Aloha from Hawaii!
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My travels began July 27th as my family and I left the Peoria International Airport for Honolulu at 9:30 am. We were all very excited, but not at all prepared for the 9 hour flight ahead of us. I spent most of that time binge watching every movie the plane had to offer. I would peek out the small window on the plane every twenty minutes to see the new sights of the world below.
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When we finally landed it was about 2 o'clock (Hawaii is five hours behind Central Time). The weather was absolutely perfect; a cool breeze, no humidity, and about 80 degrees. I was beyond exhausted since I barley slept on the plane, but adrenaline kept me wide awake. We were greeted by mountains of lush green and skies of water blue. Nothing compared to the beauty of the island.
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Most of the time spent on the island consisted of hiking, swimming, or exploring. My family and I walked as much as possible. The buzz of the "city" was very condensed, nothing was more than two miles away. We would plan something new for every day. We hiked Diamond Head which began as a very barren/desert-like environment to a perfect view of the Pacific Ocean. The hike was like no other. I just wanted to keep climbing to the top. The beaches were unreal. Water so clear you could see ten feet below you and sand so soft it felt like squishy pillows. My family and I swam in freshwater waterfalls and went cliff jumping off heights as tall as 30 feet. So many new experiences that are indescribable unless you can see it for yourself some day.
All the food there was very expensive because mostly everything there had to be shipped in. Breakfast from McDonald's was $12 per person. We ate a lot of fresh pineapple and dragon fruit from the local venders to save money. Dinners were typically when we would splurge on more expensive meals, almost everything was served with a fried egg. I gained at least ten pounds by the end of the trip.
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We drove around the island to get away from the city, it had seemed as if we were no longer on Honolulu. You could hear every single crash of waves on the shore. Here we snorkeled and saw little schools of bright fish, small eels, and even managed to meet a sea turtle. Seeing the turtle was the highlight of my trip, It took my breathe away to actually see one. I couldn't believe its size and the color. It swam to peacefully through the clear water.
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We stayed in Hawaii for two weeks and our sleep schedule was completely thrown off. No one wanted to go home, we just wanted to stay in paradise forever. My brother even tried to get my family stuck in Hawaii longer by trapping himself in the seat belt buckle. The car dealership had to cut him loose.
I truly found happiness in Hawaii and became so appreciative of what beauties the world has to offer. I hope to travel there again soon to create new memories that will last my life time. This will forever be my favorite trip that I have taken so far. I constantly look back on the photographs and videos I have taken to remind me of pure happiness. I hope others get to explore the treasure Hawaii really is someday.
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