I remember

Last night I couldn't sleep. I'm not sure whether it was because of the time change coming back to the mainland or just adjusting to normal life in Ohio, but thoughts of O'ahu running through my head. I was afraid that all of the wonderful things that I had experienced would go away. I was afraid that I would forget all of the good times I had. This morning I woke up with fresh eyes and a solution to this problem. I'm going to list all of the things that I remember about O'ahu; all of the things that I do not want to forget.

I remember the way the wind carries the salt from the sea when it hits my face

I remember how early in the morning start and that I was always excited for a new day

I remember the way the sun looks when it sets beyond on the ocean

I remember the way the sand feels between my toes as I walk in both dry and wet sand

I remember the house; I remember the tiles that ran all through the house; the high ceilings and
windows that let in all of the natural light; I remember the geckos that let themselves in and out at their leisure; I remember the incredibly uncomfortable bench turned couch that nobody seem to want to sit on for very long; I remember the adorable little koi pond and the chairs right by it that nobody could spend very long in because there were too many mosquitoes that would eat everyone alive.

I remember the outdoor covered porch area where we would often meet on those days where there were cropped up showers; which was nearly every day while we were there

I remember how often it rained so that the air always felt like it was fresh even when it was very hot out

I remember the screened in porch at the house for my parents stayed and how pleasant early mornings and late evenings where to sit in a bug free environment and let the cross breeze dust your face

I remember finding a box fan the first night in our closet and how happy Steve was when he rapidly switched out the lamp on his bedside for the fan that would blow in his face every evening

I remember how steep the driveway was and how difficult it was to walk up after every morning walk we took; I also remember all of the fruit trees that were all over the property and the overripe fruit that fell continuously and was smashed on the driveway 

I remember the little-shortcut path we found from one house to the other

I remember that first day that we went out on the beach and how happy I was to be in the ocean and how pleasant the water was

I remember the intense Hawaiian blessing I received that first day on the beach of which I am still recovering

I remember the architecture; there are shacks right next to rich beautiful beach houses and people camping out by the ocean as their homestead; there is a wide and wonderful variety of housing and dwellings

I remember driving so close to the water that you couldn't see anything but the road and then an immediate drop off to the ocean

I remember Friday when Steve accidentally got in the ocean with his phone for 20 minutes and killed it

I remember the beach walk that we took when there was a Hawaiian monk seal sunning herself on the shore

I remember how good showers feel after a day of playing in the ocean and that I never used a blow dryer once because the ocean breeze did it for me every day

I remember going to Pearl Harbor and walking all over the USS Missouri and touring all of the rooms and standing in the exact spot where the agreement was signed to end the second world war; I remember going on a ferry ride across the ocean to the memorial of the USS Arizona that sank during the initial battle of the second World War II and remember seeing all of the names of people who perished on that day when the Arizona sank as well as the names of those who have perished after the war

I remember the cute little shop that Steve and I found called the Hau'ula gift shop. It is where I found the dress that saved my shoulders when they were so blessed and it is where we found gifts to bring home for Steve's parents

I remember going to the food truck Giovanni's and how delicious the shrimp 

and rice was and how much fun it was to walk in the sunshine around little shops that surrounded the food truck

I remember going to cocktail hour at the turtle Bay Hotel and sitting there with all of the friends of Zena and Fred eating pupus and drinking cocktails.

 I also remember standing over the ocean and watching the sunset that evening and also watching the surfers in the water

I remember going to the cookout  for Fred and Zena at the rental house where they were staying and meeting out many of the front and Zenas friends and family for the first time and also seeing old friends that too much time has passed since I've last seen

I remember the wedding at Kaoola  Ranch

I remember how beautiful Zena looked and how happy both she and Fred looks and the way her mother cried as she came walking her daughter with my Uncle Jim down the path

I remember the view as we were on the highest part of the facility and how I wanted to capture it and never let it go

I remember have Steve continued his terrible luck in sunglasses after breaking two pairs that week already and managed to lose my sunglasses at the wedding only to have somebody else find them and Steve retrieve them for me

I remember how delicious the bees knees cocktail was and how many taro sandwiches Steve ate because he thouht they were so delicious
 I remember being dismissed by table and how our table was told to sit back down because we were too young and more of the older people had to go first per Hawaiian tradition

I remember dancing and drinking the night away and how abruptly it ended at 10 o'clock

I remember our Saturday walk on the beach and how we didn't really go very far but we still enjoyed it

I remember going to Kokololio beach where it was shady and I could play in the ocean and then go and sit in the shade safely without getting any further Hawaiian blessing

I remember Sunday morning when Stephen I walked down to the ocean to say goodbye for the last time and how once again I wanted to capture that moment and keep it forever

I remember the adorable little dog who followed us home one day and then also followed us to the beach on that last Sunday morning; he looks like a small version of a regular dog and it was clear that someone was feeding him very well but there was no contact information on his collar and he seem to be happy to roam wherever he wanted

I remember flying in the very first day and taking pictures of the ocean as we were able to see it for the first time

I also remember thinking as I boarded the plane to go home that that was the last time I would be able to smell the Hawaiian air

I remember how little I crocheted that week and when I did; I made coasters for the house where we were staying because there were none

I remember trying to read on the beach and having to fight the wind to hold my book open

I remember how we called Trevor a plank because he's so tall and straight he would just float in the water

I remember when the last day came and Steve and I finally got to take the car out for a few hours; we walked around a little gift shop drank us a vanilla milkshake  for Steve and a tropical smoothie for me; we made it all the way down to an adorable little yarn shop called Aloha Yarn. When we walked into the yarn shop we were offered wine champagne and scones by all of the women who were there plucking away at their projects. I bought a single skein of yarn that I am going to crochet into a hat

I remember the last time we went to the adorable little gift shop when we found something for Steve's mom and Steve decided to buy a Hawaiian shirt except the top button was missing so the man at the store after, looking everywhere for his sewing kit and being unable to find it, took the bottom button off of the same model of the shirt in a different size and gave it to me so that I could sew it onto his shirt later 

I remember how Dotty, who is one of the landlords of our property, lent me her little sewing kit so that I could fix the button on Steve shirt before we flew home

I also remember how she graciously printed out to color photos of my cousin and me so that I could write a message on the back of them and give them to Zena at the cookout

I remember how delicious the shrimp was at Turtle Bay and I remember trying tripe stew at a restaurant called Papa Ole's on our first night there and liking it so much I had it again for lunch the following day

I remember noticing for the first time in my life the tension between my brothers; Though I believe that tension was there before the vacation started

I remember going to the botanical gardens and looking at all of the beautiful flowers as we hiked all the way up that huge hill and reaching the top where people are swimming at a waterfall before walking all the way down

I remember the little dive hike we took on the path called Nature Garden and I remember lookout point at the very top and once again the view was spectacular

I remembered the blooming Bird of Paradise plant that sat snugly in between the house where we were staying and the house for my parents were

I remember the day that we went to what we thought would be a historic sugar mill and it turned out to be nothing but a run down old shop and cafeteria but we didn't care; we had fun anyways

I remember the very first Friday night when all of the young people played a drinking game that centered around a gecko named Lizzie and taking a drink every time she changed walls within our house

I remember the plane ride home and how I felt that I needed to sleep but it was just too uncomfortable to do so for any reasonable amount of time

I remember having breakfast at Chili's with Steve in the Chicago airport at five something in the morning and then proceeding to buy myself a Chicago sweatshirt because I was so cold

I remember how good it tasted to have a hot breakfast and coffee after being in a plane for so long

I remember loading our bags into the car for the very last time and hoping that I can come back someday

Everyone has different memories and perceives events in a different way but these are the events that I remember about our trip to Hawaii and want to hold dear in my heart.

Finally!

Today I felt we finally did vacation right.

We hiked, ate ice cream for lunch and swam in the ocean without intensifying the sunburn. Win win!

Adjusting

We have already completed our longest flight...O'ahu to Chicago and are waiting to board the final leg of our trip. Since we flew right through dinner last night, we treated ourselves each to a hot sit down breakfast at Chilis. All things said, we are in pretty good shape for adjusting to the 6 hour time change. As long as we can stay awake today and go to bed at a Normal time; all will be well. 

A fitting that end

Before it is too late and I forget, I wanted to record some general observations about life on O'ahu. First, since there is no daylight savings time, the days begin much earlier with the sun often rising in the 6 o'clock AM hour. The sun also sets earlier. A typical day in Hawaii in August last from 6 AM until between 7:00 and 8:00 PM.

In addition to that, it never seems to be overbearingly hot to me. Although there are definitely some intensely sunny parts of the day, there is almost always a breeze coming off the ocean that is cool and refreshing. As with many coastal areas, you can smell the saltwater and the beaches where ever you go. The evenings are cooler than I expected; often tapering off in the low 70s in temperature. I have seen more large leafed plants and beautiful flowers that I have in my entire life. There are also a lot of tropical fruits that grow wild in peoples yards and are available for the picking. Wild chickens are everywhere.

Among the foods that I've tried for the first time are poi, breadfruit, and I even found some exotic flavors of ice cream; including Cabernet Sauvignon and Macadamia nut banana. Last night I had chicken wrapped in luau leaves and it was good, but very different from what I'm used to. On this vacation there hasn't been a single day where I have risen later than 7 AM. Likewise I've gone to bed mostly in the 10 o'clock hour with a few late nights stretching into the 11 o'clock hour. 

One thing I will have to remember for next time is that the Hawaiian sun can be very brutal. Steve and I both got singed pretty badly on our first day out and it took us almost the entire week to recover. On our next trip to the Hawaiian Islands I will make sure that Steve and I have the opportunity to be more independent on our vacation and that I have a good base tan before I leave and take advantage of shade on the beaches. Steve will also have to remember not to dump his cell phone in the ocean for 20 minutes and kill it; because that happened.

Today for the first time since we arrived Steve and I were able to go out just the two of us and explore the island. I think that may have been the highlight of our entire vacation and I wish that we had been able to do that all along. As the trip draws to a close, I am already looking forward to coming home. There are always parts about going home that I don't look forward to such as worrying about bills and planning meals and the day to day grind. Despite all of the dissonance between my family and mys of, I do feel refreshed after my week away from things. I feel that I will be able to return to work with a clear mind and I will be able to face challenges when I get back with more diligence than I may have before vacation. 

I will miss the ocean. I will miss the breeze that carries the salt to land and I will miss the smell of the tropical environment. I will take back with me every experience I have gained and be able to use those experiences to make myself a better person. I feel ready to accept new challenges both in my personal and professional life and I feel that I'm ready to return home.

Reflections on O'ahu

Tonight was the wedding. The event that was the reason for our trip. I'm still sunburnt; I guess my skin is just not made for the sun in Hawaii. Tomorrow and Sunday ( our last day) I'm going to wear a shirt e even while swimming to prevent further damage.

On our morning walk today, Steve and I saw an endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal on the beach. On the way back, a little dog followed us back to the house. He was well fed but wanted to stay for the majority of the day.

Later, we went swimming in the ocean and Steve took his phone in the ocean. We are pretty sure it's dead. We will try to get a new one on Monday when we get back to the mainland.

After cleaning up, we went to a very beautiful and unconventional wedding. My cousin is now a married woman and we have a new family member in her husband. It was at a ranch overlooking the ocean and up against the mountain. During the reception, Steve and I escaped for a time to soak in the view by moonlight. We reflected on the week and the highs and lows of the vacation; we learned a few things. 

Though I love my family, we are all very good at talking and not so good at listening. We should have rented a car because we missed out on doing some things due to that lack of freedom. My family also takes forever to decide on anything. As a result, much of the time that could have been spent enjoying the island was spent talking in circles. 

We are going to make the most of our remaining day and a half. I am looking forward to going home. This vacation, due to the familial stress, was very mentally taxing. The next vacation we take will be just us. We will plan it for next year though what and where it will be is yet to be determined.t

Mending bridges

After a rocky night on Monday, yesterday was much improved. All were getting along amicably and the younger generation went to happy hour with the bride and groom to be.

Tension in the air

After four days of being in close quarters with my family, I think everyone is feeling the strain. 

My youngest brother and his girlfriend have no interest in socializing with the rest of us. I think that is mostly Austria's doing, but I can't be sure. 

Nashville wants nothing to do with any of the drama going on. She is used to a much smaller vacation consisting of her and her mother; not 9+ people.

Last night, I was already on edge  after dealing with the tangible stress in the air when my family is all in one place and I snapped. In hindsight, it was foolish and should not have happened, but my father pushes my buttons until they  shatter. My husband and I should have gotten our own rental car and then we would have more freedom. However, I have learned that being on the schedule of my parents slows me an agonizing speed. 

The eldest of my brothers has tried to help by lending us the car, but there is only so much to be done. I am still unsure yet if we will use it. I think if we could just go somewhere, anywhere, just the two of us, it would greatly improve the situation for my husband and I.

I love my parents dearly, but they move so slowly and are so indecisive that I just have to dig deep and gather my patience in order to get through this week and make sure it is still both enjoyable and relaxing. More later...

 

Observations of island life...

Now that we have been here for 2 1/2 days, there are a few things that I've noticed about island life that I'd like to share. First of all the days run to a different date then they due back on the mainland. 

I have been getting up regularly in the 6 o'clock hour feeling very well rested. After I get up I always go and take a walk with Steve. We have walked both down to and on the beach and taken walks around the local neighborhood. This morning we took a different route and saw some of the other houses around. One of the benefits of where we are staying is that we are staying by many locals and get to see more of the life style  of those who live here year-round.

Most of the houses have almost no yard and are very small dwellings many with chain linked fences. There are chickens and roosters everywhere on the island and no one seems to wish to claim them for their own, but they wake us up very early in the morning. There is also a constant breeze which keeps us even during the hottest part of the day from becoming unbearably overheated.

There are also a little geckos to crawl on the walls and ceiling of our house both inside and out to keep us company.

Since there is no daylight savings time here, we are able to go to bed earlier because it gets darker earlier on the island. It has been interestingto see my brother is on a daily basis and we will see how the rest of the week unfolds as we get ready for the wedding.

Today we are supposed to go to some beaches and finally dip ourselves in the ocean so I am sure more pictures will come to follow.

Visiting the botanical gardens...

We took a long walk uphill to a waterfall and then back down. We saw some local plant life...

This was one of the original Hawaiian dwelling spaces...

Oh and the views...

And the flowers...

Little buddies

These little guys are everywhere outside and in our house! 

Sunday morning walk

Steve and I walked again today and dipped our toes on the ocean while strolling along the beach by the house. We were pretty sweaty by the end of the walk but the view was worth it! 

And we were very happy...

Reunited and it feels so good!

Last night for dinner we met up with my cousin, her fiancé along with my aunt and  uncle  at a place called Kula Grill at the Turtle Bay Resort. Much merriment was had by all. 

We arrive!

As our plane descended, there were some beautiful shots of the landscape where we will be spending the next nine days! 

View from the California Room

This view is not at the house where we are staying, but where my parents and aunt stay...I think I can still come visit though 😉

Morning walk

Woke up bright and early today and took a walk with my love. Oh yeah, the ocean was there too....

End of day 1

After stopping and getting some local food at Papa Ole's...I had the Tripe Stew

We did a quick grocery shopping and came back to discover a lizard in our house. Instead of trying to get it to leave, we named her Lizzie and played a drinking game. Ever time she crossed to a different wall we all took a drink. Also, Sara called Lizzie an asshole for changing walls too many times. 

We arrived!

We We were able to get some amazing photos as our plane descended. Looks like we will be perfectly content staying here for the next 9 days! 

Hello from San Francisco!

Short pit stop in San Francisco before our final flight destination to Honolulu. Everything is on time so far and we are on track to beautiful Hawaii. We even prevented a hanger disaster having just enough time here at the airport to use the loo and get some much needed sustenance. Soon we board again but this time we will emerge for more than a mere pit stop...

Starting the journey

Waiting for our first flight out...so excited to be leaving things behind for a while. 

Countdown 4 days left!

The countdown is now four days until we leave for Hawaii. I've been planning and looking forward to this for sometime now. Not only because Steve and I desperately need a vacation, but also because I truly feel the need to relax. 

I don't mean relax in the sense of coming home and putting your feet up, but relaxing in the sense that I will be able to go somewhere completely different from my current life and forget about all the stressors that are there on a daily basis.

Although I'm sure Hawaii offers many tourist attractions, what I am looking forward to the most is kicking back, reading and being on the beach. This is something that people can do on many different beaches across the world and I will just be lucky enough to do it on a Hawaiian beach. 

I am also looking forward to seeing family and friends whom I rarely get the opportunity to see. Lately I have felt as if it is difficult for me to concentrate at work and I believe that I am feeling something I can only describe as burn out.

As the last few days round the corner before our departure, I hope that this vacation ends up being everything that I want it to be. I also hope that when it is over, I can come back refreshed with a clear mind and want to continue living my life with the people I love doing what I love.