A little over a year ago, I wrote "It's the little things #Oahu2015". It was a blog about our trip to Oahu that covered a few things that make us laugh even a year later. This time around, the fun started the day before we left at the Pacifica Fog Fest, where many of us got a tan before even packing our bags.
Speaking of packing, the first thing in my bag was the winter coat, not the beach wear. I figured it would be easier to buy swim wear in Maui, but harder to get the necessary warm clothing for the Summit of Haleakala (it was 36 degrees when we went there a few years ago). Since I was checking in a bag, I offered space to those who were not. Turns out I was the only one checking in a bag, and once I added my jacket, the cooler bag, the little one's jacket and raincoat, and other things that were not mine, I ended up taking a carry-on, too. In addition to being anxious about my jacket not making it if the bag was lost by the airline, I was now anxious about the little jacket, too.
All jackets arrived safely in the morning on the flight with me, and the only thing I worried about on the flight was the turbulence caused by Jay's laughter while listening to three podcasts of "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" (using my iPhone and headphones).
The four year old arrived with a lot of energy and a great enthusiasm to explore every body of water. She was quite okay getting up and into the car by 4am to head out to the Summit for the sunrise, but was very confused by why it was so cold in Hawaii. She did provide the best description for our pictures of the spectacular sunrise - "this pictue is in the God books". Keeping in line with the God theme, Jay got instructions to the best fried chicken at the bottom of the mountain from a Jehova's Witness volunteer at the Visitor Center!
We survived the drive back playing I Spy followed by Knock Knock. I Spy was a success. Knock Knock was a success for a different reason. It went something like this -
Arpitha worked on Wednesday, and the rest of us spent the day at the beach. I was told by the little one that building a sand castle is hard work, and we have to work hard. When I told her I was on vacation, and would not work, she changed strategies. She told me vacations are for fun, and building a sand castle was fun. So I agreed. In exchange for helping her, I was rewarded with an exfoliating wet sand back massage by exquisite little hands accompanied by singing.
While I went for a walk the next morning since everyone was still asleep, the late risers conspired to leave for Hana without me. My little angel was not having any of that, and declared, "we cannot leave without Fayeza, and that's the TRUTH!". She made sure I was in the car before we drove off.
Later that evening, Arpitha exposed us to (and may have traumatized us with) YouTube videos called Eye to Eye and Angel by Tahir Shah. I am still traumatized enough to not go to the link to post it here. Because of her, we also went zip lining - something we always wanted to do but never got around to doing!
Jay declared on the way to the airport that we did good, as we had no accidents, we didn't lose anything or anyone. He forgot that he lost two room keys, and still had one in his pocket while going through TSA that he proudly kept just to show he didn't lose that one.
The Summit of Haleakala, the Road to Hana (and beyond to the Pools of Oheo), yoga lessons by the four year old, sand castles, ocean, waterfalls, beaches, hiking, shave ice, luau, and so much more - each of those is linked to a memorable moment, often captured in pictures, but always captured in the ❤️.
So long, Maui!
Speaking of packing, the first thing in my bag was the winter coat, not the beach wear. I figured it would be easier to buy swim wear in Maui, but harder to get the necessary warm clothing for the Summit of Haleakala (it was 36 degrees when we went there a few years ago). Since I was checking in a bag, I offered space to those who were not. Turns out I was the only one checking in a bag, and once I added my jacket, the cooler bag, the little one's jacket and raincoat, and other things that were not mine, I ended up taking a carry-on, too. In addition to being anxious about my jacket not making it if the bag was lost by the airline, I was now anxious about the little jacket, too.
All jackets arrived safely in the morning on the flight with me, and the only thing I worried about on the flight was the turbulence caused by Jay's laughter while listening to three podcasts of "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" (using my iPhone and headphones).
The four year old arrived with a lot of energy and a great enthusiasm to explore every body of water. She was quite okay getting up and into the car by 4am to head out to the Summit for the sunrise, but was very confused by why it was so cold in Hawaii. She did provide the best description for our pictures of the spectacular sunrise - "this pictue is in the God books". Keeping in line with the God theme, Jay got instructions to the best fried chicken at the bottom of the mountain from a Jehova's Witness volunteer at the Visitor Center!
We survived the drive back playing I Spy followed by Knock Knock. I Spy was a success. Knock Knock was a success for a different reason. It went something like this -
Lester - Knock KnockWe didn't make it past the laughter to continue playing Knock Knock, but we did get in a picnic at a Beach Park, an afternoon in the pool and a teppanyaki dinner at Kobe's in Lahaina. The little one went to bed after firmly stating, "Maui is very tiring".
Child - Who's there?
Lester - Child
Child - It couldn't be!!
Arpitha worked on Wednesday, and the rest of us spent the day at the beach. I was told by the little one that building a sand castle is hard work, and we have to work hard. When I told her I was on vacation, and would not work, she changed strategies. She told me vacations are for fun, and building a sand castle was fun. So I agreed. In exchange for helping her, I was rewarded with an exfoliating wet sand back massage by exquisite little hands accompanied by singing.
While I went for a walk the next morning since everyone was still asleep, the late risers conspired to leave for Hana without me. My little angel was not having any of that, and declared, "we cannot leave without Fayeza, and that's the TRUTH!". She made sure I was in the car before we drove off.
Later that evening, Arpitha exposed us to (and may have traumatized us with) YouTube videos called Eye to Eye and Angel by Tahir Shah. I am still traumatized enough to not go to the link to post it here. Because of her, we also went zip lining - something we always wanted to do but never got around to doing!
Jay declared on the way to the airport that we did good, as we had no accidents, we didn't lose anything or anyone. He forgot that he lost two room keys, and still had one in his pocket while going through TSA that he proudly kept just to show he didn't lose that one.
The Summit of Haleakala, the Road to Hana (and beyond to the Pools of Oheo), yoga lessons by the four year old, sand castles, ocean, waterfalls, beaches, hiking, shave ice, luau, and so much more - each of those is linked to a memorable moment, often captured in pictures, but always captured in the ❤️.
So long, Maui!
