Last Thoughts on Hawaii

So, we are back home now after our crazy trip to Oahu.  its been several days now, and I am still happily recovering.  This was an amazing trip.  I would almost say a once in a lifetime trip, but, hopefully we will be back there sometime.

This was a trip that was brought on by a couple of friends moving over there.  One actually lived in Owensboro before moving (and you know I love Owensboro, but..... Honolulu would be considered a big upgrade to most).  Anyway, after their move, we moved Hawaii way up on our "places to get to" list.  From a budgeting stand point, having a place to stay while over there also helped.

They also have military family stationed at Hickam there.  Thanks to this connection, we were able to see some very historic places.  We were very fortunate all the way around with our friends and their connections.

Our friends who have now spent some time there talked a lot about the friendly people in Hawaii and we found this to be a very accurate and positive stereotype.  I know you hear a lot about people in Hawaii being happy, but they are also very nice.  EVERYWHERE we went, people would engage in pleasant conversation.  People were friendly.  Joey at the Kona Brewery told us about his favorite hiking area, the young lady at an ABC store talked to me about computers, the Vietnam Vet at the information desk at Pearl Harbor told us stories about his life, and the lady who checked our bags at the airport told us she would see us next year.

That vibe translates into a lot of areas.  as I mentioned before, the drivers are friendly.  It makes the roads a nicer, and probably safer place.  Tourists feel a sense of friendly calmness.  I think the tourists around us were more relaxed because everyone else around was calm and cool.

We also observed a lot of chickens.  They are everywhere.  Like, I know rabbits are pretty common in my neighborhood.  Chickens are common like that in Hawaii.  They are in parking lots, and on the side of the road.

Oh, and there are wild pigs.  They aren't as common as the chickens, but I did see a few.

We didn't do a Luau.  Our friends who have been to Hawaii said we probably should do one, but they had no desire to do one again.  We decided to skip on this one.

The flights there and back were not nearly as bad as I anticipated.  The flights from Atlanta to Honolulu and back were long, but, thanks to Delta, they were very manageable.  Heck, they were pleasant!  Snacks and satisfying small meals were provided, and I enjoyed the movies available.  Its such a difference from what was available even just a few years ago.

I would like to go back and enjoy some of the other islands.  We have friends on Oahu though, and it would be good to see them again too.  We will have to make some other trips be fore we could even think about returning to Hawaii though.  There are still about 11 states we haven't visited.