Aloha Blue Hawaii

It's difficult to believe that the time has come to leave. In a few hours we will board a plane for home. We couldn't have had a more fabulous time in Hawaii. Doug and Rochelle have been such gracious hosts to us the past ten days.

Tom and I have made a pact that we will be back for our 50th wedding anniversary! But there is nothing that says we can't come back between now and then!

I'm ready to see my other kids. I'm ready to snuggle with my Bella. It's time to go home.

So aloha Blue Hawaii! You far exceeded my highest expectations...and they were quite high.

I will carry a piece of you in my heart forever.

Love,
Laura Lee

Pearl Harbor and Kole Kole Pass

On Saturday morning we ventured out for an excursion around Oahu with Doug. The plan was to drive over to Pearl Harbor and visit the USS Arizona Memorial. The skies were clear to the north, over the mountains, so Doug took a detour and drove up to Kole Kole Pass, a notch in the mountain range through which some of the Japanese planes were able to fly undetected toward Scofield Barracks and Wheeler Army Air Field on December 7, 1941.

Donning walking shorts and flip flops and a skirt and flip flops respectively, Abby and Kaylee were unprepared for a hike in the mountains. However, being the troopers that they are, they trekked up the terrain with big smiles and nary a complaint.


The view from the top was gorgeous and provided a lovely backdrop for photographs.

The former Auburn roommates

After a quick trip through Scofield Barracks and Wheeler Army Air Field, Doug drove us down to Pearl Harbor to visit the USS Arizona Memorial. Saturday morning is a busy day at the memorial. While waiting for an hour to watch the movie and take the boat to the memorial, we walked through the museum.

Probably the one thing that touched me the most in the museum was a photocopy of a letter written on December 8, 1941 by Alice Huy to her sister Margaret, asking her if she had heard the terrible news. She didn't yet know if her son, Arthur Huy, assigned to the USS Arizona, was alive or dead. She was asking her sister to go ahead and send him his Christmas card and present. And of course, she was just beside herself with worry about her son. In the end, her son had been killed the day before on the Arizona. All those years later, my heart still hurt for her.

So many sacrifices were made for our freedom. It is good to stop and reflect on that from time to time. I'm so thankful I was able to visit Pearl Harbor and the memorial.

My big brother and me with the anchor of the USS Arizona

Lastly, we drove onto Pearl Harbor Navy Base to eat lunch. I snapped this photo of an active Navy vessel, docked in the harbor. I was amused that even the ships docked here wear leis! I feel sure some lucky sailors are enjoying at little R&R in beautiful Blue Hawaii.

Life's a Luau!

We just spent three gorgeous days at the Hale Koa Hotel on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. The Hale Koa is a resort owned by the US government for use by active duty or retired military personnel and their families. What an incredible opportunity we had to stay at such a nice resort at a very affordable rate.

There are good reasons that Waikiki is the most famous beach in the world. The sunbathing, water sports, shopping, dining, and entertainment are spectacular. The cool breeze off the ocean is a constant at all hours of the day and night. We slept with the doors to our ninth story balcony open each night!

Last evening we attended a luau at the Hale Koa. I'm so happy that we were able to enjoy that totally Hawaiian cultural experience...fantastic food, great entertainment, and delightful new friends to chat with over dinner.

We enjoyed every minute of our three days on Waikiki.

A Day at the Lagoon

We spent the day at the Ko'Olina Resort lagoon. I am now forever spoiled. I don't think any other beach will ever compare with Hawaii. It is beautiful beyond my wildest dreams.

We're Here!

Aloha! We tired and heading to bed soon. Just wanted to let everyone know we got here safely. Tomorrow we're off to spend the day at the Ko'olina Resort lagoons.