After all the years,
After all the moments,
Some moments I can still smell the air and feel the breeze
On those momentous life memories
In Hawaii

I'll start with 10 at a time. . . . and you? What are yours???

10. Landing to the scent and sound of the air that is like no other in Lihui as we rush to the car rental with our carryon luggage for 22 nights in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

9. Meeting Titus Kinimaka and his boyz to teach my niece and nephew to surf

8. Sunrise alone at Ovaline pools with my man during calm seas.

7. Swimming in Hanalei as a very injured baby whale beaches itself. Watching the local bruddahs pick the exact moment to safely push it back into the bay

6. 4th of July at the Plantation Cottage on the sleeping lanai

5. Talking story during a tsunami watch with a man who's father perished during the big one, on my way to our room in Lanai. He enjoyed the adjustment from pines to resort work.

4. Watching private rehearsals to Merry Monarch Festival with just the performers and the crew.

3. Talking story with our guide down to Kalaupapa and feeling the spirit of the Aloha 'Aina.

2. Walking to town at sunrise in Hana and being part of the true aloha as each passing truck and car and person wished me a good morning aloha.

1. making it up the hill after busting my wing and hanging local at the hospital where they thought I was, talking story about their hospital picket.


AND YOU??? What are some of your most memorable moments on those horrid islands in the middle of the ocean?

December 1954, walking across the tarmac from my PanAm flight in my new dress and high heels and into the arms of my young husband whom I hadn't seen for the year he had been stationed in Korea.

September 1955, the birth of my daughter at Tripler Army Hospital. (You do the math.)

May 1973, taking that daughter back for a four-island tour for her high school graduation present.

All the beauty of all the islands the many other times I've been.

Rainbows.

10 Haleakala crater, hike and cabins - with its sunrises, solitude, colors and native birds at paliku.
9 Dinner at Alan Wongs, there is some charm and culture to Oahu.
8. Napali Coast ocean cruise. Just beautiful as is the Awa-'awapuhi trail.
7. Snorkeling at the fishbowl and aquarium on Maui.
6. Hanalei, Hawaii untouched.
5. Snorkel Cruise and snorkeling to Captain Cook and two-step.
4. Backpacking to Waimanu Valley, Hawaii the way it was a 1000 years ago.
3. Snorkeling at Keauhou Landing, the best coral garden in the State.
2. My first 11 visits to Kona Village Resort, my Hawaiian Ohana. Number 12 is in May
1. Volcanoes National Park, being within two feet of ouzing lava.

Living on Oahu before the interstates, before the luxury stores in Waikiki, when there was still a drive-in movie, when houses were costing less than $50,000, when there wa very little of anything between the west end of Hotel Street and the airport, etc.

Was it "better?" Not so sure it was; just different.

Living at the center of Oahu (Wahiawa) and, a few times a year, driving over the two-lane country road (no freeway then). cresting the hill and catching the first glimpse of Pearl harbor. A few times a year, the air was so bright and clear that it visibly crackled. I've never seen light like that anywhere else.

Waking up in the military recreation center on the Big Island and seeing bright red color reflected on the ceiling. Lookong out the window, I discovered Kilauea erupting with several long towers of lava for the first time in many years.

Driving out toward the north side of the island when the Dole Pineapple Shack was just that, not the large touristy place it became. A spear of field fresh pineapple on a stick has to be one of the sweetest, most succulent treats I've ever enjoyed.

The photo I have of my daughter, then about 18 months old, in the arms of a spear carrying Maori warrior in all his fierce regalia at the Polynesian Cultural Center after it first opened.

Sunsets at a long-gone bar in Waikiki, the name of which now escapes me, feeling the soft warm tradewinds caressing our skins as the sun sank into the Pacific.

My first ever taste of mint chocolate chip ice cream.

It's called muti-culturalism now - back then it was just a neighborhhod of friends from differing racial and cultural backgrounds living together in harmony.

Thanks for sharing your fondest missives. I hope others will share.

I like imagining that photo of an 18 month in the arms of a Maori warrior. And love bringing baby back to birthplace. One of these days maybe KVR will call me, until then keep up the marketing to keep them in business. It may not call me but I think it is a very important place and I hope they rebuild and recover quickly.

Carolyn, your memories are priceless, thanks for sharing.

Here goes:

Waking up the first morning in Hanalei (it was dark when we arrived) and seeing the green of the mountain, the blueblue with whitecaps of the bay, and the orange/purple/pink/yellow of the flowers. It was pinch each other to make sure we are awake time.

Our 40th anniversary dinner at Gaylords, at sunset with a glorious array of colors, white tablecloth, champagne, a feeling of real contentment.

The jeep ride at Kipu ranch: OMG, what a trip, glad I survived alive, and the exhilerating feeling of swimming to the waterfall after the trip. I ROCK!

Meeting fellow Fodorites in Kauai. Just friends you haven't met yet, and you know who I mean!!

Also flying into Oahu, and seeing our little pink hotel on the beach; later standing in our room at the Royal Hawaiian looking at Diamond Head.

On a more serious note, I will never forget the Arizona memorial in Pearl Harbor and what it meant to our country.

What a great post Kealalani, you rock!!

Visiting my grandparents in Oahu when I was 5 (I'm now 37). I would run into the ocean when the waves were receding then would run to shore when they came back in...a bit of a chicken. Also on that trip, my grandmother would allow me a piece of chocolate cake for dessert as long as I would have a piece of fruit first. My choice was always pineapple, even though the chocolate cake would burn *so bad* after eating it.

Being told (with hand signals) by my dive guide to STOP and turning my head ever so slightly to see a giant honu buzz by me less than a foot away from me. Speechless.

Being overwhelmed at beauty of Place of Refuge first time I saw it. I return to it every time I'm on the Big Island.

Learning to paddle board in Maui with my 69 year old father...who never did stand up during the two hour lesson and is still healing from the wounds he got from crashing into the board. What a lesson in perseverance! I admire him.

Being greeted with a lei in Oahu by an old friend from the DC area. She met her husband while housesitting in Oahu and is now completely surrendered to aloha.

Helicopter take-off from a cliff in Waimea Canyon.

Sitting for hours at Kona Brewing Company with great pies and beers.

Whale watching from a cliffside bungalow in Haiku. So secluded, and so many whales to watch.

Taking a first boat trip along the Na Pali Coast.

Seeing my first monk seal enjoying a snooze on a beach in Poipu.

Hiking part of Sliding Sands trail at Haleakala summit. WOW.

Eating garlic butter shrimp at Romy's on Oahu's North Shore!

I think that's more than 10...and I could probably go on and on and on. I love Hawaii. It feels like home to me. Maybe some day it will be.

Good stuff!!!

My first trike flight on Kauai.

We had just landed and hit the condo in Princeville and Gerry called to tell me the weather was changing and the next morning might be a good idea. However his partner double booked. As we both arrived and awaited his landing he was at a loss of what to do. It was a very unfortunate situation, and the other guy was pissed. So I stood down, said we would take a ride and meet back in an hour and a half. Now realize this meant that then the next hour and a half my patient husband would then take another drive.

Well when we took off, we took off so fast and so high that I never even checked my harnesses. Gerry, having witnessed my spirit of aloha and standing down during a difficult moment, took me for a full island tour. So close into the crater it felt like with a gust of wind we might hit and not for a second did I blink. And then we did an emergency landing on a southern plantation road for a ' nature break' before heading back to the air strip.

My first trike flight on Maui was with his best friend Armin. He met me at the hanger and gave me a double handed handshake. In the air, he gave me the wings for awhile, and then he asked me "Keeeeeeeelani, have you ever hugged a cloud?" And we soared into the clouds and above before killing the engine and gliding home.

Good times indeed.

"Meeting fellow Fodorites in Kauai. Just friends you haven't met yet, and you know who I mean!!"
Aww. got to love that, back at you RNCheryl

Standing on Anini beach saying "I do"

Finding out I was pregnant minutes before flying to Kauai for our 1st anniversary!

Helicopter ride with Louis Armstrongs "what a wonderful world" playing in the earphones

Having beers at Whalers Pub!

Hiking to the bottom of Wailua falls

Just to name a few

THis makes me really want to take my mother and husband!

Just a couple for me.

Looking at double and triple rainbows in the valleys while standing in the sunshine.

Gazing out over the ocean and watching the surf from the Diamond Head Lookout.

Rivulet after rivulet of water flowing down the Koolau's after a heavy rain.

Eating shave ice at Matsumoto's in Haleiwa on a hot day.

Wearing t-shirts, shorts and slippers year round, maybe a long sleeve t-shirt when the weather turns cold.

Trying to decide which plate to order from Rainbow Drive In; bbq steak, half fried chicken, loco moco, chili plate, pork cutlet with gravy all over.

No special order

Seeing my daughter just after she was born in 1974. (also at Tripler Hospital)

Taking my daughter to the zoo, Paradise Park & Sea Life Park.

Seeing my daughter dance at the Maui Marriott Luau in 1991.

After a 6 month deployment overseas on a guided missile destroyer, mostly off the coast of Vietnam. As we got close to the Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head looked so majestic off to the right. As we entered the harbor, a tug boat greeted us and placed a huge lei over the bow of the ship. Getting farther into the harbor, USS Arizona Memorial was off to the left. Everyone came to attention & saluted the memorial. When we got to the pier, there were many friends & family to greet us. A Navy band was playing. There were hula dancers.

Seeing my granddaughter for the first time about a month after she was born in Hawaii. I had been living in North Carolina at the time and went to Hawaii to visit.

Seeing my two grandsons for the first time shortly after each was born.

Seeing my daughter dance for the last time in June 2000. She gave up dancing as she would shortly give part of her liver to the granddaughter.

I went with my daughter & her family to California for the transplant. I returned a couple days before them six months later and met them at the airport. This was before 9/11 2001, so we could go to the gate. There were over 50 friends & family to greet them. There were several TV cameras & several news organizations there to interview them. This was the first mother to daughter liver transplant for anyone from Hawaii & it was a huge story for months leading up to the transplant, updates after the transplant & the homecoming.

Seeing my granddaughter dancing in a Tahitian costume at a Tahiti Fete in Hilo 2-3 years ago.

Curious Dusty - how is the granddaughter? Those are some great moments to remember whether in Hawaii or anywhere else. It is amazing how life come full circle.

Though my granddaughter has to take anti-rejection drugs the rest of her life, she is doing great.

14 years old now. 10+ years since the transplant.

Congratulations dusty! I just looked at your profile picture. Your granddaughter is beautiful

carolyn~yours brought tears to my eyes, as did yours, Dusty.

Although I have not had the privilege to live there and have only visited a few times:

From the deck of a cruise ship, seeing, hearing, and smelling the lava from Kilauea hit the sea. It was a magnificant sight.

From the deck of the same cruise ship, seeing a whale breach; the sun was shining on the wet hide of the whale, and the backdrop was the lush green cliffs of Kaui and the sapphire blue water. I was so dumbfounded by the sheer beauty it never occured to me to use the camera in my hand to capture it.

For the first time in my life, swimming in ocean water that was WARM. Hawaii was also my first snorkeling experience~loved it!

The scent of plumeria.

Seeing the amazing shades of blues and greens during a helicoptor tour of Maui.

Seeing how pineapples grew~I had no idea!!~and tasting FRESH pineapple for the first time.

Watching the fireworks while sitting on Kaanapali beach on 4th of July.

Now I want to go back.......

Thank you starrs.

This is from a family Christmas party 2008.

Granddaughter,Sesilia (Tau), is in the front on the right. No need watch the entire thing, but a couple minutes maybe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-Yu8DeTAfM

My daughter, Leilani, was in a Baywatch Hawaii episode, "The Hunt". She is also one of the dancers in the opening scene (credits introducing the lifeguard stars) of all the episodes.

An old article about the transplant:

http://archives.starbulletin.com/200...ws/story6.html