Hawaii - Days 7 & 8

Okay, I'm a little behind, but I'll try to do a quick update. On Tuesday (day 7), we all headed back to the Pineapple Plantation. John, Kate, Grandma, Grandpa, Brooke and Travis all went on the train. Eric, Karen, and I enjoyed some really great people watching in the pineapple garden. I had a case of my favorite candy bars ever in my hand to buy, but started feeling like a complete and total pig (I really wouldn't eat them all in one sitting...they're entirely too rich...in fact, it took me about 1 hour to eat 1 bar the other day), so I put them back on the shelf. That afternoon, everyone headed to the beach except for Grandpa, Kate and I. In the evening, we headed over to the pool to celebrate Travis' and my birthday. My dad baked a red velvet cake for me and Travis had a coconut cream pie. The gifts were great and Kate and John had a blast in the pool.

On day 8, Travis, Brooke, Eric, Karen, and I headed to Pearl Harbor only to find out that we would have to wait 3 hours before we could get out to the memorial. We're going to go tomorrow and arrive before 7am so that we can not have to wait so long. We left there and met Grandma and Grandpa at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet to buy all of our touristy stuff. Brooke and Karen found some really cute jewelry (maybe someday I'll actually wear jewelry), I bought more bathing suits (I have an addiction), and John and Kate got some Hawaiian attire (mumus and such). After we were shopped out, we headed to Dukes on Waikiki, had lunch, and shopped at the International Market Place. Kate (who loves sparkly things) talked Grandpa into buying her a bracelet and ring, which she proceeded to show off. Grandma, Grandpa, Eric, Karen, and I went back to the Outlets for Karen to return something and for me to pick up a pair of shoes for Brooke. I also found some for me...as well as a really pretty coat which I did not purchase since it was $1000. We came home and put on the new bathing suits and headed to the beach for some snorkeling and swimming. I finally swam in the lagoon, but I will write more about that later. After the beach, we cooked some more fish. My dad made some yummy teriyaki and he also tried the recipe the captain of the fish boat suggested. He dipped the fish into eggs, milk, and olive oil mixed together, then italian bread crumbs, and then fried them. It was SO good and not even greasy. We're switching to spaghetti tonight since some people are getting tired of fish. After dinner, it was off to the pool so John could try out his new goggles. Then it was bedtime.