Helicopter Tour

Wow! The sights we saw today are still just boggling my mind. We lost count of the number of waterfalls we saw, but we also saw the red striped formations I generally associate with desert climates. We saw wild, uninhabited country. We also saw farms. And all of it, every little bit of it was so, so breathtakingly beautiful!

We took a helicopter tour of the island today. We were in a helicopter with no doors, so the views were stunning. And I was a little bit terrified the entire time. My fingers were numb from gripping the seat for the whole hour that we were in the air. 

But that did not keep me from taking pictures. I wished I had my 35mm lens instead of my 100mm, just in case any photographers need to know that. We went so close to everything that I actually wished for a shorter focal length. 

Also, when they tell you to dress warmly, listen. I made sure the kids had jackets, but I had on a t-shirt. It was cold up there with the wind whipping through!

It was all worth the incredible views. I think this ended up being the favorite excursion that we have done.

 

All I can say is that the One who created all of this beauty in the middle of the Pacific Ocean has a love for beauty for the sake of beauty and an unparalleled imagination. Everywhere I go on this big, beautiful world I am more and more impressed with the greatness of God. 

Easter Sunday in Kauai, Hawaii

This morning we started off with another delicious and healthy breakfast. Half a papaya with yogurt and granola in the hollowed out area? Yes, please! And a Lavender London Fog tea with that? Perfection!

We then attended the Easter morning service at Kapaa First Hawaiian Church. They were very kind and welcoming. The service was in both Hawaiian and English, which was interesting. I sneaked one quick picture of the cantor. He lead all of the music. It was an old church building with photos of almost all of the ministers that have ever been leaders there on the back wall. It was a good experience and the preacher spoke earnestly about the women who discovered that Jesus had risen. I know I'll treasure the memory of sitting there with my crew, the wind blowing through the open doors, listening to the Lord's Prayer in Hawaiian. The Lord is risen indeed!

This afternoon was a quiet, restful one. Eliana and I went to the beach just down from our apartment, but the wind is blowing hard today making the waves a little too boisterous for us. We ended up in the swimming pool, which was nice too. 

I need to record a bit about yesterday since we have some gorgeous photos I want to post. The kids and I went on a 5 hour boat tour of the NaPali coast. It was amazing! The waves were rough and Eliana experienced motion sickness for the first time. Thanks to one of the other passengers who gave her a Dramamine and some tips on what to do to feel better she perked back up and was able to go snorkeling and enjoy the rest of the tour.

The NaPali coast is wild country! It is only accessible by water or air. We saw where the opening scene of Jurasic Park was filmed and also parts of one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. We saw dolphins and waterfalls and sea caves. It was so beautiful! No whales, but with everything we did see I couldn't even be disappointed.

Tomorrow is our last full day here. I do not want to think about it on the one hand, but I always love going home. So we will enjoy the rest of our time to the fullest, but be happy to get back home when the time comes.

The Day We Snuba Dived

Snuba diving, the perfect marriage between snorkeling and scuba diving. You have an oxygen tank which is on a light raft and you have a 20 ft. tube attaching you to the tank. In theory this means you can dive and swim up to 20 feet under the water. And that was reality for one of our party... Annika. The rest of us struggled to get past the whole I really can breathe under water and I'm not drowning right now mindset. I think we all got it eventually, but I definable was not 20 feet under water at any point! I did, however, see amazing tropical fish and the coral reef. 

We were all so busy staying alive that there are no pictures. Next time I'll have Annika take them. Keith got motion sickness, which helped him decide that he will not be going on the sea cave exploring adventure we have planned for tomorrow. A raft along the coast for 5 hours would probably not be a good thing for him. We have tried all of the meds and tricks and he is just very susceptible to motion sickness. It is almost guaranteed he would be miserable for 4.75 of the 5 hours.

So I don't have pictures of an amazing under water world to share with you, but I do have a few from the Luau last night and from the little walk Annika and I took together this afternoon. The Luau was fun and the food was {mostly} amazing. There were a few selections that stayed on my plate. Mom, they kept blowing through a conch shell and I thought of you every time. 

I think that inside of each of us is a bit of wanderlust that causes us to be willing to trade the comfort of home for the inconvenience of travel. Just to see different birds and flowers and foods, it is thrilling and satisfies something deep within. The unfamiliar bird calls, the salt that only comes course ground even at Target, the comparison of prices and the excitement of finding exotic souvenirs all makes it wonderful... but it also makes us more grateful to return to the familiar, where life is predictable and comparatively easy.

And yet, it is not the sea birds that awaken us each morning... it is the crowing of many, many roosters. One of the funniest things to me about this island is the number of chickens, roosters, and chicks just roaming everywhere. They are in remote areas and in the Target parking lot. They are just everywhere.

So far we are having a truly wonderful, relaxing time. Our Airbnb has a kitchen where we are using so many delicious tropical fruits and fresh vegetables. They have an Instant Pot, so I made chili this afternoon because there are so many wonderful meals you can make with chili. The cost of food is definitely higher than we are accustomed to, but there are quite a few little stands selling fresh produce, so we are loving that!

Ok, I'm heading to bed soon. Early bedtime tonight because we have an early start tomorrow. People who just did this tour yesterday said they saw several whales. I'm soooo hoping we see one!

Poipu Beach {We Saw Seals!}

Yesterday we saw sea turtles. I was so thrilled to have seen them! When we were deciding which beach to visit today we read that people sometimes see Hawaiian Monk Seals on Poipu Beach. Obviously I was hoping we would see them. As we were walking down to the water there one was, gliding through the waves. Shortly after we saw a second one.

We saw them off and on as we waded and splashed and marveled at the gorgeous, clear, warm water. After a bit Eliana was the only one still in the water. The rest of us were soaking in the sun on the beach. And here came the smaller (I assume female) of the two seals. She waddled up on the shore directly in front of where we were sitting and immediately went to sleep.

It wasn't long before the larger seal (I assume male) decided to join her, but he didn't seem to be quite as ready to nap, much to her disgust. She told him exactly what she thought about him waking her up. And then told him exactly what she thought of him in general.

He seemed ready to fight back, but quickly reconsidered and decided he would nap later. 

It seemed like a good choice to me.

At least, I'm pretty sure that is what happened right in front of us. I may have gotten 1 or 2 details incorrect, but I know it is very close to accurate.

Tonight we are going to a traditional Luau. Hopefully I'll share pictures from that event tomorrow. We skipped lunch in preparation for the feast after reading about what to expect.

Kauai, Hawaii Tunnels Beach

I have to blog about this trip. I just have to. It gives me that place to return to where all of the memories are captured in real time. That is priceless. And I like blogging. I miss doing it. So I'll blog the trip then see where we go from there.

Yesterday was a loooong day of travel. We had two 6.5 hour flights plus a 5 hour layover in Seattle. By the time we got to our Airbnb we were exhausted and ready to sleep. And we did. I wasn't sure how everyone would handle the 6 hour time difference, but they all slept and have been busy all day today so I do not think it's going to be a problem for anyone.

We are staying in the Lae Nani Resort in an apartment that is rented out as an Airbnb. It's a great place. It is perfect for us. We can walk down to the beach and see it from our balcony. I'm planning to sit out there with a cup of coffee tomorrow morning. There is a huge salt water pool, where the kids are swimming and relaxing right now.

This morning I knew I needed to start the day with an aćai bowl. I mean, I'm in Hawaii. Do I even have a choice? So we stopped at this great little place. Annika and I tried out their {{amazing}} aćai bowls while the others ate bagel sandwiches and pancakes. 

Then we followed the winding road north as far as it would take us before parking in a questionably legal spot and heading to the water. The color of that water! It's hard to describe and absolutely nothing is as amazing as seeing it in person.

There were sea turtles we could see as the waves rolled in. And they would sometimes stick their heads up out of the water.The water is so clear that it was easy to see them just riding the waves.

Everywhere we look there are gorgeous flowers and exotic plants... oh, and chickens. Chickens are just strolling around wild everywhere. I have some pictures of chickens strolling the sidewalks in China so I told the kids I'm going to start a "chickens of the world" album.

I'm ready for bed early tonight. Ok, Ok, I'm ready for bed early every night. But tonight is no exception. Tomorrow is another gorgeous and busy day on the island!

To My Son On His First Father's Day

Dear Douglas,

Happy Father's Day! Can I just say that watching you take on the role of Daddy to my granddaughter is one of the greatest joys of my life thus far? No one warns you of the exquisite push and pull of joy and pain as you watch your children grow into the amazing people you knew they could become. The joys are obvious. The pain is elusive, lurking there, reminding you that you cannot protect them like you once could, that they don't need you like they once did, that they will never be a part of your day-in-day-out life like they were for so many years.

You have always been precocious, doing, seeing, and understanding things sooner than expected. It should not be a surprise that you are K. Douglas Martin, BSN; a husband, a father, and pursuing your dream career at the age of {barely} 22. You were never one to sit and watch the world go by.

I can only hope that Riley brings you as much joy as you have brought to me through the years. Being a parent isn't easy, as you have already discovered. And I can't really tell you it gets easier, because it doesn't. But the pleasure far outweighs the difficulty in each stage. For you, right now, the pleasure is winning the rare and fleeting 5-week-old baby smiles. For me it is watching you become a caring parent.

That precious little girl of yours will challenge you in ways no one else can or will. She will make you laugh, she will make you cry. Don't be afraid of either. She will make you change your ideals on some issues, and that is OK. God knows you have done so with Dad and me! 

Children have a way of reminding us to laugh and to play. Life comes with lots of pressures, but you owe it to her to bear those for her and allow her to grow up in a carefree environment. It's part of the job of parenting and one of the areas I hope you are stronger in than I was. Kids are fun and like to have fun. Some of my best memories of my dad from my childhood are the simple, everyday things that he did to have fun with us. Don't forget to do the little things. Little things are the big things in the end.

It is strange watching the years roll by. This day used to be all about Grandpa Sams. Then it was about Dad. Now it is your turn. You come from a line of good, strong men. I could not be more proud to watch you take your place among the good dads.