Oahu, Hawaii 2013 - Day 1

At Pu'u 'Ualaka'a with Diamond Head in the background

We took the kids out of school for our family vacation.  Sure, we could’ve waited two weeks for summer break, but who wants to go on vacation when everyone else in America is also on vacation?  So, despite people’s apparent concern and disbelief, we yanked them out of school and flew to Hawaii.

A six-hour flight to Hawaii can be quite peaceful.  A six-hour flight to Hawaii with an excited Ashley... well, that's a different story.  She took a long nap during the first leg of the trip, and when she woke up, boy, was she ready to catch up on all those words she hadn't been able to use in her sleep. Here’s an excerpt of the non-stop conversation we had.  Or, more accurately, she had. 

Ashley: “The sky looks just like the ocean.  What if we were flying upside down and didn’t know it?  Is Hawaii really close to Japan?  What if the pilot lands on the wrong island?  Mommy, it’s 10:15 in Hawaii… Mommy, it’s 10:30 in Hawaii…  Now it’s 11:30 in Hawaii… Mommy, it’s 11:33 in Hawaii…  Look, Mommy, it’s 11:40 in Hawaii.  Are there sharks down there?”

Me: “Yes.”

Ashley: “Whales?”

Me: “Yes.”

Ashley: “Humpback whales?”

Me: “Yes.”

Ashley: “Tuna?”

Me: “Uh, I actually don’t know.”

Ashley: “Why do we have to put the trays up during take-off?  The bathroom is tiny.  I kept my feet off the sticky floor as much as possible.”

Me: “How?”

Ashley: “I put my feet up on the door when I was going potty.”

I was able to read 8 pages of my 1,006 page book.

We arrived in Honolulu at noon after “flying back in time."  That's how we explained the time change to the kids.  We picked up our sweet ride: a Crown Vic (I think it was our punishment for declining the offer to upgrade), and drove straight to Punchbowl, where the National Cemetery of the Pacific is located.  

Punchbowl is a volcanic crater that was once used as an altar where humans were sacrificed.  It is now a memorial to over 50,000 war veterans and their families.  Specifically, I wanted to visit Ellison Onizuka’s memorial.  You might remember him as Hawaii’s first astronaut, and one of the seven who died when the Challenger exploded in 1986.  I remember him as a dear friend of my grandma and grandpa's.  Onizuka had invited my grandparents to Florida to see the launch of The Challenger, and they were unable to go because they were building apartments in Tanglewilde East at the time.  It was hard to find his grave, but I had the coordinates so Chad used a GPS app to find it.  It was way high tech and I felt like we were in a spy movie.  

This is only one of over 50,000

Grandpa and Ellison Onizuka on one of their fishing trips

Also at the cemetery, is the Honolulu Memorial, which honors Americans whose bodies were never recovered from the wars.  The 10 “Courts of the Missing” monuments have the names of over 28,000 missing soldiers inscribed upon them.  We spent a lot of time reading the names of the soldiers, getting choked up over the powerful quotes carved into the memorials, and learning about the history of America.  And no offense to teachers, but it was WAY better than anything my kids could’ve learned by sitting in a classroom...  While patiently waiting for the ADHD kids to be redirected over and over and over again....  While precious learning time is completely wasted.  But I digress (because I have ADD).

The Honolulu Memorial

Walking away from a cool history lesson

At this point, the kids were starving, so like any good mommy, I told them we had "just one more stop" before lunch.  Judging by the looks and the groans, you would think I had just tortured and murdered their cat.  And then ate it raw.  While beating an orphan.

But listen, it was vital that we stop at Pu’u ‘Ualaka’a, because that was the Brady’s first stop when they went to Hawaii in season 4. And it was on the way to our hotel.  If there is anything this trip planner hates while traveling, it's backtracking.  And crowds.  And jerks.  And not having a plan.  Wait.  Where was I? 

The Bradys, in all their beautiful splendor

The five of us stood in the exact spot the Bradys stood when their guide, David, was trying to teach them how to pronounce Pu’u ‘Ualaka’a, and Mike had the clever idea to “just call it Look Out Point!”  I just love Mike Brady.  Anyway, we had stunning views of Diamond Head (“that’s Diamond Head, dumb-head!!” is another Brady witticisim), Waikiki, and Honolulu.  The kids climbed a tree, found a stick bug... and then the hunger hit.

We had lunch at Rainbow Drive-In, which was packed with nearly-naked surfers and locals.  Rainbow Drive-In is famous for its plate lunches, which are a Hawaii staple.  Rice, macaroni salad, meat and gravy... yes, it was as delicious as it sounds.  And almost nutrient-free, I’m guessing.  Our table only had 4 chairs, so the woman next to us offered to have me sit at her table.  She told me her name was Rosemary, and she was with her son Laau.  They welcomed us to Hawaii, and we talked about all kinds of things.  I learned all about them: where they’re from (American Samoa), what kind of perfume she was wearing (Jessica McClintock), where Laau had just spent two years (Santa Rosa), where he may go to college (University of Montana).  As they were leaving, she had me program her phone number in my phone so we can call them if we need anything while we are on the island.  If Rosemary's kindness is any indication of the level of hospitality of the locals, then I think we’re in for a treat.

Yeah, the sun is bright here

Next, we drove to our hotel: Hilton Hawaiian Village.  We checked in at 3:30 PM and received a complimentary upgrade to a family room in the Tapa Tower.  Our room is enormous: we have 2 balconies!  From one, we have a view of downtown (which is gorgeous at night), from the other, a view of Diamond Head and a bit of ocean.  We dropped our bags, threw on our suits, and went straight to the beach. 

Our kids have never been to a tropical beach, they've only experienced the joys of jumping over foamy sewage in the frigid waters of the Pacific Northwest.  Needless to say, they were thrilled with Waikiki Beach.  They spent hours swimming, getting their bathing suits filled with sand, finding shells, and laying on the beach.  After they were totally exhausted, we walked over to the penguin exhibit that is at our resort.  Ashley nearly fainted.  We gave the kids a room key so they could shower and dig out sand from places you don't want to know about, and Chad and I explored the resort.  This place is massive, and there is no way we can see and do everything in just 3 days.  But it will be fun to try. 

Now everyone is in bed.  The balcony door is open, and we’re listening to the waves… or is that traffic?  I'll pretend it’s waves.  Whatever it is, I hope it lulls me to sleep because tomorrow is one busy day!

They faced the foe
As they drew near him
In the strength of their manhood
And when the shock of battle came
They in a moment of time
At the climax of their lives
Were rapt away
From a world filled for their dying eyes
Not with terror
But with glory
(from the Honolulu Memorial)

-The Niemeyers