Category: Travel Writing

Sunday, July 8, 2012 — Phil’s birthday. Today, he is taking the day off so we can play tourist in Hawaii. We have plans to drive to Diamond Head, and travel on the coastal highways to find Nakalele Point Blowhole, not only in search of Blow Hole, but whales!

The morning started like all the mornings have since I arrived on Thursday afternoon. Overcast, gray clouds, bursting into circles of radiant sun peeping through the circles, teasing the skyline with morning. Every morning I rush to the balcony while Phil snores. I open the balcony door with my camera ready to capture the breaking morning sunshine and clouds. I didn’t buy Phil a birthday card after I arrived, thinking his birthday card that I mailed on Monday would make it for his birthday. It is Sunday and still it hasn’t arrived. I suppose mail is just a bit slow here. Maybe I should’ve sent him an electronic birthday card via e-mail. Oh well. All that matters is the fact that we are together on his birthday.

Last night at Paradise Cove his birthday was mentioned – not personally, but a group “Happy Birthday” to all in attendance celebrating birthdays.

I rush around, getting dressed for our first full day together since I arrived. After I am dressed, hair styled, makeup on, I awaken Phil. He moans. Silly guy. The older he gets, the more (and later) he sleeps. At home, he will sleep until noon. If he does that here, he’ll find himself all alone. I simply am not spending the entire morning in a hotel room! There’s too much to do, and if I have to walk, no problem. I am accustomed to walking!

Finally, I persuade Phil to get up. He appears to be in a grumpy mood. No surprise…he can certainly be a ‘grumpy ole man’ when he wants to be!

After he is dressed he inquires as to what we are doing today. I mention Diamond Head and I remind him that we need to set the GPS for BlowHole and other coastal locations. To be honest, my GPS (TomTom version 2.8) does not work well here in Hawaii! When I typed in Wal-Mart, it could not find it. Other locations I searched for, Mr. TomTom simply did not locate. This created a bit of stress with Phil and I so now, I will go down to the concierge’s desk to get directions. I do not wish to fight on my Paradise vacation! If Phil gets on my nerves, I’ll simply escape and go on my own!

After getting directions, off we go. Phil has a rental car – a SMALL Volkswagen that is uncomfortable! Nevertheless, we must use the car today. I struggle to buckle the passenger seatbelt. I have an extremely weak left wrist that does not flex easily so it is a battle to buckle and I have to use my right hand. Finally buckled, we are off. Perhaps I should write an automobile review about this car. On second thought, perhaps not! It is not comfortable! Yes, it has lots of get up and go, but comfort I don’t think the engineers considered, at least not for the passenger. The parking garages in this hotel, Hyatt Regency Waikiki, are a tight squeeze. Mirrors are placed in the corners so we can see approaching cars. I hold my breath in anticipation, fearful that some fruitcake in a hurry might hit us as we approach the exit. One thing I have noticed in the bit of time I’ve been in Hawaii – people do not appear to be in such a hurry, like they are in Charleston!

Phil and I have lived in Charleston since the early 1970’s. We’ve watched the growth in the areas, especially in Mt. Pleasant. A population of 10,000 when we moved to Mt. Pleasant, now the city has over 60,000+ residents. To say we are overcrowded is an understatement. I’ve seen many people lose their tempers in traffic. Road rage! Now, as I think about drivers in Charleston, I remind myself that I am in Honolulu, where people appear to be much nicer! Just maybe we will not have an accident inside a garage!

Right on cue, a car approaches. He stops. Waves to us. This would not happen in Charleston! Drivers would show the index finger, instead! I spoke with my pet sitter earlier, recognizing when it is 8am here, it is 2pm in Charleston. Sandy has reassured me the pups are fine and Shadow, my newest and youngest is rebelling by shredding the puppy papers on the floor! He’s also attempted to shred a rug on the breakfast room floor. Suppose I’ll need to trash it when I get home. Shadow is less than a year old so he is full of energy. He leaps like a deer, or a leap frog, jumping high into the air. He’s bumped my nose many times, and when he does, my entire head feels like it will burst. I must remember to block him and use the water bottle more often, just to make him realize he must behave. Puppies are a barrel of fun, along with a barrel of trouble!

We exit the garage. Mister TomTom directs our way, along with the print out from the concierge’s office. I do not trust TomTom. He’s disappointed me many times previously! When I get back to Charleston, I will upgrade it to get the latest roads and highways. Such a pain! Normally when I travel, I have a printed Google map with me, to compare the directions, but after attempting without success to locate Wal-Mart in Honolulu, I realize my GPS is almost an antique!

I watch the highways while Phil drives, reading the signs, attempting to pronounce the roads, without much success! We make a turn, finding the Honolulu Elks Lodge. “We need to come back and drop by the Elks Lodge before we leave,” I tell Phil. He grumbles. I’m certain we’ll never drop by. Phil doesn’t like going to places where he doesn’t know anyone. Just how we connected so many years ago is beyond me. I am gregarious and love making a statement when I enter a room. Phil loves to blend in. We are such opposites! Maybe I was a bit desperate at the time.

We are headed to Diamond Head. Now I really regret how I forgot to pack my “Things to Do in Honolulu” print out that is still resting on my printer – at home! I struggled to login to my computer at the hotel, but it would not allow me. I reminded Phil to do a print out from the list and he of course will “do it later.” Funny! Later never arrives. He is the king of procrastination, not to mention a pain___! So off we go, without a plan, with exception of the printed directions we have from the concierge’s desk. Oh well. My prayers are that we do not snap at each other while struggling to find our way. I’ve concluded Mr. Tom Tom does not like me, and neither does the other GPS I had but tossed away!

Now, we’re following a path where gorgeous homes within beautiful gates are on the roadway. I do believe you must be rich to live in Hawaii! These homes make me so envious, but when I go back to reality, I’ll be thankful for what I have. At least, I hope!

We continue our route, I am the navigator. Phil is the driver. Thank goodness he is not using that stupid I-phone GPS again. I think I’d grab it from his hand and toss it out the window if he pulled that stunt again. Before long, we hit the highway. I see mountains in the distance with lava rock. Diamond Head is just ahead. We pull over at an observation area and I step out to photograph the view. Words cannot describe all that I see, but it is truly a blessing just to inhale the fresh air, the gusty winds and to be thankful that I am having the opportunity to make another dream come true – another dream back to Hawaii and I am enjoying every moment. The mountains, and there are many! Take Diamond Head for instance. Considered one of the younger mountains of Honolulu, history states that it erupted quickly. The view from Diamond Head is gorgeous, although we turned back due to traffic. Regretting it now, I have made a promise to myself that the next time we go to Honolulu, one of the mountains we will visit is Diamond Head. I simply cannot wait to take pictures on Diamond Head. Silly me. Just why did I suggest that we turn around and head to Blow Hole? Sometimes I can be such a dummy!

Blow Hole has a special meaning to Phil and I. We saw it on our first tour of Honolulu, when we were newlyweds. Much to my surprise, I do not remember the beautiful scenic highway leading to Blow Hole that we are traveling on now. There are several observation points to stop and take photographs and we are hopping in and out of the car. On one observation point, I decided to get a bit gutsy and hike a bit. Phil discouraged me, but he knows me well. I simply would not listen to him. So off I go, clicking photographs, looking for whales, hoping that we will see one. Stopping to admire the view, I squeal – probably like a teenager. In the distance I see a lighthouse. Of course I had to get closer.

“Be careful,” Phil shouts. “You know how clumsy you are.”

“Ah-hush. Today I wore the proper shoes – my shapeups!”

I continued my hike until I came to an area that was forbidden. There I stood, taking several shots of the lighthouse. How I wanted to cross the path and get closer, but Phil would come after me. Fussing and grumbling!

Back in the car, we continue looking for Blow Hole. The view along the coastal drive to Blow Hole is truly amazing. It’s like I am traveling along the route to Heaven, and I’ve never been to Heaven. Not yet! Lava rocks are on the mountains. The pictures I am taking truly speak for themselves, so I suppose I’ll have to stop blogging and let my readers admire the beauty. Now, if only I could see a whale.

My next blog will discuss our evening events, walking to International Market Place, along with the characters we met, the street vendors and singers. How I wanted to join them in a tune!

Enjoy the photographs!

Saturday, July 7, 2012 – Aloha! Today is my third day in Honolulu. It is still early morning, or should I say it is dawn. I glance out at the balcony, giving up on sleep since Phil is snoring and I am almost convinced there is a freight train running around in this room and the king size bed. Honestly, just how can someone snore so annoyingly and still manage to sleep? I’ve tapped him, encouraging him to roll over. I’ve pinched him. I’ve covered his nose. He ignores me. I’ve wanted to hit him, but I’m not a violent person, so I throw the covers back, toss my pillow in his direction and grumble to myself. After all, my trip to Hawaii was totally unplanned, so I must suffer the consequences of hearing a freight train coming from my husband’s snoring! Sometimes, the less said, the better!

I open the balcony doorway and watch the shifting colors of dawn. At first a midnight blue, then fading to clouds of darkness. Suppose this is another day of early morning rain, then bright sunshine.

Looking to the right of the balcony, I see Diamond Head. http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/oahu/index.cfm?park_id=15 Most of the view of Diamond Head is blocked by towers of hotels, and businesses. Nevertheless, the early morning view, with the sun breaking brightly through the clouds of the hotel room is stunning, with exception of the continuous cloud of darkness that is always over one of the mountains where residents of Hawaii live.

Last night, the butterfly wings of sleeping pills failed to let me sleep. Add to the fact Phil snores like a freight train, and no sleep for this chick. I suppose I’ll attempt sleep at the pool today. Not such a bad idea, after all. He is working today. Later, we are scheduled to go to the luau at Paradise Cove. I’m so excited, not to mention sleep deprived! Besides, who wants to sleep in beautiful, tropical Hawaii! There’s too much to do. Too much to see, and way too much to fall in love with! Paradise I think I love you! I glance at the lei I made, resting on the night stand. So many jokes are made about ‘getting lei’d’ in Hawaii. Yes, I got “lei’d” but not the type my friends are suggesting. Every time I phone a friend, that is the first thing asked, “So Barbie – did you get lei’d?” Yes, I got lei’d, because I made a lei, but – I didn’t get L-A-I-D!” Oh well. A woman can dream – about Hawaii!

Off to another conversation now! Tomorrow is Phil’s birthday. Since we were scheduled to be apart on his birthday, we celebrated it at the Elks Lodge the Wednesday before he left. I had a nice birthday cake for him with “Bon Voyage and Happy Birthday,” written on it. The cake was a beach setting with tropical colors. No, I do not intend to order him another birthday cake. I mailed a birthday card to him on Monday, but apparently, it takes a while to get mail on the islands. Looks like I arrived before his birthday card. We are on a tight budget and I have to pinch my pennies so I can still enjoy Hawaii while he works. Besides, I haven’t seen any grocery stores or bakeries nearby. I imagine they are around – concealed within a tower! Tonight at Paradise Cove we will celebrate his birthday, quietly while he fantasizes about the Hawaiian women and the way they dance! So graceful, artistic and beautiful. I’m so envious. Each time I attempt the Hula, I give up. I know, you are supposed to bend your knees, move gracefully and tell a story with your arm and hand movements. Easier said, than done! Normally I am a great dancer with lots of moves, but these hips and leg movements simply don’t agree.

How I wish this trip could’ve been an editorial research trip, or a press trip. There are so many beautiful sites to see, so many tours, but I really do have to budget, so during the day, I relax at the pool, take walks along Kalakaua Avenue and occasionally I stroll into the International Market Place. If only I had the time to plan this trip, but 24-hours’ notice simply wasn’t enough time. Next time, I’ll make certain I have a two week timeframe to gather information, make contacts and plan an itinerary. I managed to research and print a few venues while rushing to get packed, get the house cleaned, make certain the dogs would have the proper foods, finish an assignment and sending it to my editor…and after all that, I simply forgot to pack the 30 pages of research about “Things to Do in Hawaii.” Oh well…My Bad!

Walking along the streets of Waikiki Beach and Honolulu, the sidewalks are full, but there is still room for more pedestrians. Never did I see anyone shove or push. Hospitality is truly nice here in Hawaii. South Carolina could take a few notes from their “Aloha” hospitality. Even when driving, I notice people allowing others to cut into a lane without body language, or rude remarks. The sidewalks along the downtown are wide and easy for pedestrians to walk along. So different from the dangerous sidewalks in downtown, historical Charleston, SC. Surprisingly, I haven’t noticed an abundance of cell phones being used while people stroll along the streets. I’m a bit amazed at this because everywhere I go in Charleston; people have cell phones glued to their ears. Yes, this Hawaiian style of life could easily be the type of life I’d like to live!

Stay tuned for the scoop about Paradise Cove and the Luau!

As the sun sets on Paradise Cove, the fun begins!

Part Two – Day Two

I arrived at the pool at 8:30am – 2:30pm, Eastern Time. Smiling at the attendant, I asked if it was too early to come to the pool. He smiled, asked my room number, and suggested a nice beach chair where the morning and afternoon sun works very well. He covered the beach chair with a towel, wishing me a great day. I was the only guest at the pool. Even in Honolulu, I am an early bird! I settled down, bathed myself with Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen, and relaxed while listening to the traffic nearby at Waikiki Beach.

At 11am, Swim opened. Swim is the lounge servicing the pool and the hotel. I met one of the servers, an attractive young girl named Desi. She wore a brace on her knee so we discussed how painful a knee ache could be. I suggested she try glucosamine. She wrote it down. By now, the pool had a few more guests enjoying the overcast morning. I met a woman who was here with her husband. Much to my surprise, she mentioned that he was working while she relaxed. We had much in common. Moments later, we were showered with a light morning rain. Rushing for cover, several people gathered their things to leave. I refused. I had faith the morning rain would be like most showers in Hawaii – only a few minutes of rain, breaking into morning sunshine.

I ordered a grilled chicken salad for lunch, deciding to treat myself to an early drink – a Hawaiian mudslide. The food and drink were delicious. I stretched out on my chair. The sun was out now, shining brighter than before. I found it refreshing that in Honolulu, the rain occurs in the early morning, kissing your skin with a delightfully delicious moistness, and then the sun breaks out, shining brightly. Only in Hawaii, I thought. I am being kissed by rain so the sunshine can break through the clouds.

At two o’clock, I returned to the room to refresh, style my hair and get ready for the afternoon events. Scheduled were drummers and dancers to perform by the waterfalls. I arrived at 3:30, sat at a table awaiting the performance. It did not happen. The drumming, dancing, and other entertainment were canceled due to a wedding. In place were beautiful young Hawaiian girls, dressed in Hawaiian clothing – a colorful bright yellow, with yellow leis around their neck, flowers in their hair. According to many Hawaiians, the tradition of wearing a flower in your hair reveals something about the person wearing the flower. For example, wearing a flower on the left side by the ear means you are either married, or not available. Wearing a flower on the right side means you are eligible, single, – definitely available.

A gorgeous brunette, dressed in the bright yellow Hawaiian costume wore a flower in the back of her hair, holding her gorgeous thick lock of hair. She dropped a bag of aromatic flowers on my table. A tanned woman sat down by me, introduced herself as Jane, and suggested that I might want to make a lei with her. “You know how. Don’t you?” She asked.

“I haven’t a clue,” I said.

“Good, I’ll teach you.”

Jane was not a native of the island, living in California for a few years; she traveled to Honolulu, deciding to make it her home. “You should move here,” she said.

If only she knew how much I wanted to make that a reality.

The flowers perfect for a lei are plumerias. Hot pink with a wonderful sweet aroma, I smelled them, excited to learn how to make a lei. Plumerias come in many colors, but the hot pink aroma was the most tempting for me. Finally, I would be like others in Hawaii – wearing an authentic lei. To make a lei, you use a string with a long needle attached. Gently placing the center of the plumeria on the needle, you continue adding the flowers until the lei will rest comfortably on your neck. http://www.plumeria101.com/lei.html

According to Jane, leis were created so the children of Hawaii would grow up with the skills necessary to make a living. The more I learned about Hawaiian culture, the more intrigued I was. http://www.to-hawaii.com/hawaiian-culture.php

Reportedly, when given a lei, a kiss must be shared. When I came to Hawaii as a young newlywed, I remember receiving a lei when I stepped off the plane. This tradition is no longer shared when arriving in Honolulu now. So sad.

I wanted to know about the traditions and cultures of Hawaii, so I purchased a book. Two of the words I do know are “Aloha,” which means an abundance of things, including hello, goodbye, love, fondness, sympathy and so much more. “Mahalo” means thank you. When shopping, you will hear these two amazing words repeatedly. Reportedly, the language of Hawaii consists of five vowels and seven consonants. http://www.to-hawaii.com/hawaiian-language.php The basic rules of the language are:

• “All words end in a vowel.
• Every consonant is followed by at least one vowel.
• Every syllable ends in a vowel.
• Two consonants never appear next to each other.”

 Growing up in the South, I was falling in love with all the language, cultures, and traditions of Hawaii. Such a beautiful place to visit. I could only imagine what it would be like to live here. I was almost willing to return to South Carolina, sell everything, and move! Just how would I get my four babies (my schnauzers) to Hawaii was the question!

During the events at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, I learned about poi. Poi is a root, made from the taro plant. Purple in color, the root is pounded into a sticky purple paste. It taste a bit like sweet potatoes, but for me, it is an acquired taste. http://www.poico.com/artman/publish/article_16.php

While enjoying the cultural events, my stomach hurt so I went to the room, got sick and panicked. I did not want to be ill in Hawaii. Phil and I had plans to walk to International Market Place, but those plans were postponed until I felt better. We had dinner at Blazin Steaks, just a stone’s throw from our hotel. We stopped at the concierge desk, booking reservations for a Hawaiian luau. We decided on the Paradise Cove luau. http://www.paradisecovehawaii.com/ Since my stomach continued to ache, we rushed back to our room. I was furious with myself for getting sick and I was hopeful I would feel better in the morning. Aloha!

Friday, July 6, 2012 – day two of my escape to paradise. Much to my surprise, I have no jet lag, managing to sleep very well. Awakening before the first morning sun, I slipped on to the balcony, to capture the changing colors of the clouds of Hawaii, or should I say, Honolulu, Waikiki Beach, or wherever I am? I’m just a bit confused about all of these islands. We are staying on Waikiki Beach, that I know, but I still feel like I am locked inside of a dream, with the colors of the rainbow all within my dream. I rush back to the side of the bed, glance at the clock, grab my camera, and close the balcony door so I don’t awaken Phil. It is just a few minutes after 5am. Over to the left of the balcony is a mountain filled with residences, at least, I am assuming the buildings are residences. Clouds linger on top of the mountains as the morning horizon begins to lighten. It is such a beautiful sight, with different hues and shapes of the clouds, and the mountains. The morning clouds are hues of gray and midnight black. It looks like rain is in the forecast. I lean across the balcony, realizing if I’m not careful I could fall, but I click my camera, excited to capture photographs of the Pacific Ocean, Waikiki Beach and the morning sun breaking. Still, I feel as if I’m dreaming. “Morning has broken, like the first morning…” My mind plays the lyrics of the Cat Stevens tune, and I realize I am not dreaming. Finally, I am back in Hawaii, where dreams come true.

I brew coffee, sit on the balcony, watching the morning break into another amazing day in paradise. I’ve been told by shop owners and employees at the hotel that it rains almost every early morning in Hawaii. Mornings are overcast, just like today, but the sun teases, breaking through the clouds, as if to say, “Here I am. Awakening you to another beautiful day in Hawaii.”

The mountains are still overcast. I see the thickness of rain on the mountain to the left of where I am sitting. The mountain across now is kissed with sunshine. High rise towers are everywhere along the beachfront and the City of Honolulu. Some of the mountains appear to be a bit too cluttered, at least from a distance, with too much residential development. As a writer, I am intrigued, but not certain we will have the time to explore the mountains. Phil is working every day while I play. Playing is something I’m not familiar with. As a writer, I have deadlines to meet, research to do, four dogs to care for, along with a house, friends, family and the list could continue. But for today, I’m not working with lists. I am simply doing something I haven’t done in such a long time.

I am reminiscing about a young wife who has a husband here with her in paradise. In just a few days, he will leave her, headed back to a war zone. Yes, we splurged on items we shouldn’t have during our honeymoon, but we were young – never knowing if we would have a future. We failed to tour the city like we should’ve but you’ll just have to use your imagination about what we were doing! Young. Innocent. Newlyweds! Apart for over eight months, not because we wanted to be apart but the US Army had other plans for a soldier. You probably get the picture!

As I reminisce about this young girl that I was, I will do my best to find those sweet memories inside of me again. PTSD, flashbacks of a warzone and a long-term marriage have a way of making us forget what we had back then. I am hopeful that while we are together again in Honolulu, we can reflect, reminisce, and recollect what once we had. Today, I am taking care of myself, without any deadlines to meet. This seems so strange!

Yesterday, while we traveled along the roads from Wally World back to the hotel, I recognized that Honolulu must have a strict board of architectural review for buildings because there are so many towers and garages.

At four pm today, there is an event downstairs. For now, after Phil leaves for work, I will go downstairs to the coffee shop and I will explore a bit more. I found the pool yesterday, and Waikiki Beach is across the street. The sand reminds me of kosher salt, mixed with small pieces of lava and shells, hurting my feet when I removed my sandals. I am such a tender foot!

Morning has broken, and my day begins. I will spend the day at the pool to get busy on a Hawaiian tan! Still, I cannot believe I am in beautiful paradise. I must be dreaming! Just where is my sunscreen and sunglasses!

On Thursday, July 5, 2012, I did something totally out of character for me, driving myself to the Charleston International Airport at 4:15am. The neighborhood was totally dark, not a light on anywhere. Throwing my bags into the back of my car, I rushed to get inside and off I went. My flight to Dallas was scheduled to leave on American Airlines at 6:30am. Excitement and butterflies were inside my tummy, so I awoke at 2am, without an alarm – simply due to the excitement of a very spontaneous vacation to Honolulu, Hawaii. My husband, Phil left for the islands on June 30. A bit lonely, he phoned me on Tuesday, July 3 suggesting purchasing an airline ticket. I thought he was teasing me – sort of rubbing it in that he was in paradise working. He knew I was envious. When we were newlyweds, we had a much delayed honeymoon during his R&R from Vietnam in Honolulu. We promised to come back to the islands at our 25^th anniversary. Little did we know that on our 25^th, he would be unemployed.

Resting at the gate, I wrestled emotionally with myself. Just what was I doing hopping on a plane to Hawaii without an itinerary planned? I am a travel writer, accustomed to planning events, and interviews, but this trip was totally off the cuff. An escape from reality after depression had captured me again after losing my precious giant schnauzer Prince Marmaduke Shamus ten weeks ago. I simply did not have the time to plan destinations or contact the CVB’s or other attractions. Like a free-spirited bird, I was off to Honolulu, Hawaii. My bags were packed and I was ready to go! Just what I would do to entertain myself was the question, but I meet people well, so I knew I would have a good time, regardless.

Leaving Charleston promptly, I introduced myself to a young and slightly good-looking blond college student. His name was Richard. We chatted the entire flight, making a two-hour flight appear to be a simple errand to the grocery store. Richard is a senior at the College of Charleston, majoring in Leadership with a Business Administration minor. He was headed to a leadership conference in Santa Anna, California. A bit apprehensive about flying, he admitted this was his first flight. “You’ll be fine,” I said.

We discussed issues of the day, including the rights of gays, gay marriage, and how people who are gay are equal and deserve to be treated with respect. Before we departed, he told me he was gay and wanted to serve his country by becoming a leader for gay rights. How I admired his courage and tenacity. Richard was educated and proud to be gay in the Southern city of Charleston where gays strive to be treated with dignity and respect. After arriving in Dallas, I regretted not exchanging e-mail addresses.

During my journey to Honolulu, I met several interesting people and a few not so interesting, or perhaps they simply wanted to be alone and undisturbed. Arriving at the gate in Dallas, I checked in, to make certain I was at the correct gate. As a travel writer, I have discovered that monitors and gates do not always agree. When the agent told me I was at the correct gate, but the flight to Hawaii was delayed due to a ‘major and rare snow storm on the islands,’ I laughed. “Do I look like I’m an idiot or so gullible I’ll believe you. It’s the tropics. There aren’t snow storms there.” Under my breath, I thought could this be true? The agent laughed. “You were about to believe me, weren’t you!”

I found a seat on the corner of the terminal gate, opened my bag and started jotting notes on a napkin. I noticed a sweet, affectionate couple sitting across. An attractive woman with salt and pepper hair, she smiled at me. Her husband buried his nose in a small booklet jotting notes. I introduced myself, apologizing for scribbling notes on a napkin. “I’m a writer and I forgot to pack a notebook. Silly me. I didn’t have time to plan this trip.” She laughed, tapping her husband on his leg. “A writer. So am I.” He said. He tore a few pages from his small notebook, passing them to me. “For inspiration,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “It’s easy to forget something.”

We shared words of wisdom, exchanging a bit of our credentials. Living in Phoenix, Arizona, he writes nature articles for the local newspaper, specializing in birds. He showed me a list of twenty birds he wanted to see in Honolulu. They were celebrating their 50^th anniversary, staying in Honolulu for a few days, then escaping to some of the other islands. My memory cannot recall the itinerary they had planned, but their 50^th anniversary celebration would be a two-week vacation, seeing friends and reminiscing about their love for one another. “What better place than Hawaii to celebrate your successful marriage,” I said.

The flight from Dallas was delayed a bit due to our plane needing brakes and tires. When we departed, several people struggled to get comfortable. I crossed my right leg, recognizing that air planes simply did not have enough elbow or leg room. My right knee suffers from osteoarthritis. When still, my knee aches with significant pain. I continued to move it in a circular motion, crossing it and doing all I could so the knee would not lock up on me. I sat at a window seat, glancing out the window, I waited in anticipation of seeing the Pacific Ocean from a plane, remembering how beautiful the view was when I traveled to Hawaii for R&R. Just a few years ago, too many years to mention, I recalled the young, excited, and innocent wife I was back in those days. Dressed in a red floral dress with spike high heels, after landing in Los Angeles, I recognized I should’ve dressed for comfort, but this was the second trip I had taken by air, so my experience as a jet setter did not exist. Today, I wore khaki shorts, a long sleeve shirt so I would not freeze on the plane and my feet were comfortable in my Shape-Ups. Suddenly proud of all of my accomplishments since the days of newlywed bliss, I still wanted to be the wife my husband would rush to in the Honolulu Airport.

I kept glancing out the window to see the Pacific Ocean, noting a sea of clouds, reminding me of peaks of fluffy whipped cream, or cream cheese frosting. No land or ocean could I see. My eyes stared at a collection of clouds, in the image of my precious Prince Marmaduke Shamus, my sweet, precious giant schnauzer now at Rainbow Bridge. Staring at the clouds, I saw his eyes, his cascading tale, and tears filled my eyes. Perhaps this was the sign I had prayed so hard for. Now my sweet Shamey-Pooh was OK in Rainbow Bridge. I wiped tears from my eyes.

I attempted to introduce myself to the guy sitting next to me. He ignored me. Obviously, he wanted to be alone. I was hopeful he would not snore in my ears. Yes, you meet all types of characters on an airplane excursion.

Two movies and many hours later, we arrived in Honolulu. I admired the beauty of the scenery, the breathtaking peaks of mountains, and the clear, dazzling, beautiful turquoise blue oceans. “Finally,” I whispered. “My dreams and journey to see whales in Blue Hawaii are about to begin.”

I turned the cell phone on. Dialing my husband I said, “Aloha! The eagle has landed.” I glanced at my watch – 9:00pm, Eastern time, 3:00pm, Honolulu time. No wonder I was tired, but the sun was shining on a beautiful day in the tropics. My body got a sudden burst of energy. The sweet refreshing scent of plumerias, hibiscus, and other tropical aromas tease my nose. Moments later, I rushed into my husband’s arms, with my luggage and excitement raring to go. I noticed several people wearing leis. I made a promise to myself to get a lei, since my husband did not have one when I arrived. I excused his forgetfulness. He’s working and tired. It’s ok. He’s never been the romantic or thoughtful type.

We left the airport, headed to the location where Phil parked his rental car. From there, he suggested going to Wal-Mart where I could get a notebook and a few essential items. I was under the impression he knew his way to Wal-Mart. Little did I know he would be using his I-phone GPS, holding it in his right hand while driving. I unpacked my GPS, conveniently packed within my camera bag. Searching frantically, Tom Tom refused to locate Wal-Mart. So, off we go, with Phil holding his GPS in hand while driving. I wanted to choke him! One of the major common-sense rules of the road in paradise is, “Hands off gadgets. Use of cell phones and all handheld digital devices is prohibited.” When I mentioned this to Phil, he snapped for me to just ‘sit quietly.’ He does not know me very well after all of these years! How dare him to suggest my sitting quietly like a sweet little Southern belle should. I’ve never been described as a sweet Southern belle. Steel magnolia, perhaps, but nothing sweet and passive. Less than 15 minutes together and he is the grumpy old man again, dictating to me like I am a child, telling me to sit quietly. Foolish guy. He still doesn’t know the woman I am! Deciding to pick my battles, I stare out the window, noting the rows of tower buildings, the palm trees, and tropical plants. The people walking along the wide sidewalks, in a hurry, busy to get to a destination, but not carrying cell phones in their hands. This must be the Hawaiian way of life, I thought to myself while Phil grumbles about traffic and the fact that he missed another turn.

If you’ve never been to Honolulu, you must realize, the city is built with towers everywhere. Stores you are accustomed to seeing, such as Wal-Mart are camouflaged within a tower. Honolulu Wal-Mart is not your typical Wally World. Denny’s Restaurant, McDonald’s, and Kentucky Fried Chicken are easy to miss since they are not the typical structures I am accustomed to in South Carolina. I anticipated a typical shopping area, unaware that the discount store is hidden within a tower. Parking is in a garage. The Honolulu I remembered as a young bride does not exist anymore. Change is everywhere, along with an abundance of people and traffic.

After leaving Wally World, I was quiet, simply too tired to fight or ask anything. Phil suggested walking to a small restaurant across from the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa http://waikiki.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels-waikiki/index.jsp?src=agn_smg_hr_ppc_google_ss_propertyspecific_hnlrw_hyattregencywaikikiresortspa&k_clickid=kw102915&mckv=s39ZEWChH|pcrid|11994296727|&hyattprop=yes  I accepted. I was simply too tired to make a suggestion since I didn’t have the time to research Honolulu before leaving Charleston.

We dined at Blazin Steaks http://www.blazinwaikiki.com/ Phil expressed how delicious the food was and since I was so tired, he made the suggestion. At first, I was a bit apprehensive since the décor and ambiance is so rustic, something I am not accustomed to as a travel and food writer. Entering the restaurant, I glanced over the menu. The special was steak and Mahi Mahi. “Yummy,” I said. Our food was cooked over a hibachi grill, served in to go boxes and plastic forks. My Angus steak was cooked to perfection, along with the Mahi Mahi. Teriyaki sauce was on the side, a delightful accompaniment to add a unique taste. Arugula salad and brown rice accompanied the entrée. Dinner for two cost us only $20.00. Although Blazin Steaks is rustic in charm, the food was absolutely delicious and fresh. I ate every bite. We sat outside on the patio, so I could admire the atmosphere. Honolulu has a lot of fabulous, athletic men walking on the streets, carrying surfboards, their bodies taut, and golden brown. If you go to Honolulu, be certain to look up Blazin Steaks, located at 2446 Koa Avenue and if you see a guy named Eddie nearby, ask him for a coupon for free drinks! I confess, we ate at Blazin Steaks several times. The food was always freshly cooked and delicious, and it was not expensive.

After dinner, we walked around a bit, discovering the ABC Stores. http://www.abcstores.com/ ABC Stores are everywhere in Honolulu and they have many interesting items for all of your needs in Honolulu. I shopped there many times purchasing beautiful tropical colored Hawaiian bracelets, earrings, Hawaiian shirts, bags, food, water and other items. More than a convenience store with much to offer, ABC Stores prices are affordable and their employees will greet with you a pleasant, “Aloha” and “Mahalo.” Escaping back to the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, I plotted myself on the bed, glancing at my watch, still stuck on Eastern Time. It was 2am, Charleston time, 8pm, Honolulu time. Tomorrow is a new day and I will explore the fun on Waikiki Beach while Phil works. Excited and exhausted, I could not wait to sleep.

Aloha! My journey in beautiful Blue Hawaii will continue as I share more details while searching for whales. For now, I have major jet lag, but I would go again tomorrow if the demands of life, and my pocketbook would permit. Aloha!