6/23/08

Hawaiian Spirit of Hospitality!


Stop! And let me tell you about our Hawaiian vacation!


Aloha friends! Have you wondered where I’ve been? My daughter and I joined my friend Pam and her daughters and their friend, for a week’s vacation in Honolulu. Oh my, does her family have a true Hawaiian, hospitable spirit!! We were blessed!

Since I have a “foodie” blog – it would only be fitting to talk about our favorite foods and then, of course, our favorite beaches, and then our favorite foods. Oh, I think I already said foods. Yes, we ate our way through Honolulu, enjoying every bite.

Join me as I journey through our week.

Mangos


Malasadas, Malasadas, and more hot Malasadas – from Leonard’s Bakery


Day at Kailua


Papayas & Fresh Fruit


Gardenias


Girl’s Night Out to Pam's Class Reunion


Slippers


Padayos


North Shore Sand – The Best


Scrabble on the Beach


Dole Plantation and Pineapple Sorbet


Swimming at Waikiki


Rusty Bike Riding to Starbucks


Fresh Salmon


Beautiful Bougainvilleas


Coconut Lovers


French Toast on a Cool Morning


Nighttime Walk on Waikiki


Pam's Beautifully Hand-Stitched Hawaiian Quilt (Click on the picture to see an upclose view of her beautiful stitching! I'm so proud of my friend!)


More Beach Fun


A Friend Who's Like a Sister


Belly Fun – Lots of Sunscreen


Mommy Daughter Time


Bye-Bye Salt-Water, Sand and SUN!


Manapua, Pork Hash, Plate Lunch, Spam Musubi, Fresh Seafood, Chocolate and Shaved Ice – Laughter, Shopping, Water Park, Arizona Memorial, Swap Meet, Jumping at Waimea Bay, Snorkeling, Naps …

Cheers to the best hosts on the island of Oahu - Grandpa Nick and Uncle Doug! And to my dear friend Pam, who was born and raised on the island, and who shared with us her beautiful heritage. I now see where she learned the gift of hospitality – and how she daily uses that gift in her own life!

Yes, we experienced the true Hawaiian spirit of hospitality in a way that our memories we will never lose.

(My next post will be an exciting GIVEAWAY! Come back and visit me!)

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am drooling at your photos Sandy. Especially when I look out at our grey skies and cool weather. Your vacation is just heavenly and I loved every photo. We leave soon on our vacation and I can't wait to see the sunshine again.

Wendy said...

That looks like so much fun! BEAUTIFUL!

OKGardners said...

ALOHA!!!! What a wonderful trip!

Loved the food, fun and flowers you showed us. I had never seen the bouganvilleas with the tiny white blooms in them. That's new to me! I have been to Honolulu twice and loved every minute of those trips. (Need to do it again!)

Thanks for the memories - or should I say "MAHALA" :)

Betty in Oklahoma

Tarrah said...

Wow Sandy! Those pictures are amazing. I just went on vacation to North Carolina along the coast and there was beautiful sand and sun there but that blue water is georgeous.

It looks like you had a wonderful experience. Oh, and those mangos are making my mouth water, I LOVE them :)

linda t said...

Aaaah, simply glorious Sandy!
What a special time with your daughter... and dear friends.
Such wonderful, colorful memories.
Such yummy pics!

Jess said...

Oh, wow! The pictures were an added bonus. I really want to pack up and go now.

~j~ said...

Welcome back Sandy!
Ohhh i can almost smell the plumeria coming from these pictures.
What a great trip of wonderful memories for you girls, so happy to have you back, thanks so much for sharing your time away.
love j

Deidre said...

Oh, how relazing it all looks ... and wonderful! A vacation like that is hard to top.

Glad you're back!

Jen said...

It all sounded so wonderful.....a dream.

Renna said...

Of all the places I've visited, Hawaii is the one that left the most lasting memories. Neither words nor pictures quite do it justice. It's unique beauty and laid back atmosphere is the perfect place to go to leave your cares of the world behind. :-)

Unknown said...

Wow! Makes me wish I was going there soon! Thanks for sharing!

Elizabeth in Wisconsin said...

What fun, Sandy! I'm just a wee bit envious! ;)

Becky Dellar said...

So fun!! :D Glad you guys were blessed - it is blessed country over here!!

Laura said...

Oh how wonderful! I got married on the island of Maui...so beautiful!!

Welcome back :)

Our Two Blessings From Above said...

The pictures are so beautiful. Looks like you had a wonderful time. Thanks for sharing.

Wendy said...

My mouth is watering!! When I was expecting my first baby, we were stationed in Honolulu and the local food tasted better than ever then! One of my very favorite memories was being at the mall in Aiea. The lady running the cookie shop called me over with, "Little mama, come here! You need to eat! Take this milk and cookie and grow a big, healthy baby." Such aloha!! We long to go back.

The Tin House said...

Lovely Sandy. Lisa x

Nadine said...

What great pictures. If looked like you had such a great time with your friend and your daughter.

grace said...

"take a trip to hawaii" just moved up quite a few spots on my to-do list. looks like you had an awesome time, thanks for sharing! :)

Darla said...

I think you had a awesome vacation. Friends, daughters, sand, surf, sun and ... mangoes.
Just a short plane trip away. What could be better?

Darla

Anonymous said...

Your friend's stitching is BEAUTIFUL. I plan to go to Hawaii next year....you make me want to move the trip up!!!

Barb said...

Yum and fun! Beach Scrabble--woo woo! Bring us all some Malasadas next time! :oD

Susan Skitt said...

What a fun girl trip! I once took a trip with my two sisters before we had kids... it certainly is a special time!

tammi said...

I DID wonder where you were, but now I remember you mentioning this trip not that long ago. Looks like a WONDERFUL time!! Beautiful, beautiful pictures, too!

I so-o-o wish my toes could be covered in that sand.... sigh.

Jill said...

Loved all your photos. I've been to various Hawaiian Islands six times and it's my all time favorite domestic place to visit. Glad you had such a memorable time.

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Hi, Sandy, thanks for stopping by. I just seem to run out of time to visit everyone these days, but you're still on my list. What a fun time in Hawaii you must have had! Sounds great...

xo,
Rhoda

3CHEERS4MOM said...

Hi Sandy, I loved your pictures of your trip Hawaii. What great memoires you have to share with your daughter. - Cheers, amy

Susie said...

Looks like you had a fabulous time with your daughter and friends. Hawaii is on my list of places to visit someday. For now, I'll enjoy it through your eyes.

GiBee said...

Oh, MY WORD that looks like a wonderful vacation ... a little jaunt to Hawaii would be wonderful!

I saw the Malasadas from Leonard's Bakery featured on the Food netwoork one evening!!! The look so good!

Yes.

I'm jealous.

Anonymous said...

Wow Sandy, how fun!

I would love to visit Hawaii some day but it is a good 12 hour plane ride from here. :(

Loved seeing all of your pics!

Joy

Tara said...

How fun! I'm glad you all had such a good time. Looks like memories to last forever!

Tammy said...

WOW!!! Aloha and what a surprise to hear of this wonderful trip with your daughter and your friends!!!

I've been to Hawaii twice...the first time on our 10th anniversary and the second time a year and half later, with our girls. The second time wasn't so great (long story!) but the first time was heavenly!
My mom finally got to go when she went with her sister last year at almost age 80 and she had the same photo op taken with the pineapple! :D
All of these photos are so wonderful...and I think you and your friend look so young in that picture together!
So nice to hear of your wonderful time and their aloha hospitality!

Julie said...

Sandy,
Thanks for stopping by. I love it when I have visitors come by.

By the way I finished the book, "Married But Not Engaged".....I might email you about it....It was good...and I am processing some things....

Hugs,
Julie

Andrea@Sgt and Mrs Hub said...

What a great time to build memories with your daughter! I'm so happy for you two - what a blessing to have that opportunity!

-Andrea

Anonymous said...

I loved the pictures that you shared of Hawaii. I grew up on the Big Island of Hawaii where watching the volcano erupt was one of our favorite forms of entertaiment! LOL! Those pareos are great for wrapping around your swimsuits or even wearing around the house...I have many that I still wear during the hot summer months here in Washington State where I now live.

Mahalo for sharing and taking me "back home" once again.

Debbie
frugalfriends.proboards42.com

willzmom said...

It looks like you 'girls' had a fabulous time together. My mouth watered when I saw those mangos! It's nice to spend time with good friends.

Michelle @ Sew-Krafty said...

How absolutely wonderful!! All the unusual foods and sights...you and your daughter will never forget it I'm sure!

La Tea Dah said...

A lovely post, Sandy. Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us!

LaTeaDah

Lissete said...

Leonard's rocks! So does Matsumoto Shave Ice, although some may think it's over rated it was my favorite! Now I want a Kalua pork/Chicken Katsu plate lunch!

Anonymous said...

Sandy - You are right, that is a beautiful quilt. I am so glad that you shared this with me as I love and admire the traditional Hawaiian quilts. I have the book documenting the Wilcox Hawaiian quilt collection and hope to see this for myself one day. Thank you for stopping by my blog. ~Kelly

unDeniably Domestic