Last Day in Paradise

Our trip to Hawaii came to an end too quickly.  We couldn't believe we were already leaving.  So we packed in all we could our last day.

We couldn't resist stopping by the beach one last time. There was an paddle boarding exhibition going on and the guys out on the waves were the best in the world.  No joke.  Here's the world champion.

We also went for a drive up Waimea Valley.  Does this look familiar to anyone?

What about this?

They filmed parts of LOST in Waimea Valley.  Not only did we get to walk around were they had filmed, but we stayed in the same hotel.  Yeah, we're that cool.

For those of you who have watched LOST, this is where Kate and Sawyer go swimming.

On our way back to Oahu, we stopped by the Dole Pineapple Plantation.  This was great for two things.  Pineapple head pictures and pineapple ice cream. 

Not so great were the disgusting koi in this pond.  Really.  They were gross.  There were tons of them and they would congregate at the side of the pool begging for food with piggy-like snouts.

And what would a day in Hawaii be if it didn't end with a beautiful sunset.

We loved our getaway for Brad's graduation.  Brad's parents were so nice to take us along.  We had so much fun taking lots and lots of pictures, sight seeing, and relaxing.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

The Polynesian Cultural Center

Most relaxing: the canoe pageant.  We just sat back and watched the canoes float by.

Hawaii

Tonga

Tahiti                                       Aotearoa (New Zealand)                                  Samoa

Fiji

Most strange:  The nose flute from Tonga.

Most surprising: Samoan making fire from a coconut husk and a stick. Here's the proof.

Most delicious: While the luau was yummy, you can't beat a pina colada out of a pineapple.

Funniest: Brad called this guy the "diaper dancer."

Most exciting: The fire dancers during the evening show.  Didn't hurt that we were amazing seats.

Too bad photography wasn't allowed.  But to let you see how amazing this was, I thought I'd borrow this photo from the internet for you to get a taste of it.

North Shore

When we would ooh and awe at big waves on the Big Island, Doug would smile his Doug smile and say, "Just wait."

Right out the back door to our hotel on Oahu there were surfers.  We sat for quite a while watching the surfers ride some huge waves.  We thought surely this is what Doug was talking about.  Doug smiled his Doug smile and said, "Just wait."

Later we went beach hopping along the North Shore.  Brad was salivating over the huge telephoto lenses that other photographers were using to capture the surfers far out on the enormous waves.  There were some impressive waves with some impressive surfers.  Doug just smiled his Doug smile.  Doug was right.  It was worth waiting for.

Pearl Harbor

Both Brad and I have grandparents who are veterans.  Grandpa Packer fought in WWII as a bomber pilot and Grandpa Palmer served as a chaplain in the Air Force.  We are both very proud that they served our country and fought for our freedoms.  Going to see Pearl Harbor was very special for me because it reminded me of the many years these men served our country.

We were able to visit the USS Missouri.  We skipped the tour guide because of time, but met a few volunteers (mostly veterans) along the way who told us about the ship.  We were told by one veteran that this seat was one of the most important seats on the ship because whoever sat there made the decisions.

He also told us to look out for R2D2.

We  also had Doug to show us around.  Doug had been on the ship before and so he acted like our tour guide.  He told us things like why the walls for this room were two feet thick and. . .

. . . that this seal was the spot over which the peace treaty with Japan was signed.

But the neatest person we met on board was a veteran who actual served on the USS Missouri.  After the war, he had become a minister.  He recently retired and his congregation collected enough money to send him and his wife to Hawaii all expenses paid.  He had brought his "yearbook" of the ship and told us stories about the pictures.  Stories about how he passed the time on ship, his duties, and life aboard the ship.  And we got to thank him for his service.

Pearl Harbor was a beautiful memorial to our soldiers.  I hope to remember not only the sacrifices that our family has made for our country, but of the many veterans who have fought for freedom.

Island Hopping

On Thursday we switched islands.  We were a little sad to go.  The place we stayed on the Big Island had amazing gardens and the hotel itself used to be a Ritz.  So, we walked around and took lots of pictures of the grounds. . .

. . . and of the orchids (the hotel was "themed" around them and they were everywhere) . . .

. . . and of the flowers . . .

. . . and of the famous people walking around (poor Doug and Janet had to put up with us playing paparazzi) . . .

. . . and of the view we were greeted by walking into the hotel everyday.  See why we were sad to leave?