Hawaii Wrap-up

Red velvet pancakes at Cinnamon's

Well, I'm back to the grind again here in Georgia... but I had a great last few days in Hawaii before I left!

After departing Maui, I spent a couple of relaxing, low-key days in Oahu.  I spent time with my aunt/uncle, did some laundry, and read!  :)  Then my college pal MC picked me up and we met up with friends KW, CF, and JP for dinner.  It's such a small world, that I would have a dinner with people I've known since middle school, high school, and college, all mixed together.  It's a small world after all.  We shared a delicious meal at Haleiwa Joe's in Kaneohe, then it was back to MC's house for a good old-fashioned sleepover!

The next day was my last in Hawaii...  MC took me to a delicious breakfast at Cinnamon's, which has an incredible stack of red velvet pancakes.  Yeah, you heard me... RED. VELVET. PANCAKES.  Yum.  They were like the perfect combination of pancake and cupcake, not overly sweet but so fluffy!!!  Then we went on a long beach walk until it was time to head to the airport.  What a perfect ending to my vacation!


Hawaii was a blast.  I got to see friends and family, participate in a gorgeous wedding, and experience the natural beauty of two islands.  I was happy every day...  what more could you ask for?  I can't wait to plan my next trip.

Airport bathroom... only in Hawaii!

Wedding and water!

Seaside Chapel

LC an PD got Maui'ed!  I guess it's LD and PD now…  :)

What a busy, but rewarding day.  VB and I started the morning in our pajamas on the beach, then headed to Kihei Caffe for some breakfast.  I had Spam, eggs, and rice, and we sat under a beautiful rainbow the entire time; definitely some good luck for the wedding, yeah?

The bridal party started our morning off early at Spa Grande, where I got hair and makeup done by the sweetest guy!  He was magic, and shared my love for the Twilight series… he even made my hair similar to Bella's wedding hairstyle in the latest movie.  I loved what he did with my makeup, especially since he used Bare Minerals, which is what I personally own!  Definitely learned a few tricks of the trade.

Then JS and I headed out to pick up some food while the bride/maid of honor got their hair and makeup.  I snagged some Spam musubi (of course!) and headed to the bridal suite.  I was able to catch the last quarter of the Army/Navy football game (great effort by Army, the closest we've been in years for sure!) and eat a bit.  Then it was time to get dressed, take photos, and head to the chapel!

The happy couple

The ceremony was beautiful, and my favorite part ended up being the dove release at the end.  I was initially nervous, especially since I don't particularly care for birds, but the way they circled the chapel after the release was a sight to see.  The reception was beautiful as well, situated on a balcony overlooking the chapel.  There were crystals and flowers and tea lights throughout, a live band, and a great group of friends and family.  We danced into the night, until VB and I thought our feet would fall off!

I've got steel drum skills.... not!

This is the first 'destination' wedding I've attended, and I hope it isn't the last.  While sometimes traveling so far to an event can seem daunting, turning it into an extended vacation and really taking the time to enjoy everything makes it totally worthwhile.

As for the 'morning after', it's all about relaxing on island time!  Champagne brunch at the Grand Dining Room, relaxing by the pool and beach, and a nice dinner with friends at the Monkeypod Kitchen.  Maui has been an amazing time!

The bridesmaids unwinding!

Kihei and Wailea

Aloha again, my friends!

I had a blast on another jam-packed day in Maui.  We started the day with the wedding rehearsal, in the beautiful Seaside Chapel of the Grand Wailea.  Then the bride and groom treated us to a delicious breakfast at the Grand Dining Room.

Afterwards, the bride and bridesmaids headed out for a shopping outing at the Shops at Wailea, followed by a delicious lunch at Tommy Bahama's.  There, she revealed the gift of crystal and pearl necklaces, earrings, (and bracelets from JS!) that we would be wearing during the wedding.  So pretty!

But the highlight of the day was the incredible Grand Luau at Honua'ula.  A group of eight wedding attendees all sat together, front row center, for this extraordinary evening event!  We watched the slow roasted pig emerge from the ground, drank all the mai tais we would handle, and took part in the delicious buffet of Polynesian fusion.  We even got some fake tattoos!  Then it was time for the show, featuring traditional dances from all over Polynesia, including fire dancing.  I'd been to luaus before, but never so close up!  LC, PD, and VB even got up for the hula lesson.  It was definitely an evening to remember.

And on to Maui...

I had a blast on another full day in Oahu, this one with my Mom and aunt the entire day!  We checked out the awesome Christmas decorations in Oahu, shopped until I also literally dropped at Ala Moana, then grabbed some delish Asian fare at Shirokiya.  I also got my nails done, as well as my first pedicure (check off another Before I'm 30 task!) and had some delicious Korean BBQ.  I really enjoyed spending some time with my Mom and aunt, something I just don't get to do very often.

Then today I headed to Maui, to begin a jam-packed weekend of wedding festivities and bridesmaid duties!  The flight over is very short, and beautiful during the daytime.  The hotel I'm staying at, the Maui Oceanfront Inn, is right on the beach.  It's older, but comfortable, especially when you are spending all of your time outside your room and just using it to crash!  The beach is pretty amazing, and the water looks spectacular.

Mom & me

I took the public bus up to the local Maui Tacos, and then was able to meet with with fellow bridesmaid JS and her husband IS.  We shopped around, grabbed a drink, and then said our farewells until tomorrow morning's rehearsal.  Tonight I'm headed to the Grand Wailea, where the wedding events are taking place; I actually think I'll be spending more time at the resort than my own hotel!  I'm having dinner with the bride, groom, and maid of honor at Humuhumunukunukuapua'a, which has been rated one of the top resort restaurants on the island.  It's sure to be delicious, and a nice night to kick off what is bound to be a whirlwind of a weekend!

Aloha from beautiful Hawaii!

No, not even a vacation can keep me from blogging away!  The truth is, with Hawaii being 6 hours behind Georgia, I haven't been able to sleep past 5 am for a couple of days.  Jet lag is a challenge when you travel this far, so I'm strategizing a nap and forcing myself to stay awake tonight to combat it.

As I write, it is December 7th, the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, that day that will live in infamy.    I actually flew into Hawaii with a WWII veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor; he was given a First Class seat and traveled all the way from Minnesota for the reunion/celebration.  I also flew in with a high school marching band from Georgia participating in the festivities, which included a lot of nervous teenage first-time flyers. I actually had two long flights with them; the first one most of them screamed (roller coaster style) every time the plane moved!  It's always surprising to me when people haven't flown before, or even left their home state… I was such a nomadic child, I can't even fathom such a thing!

My aunt and uncle live in Oahu, so I've been here half a dozen times and stay with them when I visit.  They always make me feel at home on the island!

My very first day on the island, my longtime friend CF came to pick me up for a day of fun!  I hadn't seen her in years (we ran together in middle school and against each other in high school) so I was super excited!  First we did a hike up Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail, near my aunt/uncle's house.  It's a paved climb up the little mountain (I did it in my flip-flops!) that gave us a beautiful vista.  Definitely worth the walk!

CF and me!

Then we headed to Kailua, to pick up some standup paddles & surfboards.  It took me a while to get used to standing upright on the board; you have to keep your knees bent, and turning was a bit challenging at first!  But we finally got it, and spent a good amount of time on a nearby river; it was too windy to head into the surf that day.  It was even hard paddling back into the wind; you could push all you wanted without budging an inch!  Definitely a fun, full-body workout.  I can see why people love Hawaii; it's so beautiful outside you can have fun and get a workout without even noticing.

Aloha! Packing for Hawaii

It has been particularly chilly in Georgia lately, y'all... so I can't help but think about my upcoming trip to sunny Hawaii!  I've been thinking about what to pack, and I'm full of ideas; I've been to Hawaii a half dozen times (I have family there) but this time I'm venturing off Oahu to Maui!


I'm checking a bag this time, since I'm traveling for 10 days and have a bridesmaid dress/shoes in tow.  So, I'll be packing my bigger Burton Wheelie, the Double Deck.  I love this bag because of its 'cram' zippers and 50/50 split; it's the magic carpet bag of suitcases, and you can pack it to the brim!  I'm also bringing my new Epiphanie Lola camera bag, which looks like a purse but secretly stashes my Canon DSLR and lenses.  I can't wait to take some amazing shots with my new camera!

Another must for Hawaii is, of course, swimsuits!  Being a curvy gal, I favor the retro style suits; I have two one-piece Jantzen Vamp Maillots, and they are my favorite.  I also have a nice halter two-piece from Target.  You should choose a swimsuit that makes you feel good even on your not-so-skinny days (of which I'm having a lot lately!).  I always pack multiple suits for Hawaii, and plenty of sunscreen.  I also plan to wear my pink Betsey Johnson sunglasses, because Hawaii is all about COLOR!

Lastly, I had to have a tropical dress to wear for LC's rehearsal breakfast and bridesmaids' shopping outing... so when I snagged this belted tropical floral dress by Spense on clearance at Goody's (I paid $15 on an $80 dress!), I had to get it!  It's perfect for a Hawaii trip, right?

I've got a lot more packing to do, but these are just a few of the things on my list!  :)