There are just some things in life that are truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that come up. This is one of those for me and I'm SO grateful that I was able to be a part of this amazing trip. I'm grateful to my Grandma for providing the funding for this trip and for Jenna and David for making it happen on the home end. Sneaking away to Hawaii for 6 days with my mom, grandma, and aunt was amazing and already it feels like a dream!
Here's the backstory: My Grandma Knowles has always wanted to go to Hawaii. Her father, Albert Elvin, served his mission on the Hawaiian Islands from 1921-1924. He loved these islands and their people and always wanted to take his wife back to visit them with him. However, when he and my Great-grandmother, Zuriel Ruth Jette were married and were planning their honeymoon to Hawaii, they realized that the could not afford both the trip to Hawaii and furniture for their home. They decided to purchase a nice set of furniture instead and made plans to go together later. (It is my understanding, that part of that furniture set is the beautiful china hutch that I inherited when my grandmother sold her house and is now sitting beautifully in my family room.) They made plans to go back to Hawaii for their 25th wedding anniversary, but Albert tragically passed away only weeks before their anniversary date. My Great-Grandma never made it to Hawaii.
Grandma has always wanted to go see this place that her dad loved but never had the means or opportunity. When the subject was brought up my Grandma said "I just hope that Heavenly Father lets me pass by Hawaii after I die when I'm on my way to heaven." After selling her house and moving in with my mom, she has more accessible money than she's ever had before and so my mom said "Let's go!" My aunt, mom, and grandma started talking about taking a trip just the three of them and I was 100% supportive. I promised to help in whatever way I could.
Even with the excitement over the idea of finally being able to go to Hawaii, I think my mom and grandma were both a little nervous about the long plane ride and other logistics that go into a trip like this. I started helping with the planning to make sure that it would actually happen for them. My mom and I worked with a travel agent to book the flights and hotel (getting an amazing deal on a hotel property right on the ocean with a paved pathway that went up and down the beach) and I started planning the other activities/days- doing research, making reservations, figuring out logistics. As we worked to plan the trip, I think we all realized that it would be difficult for the three of them to go on this trip alone. So the idea was presented for me to be able to go along with them as a bag-girl, driver, logistics manager, and overall cheerleader! It was an absolute dream for me to be able to come with them and I hope that my presence made it easier, more smooth, and possible for them to enjoy the very most out of their trip. It was amazing!!!
We flew to Honolulu, Hawaii and spent the week exploring the island together. I can't possibly write out our whole experience or all the wonderful thoughts and feelings that I had, but I'm going to put some of my favorite pictures and write about some of the highlights for me.
First, being able to go with my 88-year-old grandmother for both of our first trips to Hawaii was an absolute once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We had so much fun experiencing everything together. She got SO much attention everywhere we went, partially because she's 88 and darling, and partially because her enthusiasm for finally being in Hawaii was catching.
The hotel that we stayed in had the most beautiful view of Diamond Head and Waikiki.
We were upgraded to a suite on the other side of the building than we had booked and it was AMAZING. It made all the difference in our stay. I tried to keep my Utah-time-schedule and woke up early each morning to read my book while sitting on the balcony watching the sun rise over the island. The ocean waves and the cool air just before dawn - it was so peaceful and beautiful.
We spent a good amount of time at the pool and the beach.
Hilton Hawaiian Village @ Waikiki - Rainbow Tower
Truly our hotel was a dream!
We ate lots of great food (including a boatload of shrimp). Some favorites were the famous Dukes restaurant, Fumi's Shrimp food truck, Leonard's Malasadas (donuts), a cute ice cream shop by our hotel (Lappert's), Teddy's Bigger Burger, and Blue Water Shrimp and Seafood (where I had my first Ahi Tuna).
We hit all the touristy sites:
Pearl Harbor, the Dole Plantation, and the Polynesian Cultural Center. We loved them all.
My grandma was eight years old at the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
We spent hours and hours at the Laie Temple Visitors center talking to the missionaries and thinking about the role that Albert Elvin played in the early gathering of those faithful saints. Albert William Elvin served his mission from 1921-1924 so he was here EXACTLY 100 years ago.
It was so tender and incredibly special.
(The above picture was taken on Maui while serving his mission. Albert is in front.)
As we were driving through Honolulu, we saw a beautiful mosaic of Jesus Christ on the side of a building and when we read the words "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" we haphazardly drove through the streets to get back to the building and were blessed enough to find a lovely man who was in charge of the mission home there who was willing to give us a tour. We loved making the connection to the beautiful Honolulu Tabernacle, which is also the mission home and another connection to my Great-Grandpa.
My mom and I managed to get a time slot to go snorkling at Hanama Bay. My mom went snorkling here 20+ years ago when she and my dad came to Hawaii and it was a highlight of her life. I can't even describe how amazing and surreal it felt to be here with her snorkling together. We saw amazing fish and thoroughly enjoyed swimming around the coral reef together. This is probably my favorite memory from our entire trip and I never want to forget how it felt to be here with my mama.
We ended at the Nu'uanu Pali Lookout before driving straight to the airport.
What an amazing trip.
Plus, a HUGE shoutout to Jenna who not only watched my kids while I was gone because David couldn't take the days off of work but who also POTTY TRAINED Lucy while I was gone! Lucy has been showing signs of being ready to potty train, but I am admittedly NOT good at potty training. Jenna worked her magic and by the time I came home, Lucy was 100% potty trained both day and night! As I was collecting some small gifts to bring home, I kept wondering "What do you purchase to say 'thank you for watching all of my kids for a week AND potty training my two year old?'" And seriously, is there anything that can adequately show that gratitude? I think not.
