My Hawaii Top Ten
Reflections from our 11 nights in Hawaii - some new experiences and some thoughts that have surfaced due to our extended vacation:
10 – Volcano lava crossing the road. What a crazy sight to see – I can only imagine being able to actually witness it, and only a few years ago. You read about it in books, and in my case actually teach about it (in third and fifth grade) and to see it in person. Wow!!
9 – Learning about new historical/mythological figures! Yes, I am a teacher geek, but I love to find new things that interest me and learn. King Kamehameha was the warrior that united the Hawaiian islands. Prior to him, each island has different leaders and really didn’t get along. He came along and created a unified Hawaii. I actually bought a book about him. Then there’s Pele – the goddess of fire. I had heard of her before, but never really thought much about her story.
8 – Being able to snorkel this time! I’ve snorkeled in Belize, the Bahamas and Florida and failed miserably each time. I don’t know why, but I couldn’t get the breathing through the tube thing going and I would panic, so…no snorkeling. This time I was determined, especially because Katie was doing so well. I think I also was worried about wearing my contacts and flooding my mask. I did it!! Snorkeling off the reef on our boat trip on the Big Island was wonderful and so much to see. Yay!!
7 – Staying at a great resort! Yes, I am a hotel snob and I admit it. We save our money to stay at great places, and I do research to find the best within our means. The Hilton Waikoloa Village was beautiful, and not too “Tacky Tourist.” Yes, the waterfalls were artificial and the Nene (Hawaii’s endangered state bird) was in a cage for all to see, but it was still beautiful. I can’t complain about our free upgrade on our return visit either. What a great way to spend our last night in Hawaii – in a crazy, big suite – the bathroom had five different light switches!
6- Getting to spend quality time with relatives that we don’t get to see very often! I can’t begin to say how much fun I have with Barb and Edgar. They are two of the neatest people that I know, and I am so lucky to be part of their family! J I have been lucky enough to stay with them for spring break at their house outside of New York City in high school, spend spring break with them at their house in Key West when I was a single, young teacher and now spend a wonderful week sharing their hospitality with my family, in Maui!! Their way of sharing their surroundings is so low key and relaxing! You don’t feel the need to entertain or be entertained, yet you want to because they are so laid back!! Thank you!!!!!!!
5- Traveling!!! I am so lucky to have the life and experiences that I’ve had for the past 41 years. I spent my younger years as an Air Force Brat and traveled throughout the US and Europe with my mom, dad and sister. I then backpacked through Europe for 3 weeks with 4 friends after graduating from college. Then my first 9 years teaching were spent “Spring Breaking” (in the quiet, conservative way) with a group of teacher friends to the Bahamas, LA, Cancun to name a few places. Then I found Don, my best friend who loves to travel as much as I do. We took 4 years off to raise two toddlers, but once they were old enough…off we went and we haven’t stopped yet.
4 – Being able to provide new opportunities for my girls and experience it through their eyes! Snorkeling, Zip-Lining, Volcano Climbing, High Dive Jumping, Wind Surfing…just to name a few. I am so happy that they are able to have some of the same experiences that I have had growing up, and more.
3- Planning another successful trip! I spend a year researching and figuring out the best places, adventures and itineraries and then cross my fingers, and hope for the best. I think we have unlimited, long distance phone calling on our Purcellville phone for this reason. I spent many minutes calling places in Hawaii and San Fransisco and asking questions to a real voice. I love the research and the feeling of having a vision of a location or activity before we get there. Control freak? You betcha!!!
2 – Having raised two daughters that are well mannered, and get along with each other!! We are so lucky that our girls are friends and enjoy our family time together. We laugh a lot and create our own fun. Sometimes, I just like to sit back and watch them interact with each other and Don. It makes me so happy to know that we can travel and they will behave and respect the areas where we are, but at the same time – create fun and memories. I think back to the many, many great memories I have with my mom, dad and my sister as we had our travel adventures growing up…and I can only hope that I can continue to create that atmosphere for my family. One fun memory is of my sister and I (around ages 18 and 22) on our trip to Hawaii up in Haleakala, at the crater just playing and posing like models while my dad took pics!! Hopefully, we’ll still be taking family trips and our girls will still want to come when they are that age. A happy moment: Carleigh laughing on our last night and saying,”We have such a fun family, I love us!!” Now that’s success!!
1 – Sharing Hawaii with my best friend, my husband, my partner!! I had been before. My dad took our family 20 years ago to stay with Barb and Edgar in Maui. We did Haleakala, the beaches, the waterfalls and I said I didn’t need to go back. But when Don talked about going, I loved the idea of sharing it with him. I wanted to experience it with him, but I also wanted some of the unknown – so we added the Big Island. A new adventure for both of us. I look forward to the many hundreds or thousands of new adventures that await us as we live our life together!
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