We're here!

Ah, the breeze!

After a heat wave in California, with many parts of the mainland still baking in unusually high temperatures, it was great to finally arrive in Hawaii last week. It's still hot here, temps are averaging in the upper 80's. And the sun is very intense.

To illustrate, my husband always rolls his eyes when the Ottawa weather report cautions that the UV index there will be 8, or high. Kid 's stuff! Contrast that with the UV index for Oahu. Today it is 11, or "extreme". Skin damage can occur in 10 minutes. Hats and sunscreen are more than a good idea. Except for Craig, who loves heat and covets a deep, dark tan.

What keeps this bearable are the steady trade winds.

You can feel a difference the moment you step off the plane. (Cliche alert!) The air in Hawaii really is soft and moist. Breezes come by like visiting friends. No steady blast, but in waves of different intensity. The air really does caress you, gently curving around your face, your arms your legs. Most of the time it has a pleasant smell, sometimes scented by flowers. Plumeria, ginger, gardenia. It is blissful!

Our Itinerary

This trip is a traveling circus. Maui. Lanai. Maui. Oahu. Then Maui, again. The details are boring. So, instead of a confusing chronological treatment, I'll do posts on topics--when possible. (Expect feast or famine, my internet access is intermittent and keeps changing.)

As of this writing, future blogs will cover: Lanai, Buddhist temples and the Summer Bon Dance season, the State Outrigger Canoe Championships, hooray for inter-island fare wars, plus a hot primary for a Senate seat. Other things too, I'm sure!

Aloha!