update 1: kaimuki!

July 3, 2009

After arriving in Hawaii yesterday a bit earlier than anticipated, we were kindly picked up by the local shuttle service and dropped off at our auntie’s house in kaimuki! Although the weather was surprisingly cloudy, the weather still managed to be as hot as ever. I believe it was about 86 degrees when we got off the plane! After that, Rebecca and I spent a few hours just chatting and listening to all of our Auntie Bettie’s faabbulous stories. Haha. She is so funny. I could talk with her for hours on end. Or rather, listen to her. (; Then, our second cousin Cathy and her daughter Emma came back! We were very excited to meet them. The last time we saw cousin Cathy might’ve been 15 or so years ago, so I didn’t even remember.

We talked for a bit, then decided to go to the local mall for dinner. Ironically, we ended up choosing to eat at California Pizza Kitchen to eat. Haha. And to think we thought we were getting away from home! It was good though. I’m always down for CPK. By the time we got home, becca and I were exhausted. So we went to sleep. By 10:30! We are champs.

Today was even better. I awoke to the gleaming sun at approximately 7:30am. Not bad (for cali time). I thought I would’ve slept longer, but now that I think about it, I spent most of my 2 flights yesterday sleeping, so in actuality I didn’t lose that much sleep at all. We chilled out a bit, ate breakfast, and you wouldn’t believe it, but we fell asleep AGAIN! Haha. So we took a quickie nap before we were off to the Bishop museum!

Cousin Suzie was kind enough to let us use her membership to get in for free. [Upon exiting Rebecca and I noticed that an adult ticket was a whopping $15!] I was quite excited. If you don’t know already, I am absolutely OBSESSED with Hawaiian culture. So naturally, this would be the perfect place to take me. And not only that, but I love museums, and I love art. The museum featured just about everything you’d want to know about the history of the Hawaiian Islands, Polynesia, volcanoes, surfing, and Hawaiian royalty. I was amazed. I could’ve spent all day there!

After that we stopped by cousin Suzie’s house to pick up Auntie Bettie. Which was too funny, because as we walked into the house we noticed her little body stretched out across the couch, fast asleep! Apparently she had taken some Benadryl for her allergies and it made her tired. Haha. Anyway, cousin Suzie’s house was a sight in itself. I actually remember it from 5 years ago simply because of it’s incredible view of the ocean. I’m looking forward to visiting it again for tomorrow 4th of July barbeque!

Following the short visit to cousin Suzie’s, we took her son Coltrane and finally got to go to the beach! I love that at 6:30pm, you can STILL go to the beach. I would never think to do that in California, but here in Hawaii, the beach was still as busy as ever. The water wasn’t quite as warm as I would’ve liked it to be, but hey, who’s complaining? Haha. I hope I’m not spoiled by the time I come home!

So the FUNNIEST event thus far happened tonight. Maybe, just 30 minutes ago! We’re finishing up dinner, and Rebecca spots a fatty cockroach from across the table. She screams. Haha. and I, having never seen a cockroach before screamed as well. But we knew we HAD to kill it. Cathy suggested just forgetting about it, but Rebecca and I insisted we kill it. As usual, I assumed my regular bug killer role. [in my apartment, I’m typically the one that kills the spiders. Especially for jenn. ;)] As we were debating how we would kill it, Aunite Bettie comes in to see what all the fuss was about. She went on to say, “I’d kill it, but I have to get it in a place where I can shoot it!” Now, imagine a cute little elderly woman saying this with such vigor. Rebecca and I were dying. Haha. this was not a time to be laughing! Anyway, I had the fly swatter in hand, ready to go. The only problem was, it was hidden between the dishes. We needed to get it out! So Rebecca and I made a deal that if she moved the dishes, I would kill the beast. Agreed. Rebecca slowly removes the dishes, and just runs for the hills! Then I started after it. WHACK WHACK! My arm was shaking. I nailed it a few times, and it ended up falling in between the counter and the sink. The fight was not over yet. I managed to give it a few choppys in between and out it fell. Cathy, Rebecca, and I simultaneously SCREAMED for our lives!! There it was, out on the floor, still half alive. I decided it was game over. I smashed that little stinker and that was that. By the end of the whole thing, we were all laughing so hard that our abs hurt. I was even crying! It just reminded me of what a thrill it gives you to kill/overcome your fears. Too funny. I hope I don’t see another cockroach roaming around… we can’t handle all that high anxiety!

Anyway, so that’s our first 2 days. Haha. quite eventful you might say! Tomorrow we’re going to get up early and go to the beach before we move into the dorms. yesss, beach. :)
We get in at 1, and then unpack for a while, then off to cousin suzie’s 4th of july bbq! i am already having the time of my life. I’m getting a taste of my lifelong dream of living here, and I truly hope that I will someday be able to. Anyway, bedtime awaits! Aloha.