HONOLULU — Hawaii had me at aloha. More than anything, it was the glorious clarity and colors of the water, ever changing in gemstone tones of sapphire, emerald and aquamarine. From flying into Honolulu from over the Pacific, to riding in a helicopter over its stunning beaches, and to driving its beachside roads, Oahu, edged with the clearest of water, is visually spectacular.
The trip was my first to Hawaii, but for my husband, Roy, it was a return to a place he called home when he was a young Marine stationed at Kaneohe Bay and then again years later when he went back for training with the Air National Guard. We had always wanted to visit the islands together, so armed with saved-up frequent flier miles, we booked the flights and off we went in search of the romantic paradise of Oahu.
The smart thing to do if you’re going to spend any time at all exploring Oahu is rent a car. We didn’t use it for the first day or so as we wanted to fully experience the Moana Surfrider, the first of two hotels where we would stay and one of the island’s most historic that first opened its doors in 1901. At check-in, we were adorned with leis, beautiful ones intricately woven with fresh, fragrant orchids of deep amethyst and white. As it was gently placed around my neck, I laughed aloud remembering that Will Rogers once stated, “Hawaii is the only place I know where they lay flowers on you while you are alive.”
