SpApRiL: 2012

Hawaii Trip

June 4, 2012 - June 11, 2012

Day 1

The day began at 7:00 am with last minute packing. My dad was taking us to the airport bright and early but before that happened, we had to start the trip off right with a delicious breakfast cooked by my father. When Spencer, Devon, and I entered my parents' house, the sweet aroma of fruity pancakes, sausage, and eggs filled our noses. They were no ordinary pancakes. My dad made special fourth of July pancakes with red white and blue. After the deliciousness was devoured, my family got in the car with my dad and headed toward the airport. Once we checked in, went through security, and before we knew it, we were on the plan to hawaii. The trip lasted all day and night through three different airports. When we landed in Hawaii around 9:30pm, we headed straight to the rent-a-car place (budget). We were greeted by the biggest smile on my mother's face waiting there for me. We got a Nissan Versa to drive around the great island of Oahu. Then the night was quickly coming to a close and we got unpacked and ready for bed after visiting with the family and eating dinner at Zippy's. We got to see some fireworks from the plane but it was so tiny that it was kind of a joke.

Day 2

We only woke up three times during the night because Devon was getting adjusted. From then on, Devon slept through the night for the whole trip. Each morning began with delicious hawaiian breakfast (spam, eggs, rice, and portuguese sausage). Needless to say, I was in heaven each morning. The morning was filled with visiting family and doing preparations for grandpa's funeral. I began to learn a hula that we were going to perform at the funeral. When the night started to approach, the ladies in the house went to have a girls night while Spencer stayed home with the boys. The girls (Aunty Kathy, Aunty Raz, My mommy, and cousin Lani) went to get pedicures on our feet. My feet and toe nails looked absolutely gorgeous when we were done. The people there were kind of crazy though. They changed the price on us when we got there and they refused to give Aunty Kathy a discount after screwing up her nails three times and still never got it right. Then we went home and ate yummy manapuas from this delicious restaurant along with potsticker type things. It was delicious. That night ended fast with more visiting and laughing.

Day 3

After an amazing night of rest, we ate breakfast and started packing for the beach. We got to Ko'Olina beach just as lunch time started to approach. Parking was ridiculous but we were blessed with a spot in the second man-made cove. This place was gorgeous. It was nice and calm for my baby to swim in. We spent a long time there enjoying ourselves with my mommy and later Aunty Kathy and Aunty Raz joined us. There were three weddings that happened while we were there that I noticed. That is how beautiful this place is. After our beach trip, we went home, cleaned up, and got ready for dinner at Makino Chaya in Waikiki. I was not that impressed by their food and it was expensive. Don't get me wrong, the food was good but I just remembered it being a lot better and the time when I went there before, it was a lot different. They must've changed management or something. During dinner, our cousins flew in (Uilani, her boyfriend Edward, her child Maliyah, Kainoah, and his girlfriend Chelsey). That night ended fast again with more visiting and laughing and catching up.

Day 4

Today we woke up and got ready for the swat meet. I knew I had to buy Devon a black and white outfit for the funeral and I wanted to get some keep sakes there too. This is one of my favorite things to do when I'm in Hawaii. We packed water and off we went to the Stadium. We walked the whole stadium and a half looking at the different stores. We bought two hawaii shirts for me, a white and blue outfit for Devon, bracelets for Spencer, Lani, and I, and a mini surf board for Devon. It was fun but I was sure pooped after walking for 4 hours straight. When we got home, we had a barbecue dinner with the family and Spencer, Kainoah, and Uncle Joe went to fight night at the neighbors house. We met new cousins and sat and talked until the wee hours of the night.

Day 5

This morning was different than all the rest so far. We had grandpa's viewing this day and that was really hard for me. I balled my eyes out until tears stopped forming. I miss my grandpa greatly. He looked so different in that casket laying there. He is loved beyond compare by all his family but I know he is enjoying it up there in Heaven with his parents, grandchild, and all of his family and friends that have previously passed. My mom started to eulogies and had Joe and I give one too. Then it was Aunty Raz and following that we danced for grandpa the hula we practiced and practiced and practiced. I know grandpa was proud and I could feel his gratitude and clapping for me when it was finished. Then Uncle Joe Spoke. The reverend finished to speeches with prayers and then it was last goodbyes to my grandpa before they took him away to get cremated. Following the viewing, we had lunch/ dinner in another part of the mortuary building. I met a lot of people during that lunch. Then we all headed back home and put the extra food away and began to get ready for Spencer and I's 5 year anniversary celebration. We decided to celebrate it early because after this trip, we knew we wouldn't have any money for our 5 year anniversary. Bless my mother's heart and I will always be grateful to her and forever in her debt but she watched Devon that night even though she had to say goodbye to her daddy that same day. I love you mom and I am so grateful for you. You are such an amazing mom and I hope to be like you one day. Anyway, so we left Devon with my mom and went to Ko'Olina Marriott by the beach and started our anniversary night. It took a while to check in because of complications but after a hour and a half we got a room and headed straight there to drop everything off. Lani, Uilani, Kainoah, Aunty Raz, and Maliyah all came with us to the hotel. Once we all changed into swim wear, we went to the pool and swam at the most fun pools I have ever been to. They had water falls, caves, water slide, beach, basketball and volleyball all in the pools. It was so fun. The hot tubs were really hot but it felt so good once you got use to it. Then we ate dinner at the restaurant at the hotel with Lani, Spencer, and I. After we ate we went sand crabbing and each of us caught one. It was fun. Then all the cousins went home and it was just Spencer and I. We had a wonderful night and enjoyed each other's company.

Day 5

We woke up refreshed and ready to start the new day. The first thing we did was go to the hotel gym where Spencer worked out while I sat and watched. Check out time was at 10 am so after working out we had to check out. We then went to this amazing place for breakfast that was on Diners Drive-ins and Dives called Highway Inn. Best food ever. I would go there again for sure and again and again. After our delicious breakfast, we picked up my mom and Devon and headed to the other side of the island. We stopped by Motsumoto's shaved ice for a snack, Giovannis for lunch, and headed to Hukilau Beach. There we went body surfing and played at the beach. Thanks again to my wonderful mother who didn't go swimming because she was watching Devon while I was having the funnest time body surfing with my hubby and brother. Then we washed off and headed toward Kaneohe where my mom grew up. We visited Kioki's grave and the graveyard and then went to McDonalds to have simon. Then our day started winding down as we headed back home. We stopped by Ko'Olina and had another barbecue and got to go swimming and enjoyed the company of more cousins for a little while before reaching destination home. We showered and went to bed at last.

Day 6

One more day on the island. We woke up and got ready for grandpa's burial. Everyone got ready in their nice attire and then we left to punchbowl where grandpa was to be buried. The graveyard is called National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. We arrived there and the military was there already lined up perfectly for grandpa. His ashes were on a table with his picture and flowers. When the viewing was almost ready, they took grandpa's urn and held it across from another soldier carrying the flag and stood on the walk way up where the people coming could pass through them on the walk way. Then they started the funeral by doing the 21 gun solute, folding the flag, and playing the trumpet. They gave the flag, once folded, to Aunty Raz and placed 3 gun shells from the 21 gun solute in the flag for each of the children. Then the reverend guy prayed and we left to place grandpa in his tomb up on the hill overlooking his house. It was a beautiful ceremony and a beautiful place that he lays now. After the funeral, we went to a chinese restaurant with everyone where the food was incredible. Then we went to Missy's parent's house where we changed into swimsuits and headed to Ko'Olina beach and swam one last time. Then we went back home and had a barbecue with the family again. Right before mom had to leave to catch her flight home, we lit flying lanterns that had messages to grandpa from all of us and off they went into the sky. Then my mom left and Spencer and I packed and got everything ready to leave because we had to be at the airport by 6 am for our flight that left at 7:10am. Then we said our goodbyes and went to sleep.

Day 7

Woke up at 4:30 to finish getting everything done to get to the airport on time. Aunty Kathy and Uncle Joe made us mini spam musubi to take on the plane for our breakfast along with sweetbread and brownies. It was so sweet of them to think of us especially that early in the morning. I am so grateful for their generosity in letting us stay with them and feeding us and giving us so much. Before I knew it, we were through the airports and back home where my dad was there to pick us up. It was a great vacation and I am so grateful we got to go.

For my birthday, I gave Spencer a list of things I wanted to do and he did all of them :) The day started with us sleeping in (well as much as one can with a baby). Then for breakfast I could choose anywhere I wanted to go so I chose Spencer's mom's french toast. We ate breakfast at Mama Whitmore's and then went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. Unfortunately, we did not make it there soon enough to do any work so we went back to Spencer's parents' house and took family pictures. Then we went to lunch at La Jolla Groves in Provo. It was delicious. Then we went to the temple and did baptisms for 5 girls and 28 boys :) It was amazing and gave the best feeling in the world. After that we went to sushi house and had delicious sushi and even though we were full, we went to get dessert at Cold Stone where I got frozen cupcakes. Went home and put Devon to sleep and then we had Spencer and me time shortly followed by sleep. I got water bottles, money, massages, and a laptop for my birthday. I am really spoiled and extremely grateful. I had the best day ever :) Here's the pics we took