We love Hawaii!

By Jessica
I have always wanted to go to Hawaii. A dream come true for me. After many cold, grey, dreary Korean months, my toes were begging for the sand! This was the best family vacation we have ever taken. One of those vacations you wish would never end and you could go on laying on the beach every day for the rest of your life :) I am thinking the Air Force needs to station us in Hawaii. (Don't worry, Dad. They don't agree with me and it didn't come out on the list as an available position for Joel.)
We took about 2000 pictures. No, we aren't going to post every one, thankfully. But I couldn't resist adding a few more.
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December 7, 1941, the day that shall live in infamy. The day the United States officially entered World War 2. We all know the event prompting such a response by our government: the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The NPS's Pearl Harbor Visitor Center Complex sets near the site of the sunken Arizona. There are lots of monuments, displays and a few museums to browse while you wait for your turn to go out to the USS Arizona Memorial. The US Navy shuttles visitors out to the Memorial. The memorial is built over the sunken Arizona. (Google for some great aerial pictures.) The USS Arizona lays just below the surface of the waters. You can see the outline of the ship from overhead and pieces stick out of the water.



 

The USS Arizona Memorial. You can see a part of the ship there on the right of the memorial sticking out. Behind the memorial is the place where the Arizona was docked. 

My kiddos standing at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center Complex with the Memorial in the background. Battleship Row is directly behind them.

 1,102 sailors and Marines were entombed in the USS Arizona, which still lays just below the water. Oil still oozes out of the USS Arizona in several places.



 

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North Shore, Oahu

During the winter months, the waves on the North Shore of Oahu can reach up to 50 feet tall, making it the perfect place for surfers to congregate. Waimea, Halewia, Bonzai Pipeline are all beaches that attract the crazy and insane who try their hand at conquering those waves. Rather than attempt such silliness, we got lunch and sat on the sand to watch. We heard the surf was up and we headed to the Bonzai Pipeline. Apparently every one else on Oahu heard the waves were predicted to be massive that day as the traffic was nutty, but it was worth the drive.

 



 

 

 

I don't envy this guy's job. He patrolled around looking for swimmers, or perhaps those who weren't swimming. He jumped around on the waves and looked like he was having a great time. We heard the ambulance about 5 times that day, whisking away poor souls who didn't catch the wave.

These pictures just don't do the waves justice.

This little guy decided to get on the beach where it was a bit safer.

 

Me and my handsome husband, waiting to go to the Luau in Honolulu.

Kade really was having a good time, he just isn't always so happy to pose for a million pictures.

 

So love this guy who took me to Hawaii. Am I spoiled or what?

 

  

Pineapples growing at Dole Pinapple Plantation

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii

Hawaii is even gorgeous in the rain.

 

I had so much fun with these two. They are such a blast!

And all I can think of is: when can I go back?

Hawaii

Our trip to Hawaii was very last minute. We had decided before that we wanted to take a few weeks of leave and travel somewhere nice and warm. It was also because Dakota would be leaving for Polyface soon and we wanted to have a family vacation together before he left. So, Dad called Mom at around 4:00PM saying that we were hopefully flying out the next morning. Dakota and I were on a snowboard trip at the time so we didn't find out till we got home that evening. We scrambled around packing and getting ready. It doesn't take long to pack with 6 experienced packers. :) We took military hops the whole way there, so it was unpredictable. (Military hops are when the military is carrying cargo from one base to another, and they let you come along as long as there are seats available. There are categories, and you get chosen for a flight by your category and how long you've been signed up at that terminal. Plus, they are free)

We got to Japan really easily...it was getting out of Japan that took the longest. We were in Japan for almost a week waiting for hops to come through going to Hawaii. We weren't able to rent a car, so we didn't do very much there. Finally, through much patience, we got on a hop to Hawaii. It was night when we arrived in Hawaii, so it was a pleasant surprise to wake up the next morning and look around. It was so beautiful!..Lush green grass, awesome trees, big open blue skies, and gorgeous water. It was quite a change from the city.



 Waiting to board in Osan, Korea to Japan.

On the C-17...we were the only people on the plane. 

Sunset from the airplane...

While in Okinawa, Japan, we walked to a nearby beach to hang out for a bit. 

 

 

 

 On the KC-135 destined for Hawaii!

Happy little boy to finally be in Hawaii.

 The beaches were so pretty....crystal blue water and lovely sand!

 Lil' man

Hanauma Bay. The snorkeling here was amazing. Because it was a marine preserve, it was flourishing with life. We saw many different kinds of fish.

 Enjoying the beach....especially when it was 20 degrees back in Korea.

 Hanauma Bay from ground level...

 Mom was so excited to wear her dresses and sandals....who wouldn't be? :)

 Mom and her little girl

 Family picture thanks to the tree trunk! :)

 We picnicked here. Definitely the best picnic area ever.

 We hiked up Makapoo trail....this gorgeous view was at the top.

 

 The view from the top of Makapoo point. Ocean...as far as the eye can see.

Love this picture! This was at Nuuanu Pali Lookout. (Don't ask me where they get their strange names. :) )



More to come~

K.K.M.D
Matt. 22:37-39

The DMZ

 

The DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) is a strip of land running along the border of North and South Korea. It is roughly 160 miles long and 2.5 miles wide and despite its name is the most heavily militarized border in the world. The MDL (Military Demarcation Line) goes down the center of the DMZ marking the exact border. (check out picture below)
Dad, Dakota, and I went to the DMZ back in January. It is only accessible by a special organized tour. It was so interesting and slightly nerve wracking as we walked in perfect single file into the JSA (Joint Security Area), stood and watched some North Koreans take our picture up close (a rare occurrence), standing at a watch post and being completely surrounded by North Korea on three sides,and actually being in North Korea at one point. It was a pretty tense and serious trip, but we had a fun time together.

We also visited tunnel 3, which is one of the tunnels the North Koreans were digging into South Korea.

Military personnel everywhere! :) It was a cold foggy day....as you can tell. 

 

The view from a watch post looking towards North Korea. Yes, I said it was foggy!!

The JSA. This is the area in which North and South Korea can meet to discuss political matters.

While being here we were constantly being monitored...as they do with everyone that visits. But, it is rare to actually have North Korean soldiers up this close.


That concrete line is the barrier between North and South. (Note: the gravel on one side and the sand on the other)

 A South Korean guard in his modified military stance, they are all professionally trained black belts.

 The line of separation.

 

The bridge of no return.....
Th story: The North and South Koreans each brought their POWs to this bridge a the end of the war. The prisoners were told that they could choose between the North or the South. But, once they made their choice they couldn't change their mind, they were stuck in that country. Hence the name "the bridge of no return."

 Pretty cool....not often your GPS on your phone says you're in North Korea. :)

 Stay on the beaten path!!! Live mine fields.... :)

 

 

A: Our house
B: The DMZ




K.K.M.D
Romans 8:35-37