Hawaii

June 2012

In June of 2011 LeRoy was informed of an incentive bonus that could get us to Maui, Hawaii.  He is totally fueled by these kinds of things so off he went.  He had already been going at it full force because we need to set up a career to replace the electrical within the next few years but this gave him even more of a push.  He became one of the top producers for the west and we were in the running for an all expense paid trip for six days to Hawaii.  In March 2012 we received a phone call informing us that we would be going to Hawaii in June and within the next few days an itinerary, complete with flight, shuttle and hotel information, was e-mailed to us.  We have decided this is definitely the way to travel.  Someone else paid for everything (we actually had to splurge to use all of the credit up) and someone else arranged the flights and all we had to do was show up and have a great time.

We traveled with the other two qualifying Idaho couples from the Idaho Falls airport all the way to Maui.

The island was hidden by clouds as we began to land on the island.  Once we could see I was extremely disappointed.  It looked like the vast nothing of Wyoming.  There wasn't a palm tree to be seen and it was cloudy and windy.  We must have looked disappointed because the shuttle driver taking us to the hotel told us not to worry; that the weather was sunny, warm and beautiful 45 minutes away in Lahaina where the resort was.  Evidently, Maui has several micro climates on the island and the driver was correct.  Lahaina was gorgeous.

Day 1

We left early on Wednesday morning and were checked into our hotel by 11 am.  We had the rest of the day to explore and arrange the site seeing tours we would want to do, all included in our "all expense paid" portion of the trip.  The grounds at the hotel were amazing!  Penguins, flamingos, parrots, the ocean just outside the grounds, palm trees and tiki torches everywhere.  Dinner was fabulous at Basil Tomatoes.  We did laugh while we sat in Hawaii at an Italian Grille but we knew we would be getting plenty of Polynesian food throughout the week.

During our walk along the beach we saw crabs, creatures, nuts, shells and beautiful ocean waves. The kukui nuts that washed up on shore added to the sound of the rolling waves and made for a painful walk along the water's edge.  LeRoy had bruises and cuts on his ankles from the nuts crashing against him in the waves because of all the extra time he spent in the water that first afternoon.  Throughout the week we saw the beauty that those painful nuts could create with all the leis that were for sale in each shop.  We even saw a woman along the shore collecting the best nuts to paint and make leis that she would then sell at a stand not too far away.

LeRoy wanted to continue walking along the rocks to find more creatures and I took a little quiet time sitting in a tree watching and listening to the ocean, boats and birds.

As I looked back through the pictures when we got home I saw this picture and realized that it defined my fear of water.  I am terrified of water.  I don't like watching the kids swim in a pool; I HATE being splashed in the face; I can't stick my face in the water; I can't swim; I have nightmares involving water.  As I looked at this picture I was surprised to have a peaceful memory with it.  It was then that I realized that with all my fear of water I love to hear waves, waterfalls, or trickling water as it covers up the sounds of the rest of the world around me.  I am mesmerized when watching water, not in a fearful way but in a day dreamy, calm way.  So, now my fear is defined: water is beautiful to my ear and eye but it better not touch me!

Day 2

The only thing required during the trip was a one hour meeting for recognition and awards.  After that was over we spent the day taking buses and touring the shops along the seashore. We walked for miles, took pictures, ate, and at the end of the day enjoyed a beautiful sunset.  People kept telling us to be sure and be on the beach for the sunset, adamant that it would be more beautiful than any sunset we had ever seen.  I was skeptical but the sky did not disappoint.  

It must have had something to do with the reflection of the water and the light breeze and the sailboat in the shadows and the palm trees and sound of water coming up on the beach and rocks.  It was spectacular.  While we were spending the hour watching the sun go down we were entertained by the sand crabs that would play peek-a-boo with the waves.

Day 3

By the third day we knew our way around with the help of the trolley and bus system.  LeRoy loved looking in the shops and meeting people but I was more intrigued by the many kinds of trees we came across. Every hala tree that we saw amazed me (pictured below).  The way the roots set down and change the shape of the tree made each one unique and beautiful in it's own way.

The fruit trees were everywhere.  Bananas growing upside down, papaya growing in bunches way up high, pineapples in all stages of growth, mangoes, passions fruit . . . I couldn't help but wish that I had a grove that included all of them. 

We ended the day in full Polynesian style with a luau sponsored by Legal Shield.  We were taught the art of cooking the Kalua Pig in the underground pit, LeRoy learned how to sway his hips to the rhythm of the hookie lau song and we were give a lesson on Maui history through the hour long performance of hula dancers and music performers.  The food at the luau was unlike any I had ever had before.  Though I wasn't too impressed with the kalua pork I found the fruits to be near addicting.  I couldn't get enough of the papaya!

Day 4

I could not begin to summarize all that took place on our twelve hour Road to Hana tour around the island.  From the rain forest side of the island through the rain storm and thick vegetation to the dry Wyoming looking side of the island covered in dried out trees, dusty brush and roaming wild animals, we enjoyed every moment of the tour.  The old road around the island was bumpy, narrow and linked together with 59 bridges, 46 of them being one lane bridges which made for interesting travel on a bus.  Once again, our differing personalities came out and LeRoy spent most of the trip talking with others and though I had comfortable conversation with our group I really enjoyed the nature and history part of the tour.

  

I fell in love with fruits that I won't be able to find once I get home. 

I enjoyed the rain and company and ride.  It was a perfect vacation tour.

I loved the beauty and sound of the waterfalls.

 

Unfortunately, the wind would not calm down and just as our guide took our picture LeRoy leaned back because my hair was whipping him in the face.  When I saw the imperfection of our only waterfall, together picture I thought of the old film cameras.  You get what you get.  We were just grateful we had the picture and a tour guide willing to take it.

Day 5

We were prepared to walk the mile and a half to church but as we were walking along the main four lane freeway a car stopped in the middle of the 55mph traffic and asked if we were LDS and would like a ride.  She was taking her thirteen year old son to help set up chairs and during the short ride to the building she also offered to take us back to the hotel.  I was amazed to feel such an immediate connection to someone that I had only known for one mile but it was like visiting with an old ward member that I hadn't seen in a long time.     The whole ward was like that.  They were used to having visitors from the hotels come to their ward and actually depended on visitors to add to their weekly worship.

The only difference that I found visiting the ward in Hawaii was the greeting, "Aloha".  Not only was is used by the bishop as he opened the meeting but it was used by each speaker.  We had learned on the tour the day before that Aloha actually has several different meanings and can be used anytime to describe a positive expression.  As the speakers were announced the bishop told us that one of the youth speakers was speaking for the first time.  When the young man got up to speak he started with "brothers and sisters, aloha".  The congregation responded back with an enthusiastic, "aloha".  In that moment I felt that the young man was asking the their support to calm his nerves and as they responded he received that support.  I hope he felt the love that I believe their "aloha" intended.

Well, okay, so there was another difference.  Men in skirts.  They wore white shirts and ties with their Polynesian skirts wrapped around them. It didn't look weird at all and they actually looked more comfortable than those wearing full suits. 

Throughout the three hour meeting we realized that there were eight couples who were also with Legal Shield that had come to church as well.  We were from Idaho, Utah, Minnesota, Colorado and  Arizona.  One of the women traveling with us actually substituted in Primary that day.  The bishop taught the combined lesson for Priesthood and Relief Society.  It was one of the best meetings I have been to in a long time and I really came to admire the youth and families in Lahaina.

After we got back to our hotel we called the kids and took the rest of the afternoon spending a calm, quiet day along the beach.

Day 6

I had been trying throughout the whole week to convince LeRoy to go para sailing but he was convinced that it would cost too much money and that we wouldn't be able to pay for it with our room credit provided by Legal Shield. It's not usually his nature to assume that something isn't going to work, he usually finds a way to make it work if he really wants it.  So, I wondered if he wanted to go but didn't.  As we were walking along the beach Sunday night we saw a stand provided by the hotel offering para sailing AND we could charge it to our room credit.  LeRoy signed up for the 8am trip out and I agreed to go as an observer on the boat.

When we checked in we were told that winds were too high and that we probably wouldn't be able to go para sailing.  They were willing to take us out on the boat and if the weather cleared he could go up, if not they would take us back to shore and not charge us. Along with us were two other couples that agreed to go out on the water.  Bouncing along on the water I realized that I loved riding in the boat but each time the waves from the boat splashed up on the sides I panicked a little.  I just don't like water touching me.

We were cleared to sail so the first couple went up.  Once I saw how easy it was to get up in the air and that  I wouldn't have to touch the water at all I started to consider going up with LeRoy.  By the time the second couple went up I knew that if I didn't tell LeRoy that I would go I would chicken out.  Right there on a boat in Hawaii he started to cry.  He explained to the captain, and everyone else on board, my fear of water and that he was so excited that I would go with him and proud that I would set my fear aside to do it.  I was embarrassed by that but, oh well, we'd never see these people again.

I LOVED IT!!!

I loved it that I didn't have to actually get wet to do it.

I loved the name of our boat.

I loved our captain for not dipping me down in the water like he had the other couples.

I loved the breeze on my face as I hung over the ocean with the island in our view.

I loved the peace and calm of being in the sky.

I would do it again in a heartbeat.

After our fly in the sky we went back to the hotel and got all of our stuff packed up for our evening flight.  We walked one more time around the hotel grounds, made one last trip to Whaler's village for a kukui nut lei for LeRoy, and headed to the airport.  Our nighttime flights went by rather fast and soon we were back in Idaho.  I completely enjoyed the time with LeRoy and touring Maui but nothing compares to walking back in my own house after a week and being bombarded with hugs from my kids.  I have always tried not to be a  Hawaii worshipper.  I didn't want to believe in all the hype of a tropical island paradise and couldn't understand how I could enjoy a trip that was centered around water.  In the end, I adore Maui.