While most of our adventures and exploring are now solely delegated to the weekends, we still found ourselves with an extremely busy week! Jordan's work schedule is in full swing and has taken another full turn up in intensity. Between studying for simulator flights, learning and practicing his new duties as legal officer, rotating as on-duty officer for the squadron, and doing the prep work and studying for his flights, he found himself getting a minimal 2-4 hours of sleep. If that wasn't enough, his 2 hour briefs (which as I mentioned previously are basically intense and drilling oral exams with a superior officer), simulator flights and actual flights themselves are the most mentally taxing and intense of them all. Whenever he finds the overwhelming and never-ending demands of his job sucking the soul from his body and all joy from his life, as he and his coworkers tend to commiserate jokingly (but seriously!), he takes a step outside of the squadron to relax and find perspective...
I mean, really, can anyone claim to have a cooler office than this?!?!?
I kept myself busy this last week by moving our household of 7 suitcases, a dog kennel, and a random, and rather large, collection of newly acquired jeep junk (parts, brochures, doors and a roof) to our new temporary home. Yes, we are officially out of the lodge! Thank goodness for a minivan rental, with awesome back seats that all rolled into the floor, providing as much storage space as the back of a pick up truck. I can't believe I really just used the adjective awesome when describing a minivan! What has the world come to?
However, I am so grateful for this AWESOME minivan, which spared me a million and one trips back and forth between the lodge and our new place. And although we will definitely miss the free breakfasts, maid service, and proximity to everything on base, after a full month in the lodge, living out of suitcases and the chaos that therefore ensued on a daily basis, we couldn't be happier to be done with hotel-living!
We have moved in to an Ohana apartment while we continue to wait for our house on base to become available (fingers crossed that should be August-September-ish). Ohana means family in Hawaiian. Property in Hawaii is incredibly expensive so many of the home owners renovate their properties in order to create a money-making rental property by coverting a house into a duplex, or adding a separate guest apartment/house, just like the show Income Property on HGTV! We were so lucky and grateful to find the perfect Ohana apartment for our situation: furnished (since our household goods will remain in storage until we move in to our permanent home on base), pet-friendly, and with a month-to-month lease option that will allow us to accept our housing offer as soon as our home becomes available, whether that ends up being tomorrow (a girl can dream) or September. It may be small, but after a month at the lodge, this feels like a mansion!
Never thought I would be so happy to be driving a minivan!
From the Kitchen, looking down to the living room
From the living room, looking back at the kitchen.
The bedroom, and the very best part about being out of the lodge: the large dresser and a closet. No more suitcase-living!!!!
Secondary office space, don't mind the mess! It's serving as a storage space for the time being.
Not too shabby, right? It's not home, but it's a comfortable place to live until we finally get our permanent place. I am sure just as the lodge has made this small apartment seem spacious, this apartment will make our eventual home seem gargantuan! I know we will feel like two kids on Christmas morning on actual move-in day, when we unpack all of our boxes of household goods and personal items, everything feeling new again, as we excitedly decorate and find each item it's new home. Perhaps this experience and the time passed, will bring joy to the unpacking/moving process that has become such an overwhelming and exhausting routine during our last 3 years, and 6 moves, of military life.
When the weekend finally rolled around, we were more than ready to set off for some exploration and relaxing fun! Saturday we decided to head to Pearl Harbor. While we had originally wanted to visit the memorial last weekend in honor of Memorial Day, we figured this weekend would be much less crowded. While the Arizona Memorial is free, they only give out a limited number of tickets per day. Had we known this, we would have arrived much earlier in the day, because by the time we arrived they were already all gone! Unfortunately, we got a little distracted furniture shopping on our way there...
Sensing our disappointment and recognizing Jordan's military haircut, a nice park ranger decided to print out an extra two tickets just for us! Thank you Mr. Park Ranger!!!!!!
Of the 1,777 crewmen who lost their lives on the USS Arizona during the Pearl Harbor attack (their names listed on the memorial wall pictured), it is amazing that over 900 of these crewmen were not recovered and find their final resting place to still be here, in the sunken battleship.
We couldn't believe how much oil was, even still, constantly bubbling to the surface.
On Sunday, Jordan and I wanted to find a way to exercise outdoors to enjoy the beautiful sunshine, so we decided on another beautiful Oahu hike. The Kuli'ou'ou Ridge Trail is a 5 mile round trip trail, climbing an altitude gain of about 1900ft. What makes this hike unique is drastic terrain and vegetation changes that you pass through on your way up the ridge, from a grove of pine trees with fallen needles covering the entire earth floor to the traditional Hawaiian environment of lush greens and exposed roots. At each of these places, where the terrain and plants have naturally created divisions, there are places to brush off your feet, to prevent cross contamination by bringing errant seeds to the other environments. Most of the trail is a gradual incline, with a series of switch-backs, zig-zagging up the ridge; however, once you hit the 2/3 mark, you really start to get your workout in as the incline becomes increasingly steep and you begin climbing stairs. Jordan and I made it to the top in an hour and thirty minutes, and took an hour and fifteen to get back down. You would think going down would be drastically quicker than going up; however, in order to get a workout in for the day, we made ourselves run most of the way up, and jog/speedwalk during the steeper spots. It was a great Hawaiian PT ( Marine Corps acronym for Physical Training) and the reward at the top was well worth all those stairs!!!
Rest spot at the Hawaii Kai Lookout, looking out over the Kuli'ou'ou Valley
Up we go! The last 1/4 of the hike is a steep incline where "stairs" have been placed to prevent erosion and for safety precautions
We made it! The panoramic view from the Puu O Kona peak allows you to see most of East Oahu.
Looking to the left you can see all the way to Kailua and the Kaneohe Marine Corps base
Looking down on the town of Waimanalo
Heading back down the stairs, looking out on the town of Hawai'i Kai
Jogging stairs and using the natural arch of the trees for a few pull ups. Is there any better way to exercise?
Today, my girlfriends and I decided to seek some excercise outdoors again and hiked the Koko Crater Tramway. Although it's really more of just a workout than hike, per say. And while this hike is only 1.5 miles round trip, it is Mother Nature's ultimate stair master and booty blaster as you ascend an incredibly steep 1200 feet by climbing up old railway ties (1,048 of them to be exact!) from a WWII railway, which was used to transport military personnel and equipment to the top lookout spots and bunkers. The breathtaking view from the top of the Koko head crater was such a sweet reward after huffing, puffing and sweating our way to the top!
1048 to the top!
Stole this photo from the trailblazertravelbooks so you can really appreciate the incredibly steep incline.
About 3/4 of the way up, looking back down.
Red faces and big smiles! We made it!
Our sweet reward! Views of Hawai'i Kai and Hanauma Bay. Photo credit goes to Brittney for this awesome shot!
Views of Waimanalo from this side.
Overall, it took us a little less than 30 minutes to the top. I wouldn't mind finding the time to drive down here to do this hike once a week just for the workout! Many locals run this 2-3 times, multiple times a week!!!!!! Insane!
After side-stepping our way back down the mountain to safety, we treated ourselves to Jamba Juice smoothies and a few hours relaxing at the gorgeous Lanikai beach. It's a rough life, but someone's got to live it! I'm just thankful it gets to be us!
The iconic Mokes off Lanikai beach
Such wonderful pictures! And we have seen many of the same sights 5 years ago, just after your wedding! (Well, we did not hike the hills , but we were in the same area, went to Pearl Harbor, etc. etc. ).I can't wait to come back , stay in our timeshare, and visit you and Jordan. Keep writing ! We miss you both!
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