Aloha!

My trip to Hawaii was wonderful, all the more so because so many people helped me and my family out during our 10 day separation.

A list of some of my experiences:

Standing on the street in Honolulu (Waikiki) in my pajamas at 4:30 am because someone pulled the fire alarm. "Alert! There is a fire in the building! Please exit now!"

Being blasted by wind at the Pali Outlook, Waimea Canyon, on the ship, and just about everywhere else.

Watching a Samoan make fire from a stick and a coconut

Snorkeling in Hanauma Bay and seeing yellow, blue, pink, and green tropical fish

Eating warm banana bread and fresh coconut and pineapple on the road to Hana.

Loving the black rock beach the the stone church in Maui

Eating yummy pineapple whip at the Dole plantation

Hiking the half mile of fern rainforest on the way to the lava tube

Walking through the lava tube

Watching chickens fly across the road

Looking at steaming craters

Being just about last on board in Hilo and Kauai

Eating yummy hashbrowns from the buffet for breakfast

Singing happy birthday to Donna with the family at our table

Spying the sea turtle in Hilo

Seeing the whale off of Maui! I caught an itty-bitty picture of its tail.

Almost swimming near a sewage treatment plant out of desperation.

Taking a taxi with Tenesa to be brought to a more acceptable beach.

Being repeatedly knocked over by powerful aqua waves that were so heavy with coarse sand that I got exfoliated from head to toe.

Finding a tooth of unknown origin in my swimming suit

Meeting Mr. Photographer

Loving the beautiful umbrella trees all over Oahu and Kauai

Walking with the sea urchins on the pahoehoe shore near Kona

Listening to Darcy and Reed's tales of Lyman

Sailing past the magnificent NaPoli coast

Seeing the whale through the window right when someone talked about seeing a whale the previous day!

Looking at the names at the Arizona memorial

Watching the gray-haired ladies dancing the hulu beautifully

Seeing: Spouting Horn, Kauai lighthouse, blowhole in Oahu, crazy parasailing windsurfers, amazing banyan trees and rainbows and sea creatures.

Getting reaquainted with my brilliant, beautiful, fun and talented cousins and aunts and uncles and hanging out with my generous and fabulous parents.

But the best part of all was getting off the plane, walking to the baggage claim, and seeing Husband and the twinkies waiting for me, the three youngest holding a big banner that said, "Welcome Home Mom." My family is more beautiful than anything in the world to me and I'm so grateful to be with them again and feel their love.