Hawaii Part 1

Ben and I just had our 10 year anniversary. We made it!!!! I like to joke around and say "Here's to 5 more!" We've always wanted to go to Hawaii, so we went for it. Now this post comes in 3 parts, which means LOTS of pictures but hey, it's Hawaii and it doesn't happen everyday. I'll put descriptions beneath the pictures, and maybe a little story here and there. I have a feeling this is going to take a while :)

We left on a Thursday morning at about 4 am. I got up at 2 and showered, shaved my legs (it had been a while) and got all beautiful which is silly since we were going to be on the plane all day. Just getting to the airport and checked in is unavoidably stressful, but THEN came the security line and our jaws literally dropped because the line was seriously about one block long in addition to all the winding the line does at the front. Our hearts just sank thinking there was no way we would get through that line in time. Our only comfort was watching everyone else's jaws drop as they walked by us to get in line. The further and further we got to the front of the line, the more smug we got and the more enjoyable it became watching the shock and anger of people as they realized what they were in for. I don't know WHAT was going on that day at the airport, but it was a mess. Somehow, we made it to our flight but I'm sure many people didn't. The picture above is on the first plane, a cramped little thing, and our seats were at the very, very back next to the engine or something very loud and the noise didn't stop the whole flight. Luckily in San Franscisco we got on a nice big comfy plane.

Ben on the 2nd plane, nice and comfy. I took several pictures and I kept this because it was the most.....flattering. Sorry hon.

Here's why I am so happy: this room is an upgrade, a free upgrade, because we complained about the swamp cooler in our first much tinier room. By no means was our room deluxe. But for our standards it was fine. And who doesn't love a free upgrade?Ben was happy too!

Our first night there, we went exploring the grounds at all the swanky nearby hotels. This sand sculpture was so amazing. The next day it was gone! Continue to Hawaii part 2 if you dare.

Hawaii Part 2

A beautiful Hawaii sunset! I think this was the only really good one while we were there.

This was on a really nice bus on the way to the Polynesian Cultural Center. The day before we had taken the public bus from the ariport to downtown Honolulu, and that bus experience was challenging. It's amazing how many people they cram on those public buses. Ben and I had to stand at one point and my back pack whacked this lady in her face. She was none to happy.

That island is called China Man's Hat. It was in Karate Kid I guess.

When Riley saw this picture he asked what animal was in the tree. Nope that's a Samoan guy! This was at the Samoan village at the Polynesia Cultural Center (PCC).

New Zealand (I think) dancers.

Tahitian dancers.

Our Luau food at the PCC. Yes that roll is purple! It's made from taro (sp?) root which turns purple when it cooks. It was a great roll! At the top of the plate, under the green stuff, is poke or raw fish chunks (gag). I dished up a bunch because I thought it was some sort of stewed tomatoes.

Ben and I with our beautiful lei's. The PCC was seriously the COOLEST place every. I had polynesian envy, and told Ben I want to be polynesian and open coconuts with my bare hands and dance awesome hula dances. That's just how cool this place is.

At the top of Diamond Head Crater. It's about 1.5 miles up, 1.5 miles down (duh) and Ben and I walked about 2 miles to get there PLUS 2 miles to get back. We walked a LOT that day.

This was an almost pitch black tunnel. The flash blinded the lady behind me. She was just trying to pass me and wasn't expecting the flash. She sort of stumbled by and told us the flash had blinded her.

A great, big tunnel on the way to Diamond Head. Not much pedestrian room because I suppose most people take the bus or car up to the bottom of Diamond Head. But not Ben and I!

There are some mighty strange trees in Hawaii.

This area was so cool at night. There were tiki torches everywhere. I want my backyard to look like this!

Pearl Harbor. Names of those who died.

Oil continues to seep out of the hull of the Arizona, some 70 years after it sunk.

The Arizona. I think there are 900 servicemen entombed in this ship.

A royal palace. There is a statue of a former King. I think his name was King Kamehameha but there's about a 80% chance I'm wrong. But more importantly, shortly after this picture was taken Ben and I discovered a hot dog stand (hidden behind the statue) that had the yummiest $4.00 hot dog we've ever had.

At the end of the path is a metal thing with a flame in it. The driver/tour guide explained that the flame burns 24/7 and never stops and has been burning for years. Right then the flame stopped! Then a few seconds later it started again. It was so funny!

Waikiki beach. That's me on the tube trying to stay on. When we bought the tubes we didn't realize how small they were. It was extremely difficult for me to fit my rear into the opening.

Hawaii Part 3

Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. It was really cool! I talked to my mom afterwards and turns out this is the same place I went snorkeling with my mom when I was around 6. My most vivid memory of that trip is being bit on my finger by a fish with HUMONGOUS teeth, and I ran screaming for the shore because my finger was GUSHING blood and I knew JAWS was going to get me. That was at Hanauma Bay.

A view of Hanauma Bay from top of hill.

I took this picture because the first night we walked by it Ben was really hungry and we were looking for a restaurant and he got excited because he thought we had found a "Buffet". Tee hee! We ended up eating there a few days later.

Laie Hawaii Temple. Beautiful! The view if you were to turn the camera around was all the way down several palm tree lined blocks straight to the ocean. The temple workers at this temple are so cool. Once lady, named Malia ironically, took several pictures of us outside. She insisted.

I made Ben run from the waves 6 or 7 times to get just the right shot :)

Now don't look too close (perv) but the backs of my thighs got burned SO bad! In fact they are now starting to peel, which is my favorite part of getting burned. But in the picture you can see how red they are. This was after we went to the temple, and stopped at this amazing place called Waimea Bay. I think it's considered to be the North Shore of Hawaii. The waves were so great and the beach sloped so steep right into the ocean.

This was also at Waimea Bay. If we'd had more time, we probably would have gone at and swam a little deeper but since it was getting dark and who in their right mind goes swimming in the ocean in the dark (anyone seen Jaws?).

I am embarrassed by this picture. I was running from the waves, and trying to convey to the camera that I was having a ball. I WAS having a ball, but jeez I look like an insane person.

Underneath that puff of mist is a whale. You'll just have to trust me.

I learned this trick from my mom, and Ciara has done this to me too. Make the others in the picture think it is a genuine happy picture, then pull a face right before the picture takes. This is a very fun thing to do, I'm only sorry I haven't realized this earlier.

This was a sunset dinner cruise. My hair demonstrates the violence of the wind, and the wind was almost always present. The sunset this night, like most of the nights, was covered up by low clouds on the horizen. I thought sunsets in Hawaii were supposed to always be great. Well they're not.

Oh how fun. I got to dance. What...a....blast.

Ben is busting his BEST move and I caught it on camera!

Oh SAD! Our last night there, so we shot one last picture. The beach we were on this night, right behind some super nice hotel, was SO nice. Super soft sand and the water was such a pretty light blue-green. In case you are wondering those aren't both Ben's feet. One is mine. Can you guess which one?

The kids scored some souveniers! Malia LOVES her coconuts and grass skirt. The ties on the coconuts are adjustable so they also fit oh, I don't know, someone a little older who might also like to play dress up. NO!!!! Not ME! How could you even THINK that???

Riley got a cool hook necklace (hard to see in pic) and a shirt with a map of Hawaii. They got some other stuff too, like beach towels, trinkets, etc. By the end of the trip we REALLY missed the kids and had visions of us all rolling on the ground hugging and laughing. Well, when Riley first saw us he was all hugs and kisses and "where's my prize?". But Malia looked uncertain and wouldn't come to me or Ben! I have a feeling that in her mind she had a vague memory of us but had already moved on :) That didn't last long and now she's little miss follow me everywhere again.