Back to that First Love ~

It was love at first sight. . .and scent. No doubt about it.  I recall the moment as if it were yesterday.  

I had arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii. My first solo trip. My introduction to the land of swaying palm trees, white sand beaches, and ocean waves.   

Hawai'ian sunset

Stepping from the Northwest Orient 747 aircraft I found myself in a tropical paradise. The air was thick and scented with the perfume of the island's blooms:  jasmine, tuberose, hibiscus, plumeria, and other exotics that I didn't recognize. 

Hybiscus blooms in Hawaii

Leis, those flower necklaces with intoxicating aromas were sold from stands that filled the open-air arrivals terminal. Hawaiian music played in the background and total strangers called out greetings of 'Aloha' as I made my way to baggage claim. 

 Before I set foot outside the airport, my love affair with Hawaii had begun.

Lei'd and luau bound - Diamond Head in the background 

Hawai'i became America's 50th state when I was barely six years old.  It was still in statehood infancy when 20 years later I flew there from Seattle to meet a good friend who was coming from Guam. We had been cub reporters together in Central Washington State, and for the week we were together we were a pair of intrepid travelers.  

Intrepid travelers in Hawaii

That introduction to islands and tropical life went far too quickly. The Scout and I met and married the following year, and luckily Hawaii was a favorite destination of his as well. It became a go-to holiday for us.  

State of Hawaii in the middle of the Pacific Ocean

 

Over the years we explored this state set in the Pacific Ocean some 2,400 miles from San Francisco to the east and 5,200 from Manila to the west.  Each of its islands -- Maui, Kauai, Kona, Molokai and Lanai -- enticed us with their individual charms.  

Kauai

But it was on O'ahu, the island that captured my heart back so many years ago, where we ultimately purchased a timeshare so that we could escape Pacific Northwest winters for several weeks each year.

KoOlina - O'ahu

The development which it is located, on the west side of the island, is named Ko'Olina, 'place of joy' in Hawaiian. It encompasses an 11-acre area called Lanikuhonua,'where Heaven meets the earth'.  Both are apt descriptions of the area to our way of thinking.

KoOlina - place of joy

Maintaining that Love Affair with Hawaii

Even after our move to Greece we returned to Hawaii each winter. We found one of the benefits of 'same time, next year' travel was the friendships made with people who are at the same place you are, at the same time, each year. For a few weeks each year, the island was our world; a place where we have our favorite grocery stores, beaches, walks, and a close-knit group of friends with whom we socialize. 

Same time next year friends that we will see soon

Our last stay was January 2020, just weeks before Covid shut down the world of travel.  

By the time travel resumed, we had other destinations lined up to explore as lockdown made us realize that putting off such trips to a future date, might not be the best idea 'at our ages'. As a result, we've rented out those weeks in Hawaii and have traveled elsewhere.  Each year though, we'd say, 'next year we will go back to Hawaii'.  

And . . .this year is 'next year'! 

Hawaii bound

By the time some of you read this, we will be Hawaii bound.  It is a journey that will take two days of travel and require an overnight in London. We will drive to Athens, fly from there to Heathrow the first day, and the next morning fly to Seattle where we will catch a flight to Honolulu. Just about 9,000 airmiles, 20 flight hours, and three planes. 

KoOlina's famous, 'Frozen MaiTai'

This trip will help us determine if we still have the 'get up and go' required for such long trips. We are prepared for sticker shock as we acclimate (or not) to the prices of this popular tourist destination. We are prepared for traffic jams on the freeway that link the airport to our 'place of joy'. Hawaii, like all wonderful places in the world, has to deal with 'overtourism' and its related issues these days. 

Winter wave at KoOlina

This trip will also bring us together with friends we haven't seen in far too long. We'll have long walks, visits, outings and pupu parties (we call them mezes in Greece and appetizers in the Pacific Northwest).  We will spend time on white sand beaches and watch palm trees sway in the tropical breeze. 

 I anticipate a rekindling of this Hawaiian love affair. . . stay tuned for the rest of this story.

Swaying palms - a tropical favorite at KoOlina

Until our next report, our wishes to you are for safe travels, and a happy, healthy New Year! And, as always, Mahalo, thanks, for the time you've spent with us today!

The Gathering

The gathering on the morning of January 6th in our small Greek fishing village was much the same as it is every year on that date.  

And maybe that is why I think it is one of my very favorite celebration days in this expat life of ours.  

The Gathering 2025

The minute the bells rang out from our village church, the excitement began building among those of us gathered together. Even though we knew that a processional would be arriving from the church and what would happen at the harbor once it got there, the anticipation rippled through the crowd just as it has every year.   

Singing an Epiphany Kalanda - a tradition

We were gathered for the Blessing of the Waters; the day of the Epiphany, or Theophany (both words stem from the Greek words for 'revelation' or 'revelation of God.) Some of you may know the day as Three Kings Day. It is the festival day celebrating the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Jesus Christ as God and it also celebrates Christ's baptism in the Jordan River. 

Traditions and celebrations date back decades in our village

Celebrations such as the one in our village take place in Greek communities around the world and they have taken place for centuries. Archaeological evidence shows that celebrations of the baptism were celebrated by Greek speaking parts of the Roman Empire as far back as 200 AD. And even though we don't know enough Greek to understand what is being said in the ceremony, there is something about helping carry on such traditions and celebrations that makes the day extra special.

We couldn't help pondering how similar today's ceremony was to those held decades ago in our village.

To the Cross they swam

We'd arrived early to join friends for breakfast at one of the harborside restaurants.  Our table at the side of the road gave us a spot for viewing the religious ceremony that would take place as well as a strategic spot to greet friends and neighbors as they began arriving for the midmorning event. Greeks, expats, residents, visitors, young and old gathered to watch the brief but beautiful ceremony.

A toss of the Cross

Our Pappas Panayotis blessed the cross and dipped it twice into the harbor.  The third toss was out into the middle of the harbor. As it landed, a group of swimsuit-clad faithful dove in to retrieve it.  

The Cross is returned

A young girl - from a much larger group of swimmers than we've had in the past -- retrieved the cross this year. Applause rang out as she raised it out of the water. 

The end of the holiday season comes to the village

This day also marks an unofficial end to the Christmas and New Year's holiday.  Soon the seasonal decorations will come down and the focus will turn to spring, the reopening of stores and the influx of tourists.

But for today, we gathered as a village at the water, just as we will next year and hopefully for many more years to come.

We hope the New Year has started off well for you and yours. May your year be filled with travels and traditions.  Thanks for being with us and until next time, safe travels ~