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I'm a wife, mother and grandmother. I'm opinionated. I contradict myself frequently. Most of all, I love my kids. I believe in them. I fight for them. They're weird and wonderful. If you want to know more, here's a bunch of other stuff from my old site.

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Archive for the ‘Hawaii’ Category

Goodbye, Kauai

This will probably be my last post before I get home. I’m going to pack up my laptop, spend a few hours at the beach then finish packing to leave. I may have time to check in from Phoenix but probably not.

This trip has simply not lasted long enough. I’ve already decided that I’m coming back. Brian will be here for at least another month or so; that means I’ll have time to return. :)

In the meantime, here are some random pictures that I’ve had a chance to scale down a little.

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Kauai, With Love

There’s a fine line between promoting the beauty of this island and promoting Kauai into a commercialized mess. On the one hand, loving this island as I do, I want others to see it and enjoy it; on the other hand, too many aspects of the tourist trade and development in general destroys the beauty of the island.

I’ve picked up brochures from around the island and checked out websites, looking for the best, cleanest way to see Kauai. I won’t touch the ATV tours or the helicopter flights. There’s been two helicopter crashes since I’ve been here!

I’ve finally found Kauai Ecotourism Vacation Rentals at HawaiianBeachRentals.com. Specializing in promoting environmentally friendly vacations, HawaiianBeachRentals.com hand picks their rental properties and offers top notch service while respecting the natural beauty of this island paradise.

I’ve looked at some of the rentals they offer and I’m quite impressed with the prices and location. Hanalei Bay has one of my favorite beaches and Haena hides a secret beach where the most beautiful shells wash onto the shore. At the far end of Haena is our favorite beach for kidsa; the reef keeps the giant surf from the shore, giving a calm, safe area for even my one-year old granddaughter.

Kilauea, where we’re staying now, offers the Kilauea lighthouse and it’s bird sanctuary. My kids spent hours there, reading about the various birds and trying to catch sight of them. Many of the Kilauea rentals at HawaiianBeachRentals.com are along Anini Beach, where we go every day. The water there is calm and crystal clear.

I’m so happy to have found HawaiianBeachRentals.com. There are plenty of websites that promote vacation packages that ignore the natural beauty of Kauai. If you’re going to really enjoy the island and leave with a true appreciation of the spirit of aloha that is still here, then HawaiianBeachRentals.com is the place to visit first.

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More About Traveling

I know, I’m a bit too focused on traveling but it seems to be the theme of the moment around here. Bear with me at least until I get home.

Since I’ve been to Hawaii before I knew what to expect for the most part. For instance, I knew that I wouldn’t need panty hose or dress shoes. It’s just a very casual lifestyle and I don’t go out partying much anyway.

I know, too, that the water here is just fine. It’s nothing like home! If I hadn’t been here before I might consider bringing Portable Water Filters, just in case. I mean, I’d rather drink mud than the water that comes from our faucets at home. Thank goodness the water here is excellent!

Traveling, though, is all about “firsts.” Even when you travel to a place that you know well, new experiences happen. Like today.

This is the first time I’ve ever been to Hawaii that it’s rained the entire day. Hard. I know it can do this but I’ve never experienced it myself. So this is a first.

Am I prepared? Well, in a way, yes. After all, I have my laptop and a high speed internet connection. I’m sending Brit and Nick out to Banana Joe’s for a large Banana Frosty. Even wit the rain, life is good.

Let’s Take A Vote

I know what I want to do. I know what my husband wants to do. Let’s see what everyone else thinks.

I told Brian that I want to do something different this time on Kauai. Every time I’m here I try to do something I hadn’t done before. It keeps it interesting and fun.

Right now, I’m thinking about going horse back riding and I’m also considering Yacht Charters that will head over to two of the smaller islands, Molokai and Lanai. As much as I love Kauai, I love the idea of an even smaller, more isolated place. I don’t like anything too commercial so I’m thinking that Molokai and Lanai will be even less commercial than Kauai.

Brian, though, is leaning toward the horse back riding. That’s fine. I can always hop over to one of the smaller islands when he’s working, I suppose.

So, what do you think? Horse back riding or island hopping? Or both? (Yeah, you know how I’ll vote.)

Countdown to Hawaii

I’m going to try really really really hard to finish my packing today. No, seriously. I’m going to do it no matter what. My carry-on? Don’t even talk about that. It isn’t on my to-do list today. I’ll worry about that late tonight.

Chris and Leah will be here this evening to stay with Boomer. Brit, Kendyll and I will go to my mom’s so we’ll be closer to the airport. I may not even go to sleep and I want to keep Kendyll awake, too. We’ll see how that goes.

I spoke to the animal control guy this past weekend, too. Since I won’t be here I’m a little concerned about Belle getting out. She’s usually pretty good and hasn’t given us a problem for quite a while but if someone doesn’t close the door all the way, she may run off looking for me. (She loves me. :) )

Jim, the Animal Control guy told me not to worry. He’ll make sure Belle is fine and if she gets out, he’ll just bring her back. And to think, we used to not be so fond of each other.

Which reminds me, the county is supposed to be opening a new animal shelter less than a mile from my house. I wonder if they’ll be hiring? I think I would enjoy working with dogs and I could probably force myself to tolerate the cats as well. Hmmmm… an interesting thought.

Packing And Unpacking

I have packed my carry-on every way possible. And then I unpack it. I just can’t seem to get it right.

I love everything about traveling but I just can’t seem to successfully pare down those items I want to carry on the plane. I didn’t use to be so picky. I had been a lucky traveler. My last trip to Hawaii, though, changed that.

When I went to Hawaii with Boomer, Maggie and Levi in 2005 we got there before our suitcases. Since I’d made the trip so many times without a problem, I decided to pack extra reading material rather than a spare outfit. It was an uncomfortable 36 hours as we waited for our clothes.

Interestingly, I have loads of extra room in my suitcase. I have learned how to pack light for Hawaii. Less really is better. It’s just that darn trip over. So many things could go wrong. You just don’t know what you might need.

So now I’m going to unpack my carry-on and start over. Again.

Honeymoon?

Did I ever mention that Brian and I never really had a honeymoon? Well, we didn’t, not a real one at least. That’s why I’ve been thinking that this might be a good time to have one.

My plan is to book us on an island hopper over to the Big Island or, even better, Molokai. I love the smaller islands. I like the quiet and calm much more than he bright lights.

I’ve looked into various hotels but I think I’d rather say at a Bed & Breakfast. That would be so much more intimate. I’m just not sure if there are any on Molokai although I’m certain there are on the Big Island.

But all this planning is minor compared to the task of getting my husband to agree to this. He’s a bit stubborn sometimes, you know. :)

Packing and Overpacking

I must have been a boy scout in a past life. I’m always prepared.

It was understandable that I’d overpack the first time we went to Hawaii. We didn’t know what to expect. That explains the massive amounts of clothes and shoes that never got worn. It does not explain why I continue to overpack for Hawaii. I just do.

Whether I’m failing miserably at paring down the variety of eyeshadow shades in my makeup bag or insisting on bringing not one, but two First Aid Kits, my mind just can’t let go of the “what if I need it” mentality.

The biggest challenge this time, though, is Kendyll. We didn’t buy her a ticket since she’s just a year old. But we can’t take a suitcase for her, then, either. We’re going to split her clothes between Brit’s bag and mine so we can load one suitcase with toys. The last checked bag goes to the carseat.

Then there’s the question of carry-ons and diaper bags. Sheesh! This is getting complicated!
I have my rolling computer case and Brit has a back pack. One of us will have to take the diaper bag as a purse I suppose.

If we make it through the packing, we’ll be ready for a vacation. Wake me up when it’s all over.

Vacation On My Mind

This year I have a place to stay if I go to Hawaii. Next year I may not. Since I really love to travel and I’m always dreaming of being someplace warm and sunny that begins with an “H” and sits in the Pacific Ocean, I tend to spend time making lists of online sites that will get me where I need to go.

I would love to island hop in Hawaii but I still want my primary place to be Kauai. It’s where my soul belongs. I’ve stayed on the North Shore but I’ve traveled to the other side of the island enough to know that it’s just as beautiful. In fact, I’ve heard it called the “sunny side” of the island.

That’s why I was threlled to find a site that lists vacation rentals by owners. And one was listed for Poipu, which is on the south shore. It can accomodate up to five and even has a crib. How perfect is that?

I think I’ll drive by this place when we get there, just in case I need a back up place next year.

This is a sponored post.

Five Thousand Miles

That’s just about how much distance is between my husband and me right now. He and Nick are in Hawaii. Nick has already called to tell us everything went well on the flight.

They also had a layover in Phoenix and really liked the people they met there. After they finish in Hawaii, they’ll go back to Phoenix to do some stone work there. By then, the weather here should be much better suited to construction and masonry. Thank goodness! It’s a snowy mess here now.

And that brings me to todays gripe session. Why can’t I be a stone mason and go to Hawaii to work? I don’t want to be here! I don’t know if I can wait til March for my trip to my island paradise.

I think a cup of Kona coffee is calling my name.

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