Hawaiian Vacation - a sort of top 10 list
HAWAII - Oahu
Scott and I had been tinkering with the idea of another vacation lately--debating the merits of heading toward a resort in Hawaii or opting for another cruise (we love cruising). When Scott emailed me one afternoon at work and said, Let's go to Hawaii, I said YES and the trip was booked that night.
We visited the island of Oahu for a week and had an amazing time. I do have to admit that the weather was very disappointing, but as you can see from the pictures we still did a plethora of activities. The blue sky in the pictures is deceiving--we probably had sunshine 15% of the trip. I usually do a fair amount of typing about our trips on my travel blog (which I don't keep up with very well...except big vacations), but this time I'm going to let the pictures mostly speak for themselves in a kind of Trish and Scott's Top 10 of our Hawaiian Vacation.
1. Driving around the island in search of sun (finally putting the top down on the jeep after rain all day--as soon as we got back in the car the rain started again, but not for long)
2. Snorkeling in Hanauma Bay where we saw tons of fish and even a giant sea turtle (picture on regular old film...not developed yet) The brown you see in the picture is the reef--yes, that close to the shore!
3. Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial. A very sobering must see--did you know that gallons of oil still seep from the ship all these years later? The water is covered in oily film!
4. Windsurfing OK, so no picture, because I didn't want to take the camera to the beach or in the water. But just imagine! It was actually around 25 mph wind when we attempted windsurfing, so we didn't do as well as we hoped. But we sure had fun!
5. Dole Pineapple Plantation and World's Largest Maze (which we didn't finish). I didn't know that pineapple grew out of the ground! Definitely not what I expected.
6. Hiking up Diamondhead (second picture is view of Waikiki Beach where we stayed). See what I mean about the clouds? As soon as we got down the crater back to the car, it started pouring. :)
7. Hiking to the Manoa Falls (the Hawaii as we truly imagined--although these pictures look awfully similar to our hiking trip at Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska!!)
8. Peace and Quiet at Byodo-In Temple - Valley of the Temples on windward side of the island.
9. Spending quality time with husband (picture taken at sunrise the first day--that 4 hour time difference was a beating!)
10. The drop-dead gorgeous scenery
*If case you're wondering--Trish, how did you get all of those pictures of you and Scott in those remote places? ALL of the pictures of us except the one on top Diamondhead were taken with the help of my gorillapod. The greatest, handiest traveling devise ever. See example below.
36 comments:
SO MUCH FUN!! I know what you mean about the weather. I've only been to Hawaii in December which is the rainy season. One Christmas, we were there for three weeks and got about one good week of weather. I have the exact same angles of photos of Hanauma Bay and Diamond Head. Classic. Taylor's grandparents live right next to Diamond Head & Waikiki beach. We can walk to the beach from the house, which is great because Hawaii has the worse traffic EVER! The first time I went to Hawaii, I asked to go to Pearl Harbor and ALL of Taylor's family gave me strange looks. Although his mother grew up in Hawaii and Taylor and his siblings went all the time (one now lives there), they had never done the Pearl Harbor thing. It was purely a *tourist* thing. But I insisted and we went by ourselves because nobody would go with us. I think that's so sad. We haven't been since before our first baby more than three years ago and it's KILLING me inside!
Fabulous pictures, Trish! I've been thinking lately that maybe I do want to go see Hawaii after all. Especially now as our winter drags on, it looks so lush and green and WARM! and the ocean, it's been a long time since I heard the waves. wonderful post, Trish. Thank you!
I love it!! thanks for sharing all your fun and amazing trips with us. I am so excited that in September I get to go home and visit my family in Spain!I have been more homesick than ever in my life lately and I need to get over there soon!
And, I am going to buy myself one of those gorillapods, as long as it fits onto my camera :) thanks for the tip!
Thanks for sharing all of your great pictures! I want one of those gorillapods, too!
Fabulous! It looks like you were able to accomplish a lot in-between those raindrops! Thanks for sharing your tip on taking handsfree photos without the clunk. I thought you grabbed every passerby you could. :) Oh, and I'll remember not to go in the beginning of March - rainy season. Sorry you had to deal with that, but it looks like you made some happy memories despite mother nature. :)
very nice. I wish my husband would email me and say let's go to Hawaii, or wherever. It was nice seeing pics of you and your husband (v. cute)
the pineapple looks so neat! What a great trip.
How fun! Thanks for sharing and it looks like you had tons of fun even if the weather didn't cooperate. I hope to go to Hawaii someday as it looks to be amazing :)
I heard flights to Hawaii were cheap with the economy in the dumps...This looks like a great time. Gorilla pod is great. I used to sell those at the camera store when I worked there a couple of years ago. They do come in handy.
Can I just say I am jealous! I wanna go to hawaii!
*Natasha - I'm definitely glad we went to Pearl Harbor, although I was surprised that there wasn't a big museum there. It was very eery to be able to see the ship under the water and to think of the thousand + people who were trapped. My husband is a huge history buff, so we couldn't not go. :)
*Susan - The weather wasn't as warm as we hoped, but we had a few moments here and there. It is beautiful, though--and those waves! Holy cow were they big!
*Bethany - How exciting that you'll be going to Spain this year! They make gorilla pods for all different sizes of cameras and it is the greatest thing ever! Definitely check it out.
*Bermuda - The gorilla pod is great. About $25 and we've gotten so much use out of it!
*Joy - It's funny because every time we started to do an activity, the rain would let up. But as soon as we finished, it would start raining again. :) I guess that's just the way it goes.
*Raidergirl - The pineapple thing was so interesting--I had no idea how it was grown until we saw the fields. And the pineapple ice cream was fantastic. :)
*Sam - Despite the weather we had a great time. Luckily most of the time it wasn't raining too hard, so we were still outside getting midly wet.
*Serena - We were able to use a lot of credit card points for the hotel and flight, which was very helpful. With all the tourists, you would never know the economy was hurting like it is!
Great photos Trish! Even though the weather wasn't the best it still looks like you had a great time. You and your hubby make such a nice couple.
Lovely pictures, Trish. You saw a sea turtle! How cool. I didn't manage to get a picture of the one I saw last summer...it spotted the boat and quickly disappeared. And yes, I was surprised too when I first saw pineapple in Brazil! The scenery does look gorgeous, and it sounds like you had a wonderful trip despite the weather. And gorilla pod! I want one.
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful pictures! We've talked about vacationing in Hawaii before but neither of us is the lying on the beach/resort type of person - but I had never considered all of the wonderful sight-seeing we could do :D
Oh and the Gorillapod - it's a must-have! I love ours.
Great pics! My sister lives on Oahu and I've been lucky enough to visit her three times in the last seven years. May and October are both really good weather months to visit, so maybe you could go back then! I've done pretty much everything you did, but one of my favorites was Diamond Head!!
*Dar - I think we should have known that it would be rainy season, but oh well. We did have a great time anyway!
*Nymeth - I'm hoping that the picture we took of the sea turtle comes out OK. We were underwater and within reaching distance of it! Gorilla pods are great for outdoorsy pictures--we propped it up against rocks, trees, posts, anywhere we could get a good grip.
*Joanne - We *definitely* aren't lie on the beach type of people. Out of 7 days, we went to the beach twice. :) Definitely a lot of other things to do on Oahu, but I don't think the other islands are for active vacationers.
*Stephanie - How fun that your sister lives on Oahu! Diamond Head was a lot of fun and such a great payoff when we got to the top.
*TetVet68 - Thanks for the information. Pearl Harbor is such am important piece of history to remember.
Wow Trish, you guys managed to fit in so much in just a week! Your pictures are wonderful!!! I'm glad you had so much fun despite the disappointing weather.
I had no earthly idea pineapple grew up from the ground like that!
I've never been to Hawaii, but through your fabulous photographs I feel I've been there vicariously! It looks like you had a wonderful time, and you're such a happy couple.
Trish, I loved viewing all your pics! They're beautiful, and I'm glad you and your husband had a great time!!!
I've to tell my husband about Hawaii... hopefully he'll consider this as one of our next vacations the next time, haha. ;)
Wow, that looks like a very fun vacation! I have not been there, but I hope to go someday for certain! What beautiful pictures.
I love the photos, Trish! You've brought back memories from my trip this past summer. I can't wait to go again. I am glad you had such a good time.
*Debi - Scott is very go-go-go, so there's never a dull moment. :) We always joke that vacationing is the only time I *don't* get to read.
*Bellezza - It was a really great time, and I'm glad we went to Oahu first. I think the other islands are much much more relaxed.
*Melody - Haha! You should tell your husband to take you to Hawaii. I guess that would be closer for you than anywhere else in the states, right?
*Kim - We had a great time and I'd recommend Hawaii to anyone--there's a little bit of something for everyone.
*Literary Feline - Do you have plans to go back soon? Hopefully next time we'll opt for Maui or Kauai--some of the more quiet islands. :)
Wonderful photos! It looks like you had a great time, despite the weather. I had no idea pineapple grew like that either. lol.
I've never been to Hawaii but would love to go someday. And the gorillapod looks very cool.
I'm glad you had a good time. I grew up on Oahu and yes winter time means constant rain.
If you ever go back I blogged about places you should go to eat! http://debbiesworld.wordpress.com/2009/02/16/my-trip-back-to-hawaii/
what a wonderful vacation!!!!
Ummmm, could you be more popular? Sheesh woman, so many commenters!
So glad you guys had so much fun!! I love how you recapped the trip.
I went to Oahu 10 years ago but haven't been back to Hawaii. Snorkeling was one of the things I really wanted to do but didn't get a chance to. Sounds like it was fun!
I loved Pearl Harbor as well, and totally forgot about the oil!
So cool that you went wind surfing!
The Dole Plantation was one of my favorite things.
Great photos! and I LOVE that gorillapod! I'm totally getting one!
*Tanabata - Gorillapod is a must for traveling! We use ours all the time. Hope you get to go to Hawaii someday!
*Debbie - Thanks for all of the suggestions! I guess I thought since at the beginning of March we are in Spring in Texas that it would be about the same in Hawaii. Oh well--lesson learned! Thanks for the great suggestions on restaurants!!
*Heather - Thanks--it really was.
*Rae - Over here on this blog I have a fair amount of commenters, but on the travel blog where I post maybe 3 times a year...no one. :) Oh well!! I need to start posting over there more often. You HAVE to get a gorillapod before you head to Australia.
I need one of those gorillapods! I wondered how you got so many nice strangers to take your picture.
In fact, I just went and bought one on Ebay for 4.99 with free shipping!
*Lisa - You got a MUCH better deal than the one we got at REI. I don't feel bad, though, since we've used it so much. Seriously--I can't stop telling people how much I love my gorilla pod. :) We do still ask some strangers to take pictures--especially as I don't like to set it out in crowded places (at the top of Diamond Head), but otherwise, I'll prop it up on anything I can find! The secret to getting someone to take your picture is to offer to take theirs first. OR try to take the picture by yourself (both squeezing into the viewfinder and holding the camera at arms length hoping that your faces aren't squished together--works like a charm--struggle definitely helps quicken an offer). :)
WOW Trishia, so many comments.....this is from Debi your auntie in Calif. What a great travel log. Sounds like you had a wonderful time.
These pictures of you and Scott are too cute! You guys are an adorable couple. Sounds like you had a blast. I have always wanted to visit Oahu and Kauai but I have never been west of Alabama! I've really gotta get out more...
*Aunt Debbie! Thanks for coming by. :) Have you seen my other blog for Scott and my travels? We've had some great vacations, but I'm looking forward to Havasuppai this summer!! Woohoo!
*Rebecca - Awwww, thank you. :) We had a great time--and there is SO MUCH west of Alabama!! Including Texas! :) Hope you get to do some traveling soon.
Mostly I just want to tell you that you couldn't be any cuter :)
Corinne - You are too sweet!! :) We had a lot of fun, so hopefully that shows in the pictures.
I'll admit, Hawaii has never been at the top of my list of the places I want to visit but after seeing your pictures, I may have to bump it up there a little! :-) Sorry the weather did not cooperate.
I am going to have to show my husband the gorillapod. He'll love it.
Beautiful pictures! I'm glad you were able to have a great time despite the weather. I've always wanted to go to Hawaii. Maybe some day.
--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
*Jeanette - The gorilla pod is fantastic--absolutely love it! Hawaii was a lot of fun and I'm glad that we went, but we probably won't go back for a very long time.
*Anna - I hope you get a chance to go. We had a lot of fun, and there is a little something for everyone there.
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