Last post from Hawaii

Sunset at Waikiki Beach

I know there will be little time once we get home to do any blogging, since both of us have to jump right back into work and home obligations (and hug and kiss the kids tons - we really miss them!). We have done our best to relax as much as possible while here and take advantage of being in HAWAII (I feel like I have to shout it every time I say it, lest I forget how amazing it is that we're even here at all). Dan even managed to become close to the shade of a lobster today thanks to the fact that we went to three different swim/snorkel sites and forgot to reapply the sunscreen after the first one. I have some red spots as well, and no, we don't expect any sympathy at all.

Since my last post, we:

Inside the crater at Diamond Head

1) Hiked Diamond Head, a crater caused by a volcano, where there was a little excitement involving an elderly man who nearly passed out

The view from the top of Diamond Head

2) Visited Pearl Harbor, which involves seeing a 20 minute video summarizing what led up to the attack and the making of the USS Arizona memorial, taking a boat to tour the Arizona memorial, touring the USS Bowfin submarine, and, when it's not in dry dock (like now - we couldn't see it), touring the USS Missouri

The USS Arizona memorial, which goes across where the ship sunk

3) Ate dim sum in Chinatown
4) Body surfed at Sandy Beach (only Dan)
5) Attempted to surf (again, only Dan - I just got on the surfboard for a picture)
6) Swam and snorkeled at the "From Here to Eternity" beach

Dan at the beach in the famous scene in From Here to Eternity. We didn't attempt to recreate the scene.

7) Snorkeled at Hanauma Bay, pretty much the best place for even amateurs to snorkel

Me, on the walk down to Hanauma Bay. We snorkeled right where those people are!

8) Attended a luau, where we ate pulled pork (very good), taro (OK), and poi (not a favorite), and hung out with friends we hadn't seen in over 8 years!

A plumeria, the state flower and what is used in most leis.

Enjoy the photos, and hopefully some of the tropical and sunny atmosphere from them will travel to wherever you are.