But damn, was it worth it! In fact, it seems like it just keeps getting better!
Our home for the next 5 nights is a very nice, spacious 2 bedroom condo at Kai Lani in Ko Olina. Upon arrival, we unpacked and lunched (I told myself I'd never use that word - see how happy I am? I don't even care that I just used a stupid word!), then sunscreened up and headed out to our "secret beach". Well, not ours. It's what they call the beach residents can walk to from Kai Lani.
Okay, so it is a Saturday in August and we are on Oahu. One would assume there is not a spot on the island that isn't swarming with people. Wrong! Wrong, wrong, wrong! (Sometimes it just feels good to repeat that as a mom of an 8 and 6 year old...I think I may have even stamped my foot a little).
We walked out our door and made our way along the rocky coastline to several small beaches, and none of them were crowded. On our way, we passed one of the largest, most magical trees I have ever seen. Standing underneath it, I imagined I was under the Swiss Family Robinson's tree! We would have been safe and dry in a tropical rainstorm, no doubt.
We picked our way carefully over the coral and sandstone rocks above the ocean, enjoying the crashing waves and sea spray, for about 45 minutes. When we arrived at our snorkeling spot, we were thrilled to find 3 sea turtles had chosen to spend their day in the same lagoon. Several times, as I was minding my business watching brightly-colored fish, I was startled to see one of the turtles within a few feet of me! I swam alongside one for several minutes, just hanging out with him while he "lunched" on the rocks. Several times, we came up for air together - no more than 3 feet between us! This was closer than I have ever been before to a sea turtle in the wild. They are so graceful in the water - so peaceful to watch.
TDH and I then snorkeled around together when the kids were ready for a break. This was a rare treat! Usually we have to "divide and conquer" - one of us stays with the kids while the other explores. However, "Secret Beach" was so well protected that we indulged ourselves. Together, we swam with 2 more honus, then we swam up onto a rock about 6 feet from the beauties while they sunbathed on their own rock, side-by-side.
We eventually walked on to yet another quiet beach where we came within 8 feet of a monk seal. We observed, respectfully, while she sunbathed on the slope of the beach. The waves lapped her back and she rubbed the sand on her belly with her fin, occasionally drawing deep breaths through her diamond-shaped nostrils (I thought that was really cool). Waddles and Hopper asked questions about the creatures we had seen and the environment around us. Our adventures inspired discussions about the tropics, how the monk seal might defend herself if she felt threatened by humans encroaching her, and more.
It was beautiful and humbling to be permitted to coexist with these magnificent sea creatures. Nothing man-made, no performance time, no admission tickets, parking fees or snack bars with turtle-shaped soft pretzels. This was the real thing - we were the outsiders, we all learned so much, and I loved every minute of it!
