Christmas Breakfast!
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Author Archives: sandersnm
Merry Christmas Eve!
Since I am greatly missing my family on Christmas Eve this year, Josh and I are celebrating with a few traditions that I’m missing out on. We made potato soup (Enders family), buckeyes (my Grandma Kindler and Aunt Jan), opened Christmas pajamas over facetime with my Mom, Austin and Tom, and Josh and I watched The Santa Clause (Austin) while eating all the fantastic food. The good news is that Josh survived the traditions…and more importantly facetime with my family!
Sunrise at Lanikai Pillboxes
This is about 30 minutes before sunrise.
Sunrise over Lanikai. Beautiful!
Merry Christmas Eve! Josh and I got up at 5:15 am to go watch the sunrise over Lanikai. We were joined by about 50 of our best friends as we apparently weren’t the only ones to think of this fantastic idea. It only takes about 15 minutes to get to the first pillbox (left over from WWII), but it was definitely a cardio workout, as the first five minutes were up a pretty steep hill (and we navigated this in the dark). After that, the trail leveled out for the most part so we made it up in pretty good time. Once at the top, we sat and enjoyed the coffee (me) and tea (Josh) we brought and took a million pictures waiting for the sunrise. It was gorgeous and a great way to kick off the day. After that, we went and had breakfast at Koa Pancake House to kill some time. I had Hawaiian sweet bread french toast with coconut syrup and Josh had an omelet…both were pretty good..mine was better :). Then we took cookies to the barracks on base for the Marines who didn’t go home for Christmas and finally ended our morning around 9:30 am with a stop a the Nu’uanu Pali Lookout on the way home.
Sunrise Slideshow (captures about a half hour before and a few minutes after sunrise)
Waiting on the sunrise and the hike back down.
People waiting on the sunrise.
Waiting on the sunrise.
Koolau Mountains with the clouds.
A guy hanging out waiting.
Walking back down.
Kaneohe Bay in the background.
Josh and his base in the background.
The Koolau Mountains with the sun shining on them. Incredible.
Panoramic of the Koolau Mountains and the sun.
The trail in the daylight.
The first part of the trail.
The entrance to the trail.
Nu’uanu Pali Lookout
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Koa Pancake House
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Manoa Falls
Today Josh and I hiked to Manoa Falls. It took us about an hour and 15 minutes roundtrip. A pretty easy hike, but muddy and slippery on the rocks. It is a trail that is about .8 miles long and leads to a 150 ft waterfall. It’s completely different than what we hiked yesterday, as you don’t feel like you’re in Hawaii at all…it feels like a jungle!
There were chickens and roosters hanging out everywhere in the parking lot. This one was the prettiest.
The trees look like you’re in a jungle.
The trees were incredibly unique looking.
I thought the tree tops against the sky were really cool looking.
The trail mostly consisted of mud, tree roots and big rocks.
Peaks of the mountains through the trees.
The trail went through this hole in the tree.
The sign at the falls.
So pretty!
Standing in the bamboo forest.
Standing in the tree on the trail.
Cool shot of the mountains in the background at the start/finish of the trail.
Mariner’s Ridge
Today Josh and I hiked the Mariner’s Ridge Trail to the top of the Koolau Mountains. It took us about an hour and a half roundtrip (including stopping for pictures) and had a pretty amazing view of the windward coast as the payoff at the end. The ocean is so incredibly blue, it still surprises me every time I see it. The entire hike is uphill and most of it was through a bunch of ironwood trees. Pictures describe it much better than I can below.
Start of the trail up.
Koko Head and the ocean.
Josh on the trail in the forrest of ironwood trees.
More of Koko Head and the ocean in the background.
Maunalua Bay on the way up the trail.
Panoramic of the windward coast from the top of Mariner’s Ridge.
Unbelievable blue water. Still no used to it!
At the top of Mariner’s Ridge.
The view from where we were sitting at the top looking straight down.
Mele Kalikimaka!
Tonight Josh and I walked to dinner and on the way went on a tour of all the beautiful Christmas lights and decorations. Mele Kalikimaka and enjoy!
Bishop Street…this is BEAUTIFUL to drive down at night right now.
Iolani Palace, the only royal palace in the US.
Santa and Mrs. Claus Hawaii style.
Shabu Shabu!
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From the Lone Star State to the Aloha State
It’s official! My Hawaii license arrived! I think the thing I am most excited about is the fact that I will no longer get to hear strangers’ opinions on my hair color. “Oh you changed your hair. I like it better blonde.”….”Oh you have different hair now. It looks much better.”
Well maybe the thing I am most excited about is being a Hawaii resident…but it will be nice to look like the ID I am carrying around :).
Goodbye blonde hair!
Please note the Big Island in my throat. That’s not awkward looking at all.
365 Days Of Hawaii 