I have been so lucky to travel around these past four months and have so much freedom yet work/sub when I want. It's been absolutely fabulous. Unfortunately that is all coming to an end on Monday, yet I am sooooo blessed to have a job and am excited to get a Master's Degree at the same time.
Two weeks ago I got to go with my sister Sarah and great friend Lexie Love to the islands of Kauai and Oahu.
It definitely was a fun adventure, never long enough of course, but FUN! We got spoiled while we were down there. Marco and Fion took such good care of us with a place to sleep, a ride from the airport, a pot luck of amazing chinese food, tour around Laie and meeting so many fun people.
Monday: We hiked up Diamond Head and looked over Honolulu and Waikiki. I got to see my first lighthouse! It was so cool. Then we drove back and got ready for the Polynesian Cultural Center which ROCKED. The luau and dinner was so yummy. We got to wear REAL flower Leis!! The night show was so much fun, even tho we were dead tired, Sanina (comp from my mission) hooked us up w/ ice cream, candy bars and we were able to stay awake to see the fire show. Oh yes, and to take a picture with the cute Poly!!
Tuesday: NORTH SHORE MADNESS. Marco and Sanina took us around North Shore.
1st stop was the Shrimp Farm where a friend from the Hong Kong Mission hooked us up with fresh, delicious, spicy, full of goodness shrimp :) Our hands were sooooo messy but so yummy after we were done.
2nd stop-BRUTUS..a giant sea turtle :)
3rd stop-Mastumoto! Very sugary, sweet, full of flavor shaved ice! But a must have, right Marco?
4th stop-Oh yes, you thought we were done w/ food....nope! Everyone recommended the famous Pineapple whip, so off we went to the Dole Plantation for a $16 ice cream of pineapple. I'm not actually too impressed by the dole whip, but we had to try it. Even though I wasn't too impressed, doesn't mean we didn't scarf it down :)
5th stop (of course after more eating food at dinner at the biggest mall ever....we made it to Waikiki beach to watch the sunset, build sand castles, and try to get a nice tan.
Wednesday & Thursday: Off to Kauai!! I have to admit this was the most beautiful place I have ever been. We got to stay w/ the sweetest lady (mother of one of the missionaries Lexie Love taught at the MTC). Highlights of KAUAI...Snuba diving! Snuba diving is snorkeling and scuba diving combined. HECKA FUN. I wish I could do it again because by the time I figured it out and stopped worrying about breathing underwater we were back on the shore.
So worth it!!
**The Canyons, way more beautiful than the Grand Canyon. GORGEOUS. Freeeeeeezing but soooo pretty. We ran up, took pictures, looked at the beauty and then hopped back in the PT Cruiser to get warm. (Pictures yet to come, Sarah decided to take her camera snubain' with us and mine broke back in Utah, so yes...they will be up later)
**The Hana-ueeikiei ha, okay I forgot how to spell it but they use a bunch of k's and vowels right?) So I was hecka excited to hike and see waterfalls that you can only get to by helicopter or hiking and so off we went, only 8 miles, 4 miles up and 4 miles downhill on the way back right?! Easy! Uhhh...not so much. 8 miles of treacherous, muddy, wet, well to sum it all up we experienced blood, sweat and tears (of laughter) that took all of energy and 6 hours later we collapsed in the car, okay maybe just me. Yes, weak sauce but the best hike I have ever been on, and if I didn't have Lexie Love herding me along the trail on the way back with a large leaf, I think I would've camped on the side of the trail with John Locke.
As I re-read over what I just wrote, it doesn't give quite the experience that we had, but you are just going to have to deal with that.
**Queen's Bath-Volcanic rock that creates warm baths during the summer and full of sea turtles everywhere, but remember, we went to Hawaii and never saw the sun. So we didn't get to jump off the rocks into the ocean.
The waves were intense!
We headed back to Oahu. When we were dropping off the PT Cruiser the guy looked at me and said I looked like the "most beautiful girl in the world"..Belinda Carlisle. I disagree but...What do you think?! I loved when he said told us good-bye, he said, "Have a wonderful forever!" Ha! I love it :)
The nicest couple hooked us up with a ride to our hotel that night. They are sooooo sweeet. We seriously were so spoiled the whole trip.
Friday: Pearl Harbor and Chinatown. Man, how I miss YamChaah! Unfortunately we had to hop back on the plane and head back to Arizona. But the sun was shining there so we did not complain!!
Thanks everyone that took care of us and helped make our week full of fun!! Hou ngoi leihdeih :)
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