Our Last Day in Hawaii :(

The phrase "all good things must come to an end" could definitely be used here. We had had 9 wonderful days in Hawaii with Nana and friends, sun, sand, salt, and lot of smiley fun. It was kinda hard to know we would have to get back on a plane and go back to Japan, not knowing when we would see Nana again (although Brett was back in Japan and anxious to see us). I guess the only up side to the trip coming to an end is that that means my Hawaii blogging can end too, and I can move on to the next trip- ha! Anyway, our last night in Hawaii was lots of fun and we really did it up right. We had to go drop Maryo off at the airport that night, so we decided to spend the evening in Waikiki again. On the way to the airport I snapped another picture of the landscape. The mountains are just soooo pretty.

We were driving down the Likelike Highway. It's said leaky-leaky, but looks like it should be like-like :) Living in Japan, I'm used to words that look one way and are said differently, but it was comical nonetheless.

After we got into Waikiki, Maryo thought she should probably get to the airport to be on time for her flight (our original plan was to all get a drink in Waikiki first, but traffic took longer than we expected). So, Erin and Nancy took her to the airport while Mom and I stayed in Waikiki, and they would meet up with us later. We first stopped at the Hale Koa, the military only hotel in downtown Waikiki. In the center of the lobby is a huge tree all decorated with Christmas lights. It is beautiful.

Mallory crawled around on the floor a bit and enjoyed herself.

Then we walked out to the beach to enjoy the AMAZING Hawaiian sunset. It is seriously one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

We tried, and failed, to take a group shot of us on the beach. Hahahahaha. It's hard to do with a big SLR camera.

So we took separate shots :) Mally and Mommy on the beach.

and Mom on the beach.

We then walked over to the Hilton and saw the penguins they have. They were flown there a few years back, and then when the bird flu hit, they weren't allowed to be moved. So, the birds from super cold regions now live in Hawaii!

After the sunset and we strolled the beach, we went back to the Hale Koa to meet up with Nancy and Erin and enjoy a delicious adult beverage. Yum!

Mom and Nancy had found some quite hilarious sunglasses before the trip and brought them to try and embarrass erin and myself. As you can see...it worked a bit :) What silly mommies!

The original girly week crew (plus Mallory)...5 years later and still looking great and having a blast!

I have to end all my Hawaiian posts by saying that it was a wonderful trip and just went by too fast. I loved getting to see Nana and the others, as well as get to go to Hawaii. Our house was awesome, the cost of the trip was worth every penny and I'll have lifelong memories. I hope to get to do it again next summer, although I still think we should do Japan! Thanks for a wonderful trip girlies. I love you all and hope to see you very soon!

Hawaii's Pearl Harbor

Another "must do" for me while in Hawaii was Pearl Harbor. Living in Japan, and having visited Hiroshima, I thought Pearl Harbor would be very interesting to see and learn about, and I was correct. It is a very sobering experience, to be in a place where many, many people lost their lives not all that long ago. It also made me very proud to be an American, and a military wife.

As it is a place to be quiet and understanding, Mom kept Mallory and just Erin and I made the drive over. Say "bye Mommy, see you later".

We got there without a problem and got our "tickets" in (it is free admission, but you have to get a "time" to go over on the ferry to the USS Arizona memorial). We had about 2 hours before our ferry time, so we got back in the car and went over to the Naval station and ate lunch.

After lunch, we came back and walked around the grounds for a bit looking at a few of the other monuments and memorials. This is the memorial for all the submarines that fought in WW2 and didn't make it home. With my grandfather being one of the WW2 submariners, it was very interesting to read the stories of these ships, and know that he was blessed to not be on one of those.

The anchor from the USS Arizona.

Erin and I waiting to get on the ferry.

We got on the ferry at our assigned time, and it takes you over to the Arizona memorial, just across the bay from the museum. The memorial is a building built right over the spot where the USS Arizona sank when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and the US entered WW2. The building does not touch any part of the ship remains (most of which are underwater) but makes you realize how large the ship was, and that you are in a sacred spot. This is the outside of the memorial, as you arrive on the short ferry ride.

The roof of the memorial is open air, where the US flag proudly flies high above. It makes you very proud to be an American and know those brave men died fighting for those colors.

A section of the ship that can be seen above water, from the memorial.

The listing of all the men killed on Dec 7, 1948 on the Arizona when it was bombed and sank.

The red, white and blue don't run!]Oil droplets from the ship still bubble up from below, 62 years later. They are often called the "tears" of the men who were buried in the ship when it went down that day.

A view of the memorial from the entrance.

The memorial from the side, and me in the blue shirt.

The US Air Force flag, and myself being a proud USAF wife. The front of the memorial.

The memorial from the side.

It was a very interesting experience and I'm so glad I got a chance to visit. I can't imagine being one of the men who experienced Pearl harbor and lived to tell about it. What a life changing experience (a few of those men have since passed away and requested to be entombed in the ship with their fellow shipmates upon their death). I can imagine it was an experience you would never, ever forget and would change you as a person forever.

Erin and I both really enjoyed the experience. Mallory was a good girl for Nana while away from Mommy for the day and had more fun swimming in the pool than she would have had at Pearl Harbor I'm sure. After we returned home, we spent the evening talking, eating and enjoying the hot tub and yard of our rental house.

Hawaii's Hanaumna Bay

One of the sites I'd been told by lots of people to visit was Hanauma Bay, a volcanic crater with world class snorkeling. It is a protected national park, and the others had all been and recommended it as well, so I thought I really needed to check it out too. Mom had been a few years ago, but is always up for snorkeling, and Erin hadn't been since they lived in Hawaii years ago, so they both wanted to join me. The others decided to skip it and get some shopping in. So, Mom, Erin, Mallory and I loaded down the car and headed out. Mallory was all dressed in her swim suit and cover up and ready to go!

We didn't leave super early (although we did have a "let's leave early" plan) but thought we would still be fine. We drove around the island to Hanauma (through the rain and clouds- not really the best beach weather, but we had to go today to fit it in), and as we got there...it was...FULL and CLOSED! We couldn't believe it. On the way up the hill, you pass the "blowhole" and several gorgeous views, so we decided to go back and check those out and see if maybe we could wait it out a few minutes. So we stopped and took some pics from a look out point:

and pics of the blowhole. See, just looks like a rock, until...

wow! There it goes!

Another beautiful view:

Mallory balances on the rail for a picture (haha).

The Marvin/Cochran girls and the beautiful Hawaiian shore.

After taking some pictures, we thought we would drive by Hanauma again and see if it was open. We didn't want to spend all day trying to get in, and had said if it was still closed, we'd just have to skip it. But as fate would have it...it was open again! Yay! I think they limit the number of people/parking places so it doesn't get too overcrowded, which is a good thing. Anyway, in we went, and it is beautiful and worth going to. See the clear water and the reef right up by the shore?

After watching the required movie about not littering, walking on the coral and taking care of the environment, we found a spot on the beach and parked ourselves and stuff.

And then Mallory was off to build sandcastles.

How cute is she in her little surfer outfit and sunhat!?

This sand stuff is kind fun...

...and neat to throw...

...I LOVE this place!

Mommy and Mally on Hanauma Bay beach

We took turns staying with M and snorkeling. The water/undertow was actually a bit strong/rough today, and the sun had come out and was quite hot, but we got to see lots of beautiful fish. I think they were closer to you here than at North Shore, although I think we saw a greater variety up at North Shore than here. It was really fun and I enjoyed snorkeling with my mom quite a bit (and knowing M was in great hands with Erin). We did see the state fish of Hawaii:

but didn't have an underwater camera with us, so I just had to take a picture of the statue of it.

When we had all decided we had had our fill of the salt, sand and sun, we packed up and took the tram up the hill. That might have been the best $2 I spent the whole trip- ha! You can tell from the other picture that you park at the top of the crater, and it is basically a "hole" you have to walk down to, and up from. But there is a tram you can pay I think it was $1 down and $2 up. We decided to do it both ways (with all your beach gear and a baby...) and it was a WISE decision! After packing up and heading back to the house, we passed a Shave Ice stand and decided we NEEDED one! So Mom treated us to shave ice and it was delicious once again!

After that we made it home and unpacked, showered and spent some time enjoying the yard. I took some pictures of Mallory with a true Hawaiian lei and background, as I knew we were going to give her a Hawaiian Luau for her 1st birthday and I wanted to use the pictures on her birthday invitation. Here are a few of the cute ones:

While outside, Mom decided to give her a "mini party" as her birthday was coming up and Nana had brought some gifts for her- a few books and clothes, a sippy cup and plate, a neat puzzle with her name and a few other goodies. Although she didn't know "why" she enjoyed playing with the new items and spending time with Mommy and Nana.

It was a great day with family and friends, fun and sun and the only bad thing was that the end of the vacation was coming wayyyy to fast!