Manta Ray Snorkel

Ever been on a sailboat, in the middle of the ocean, at night? If not, you should.

Then you have to take it one step further - you get off that sailboat, into a wetsuit, into the water and hang on to a surf board, with PVC pipe around it, and lights attached to the bottom (personally, it sounds kind of Redneck to me) - Did I mention it's DARK outside?

You float along - superman style. Just hanging out. In our group, there were only 8 of us and a "leader" - we all had blue glo-stick lights attached to our snorkels. There were lots of groups out there.

Duncan jumps of the boat first, and right there, just below the boat is a Manta Ray. Manta Ray's part of the Shark family, like a sting-ray, just harmless. Unless, well you get "knocked". :-) Imagine a VW bug, running into you going 3 miles an hour. You won't get hurt, but you still don't want it to happen.

There are scuba divers on the bottom of the ocean floor. Snorkelers on top. Beautiful.

They float, they flip and their white bellies shine against the light. The reflection is so bright, you think a spotlight has gone on.

Then you don't see any, but you look around and you are in the middle of a aquarium. You are literally in the middle of all these fish.

We are on way back to the Catamaran and everyone is loading up. Duncan looks down and there are TWO of them just under us. Doing flips. The boys didn't want to get out.

You take off your flippers, hand them up, then climb up the ladder. I'm still not sure if it was Duncan or the Manta Ray who brushed my leg.

WOW.

Island Time

There is a mysterious time warp here in Hawaii. Everything is in slow motion and then the time goes really fast. Mornings are slow and lazy. From when you wake up, until 11:30am, time crawls. Literally. I've never accomplished so much in mornings.

Afternoons - well, that's a different story. Not sure what happens. One minute you are waiting for it to be noon. Next second you are watching the sunset. Poof. Just like that.

My brain would seriously turn to mush living on this island. I did read a few pages of a really good book today.....

I want to go home

I boarded a plane with my sons this morning - on a stand -by flight. To place I've never been before, but a place I needed to go. NO purse, no suitcase - only those things that fit in your pocket.

Pearl Harbor does not allow you to take any bags in - no purses, no camera bags, etc. HOWEVER, DON"T believe what the tour companies tell you. It's $2.50 for adult and $1.25 for kids and it takes 20 minutes from the HON airport to USS ARIZONA memorial by city bus. Also, the cab ride back to the airport is, $11.50. Needless to say, you can do it MUCH cheaper on your own. We are on a city bus, without a map in a city I've never been too. BTW, it's the fourth or fifth stop from the airport.

Is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY. If you have read the book "UNBROKEN" well you understand. If you haven't, read it. And go. The tour, the film, the boat ride to the memorial - ever single moment of it is worth it.

Thank you to all the men and women who have died protecting the things I take for granted. Thank you. There are no words to fill in this space. Just, thank you. For protecting my Papo, and letting me live an incredible life with a grandfather. Bless those who can't say the same. There truly are no words.

We leave the memorial, we take a cab to the airport and believe it or not, next thing I know we are having dinner with some friends from Denver whom are visiting the island. (in Kona).

We are in Honolulu and all we could think (and the boys confirmed this), was "get us to OUR island". Quick......

Touch down in Kona, so nice to be home - the hale is a short way.....

Years ago, I read a book named "The Secret Life of Bees". There is a line ( and I'm sure if I re-read the line, it wouldn't impact me the way it did then) and the line reads "Did you ever have to go somewhere to go home?" And truly, for the last 15 years, that place has been Vail, CO. Yes, I have lived in Colorado longer, but EVERY time I hit the valley, well, I know I'm home. Until now.

I've been all over the world. And TODAY, I have been home. Home to where my Papo did his part, home with friends whom I didn't know were going to be on the island. Home with my boys to the "Hale". And finally, home.

There are times when home has nothing to do with the people or the place - it's the moment. Welcome home......

Pearl Harbor

You are SO close, you might as well go.....

We are on Hawai'i. The BIG Island. There are no ferries. There is a plane ride. I am going to go before the boys get here. I guess island fever struck - still not sure what is happening to the time. We have less than a week left. Our new friends had to head to the mainland. "You will be ready to leave" - Yeah, keep trying to convince me.

Tomorrow, it's my dad's 65th birthday. And my grandfather (PAPO) is having a stint placed in his heart for a blocked artery.

I was going to blow off going to Pearl Harbor. It will cost us $600 - at LEAST - airfare, food, bus fare, etc......

Living history. My sons great-grandfather served on a ship outside of Oahu. This is not only a part of his life, but ours. We have to go.

We are not going. Other things to do..... Surf lessons, manta ray dives, snorkeling...... Sounds pretty selfish to me.....

We are booked on the 2 o'clock flight - you can fly stand-by for free. We are going at 10 am.

My Papo means the whole world to me. I want him to know, going into surgery, I'm taking his great-grandsons to show them where their Papo was stationed.

A hui ho (until next time)

Perfect

Yesterday afternoon I received a text from the people whom are living in my house. "Is everything ok? I had a missed call from the Kona Fire Department"

We are on a hike in Waipio Valley. This message I receive on our way back in. Of course, there is no cell service where we have been. Who knows when the message could have arrived.

I guess that would be a little unnerving - You are living 2,300 miles away and you get a call from the fire dept. Yes, a little unnerving.

Let them know, as far as I knew, everything was fine. "We are on our way back from a hike, will let you know when we get there."

"Hale" safe. (hale word for home) Text saying all is good. And then they replied "Guess it was a "false alarm" I like these people.

Today, I receive a call.

Wait, I can't remember why they called. Oh yeah, a neighbor has too many bananas and avocados, they are about to go bad - will you walk down the street and pick them up? Well, we are a long way from there, but I will call the people staying in my house. Leasa, will you go get the banana's and avocado's??? Are you kidding? Really, I didn't think there was such a thing.

Two doors down - we are not quite country living, but two doors down is well, not next door. :-)

And then I say: "How are you? How is everything?" He says: 'PERFECT'. 'We love it here, everything is PERFECT'. How can than be???? It's PERFECT out here!!!!

He then says "This worked out well". REALLY????? You are kidding me??? You are as in love with Denver as we are with Hawaii??????

No way.

I literally heard, "It's Perfect"

There are times in life when, well, it works out, well, perfect.

Wet Wednesday

Hilo, HI - East side of the island. It RAINS in Hilo. Wet, torrential down-pours - and this is normal. Hilo is very lush and green. We went to Hilo after visiting the volcano - the volcano is another story.

On to Hilo, there are 9 of us and we stay in a Seaside Hotel. Open air, window slats and window ac units. And I have to say, I love my boys. (I've said that before!). We have stayed in some really nice hotels in their life. And this one, well, location, location, location. AND it's the only hotel in Hilo still locally owned. Duncan proclaims, "This hotel is GREAT". A look at him like I was seeing him for the first time. What an incredible thought. You have a charmed little life, and you STILL like a hotel like this. Don't blame him.

Our new friends, have a "Hawaiian Family" - "Ohana" (meaning family in Hawaiian). Every Wednesday this group has a "Wet Wednesday" gathering. Uncle Norman, Aunt Bertie (traveled together singing across the US)

more later

Green Sand Beach

Yes, real sand - real green. And there is NO easy way to get there. The Southern Most Tip in the United States of America. Just to the left of there, you WALK 2.5 miles to make it to Green Sand Beach. WOW!