Hawaii, Day Three

Today was a day Rob had to fly, but he had the morning off, so we did a little sight seeing on Waikiki.

First stop, Honolulu Coffee Company in the Moana Surfrider. They will do Peaberry in a french press, so we had to get one. Then I saw the caramel macaron and had to get it, but it wasn't as good as I thought it would be.

These are the wizard stones, volcanic rocks moved here a long time ago. They supposedly have healing properties.

This is Duke. He was an Olympic swimmer and all around cool Hawaiian. According to Rob, Duke invented the high rise, booty hang-out shorts that the girls wear these days.

Then there was a statue of Prince Kuhio. I didn't take a picture of the statue, but apparently I did take a picture of a picture of him being the first Hawaiian to fly.

Rob and I had lunch across the street the street from our hotel at the Cheesecake Factory before he had to go fly.  Then Jodi, wife of the Boom, and I walked down to the Hale Koa.  The Hale Koa is owned by the Armed Forces and is part of MWR (morale, welfare, and recreation).  It's a great hotel if you can get a room (you have to be military), but anyone with a military id can use the pool.  There is a BX at the hotel, so we did a little tax free souvenir shopping. Plus, the beach bar had Mai Tais for $7, which Jodi and I enjoyed while watching for the boys.  There they go!

The mighty KC-135 in flight.

Jodi and I met Sarah, wife of the other pilot flying, and her kids for dinner at P.F. Changs for dinner.  I admit, I don't know the real reason for RIMPAC.  But this I do know, this TDY was an amazing chance for me to actually hang out with other Air Force Reserve wives.  Being a Reservist Family can be very isolating and lonely. My non-military friends are understanding, but nothing compares to another wife who has worried through a deployment, helped kids deal with daddy being gone all the time, and held it all together with a smile.  

After dinner I needed a little peace and quiet, so I retired for the evening with a book, some bubbly, and a Honolulu Cookie Company treat.