A more relaxing day (Saturday)

First off I have picked up some horrible crud. I can barely breathe. I am coughing whenever I move. My entire body is one big ache.

It rained all Saturday morning and Gracie had to go into work. Jenny and I read and relaxed. It was wonderful.

By the afternoon the rain had stopped so we went to the zoo. When I lived in Washington, DC, Gracie would visit me and we would go to the zoo.

Honolulu Zoo selfie

2014

1987?

Waikiki beach

Skydiving

The adventures continue non-stop. We met up with Todd and Julia to skydiver from Pacific Skydiving on the North Shore. Gracie had been skydiving 3 or 4 times already. Todd has parachuted for work (Army) but not skydived like this. Was definitely first time for Julia and me.

While we were waiting to skydive, Jenny went to the beach to swim and relax. We had to wait for quite a while. There was a group of tourists that arrived on a bus. Apparently they had done all their paperwork on the ride up. You have to initial about hundred (not kidding) different waivers on seven pages.

We met Jenny at the beach.

 Julia and Todd had to leave to pick up Megan from school. Gracie, Jenny and I went to Hali'eva for sushi lunch. Then we drove out to a park on the far north west point of Oahu. We were to hike to a bird sanctuary but it was really far and we gave it up. I was pretty exhausted. We did see a lot of whale spouts and may have even seen an orca.

Re-enlistment and swimming with sharks

Jenny and I were honored to attend the re-enlistment ceremony for one of Gracie's soldiers. The soldier re-enlisting can choose the locale. This solder chose sunrise on the North Shore.

We all went to Hali'ewa for breakfast after the ceremony. From there Gracie, Jenny and I went to Turtle Beach to look for sea turtles. None there but we went to Hali'ewa Bay and saw several sea turtles near the beach.

Today's' big adventure was swimming with sharks. There was a boat ride to about 3 miles off shore where the boat moored to a flotation buoy. The shark cage was brought to the boat. The group was divided into 3 groups of about six. We were the second group.

There were Galapagos and Sandbar sharks and they do swim very close to the cage. Honestly I was doing pretty good with the sea swells until getting bashed around the shark cage. I got sick in the water and then really sick once back in the boat.

It was still a good adventure though we all decided it was not thrilling.

Hanauma Bay snorkeling

Wednesday Gracie, Jenny and I went to Hanauma Bay for some snorkeling and people watching. I had been here before and didn't think the snorkeling was so great. This time was different.

We say lots of fish. Lots of large fish. A big school of Convicts (fish with stripes). The big siting was of a large sea turtle.

We also had fun watching all the different people and making up stories about them.

Wednesday night we met up with Julia, Todd, and the girls, Kaila and Megan for dinner at Alan Wong's. I gave the girls the Weiner dog pajama holders that their great-great-grandmother Alta had made for John, Spade and I. The girls really like them.

Hawaii hiking the Maunawili Falls

Gracie, Jenny and I made the hike to Maunawili Falls today. Talk about muddy! Crazy mud. Crazy rocks. Crazy roots. But also beautiful views. Amazing trees, ferns and vines. At the end of the trail is a beautiful waterfall.  Actually two. And we were crazy enough to jump off into the deep pool of water below.

Gracie posing at the top of the largest falls.

Getting ready to jump.

Jumping.

Jenny in mid-air.

Our muddy shoes at the end.

Schedule change

My original flight from Honolulu to LAX was delayed by over an hour.  Thank goodness for text message from American Airlines.  That delay would have made me miss my connection to Dallas and then home.

I called the airline and was able to book an earlier flight from Honolulu direct to Dallas.  But it meant instead of leaving at 10:05pm, I was leaving at 7:50pm and had to catch shuttle to airport immediately.  I called Speedi Shuttle which I had already booked for later pickup.  They were able to get me right away and I everything worked out.

I'm in Dallas now waiting for flight to Minneapolis.

Meanwhile I took a surfing lesson on Waikiki Beach.   It was tons of fun and exhausting.  I had two really good rides and a few fall offs.  I also saw a sea turtle while out on my surf board.

Hawaii was fun and relaxing.  Got to play tennis with Chris and Eliza.  The last time I played was four years ago with Chris and Eliza at the same public courts in Kapi'Olani Park.  I was surprised how well I did.

Hawaii

Quick little vacation to Hawaii. Meeting friends Chris and Eliza and their daughter, Daisy, and Chris' mom, Artela.

Diamon Head

Sand Castle Making