Maybe it’s because it’s February and I’m in Seattle.
Maybe it’s because I’ve had a couple of invitations to visit Hawaii in the last couple of weeks.
Whatever the reason, my mind has been drifting off to the islands. At night, as I lull myself to sleep, I’ve been designing our dream house in Hawaii. Gardens, an outside patio where we’ll have breakfast and entertain guests, the outdoor shower, the grill where we’ll cook dinner each night. It’s all there.
Jon and I joke about our Hawaii house. The one where we’ll retire early. Jon will surf in the mornings. I’ll bike or go for a long jog. And we’ll eat fresh fruit all day long and talk about how perfect the weather is.
Hey, dreams don’t materialize unless you actually talk about them, right?
Well, in the meantime, I’ll settle on some memories and a visual journey from my trips there in the last few years.
The Byodo-In Temple on Oahu may not be the first destination you’d think of visiting but it’s worth a little side trip if you’re headed up the east coast. It’s a peaceful spot (if you arrive before the tourist buses) where you can enjoy the mountains and the black swans swimming in the ponds.
There’s probably no other flower that’s more emblematic to Hawaii than the hibiscus. You see it on bumper stickers on the mainland, on t-shirts, coffee mugs and most every type of souvenir. The real beauty in a hibiscus flower is its impermanence – the bloom generally lasts for just 24 hours.
Jon got bitten by the surf bug a couple of years ago and has been taking lessons every time we go to Hawaii. There’s a little too much waiting around for that perfect wave for me to enjoy it but I totally dug stand-up paddle boarding when we visited the Big Island last year. (Hey – notice the hibiscus flowers on the boards above – see, I told you!)
I never cared to take a helicopter ride but found it to be thrilling along the Kaui coast. Those first few seconds of lift-off are like, well, you’re flying. I know that sounds weird, but it was like the dreams I had when I was a kid where I was the Flying Nun (far from it, ha!). With no doors on our helicopter, we could feel the wind (and rain) coming through. It was spectacular.
I’ve written about a lot of the food in Hawaii and the best restaurants on Kauai so I won’t go into details here. But I long for an authentic malasada from Leonard’s Bakery on Oahu. I don’t think I need to say more, do I? (Except my teeth ache just a tiny bit from even looking at this!)
Oh, Hawaii. I actually feel a little sad not being in your company right now. You’re such a tease, especially when I read posts on Facebook from my friends who live there. Why do you have to be so perfect yet so far out of reach?
Big sigh.
Travel Well,
Beth
Related links:
Flying High
Limahuli Gardens on Kaui
I’m right there with you. I find myself looking at flights to Kauai at least once a week. I long to get back there and just sit. For now we will just have to look through the grey Seattle days and dream of sunnier times, or the airline’s next big sale 😉
I’m with you, Beth – dreaming of blue,sunny skies, waves lapping on the shore, warmer days ahead. Yes, I do think it’s because it’s February and we’re here in Seattle!
Or maybe it’s because of those malasadas! Yum!
Minnesota chiming in here – we’re planning on a 20th anniversary trip in 12 months, our first trip to the islands, and I’m starting to get a little wanderlust myself. Thanks for sharing the pictures and thoughts – can’t wait to experience it all first hand!