Residency Site Evaluation Days 3 & 4

After two intensive and serious days filled with the business of evaluating, we decided to take a short recreational break-- mostly just to see if there is anything fun at all to do. We believe in morale-boosting, team-building activities for our family and we feel that it is an important, albeit clearly secondary factor to evaluate. We had been told while at a very serious dinner over delicious hot wings with the residents and the resident director that the old-new sport of Stand Up Paddleboarding (called SUP for short by anyone who is anyone) is all the rage these days and that North Shore's Surf 'n Sea offers rentals. So we drove up to verify.

As it turns out, it was quite an entertaining little past-time and Derek saw a few sea turtles while he was on his board.

After SUPing, we continued our circuit of the island and happened upon some honu (that's sea turtles for all you haoles) enjoying some sun in their natural habitat so we stopped to say hi to them and do a little snorkeling.

The birds looked hungry, so Derek kindly offered to share with them a ball of rice. We're pretty sure they're still eating it now.

Many of you may already know that we actually lived in Hawai'i some years ago for a short while. Of course we had to see our old home-- on the Point in Lai'e.

And maybe get into some mischief while there....

For educational purposes, we explored the beauty....

and the dangers of the Hawaiian botanical gardens,

the local scenery,

the agriculture,

and some U.S. history.
(Don't tell anyone, but even though we lived in Hawai'i
before we never actually went to Pearl Harbor then.
We can only say that now that we've been...)

We tested out the fabled Hawaiian sun. Turns out what they say is true....

The famed Leonard's bakery makes a mean malasada...

We decided by then that we approve of the food options available to us.

We'd heard of the lovely Iolani Palace and it was truly breathtaking. We made it there after getting a pounding in the waves a little earlier in the day.

Overall, we count the trip as a success and after careful consideration, carefully weighing our options which include the lovely Kileen, Texas, we've opted to place Hawai'i as our number one choice for residency. We'll find out in December if Hawai'i chose us.