Usually, my Spring Breaks are spent back home taking the opportunity to do absolutely nothing. This year, just in time for my last Spring Break, I took a week-long trip to the wonderful state of Hawaii. I need to give a HUGE shout out to Texas Volleyball for letting me live out my dreams of being Lilo for a week. The volleyball team was travelling to Hawaii for a game against the Bows and needed a backup player. Luckily I was the most accessible has-been, and they let me tag along. Hawaii has been a dream destination of mine since I was a small child. I had been once before, but I was literally a fetus, so it's safe to say I don't remember much. I was so blessed to have gotten this opportunity, and you can bet that I made the most of it! The entire week, we stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. They definitely call it a village for a reason, as it has numerous high rise towers, restaurants, a private beach, shops, and anything else you would need if you decided to spend all your time at the resort. Most nights they have a luau you can attend for a fee, fireworks on Friday nights, and many other activities going on around the resort. You might even get to spot a celebrity. On our trip, we ran into Michael Irving. For those of you who don't know, Michael Irving is one of the greatest football players of all time. As a Dallas native and Cowboys fan, my whole life was made after I snagged a picture with him. If you want to take a trip to Oahu and hang around the hotel, this would be a great place for you. However, that isn't something I would recommend in a place like Hawaii! !!The North Shore The North Shore is a stretch of coast known for its huge waves and awesome surf contests. It isn't exactly a quick trip from Waikiki. Its over an hour drive, and traffic can get pretty bad when driving in. On your trip, take a little extra time and stop and check out some cool spots along the way. Our group made a quick trip to the Old Waialua Sugar Mill. It houses a number of different small companies, a kitchen that makes some amazing shaved ice, and a huge gift shop. You have to get some of their chocolate and get a strawberry and lilikoi shaved ice! It was extremely charming inside and I couldn't help but pick up a few souvenirs as well! Waimea Bay was our beach of choice. We had an amazing scenic drive for the last couple of miles. When we finally got to the beach, I was blown away by the natural magnificence. The waves were huge and the sun's reflection off of the water made it feel like a dream. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to get in the water due to large waves and a dangerous current (but we still got in for a little bit). I was a little bummed about that, but I was satisfied just by looking at the beauty of nature. We also got to see someone get married! If you happen to go to the North Shore on a day where the waves are massive, don't expect to get in unless you are an experienced surfer. However, don't let that deter you from from taking a walk along a gorgeous beach or seeing some surfers in action! Also, make sure not to fall asleep on the ride home! There's so much lush scenery to gaze at during your drive back, and you won't want to miss it! Diamond Head Diamond Head State Monument is always a go-to destination for travelers staying in Waikiki. It's less than a 15 minute drive, and its trail is easy enough for people of all ages. The entry fee is $5 per vehicle or $1 per walk-in visitor. I went twice on this trip. I went once around 9:00 am with a large group, and then went again at 5:45 am with a couple other people. While the first trip was fun and offered great views, the second trip was amazing. It takes between 30-45 minutes to get to the top depending on your pace and how crowded it is. We reached the summit at 6:23 am and had a front row seat to one of the prettiest sunrises I've ever seen. When you leave the park, make sure to stop by the pineapple food truck in the parking lot! It had all sorts of sweet, fruity treats. I got the fresh squeezed pineapple juice, pineapple whip, and a pineapple and guava smoothie. They were all yummy. Overall, I appreciated the ease of the hike, and wasn't rewarded any less. The views were still gorgeous even though it was only a half hour hike. If you plan on hiking Diamond Head, I strongly urge you to go and catch the brilliant sunrise! Pearl Harbor Anyone who knows me probably guessed that Pearl Harbor was the biggest thing I wanted to do on Oahu. I am a huge history buff, and Pearl Harbor is a site I've wanted to visit since I was a little girl watching the History Channel with my dad. Luckily, my travel buddy Jeremy also wanted to go. It was about a 25 minute drive from the hotel. We got tickets for the tour online, so we had no problem getting in and meeting our tour group. The tour starts off in the small theater on the grounds. They show you a 25 minute documentary about the events surrounding the tragedy and the affect it has had on the country. After the film, they take you out on the harbor to the USS Arizona Memorial. Along the way, you see smaller memorials for the other ships that were destroyed that day. Unfortunately, the USS Arizona been out of service due to construction, but they still get the boat close enough so you can see the sunken ship underneath. Once they drop you back on land, there are numerous placards, signs, and monuments that give great knowledge about the history of Pearl Harbor, the attack, and some of the sailors who perished. Since the Arizona was closed, we bought tickets for the Virtual Reality Tour. For five dollars, the headset takes you inside the USS Arizona Memorial, shows you what the Arizona looked like, and what the attack looked like from the shore. The trip can take as long as you want. It can take anywhere from 35 minutes to 4 hours depending on how fast you walk through the grounds and if you visit any other memorials or museums. It was a truly somber, educational experience. When visiting, it is important to remember that thousands of people lost their lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor. It is a memorial to the 2,403 people who gave their lives for the country. Even though you are on the water surrounded by pretty scenery, it is imperative you remember what happened on those grounds all those years ago. If you are planning on going, I would recommend buying your tickets online the day before. There are a limited amount of walk-up tickets everyday! Manoa Falls Manoa Falls is a waterfall in the Manoa Falls Trail. It took less than 15 minutes to get there from our hotel. Parking costs five dollars, and there are buses you can take from Waikiki for pretty cheap. Check the weather before you go. If it recently rained or is going to rain during your trip, expect it to be extremely muddy and very slippery. I wouldn't recommend bringing young children when the trail is in that type of condition. When we went, it hadn't rained so it was solid. For the majority of the hike, you are walking through a deep green, lush Hawaiian jungle. The terrain can get craggy at some points, but that just means it will be a little harder. Our group had people ranging in age from 7 years old to 60 years old, and everyone made it to the waterfall. It will take about 30 minutes to get to the end. I encourage you to explore off the beaten path, because there were some cool areas we discovered. The waterfall is 150 feet tall and has a freezing cold pool it feeds. It is strongly discouraged to swim in the pool, but YOLO right? Jeremy and I navigated the rocks in the pool and made it under the waterfall. It was a pretty cool (and freezing cold) experience, and the photos were nothing less than Insta worthy. I would recommend hiking to the waterfall if you have some spare time on your hands. I think there are better waterfalls you could hike to if you have the time. For us, there were a couple of hours we needed to burn, and Manoa Falls was the perfect option! Bagley Beach and Sandy Beach Park One of the best days of the vacation was the trip to Sandy Beach Park and Bagley Beach. Sandy Beach Park wasn't a beach I would plan on getting wet at. The water is known for its body surfing because the waves break very close to the shore. While this is pretty awesome for experienced body surfers, it can be extremely dangerous. Many people are seriously injured and even killed at Sandy Beach. The park was full of people on the beach and in the parking lot blaring tunes in their car. It was really cool to see people out in the water getting tossed around. It was truly an awesome sight to see how hard the waves crashed and how much everyone in the water loved it. After we left Sandy Beach, we went to Bagley Beach where we planned to spend the rest of the day. We had the beach almost to ourselves. It was sunny, warm, and the waves were amazing. I spent the bulk of my team being taught how to boogie board by my coaches' sons. By the end of the day, I felt like a character on Blue Crush or Rip Girls. There are a number of inlets like Bagley Beach in the Waimanalo Bay area. I would suggest spending at least a few hours at one. The warm waves and powdery soft sand were one of the most memorable elements of the entire trip. Hawaii was everything I had imagined and more. From the majestic mountains, to the sparkling ocean, every part of Oahu mesmerized me. The people were nothing short of hospitable and kind. I am so grateful that I got to see the Aloha state up close. A huge thank you to Texas Volleyball and also to the Gabriel family for introducing me to Aloha Maid juice! I can't wait to come back to this beautiful land again. Mahalo, Hawaii!
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March 2020
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