Snorkeling

There is one more story from our Hawaii adventure that I wish to share with you, the fact that I went snorkeling. Yup that is correct yours truly swam with the sharks, well we did not actually see any sharks thank goodness. If I would have seen even the smallest shadow of a shark I would have been out of there so fast the beach would have wondered what happened.

Do you have that one thing in your life that you are truly afraid of? Something that would make you break out in a cold sweat just to think about it? Well I do… sharks. It even borders on the irrational fear that sharks live in swimming pools. Needless to say it was a big deal for me to put the mask and fins on and stick my face in the water. It took a bit of time and kind words from my husband but I did it and here is the proof.

Keep in mind the photos are from a very inexpensive preloaded with film disposable underwater camera so the quality is lacking my normal flare.  But they tell a story of an Alaskan girl who, after 30 years living on the frozen tundra, had a fun time snorkeling and seeing all the beautiful fish.

Needless to say this is one adventure I can now cross off the list.

Hooray for facing a fear and trying something new!

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Goodbye Hawaii

Goodbye Hawaii...

Goodbye warm white sandy beaches.

Farewell sunshine.

Till we meet again I will think of you everyday and then some.

 

Welcome home Alaska!  We brought some fresh pineapples home to share! The best gifts are the ones you can eat!

La Mariana Sailing Club

Our last supper in Hawaii was a wonderful meal at the La Mariana Sailing Club! It is an out of the way, drive though the docks and what looks like a back street ally kind of place to find and well worth the hunt.  Very tiki tiki type Hawaii place.

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Byodo-In Temple

The Byodo-In Temple
Valley of the Temples Memorial Park
Kahaluu, O'ahu, Hawaii

The Byodo-In Temple is located at the foot of the Ko'olau Mountains in Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. It was established on June 7, 1968, to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. The Byodo-In Temple in O'ahu is a smaller-scale replica of the over 950-year-old Byodo-in Temple, a United Nations World Heritage Site in Uji, Japan.

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High Five Friday

High five Friday for more fun at the beach photos!

Oh and hooray for contacts and being able to see the perfect waves coming and the fun ride to the beach on the boogie board! 

One~vs~The Other

One ~vs~ The Other

Love ~vs~ Being in Love

Can you love someone so deeply that the thought of losing them makes you fervently weep in the back seat with the hope that you are able to squelch your sobs from being overheard and yet not be in love with them?

For me the answer is yes. Yes you can love someone with all your heart and being, and at the same time not be in love with them. I love a handful of people with all my might and yet I am only in love with one man.

Love should bind us together without having to suffer the fear of loss. Love should be eternal and carried with you throughout all your days.

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The North Shore

Kona Brewing Co.

Ahi Poke (awhee poukie)

ʻAhi (yellowfin tuna) sashimi marinated with sea salt, a small amount of soy sauce, roasted crushed candlenut, sesame oil, limu seaweed, and chopped chili pepper.

The Kona Brewing Co. restaurant serves theirs with radish sprouts which added a great flavor. This was a first for me ~ eating raw fish ~ I was none to sure about it but tried it and to my pleasant surprise really liked the flavors and the texture!  Hooray for trying new foods!

Hooray for Liquid Aloha!

Waikiki at Sunset

We did not spend too much time at Waikiki Beach, but no trip to O'ahu would be complete without an evening at the Tropics Bar & Grill.  Apparently this is the hang out for the Hawaii-5-O folks after they have solved their latest big case.

It is a great place to view the setting sun and the Diamond Head Crater.  Evening time finds this beach a quiet place to be but during the day it is packed with sunbathers and all manner of Hawaii vacationers.  It was such a treat to have friends to stay with and not have to be lodging in the Waikiki area with everyone and his brother.

Supper at Haleiwa Joe's

 Baked white fish in a wasabi sauce!

White fish in a red curry & raisin sauce!

 Fighting over the dessert menu like so many others before us!

It was a lovely evening spent with good friends laughing and enjoying wonderful food ~ Aloha!

High Five Friday

 

High five Friday ~ for Rabbit Villages made at the beach!

I spent many a peaceful afternoon at the beach making Rabbit Villages and some were even double stacked apartment housing.  Fun in the sun and sand!

Here is to a great Friday and weekend ahead!  Any fun plans for the weekend?

USS Arizona

The USS Arizona on the day that Pearl Harbor was attacked and she was torpedoed had one million gallons of oil on board.  She burned for two and a half days leaving approximately 350,000 gallons still on board.  About 2 to 9 quarts of oil seep out of her each day creating an eerily beautiful sheen on the water.

A very somber memorial to the men who lost their lives that day. A very well thought out museum tour and another must visit while on O'ahu.

USS Missouri ~ Mighty Mo

Mighty Mo ~ USS Missouri ~ BB63 ~  served in four wars and was commissioned on June 11, 1944 and its final decommission was March 31, 1992.  She fired her 16" 50 caliber main gun battery in WWII and in the Gulf War.  The Japanese surrendered ending WWII on board Mighty Mo. So much history in one place it is easy to be overwhelmed and well worth a visit.

 

My favorite souvenir when we travel... squished pennies! Good thing that I always had someone looking out for me on this trip to make sure I had correct change for the machines.  Thanks guys! At the Valley of the Temples my squished penny came to me via a kind young lady who gave me 51 cents.  You see I left my bag in the car and had no change in my pockets and she gladly gave me the coins.  I will always be grateful to her for the act of kindness.