Ohana...

Family is the greatest treasure of the Hawaiian culture.

And long lost family that has been found and reconnected is the best gift of all.

Just in time for the Christmas holidays. Like I said, the best gift I could get all year.

Enjoy a few pictures of my Hawaiian Ohana.

I love you all so very much. Let's not wait so long for the next visit.

Swap Meet Shopping

Today was hot and sticky but I'm not complaining for one second on the weather. Love it, love it!

Great day for shopping Hawaiian style. Okay, maybe not an authentic island tradition but if you want some great deals on hawaiiana gifts, you can't miss the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet. Especially if you want some great t-shirts.

It runs three days a week all year round. I loved poking about in all the stalls. Bought a few little trinkets here and there. You never know, you might be a lucky recipient if you've been good this year!

Taking a little drive...

Today was spent touring the island to visit some old neighbourhoods from when I was a little keiki. We headed into Mililani Town to find our old house and then on to my Gramma Manandic's house where I spent so many happy days. We even passed my elementary school where I started Kindergarten.

Wow! It's amazing how the memories come flooding back to you when you revisit certain locations. We just let the road lead us until we wanted to stop and watch the surf.

Head right through the middle of a mountain tunnel; Jackson wanted to go back and do it again and again.

Or hang out with the pineapples, feed the fish, watch the plantation train & eat Daddy's favourite icy treat.

Scott & Jackson had their first taste of authentic local flavours from L&L Drive In Restaurant. Mixed Plate Special & BBQ Plate with the customary two scoops of rice and 1 scoop of macaroni salad. Yummy!

We really wanted to stop for the 'best shaved ice on the island' but were full from all the other great tastes of the locals that it will have to wait until another day...

Day at the Beach

Hope you enjoy a few moments of our amazing moments captured on our first day on the beaches of our resort here in Hawaii.

Jackson loved the sand and the surf and the warm sun.

That's our little island boy.

Aloha! It's Island time!

Our son is a world class super duper traveller. And I'm not just saying that because I think he's the bestest and as his mom I could be a little biased. Jackson was the teeniest fussy when he had to keep his seatbelt on during the turbulence but there were grumblings from the adults around us too so no biggie there when it came to safety constraints. He slept for about two hours across Daddy's lap and was a champion pee-master when he needed to go. Not one wet diaper the whole day. That is an amazing accomplishment in itself on any given day, let alone a travel in an airplane day.

And he was very friendly in a non-nuisance way to all our neighbours. We received a few praises and compliments from seatmates at the end of the flight. I am very proud of our little man. He even hopped up on the lap of the couple across the aisle so he could get a little closer to the action going on outside the window when we were waiting to taxi to our occupied gate upon arrival.

And what an arrival...right into an open air terminal with the feel of the warm tropical evening breeze hitting you as soon as you step off the plane. Love it! So good to be back on the island of my childhood. And can't wait for the adventures and memories we are about to create. Stay tuned....