Grace-full Gifts: Oahu 2012

Mike and Eli before take off.

What a wonderful time we had in Oahu, the 1st week of November. These pictures are only a portion of over 2000 that Roy took. The underwater pictures w/ a friend's Go Pro will be added later. As I post photos, I will journal about the day. My sister Vicki got to come too. This was her first visit to Hawaii, and she enjoyed it so much. And we enjoyed her also!

Our first meal on Hawaiian soil. All the restaurants are open air.

Normal sights, someone walking w/ an 8 foot surfboard to Waikiki beach. November has trade winds and the waves were @ 5 feet high.

Mike and Vicki relaxing after a 6 hour flight.

Vicki happy on the beach.

My Knight in Shining Armor. Waikiki in the background.

Eli wanted to capture one of these small fish so bad. But they always eluded her. The last day Mike and Eli jumped in many times, scary and dispersing the baby fish.

Kids start early on surfboards. Just a way of life there.

Me and Vicki.

Pretty Girl!

Roy and the kids went to the beach a couple blocks away to take sunset photos, the 2nd night we were there.

As my sister and I putzed around a store, we realized the large shopping center had a free Hula show. It was about 30 minutes long. What a blessing to not realize this and see one for free. Just above this photo, Christmas wreaths were swagged between buildings. Strange to see Christmas decor in early November and in 80* weather.

This bronze was one of many we sat by for photos. This picture was one of a Catholic sister teaching a child. I didn't get the inscription, but I believe the English settled Hawaii in the beginning.

The 2nd or 3rd day we started up the North Shore. This Chinese praying stone had interesting writing and incenses near it.

The North Shore-Sunset Beach where big holes were being dug.

Diamondhead at sunset, in Waikiki.

My big sis posing as me and the kids played in a cove close to the Chinese temple thing.

The Koi fish were huge, this shot shows them from afar. But up close, they have to be 10 pounds.

Mike loved the waves and being bowled over with them. Sandy Beach was pretty, but very dangerous. We saw a guy pulled out of the surf to get CPR and taken away by ambulance. The winds in winter in Hawaii create huge waves.

Same beach. This little girl couldn't have been more than 3. Such a fun way to be raised!

Eli and I just leaving the Arizona Memorial. Vicki, Roy, Mike and us were separated on the bus. But what a fun day. The bus driver knew so much history of WW2 and Hawaii.

The bus driver had us as the last stop. So he made Eli a crown of palm leaves, and crowned her Princess Eli. How fun!

Vicki and us at the Chinese thing.

We were close to Sandy Beach, and found a cove where the waves were really strong. The kids and I decided to jump the waves as they came in. Sometimes they took us down. And I lost a snorkel, bummer!

This sunset was waiting for us as we were coming back into Waikiki that night. This picture doesn't show it justice. It was magnificent.

The Arizona Memorial. Roy and I went in about 1997, and it changed some, but we remembered much of it.

One of the 3 anchors from the Arizona behind us.

On the memorial. It's quite reverent there.

Just before boarding the Missouri Battleship, where the peace treaty between Japan and the other Allies were signed in September 1945, in Tokyo Harbor. We posed as the sailor and nurse did at the end of the war.

Outside the Missouri

Outside the Missouri, awesome photo!

Mike talking with a docent about what that gun can do. Mike knows everything about most of the guns on that ship.

In front of King Kameamea, downtown Honolulu

Chinaman's Hat, nice beach

Eli and Mike found a coconut to cut open, it was mostly water, and not edible. But they enjoyed the experience.

There were many red-headed birds close to Chinaman's Hat

This alcove was about 70 yards away. The pictures don't do justice at the magnitude of the waves. This was a gorgeous place, and we were there just in awe of the place for over 1/2 hour.

This cove was beautiful, and the surf was quite high. You can't tell by this photo but the surf behind us must have been 30-50 feet high.

This was a place Eli and I snorkeled for free. You could really feel the waves coming over the inlet.

Sunset Beach for Sunset. Lovely.

Sunset Beach

It started to rain shortly after this photo.

There was a double rainbow and then it started to rain pretty good for @15 min.

This was a photo we took the 1st time we went, about 15 years ago. We wanted to repeat it again.

Our last night of dinner. Vicki insisted on treating us at The Cheesecake Factory. We waited an hour, but they called us when we we took a walk. Yummy food, and fun last night in paradise.