Saturday - February 18

ALOHA............yesterday my thoughts were so mumbo jumbo....full of emotions, giddiness and pride!  I had
 many things I wanted to say about our experience of watching the Stennis come in and seeing Ryan (after 8 months).....but, last night, the ole brain was just in a whirlwind and tired!

I can't describe how it felt to see the top of the Stennis tower from far away and then come in so slowly with all the men and women in their dress whites surrounding the top flight deck. They were at full attention and saluted as they passed the Arizona Memorial. Shortly after, as they came closer, the crowd erupted in major hand clapping, shouting out, whistle calls, etc.......such an incredible moment –
THANK YOU GOD!  Our loved ones are safely back home!

About 1.5 hrs later, here comes Ryan with a big grin – all happy and healthy....and on with the hugs, kisses and tears!

For all those folks who came to pay their respects at the Pearl Harbor memorial, they were treated to the added bonus of seeing an aircraft carrier return from its 7-month deployment in the North Arabian Sea.

For more pictures from when the Stennis arrived, if you are a facebook user, you can do a search on
stennis 74.

Okay....on with Saturday....”just another day in paradise”....we did all sleep in and after an excellent breakfast at The Reef, we drove around past all the trendy, upscale shops, picked up a few things for the cruise and back to our room for a bit.

My deeelicious "banana macadamia nut pancake"

Then off to North Shore (60 mile trip) taking us past pineapple fields, the huge Dole Pineapple Plantation, coffee bean fields (look like vineyards) and others we are not sure what they were growing? Everything is very lush and green. We stopped in the town of Haleiwa and the Marketplace – lots of shops, cafes, etc. Had some yummy homemade ice cream and just enjoyed strolling around – reminded us of Key West....artsy, quaint, and colorful complete with crowing roosters!!!

As we were traveling back “home”, Ryan had a good phone visit with his Grandma and Grandpa.

The waves here at North Shore can get to 15-20' and we had planned to take a different route back to Honolulu along the water; but there had been an accident and traffic was backed up big time, so....took the shorter route.

Back to our hotel where Ryan grabbed his laptop, Mark and I, our Nooks and went downstairs to sit with coffee drinks (Mark and I) and beer for Ryan. This is such a beautiful place with gorgeous landscaping, flowers, pools, shops, restaurants, bars, etc. Each evening along with the all the lit tiki torches, they have some great Hawaiian music entertainment.   And what a coincidence that this is same place Mike, Theresa, Jim and Lydia stayed a few weeks ago when they vacationed here!

Some of the beauty here at the Hilton Hawaiian Village

View from our room on the 24th floor

Waterfalls and koi fish

Pink flamingos

 

Waikiki Beach

  

We had a very good dinner at Benihana - so much food, and first time for Mark and I to eat at one of these restaurants, but always heard how good they are.    Ryan suggested it and it was a winner!

The volcanic onion prepared by Chef Peter

Us at Benihana