Diary Day Five/Six

Friday May 28, 2010.
So, we never ended up going out that night with Kevin. I don't remember exactly what happened, but I do remember we left the house (Around 2AM Hawai'i time) to a "secret location".

Saturday May 29, 2010.
We drove east, I believe. Took the long way and he pointed out some things as we drove by them. Drove through the end of Waikiki (didn't want to get stuck in tourist traffic, plus, our hotel four years ago was right smack dab in the middle of it overlooking the beach.) near/around Diamondhead, Blowhole (the waves weren't big enough to show the spray. they put up some new railings to keep ppl from going down. stupid tourists probably hurt themselves. -___- ), Sandy Beach Park (I think it was called this), and Bellows Air Force Base. We decided to just stay out and watch the sunrise (which is why we drove to Bellows) and it was worth it. We parked right on the beach around 4AM facing the ocean. I was tired, so I took a nap while Nick went for a stroll and succumbed to his addiction. Eventually, he woke me up about ten minutes before the sun was scheduled to rise. I dragged myself outta the car and was hit by some pretty strong winds. I grabbed my second jacket, thinking I might need it incase I got cold. Hah. Wrongggg. I walked out onto the sand and surveyed our surroundings. It was so beautiful! There was no one on the beach but us. A fishing pole was buried upright into the sand, it's line stretching out into the ocean. As I got closer to the water I realized something scurrying across the sand and into the water. Then more of them. It clicked that they might be baby sea turtles and I rushed toward them. Much to my dismay, but excitement, they were crabs! They've got real sharp eyes too. They would run into the water as soon as I started making a move towards them from 20 feet away. If i'd stop, they'd stop. It was the most magical sunrise ever. Nick stood on the beach watching my shoes and holding my jacket as I ran around on the sand and in the water attempting to catch the crabs. My laughter pure of joy must've woken some of the campers kids nearby because after I successfully caught one, a small group of kids ran out onto the beach trying to catch their own crabs. I took a few pictures of the one I caught, showed it to Nick, and asked one of the kids if they'd like mine. They were standing there gawking at how big the one I caught was and I felt bad. They most likely weren't going to be able to catch one. (I mean, these things are FASTT.) Plus, what was I going to do with the crab? Nothing. Just release it. So I carefully handed it to a little girl, and the group ran back to the camp, I'm assuming to show their parents the crab. There were clouds, so we couldn't get a clear view of the sunrise, but once the sun started streaming it's rays through the clouds and onto the trees, sand, and outcrops of island near us.. oh, it was so beautiful. The way it just lit everything up. I kept thinking, "Mornings like this just aren't meant to happen!" Everything was so calm, beautiful. The crabs continued scurrying into the water as I chased them and attempted to catch a few of the swimming ones. The water was so warm and clear. Just all of it was ... beyond words, beautiful.

We left the beach a bit after to head back off base and get Kevin back his car. On our way back we saw a mongoose and a bit later on our drive off base, a peacock in the middle of the road. Random, I thought. We began our drive home, and at one point there was this kinda-long tunnel that Nick said I wouldn't be able to hold my breath throughout the length of it. So, I turned on my camera and recorded a video of us both holding our breaths. Towards the end of the tunnel Nick started slowing down, what a butt! Anyway, we were both able to hold our breaths. There were some beautiful landforms (and so green!) along the way home. Along with the "Stairway to Heaven". It's like a never ending stair master. Or, so it looked like. It's pretty much (what I saw of it) a staircase that goes up along the side of a very steep mountain. One slip, and I swear you're a gone-er. Google it for more information.

We got home where Nick's parents asked us where we'd been. They were surprised when we told them we'd been out all night. They didn't really care about that, just as long as we enjoyed ourselves. Nick told them how I was running around on the beach trying to catch the crabs and they asked me if I caught any. I told them one, and they seemed impressed. We went downstairs to go back to bed and Nick's mom told us she'd be leaving at 11AM for her parent's. I woke up around nine, showered, and got ready and Nick followed suit. I thought we were being dropped off in Chinatown but, apparently not. Hahaha. She drove us around, showed me some of the things along the way, and we did a speedy tour through Chinatown. We were back on our way to the grandparents when she asked if I'd like to see the kois of... whatever restaurant it was. Seriously, the setup to the place was beautiful. It was like the whole thing was built on the koi pond! There were different sections of koi (but you couldn't tell because the fences ran under the complex net of bridges suspended over the water) where they were separated due to size, or breed. On our way back out of the restaurant, I saw a man holding a bowl of chunks of raw fish. He was pounding the handrails and I couldn't understand what he'd be doing with all that raw fish. Did he plan on eating it? As I turned around for one last glance into the pond I heard violent splashing. There, the man was throwing in the chunks of fish and the fish in that area of the pond (forgot the name of them) were thrashing violently in the water to eat it! These were HUGE fish. I recorded a video of them feeding. Wow, they really splash.

We got to his grandparents where everyone again thought I was a local. They were all pretty friendly and seemed to enjoy (or at least not mind) my company. One of his uncles came by a bit later after we had lunch with ice chests of fish. He attends the fish actions at the fish market and buys and sells for his boss and has his own customers as well. It's a side job which everyone thinks will soon become a full time job because of how much more he makes. He let me take a picture of the fishes he bought and told us to wait around because he wanted to show me a tuna he'd bought. It was an Ahi Tuna, and weighed 62 pounds. The mouth on that thing was HUGE. I stuck my hand in it (Nick's uncle got me a glove because he didn't want me smelling like fish however much I told him I could handle it) and Nick's mom took a picture. His aunts and uncles seemed to enjoy my humor and I heard them laugh as I made a "OWW!" facial expression. His uncle cleaned the fish, and cut it and what not. Nick and I also took a stroll around the area to the park, and his uncles houses (they all live fairly close to one another). While we were at the park we came across a little boy with a duckling in his water bottle. He said that he'd tried to catch all five of them but four got away. I wanted to say something but I didn't know how to say it because things in Hawai'i are just... different. Later though, we saw him again and noticed his bottle was empty. So, he let it go, which is good. I was very relieved. Nick and I came across a small coconut tree and we both attempted to climb it and pick one. I was in sandals though and had no luck. Was two feet too short. Nick however got one but he tasted the water in the husk and said it'd already gone sour (which means it's old and no good).

We headed back home after his grandparents and we took another nap. We woke up again and instead of going out like we thought we would we watched Labyrinth. The one with David Bowie? I fell asleep towards the end of it but I found it interesting.

Sunday May 30, 2010.
Woke up, and texted Jason. Nick's friend, the one that made me feel real welcome at bowling? We were supposed to go spearfishing at nine, but we lagged it back till ten. We hit the beach we were to fish at and it was PACKKEEDDD. We swam out and they were fishing while I enjoyed watching them attempt to spear fish and the beautiful fish around the corals. I kept yelling at Nick whenever he got close and tried to spear a fish I deemed too small to spear. Jason would just laugh and swim away. Nick dropped his weight belt and Jason's knife so I had to dive down to get it while Nick thrashed around above water acting retarded. To sum that up, we didn't catch anything and headed back in because I said I was getting cold. I didn't mind swimming in alone, but they both insisted it was time for a break and said it was fine if we all headed in. Anyway, we were laying on the beach next to the water with all our gear when the beach got... really packed. So, we decided against going back into the water, washed our gear and ourselves, and got into the car to head west on the island. We drove as far as we could go and Jason, as adventurist as he is decided he wanted to go off-roading in his two wheel drive 4Runner. Sure, it was a dirt road and cars were driving down it, but in a two wheel drive? I can't say I was so for it. It was bumpy, and scary as hell for me. I kept thinking we were gonna flip! But we made it a certain way down the road, parked for a bit to let me look around and then headed back. We got home, and got ready to go to his grandparents (dad's side) for Kevin's family graduation dinner. I wore this white dress with black stitchings of flowers on it (quite cute everyone thought) and Nick's mom saw me and said I didn't have to dress up. I said Nick made it sound like the dinner was a big deal and she scolded Nick but said I would be fine in whatever I wanted to wear. We left soon after and I was dozing on the way there but woke up when some... white guy was driving down the wrong way on a ONE WAY street and nearly hit us. There was a guy soon after him that almost went the wrong way as well until someone trying to turn left honked at them and waved their arms wildly while yelling, "WRONG WAY!".

We got to his grandparents, and to be honest, I didn't feel as welcomed there as I had at his mother's grandparents house. I mean, some of the aunts were nice but I since one of them seemed like she tried extra hard to ignore me (she held a conversation with Nick and didn't even acknowledge I was there sitting RIGHT next to him) after she introduced us to her nieces and nephews, I kinda kept to myself. However, most of the aunts and uncles were super friendly as we were saying goodbye to leave. (Kevin, Nick and I retreated downstairs a bit earlier to avoid everyone and watch TV.) We headed home, and I washed up and headed to bed. It was almost 11PM. I finished Labyrinth, turned off the lights, and went to sleep.

Monday May 31, 2010.
Memorial Day. I was awakened by the sound of jets flying over the house. At first, I thought it was an airplane about to crash - they were so loud! Then, it kinda clicked that they'd be jets and I was freaking out about how they might be flying toward Pearl Harbor and try to bomb it again. It IS Memorial Day, ya know? Maybe the N. Koreans got mad and decided to bomb Pearl Harbor like the Japanese did. Anyway, I guess my bolt upright in bed woke Nick up and he told me they were just jets. I couldn't go back to sleep after though.

I'm assuming it was a tribute for the fallen military service woman and men who have lost their lives serving their country. I kinda wish i'd seen them. I also kind of wish that we'd be able to go see the USS Arizona memorial but... other plans have been made.

Well, we're about to head out to hike and I've gotta get ready so... toodles until next time.

Happy Memorial Day, everyone. Please, think of all our troops overseas and those that have died serving their country. Don't take this holiday for granted.

I'll be participating in the Lantern Festival tonight. We'll be lighting lanterns in memories of friends, and family (whoever would like to donate and have a lantern be lit and floated in the memory of a loved one) and floating them out into the harbor. Lets hope I don't screw this popular tradition up.

God bless.
<3