Holiday to Hawaii

'Mum, how about a holiday to Hawaii with Michael, me and the girls?' were the words I heard which sent a spark of interest through my veins. Well, not exactly a spark, more like a naked flame engulfing my whole body. 'Yes' I replied, without a second thought. While the fire was still very hot, we bought our tickets and started the plans. I always wanted to see live volcanoes and especially to see them from a helicopter. I also wanted to see as many islands as possible and luckily my family had the same wish.

We left on a Wednesday on a rather wearisome evening flight and we arrived the next day feeling tired. On landing at Honolulu airport, our tiredness disappeared momentarily as the sky was blue, the ocean was turquoise, white clouds hung heavily over the jagged mountainous skyline and the air was warm and inviting. It was so different to the wintry July weather we left at home.

We settled into our hotel in adjoining rooms. My room was luxury! I had the view to beat all views. A king sized bed to myself. Modern furnishing. I was in seventh heaven. They decided to rest in the afternoon but I was like a small child with a new toy, I wanted to experience Hawaii. Clutching my beloved camera, I ventured forth and explored the surrounds of the hotel. This in itself was quite an achievement as the hotel consisted of a series of hotels plus stores and restaurants and swimming pools.

Lush green vegetation, orchids galore and birds decorated the hotel and pools. The yellow sands and blue waters were very inviting and I was amazed by the number of people enjoying their holiday under umbrellas, sun baking, swimming, floating or just walking around like me.

I went back to my room, as I thought that the granddaughters may be awake and would be looking for me. They were! It was time to test out the pools in the late afternoon. The water was warm, the air balmy and it was fun to play with Lucy and Alice. They were more under the water than on top of it. I kept my hat on as an excuse not to go under.

I had promised my daughter that I would go shopping with her one day and this we did. I'm not a great shopper but I graciously followed her around like a little puppy, agreeing or disagreeing with her purchases. We bonded that day both with blisters and achy legs. However, back to the hotel to have a swim and to relieve Michael of his fatherly duties.

We had several days exploring Honolulu. We went for a tram ride to the crater within Diamond Head, passing through luxury suburbs with palmed lined streets, beautiful houses dotted with the African Tulip trees and a back drop of misty mountains. Michael and I joined a tour of Pearl Harbour which was worthwhile as we realised the significance that the Americans give to such a tragedy of war.

Next, off to Big Island as Hawaii Island is known. What a surprise awaited us as we came in to land. The ground was black rock with not a hint of vegetation. This was going to be an interesting place! We ordered a hire car and set off to our unit in Kona. It was a lovely unit situated by the black rocky shore. We had a view of the sun setting over the ocean while a number of canoes with outriggers were racing each other. We sat out on the patio sipping our cool drinks and soaking in the pleasure of the evening sunset.

My family went canoeing and snorkelling while I wandered about on land finding a monument to Captain Cook. It was on this Island that he met his fate. We also went driving to the north where the black rock eventually succumbs to green pasture, agriculture and magnificent mountainous landscapes. We visited a farmers' market in Kona where the smell of pineapples was overwhelming and enticing and the flowers showy and beautiful. Just what I imagined Hawaii to be!

It was then time to move across the island to Hilo where we had organised our helicopter flight. Hilo is so different from Kona. Hilo is on the windward rainy side of the island while Kona is on the leeward dry side. Our helicopter flight was all that we could wish for. We approached a smoking volcano which had erupted recently and still pours lava into the ocean. We circled the volcano twice and our cameras clicked overtime. It was starkly beautiful. The colours of the rock and the patchwork shape of the molten lava will live forever in my memory. Waterfalls, plunge pools and ginger plants of all varieties abound and we loved the simple life that this island exhibited.

Maui was our next island with magnificent green valleys poking into rippled uninhabited mountains. We went for another helicopter ride over these misty mountains where waterfalls tumbled thousands of feet into the valleys. It was such a beautiful and wonderful experience. We had a boat trip to a crescent shaped volcanic crater where my family snorkelled . We drove to Hana where the road winds around the mountain cliffs, at times several hundred feet above the sea, twisting and turning till we came to waterfalls where my family swam in the plunge pools. I found several native ground orchids much to my delight and contentedly took photos.

We had become quite fond of shaved ice while holidaying in the Hawaiian Islands and so our last indulgence was a pineapple and mango flavoured shaved ice on top of an ice cream. Lovely and so Hawaiian! Tucking into our shaved ice, we said our goodbyes to Hawaii and headed for home and loved ones.