Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Wandering Wednesday: I Have to go to Hawaii

by Jenny Blake | @ausjenny



I read Sisterchicks do the Hula and I said to mum I have to go to Hawaii and she said you’re not going anywhere. Background story. I was a carer for my mother and she was became very self-centred and controlling. Don’t get me wrong I still loved her, and I know she loved me in her own way. I didn’t let this deter me from dreaming of visiting Hawaii.

My opportunity came in 2008 when I was going to Canada for a retreat, I had 3 nights in Hawaii. I got a small taste of Hawaii and said I am going back. In 2011 I had 13 days in Hawaii. I got to also do 3 day trips to the other Islands.

In Robin Jones Gunn’s book she talks about a luau and I got to go to one both trips which were really good to see. On my second trip I went to the Polynesian centre for a trip round the centre and show. Also visiting Pearl Harbour was an experience. If you do go to Hawaii you need to go out of Waikiki to experience the real Hawaii. I heard so many Aussies say Its just like being on the Gold Coast to which I asked have you been out of Waikiki and they would say no. It made me sad to think they travelled that far but didn't experience the real Hawaii.




Haleakala on Maui

Maui at the ion needle

Pearl Harbour

Waimea  Canyon, Kauai 
Waimea  Canyon, Kauai 

Some dreams take a while before they come true. Best friends Hope and Laurie never made it to Hawaii during their college years. But when they're about to turn forty, the islands still beckon, and off they go - with an unexpected stowaway on board (Hope happens to be seven months pregnant). A little pineapple, a little sunshine, and a surprising little surfing lesson give these two sisterchicks all their crazy hearts could hope for - and more - as they enter the next season of their lives with a splash and with a beautiful vision of what God has dreamed up for them.

Wherever there’s chocolate, there’s sure to be a sisterchick celebrating, and this trip to Hawaii is no exception. Best friends Hope and Laurie are on an audacious mission to commemorate their fortieth birthdays in style. Surfing and sailing, sushi and snorkeling—these two macadamia nuts from the mainland sample it all, unhindered by a surprise little stowaway.

Have you ever wanted to visit Hawaii? If you have visited do you have a favourite memory?

JENNY BLAKE (aka Ausjenny) is an avid reader. When not reading she enjoys watching cricket, in fact you could call her a cricket fanatic, scrapbooking and jigsaws. Her health has means she isn't reading as much as she would like but she does what she can to promote books. Her book blog is where she reviews books and interview authors. Her goal is to help promote new books and encourage authors. Her blog is at http://ausjenny.blogspot.com, Twitter @ausjenny

8 comments:

  1. Hi Jenny - great post and pics! No, I haven’t been to Hawaii, but I’ve heard the same as what you’ve experienced - get out of the tourist traps and you’ll experience the real Hawaii. Maybe one day!

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    1. Thanks Carolyn, I got so tired of people saying this is just like the Gold Coast but they hadn't been out of Waikiki. My first trip it was some of the American's that were rude especially to the maids, the second wasn't too bad but the third trip it was the Australian's that were so rude and so many hadn't seen anything and were staying at the beach. If you are going somewhere different why wouldn't you go and see some of the local attractions. If I went back I would consider staying on Kauai, it was my favourite Island.

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  2. Hi Jenny, I love visiting Hawaii! I’ve been there a few times for holidays and also stopovers when travelling to the US West Coast. The tours that take you around the islands are fun. My kids liked visiting Pearl Harbour and my son found his history classes on WW2 easier because he’d been there. Thanks for sharing your journey to Hawaii with us. :)

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    1. Thanks Narelle, I learnt a lot at Pearl Harbour also. My dad was in Darwin when the bombing started there and was a machine gunner. I didn't realise how big Pearl Harbour was. I did know it happened but didn't know the extent and then learnt about other islands between Hawaii and Australia.

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  3. Hi, Jenny!
    So glad you got to fulfill one of your dreams!
    Hawaii looks beautiful!

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  4. Thanks Eva Maria, I love Hawaii and would gladly go every year if I had the money. It is lay back and relaxed with friendly people. (Once you avoid the people trying to get you to buy into share accommodation, they didn't have this the first time but its more prolific now).

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  5. I love Hawaii! It's my favourite US state, because it's the perfect blend of US retail therapy and Pacific Island scenery and culture. I've been to Ohau, Maui, and the Big Island (Hawaii), but not Kauai - which looks beautiful.

    I'd love to see more books set in Hawaii - the two I can think of that I've read are Freefall by Kristen Heitzmann, and Echoes by Robin Jones Gunn.

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    1. Thanks Iola, Robin has another books set in Maui which I read after visiting there and it was so good to read places I have seen. Kauai is the garden Island and really beautiful.

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