I'm Back from Paradise!

My husband and I have been in Hawai'i for the last couple of weeks. It was a dream vacation that we really hadn't planned for. Wow! What a wonderful experience!

 

A quick picture taken with my iPhone)

 We stayed in a hotel in Waikiki, just a walk across the street from the beach. We ate breakfast on the beach most mornings. (There were covered pavilions and picnic tables.) 

We experienced TWO luaus!

We watched our grandkids learn to surf! (Fast learners!)

They talked me into going parasailing even though I was terrified! It was fun! (Yes, our legs are snow white!)  My sons have teased me about the look on my face. I'm afraid of heights and of swimming in the ocean, so this was a stretch for me!

 (Our view of the boat from the air.)

We did a lot of other things while we were there:

We saw the Dole Pineapple Plantation and  a macadamia nut farm.

 I hiked up to Diamond Head and saw the panoramic view.

 We paid our respects at Pearl Harbor. 

We drove around the coastline of Oahu and saw the beaches on all sides. 

We watched fireworks on Waikiki from the beach. 

We took a submarine ride to see sea turtles, plane and ship wreckage, and lots of tropical fish.

We shopped at a flea market as well as the International Market.

We tasted Spam flavored macadamia nuts!

I am still a little jet lagged. It was a long flight. I made yo-yos (Suffolk puffs for some of you) when I needed to do something with my hands during the flight. I have a nice start on a little coverlet. I like having something I can grab up for times when I know I will be sitting for a while.

To my friends in Hawai'i, you really do live in a paradise! Wow!

 

I came home and bought a couple of albums by the late Israel (Iz) Kamakawiwo'ole. I have always loved his renditions of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and It's a Wonderful World, but I also appreciate his Hawaiian traditional songs. If you haven't heard them, you should check it out.
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole