Alohaaaa.... Hawaii!

Robert and I had our last official "Spring Break" a couple of weeks ago... in Hawaii! Robert's dad is in the Air Force and is stationed on Oahu. He brought the whole family over to one of the most beautiful places on earth to celebrate his promotion to Colonel. It was truly an honor to be a part of the celebrations and an absolute dream to be in Hawaii. Honestly, Hawaii never was high on my list of places to see in the world. I figured that it couldn't be as beautiful and glorious as everyone makes it out to be. I can't tell you how wrong I was. It knocks your socks off. The water really IS that blue; the foliage really IS that green; the sand really IS that soft. As a trained horticulturist, it was a dream to walk around and see all the plants that we regard as "houseplants" used as ground covers and shade trees. It was unbelievable. Now, instead of it being an optional place to visit, there is a drive to get back and see more... there are more islands out there people! We've got to go visit them! Enjoy some of the photos from our visit and reserve your tickets now... you've really got to see it with your own eyes!

Our first morning: Sunrise on the eastern shore of Oahu
Robert, Tiff (my sister-in-law) and I went sea kayaking!

We could see straight to the bottom.

sunset at our beach house

I had the pleasure of celebrating my birthday while
we were there. That night we went into Waikiki to
a luau! It was such a blast! Here they are retrieving
our dinner from the fire pit! Yummm....

My father-in-law's promotion ceremony was beautiful.
It was held under a Banyan tree on the lawn looking
over the channel. I just love this photo of my nephew
playing at the tree with the officers gathered behind him.

A special Pearl Harbor tour was arranged for us. It is a
must see if you make it to Hawaii. They've done a
beautiful job preserving the memory of this fateful event.

The Utah Memorial

Ford Island

My father-in-law, Me, and Robert at the Pearl Harbor Memorial

Robert, Kevin (my brother-in-law), his kiddos, and I
took a detour to the North Shore. UNBELIEVABLE!
This picture doesn't do it justice, but I finally had to
put the camera down and just take it in. The waves
were an easy 20-25' high - a surfer's paradise!

On our last day, Robert and I hiked Diamond Head. This
is a 1.5 mile round trip hike that includes roughly 100 steps.
Each step was worth it. From the top there is a panoramic
view of all of Honolulu and some of the surrounding area.

We take this shot everywhere we go... it's a tradition!

Waikiki is to the right