A Hawaiian Vacation to Oahu!

I’m in HAWAII!

How the heck did this even happen?  Even though I’ve been home now for two days, I’m still in shock that I ever left the negative 11 degree frozen tundra for the 85 degree heat of the tropical islands.

I was invited at the last minute, tickets were booked at the last minute (yay miles!) and within a week, I was on a plane (alone! No kids!) from Anchorage to Portland then on to Oahu.  I couldn’t get the same itinerary as my friends so I actually arrived in Hawaii two hours before they even boarded their plane from Alaska.  

My darling but strange husband actually said to me before I left, “you won’t even be able to fully appreciate flying all alone.”  Um, what?  Are you mental? I have flown with babies and children over 30 times and I’ve flown alone ONCE.  Nobody could possibly appreciate this more than me.

On my way from Portland I was sitting in a row with an elderly couple who lived in Oregon.  We didn’t chat much until I got out my book.  George Bush’s memoirs,  Decision Points.  I heard them whispering to each other about it and I thought, “Oh here we go, political discussion time with the liberal Oregonians.”  But then they asked me if I was a Republican and I said yes.  Then they both gave me high fives.  I’m still chuckling about it.  I’m pretty sure I met the only two conservatives in Portland!

From -15 degrees to 70s and 80s, yes please!!

Randomly, my photographer friend from Anchorage (who was not a part of the group of gals that invited me to Hawaii) just so happened to be on Oahu at the same time as me, visiting family (she’s from there.  LUCKY).  We never find time to hang out in Anchorage, but we darn sure will in Hawaii!  

She gave me a call just as I was trying to check into my hotel.  I couldn’t check in because I was about 4 hours too early and my name wasn’t on the list (because I was a last minute inclusion).  So she picked me up, airplane funk, hooded sweatshirt and a pile of luggage, and we headed to the Hale Koa resort (for military only and she is) and we hung out at the pool and talked photography all day.

After our lounging, we hit the Ala Moana mall food court for lunch!

Later she dropped me off at the hotel and I was able to check in thanks to a call from one of my group adding me to “the list.”  So I took a shower and relaxed on the balcony.

My friends arrived that evening (after they got in a cab wreck, OMG!) and we had dinner at Jimmy Buffet’s.  The food was awesome.  The people watching was awesomer.  There was a live band playing old Eagles songs and some crazy blonde lady was dancing...or swimming, still not sure on that. After reviewing the above picture on my camera right after I took it, I made the comment that I was doing something weird with my neck.  That became the comment that everyone made after every single picture that anyone took for the rest of the trip.

The next morning we hit the pool bright and early to grab chairs.  Here we lounged in the sun all the live long day.  Reading books, taking naps, chatting and drinking exotic looking things.

This is a lava flow.  I had several.

That evening, after dinner at Red Lobster, we played cards on the lanai.  I lost.  

The elevator doors were right behind the camera in this shot so we saw a lot of people getting on and off throughout the evening.  As the doors opened yet again, we all turned and watched as a woman bent over to pick up her many grocery sacks.  In the time it took her to hook them onto her wrists, the doors had begun to close.  We heard her exclaim, “Aw, COME ON!” as the doors closed on her and the elevator continued on its way.   We laughed hysterically because we knew that she was going to have to put down her groceries, get out her room key and re-program the elevator before it would come back to her floor.  Sure enough, several minutes later, the doors opened and there she was, grocery bags prepped and ready for immediate departure.  We had a hard time holding in our laughter as she exited and walked away with great dignity.

The next few days was more of the same.  My friends all went to the Pro Bowl but I couldn’t get tickets near them at the last minute and since I don’t care about football anyway, I just wandered around town by myself for the day.  I walked on the beach, went shopping, sat at the pool...

The beach out in front of the Hale Koa resort was much less populated but definitely included more than its fair share of old dudes wearing speedos...

My last night in Hawaii included dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp.  The rest of the group was staying a few days longer, so I got to choose the restaurant.  The rule was we couldn’t eat at any restaurant that could be found in Alaska.  I had lunch at Chili’s while they were at the Pro Bowl.  Shhhh, don’t tell.

We are cracking up in this shot because our poor waiter was tasked with job that I usually reserve for the self-timer function.  Which is why, when he clicked the button, the camera began a rhythmic beeping.  “It’s on 10 second timer!”  I exclaimed.  “Don’t move!”  So the waiter froze with the camera to his face and we laughed until the shutter finally clicked.

The next morning I rolled out of bed at 5:45am, said my quiet goodbyes to the sun and ocean and hopped a shuttle for the airport.  My friend Ronalyn (from the first day?) was on my flight home!

During my layover in Seattle, mom and pops were there to visit me so we had coffee and chatted for a while before I had to go back through security.  I can’t believe I didn’t take a freaking picture!

In spite of my sadness at leaving the warmth and the sun, I was very anxious to get home to my babies. As it turns out, starting the day I left, they all started getting sick and throwing up one after the other, including hubby.  They finally stopped the day before I got home.  I had no clue they were sick because there was a conspiracy (thanks to my husband) not to tell me and thus ruin my trip.  I was shocked and appalled at first but then I was grateful because I truly would have stressed the entire time I was gone.  So obviously my husband is a rock star and knows me very well.  

Tracy picked me up at the airport because she loves me.  Or she loves Yogurt Land.  Either way, I appreciated the ride!

Coming home to my babies was the best part of all!

I’m so grateful that I had this opportunity fall in my lap.  I’m so thankful that my sweet husband took on life without me for a week.  Considering the week he had, I doubt this will happen ever again!  

As I’m typing this, my girls are all still in Hawaii living it up in the surf and sun!  I hear they’re still having a blast even though I’m gone.  Though, I don’t see how that’s possible.

Alaska has warmed up to 30 degrees and we are experiencing a huge blizzard.  We were supposed to get 4 inches but we’ve received more than double that and it’s still coming down.  Welcome home!