Just Say Awwww

I'm still not feeling 100% lately.  My week has consisted of either working, sleeping, or trying to catch up on work because I've been sleeping.  Noa surprised me with flowers at work today in hopes that I'd be feeling better soon.

Hawaii Top 10

Now that I'm feeling better (I was sick all weekend), I can finally finish this blog entry!

We recently returned from a wonderful, relaxing trip to Oahu, Hawaii.  We reunited with the Apostles for our yearly vacation together and I'm blogging without having read Jess' blog yet.  So for those of you who read both blogs, I apologize if there's overlap.

Here are my top 10 moments from the trip:

10 - The Upgrade!

We stayed at the Hawaiian Hilton Village located on Waikiki beach and due to an error on their part with our reservation, we were upgraded to a better suite.  We were stunned to find that our new room overlooked the beach and the city!  It was beautiful!  Anytime we were just hanging out inside, we always had the sliding glass doors open and listened to the waves and the people below.  

A view of downtown.

A look straight out of the lagoon and Waikiki beach.

The pool immediately down below.  We didn't actually go in the pool.  The water was too cold!

Our tower is the one on the right.

The sunsets were amazing!

9 - Pearl Harbor

Early on in the trip we visited the Pearl Harbor Memorial.  It was a sobering, amazing experience to come close to the events that happened on December 7, 1941.  

 

A view from the memorial of part of the U.S.S. Arizona.  We could still see oil in the water leaking from the sunken battleship.

We also toured the U.S.S. Missouri, where the Japanese empire surrendered and marked the end of WWII.  I had never been on a battleship before, so it was pretty interesting.  I really enjoyed seeing how the crew lived and worked on the ship.  I also found it pretty amazing that the ship was in service for the Gulf War.  It's now decommissioned from service.

 

Of course, I also found the dog (owned by one of the tour guides) to be a fun distraction.

8 - Golf, Golf, and More Golf

Noa and Mike got to work on their game at 5 different courses during the trip.  Although the weather wasn't always stellar, the views were still breathtaking.

Mike & Noa: the Golf Twins!

Noa tries to find the fairway.

Check out this view!

7 - Shop-o-rama

There was definitely no shortage of shopping opportunities on this trip.  Jess and I devoured the Ala Moana Mall, the outlets, the flea market at Aloha Stadium and other shopping avenues.

We somehow convinced this bellhop to get in our grocery shopping picture.  Let's just say we spent waaayyyy too much money there!

Ah, we did love the shopping though.  Noa was so helpful to carry our bags.

Shopping at the flea market at Aloha Stadium was probably one of my favorite shopping experiences this trip.  Not that the souveniers and goods were amazing, but we just had fun looking around, eating food, and spending time together.  Plus I found a killer necklace and some new beach towels.

6 - Karaoke!

Karaoke is always a blast if it's "Japanese-style" - with the private rooms, large speaker system and food and drinks just a phone call away.   We were fortunate to find this set-up in downtown Honolulu and had a blast!  As you can see, none of us shied away from the mic.

Noa and I ham it up on the mic!

5 - Garmin Directions

Ah, the Garmin.  Such a wonderful device when traveling.  Except for when it takes you up a mountain, on a dirt path, through a seedy neighborhood, just to get you turned around back the way you came.  Or take us to the non-existent Taco Bell.  I think we laughed the hardest on this trip when we saw the crazy u-turns or back road directions the Garmin would blindly lead us on.  

4 - Waikiki Beach

The beach was one of the reasons we go on vacations like this.  Jess and I love to sit out, read magazines, watch people, and munch on snow cones.  Unfortunately, we didn't get as much beach time as we would have liked due to some unfortunate weather.  But, when we did get to hang out on the beach, it was pure bliss.

Mmmm...snow cones!

A beach up on the North Shore

Walking to dinner on Waikiki Beach

Jess & Julie on Waikiki Beach (notice Diamondhead in the background)

Hampostles on Waikiki Beach

3 - Duke's & Hy's

Although we ate out at several places, these two were my favorite.  Duke's is located right on Waikiki Beach and we arrived just in time to hear live music and dine during the sunset.

We've started a tradition of going out to a nice dinner whenever we're together.  We chose Hy's Steak House based on a recommendation from a friend of Noa's.  We were more than impressed.  I highly recommend Hy's if you are headed to Oahu.

The Hampostles get dolled up for dinner.  I think we're a pretty good looking group.

Team Juloa

Our table at Hy's

2 - Diamondhead

Diamondhead is the peak of a crater that used to be an active volcano on Oahu.  We hiked the trail on a blustery day, but once we reached the top, we were really glad we did.  

A view of Waikiki from the top of Diamondhead with the happy hikers.

Noa and Mike showing some aloha spirit.

1 - Hampostle Time

Just being away with our friends is enough to make me giddy.  I have so much fun when we are all together.  Still, being in paradise isn't too shabby either.  I guess I got the best of both worlds.  I leave you now with some random photos that I didn't post earlier.

Here, Noa and Mike make the most out of the breakfast buffet upon our arrival.

Jess and me at the North Shore.

Hanging out in a shop at the North Shore.  Of course, Jess had to get a snow cone.  You can never have too many.

Jess and I enjoy some spa time on a rainy day.

One of the shops at the Hilton was aptly named "Noa Noa."  

Noa does his Kanye impersonation at Aloha Stadium.

This is one of my favorite pictures of us from the trip.

Our last night in Honolulu.

Hanging out after dinner.  Notice that I got right into my comfy clothes upon coming home.

Jess took this beautiful picture of us before we went out to eat.  She is such a talented photographer.  Most of these photos are actually from her.  Mahalo, Jess!