Summer 2009

by Leah Lee

August 19, 2009

Summer 2009 Destination

Aloha!

O'ahu and the Big Island of Hawai'i

July 26 - August 1, 2009

This summer James and I traveled to the Tropical Island of O'ahu, Hawai'i for our 5th Anniversary. This is right after we landed at Honolulu International Airport.

Shadows of Palm Trees fall gracefully on the sandy beaches.

The sand between my toes, the smell of Plumeria in the air, and the sound of the waves crashing on the beach. Paradise found. My plumeria lei lying on Waikiki Beach.

Wipe Out! Surfer down, surf board up.

A daily scene in Hawai'i.

Me standing on the Arizona Memorial with the Battleship the USS Missouri in the background. We also toured the USS Missouri and surrender deck where General MacArthur signed the documents to officially end World War II. The Missouri was the last battleship built by the United States. She is was decommissioned and floats in Pearl Harbor as a Museum.

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is a protected coral reef that grew inside a sunken volcanic crater. This is a popular snorkeling area. We spent about 4 hours snorkeling here, and saw many colorful fish in all sizes and shapes. This is also where I learned that you must reapply sunscreen often or the back of your body gets really sunburned.

Waikiki Beach and Leahi (Diamond Head) Crater

from the air.

Halona Blow Hole in on the windward side of O'ahu. The waves enter an "L" shaped tube in the rocks and forces its way up through the hole in the rock. A spectacular site.

Me on the summit of Kilauea Caldera from the Jagger's Museum in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawai'i. The steam from Kilauea's Halema'uma'u crater. Kilauea has been active since January 1983.

Ala Moana Park's Magic Island, O'ahu. on our 5th Anniversary, July 31st. We renewed our wedding vows and recommitted ourselves to each other.

Sunset on O'ahu on the Leeward side of the Island.

Hukilau Fishing Net being thrown into the water at the Lu'au. I highly recommend the Paradise Cove Lu'au to anyone visiting Hawai'i. Lots of fun, very interesting, and really good food.

On Punalu'u, the Black Sand Beach, and the Honu, Green Sea Turtle in Hawaiian.

Rainbow Falls near Hilo, Hawai'i. The sun was behind clouds that morning so I missed seeing the rainbows in the spray off the waterfall, but it was still breath taking.