ALOHA!!!

"Do you want to hold my hand?" I asked Ellie as we felt the airplane start to increase in speed, getting ready to raise into the air.

"No, Mommy, I'm not scared AT ALL," Ellie said with a very excited tone in her voice and a huge smile beaming on her face as she took in everything out the window. We were finally going on our first trip to Hawaii! Even though we hadn't slept well the night before, we couldn't have been happier or more energetic that morning as we took off.

LEAVING ON A JET PLANE

Ellie is a natural born traveler. She was the best kid on the airplane. Always quiet, thoughtful, and polite with our fellow travelers, and easy to entertain. The plane rides were never a problem. Even with our busy lay overs and security checks, Ellie stayed close by me and followed instruction. I am so proud of her. Ellie did much better than I did when it came to keeping a cool head.

I have to laugh when I think of our trip TO Hawaii. I knew that we could each pack on a carry on and personal item, and that car seats and strollers didn't count as carry on's and were allowed to be brought on as extra. Well - I PACKED THEM ALL. Ellie had a carry on, a little bag full of entertainment things, a stroller, and car seat. I brought on my own carry on, and computer bag. We only had to actually check in ONE suitcase which of course saved us about $15 at the time. Ellie wore her safety harness (leash), and I pushed around all our belongings through the airports. It was like I was pushing a cart of all my belongs complete with a back pack on my back, almost like a snail carrying around his home all the while keeping track of my four year old child.

It was especially funny when Delta Airlines messed up our tickets, and we got moved into FIRST CLASS to make up for the mistake on our flight from California to Hawaii (the long flight). Here I was, this country bumpkin with my stroller full of things, a four year old basically on a leash, and a very full back pack on my back waltzing into first class. I pushed past the very well dressed and classy passengers, and sat myself down for relief. Gazing around, I felt a little out of place, but happy as ever to be in first class - a opportunity I never thought I would have.

First class was the best airplane trip we had. I had a steak dinner, and Ellie had penne pasta. The seats were so large, Ellie sprawled out and slept most the way, while I watched a movie with most of the comforts of home and better yet - attendants granting my every wish. It was heavenly. Our way back from Hawaii however, couldn't have been more of an opposite! Cramped in tiny seats, trying to sleep during a red eye overnight flight, and feeling depressed to be leaving such a beautiful place and family Hawaii. There was one good thing about the flight home though..... I didn't make the same mistake twice and carry on so many things. Remember, CHEAPER ISN'T ALWAYS BETTER.

WELL, WE'RE HERE!

"LAURA!" I could hear Dad yelling from across the airport near the baggage claim carousels. Ellie went running to Grandpa LaTurner with open arms ready to give him the biggest hug he'd ever had.

We were given real Lei's from Dad and found our baggage, and set off for Mom and Dad's condo in Hauula. I had seen pictures of their apartment building before, and recognized it the moment it came into view. I was very anxious to see everyone, but also very excited to jump in the ocean. Dad took us to the ocean first, wanting to surprise Mom who was inside the apartment. Ellie loved the ocean the moment she saw it! It didn't take much time for that kid to become completely wet with salt water.

Finally, Mom appeared and we had a happy reunion. Here at last! I knew it was going to be great trip. It felt like a dream to finally be in Hawaii.

THE BEACH


I have to say, most of our trip was spent on the beaches of Oahu. The one we went to the most of course, was the beach behind the apartment building. Ellie loved that beach, and it was so nice to have it close to the condo to shower off after. However, we also spent time at Turtle Bay, Hukilou, Sunset Beach, China Man's Hat Beach, and one we like to call ELLIE BAY.

ELLIE BAY is where we like to go to see the large sea turtles. They are protected there by volunteers who put red ropes around them and tell tourists they can not pass the rope or touch the turtles. Ellie loved the turtles so much. She was given the job once of holding the rope, and she took this task quite seriously.

Another reason Ellie loved Ellie Bay was because it's where her and Grandpa liked to get wet. One day we went to the bay while Mom was at work, and the waves were coming in pretty large. Ellie loved to get into the water like the local children with her clothes on and let the waves hit her. Dad knows the "series" of the waves, and we were watching Ellie together when he calmly walked over by her in the water. Just then, a larger wave came swooping over Ellie and he reached down and pulled her up by the arm (barely making a sound), and possibly saving her life. I am still amazed by this because it's like he KNEW that something was going to happen. He was definitely in the right place at the right time. We didn't scare Ellie about what had just happened. She learned after that experience to stay close to Grandpa when the waves came in, and this started a cute routine at the beaches with Grandpa after that.

PEARL HARBOR



One day of the trip, we decided to see Pearl Harbor. It was something that was definitely on my "to do list" when I went to Hawaii. Shayne's grandfather is a Pearl Harbor Survivor, and it is humbling to hear of his experiences that happened on this day.

Ellie seemed to be more quiet on the day we went to Pearl Harbor. I'm not sure if she was sensitive to the nature of the Memorial, but she seemed to have more moments where she wanted to think and sorta just look things over. We watched a video about what happened that day, and took a ferry out to the USS Arizona Memorial. It is almost hard to describe how you feel when you are looking down on the ruins of the once great ship. About 1,500 men were taken down with the ship and their remains still abide in the watery grave. It was hard to believe that this is where everything on Pearl Harbor took place, and to think that Grandpa Underwood could survive such an attack. Everything became more real to me and not just a part of US History.

PINEAPPLES!

Another big part of our trip were our visits to the DOLE PLANTATION. Who knew Pineapples could be so much fun!? We loved the Dole Plantation. It was free to get in, and very fun. They have a gift shop (which is so fun to go through), and a little restaurant section where you can buy the most delicious pineapple ice cream ever! Ellie's main attraction there were the large Koi fish in a little pond. She got to feed them a few times, and really enjoyed seeing them fight over ever scrap of food.

My favorite part of the Dole Plantation thought was seeing the most adorable pineapples I have ever seen. They had pink pineapple, purple pineapple, fat yellow pineapples, reddish pineapples, and they grew out of the ground like a spiky bush. They had signs posted where the different pineapples hail from, and it was just amazing to see how they grow. As you leave the plantation, you can see fields of pineapple plants covering rich reddish brown soil.



THERE'S ONE!!!!

Dad told us when we first set foot on the beach that hundreds of crabs walk out on the beach at night. We had been very excited waiting for our first chance to go out with our flashlights and see what he was talking about. I was pretty nervous about the crab hunting, but thought it would be fun to see Ellie finding the crabs.

Just as Dad said, hundreds of crabs crawled along the beach. They were fast, and we soon realized we had no need to worry about possibly stepping on a crab. They were small and looked the color of sand. All I remember hearing was "There's one!!! There's another one! Grandpa did you see that one!?" Ellie pointed them out, and Grandpa picked them up to put them into his pocket. We walked along the beach, and I noticed the further we got to the big black volcano rocks the larger the crabs were getting. Dad held up a crab that was about as big as hand. Ellie started to panic at how big is was, and we headed back towards the house. This didn't scare her from going out a few more nights though - we just made sure to NOT go so close to the rocks.

WAIKIKI!


On Fathers Day Evening, after a nice meal at Dad's sisters house (Dede), we went down to Waikiki for a night in the Queen Kapolani Hotel. It was fun to see all the hotels in the night, and to drive along the beach with the tiki lights all lit up and hundreds of people parading the sidewalks. We were very excited to walk along the beach and see everything there was to see.

After checking into our hotel room (which had a balcony Ellie just loved!) we set out for our walk along the "strip" of Waikiki. I couldn't wait to see the mannequins posing for money. Sure enough - the same mannequin that I saw on a video Mom and Dad had made years earlier was still on his corner posing for money. I wanted to badly to take a picture of them, but was warned they would come after me for money if I did, so I didn't dare.

There are all kinds of people doing different attractions for money. Some were singing, playing music, making woven hats from palm leaves, others "terminally ill," or laying on a bed of nails and having people from the audience step on him for a buck. Ellie loved seeing the parrots that were being posed on people's hands for pictures. It was truly amazing and fun, and the whole time I kept thinking how much I knew Shayne would have loved this and really wished he could have been there.

We quickly went through the International Marketplace, and then headed back for our stay at the hotel. The next morning, we got up early and went to the Waikiki Beach to swim. This was the best place for kids and adults if you don't like to fight the waves. They had a wall up, and the waves would hit the wall instead of you. It made the water safe for children and a pleasure to swim in. I saw many kinds of fish in this water. It was very fun.

THE FUN NEVER ENDS IN HAWAII



Even movies seemed more fun in Hawaii. While in Hawaii we enjoyed the movie UP, and NIGHT IN THE MUSEUM 2. We also enjoyed a few delicious plate dinners, and my sister Sarah spoiled us by cooking some VERY unforgettable meals. The Barbecued Pork Penne Pasta being one of the best meals, and the Bacon Cheeseburger Spaghetti.... well, the other extreme (good tasting but very unusual).

I had a couple of great visits with David as well when he came to join us for DVD rental movies, popcorn, and ice cream in Mom's apartment. David and I also ordered a pizza once, and sat by a beach for lunch. I also saw him a handful of times at his local job at the time 7-11.

Our trips to the mall were very fun - especially since the Kahuku Mall has both a play area for kids AND a Pet Store for Ellie. The Swap Meet was another favorite in my trip, and I was surprised how much I got for so little money! We also had the neat experience to see the Valley of the Temples, and a Buddhist Temple which was very beautiful.

Even the hot dogs at Costco seemed more fun in Hawaii.... I knew I was going to miss Hawaii so much.


ALOHA HAWAII :(

I knew saying goodbye was going to be the hardest part about my trip to Hawaii. We had spent two wonderful weeks there. Ellie was such a great kid the entire trip, and the time came and went too quickly. I was excited to see my Sweetie back at home, and start possibly planning another trip to Hawaii, but it didn't make things any easier.

It was a tearful goodbye. I held back tears when I said goodbye to Dad giving him the final hug in Hawaii for this trip. Later on in the car, I broke down and had to call him and tell him how much we'll miss him and Hawaii and thank him for everything he did for Ellie and I during our stay. Saying goodbye to Mom was painful too. I choked up the whole ride to the airport. She walked with us up to the security check in, and we both had streaming tears at parting. I kept looking back to see if she had walked off yet, or to see if she was still there - almost wishing for more time together - and she was standing looking at us with tears rolling down her checks just like I had.

HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN JIGGITY JIG!

Seeing Shayne waiting for us by the baggage claim was a happy moment. If I weren't so tired from our overnight flight, I think I would have went running up to him to give him a BIG hug and kiss. It was nice to be back with my husband, and it felt more real that I was back at home. I slept most of that day, and we tried to adjust back to Utah time the next week. We were very excited to pass out our souvieniers and tell about our trip. I have to admit, I got tearful for the first week missing my family, and sad that it was all over. Hopefully, we will be able to fly out again soon, and bring Shayne to experience everything Hawaii is. I can't wait for that day. Until then, we love the memories, and talk about it frequently. I love Oahu. I couldn't have asked for a better trip this summer.