Hawaii (part 2)

Our second full day on Oahu included a visit to Lanikai. We played on a couple of different beaches, went snorkeling, and enjoyed adult beverages on the beach. (I did my best version of the Corona commercials.)

One of the beaches we stopped at was closed to swimmers due to the rip currents. I was slightly disappointed, since that’s one of the beaches where sea turtle encounters are common.

We got to try Ted’s Bakery and enjoyed lunch outside with my daughter-in-law’s mom. The food was delicious (and they had so many different dessert options)! Driving around the island gave us an amazing overview of the different landscape that you wouldn’t even think could all exist in one small area.

Later that evening we took food back to the condo and enjoyed the space with some of my daughter-in-law’s family. The view of the sunset over the ocean was beyond amazing. I read, wrote, and caught up on some emails while enjoying the laughter from the other room.

One of the things I wanted to experience the most was swimming with the sea turtles. I didn’t want to get close to them, touch them, or disturb them in any way. I simply wanted to swim with them and observe them in their space. Just observing and enjoying them. We didn’t get to see any at the beaches we went to on day two because the waters were a bit choppy so they didn’t come too close to shore.

On the third full day we went to Turtle Bay, but didn’t see any turtles there either. We did get to snorkel some more, and see some different fish that we hadn’t yet seen. (I’m still going through all of our underwater camera footage.) The kids played volleyball on the beach.

We drove to the end of Naupaka Street to look out over five small islands. There was a plaque describing the legend of La’ie Point-Laniloa. According to the legend, a giant lizard was standing upright, ready to kill any intruder. A legendary warrior, Kana, killed the Mo’o (giant lizard) and cut it’s head into five pieces, throwing them into the ocean. That is said to be the five small islands you see from the lookout. It was a beautiful point to look out over.

My daughter-in-law’s family picked up lunch and we all met up at Kokololio Beach Park, only a few minutes away from her childhood home. We sat at a picnic table in a beautiful park, watching the waves roll onto the beach, eating great food, enjoying conversation, and watching the wildlife around us.

My younger son enjoyed seeing the roosters running around everywhere. We even saw a mama chicken with 10 little chicks towing behind her. The chirps of the chickens and other birds, mixed in with the sound of the ocean and the gentle breeze on our skin was perfect. Everything felt completely serene and magical.

We visited the Dole Plantation and took the train tour around the property. We learned about the history of the plantation and everything it contributes to the local economy, along with the delicious pineapples and other foods we get back home from there.

We went shopping to bring back some goodies for our friends and family back home who couldn’t make the trip. Then we enjoyed some delicious Dole whip. It was the perfect treat since it was an incredibly warm day.

The kids and I went back to the condo and got cleaned up to enjoy a nice dinner out. We went to the Monkey Pod, which wasn’t far from the condo. While live music and soft lighting created a relaxing ambiance, the waiter explained that the restaurant grew all of its own meat and a majority of its own produce.

The food was exquisite and the drinks he recommended hit the spot. There’s something about toasting cocktails with all of my kids that makes me realize how grown up they are and reminds me to enjoy the new space of our relationships.

I am still so grateful for the experience with all three of them. My heart, soul, belly, mind, and everything else was so delightfully full during the entire trip.

As I mentioned before, I had always dreamt of that kind of trip but didn’t really think it would ever happen. I realized this year that I needed to MAKE it happen. My newfound motto that I share whenever I can is to CREATE your life and dreams. If I truly believe that, I must live it. And I am. One moment and one memory at a time.