Half a year already

One of the best opportunities I ever got was to get to go to Hawaii. I never in a million years believed I'd ever get a chance to go- unless maybe I was retired! But here I was, 27 with the chance of a lifetime!!!

Last summer, we got our chance. And I dove at it.

I'd recommend it to any and everyone. Such an amazing experience!!!

The night I arrived. I even got lei'd!!!! 

Sunset from our room on Waikiki beach

We were in Honolulu and on the first night we stayed in a penthouse suite and the rest of the time we stayed right on Waikiki beach. Talk about busy but BEAUTIFUL!!!! I had no idea it was so populated!

View from our penthouse suite at the Aqua Palms hotel

During our 9 day stay we go to tour Pearl Harbor (our FIRST stop)...

Our first stop. U.S.S Arizona Memorial

It's breath-taking in person

We could see the U.S.S. Missouri from the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial

And our view of the U.S.S. Arizona from the U.S.S. Missouri
Looking at where the war started from where it ended- an amazing feeling!

Snorkel with dolphins and turtles....

Snorkeling on the west side of Oahu

The gorgeous greenery of the island

Getting to hold a sea urchin while snorkeling. Neat little creature!

Get our tan on....

I got some major RAYS in just an hour! This Montanan was a lobster!
Made for some amazing tan lines though :)

See Shinedown LIVE (that will be a whole other post too)

Sitting in the grass waiting for the show
That lemonade was phenomenal! 

SHINEDOWN!!!! LIVE!!!
For free even! :)

Eat at some AMAZING restaurants...

The last night we were there we ate at a VERY packed Cheesecake Factory on Luxury Row.
It was right next to a Jimmy Choos and down the street from every prestige brand I could think of!

Shop on Luxury Row...

Wesley spoiled me with a stop at Coach :)

A view of Kalakaua Avenue (Luxury Row). A girls dream come true!!!

Search for souvenirs.....

Had to pick me up a wrap while we were walking around the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet in Aiea 

The best shaved ice I have ever had in my life- Stadium Swap Meet

The license plate on our rental car.
About the the right amount SPF my poor ginger, Wesley, needed!

Take a dinner cruise and watch fireworks....

The view from our cruise

It was just a tad too windy so my hair went crazy but it was such a gorgeous experience!

The firework show from the cruise. Oddly enough, our hotel was directly behind us as the fireworks were shot off from the hotel next door :). Though, we only saw the fireworks this time as it was only on Friday nights.

Wes during the Luau performance on-board the cruise. 

And have some much needed "us" time.

The view of Diamond Head from our sunset beach stroll

"Brushes at the Bar" painting class. It was a lot of fun!
Not bad for my first ever painting, right?!

A relaxing bath on the morning I didn't feel great

An hour before we had to check out. I didn't want to leave!!!

The breathtaking view that morning

We just so happened to fly-out on Sept. 11th and saw a lot of these cool displays.
This particular one was on JBPHH. 

The struggle through our 6-hr layover after a red-eye flight. 

I would in a heart-beat go back to Oahu. It was an adventure of a lifetime. We saw that whole island but the north shore (that's for next time!) but I could spend hours driving around that gorgeous island. I'm still trying to get Wes to get us transferred there but I don't think that'll happen ;)

If you ever get a chance- GO!