Hawaii (part 3)

Our family trip to Hawaii earlier this year was so epic that I had to split it up into several posts! I’ve been breaking it down by the day, activities, and whatever stood out about the experiences. I’ve tried to be a bit concise since there was so much that I absolutely loved about the trip.

On the fourth full day on Oahu, we spent some time hanging around Honolulu and Waikiki doing a few touristy things. The day started with parasailing. Despite their reservations, even my oldest and his wife partook. I didn’t realize she had a fear of heights, but she was a great sport in working to overcome that and enjoy the moment.

We got on a smaller boat and headed out into the ocean with a mother and her young son, a couple that was probably in their late twenties, and the four of us. The crew was laid back, respectful, and highly efficient. The captain navigated the waters while the other two prepared the sail, all while vibing to the relaxing island music calling us from the boat speakers. My younger son and I went up first.

I should share that he overcame a lot of fears during the week. Heights made him nervous, as did being in the water. Every day he swallowed that fear and did whatever we were doing as a group, and even a few things with me that the other two chose to sit out.

Parasailing was every bit as amazing, peaceful, and exciting as I thought it would be. Feeling the breeze on my skin, whipping my hair gently on my face and head, and seeing the ocean stretch out in all of it’s shades of blues as far as my eyes could see was indescribable. I also enjoyed the view of all the people enjoying their day in the water, on the beach, and around downtown, as well as looking at the buildings and landscape of the island.

If you’ve ever gone parasailing, especially in a touristy area, you’re probably aware that the operators like to have a bit of fun. They dipped us in the water on our way back down to the boat. Lamont (my younger son) had me dying with laughter the whole time. He was screaming, “No, man, you really don’t have to do that!”

Next up, was Mel and Malia (my oldest and daughter-in-law). Judging from the photos, I’d say he might’ve been a bit nervous as well. She looked like she really enjoyed it, despite her initial fear.

I am grateful that we all got to experience that “first” together. The memories we made together certainly strengthened our bond and love for each other.

We ate lunch at the massive Ala Moana mall. Their food court was the stuff that Mel’s dreams are made of. I think one of his highlights was the food during the entire trip. He had a lot of Hawaiian friends growing up and always loved dinner at their homes. Their parents always laughed about how much rice the boy could eat! (I’m talking platefuls of plain rice.)

Our next stop was Pearl Harbor. We took the ferry out to the memorial and learned more about the history. Standing there was incredibly somber. Watching the oil still leaking into the harbor and seeing all the names on the wall and imagining their loved ones and the impact those men, women, and children had on an entire community (and the world).

I’ve mentioned that one of my most desired experiences was snorkeling and swimming with sea turtles. I didn’t get to do that due to choppy waves. The single sea turtle I saw all week was at Pearl Harbor, swimming above the USS Arizona.

My first inclination was to jump in to swim with it, but that thought was quickly dismissed for several reasons. One, being it would be seen as highly disrespectful to that resting place. Two, I like my freedom and being in some kind of military prison (with my Navy son watching the whole thing go down) didn’t seem like a great idea. There will be more opportunities to swim with turtles later.

Lamont and I also explored the submarine (USS Bowfin). We got to actually go inside and walk through the entire thing. It was quite fascinating just how much they packed into such a tight space. There were little fans on everywhere, but it was still incredibly hot, even with the doors and hatches open. I couldn’t imagine living inside of that, fully submerged, for months at a time. My deepest gratitude and respect for those who have.

We took dinner back to our condo and napped a bit. Then Malia took me out for drinks with some of her childhood friends. We went to a restaurant/bar/nightclub type of place. It was fun to watch her in her element.

One of the funniest parts of that was that she asked her friends if there would be single local guys there so she could try to hook me up. That tickled me to no end. It was really nice to get to spend some time with her that way, though. If I haven’t shared, I adore her. She’s such a sweetheart, laid back, and fun-loving. I truly wish the best for her and my son…she’s gotten him out of his shell quite a bit.

I don’t really look at these travels as “vacation” anymore. I don’t believe in them. If you love your life, you don’t need a vacation from it. I look at them as travels, trips, and adventures. I know it may be just wordplay to some, and that’s fine. To me, it’s significant.

And while I did get to experience quite a few “firsts” and things I’ve really wanted to do, the most monumental part of the entire trip for me was getting to enjoy those things with the three kids. These young adults bring out the best parts of me and I find that I just truly enjoy being in their presence. They make the simple things in life even better, such as driving down the Hawaiian highway with the windows down, snacking on 7-Eleven goodies, singing, talking, and laughing. I’m grateful to the three of them for the entire experience.