the aloha list.
We have very few days left in our home. Next week, movers come to haul away our household goods and we'll be left with an empty shell of a house. Then a few days of living in our empty house, some hotel living and what I imagine will be a tearful exit from the island.
Last week Chris and I made our "aloha list".
(I'm not allowed to call it a bucket list because we're not kicking the bucket, so says Chris.)
A list of things we want to do (or do again!) before we leave.
Which means that along with doctors appointments, house inspections, packing day, last minute goodbyes and errands, our last 3 weeks here are going to be crammed full. But also crammed full of really good, soaking-it-up things. So I can't complain.
Here are a few favorites from the list.
>> Before we even arrived on the island, we thought it would be fun to do a "Sun Day" where we watch the sunrise over the ocean on one side of the island and watch it set over the ocean from the other side. We're planning on doing this on Sunday.
>> We've wanted to stay at the Hale Koa resort for years, so we have reservations for a weekend coming up. I'm looking forward to pretending to be tourists and hanging out in Waikiki like youngins' (except I'll probably end up hitting the hay before 10pm like every night!)
>> I've been yearning for a beautiful, unique piece of jewelry to remind me of Hawaii. Noelani Designs are just about my favorite and every time I see her at farmer's markets or fairs, I wish I had an extra chunk of cash to get one of those pretty necklaces. Maybe one day!
>> We love food trucks and Eat the Street is a food truck festival in Honolulu with a theme every month. We already had a double date planned for it this Friday and then yesterday, I found out that the theme is bacon. I may have squealed a little bit.
Or a lot.
The rest of our list is mostly all about soaking up our favorite bits of Oahu.
Soak it up, baby.
lindsay
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Of all the times I went to Bellows we could never get in... An ex bf took me to Tantalus...I think the best part of Oahu is Manoa Falls and the Hawaii Kai trail that overlooks all of Oahu...
ReplyDeleteHm, were you trying to get into the military side without a mil ID? That's the only reason I could think of you not getting in, since it's technically an Air Force base. There is a public beach side of Bellows though. We camped there (on the military side) this past weekend-- I posted about it on Monday! :)
DeleteI'm guessing you mean Koko Head Crater hike? That's too many stairs for me-- even not pregnant! Ha! I hear it's an incredibly view though!
In a residential section of Hawaii Kai there is a trail... my ex took me to it.. The trail has loads of trees and couples carved their initials.. as far as Bellows, you need a permit to camp... whenever we went there were no more permits available.. :-(
DeleteLindsay... this idea makes me SO happy. And I love that you're calling it an Aloha List. It's perfect.
ReplyDeleteIt makes ME sad that you guys are leaving because it's been so fun following your Hawaiian adventures! But I know you're going to have new, fun adventures soon.
Yes, lots of new adventures to come! :)
DeleteI LOVE your list! We have had our own "Sun-Day" - Several years ago we got up super early and headed to the West coast of FL to go fishing - We saw the sun rise. After we got back home from fishing, we decided we weren't done and then headed to the East coast of FL where we saw the sun go down, fished all night, and saw it come back up.. That was a long day, but it was fun to see the sun on both coasts! (we lived smack dab in the middle of Florida - about 1.5 - 2hr drive to either coast - perfect location for seeing the sun on both coasts!)
ReplyDeleteI'm still trying to figure out how you saw it rise in the west. Lol my sun always rises in the east and sets in the west. ;-)
DeleteThe Aloha List is genius. Love, love, love the Sun-day idea. How awesome is that?
ReplyDeleteAnd, bacon theme at the Food trucks? Be still my bacon loving heart!
I can't imagine how hard it's going to be for you to leave. Hawaii is so special! But, you're headed toward such amazing and exciting things, and how awesome that you got to experience living in one of the most beautiful places on the planet. You'll always have Hawaii in your heart!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a "Sun Day"! We'll have to add that to our list :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great Aloha List! We're leaving end of May, so we are flying to The Big Island to get in some island hopping this weekend! Love the idea of watching the sunrise and sunset : )
ReplyDeleteawww im getting sad for you guys, enjoy every min of your last few weeks here and dont worry you'll be back!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great list! I love driving my friends up Tantalus when I'm on the island! That is where I wanted to go last March when the island was under the Tsunami warning! Some day I'd love to get the name of your favorite Crepe place for my next visit in the fall!
ReplyDeleteOh what an exciting time. It's so funny to see how you guys are so sad to be leaving and yet my hubby and I are so excited to leave our station!! But you guys are in Hawaii so I can see why leaving can be hard. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome idea! I am married to a Marine and we are stationed at Great Lakes, IL. Nothing as gorgeous as HI!! My husband will retire in a few years but we would stay in if we could PCS to Hawaii. Enjoy your last few weeks and good look with movers and all that unfun stuff :-)
ReplyDeleteYou have the neatest handwriting!!
ReplyDeleteLove your list. Enjoy your last few days :)
xoxo
I love your list! I had a lot of similar things on my Aloha list....Ka'ala {we tried from the North Shore and failed}, jewelry from Noelani, OPALS! {ate a bunch before jumping out of a plane...not the smartest idea}, a "sun" day, and just savoring the simple things about life in Hawaii...the beach, the rainbows, the mountains, the beautiful flowers, the nearly perfect weather...sigh, I miss it and YOU!
ReplyDeleteThat list sounds lovely!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have glorious fun checking each adventure off. =)
Lindsay I feel like your adventures will never end even though you are leaving your tropical paradise! Soon you'll start a whole bunch of new awesome FL adventures! And I cant wait to see and read about all three Wilkins out and about tearing it up Flordia style =)
ReplyDeleteOkay, here's what my "aloha" list would be if I were leaving Hawaii as a born and raised girl (in fact, have done some of these things before I left for college in CA): eat shaved ice at Waiolas or Ice Garden in Aiea (much better than Matsumoto's), hike Diamond Head -- not because it's a 'good' hike, but just because it's Diamond Head, eat li hing pineapples, eat at yakiniku places like Gyu-Kaku or Yakiniku Hiroshi ($$$, but so good) OR treat yourself to Tanaka of Tokyo/Benihana, eat fresh sushi (more for your hubs than for you at this time in your life), spend a day in Ko'olina (character breakfast at Aulani, hanging out at the lagoons, then attend a luau at Paradise Cove), eat Hawaiian food --- why do most of the things on my list consist of food?
ReplyDeleteAlso-- if you're looking for Hawaiian/beach-y jewelry, you should get some seashell jewelry that's popular... love mines!
We tried to do lots before we left, but it was so hard with a 6 week old. We did drive around the island one last time. That was fun!
ReplyDeletei'm so sad with you its like i live there and am leaving myself!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYour list is wonderful. I'll be heading to Oahu with my family on Saturday, so I'm going to take some tips from your list. :)
ReplyDeletehttp://shannonhearts.blogspot.com
I love that you made a list and are going to squeeze in all the things you meant to do before you leave. There is something so magical about Hawaii. Even when you are gone it will stay with you always.
ReplyDeleteI've only been reading your blog for a little bit, and I'm your newest follower, but I'm sad that you're leaving Hawaii! I've always wanted to go there (and lately I've even been thinking about marrying my fiancé there but I just don't think we could afford it)! I can't wait to follow along with the rest of your adventures! And congratulations on your baby boy! You have a beautiful blog, it is truly inspiring!
ReplyDeleteLauren
http://laurensweetnothings.blogspot.com/
Wishing you the best over the next few weeks, hoping you are able to soak up every bit of fun!
ReplyDeleteGreat list and I always love how colorful your pictures are on here and instagram!
Take care!!
Andrea
That's a great list! I wish I had done something similar before I left Oahu. Totally want to plan my next visit around Eat the Street, sounds like a great event.
ReplyDeleteLove your list. I am an alumni of UH and we are headed back to O'ahu on Monday!! Eek!! I have never been to Ko'olina before... isn't it just a resort? Where do you picnic at? We would love to check it out! Also isn't the ka'ala hike a bit challenging?... especially preggo??
ReplyDelete