"Oh look, a turtle!"
"OOOH! Where???"
"He's right over there-- be quiet so he won't swim away..."

It's been a year and a couple of months since I first visited Hawaii (the Big Island and Maui), and I still think about it almost every day since the day that I left. Hawaii just captivated me...if I were feeling morbid and sarcastic today, I would've said something like "Hawaii stole my soul!"...but truth be told, it really did. I know it's cliche, but Hawaii really does take your breath away.

I love water sports, so when we landed in Hilo on the Big Island, we got around to business pretty quickly; I learned how to surf, how to snorkel (better), how to swim "quietly" so I wouldn't scare the honus (turtles) away, and I learned how to use a kayak! Every day of the week, I would hop in the water and swim around with my trusty board, occasionally dipping my head into the water and looking for more turtles. Turtles would often swim into the little lagoon that was behind the beach house that my boyfriend's parents rented, and seeing them in real life (swimming with them!) was a real treat for the eyes, and the heart. Honus are sacred and protected by the law in Hawaii-- you're not allowed to swim really close to them, or touch them...but to know that they're within your point of view, as you're snorkeling, is really something.

After the Big Island, we all flew off to Maui to spend another week there. We stayed at this place that was right in front of a beach, and a few blocks away from a small shopping center with some of the best food places I've ever eaten in =) Local food kine, ya? On our last day, we went on a snorkeling expedition to Molokini Crater, and it was BEAUTIFUL. Clear, cool blue water, lots of fish, beautiful sunny day...what more could you ask for?

I have plans to go back to Oahu this summer for a wedding...and believe me...I'll be loving it ;)

xoxo