La Semana Final

Howdy yall

So since this is more or less the first spare second I've had since returning to The Bubble I give you the last week in Hawaii. Anytime the close of something good begins breathing down my neck, I try to milk the remaining time for all its worth.

A quick Provo update first. My time has consisted of mostly all schoolwork. Once I got here and my housing mess sorted out I have been eating, breathing, sleeping and cursing organic chemistry, which a month from now I can kiss goodbye until MCAT time this spring. I have gone to a sweet baseball game, gotten outside for some baseball and football in the midday sun, went on a triple-date to Stewart Falls, and planned two crazy road trips to be had before summer term ends. That and our family's vacation to Bear Lake, which was incredible. Someone who actually has pictures and videos should post about that.

So here we go...

A flat evening at Sunset beach, my favorite north shore surf spot

Tiffany, Kelly, Courtney at one of the top five best parties of my life. It was a water party with inflated slip n slides, a moonwalk/astrojump/bouncehouse (have I covered all the different geographic terms?) with water coming down inside, a big rolly ball you could climb in and get pushed around, volleyball, water guns and sponges, and the dancefloor with steady sprinkling water coming down on everybody. The best part was getting the new arrivals wet. Most people did not know beforehand it was going to be a wet fest, so no one dressed for the occasion. That made it even better.

Sweet shot huh?

Enjoying the beauty of the beach at night time on the Sabbath...

The road in front of the temple at dusk

The girls at church

It's the infamous Stairway to Heaven hike! So check it out. There is a trail of "stairs" that was installed by the military sometime in the 30s or 40s. It basically takes you to the highest point of Oahu. There are 3,500 stairs, some of which are so steep they feel like the rungs of a ladder; it's a very intense workout and some struggled quite a bit. Anyway, the idea is to start at 3am so you get to the top by sunrise. I did this about two days before I left the island and it was beautiful.

Kelly and me on the way up. She was really good at this.

R-r-r-ose. S-s-so cold. Don't go Jack! I'm d-d-dying Rose.

A Sacred Falls expedition on a day when nothing else was really going on. Jake and I had been once before.

Guys L to R: Jake, me, Jordan, Tony. Girls: Vanessa, Allie, Alyssa, Brittany.

The first picture of one of my favorite things to do in Hawaii - camping on the beach! Here we are getting the fire started.

Jess roastin a malo in preparation for s'mores. S'more what? You're killin' me, Smalls! Yeah, we quoted that then too.

Our hippie picture. Singing around the campfire.

Sunrise in the morning

Morning aerobics

Morning story time

The most delicious substance ever designed to be tasted by a tongue. Banana pancakes at the famous Hukilau Cafe. That is their trademark, and it's our guess that this placed served as somewhat of an inspiration to Jack's song about said pancakes. After all, this is his hood.

My good, good friend Uncle Remus. Apparently from his quote, he is also partial to the pancakes.

My last Hawaiian surf sesh! For 2008 at least. I really considered staying at this school, I loved everything so much. A couple of my friends actually did decide to be permanent.

Courtney and me chewin' the fat. And me showing much more leg. Directly above us is the surf cam that broadcasts the wave conditions of Sunset Beach to computer screens all over the globe.

Just a random picture of Kelly that I really liked.

I am always hungry.

Always. This is shaved ice (not a snowcone.) Much much better. Each one of these pictures was slightly closer to my departure than the last.

Addison and me preparing to jump off Laie Point hours before I left. It's much higher than it looks.

Melanie taking the plunge. Tomasi (miles below her) was the native Hawaiian we waited for so that he could actually show us where to jump without hitting rocks and dying. The jump didn't hurt, but climbing back onto the rocks to get up again between smashes of waves drew some blood.

Eatin' with Jake in the caf. I spent tons of time here, and it was so awesome to walk in for dinner after spending the day surfing, shorts still wet and freezing, and stuffing our faces with mediocre, all-you-can-eat goodness.



It really was a fun time. We all text each other often to reminisce and talk about how much we miss everything and everyone. Kelly's the only one I've seen since being back, but hopefully that will change come September. I'm so grateful that I was blessed to have that experience. Maybe I'll live there someday? Maybe?