The Hawaii vacation was all that it was cracked up to be…and more! Words can’t describe how beautiful Waikiki was. Honestly, television serves no justice; you must see it in person to admire the beauty.

I highly enjoyed waking up (which happened to be around 4:00 AM due to the 6-hour time difference) to zero responsibilities with the only thing to debate being which part of the beach to lay our towels or where we might go for lunch.

Although the trek out to Hawaii lasted nearly 16 hours each way – including two 2-hour layovers – the view from the hotel room, once inside, was well worth the agony of our travels. Judge for yourself:

Among the touring of Pearl Harbor, dining at a beachside luau, surfing lessons at Waikiki, and several burnt skin cells lost in the Pacific Ocean, we didn’t forget the real reason to be there – the wedding!

Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take pictures of the chapel, but – believe me – it was gorgeous! White marble adorned the quaint building with nothing but sand, water, and sky seen through the window behind the alter.

However, I was able to snag numerous photos at the reception, including this one - our immediate family with the bride and groom.

Yeah…we enjoyed ourselves.

I highly recommend a family vacation to Hawaii at least once in everyone’s lifetime. If I never get the opportunity to go back, I’ll be disappointed. Still, I will never forget the sights viewed and the memories shared that week.

I could probably talk about the trip for hours on end, so I’ll take the time now to politely conclude this entry. If there’s anything in particular you’re interested in regarding Hawaii, I’d love to offer my friendly assistance!