Last Day, Date Day, Aloha

The last full day in Hawaii, Loran and I took off up the coast on our own. First, we stopped in Hilo for lunch and to sightsee a bit downtown. We stopped at a little mom and pop Italian restaurant called Amalfatano’s. The owner, Mario (in his 70s) and his wife were so fun! Mario made us feel like family, giving us extra food since we were going on a hike and he felt one of our sub sandwiches was a little short. I don’t even like potato salad – but Mario’s potato salad was amazing. Seriously, I would rather eat my own arm than eat potato salad. This entire experience was surreal. The restaurant reminded me of actual Italy, just a small hole-in-the-wall with mis-matched chairs and run by the most welcoming, friendly people you’ve ever met.

After lunch, we were on the road up the Hamakua Coast. Our first stop was Laupahoehoe Point Park. We drove down a steep, winding road towards the water. Where the park is once stood a school and teacher’s cottages. On April 1, 1946, a tsunami struck. 20 students and four teachers lost their lives. There is a monument and informational signs in the park. It’s a somber place amidst great beauty and power. The waves crash into the jagged cliffs. This is not a swimming beach, or even a dip your toe into the water beach. This area exudes the power of nature.

Our next stop up the coast was Akaka Falls State Park. We enjoyed the easy hike through the jungle to see two water falls, Akaka (442 ft.) and Kahuna (100 ft.). The rain threatened us the entire time, but we escaped dry.  As we were leaving, we thought we’d found a shortcut with our GPS. Turns out it was a farm road and quickly led to a gated road. Fail GPS, fail.

Our final morning in Hawaii was spent playing, packing and savoring the last bits of tropical paradise. On our way to the airport, my parents brought us by a beach that we’d run out of time to see. It was amazing. The water was various shades of blue/green/turquoise. A sheltered lagoon, it was breathtaking. And what do we see in the water? A sea turtle just drifting along. It swam up near where we were standing. It was a neat way to end our Hawaiian adventure.

The girls spent their final moments at the Hilo airport watching the planes out the window. Then Lily nearly knocked herself out upon standing when she banged her head into the wooden rail that ran along the wall. It was quite the thud. Perhaps it helped her sleep better on the long flight home.

Our flight home was decent. It was overnight and the girls slept well once we got them adjusted, I did not. It seems the family behind us was not from the time zone we were coming from, or the time zone we were going to. Their children were in no mood to sleep on the flight, which meant baby screeching. As a parent to young children on a plane, I couldn’t be too annoyed. But if I hadn’t been traveling with/responsible for my own small children, I certainly would have utilized some ear plugs and Tylenol PM…

We landed in Atlanta in the early morning of Thanksgiving (yes, Atlanta) and were able to use the Delta lounge (thanks to the 30 day pass we’d purchased – totally worth it on this trip!) to shower. Showers make all the difference in the world as to how humane you feel. Granted, the airport seemed to be out of hot water, but nothing wakes you up like a lukewarm shower. We grabbed a quick breakfast, and found out that despite what we were told back in Honolulu, our checked bag would not be making the trip final trip back to Houston with us, but was sitting in Atlanta as its final destination. However, we (Loran) didn’t have time to run to baggage claim, then recheck it, go through security and make it to our connecting flight. We made peace with that, and Delta threw our bag on an Austin-bound flight that day where it was later reunited with us the following day by a nice man who drove it to our house…it was almost easier than having to lug in through Houston. By almost, I mean, it truly was easier.

Houston was non-eventful. We hung out at baggage claim to ensure that we weren’t going to be abandoning our bag, that it was definitely Delta’s fault. Then back to the hotel where our car was where we had to literally dust it off. A nice leisurely drive out of Houston towards home where we had a Thanksgiving meal reservation at Buca’s. Nothing says Thanksgiving like Italian food! Our restaurant happened to be next door to the hotel we stayed at last year when we were designing our house. The “E” as the girls call it – where Butch and Sundance the swans live! We had to go visit them!

Once we got home, we collapsed into bed. Nope. That’s what normal people would do who had been travelling for 24 hours. No, we put our Christmas tree up! Of course!!

Mahalo.