Rob's Closing Thoughts

We have an hour left until we board the plane and I wanted to write and say that I've had a great time in Hawaii. From getting a convertible Mustang to getting a pimp room at the hotel(who knew we'd just have to open the door and walk out to the sea?). And then there's Amy and her books... she prepared in advance for this trip like a mad dope fiend. It paid off! She was able to steer us successfully through 7 days on Maui with a day on Lana'i crammed in the middle. Barely any conversations needed about where to eat, she already knew the places that Nicole, Gianna, Rachel, or someone who writes for the "Unofficial Guide to Maui" said were the best places. No need to take a guess and try some place that might have been 2nd rate, not with Amy around. Thanks Amy, it's a good thing you are an event planner ;)

And then there's Trey, he won't understand for years just how lucky he is to have been in Hawaii for 7 days. His biggest concerns were eating at McDonald's and what we were going to have for breakfast the next morning. My favorite Trey moment was when we were standing in the lava tube at the black sand beach. I'm standing with him watching the waves pound on the rocks at the entrance to the tube. The sound is amazing. He's throwing rocks into the water, sometimes just past another kid who keeps walking in front of him. I stop him and say "listen to the sound the water makes when it comes in and then goes back out. You know what that sound is?" He stands for a second then replies, "Hey dad, what are we having for breakfast tomorrow?" All you can do is laugh, and then I try to tell him the sound is from tumbling rocks, but it was obvious his mind was elsewhere. I'm anxious to hear what he shares with everyone when he gets home because that's when we'll really know what he learned and was most excited about.

Best Amy moment : Seeing the hours of planning come to fruition when we made it to the little green treehouse we had both read about and heard about from several different places. And the best part was that it was just another point to why Amy planning out our things makes for the best experiences for all of us. From the hotel upgrade(because she asked) - to the great advice to drive up Haleakala the morning after we arrived - to Mama's Fish House in Paia after a long day on the road to Hana. She's a planner, and I'm not. It's a good compliment to my last minute procrastination style in most everything I do. Even knowing what things to see while on Lana'i and where to eat(Blue Ginger Cafe) while we were there! Just that you were able to find a 4wheel drive adventure that you knew I would enjoy and that you and Trey were willing to join in on! Thanks again for a great trip!

And finally, my favorite moment all to myself. I love to geocache, it's just fun because it gets me away from everyone else. The point is to become invisible so that others don't even notice what you are doing. This island(and Lana'i) had the most unbelievable caches that I've ever seen. It should have been obvious knowing that I was going to be in this environment, but seriously the views from the caches were the best on the islands. And there wasn't another person around - just me. (I didn't even miss WOW) :)

So, to all the friends and family that have been reading and following our trip. We are sad to see it end, but it is time to come back home. Trey and Amy - Mahalo for a really great trip!

Aloha, Rob