Hawaii: Day 8

Well I guess technically today was our LAST day. 

We had a later afternoon flight so it was nice not to be rushed to leave this beautiful place. We slept in, made our way to the airport, enjoyed lunch with friends and headed home.

While waiting in our hotel lobby we noticed this nice one legged pigeon. And his other leg is right in front of him. 

Just kidding, that's just a leaf. 

One legged pigeon.

Ready for take off.

Gorgeous view of Hanauma Bay.

Diamond Head.

Hawaii: Day 7

Our last full day in Hawaii. Sad day. It flew by. We had booked this trip back in January. So it had felt like F-O-R-E-V-E-R waiting for the big day. Then it came and the week there FLEW by. It was amazing. What an experience to go with such great friends and make so many unforgettable memories with them,  I know I will cherish them forever. 

We started off our day separating. Boys went golfing. Girls went for 60-minute massages and some shopping. Oh yes. I had never had a professional massage before and lets just say my face says it all. Pure relaxation. I was told I looked high. My body was so relaxed I could barely open my eyes and I did NOT want to get off of that massage bed. That is definitely something I'm going to have to do more often. 

 

Right after my massage. Pure bliss.

After massages and golf we all met up for some lunch and then did a little shopping in the downtown Waikiki area.  Then we hung out on Waikiki beach right in front of our hotel.

Waikiki Beach.

Robbie and I enjoying the water.

More water enjoyment...

Playing with the waterproof camera in the hotel pool.

After hanging out on Waikiki we wondered back to our hotel's pool. And of course decided to act like a bunch of teenagers laughing our butt's off in the pool while trying to take a nice underwater picture of the three of us. As you can tell by the pictures I'm not very comfortable underwater and my friend's are insanely photogenic. Like insanely.

First shot.

Okay. Let's try another. My mouth is HUGE and my eyes are closed.

Okay now my eyes are creepy and my smile resembles the Joker's. Keep in mind the entire time my friend's looked amazing. I was like SERIOUSLY how do you guys look so good underwater! What the!

Now a goofy picture to make fun of me. And I still look the worst.

This was the best. I know. I still look crazy. Oh well. It works. 

Later that night, since it was our last night there, Robbie I decided we needed to go somewhere fancy and romantic as a couple. So I made reservations (fancy) at this Italian restaurant I had heard about. It was located a quick walk from our hotel on the 30th floor of a hotel. It was rated the most romantic and the best view in my travel book (yes, I was that kind of tourist).

It was fun to eat at a fancy place. Where the restaurant manager greeted you and told you of all the specials on the menu, the waiters pulled out your chair and placed a linen napkin on your lap and your glass was never even half a quarter empty. But to be perfectly honest we probably would have been just as happy with a shrimp truck.

In front of our hotel on our way to our hott date night.

In the elevator headed up.

Panoramic view. It doesn't do it justice. We were eating while the sun was setting. It was beautiful.

Hawaii: Day 6

To start the day off we visited Historic Pearl Harbor. I can't really put into words the feelings I had while being there. I felt so thankful for those who served and are currently serving our great country. Pride for this great nation I am grateful to live in and the freedom that I have. Mad and sad for all of the lives lost, the men and women who were taken from this world too soon. 

We toured the USS Arizona Memorial which is the resting area for 1,102 of the 1,177 sailors and Marines killed on the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7th 1941.

This was in the shrine room on the USS Arizona Memorial

The shrine at the far end is a marble wall that has the names of all those killed on the Arizona. To the left of the main wall is a small plaque which has the names of about thirty of the crew members who survived the 1941 sinking and chose prior to death or whose family chose after their death to have a canister containing their ashes put into the wreck by US Navy divers. 

The American Flag on the USS Arizona Memorial.

USS Missouri

Little history lesson: In 1999, the battleship USS Missouri was moved to Pearl Harbor from the United States west coast and docked perpendicular to the USS Arizona Memorial. Upon the deck of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, the Japanese surrendered to the United States General Douglas MacArthur, ending World War II. The pairing of the two ships became a symbol of the beginning and end of the United States' participation in the war.

On the USS Arizona Memorial with the USS Missouri behind us.

At Pearl Harbor.

After we left Pearl Harbor we headed up to the North Shore. 

We first stopped for lunch at the infamous "Shrimp Trucks." We of course ordered the infamous "Giovanni's" which was amazing. Could I use the word infamous enough? I totally regret not taking any "food porn" pictures of our heaping plate of garlic shrimp. MmmMmm. I ordered some deep fried goodness for the truck next door. It was fish and chips with some Maui sweet onion rings. My mouth is literally watering as I speak. It was hands down the best food I ate during the ENTIRE trip in Hawaii. Hands down. And it was out of a truck...nice.

We of course had to stop at another infamous (there I go again) spot on the North Shore, Matsumoto's Shaved Ice. So good.

Another coconut tree shot from the North Shore. So pretty.

Hawaii: Day 4 and 5

Day 4: We took the day slow. We didn't have any major plans. So we walked around Waikiki. Hung out on the beach, did some boogie boarding. It was a nice relaxing day. 

Robbie and I shopping in Waikiki.

Jumping for joy in the ocean at Waikiki Beach.

Day 5: We went to Hanauma Bay. We went snorkeling, saw some cool fish, turtles and kind of freaked out a little. Oops.

Ready for Hanauma Bay.

All ready to go snorkeling.

Saw some really cool fish.

Robbie snorkeling.

Flesh wound. Ouch. I hit some coral while snorkeling. It hurt really bad, but not until I got out of the water.

Robbie and everyone saw a turtle. Jealous.

This is a video of us snorkeling at Hanuama Bay.

All done snorkeling for the day. It was fun!

All of us at the top of Diamond Head.

The view from the top of Diamond Head. It was beautiful.

All of us after hiking Diamond Head. It was really hot, but worth the view.

Robbie and I at one of the many scenic views.

Of course. More boogie boarding and waves at Makapu'u Bay.

Robbie and I at our hotel in front of this really cool looking tree. They were all over.

Hawaii: Day 3

Today we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center. It was amazing. We stopped by the Laie Hawaii Temple on our way. It was breathtaking. Such a beautiful place. 

Laie Hawaii LDS Temple. Breathtaking.

Robbie and I in front of the Temple. 

Okay...one more...

Robbie and I in front of the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Robbie had a slight obsession with these totem poles...I think he wanted to take one home...

Robbie and I at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Another waterfall at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Yummy. Pina Colada. This was so good.

The Pig for the Luau.

Robbie attempting to climb the coconut tree...ha.

Sunset and the coconut trees at the Polynesian Cultural Center.