Aloha and farewell to Hawaii

Happy Saturday friends!  I'm sitting on my balcony in Hawaii, just a couple of hours from check out and about 6 hours from my flight departure.   By this time tomorrow,  I'll be home on my couch snuggled up under a cozy warm blanket with the girls!

I had a busy day yesterday doing a lot of sightseeing.  It had stormed pretty badly the night before and was still a bit cloudy and rainy in the morning, so I started the day with visits to the Bishop Museum, the Honolulu Art Museum, and the Queen Emma Summer home.  I learned about Hawaiian culture and history and saw art by some of the greats.

I spent the afternoon exploring Pearl Harbor, the USS Missouri Battleship,  and the USS Bowfin submarine.  The Arizona Memorial at Pearl  Harboe is eerie and moving and I'm so glad I got the chance to visit it while I was here. 

After a long, hot day of exploring,  it was nice to get back to the hotel and head out for a swim.  I had the entire pool to myself and enjoyed it thoroughly!

After a swim, I treated myself to a nice dinner, although Italian in the heat of Hawaii isn't the best mixture, it was a good finally treat for my trip.

Today, I enjoyed an early morning swim and watched some of the Michigan Football game before heading out for a few hours for one last walk around Waikiki.

I stopped at my favorite taco joint here and walked the beach from Kuhio Beach all the way to the Hilton resort.  I brought Imke and Maddie on a stick along for the walk and spread Imke's ashes in several spots along the way.  I didn't want to take home any of the ahes I brought with me and was successful in leaving little pieces of her behind here.

I enjoyed a Shave Ice on the beach and walked along the water as much as I could.  It was a bit cloudy so it was a comfortable walk and I walked about 5 miles total.

I'm now soaking up the sun from my balcony and just trying to relax and enjoy the short time I have left here.  While I am excited to get home, it is hard to believe that my 50 State journey is coming to an end.  

What an amazing journey it has been over the last 10 years.  I have seen so many amazing things, eaten some outstanding food, experienced so much, met some interesting people, and had many adventures.   Not having the girls here has been strange and I'm definitely ready to get back home and take them on some adventures with me close to home.  Hoping for a little Fall color tour in the Mitten over the weekend.  I'm even looking forward to the cooler temperatures,  although the 50 degree temperature change over night might be a little shocking to my system!  I'm ready to head back to Pure Michigan!

Aloha from Hawaii. 

Hawaii

In just 48 hours I'll be on a plane heading home from my 10 days in Hawaii.  This trip, like every other big trip I've made, has taught me a little more about myself.  And I've grown as a person because of it.  I don't know how you can travel and not grow and change.  But more than anything it has reaffirmed to me that my path in life is very clear, I know where I belong and where I want to go, and I know the people I want around me on my journey. 

While Hawaii is beautiful and has a lot to offer, it certainly isn't the place for me.  I am a midwesterner; more specifically, I am a Michgander through and through.  I love where I'm from and I'm missing the beautiful Fall days there.  And while I may freeze when I get home, I am so looking forward to planting my feet firmly on the ground in Michigan...and maybe visiting a Great Lake asap!

I miss my kid and I miss my girls and I can't wait to see them all and give them all a big hug.  I love traveling and seeing new places, but boy is it strange not having the girls with me.  They make my travels so much fun.

I also have realized this week that I know some really amazing people, people who live all over this country that I don't see nearly enough, but I was fortunate to spend some quality time with some of them this week.  And I am blessed to have them in my life. 

Over the past 5 days, I have visited Memorials and parks, the aquarium and the zoo; I've hiked Diamond Head and the Makapu'u Lighthouse trail: I've snorkeled at Hanuama Bay and swam at several beaches; I've spent time at the pool and walked all over Waikiki; I've had the shave ice at Motsumoto's and the malasadas at Leonard's bakery; I've shared great conversation and drank fruity drinks out of pineapples with friends both old and new. 

It has been a good week.  I've tried to slow down and relax as well as take in the sites, sounds, and smells of the Island.  After a relaxing and slow couple of days, tomorrow, on my last full day here, I have a full day of sightseeing planned with some museums, natural areas, and most importantly, Pearl Harbor, on the agenda  It will be a good day I'm sure.  But tonight, I'm just going to sit back and listen to the waves on the ocean and all of the other sounds of Waikiki.  Good night from Hawaii.