I found myself back in Oahu as my friends decided we needed a girls trip and I just happen to be up for anything, anytime...especially travel:) Jody came from Ohio and I flew in from Oregon and we stayed with Becky and her family at their house. This was great because we saved tons of money on hotels AND we got to hang out with the cute Platt family for a week! We did tons of exploring and had lots of fun. I'ms so lucky to have these ladies in my life and for all the great memories we share together.
This was the rental car line waiting for me when I landed in Oahu. What?? Come on!
After getting to Becky's house we drove to the Dole Plantation for some yummy dole whip treat and a walk around to see how pineapples grow:)
Aren't these baby pineapples so cute?
These sunglasses wearing pineapples are also super great:)
Who isn't up for a dip in the ocean on the day you land in Hawaii? Becky really got us started right on our first day! We went to a beach in Haleiwa and then found a cute little farmers market where we got some yummy food. It was a great first day.
Because Jody was on Ohio time she woke up at 4 AM and was ready to go! We all decided to head out so catch the sunrise. I have seen lots of sunsets in Hawaii but not many sunrises so this was really great.
We scrambled up the rock face to at Kaiwi State Scenic area to get to the lighthouse. It was a cool morning and it was pretty fun to find our path up to the lighthouse.
Still climbing...we started at that road you can see in the distance...
Such a great view of the lighthouse and the ocean on a beautiful morning
We definitely deserved this amazing breakfast after that hike! Becky recommended this restaurant "Over Easy" and it didn't disappoint!
Made a quick stop to see an ancient Hawaiian Heiau...
...said hi to some cute little chicks while we were there
Set up on the beach at Bellows Air Force Base, Becky had this great shade canopy that was super easy to set up and my shade loving self absolutely LOVED it!
We got really creative while visiting Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden...
...seriously, you can't take us anywhere 😝
A little fledgling baby bird at the botanical garden.
This was my 4th trip to Oahu but I have never visited this beautiful Byodo-In Buddhist temple. It is located in a lovely cemetery and very peaceful to walk around. I'm so glad I got to visit here.
Very peaceful and meditative...until these two crazy people show up pretending to be statues:)
First fish tacos of the trip at Paia fish market in Kailua! Love this place so much:)
The next morning Becky had a volleyball tournament that she needed to coach all day so Jody and I were on our own. We visited Pearl Harbor, such a great memorial and a somber reminder of what war brings.
The USS Arizona memorial. Such a well done and haunting memorial
Oil still leaking from the ship over 50 years after it was bombed, destroyed and sunk to the bottom of the harbor.
After Pearl Harbor we walked around the stadium swap meet in Honolulu. It was fun to see all the vendors although I wished I could have seen more hand made crafts and not so many t-shirts. We ate these delicious shrimp with a yummy garlic sauce but it was super messy because you had to de-head, de-shell and de-vein the shrimp before finding the meat to eat!
We made a quick stop to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. This honored the dead, wounded and missing soldiers that fought in the Pacific arena during WWII.
My Grandpa Merrill (my mom's father) was a pilot during WWII and got shot down during one of the battles in the Pacific. I wish I knew which battle because this memorial laid out each battle and described the fighting and the land gained or lost during that particular battle. It was really well done.
We spent some time at Waikiki beach. This place is so ridiculously crowded with tourists! I forgot my swim suit so I went in with my shorts and sports bra...I won't see these people ever again! And I won't be back to Waikiki anytime soon, not when there are so many other beautiful beaches on Oahu!
Memorial to surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku at Waikiki
Very cool banyan tree and perfect yoga tree pose by Jody:)
Ended the night at Leonard's Bakery in Honolulu and we got some yummy malasada's to bring home to share with the Platt's...these donuts are so good. Our favorite was filled with a mango custard!
We got up nice and early to hike this trail before Becky had to head to church. It's a great trail through the forest and not too difficult but it is longer than I remembered and my knees were pretty sore by the end of the hike...getting old sucks.
Look at these two goofballs!
After our hike Becky went to church and Jody and I headed to Sharks Cove (or Pupukea Beach) for some snorkeling. I saw tons of great fish and I didn't really get seasick like I normally do when I snorkel. I think it must have something to do with it not being winter and the waves are calmer.
Sunday night we had dinner with the Tucker family. All 4 of our families (Platt's, Durtschi's, Dean's and Tucker's) were stationed in Germany at the same time. It's so much fun to get together with friends from our time in Germany, what a great experience for all of us.
Back to hiking the next morning. This was the "Judd" trail and swimming hole. A bit of a scramble type hike through the forest ending at a great little spot to swim.
Sometimes hiking "trails" in Hawaii are like...just cross this river here. Glad I had my Tevas on!
Bamboo is so much fun to hike around in
I loved these beautiful white trees with the sun shining through them
Made it to the waterfall/swimming hole. So cool and refreshing after a hot and humid hike through the forest
After that hike we drove about 1 mile further up the road for ANOTHER hike to a waterfall. I swear, it was like I was with Hyrum with how much hiking I was doing! This was the Lulumahu waterfall trail.
I have to admit I almost lost my "Aloha" on this trail. I think my knees were just done and it was a lot of scrambling around on rocks and through rivers and not just an easy walking trail...
...but I made it out alive and after some sugar and a cold drink I got my "Aloha" back:)
We made a quick stop at the Pali lookout. What a great view from up here on the mountain!
Even if it IS a bit windy:)
I was starving but even I couldn't finish this giant burger at Guieb's Cafe
Made a stop at Electric beach for a quick snorkel. I absolutely loved this spot. So many fish and such a fun swim out to where the pipes spew out the waste water from the Electric plant. That water was HOT and it was crazy to be out in the ocean and then all of a sudden in a hot tub!
Best way to end a day in Hawaii is on the beach watching the sun set. We went to Paradise Cove and enjoyed a lovely, relaxing sun gazing experience
Look at the sunset!
Started the next day with a paddle down the Anahula river in Haleiwa. Ben joined our groups so I wouldn't have to paddle the 2 person kayak by myself. I'm not a fan of the stand up paddle board:)
The water was so smooth, Becky and Jody totally rocked the paddle boards.
A snoozing sea turtle on the bank of the river.
We found a sign pointing us to Germany...we have a long way to go but I'm up for a trip!
Delicious Matsumoto's shave ice in Haleiwa
After our morning paddle we went back to the house to shower and get dressed for an afternoon walking around the Polynesian Cultural Center. This place is so fun, they do such a good job introducing the culture of the Polynesian islands to all the visitors. The coconut tree climb is one of my favorite attractions.
"Kap" came to BYU Hawaii as a student and has stayed here working at the Polynesian Cultural Center for 30 years!
Impressing everyone with my mad "stick game" skills:)
Showing off our "tattoos" and matching bracelets..we are so cute:)
The PCC is a great gem on Oahu
As we were driving home we made a quick stop at the Natural Sea Arch at La'ie Point. The sun was going down as we enjoyed walking out on the point and watching the waves crash.
Last day in Hawaii we went over to play at the Mermaid Cave at Kalanianaole beach
You can jump into the ocean and then swim into this cave. The water wasn't super choppy so I jumped in and explored a bit. I was nervous because I worried that I would get bashed into a rock if a big wave came into the cave...but luckily that didn't happen
Jody took a photo from the rock looking down at me in the cave...I'm a mermaid!
What a fantastic way to end my week in Hawaii
There is something just a little different when I travel with friends than when I travel with my family. I feel like I laugh and am silly a lot more than I am with my family and that's a lot of fun. It's great to have friends that will gladly join me on a little vacation...I'm so lucky!
