Hawaii Diaries: Above the Clouds

 

November 19, 2009 (written by Tim)

Good morning, good morning! 

That is what I said this morning, eagerly looking forward 

to our last hours at the most amazing hotel I have ever stayed in! 

God really blessed us with that. 

We packed up mighty early and were off to catch our flight. 

We were on a much smaller plane where Becki felt even less safe. Unfortunately the plane hit some turbulence that was strong enough to shake everyone up. My favorite thing to do on plane rides is to comfort my honey and sing to her. Becki is my delicate flower. We drove into Maui ready to conquer and fairly quickly headed up a 10,000 foot mountain!! 

We were above the clouds, and it was breathtaking. 

Going down, I got to be in neutral for 60 out of 61 minutes. 

It was exhilarating. 

I kept enough speed around turns to keep going 

but slow enough not to scare my honey. 

November 19, 2009 (written by Becki)

Today we drove up Mt. Haleakala! 

10,000 feet! It was enchanting. 

One of my favorite things Timmy has ever said to me was, 

as we were driving up, 

"I knew I would drive off into the clouds with you someday." 

He is the sweetest boy.

Hawaii Diaries: The Seven Sacred Pools

(originally written November 21, 2009) 

Today we drove down The Road to Hana, (a 10 hour round-trip drive)  

and to the Seven Sacred Pools.  

Quite disappointing. 

I think I was expecting something a little more pool-like 

and a lot more fabulous.

First of all, there are more than seven – 

more like The Twenty Three Sacred Pools. 

But I guess that doesn’t sound as magical.

Also, it’s kind of hard to tell where one pool ends and another begins, 

so it really resembles more of a stream with little circular pockets here and there. 

 (is this one of the seven pools?)

We drove an extra 3 hours to swim in those Seven (Twenty Three) Sacred Pools, 

because it SOUNDED oh so romantic, 

despite the fact that our trusty Frommer’s guide book warned us 

they weren’t worth the trip. 

When we got there, we were immediately greeted 

with “Danger!” and “Warning!” signs, 

followed by pinned up newspaper clippings, 

detailing horrific stories of tourists who met their death while swimming in the pools. 

These traumatic instances were due to flash floods that came suddenly 

– without warning - 

and whisked those poor souls out to sea. 

The entrance to the ocean is especially rocky and rough in this area. 

And, it is guarded by man eating sharks. (Or so the sign says.) 

Their bodies were never found. 

(The narrative hinted at the likelihood of the man eating sharks 

having something to do with that.) 

 (rough ocean)

You will understand then, why the romance 

surrounding the Seven Sacred Pools quickly died in my heart.

Timmy and I were in and out of the smallest, 

most easily accessible “pool” in less than five minutes. 

Then we took an hour long nap, safe in our car. 

That may have been the best part of the entire experience. 

The Seven Sacred Pools are bo-ring

and could be hazardous to your wellbeing.

Spread the word.

A Conversation: About Hawaii

Timmy: We’re just in a different season of life this year than we were last year, babe…
Me: Yes. Literally. Since last year at this time we were in Hawaii… 

and it’s summer there.

It's true. I'm not sure why "Visiting Hawaii in November" didn't become
a yearly tradition.
(Oh. Well, I suppose that might have something to do with a little thing called Apple Wellness.)
Buuut. I am daily daydreaming of sandy Hawaiian beaches
and sunshiny skies painted the most brilliant shade of blue.
Flowers, sand, fresh tropical fruit, perfect weather, breathtaking scenery... 
Oh, Hawaii...

But as I gaze at photos of our Hawaiian second honeymoon,
the most delightful memories are not the gorgeous flowers,
the fabulous beaches, or the mouth watering fruit.
My favorite part of Hawaii was something I brought with me,
and I get that part for keeps.

In truth, I should be saying that Hawaii is enchanting,
when your best friend is holding your hand
and you are drinking in the flowery air and smiling into ocean sunsets,
together. 

You can lose the Hawaii and still have Paradise,
but lose the husband … and you have nothing too special. 

In conclusion… it's the

handsome husband that makes Hawaii magical.

( So… who needs Hawaii anyway??)

about the Pearl Harbor memorial.

The tour of the USS Arizona Memorial begins with a brief, but moving film relating the events leading up and following December 7, 1941. We were then ushered back outside and onto the ferry that would take us out to the memorial standing in the middle of the harbor.

The USS Arizona Memorial is a solemn, white structure, built over the untouched remains of the USS Arizona battleship. Huge open windows let sunlight filter onto the deck of the memorial, blue skies a stark contrast to the pure white walls. There are 21 windows in all, representing an eternal 21 gun salute over the fallen ship. To the left and right are the ship's turrets, painfully jutting out of the ocean. It is eerie and unnatural in appearance, a jarring break in the cool beauty of the water. Oil still seeps from the wreckage, "black tears" mourning a lost crew. And, under the murmuring waves, 1,102 fallen men lie, forever entombed in the bright turquoise waters. A small shrine at the end of the deck has just one window and is lined with the names of each soul whose life was cut short on December 7, 1941.

It was almost a relief to step back onto the ferry that would take us back to the docks. And the ride back was a little quieter than before, as each person pondered Pearl Harbor, thinking about their part of the story.

My grandfather was stationed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He was on the USS Nevada and was wounded during the attack. His part at Pearl Harbor altered the course of his whole life and, subsequently, mine. How curious that one event can hold the power to effect generations.

My grandpa died when I was just 11, an age where I couldn't truly begin to comprehend how noble of a man he was. I just knew him as my sweet, gentle Grandpa. Being at the Pearl Harbor Memorial brought back the ache of missing him, and the realization of all the reasons I have to be proud of the great man he was. How I wish that he was still alive today, so that I could honor him and thank him for his part at Pearl Harbor. As I stood on the deck of the USS Arizona Memorial, I paid tribute to the tragic death of thousands, and honored the very special life of one, my grandpa, Sydney Jameson.

about snorkeling.

Hanuama Bay is a glittering crescent, carved out hundreds of years ago by pools of boiling lava. The water is a dazzling jewel of turquoise, filled with rainbows of tropical fish and coral. We joined the crowds of tourists and flocked to the sunny bright bay, decked out in snorkel gear. Timmy and I held hands as we flippered out into the bright water and, on the count of three, we ducked out of this world and entered the world beneath the waves. The sound of waves faded into a soft hum, and all I could hear was my own breathing and the elusive whoosh of water and bubbles. I felt slippery and light, as if I had become part of the ocean. I saw mounds of dazzling pink coral, white shimmery sand, and clouds of beautiful fish. We danced among striped fish, fish that looked like a rainbow had smeared across their scales, and I even teased a puffer fish, in hopes it would become scared and puff up. I found a small crustacean, no bigger than my little toe, hiding in a small hole in the coral. Fish swam so close I could feel the ripple of their fins as they flitted away. (They seemed completely unafraid of us as we swam among them. I think perhaps they saw our flippers and thought we were one of them. Tim thinks they are just used to people, since Hanuama Bay gets 3,000 visitors PER DAY, every day of the year.) And then we would break to the surface, and the noises of our world and the sound of our own voices seemed deafening. We'd laugh and smile and talk about our discoveries as we cleared our masks. Then we'd slip back underneath the waves, dazzled. We spent three hours snorkeling, until our fingers were pruny and Timmy's teeth were chattering because he was so cold. (Yup, he got cold faster than me!) 

If you ever go to Hawaii, promise me that you'll visit Hanauma Bay. It is truly a magical place. 

about beaches.

Hawaii is full of beaches. Some beaches are created just for tourists, with sand as soft as talcum powder, brought in by the truckload. Barriers go up, softening the waves into gentle murmurs, and lifeguards guard the buoyed off waters, complete with nets to keep the sharks away. Those beaches are relaxing, full of people, and, just a little, boring. 

Real beaches are wet and tangy, refreshing and wild. The crash of waves and spray of saltwater is constant. The sand is coarse and littered with small pebbles and broken seashells. The water in the ocean changes color with the sky and it swirls in a myriad of delicious hues. Sometimes grey, sometimes green, and sometimes the most shimmering shade of turquoise you have ever seen. The waves pull up from the deep, forming giant whitecaps. Breathtaking and intimidating at the same time. 

Those waves hold the power to hypnotize and make your mind churn as they crack against the shore. Sometimes, as I stood in the water, with the water foaming in swirling fingers around my toes, beckoning me to slide deeper into it's depths, I could almost feel myself being drawn out to sea. And then I would jump back to the safety of dry sand, away from the brilliant depths, the power of the ocean making me dizzy with fear. Timmy would laugh at me, and assure my rapidly beating heart that undertows don't manifest themselves in water less than six inches deep. Hmm. I was not convinced and rarely went into water deeper than my ankles. 

But there is so much more to real beaches than water. 

Palm trees bend and creak in the never ceasing wind that catches your hair and tugs at your clothes. Crab families skitter amidst craggy rocks and snails group in clusters along the rim of the shoreline. Bright green seaweed drapes in wet ribbons and seashells can be found by digging into the cool sand. 

But, the rocks are my favorite. Holes and spouts and crags, pounded into more shapes than you knew existed by the relentless waves. Small pools of water, warm from the bright sunlight, form here and there, home to tiny fish and mussels (until a huge wave comes and pushes them back out to sea). Sharp rocks that poke through your sandals, and smooth rocks, rounded out until they gleam. Ledges, columns, and caves are roughly carved away. 

It is fascinating to see such wild beauty created from pounding force. I have never felt closer to nature than my moments spent with Timmy on real beaches in Hawaii. 

about hawaii.

Hawaii smells like saltwater and flowers. The air is sweet and warm, and constant breezes dance with groves of palm trees. The sunshine is so bright and the skies are so blue. The ocean really IS a shimmering pool of turquoise and jade, and sand really does stick to everything. When it rains, there are always rainbows, and it never really rains for long anyway. Waves are mesmerizing, and watching them rise and fall becomes addicting. Falling asleep to the sound of the ocean is God's perfect lullaby (especially when you're snuggled in bed with a handsome husband). 
 
The people of Hawaii are beautiful, laid back, and incredibly friendly. Homes and businesses lay among sprawling streets, dotted with countless surfers. Everyone greets you with a bright smile and "aloha!". (Hawaiians seem to have a ridiculous obsession with speed bumps. Huge, extra bumpy speed bumps. Speed bumps that jolt your car and flip flop your tummy. Everywhere.)
 
Hawaii has fruit in every color and shape. Starfruit, dragonfruit, pineapple, blackberries as big as my thumb, pineapple, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, mango, and guava. You have never tasted pineapple until you have had it in Hawaii. So sweet and perfectly ripe, dripping with juice. Mmmm.  
 
If there is a place like paradise on earth, Hawaii may just be it. It is intoxicating, pulling you into it's tropical depths and enchanting you with it's dazzling beauty. Time slows down as you find yourself just gazing at this new world, trying to absorb all it's radiant splendor. It fills your senses and captivates your heart. I feel like I'm still floating on a Hawaiian cloud.
 
Needless to say, our trip was nothing short of magical. (My very, very favorite part was having 100% Timmy Time for 8 whole days.)
 
More stories and photos to come. :) 

P.S. My birthday is tomorrow!