Leaving on a jet plane . . . Hawaii edition

Josh and I were able to travel to Hawaii this past April.  Josh actually gets to go twice each year due to Hawaii being the regional office for the Alaska area.  I accompanied him on the trip this time around (Karston went with him in August).  While no island can really compete with St. Kitts in the Caribbean, Hawaii is a very beautiful island with its own personality and reason to visit.  :)

It is a straight flight from Anchorage to Honolulu, but my particular flight took overnight to get there (as most Alaskan flights).

We stayed at the Turtle Beach Hotel.  It was absolutely beautiful.  The King of the Hawaiian Islands once played on this particular beach.  :) I was able to explore the first day, because Josh was in meetings.  I walked around the island, played my ukulele, and took in some much needed SUN!

Why do strawberry smoothies taste oh so much better on tropical islands?!  YUM!

Rainbow Bridge

We climbed Koko Head.  Ugh!  It was straight up, not fun, but did get a wonderful view all the way to the top, and definitely a sense of accomplishment.  It wasn't that far of a distance, but many breaks were needed to make it all the way to the top.

Me and the top of Koko Head. We wrote A + J at the top.  :)

One thing you might not have known about Hawaii--they've got chickens, lots of them, everywhere.

And pineapple ice cream at the Dole Plantation.....YUM!

Yes, we did, we went in Jurassic Park (or at least where they filmed it).  The dinosaurs were all long gone at this point, but we did see their claw marks on the wall.

You know, a goat in a tree.  And oh so yummy taro chips.  :)

Date night--celebrating our 22nd anniversary.

The last day of our trip, we visited Pearl Harbor.  Oil still seeps to the surface from the sunken Arizona.  It was a humbling experience.  I'm very grateful to all those who risk their lives each day in our military, and the fighting spirit that is uniquely America where we are willing to face any foe that may come.