hours at the big swap meet at Aloha Stadium, visited and ate lunch at the Dole Plantation, (then was snorkeling) and had a super fun evening with my parents eating at the PCC, and walking all around “the Islands” are after dark. I was already sore from hiking and snorkeling, and after that evening I thought I might be sore from laughing. Great day! I enjoy my family!
Thursday: We spent a good chunk of that day(one set of siblings' last) in the water... We started the morning with some fresh hot malasadas from the food truck at the PCC, then visited with my mom a bit before she went in to work. We snorkeled for several hours at Shark’s Cove, had lunch with everyone back at the PCC with my parents, then got beat up a little at Pounders beach again for the first half of the afternoon. After another quick dinner at SevenBrothers I rode over to Sunset Beach with my parents and we -almost- saw the sun setting there, followed by some cards with the siblings that were still staying another night. Between the busy schedule the previous few days, lots of time in the water today, and a bit of a sunburn, I was really feeling my not-in-my-20's-anymore-ness!
(do you like my Guardians shirt?
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