Oahu

Adventure #11

The love and generosity of family blows me away, all the way to the magical island of Oahu.

As the first day unfolds, we find ourselves at a nearly empty beach. White sand and palm trees are set with a backdrop of lush green mountains that pour into the ocean. As we set down our things, a turtle comes on shore to greet us.

A pineapple from the local grocery store proves to be hands down, the most juicy and delicious fruit I have ever tasted. The others simply fall flat in comparison.

The next day, we drive north to where the road ends. Planning on walking only a short while, we embark on a walk along the cliffside. Below the ocean brings tidal waterfalls, whales, and spinner dolphins that leap out of the water. At each sighting, our excitement level rises and we are drawn further down the trail. We are continually exposed to full sun, with little water. We begin to grow tired, and contemplate turning around. We meet a ranger who tells us of a protected area at the end of the trail where Albatross are nesting with their young and monk seal can be seen. She generously fills out water bottles from her reserve. Suddenly, another surge of energy powers through us and we continue to onwards, now more determined to reach the end. We are a mixed group of hikers with varying ages and abilities. We stop periodically to discuss how much further to proceed, prepared to turn around at any moment.

Slowly we continue, until we stop at the sound of a mighty roar is heard that sounds animalistic. A blow hole below is spewing a mist of ocean spray, built up from pressure below the thick volcanic rock. This is the source of these outrageous moaning sounds. Again we are invigorated and inspired to continue. The majestic sights of the ocean, brimming with turquoise water that rush under volcanic sea arches continue to the west as we make our way down the coast.

To my great delight and surprise, we arrive at the northern point. Just before the preserve the trail proves to be challenging with a steep ascent up and over a washed out area.

We follow the trail to the northern point of the island where giant Albatross soar above us and nest below with their young. With large bodies and narrow wings that spans of 10 feet, it is a wonder they fly at all.

At the edge of the shore, monk seals bask in the afternoon sun. Endemic to Hawaii and endangered, there are only 1,500 monk seals spanning over 1,200 miles. This rare sighting is unbelievable.

The return journey proves to be much faster, and it is a huge relief to make it back to the car.

After a long day of hiking the pool and hot tub could not be anymore perfect to unwind. That is, except for the striking sunset setting the horizon and ocean aglow as we watch from the beach, as our feet sink into the wet sand. It seems nothing could be better.

The dawn breaks on the final morning of the trip. We pack and are ready to embark on one last day of adventures. We stop off for Malasadas, a portuguese donut and an island must! Stuffed with coconut cream, lightly fried, and covered in sugar it is a rich indulgence

Visiting here is rich in history and deeply moving. An underlying theme throughout this visit is for all to spread love and joy, to celebrate strength. It serves as a stark reminder to remain grateful and not take things for granted.

Touring the USS Arizona, a floating memorial, we hear recorded accounts from people who were there. It is impactful hearing these first hand accounts of the surprise attack. Stories of bravery and courage hit hard. Continuing on to the USS Missouri there are more personal stories that show compassion in war times and pull at the heartstrings. Arriving on the deck where the peace treaty was signed to end WW II, it feels we have come full circle, and the tour is complete.

Making our way back to the airport, we learn that our departure flight is delayed 3 hours. We decide to go to the airport anyway, despite the long wait ahead of us. Arriving at our gate, we find the the plane has gone from delayed to undelayed. Much like the rest of the trip, everything continues to work out perfectly.

The greatest gift of all is being able to share the joy, love, and adventure of the island with family. Sharing in the awestruck wonder, with smiles and laughter. This truly makes it the trip of a lifetime. It is an ineffable gift to share and feel so much love.