Vacation Post 4: Honolulu

Tony and I landed in Honolulu around noon on Thursday, giving us just under 30 hours before our planned departure back to "the states." We stayed on Waikiki Beach at the Moana Surfrider (using points again). The building was quite regal and the location was great, though after four nights at the luxe St. Regis it was a bit of a reality check for us both. We had two must-do activities during our stay -- hiking to the top of Diamond Head (Thursday) and visiting Pearl Harbor (Friday). 

Diamond Head State Monument
Photo from the official website

We grabbed lunch and decided that it would make the most sense for us to rent a car. While Diamond Head was within walking distance, the trail closed at 4:30 and we didn't want to miss our chance to hike up. All that was available was a tiny Fiat 500, smallest car we've ever been in -- and with that, we were off.

The hike to the crater's top edge isn't long, but it is steep with a lot of switchbacks. Along the way -- and at the top -- there are amazing views of the ocean, Waikiki Beach and Honolulu. 

A look at the interior of the crater

Waikiki Beach from the top of Diamond Head

A rare photo of both Tony and I -- with Waikiki in the background

After our hike (and a much needed shower) we roamed about Waikiki's shopping district. Having spent nearly a week on the sleepy, quiet island of Kauai, where everything closes by 9:00, it took a bit to get used to the hustle and bustle of the city. Nearly every restaurant was packed with a long wait list, but luckily we had booked a late dinner at Roy's Restaurant. After picking up a few souvenirs, we stopped for pre-dinner drinks at Ruth's Chris (the first place we found a couple of seats open at the bar). It was then on to Roy's for a fantastic meal -- I highly recommend a visit here if you're on Waikiki. And don't forget about dessert. Roy's Melting Hot Chocolate Souffle is worth the wait (even Tony, who isn't a big dessert fan, couldn't get enough of it). It was an excellent way to top off our vacation.

For our final day we had booked our visit to Pearl Harbor. We got tickets online a month earlier to ensure that we'd get to see it (visiting the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial is free, but the tour groups fill quickly so they offer a chance to reserve your spot online). The whole experience takes a bit of planning -- from making sure you can get a ticket, to leaving your purse/camera bag/back pack in the car as nothing is allowed in. All of the effort was worth it. 

The U.S.S. Missouri is on the left; the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial is the white structure on the right

I found the museum and displays very interesting and learned quite a bit about the planning and attack on December 7, 1941. I've read several WWII-related books for book club recently and I think those really helped to fill in some of the details at Pearl Harbor as well (a very interesting non-fiction book is Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand). 

At the start of the tour you are ushered into an auditorium to watch "World War II Valor in the Pacific," a short video that combines historic and modern-day footage of Pearl Harbor as it dives into the details of the attack. You then board a ferry across the harbor to the memorial. It's an interesting place...and a bit eerie, as you consider the hundreds of bodies buried beneath you.

The Memorial Wall at the U.S.S. Arizona memorial

We did not get an opportunity to check out the other things in Pearl Harbor as we needed to get back to the hotel and get ready to depart. I am so glad we had the chance to see what we did, though. Tony and I both found it to be well worth the stop in Honolulu. 

We didn't visit the U.S.S. Missouri, but even at a distance it looks impressive

A final picture in Hawaii -- at Pearl Harbor

Our last few hours on the island didn't go as planned, but did eventually board the plane for our trip home. We had a wonderful vacation and I feel blessed that we were able to do it. This is our final big vacation before we become a family of three -- and our next long flight will be the one that changes our lives forever. :)

Vacation Post 3: Kauai's North Side

The north side of Kauai has special meaning for me. I spent January - April 2001 serving as an intern at the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, living onsite, leading interpretive hikes, helping with whale and bird watching, and doing other intern-type duties (i.e., cleaning the lighthouse lens). I didn't have a car or a means to get out and about too often, but when I was able to I tried to make the most of my time. The north shore is also a spiritually important place for me, as it is where I reconnected with God and renewed and strengthened my faith.

On our way to Princeville we stopped for lunch at the Kilauea Bakery. Just making the turn into town brought back memories and a sense of peace. It was Superbowl Sunday and Tony was anxious to get checked into the hotel, so we didn't go visit the lighthouse. It was lunch and on to Princeville.

Thanks to Tony's credit card point playing, we were able to book a four night stay at the super swank St. Regis Princeville. It.Was.Amazing. Embossed toilet paper points. Marble bathroom with a *real* rug by the double sink. Comfy bed. Living area. Private lanai overlooking the mountains. Turndown service. And the property was equally as nice.

Tony checking out our room - from the hallway/bathroom looking at the lanai

Looking at the mountains and ocean from our private lanai (to the left is a golf course)

The bathroom featured a large window. With the flip of a switch, it went from clear glass to frosted!

On our first full day we had breakfast in Hanalei. I had a papaya boat -- half a papaya filled with fresh pineapple, banana and strawberries, topped with toasted coconut and served with yogurt and granola. By far the best breakfast I had all week. Yum! 

The trail was often right on the edge of a cliff.

After lingering for a bit we continued down the road toward our destination: the (literal) end of the road and beginning of the Kalalau Trail along the Na Pali Coast. The trail offers amazing views, rough terrane, lots of ups and downs, and then more amazing views. We decided to hike to Hanakapi'ai, a beach that is about 2 miles in (so a 4 mile roundtrip hike). 

As you may have noticed, Tony doesn't appear in too many pictures. It isn't from a lack of my asking "do you want a picture here?" but rather his desire to be behind the camera, not in front of it. Even though he's not in the below pictures, he was, in fact, along for the hike!

The trail was pretty rough in places, but the views were amazing.

Resting at Hanakapi'ai beach. Dangerous for swimming, but perfect for catching your breath.

While the mileage is low, the difficulty and traffic make the journey a longer one. By the time we finished the hike it was well past lunch, so we made our way back to Hanalei to try another plate lunch (this one wasn't as good as the first) and then opted for a bit of R&R.

Tuesday was a "His & Hers" day. Tony played Prince Golf Course, a Robert Trent Jones course that is said to be one of the most beautiful courses in the world. It is also known to be pretty tough. While he was enjoying a round of golf, I enjoyed a full body massage and facial, along with the sauna and fancy spa showers. It was heavenly! We ended the day with a great dinner at the Prince Course that evening (if you're ever in the area, The Tavern is an excellent -- and reasonably priced -- place to grab a bite to eat). 

Wednesday was our last full day on the island and it started off quite rainy. We headed south to Kapa'a for breakfast, shopping, and a bit of reminiscing. Here's a picture of the hostel we stayed at during our J-Term trip in 1999 -- which looked a bit more lively and less run down 14 years ago.  

Good times were had here in 1999 - what a fun J-Term trip!

On our way back up we stopped at the Kilauea Fish Market -- a spot that is known for it's wraps and plate lunches. Tony went for the traditional fish plate lunch while I tried the chicken wrap. Normally I avoid the over-large stuffed wraps (think Chipotle), but this meal was delicious. I may have dreams about this wrap for years to come! Once we were done, it was finally time to return to the Kilauea Point Lighthouse. 


I could go on and on about how things have changed -- it is clear that they are not receiving the same level of funding they once had. The old intern house is now the office (not sure what they use the office for), the lighthouse itself is fenced off and inaccessible, and the great interpretive hikes they used to have interns lead into the private part of the refuge have also ceased. It was sad to see things in this state, but yet great to see some of the familiar birds, landscapes, displays and plants. We didn't have as much time here as I had hoped, but perhaps it was good to not linger too long. Tony took a lot of photos, here are just a few:

Now an office (and rather run down), this is where I lived in 2001

Kilauea Point and the lighthouse

After the lighthouse we headed to Anini Beach Park, a spot that I enjoyed when I lived there. I love the trees hanging out over the water, and the shallow stretches with a soft sandy bottom. The weather was cool and windy, so we didn't venture in. Just enjoyed the views.

Anini Beach Park has a couple of these trees hanging over the water.  One of my favorite spots!

On our final evening at the St. Regis we made it to the Champagne Sabering at Sunset. It was a fun to-do and a the balcony was a great spot to watch the sun dip beyond the Na Pali Coast.

Post champagne-sabering photo as the sun set on our final night in Kauai

Beautiful sunset on the Na Pali Coast

On our last morning it was rainy, so we caught an earlier flight to Honolulu and the final stop on our adventure.

Vacation Post 2: Kauai's South Side

We landed on Kauai Friday afternoon. One of the joys of a small airport is that your bags don't take long to arrive and the car rental locations are just around the corner. We were on our way to Poipu before we knew it.

Something to note about Kauai: there is one main highway that goes from the northwest side to the southwest side, with a stretch of island that is inaccessible. This highway is mostly two lane and the speed limit is generally 35-45 mph, topping out at either 50 or 55. As a result, it does take longer than a mainlander would expect to get from point A to point B.

Even though there's only one main highway, it is still easy to miss a turn. Street signs and other road signs are rare (or are hidden by vegetation), and we missed the road to Poipu. As the navigator I take full blame, but it did allow us to stop at the Koloa Fish Market for our first traditional plate lunch (meat(s), 2 scoop rice, 1 scoop macaroni salad) and I was happy to introduce Tony to the original Hawaiian fast food. 

We spent our first two nights in Poipu at a Sheraton resort. We had a garden view room with a private lanai (terrace). The property was nice and rather large, with a great beach and beautiful sunsets. 

The Sheraton's beach at sunset

Our "south side" plan was to maximize our time seeing the sights so we didn't feel the need to make a trek down once we moved to the north shore. Friday was a bit of a wash -- little sleep, several cocktails and dinner out was all we could muster. 

On Saturday we drove to the end of the road on the south side of the island. Our final destination: Koke'e State Park (via Waimea Canyon and other stops along the way). We turned off the main road in Waimea to start our adventure. The road was, well, kinda scary for two people afraid of heights and afraid of cliff-type edges. I am grateful that Tony was driving (not sure I could have!), and even though he's generally unflappable behind the wheel, he commented on his white knuckles a few times.

Waimea Canyon. It's hard to see in this photo, but the canyon is quite deep.

One of the scenic overlooks

Scenic overlook after scenic overlook finally led to the above -- the Waimea Canyon itself. Wow. Breathtaking; an array of deep colors; worth the drive. But wait folks, that's not all! Continuing up the (still scary) road, we headed for Koke'e State Park. The park sits on the northwestern side of the island and features native rain forests and outstanding views of both the forest and the ocean. We took one of the trails out to Kalalau Valley, which is about 4,000 feet below us in the below photo. The mountains on either side are part of the famous Na Pali Coast. The terrain is so rugged that there are no roads through it, only hikers and those approaching from the sea can get down there.

Kalalau Valley along the Na Pali Coast

A little perspective -- it's a long way down!

The rain forest

On Sunday we drove to Spouting Horn, a geyser that forms along the coast when waves roll in. It was there that we finally got a photo of a sign we saw frequently on the island. There were chickens running around everywhere, making noise at all hours of the day -- and night. Noisy little birds! There are also a lot of cats. They seem to make themselves at home all over. Surprisingly, most of the feral cats look well groomed and clean, unlike the stray cats one usually sees roaming the neighborhood around here. 

Apparently someone is feeding them (though it wasn't us!).


As we made our way north toward Princeville we stopped at a couple of waterfalls and the Wailua trail along the eastern side of the island (see below...very beautiful). Much to Tony's dismay, our plans to visit the Kauai Costco resulted in a big *fail* as they are closed on Sunday. We did, however, swing by Walmart to pick up a few essentials. From my previous stay on the island I recalled that Wally World was a decent place for picking up souvenirs at a reasonable price -- and Tony is now the proud owner of a real Hawaiian shirt.

Across the street was a waterfall and down the road you could see the ocean. A great spot!

Tony took nearly 1,000 pictures on this trip so I've had to select a minimal amount to post. I'll leave you with this beauty as I sign off -- watch for the third installment soon!

Vacation Post 1: Los Angeles

Ah, vacation. Being on vacation is a wonderful, happy thing. The days leading up to vacation tend to be filled with stress -- both at work and at home. But vacation itself...marvelous. 

First, a little bit about our vacation plans. Tony has been working the credit card game to accrue points and miles, so much of our vacation came together using those. The only downside was the connecting flights to get out to Hawaii, but the *free* aspect made up for it!

Our trip to paradise began with a Thursday afternoon flight out of Minneapolis, landing in Chicago and connecting to Los Angeles. To our dismay, the flight out of MSP was delayed and we missed our original departure out of Chicago. But wait -- our Chicago to Los Angeles flight also gets delayed! By over 4 hours...departing at nearly midnight. Ugh. 

Thanks to a wonderful American Airlines representative, however, we get placed on the otherwise overbooked, only other AA flight to LA, departing around 8. I was especially happy to hear this news as we had planned on meeting up with my brother for a late night dinner. I hadn't seen Andy since before his journey on the Pacific Coast Trail, and Tony hadn't seen him for a couple of years.

Late night dinner with my "little" brother

Andy was gracious enough to journey across LA to meet us at the hotel, since it was so late. We were both glad to see him (and boy was I glad that he was no longer sporting the pre-hike mullet and child molester mustache!). We don't get to visit often, so this was a very special way to kick off our trip. Thanks Andy!

Bloody Mary's....yuck!

After a few hours of sleep we were back at 'em, gearing up for our direct flight to Lihue, Kauai. Paradise at last. Tony decided to kick off the day with a bloody mary, while I stuck to my much needed coffee. Can you tell he's excited to get going?!

19 Month Update

Yep, I'm a cutie pie!

It's photo day! 19 months old and so cute. 
Visit his page to see all three shots.

Package #6 and Tony's Arrival Anniversary

We are officially back from vacation...and back to reality! Vacation posts will follow, but likely bit by bit. Tony took hundreds and hundreds of pictures, so there is a lot to go through. He also took them mostly in RAW format, so there's work to be done. Bottom line -- we had a great time and details will come soon.

Tomorrow afternoon Tony and I will be meeting with our social worker to update our home study (which means I better get the post-vacation housework done tonight!). The home study is a pretty comprehensive document, detailing things like our individual histories/families, our current financial status, our expectations as parents, how we plan to manage the upcoming changes, our medical history and current medical condition, and more. Last year when we met with our social worker she actually brought a referral with her -- a first for her, and a total shock for us. It's been just over a year and our study has expired, so she's checking in to make sure things are still okie dokie.

Package #6

I thought this would be a good time to put together another package for Oliver, in hopes that our social worker can bring it into the office for us. For this package we have included:

1. Another "Wee Sing" CD. The updates keep suggesting that he likes music and noise, so hopefully these are fun for him.
2. A Baby Einstein Lullaby Classics CD. Something soothing.
3. A Hellophone toy with a short message we recorded. What 19-month old doesn't like cell phones?!
4. A lovey (a.k.a. a super soft small blanket). My friend Sieglinde recommended a particular Etsy seller and I am absolutely love her work. The back side is a soft fuzzy material, the edges are soft satin. The whole thing is machine washable. My hope is that Oliver carries it around and/or sleeps with it, and that it absorbs the smells of his current home. When we get to bring him to our home, hopefully this will offer him some comfort.

In other adoption-related news, Saturday is Tony's 35th arrival anniversary. At not quite 4 months old, an escort flew with him from Korea to Minnesota, bringing him to his loving family. I know that growing up, Tony's family celebrated both his and his brother's arrivals, but as the boys got older I think they got less interested. I, however, love any excuse to celebrate! Therefore, we are heading over to King's, the local Korean restaurant. 

I hope that in 2014 we are celebrating two arrival anniversaries!