favorite Hawaiian memory
 

okay all you Hawaii fans out there: what is your best Hawaiian memory? i was thinking about this the other night and mine would be two years ago snorkeling at Haunama Bay on Oahu. in particular, swimming along by myself wondering how soon it would be before it got really crowded and we'd feel compelled to leave and i felt a presence next to me that i figured was someone invading my space and snorkeling too close to me. when i turned to look it was a big sea turtle. so cool! i know i was smiling hugely behind my snorkel mask, the "crowds" and all the other unimportant stuff forgotten.

This one just happened this summer on Kaua`i. We were returning from Makua (Tunnels) beach and before Hanalei there is this bend that you go around and you get a good view of the bay and the town. We drove around the bend and there hovering above the bay was the brightest, most vivid and colorful rainbow I have ever seen. It literally brought tears to my eyes. I have never seen anything like it. It is moments like that that keep me returning again and again.
-Bill

Visiting Pearl Harbor in 1998 with my 76 year old Dad. He hadn't been to Hawaii in over 50 years since he was an enlisted man in the Navy. The only thing he said was "Things sure have changed"

Currently my favorite memory of Hawaii is probably walking along Waikiki at 1 a.m. holding hands with my boyfriend-- he in his tux and me in a formal gown, both of us barefoot -- after my high school prom. But that was 27 years ago.
I leave for Oahu in 2 weeks to make a whole new set of memories.

Running into Bethany, the one armed goddess surfer and watching her surf while talking story with the locals on the pier. And hiking NaPali coast years before and both of us stating at the same time....scatter my ashes here. Home!

wait there's more, so very much more...favorite Hawaaiian memory...IMPOSSIBLE. Every moment has been wonderful, even the bittersweet moment of losing a best friend. You ask too much stellaluna! I have too many to choose, just gave you a couple in grand mix of joyous moments, favorite moments, simply moments........

One of my favorite memories: Having a picnic (on a red and white checked plastic tablecloth) on a cliff overlooking the ocean on the road to Hana with me, my husband, and our three teenagers. Wonderful family memories.

The smell! The glorious smell! I didn't expect the whole state to smell like frangipani, ginger, etc...what a wonderful thing! It came wafting through the home we rented...made me want to just sit there and sniff.

please keep them coming! this is great!
mahalo everyone! can never get too much Hawaii!

The sunsets!

Seeing the lava flow at night and swimming in a heated pond at night under the brilliant stars in Kapoho, Big Island.

My first trip to Hawaii, twenty years ago, was also the occasion of my first flights. We flew from Washington to N.Y. to L.A. to Honolulu, first-class on Pan Am (back when first-class service knocked your socks off - it was a 20th anniversary gift to us, the airline ticket.) When the lights of Honolulu appeared on the horizon around midnight, it was a magical sight. Then we walked out of the airport with the fragrant breezes swirling around us; someone who would become a dear friend put a creamy white plumeria lei, with it's heavely fragrance, around my neck, and kissed me on both cheeks. That's when my love affair with Hawaii began; it has never ended! ;;)

I can't pick one...

1. Snorkeling at Kahuluu - so many fish and turtles. If you start early, not many people either.

2. Walking across the steaming Kilauea Iki crater at VNP, then back into rainforest. Amazing place all around.

3. Floating in Ahalanui (name probably butchered) volcanically heated pool in the Puna district. Toasty warm water, right next to the ocean, hearing the waves crash, surrounded by coconut trees. So relaxing.

4. Taking a tour up Mauna Kea and seeing the shadow of the volcano against the sky as the sun set. I didn't know that could happen.

5. Dinner at Cheeseburgers in Paradise on Waikiki my last night. Listening to music, with food and a fruity drink in hand, watching the sun set and the waves roll in. Sad to be leaving, but so content after a fabulous trip.

The looks on my childrens faces with each new experience. The awe and wonder as they looked at lava flowing, snorkeled with multitudes of fish, and watched the sun set over the ocean as we ate a delicious dinner. These are burned in my memory for ever.

A picnic lunch at Haunama Bay back when you just drove up, parked your car, and walked down the stone steps to all that beauty.

First morning and still on Eastern Time, early breakfast at the second story Denny's at the ocean side, watching the full moon setting through the palm trees over the waves.

The birth of my daughter at Tripler Army Hospital, long ago.

Our first trip to Hawaii, we arrived on Kaua'i on Christmas Day and had Christmas dinner on the patio at the Beach House. After leaving cold, dark, rainy Portland, OR to be sitting outside drinking mai tais, watching the sunset and enjoying a wonderful meal was simply magic.

But this is just one wonderful Hawaiian memory. There are so many more.

Watching the sunrise over the Kapoho lagoons, planting a coconut sprout at the new black sand beach forming on the BI at the end of the red road, walking to Akaka Falls on the BI through banyans, bamboo and two story ginger plants, driving the Hamakua Coast (BI) - (brought tears to my eyes), snorkling with sea turtles at Kahalu'u, waking up to the bird chorus in the mornings - I love Hawaii, especially the BI. 16 more days until I am there again!

I live in Hawaii - and it's often that in the hustle and bustle of everyday life it's residents forget that we live in such a beautiful place.

Reading all of these great memories really made me pause and think of how lucky I am. I especially could relate to the turtle sighting - I go diving almost every weekend and I always see turtles - it's a thrill every time.

It happened during our 2nd trip to Hawaii which was Maui. I was up really early our first morning there, around 0430 and went out for a jog. Well it was pretty cool to be out that early anyway. Seems you have the place to yourself. On the way back right in front of my eyes was a mango tree, ripe, with fresh fruit on the ground. I scooped up as many as I could and sped back to our hotel with this most fortunate bounty. It may sound corny but I sure felt very lucky that day. As my wife loves mangoes she too found this pretty neat. Mahalo.

Making breakfast on the BI when we were staying at a coffee farm. We'd go out and pick a papaya or two, and then an orange or a tangerine; then we'd gather some mac nuts. We'd chop up the nuts and sprinkle them over the papaya, and squirt some citrus juice over that.
The most amazing memory, though, is the "green flash" - we were lucky enough to see it twice.

chepar, I totally agree with you. I know that I often take a lot of this paradise that I live in, for granted! The outrageously beautiful sunsets are wonderful....I am so jaded now that I don't run home to my condo unless I know it's going to be a super fabulous sunset. Yet, they all pretty much are!

The sea animals are great, too...I remember camping in Kalaupapa on Molokai, and wading in the water in the morning. I saw an eel floating by and looking at me, and in the short distance a monk seal was bobbing around and checking me out.

Hawaii is like the 1960s/70s...If you remember anything, you really didn't have a good Hawaiian vacation! :-d

But, during a brief moment of sobriety, it has to be the momma whale coming in so close to the Poipu shore with her young family and I'd swear I could see her wink at me during a slow roll.

That and seeing about 10 of then romping from the "1st turn" of the NaPali Coast hike. Awsome when they are a few thousand ft out and you're about 1,000ft. above the ocean. :-X:-X

The view from our hotel bed on Molokai watching a storm roll in.

Sunset over Oahu from poolside of the Kaluakoi Resort on Molokai sipping a mai tai.
And just about any Polihale Sunset.

First, watching the sunset against the clouds on top of Haleakala. Then, seeing my shadow ringed by a rainbow against the Haleakala crater - called the Brocken Spector. It was like watching a ghost. My husband and I were the only people at the overlook which made it even more special.

4 trips, so many memories . . . .

I guess I'd have to say the first sunset from Napili, because it was so astonishing. Looking out at Molokai, admiring the most amazing colors, and then, Whales breeching, one after another. We lost count of all the whales we saw on that first trip, but we must have seen 20 the first night.

(This was in March, which seemed to be prime time for whales in Maui).

This thread is great, I had to add to it...

1.) Rushing into our room at the Outrigger on Waikiki and throwing open the blinds in our room, getting our first glimpse of Waikiki Beach and that beautiful blue ocean, surfers, and the catamarans...I literally dropped everything in my hands because I was so in awe of the beauty...we had just gotten to Hawaii and had only seen the street side of Waikiki

2.) Snorkeling for the first time at Hapuna Beach on the Big Island, and swimming with my husband and 4 giant sea turtles

3.) Hiking over hardened lava at VNP, and feeling amazed at all the new land there

4.) Snorkeling at Molokini on Maui, so clear and calm and blue, like another world

5.) Walking back to the Hyatt on the Kaanapali Beach walk at night, looking up and seeing nothing but palm trees and stars....

Getting lei'ed ! ! !

Just the way the air feels on your skin...ahhhh...16 more days...

wanted to revive this thread and see if anyone wanted to add to it: i've got Hawaii on the brain!!!!

Lying on our balcony with our pillows and blanket at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel in 1978, staring up at the beautiful moonlit sky, and watching the tall palm trees gently swaying in the breeze. And, oh, the wonderful smells of pikake, plumeria...aahhh!

My very first bowl of steamin' hot saimin.

Living in Lahaina when it was just another odd old town.

My first sunrise at Haleakala. We were the only ones up there (long time ago).

Having fun at the International Marketplace when it used to be a fun place instead of what it is now.

Collecting woodrose on the Big Island.

Kalapana Beach.

Soaking in the hot pond by Kapoho with my best friends. The tiny fish nibble at you under water.

Living on Molokai and driving 20 MPH from Kamalo to Kaunakakai because there was no good reason to drive any faster.

Getting rained on at the old outdoor movie theater in Kaunakakai.

The smell of Hawaii. Maile, pikaki, plumeria, crackseed, the salty-limu air at some beaches, teri-anything on the BBQ, huli-huli chicken as your driving down the road, the musky smell in the forest after it rains.

The color of the ocean in places like Waimanalo, Waimea, Pokai, Kahana, Kaneohe and Kealakekua Bays.

Bonfires at Makaha and Sunset Beaches.

Being under a tin roof and listening to the rain.

Going over to Coconut Island or the sand bar in Kaneohe Bay.

'Borrowing' lychee from the best tree in the neighborhood.

The sound of the tradwinds blowing through ironwood trees.

Hiking to Sacred Falls.

Being a kid and thinking the drive to Hana would never end, and then having to drive back later that day.

Rain on your side of the street and no rain on my side. haha

Good stuff. Thanks for reminding me.

Sesamee

Most of my favorite Hawaiian memories involve a combination of people and places.. The cook at Kona Inn who was moving to the west shore of Kauai "because the Big Island was becoming too developed"; two surfers from Australia on Big Beach (Maui) and two German tennis pros at the Kona Bali Kai, all four of whom have since become close friends, and a whole set of Hawaiian locals who've become a secondary family for us. Especially on the Big Island, locals in general are tremendously friendly and generous people.

I thought about this thread today as I attended my friend's luau in Kalihi. Lots of Hawaiian song, fragrant leis, and best of all, every so often someone would jump up and do a hula as Ale'a was playing. The best one was "Pua Hone," when a girl was doing the hula and a guy jumped in and started doing the male version alongside her. I felt so lucky to be a part of the 'ohana and the surrounding culture.

This falls more under the "hard to believe" category:
Staying at the Sheraton Waikiki (ocean view) in 1977 for $32.00 a night!

I apologize if this is a multiple post...I'm having some technical difficulties this evening.

So many favorite memories, but my tops ones would have to be:

* Having my first pina colada drink out of a cored pineapple, with an umbrella, while watching the sunset on Kaanapali beach in Maui.

* Feast at Lele (Maui) watching the sunset with my husband as we enjoyed a great meal and realizing I had seven more nigths of sunsets to enjoy!

* Taking my mom on her first trip ever to Hawaii (Maui) and taking her to all my favorite restaurants and activities - it was a great mom/daughter trip.

* Riding down Haleakala - I loved that adventure!

* Sitting on my lanai at the Kauai Marriott resort watching a tropical storm take place - wow! Many people were bummed to be "rained out", but I loved it - talk about a wild storm!

Mahalo for letting me share some of my memories!

Cheers,
Tracey

Sitting on a rock on the east end of Hideaways Beach on the North Shore of Kauai. The water temperature so perfectly matched to the air temperature that I have to look to see if my legs are actually in the water. My feet buried deeply in the softest sand I've ever felt. To the west the sand along the entire length of beach is perfect and undisturbed. Looking across Hanalei Bay my view of Bali Hai is obstructed only by the occasional misty spray of the incoming waves as they crash against the rocks to the west. And as I look around, I realize I'm the only person on the entire beach and for the moment, this paradise belongs to me.


I'll be back in April!!

I was young and single registered nurse living in Honolulu during the 60's. On the way home from work I would occasionally clip a flower off a shrub and take home to my apt. One day I was walking past a construction site and a handsome Hawaiian man ( and I mean like a Hawaiian god) stepped out from the site and handed me a package and said" I notice you admire flowers so I got these for you" I was speechless but opened them up and it was a dozen red roses-
what a memory
and the next week he brought me fresh gardenias - should have married him instead of the person I did- but I'd like him to know I am avaiable again

I have many awesome memories but I always think most of how Hawaii smells...the warm, thick air that envelops you when you step out of the airport, smelling of a thousand tropical flowers. And the scent of the first lei of the trip, then refrigerating it and putting a cool lei around your neck when you get back in the evening after a long hot day. I'm always sticking my nose in tuberose when I see it at a flower shop and it transports me back!

love
roxy

This one is easy....getting married. As we said our "I do's" the sun set behind those glorious palm trees and whales were playing off shore. Could not have been more perfect. Mahalo for making me smile.