Hawaii (part 4)

I have suffered from chronic migraines for as long as I can remember. Unfortunately, they don’t always come when it’s convenient, if there’s ever a convenient time. I ended up with a migraine on the fifth (and last) full day on the island. I was determined to push through and enjoy as much as I could, and the kids did their best to make things easier on me.

We started the day extremely early, driving to the other side of the island so that Lamont and I could go on an adventure. I slept the whole way there. Mel and Malia dropped us off and did some exploring of their own, as they didn’t want to join us in the open water with sharks!

Yep, sharks. Lamont and I got on another tiny boat and headed straight out into the open ocean with two crew members and three other daring souls. We got a quick safety briefing, then were fitted with fins and snorkel gear. We weren’t allowed to take cameras or anything with us, so that our attention and hands would be completely free just in case of an emergency.

My son and the other three opted for foam floaty devices, while I chose to swim freely. There were at least three Galapagos sharks that joined us. They were curious and circled us for about thirty minutes as we floated and watched them swim. They actually got pretty close.

We had to hold onto a rope that was attached to the boat to keep us together and in close proximity to the boat. One of the crew members was in the water with us and took some photos for us. He also told us if anything were to happen, he’d be there to get in between us and the sharks as their main priority and focus was keeping us safe.

Later, Lamont (my youngest) revealed that although he was a bit afraid and nervous (especially since he’s not a strong swimmer), that was one of his favorite experiences of the week. I was really happy he chose to do it with me.

When we got back to shore, Mel and Malia picked us up and we headed to Waimea Falls, inside of Waimea Valley. It was raining, but that didn’t stop us. We hiked through the botanical gardens to the waterfall. It was an incredible journey filled with beautiful scenery, educational posts, and a peaceful ambiance that I can’t even describe.

She shared some of her ancestry and history as we learned more about Hawaiian history and culture. My daughter-in-law is actually related to Hawaiian royalty and several members of her family were featured in photos and stories throughout the park.

Reaching the waterfall after the mild 3.5 mile hike was incredible. It was so much bigger than a lot of the pictures looked. Malia and I swam in the refreshing fresh water beneath the waterfall, while the boys watched and took photos.

I opted to take the little shuttle back to the gate, as I still wasn’t feeling great. While sitting there waiting, I witnessed a beautiful moment that attests to the welcoming Hawaiian culture.

An elderly Hawaiian woman was selling souvenirs at a table. She noticed a few families with young children nearby and decided to have them all gather around her in the grass. She gave them shells and taught them a hula, while singing. It was peaceful and beautiful.

We drove back to Waikiki for the final adventure of our trip. Lamont and I took our first helicopter ride and toured the island from the sky. The other two went to the mall.

The views from the sky were magical, much like the parasailing experience, only more. We got to fly over several areas of the island, where our lovely pilot gave us the history and more information about everything we saw. It was a lot to take in, but so worth it.

We drove back to our condo and took a nap, which was much needed for me. We spent our final night having dinner with my daughter-in-law’s family back in the city. It was a delicious local spot that her mother treated us all to.

I absolutely adore my daughter-in-law, and see where she gets her kind spirit from. Her family was incredibly welcoming to us. It felt like we have known them forever.

Waking up to the perfect temperature, hearing the ocean in the distance, was bittersweet. We all enjoyed our week so very much, but also wanted the comforts of home. We strolled down to the lagoon and played in the water for about an hour before cleaning up and packing up the car to return to the airport where we’d bid Oahu farewell for now.

We definitely plan on going back; we have family there now, afterall.