hawaii part 2

after the wedding and all the celebratory fun, we spent the next week exploring oahu top to bottom ceaselessly serenaded by margo and gabi's beautiful but tireless voices perfecting a duet of disney moana's how far i'll go :) we filled afternoons and evenings beach hopping hence the myriad of landscape photos. i mean, if hawaii is anything it is a gourmet smorgasbord of tropical sensory delight. how many are too many hawaiian sunset photos? we were on an island hunt for the best snorkeling, boogie boarding, beach combing, food truck, wave jumping, cliff jumping, sea turtle and swimming beaches and can say with satisfaction, we found them all. gabi also fit in a surfing day with cousins and friends but alas, no photos as i wasn't invited :( we all spent one day at pearl harbor as margo had never been before which is always a humbling experience. early one morning, before family members began to head home, we gathered at the end of north shore's farrington highway for a group hike to ka'ena point, the location of an albatross sanctuary. what a treat to see these enormous birds nesting and flying and caring for their fluffy, large chicks. did you know an albatross wingspan can reach 11 feet, they live as long as 60 years and surprisingly drink salt water? wowza. the refuge is home to over 400 birds and endangered monk seals stop and rest as well in this beautiful spot. our last day on the island also happened to be margo's birthday. happy hawaiian birthday, baby girl! after a tropical breakfast in bed including mangos bought just out the door at a neighbor's farm stall and a coconut picking party, we packed up and spent our final afternoon with uncle tadd, auntie alex, angus and charlie at pristine lanikai beach. in hawaiian, lanikai means "heavenly sea" and i wholeheartedly agree. lanikai is a breathtaking, surfless, bright white sand beach perfect for snorkeling and following sea turtles out to sea which is just what alex and i did until we realized we could no longer see the shore. mahalo ia 'oe, oahu. we will always treasure the carefree, waterful, wonderful time spent on the island with friends and family and most especially our fun and frolicking gabi and margo. mahalo.