This vacation of a lifetime, was largely paid for (airlines, hotel, food and transportation) by our eldest son Kyle and his wife Diane. Their two sons joined us.
And our other two sons, their wives and children, also joined us, a total of 14 people.
The purpose was to celebrate Anne's and my 60th wedding anniversary (June 26, 1965) and to spend time together as a family.
We stayed in the Ala Moana Surfrider, a beautiful hotel on the ocean front in Waikiki. And we visited the ocean front elsewhere on Oahu where Kyle and Diane are buying rental property.
While visiting that rental property, we met the residents and the current owner, we swam in the bright blue surf, and picnicked under the trees on an old warn wooden picknick bench.
Our typical daily routine:
At 6 am each morning several members of our party went surfing, and then at 8:30 am, we all met for breakfast at the Ala Moana, in a magnificent outdoor ocean setting, just 75-yards from the sea.
While we ate, the conversation was lively and funny, while the salty sea spray permeated the air, as the sounds of the waves rolling onto the beach lulled us into gentle relaxation.
After breakfast, we occupied lounge chairs on the beach front adjoining the Ala Moana with umbrellas blocking the intense sun. We went swimming in the surf, in the warm and crystal clear water.
Each time I went in, I was joined by one or more of my grandsons. I believe they enjoy my company, but I also suspect that at 80-years-of-age, their parents wanted them to keep an eye on me.
I did fine in the waves.
Lunch and refreshments were served by the Ala Moana bar and grill, as food servers took our family's orders.
While I ate lunch upstairs in the room enjoying my vegetarian Muscle Milk and my grains and nuts, and Envy apples kindly provided by the hotel.
In the evening, we all went to dinner together, each night to a different and very fancy restaurant. Thanks to Kyle's assistant, Rahsua Valdespino, I had vegetarian food from restaurants that did not normally serve vegetarian. (I have been a vegetarian for over 24-years.)
My favorite was Stripsteak Waikiki because they hired someone to create delicious veggie burgers from scratch, rather than use commercial brands.
Our anniversary dinner was held at Hy's Steak House, one of the finest restaurants in Oahu. We also had dinner at the Hula Grill, Roy's and Duke's, the latter being one I particularly enjoy.
Dessert was sometimes eaten in the restaurant, or at times was purchased in scoops from the Haagen- Dazs store across the street from our hotel.
On these warm summer nights, it was fun to go out and see the people and the sights, including a variety of street musicians and dancers.
Family photos were taken on the beach, courtesy of our son Clayton, and his wife Maria, who also paid for one of the dinners.
And it was a joy to have our middle son Kevin and his wife Melody and their children join us all the way from Montana, an extra thousand mile journey. They too paid the cost of one of the dinners.
One of my favorite activities was riding a stationary bike in the hotel mezzanine gym, overlooking the main Honolulu thoroughfare, Kalakaua Blvd. and doing some people watching.
One of the people I saw was Anne walking by with a jewelry store bag in her hand, and judging by her big smile feeling very good about what she just bought.
Commentary:
I am grateful to Kyle and Diane for paying the many thousands of dollars this trip cost.
Given that our grandchildren are growing up and some are beginning to venture out on their own, I do not know if another trip like this will happen again, but hopefully it will.
In any case, there were many fond memories of being with our family, memories that will last a lifetime.
I can still hear the laughter, see the smiles and picture the sun lighting up the many whitewater waves as they tumbled onto the sand. I can see the night sky in black, accompanied by sparkling stars and feel all the marvelous energy around me.
With Love To All - Dick
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