Nature Trip on Oahu

Nature Trip on Oahu

29 January 2010

Exactly 10 years ago, we vowed to each other that we would love and serve each other in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for as long as we both shall live.

This trip to Hawaii was a beautiful way to celebrate and remember the reasons we love each other and trace how we've grown as individuals and as a couple through the past decade.

We started our day with hikes. Yes, that is with an "s". We went on 2 hikes. Obviously, both were relatively easy hikes or I would not have survived! LOL!

First, we hiked up to Diamond Head Crater. I had read on one of the hike guides to climb this in the morning while the sun is still behind the cliffs. I'm glad we heeded to this recommendation. The hike itself was manageable. Once up the hill, you get treated to a sweeping view of Waikiki's shoreline.

When we had hiked down, we still had time and energy for another hike so we went up to Manoa Falls. This was a totally different environment. Diamond Head was a hike up a mountain so it was rocky and dry. Hiking up to Manoa Falls, on the other hand was a trek through a tropical forest. I had read in some reviews that parts of the TV show, Lost, were filmed here. I enjoyed this hike much better. It was muddier and messier because of the clay soil but the setting was beautiful. Greenery everywhere. Sounds of birds and critters. Water trickling. The waterfalls itself was not anything to be wowed about. But I would still highly recommend this hike as I really enjoyed the trek.

After the hike down, we went to downtown Honolulu to go to church in thanksgiving for the 10 years we've been blessed together. We had lunch at Ali I Grill and bought some snacks and water at a nearby store. We walked around a bit before heading back to the hotel to get dressed.

A van picked us up to take us parasailing!! Yup! This was absolutely F.U.N!! It was one of those things I had always wanted to try and I'm so glad we did it. It was not scary at all! It was gorgeous to be up there in the air.

We arrived back in the hotel in time to shower and get dressed for the luau. We went to Germaine's Luau. It was a fun time. Our bus escort was funny and lively. The food at the luau was fine. Nothing spectacular. The pork that was cooked in the imu (underground oven) was tasty!! They had a small ceremony where they showed how they unearthed the cooked pork that had been in the imu since 5 in the morning. That was definitely the highlight of the meal. There were also performances - hula dancers, fire-eating men - that depicted the dances and traditions of the Polynesians, etc. Unfortunately, I did not get to enjoy much of it as it started to rain. At first, the water came in drizzles but it soon developed into a downpour. They provided us with ponchos to keep us dry. I don't know if they cut the show short or if that was really the end of it. Anyway, we did not get to walk around the beach/island as we headed back into our buses and started our way back home.

Our day was definitely packed with a lot of activities but all the time, I was thinking how blessed I am to have someone like DH in my life. We were busy but not stressed. Time was flying because we were enjoying each other's company so much.

Yes, we are truly blessed. Thank you, Lord.

This was Friday.