update- "finally"

as i stated on the last "Monday Memory" post , i have been on vacation-
no...not  for 4 weeks mind you- but this is the what i have found that happens
to be when vacation time comes around...
it takes 2 FULL weeks to get ready for it- and 2 FULL weeks to get back on track from it!
wheww .. it has been a hard one to recover from
BUT well worth it..
So- now, it is time to share...
Dale and I had an opportunity to go to Hawaii, and we just couldn't pass that up
... WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND would?

we had such a wonderful time.
we flew into Honolulu, and our first stay was at:
 Waikiki beach

this was just a beautiful place
this particular area was an open area in the lobby
allowing the birds to visit - :D

view from our window- over looking Diamond Head

Pearl Harbor
a very heart touching place

then we flew to the Big Island- landing in Hilo and traveling all day to Kona
where we stayed for 2 nights...

Kilauea Volcano
view of the "fire pit"
yes, we were close, and yes, we felt the heat!
- very cool!

then we walked a Lava tunnel
..not so cool
i HATE tunnels

the Black Sand beach
as you can see- it was windy and very chilly!

but this was AMAZING!
Sea Turtle resting on the sand

view from our room
- it was a cloudy day

the resort we stayed at was so amazing
we enjoyed our second day just sitting by the pool!

then on to Maui
were we spent our last 3 days

there was a "park" in the center of the resort where we stayed
with Waterfalls, Pink Flamingos,  a Black Swan, and wild birds
..............my kinda place!!!!!!!!!!!

The beautiful Maui Beach

another view of the resort

yep... that's me feeding the Black Swan

it was the season for Humpback Whales-
we saw several- but to get a good picture was impossible
they are very fast
this is a picture of a mom and baby swimming side by side
you can only see their "dorsal fins"

it was AMAZING!

LUAU time

the beautiful Maui sunset

Needless to say - we had a BLAST!