Hawaiian Firsts

I waited quite a while to create my "Hawaiian Firsts" blog simply because I had to digest my entire Hawaiian experience (that sounds like a sales-worthy statement..."Be engulfed in your entire Hawaiian Experience today!"). Now that I am settled back into my normal routine and am not constantly daydreaming about Kauai, I feel as though I can reflect more easily on the trip as a whole. Had I written earlier I probably would have been a tangential lunatic. So, here goes; I may miss a few firsts, but I can always use that handy "Edit" button if I forget any.

On my trip to Hawaii, I experienced the following "firsts":

1. Plane trip. Not surprising with a mother who called me on my trip to Holiday World and told me "not to drown". Flying over a vast ocean is living death to her.

2. First-class seating in a plane. Yeahhh...I used a hot towel!!!!

3. Airport visit. That goes without saying. If I've never flown I've most likely never been to an airport. I also missed my flight for the first time :)

4. Vacation without the immediate family. It was a nice relaxing break!

5. Snorkeling adventure. In the big big ocean (with a noodle, Robert, and Aunt Lori), and in a much less deep coral reef area at Hanalei Bay. Amazing. I got to see the Humuhumunukunukuapua'a :D

6. Zip Lining Experience. I never thought I would do that :D

7. Food Firsts: Pineapple pancakes, mahi-mahi, frites, and a whole lot more. There was some AWESOME food in Hawaii!

8. Real Hawaiin Luau. When I grow up, I want to be a fire dancer!!!!!!!

9. Catamaran trip. Holo Holo was awesome, until the next few days rolled around and I still felt like I was swaying :D

10. Monk Seal and Sea Turtle encounter! SO COOL!

11. Jet Lag. Not my favorite first in the world.

12. Time eating Dippin' Dots. This is not really Hawaiian but it had to be included since they were very yummy.

13. Stay in a house with no a/c. Honestly, I really kind of liked this. I could sleep without any covers and be cooled by the ocean winds. During the day, the condo was stuffy.

14. Wild CHICKEN sighting! They were everywhere! And I brought one home ;)

15. Peacock feeding! They are the most majestic animals on Earth. But they hurt when you hand feed them :)

16. Time seeing a real, live banana tree!

17. Time drinking true coconut milk. I "hand picked" the coconut and we labored ALL NIGHT to crack it and try the raw splendor of the coconut. When I say splendor I mean..."ewww....yuck..."

18. Pool jump to save my water-logged phone. Wearing the only clothes I had after missing a flight. Yeahhh....not a fantastic first.

19. Practicing assisted theft in a fancy restaurant :)

20. Holding a leeeezard :)

21. Most important first: getting to know, and I mean really getting to know Grammy, Aunt Lori and Holli :)