- HubPages»
- Travel and Places»
- Visiting North America»
- United States»
- Hawaii
My Piece of Paradise
Hawaii is My Home
Aloha! Hawaii has been my home since the late 70s, though I was originally raised in the MidWest mainland. On this page I hope to share with you a bit of our island life. We don't live in a fancy home, but we live rather simply and that's just the way we like it.
The plumerias shaping this heart were hand picked from an old plumeria tree in our backyard. Twice a year our backyard is filled with a shower of yellow and white plumeria blossoms. I love the tropical scent of the flowers.
Outdoor Living Year Round
Picking Fresh Papaya for Breakfast
Sharing the Bounty is Local Style
We use a ladder to harvest fresh papaya from the backyard. But I think that is still more convenient than a trip to the supermarket. If you're interested in facts about Hawaiian papayas, go here.
In our backyard, we also have several banana plants. My husband uses a machete to harvest huge hands of bananas. (Did you know that after harvesting the fruit, the plant is cut down and in its place new baby banana plants are already growing?) Local style is to share any backyard harvests as well as freshly caught seafood with neighbors, friends and family.
Outdoor Living - An Important Piece of Paradise
Our lanai is where we spend a great deal of time. It's a very important part of the lifestyle here in Hawaii, and especially so to us because our cottage is small. We like to eat our meals outside at the end of the day and we always begin the day with a great cup of Hawaiian coffee.
Path to Our Favorite Beach
Since our kids were babies (decades ago) we've been going to a special beach on the north shore of the island. There at the edge of the beautiful Pacific Ocean we find tide pools with little sea creatures, beach glass to pick and a wonderful lagoon to swim in. Of course within walking distance of this tropical beach is my husband's favorite surfing spot.
This is the path we take to get to that beach. Where is this path? Sorry. You'll have to visit Hawaii to find this little piece of paradise, won't you? ;)
Pause for a Poll
Have you visited Hawaii?
You're LUCKY if you see
a Hawaiian monk seal. They are protected by law.
If you see one, please
keep your distance and
report its location:
To report monk seal sightings:
Island of Oahu: 220-7802
Island of Kauai: (808) 651-7668
Island of Molokai: (808) 553-5555
On Maui/Lanai: (808) 292-2372
Island of Hawaii
East: (808) 756-5961
West: (808) 987-0765
or please email pifsc.monksealsighting@noaa.gov
To report stranded / entangled marine mammals, please call
1-888-256-9840
Hawaiian Monk Seal Enjoying the Sand and Sun
Taken from the designated safe distance of a minimum of 150 feet of these endangered Hawaiian monk seals, this picture shows a seal resting and relaxing on the sunny beach after a night of feeding.
Another hint.......of the location of that beach we love!
This is the view looking up while lying on the sandy beach. :) There are many local folks who frequent this beach too, so just in case you're not lucky enough to grab the shade of a coconut tree you may want to get one of these:
Sushi - A tasty piece of paradise! - Ono (pronounced OH NO and means delicious) food is just one of the pleasures of our island living.....
I took the photo, but the sushi was prepared by SushiMan. We order a family size tray of sushi for every get together.
Pau Hana Time!
After some ono food,
it's time to relax!
Relax and Put Your Feet Up!
Hanging out in Hammocks
I ADORE hanging out in my hammock as you can see from my picture above. :) Seriously, it's a wonderful way to relax and wind down, whether you're in the tropics or not.
Listen to some
soothing Hawaiian music
while the hammock
gently sways in
the tradewinds.
"Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai" by Hapa
Don't try to pronounce it, just play it and enjoy! HAPA performs the style of Hawaiian music we play most often in our home. This song is a favorite of ours.
Hapa - Contemporary Hawaiian Music
Our Guest Room - "Moe me ka 'olu 'olu" (Pleasant Dreams)
Our cottage is only 640 square feet, yet we manage to live quite large here in our little piece of paradise. Staying organized and utilizing storage space is key.
Just A Few of My Favorites in My Piece of Paradise
- Haleiwa Joes
In Haleiwa, naturally. Charming and tropical. When we want to enjoy some great seafood prepared by someone else, this is where we go. - The Island of Maui
We fly to Maui once a month to visit my husband's relatives. It's just a quick 20 minutes up in the air and we're there. We fly Hawaiian Air. - Aloha Stadium Swap Meet
Every time we have family or friends visiting, a trip to the swap meet is a MUST DO! It's THE place to go for the best souvenirs; the largest variety and fantastic prices. - Paradise Cove Luau
Great luau! Food is ono (pronounced oh no which means delicious) and entertainment is top shelf - NEW Wahiawa Botanical Garden
A lovely and quiet place to spend some downtime.
Ku u ipo = Sweetheart
in the Hawaiian language
Aug 2012 - Here We Are
We've been sweethearts over 30 years. For better or for worse, right? :)
Kipa Hou Mai =
Come Visit Again!