Hanauma Bay Natural Preserve

Last week, we went to Hawaii to visit my brother and his family. I hadn't seen him in a couple years. He and his wife have had two kids since then and this was the only time due to his and my hubby's work schedules. The next chance would be perhaps a year away. I had saved up all my earned miles and cashed them in for us to go. Since the kids were in school, my younger daughter took care of them (she still lives at home and knows everything about them.) About fifteen years ago, my hubby and I were together away from the kids for a night and this would be the first time that we would be away longer from out kids without one of us being home. It was kinda stressful but I knew that she could handle it. My older brother and his son live two houses away and they were great "plan b's" in case something happened.

We enjoyed visiting with them and loved hanging out after their daughters went to bed. I helped rear my brother after my parents died and to be able to have an adult relationship with him now is awesome! He's been in the Navy after leaving home over a decade or so ago. I loved seeing him being a dad. His wife is so much like I am. It's hard to believe that she's younger than my older daughter. That was the best part of our trip. The extra adventurous and scenic stuff was just lagniappe.

While we were there, on one day, we went to a bay and snorkeled for hours. I could have done it all day long! I didn't realize how cold the water was though as I'm used to the brown warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It was brrrr...cold at first! Being able to look down and see something in the water was awesome! Of course, we can't see anything below in our waters either. Seeing fish and the fact that they were colorful was mesmorizing. I just floated on top of the water looking down enjoying the wonderful sights of coral, fish and other sealife. I felt like a dog. You know how a dog sniffs something and then follows it a while and then continues not paying attention to where he started or finishes...that's what I did. I did snorkel with someone and would lift my head to make sure they were close as we meandered through the water. My hubby or my sister-in-law stayed close or vice-versa as we ventured out further and further. One time, a huge wave broke near my hubby and the (really salty) saltwater practically drowned him. After that, he was done, lol! We watched our nieces as my brother and SIL snorked for a while. Then my SIL and I went back out. Such a great day! I loved it!! My SIL (who lives at the bay/farm) gave me an underwater camera last Christmas and it came in very very handy!!!

This is the bay from the top of the mountain.


I saw one turtle...such a graceful swimmer!


Me.










Hubby from a distance.




One thing I didn't realize is that as you snorkel, the waves make the water move and therefore you move along with them. So as I was watching the fish, a wave would push me forward toward the fish and at the same time, the fish would also be moving with the waves. It was a rocking kind of action as you floated/swam.