Honeymoon Adventure Day 3

Up with the sun and inspired. This seemed to be our mantra for the entire trip. The journey we took this particular day required us to drive over 2 and a half hours to the west side of the island, to our final destination in Kona. The positive side to this seemingly dreadful notion of being stuck in the car for more than 2 hours, was the ever changing paradise we were able to see along the way. Tropical rocks and fields transformed into desert plains, back into flowing valleys with horses, into explosive mountains, and finally into a rich coastline, booming with people and resorts.

Our first stop was the birth place of King Kamehameha, who under his rule, united all of the islands of Hawaii. To the Hawaiian people, he was a symbol of their strength, culture, and dedication to preserve their homeland and values. It was somewhat surreal to walk through the very place where he first made his entrance into the world, especially knowing the incredible impact he had on his people. Before we could begin the main focus of our day, snorkeling in Kealakekua Bay, we wanted to get out on the water and kayak around the cliffs and beaches. This kind of excursion is not for everyone as it requires significant upper body strength and synchronization, two things Jerry and I thankfully both have! Being out in the open water was a very humbling experience. At any time we could have been swept away by the pounding waves that smashed against the jagged cliffs. The sure strength of Mother Nature becomes all to evident when you are completely immersed in her. Talk about feeling small!



Upon returning our kayak, we took a short walk over to the dock where we entered our double decker cruise boat. The staff of the Fair Winds cruise were all very insightful, light hearted, and entertaining. They provided us with all of the necessary snorkeling gear, as well as a plethora of information about the boat, island, and it's history. Two beers and 45 minutes later, we reached our destination of Kealakekua Bay, the location where Captain Cook perished. Kealakekua Bay is an underwater sanctuary, heavily protected by the National Parks and Government because of the unique environment and wide variety of sea creatures that thrive here. While snorkeling we swam with what appeared to be clouds of tropical fish, corral in every color imaginable, and even saw a 3 foot shark swimming just feet below us. The pictures we took aboard this amazing part of our trip do not to justice to what was actually seen.





Driving back towards our hotel, the sky around us was on fire. Neatly nestled in the lava rocks on either side of the main stretch of highway were bright white rocks spelling out names and messages. One of my favorite quotes was "YOU ARE FREE". It really seemed to capture the overall conscious feeling of our day. Beyond exhausted from an active, adventurous day, we called it a night after a delicious pasta dinner at a local restaurant. Day 3 had proven to be more than memorable.

Honeymoon Adventure Day 2

We rose with the sun each morning, up while it was still dark, to beckon the sun with the rest of the island. Some of the most peaceful moments on our trip came from sitting on the rocks, clutching a hot cup of coffee, talking, laughing, and waiting for the sky to rise and light up. This morning ritual became the only way to start each day's adventure, something I miss dearly now that I am without it.


Our first stop on our long list of things we could and would do, was the Volcanoes National Park. The National Parks system best describes this majestic location as a place that "displays the results of 70 million years of volcanism, migration, and evolution -- processes that thrust a bare land from the sea and clothed it with unique ecosystems, and a distinct human culture. The park highlights two of the world's most active volcanoes, and offers insights on the birth of the Hawaiian Islands and views of dramatic volcanic landscapes." The most unique attribute to this worldly wonder is how quickly the terrain and landscape changes within such a short distance. One minute you are viewing the steaming smoke pouring out from a 2 mile wide crater, and the next you are walking through a wet rain forest. We spent several hours here, covering every hiking trail, look out point, and special attraction. The lava tubes you could walk through underground were especially epic.




Upon our departure from the park, we drove south towards the southern coast of the Big Island. There we witnessed first hand the sweeping landscape, powerful waves, and whipping wind. Most of this outing was in silence as words could not do justice to what was really experienced.

As you could imagine after spending most of the day exploring, we worked up quite an appetite. In downtown Hilo, we found the absolute best burger place you could ever imagine. (thank you iPhone applications!) The building itself stood out in red and black, as most were weathered and rusted from the unforgiving climate on the Big Island. Once inside, we immediately began to dissect the menu. All of their burgers were made from 100% free range, Kona Beef, and constructed in the most appetizing of ways. Cuisine concoctions that could only be imagined by the most educated of taste buds. This place was so good, we made a second trip on our last day!

Filled to the brim with beef and french fries, we made our way back to the hotel for some relaxing snorkeling and swimming in the bay. Right beneath our room was a crystal blue waters, filled with coral and tropical fish. We finished our day soaking in some sun, floating in the water, and drinking more of our favorite Longboard beer. Day 2 SUCCESS

Honeymoon Adventure Day 1

After a long, yet surprisingly pleasant flight, we arrived in Hilo, Hawaii. Even as our plane landed on the runway, the landscape that surrounded us was surreal. Tropical flowers, fields of green, and crystal blue waters, overwhelmed our sense of sight and really hit home that we were far from it.

With most of our day taken up by traveling, we decided it was best to familiarize ourselves with our new location, as the Big Island of Hawaii would be our playground for the next few days. Our first venture was a scenic drive up the Hamakua Coast. This stretch of highway drops you right along the coastline, heading north along the east side of the Big Island of Hawaii. (A little known fact about the Big Island of Hawaii, is it is the only place in the world that has all 7 different climates. Depending on the direction you travel, your terrain changes like pages in a book.)

The Hamakua Coast itself is extremely lush, magnificently tropical, and intensely dense. Entire neighborhoods and structures are consumed with vegetation, exotic plants, and bright blooming flowers. Along the way there are several look out points where you can stop and soak in the dramatic views of cliff sides, ocean waves crashing into rocks, pineapple fields, and so much more. It was hard not to become emotional while making this journey by car, as the thriving environment around you served not only as natural wonder that left you in awe, but a reminder of how small and rather insignificant we are in the scheme of things.

Our evening ended with a great Mexican restaurant in downtown Hilo, followed by a few bottles of delicious Longboard Ale, while watching the sun go down on the dock of the bay at our hotel. Within a matter of hours, Hawaii had won our hearts.

Strength and Love in Structures

Despite the consuming thoughts that race within my mind about the medial tasks to complete before our wedding in 3 days, this morning I felt it was important to reflect on the reasons for our union and why the location of our ceremony is so special.

The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco is an absolutely stunning location on its own. The architecture and landscape alone make it a storybook place to celebrate any occasion. What drew us in to wanting to commemorate our union as a married couple here was not only the sense of awe and wonder you experience, or the respect this location commands, but it's history and metaphorical connection to us as a couple.

Not many who have visited this incredibly popular spot know of its history. After the devastating earthquake that struck San Francisco in 1906, the project to construct the Palace of Fine Arts was meant to show the world that San Francisco was industrious and could rise from the ashes, rebuild, and become stronger after such a monumental natural disaster.

Throughout the decades, with unending support from the City and its community, the Palace of Fine Arts has survived through 2 World Wars, weathering, and erosion. Efforts to preserve this monument between the 1950's to the 1970's is the only reason this amazing structure can still be visited.

Sometimes I feel as though Jerry and I are up against a similar battle. Marriage was once considered to be a sacred union, one that was only entered into out of love, commitment, and genuine need for the other person over a lifetime. Unfortunately today, marriage does not have such a happy connotation. Long-term, healthy relationships are few and far between, and part of the reason I choose to marry, is to re-instill the sanctity of it. I grow tired of the new age thought processes that seem to run from any and all responsibility or commitment. In a way, we're taking the idea of marriage back to what it used to be.

I have no doubts that our wedding day will be all that we hoped, but more importantly, I have no doubts that our marriage will last and prove how strong we are as a couple and eventually as a family.