Winter is Coming to the East Coast

The nights are comfortable for sleeping with the windows open, yet dawn shows the temperature to be in the low forties. I wish for an automated system that shuts the windows when the thermometer hits 45. Loving Hawaii, I dream of sunsets, fresh fruits, and soft sandy beaches.

Husband, in his wisdom, scheduled a trip to Oahu and Kauai, Hawaii. In  looking forward to that, I’m looking back to two previous trips.

Loving Hawaii and Her Island Treasures

Waikiki Beach

Statue of Duke Kahanamoku in Oahu
Duke Kahanamoku Statue

If you love hustle and bustle, shopping, and get your energy from being around people, stay in the Waikiki Beach area. The sidewalks and streets are crowded, but step off toward the beach, pay tribute to the Duke Kahanamoku Statue and look over at Diamond Head in the distance.

There’s no better sunset view than to plop down in the sand and quietly watch the orb drop into the wide Pacific.

Car Rental

When renting a car at Honolulu airport and landing at rush hour, keep in mind that traffic there is like traffic in Pittsburgh–congested and slow– although they have more lanes! Native-dwelling drivers are infinitely more polite than visitors. Try to adopt their calm attitude and enjoy cruising the wide lanes.

Hotel

We like things a little quieter. Staying on the west side of Oahu provides that. The Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club is one of my favorite resort stays. I hesitate to tell people about this perfect room in case we try to rent it at the same time.

Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club - Loving Hawaii
Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club – The Perfect Room

Waikiki is a busy beach area in a busy city with the hustle and bustle of any metropolitan town. Look within the place and see the obvious and not so obvious. Celebrate the gorgeous orange sunsets and clap with the other viewers when it makes its final plunge into the ocean.

Sit on your 23rd-floor balcony at 6:30 in the morning and hear chanting, only to look down and realize the USMC has a group running drills back and forth in sand and water, in circles, in unison–get a little teary eyed with patriotism.

Watch an elderly man do wide-armed push-ups in the sand, single-footed, and then gently make his way into the water.

See an outfit walking down the street and realize you’d just seen it in a shop window. Stroll through the iconic Royal Hawaiian and know you want to stay there some day to delight in the history of it.

Mostly, allow yourself to be swept away by the joy that seems to emanate from so many as they breathe in the ocean air and slow down from their otherwise busy lives.SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

History

Oahu is American history and Hawaiian history and human history. Loving history, we toured the museum at Pearl Harbor, The Arizona Memorial, The Bowfin Submarine and The Mighty Missouri Battleship. We’ll be repeating these on the next trip, so check back for an in-depth blog about them.

For a lighter tour, we went to the Dole Plantation and took their Pineapple Express train tour. It’s delightful–did you know it takes years to get a pineapple plant to bear fruit? So much for Alex trying to grow one at home!

Another great tour: The Iolani Palace. Don’t miss it.

Loving Hawaii IS Hiking

If volcanoes and lava-field hiking are to your liking, then the Big Island it is. Be prepared for a soothing rollercoaster ride as you go from the tropics of Hilo to the aridness of Kilauea Volcano and the western side of the island.

Snap photos of iconic sunsets, clear blue water breaking against smooth sand or craggy rocks.

Look for the hidden—a flower tucked in rock crevice, red in a field of black lava, and signs you never see at home.

Try as much local food as you can—who knew papaya tasted that good?

Notice the Hawaiian trees. Not just the palms shooting up, but the ones spreading out or the ones with a hundred skinny trunks all melded together.

Don’t forget to visit with people. Talk to the locals outside the tourist areas. People are friendly and want to make your visit great. Ask them for their favorite local restaurant and enjoy unusual fare.

Ah … I feel warmer already.

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Read: Places that soothe us