Hawaii Dec 27, 2013 to January 7, 2014

Jan was surprised on Christmas morning with a trip to Hawaii.  She shed a couple of tears and then started panicking.  We were not leaving until Dec 27, but there were no hair appointments or shopping trips to prepare.  I wanted to have a suitcase packed for her and take her out for breakfast and then to the airport with her knowledge but the girls advised against it.

We arrived late on December 27, 2013.  Scott and Robyn picked us up from the airport.  After checking in, we went to Denny's for a bite to eat - A Superbird sandwich.  When the kids were small, we spent a lot of time at Denny's in the middle of the night as their schedules adjusted to the time change.

We got up the next morning and headed for the beach in front of the Outrigger and Duke's which we have done numerous times before with our kids (and pre-kids as well).  Very little has changed other than all the Jack in the Box restaurants in Waikiki are gone - so sad.  We arrive don the beach to see Guy and Diane - old friends of my parents (who went to Waikiki every year) - it was great to see them again.  We had not seen them since we brought my dad to Hawaii for one last trip after he was diagnosed with cancer.  Guy reminded me of my dad's morning ritual of swimming in the ocean to the "wall" by the Sheraton and I continued this tradition for numerous mornings.  To be honest, it was a bit sad to be back with out my mom and dad.

Most of our days involved getting up early and being at the beach by 8 am.  We would then go for lunch at Duke's - our favourite Waikiki restaurant … and then out for dinner with Robyn, Scott, JP, Barb and Andrew while they were still there (we stayed a few extra days).

JP and Barb had rented an SUV and we spent one day with them driving around the island.  We stopped at the blowhole, Kailua Beach Park where we saw a turtle in the water, Jack in the Box in Kailua, Chinaman's Hat, Fumi's Shrimp Truck, Turtle Bay Resort, Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay on the North Shore to see the major waves and Matsumoto's General Store in Haleiwa for the best Shave Ice on the Island - this concoction starts with a scoop of ice cream, covered by shave ice which is flavored with 3 different flavors and then covered in evaporated milk.

We spent one afternoon going to the Outlet Mall and even went to see Anchorman 2.

We had some great meals at Chuck's Steak House, Ocean House Restaurant, Hula Grill, Jack in the Box and, of course, Dukes.

We had a great relaxing trip … Aloha!