Steve and I spent the last week on vacation with his family on the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii. It was the first time that all of us have traveled together, and we had a terrific time! Since moving to Texas three years ago, we don't see his family as often so it was great to have a week to make special memories with them in such a beautiful place.
We spent the first afternoon at our resort, soaking in the views and the golden hour before watching a fantastic sunset (the first of many).
Our first full day on the island included a tour of Pearl Harbor, which was very moving. I had been to the memorial once before on a training trip in college, but enjoyed revisiting it with family. After the Pearl Harbor tour, we enjoyed a delicious lunch on the Waikiki Beach, followed by the biggest snow cones of all time and another beautiful sunset, before joining the family for the best fried rice I have ever had. Ever.
We spent New Year's Eve day hiking Diamond Head for some beautiful views of the island. The hike was about an hour and a half round trip, with tons of stairs. Totally worth it!
We spent NYE evening splitting pizzas and lounging by the rooftop pool before the fireworks began at 11. The Hawaii time change definitely got to me, though - I didn't last past 10pm! Mad props to my nieces for making it all the way through the fireworks and until midnight!
The next day, we traveled to the north side of the island to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center. There, we rode in canoes, learned ancient fighting techniques, and attended a luau, complete with leis, hula, and a roasted pig. And I got to drink a smoothie out of a pineapple, which was a big highlight for me ;)
The next day, the family ventured to the North Shore for a personalized tour with Keelee, our tour guide. We visited a coffee farm, the Dole Pineapple Plantation, and a nature preserve complete with a hike to a beautiful waterfall! I tried Dole Whip for the first time and realized that I am quite the fan, along with the rest of the family (except for Steve - too much pineapple for him - no such thing for me!). And, of course, we enjoyed another sunset on the beach to wrap up the day.
Our second to last day was spent largely on the water - which was right up my alley! We ventured out before dawn for a snorkel excursion. We began the day by swimming with dolphins - a bucket list item of mine. Thanks to my SIL and her awesome underwater camera for capturing them in the photo. While we were at the dolphin site, we spotted multiple humpback whales - another bucket list item! My day was made then and there, but the excursion wasn't over. We snorkled with fish and a sea turtle, and then anchored in a bay where we were able to paddle board, kayak and swim for some time. It was great.
We made it back to the resort in time for family pictures, including some with another beautiful sunset. Steve and I snapped a selfie while waiting on some of the pictures :)
Our flight departed at 6pm on our final day in Hawaii, so we were able to take advantage of a last morning on the beach. Give this girl an umbrella, a lounge chair and a good book, and she is set!
Our flight home was extra special and unique because Steve and I gifted to one another for Christmas upgrades to the first class cabin on our redeye flight home. I had never flown first class before, and my-oh-my, was this a treat. I could travel like that any time, anywhere! I think we picked an excellent present to give each other this year! If only it could be a regular occurrence... maybe someday ;)
A huge thank you to my in-laws for dreaming up this vacation for all of us to share, and for making it into a reality!! Mahalo!
