Hawaii, episode 15. In which aloha means goodbye.

Before exchanging a farewell aloha from our 50th state for a return howdy to our beloved Lone Star, I thought I would share with you a few final sites and experiences which were new to Mari and me during our recent Hawaii adventure.

That's us in front of Iolani Palace in downtown Honolulu, posing our usual "we own the place" pose. This wasn't the first time we thought about visiting the royal palace and it has been on our travel list every time, but we finally decided to commit and ink it onto our itinerary for our last full day.

Completed in 1882, the palace did not serve as royal residence for very long, unfortunately, with a government overthrow in 1893.

You will learn a lot from the knowledgeable tour guides who volunteer their time at the palace, maybe too much.

Despite being in beautiful natural surroundings with an imposing balance of opulent furnishings and amazing artwork, the historic details of the United States' abuse of power over the Hawaiian people gave me great pause because it certainly wasn't the first time (and won't be the last) the US government failed to provide justice for all.

Touring the Palace is a valuable learning experience for families visiting Hawaii and it is also the only opportunity to visit a royal residence in the United States.

Come along with us on our tour; Mari took some great photos while I was filming.

Your tour begins as you gather on the porch and are given booties to slip over your shoes.

When you first enter the palace, you are greeted by an amazing hand-carved koa wood staircase.

More koa and beautifully carved furnishings in the dining room.

The bedrooms open into a beautiful common room.
Kind of like the common rooms in the Hogwarts houses!

A bedroom fit for a queen.

Several royal gowns are on display in the throne room including a famous peacock gown
created for Queen Kapi'olani to wear at Queen Victoria's 50th Jubilee in London.

Queen Kapi'olani and her successor and sister-in-law, Lili'uokalani, were strong and proud leaders and as independent as their historical circumstances allowed.

The photo of them together at left also reflects their respect and admiration for ceremony.

You will find their remarkable influence reflected throughout the royal residence, especially in the Quilt Room in which Lili'uokalani was imprisoned for eight months after she was forced to abdicate.

The quilt's beautiful handiwork (proudly on display) is a poignant symbol of sacrifice and inspiration. 

After our tour of the palace's private rooms upstairs, our group was allowed to wander (sans booties) several exhibit halls in the palace's lower level.

Of course, there was a royal gift shop (and another tea towel for my own royal collection).

Mari was especially excited to visit the display of royal jewelry, as you might imagine. Before entering the room, I was struck by a prophetic quote emblazoned on the wall at the entrance to the exhibit. The quote is presented in the original Hawaiian and then translated above a commanding photo of Queen Kapi'olani.

"The rays of the sun shall be your attire, Fashioned for you by the clouds of the heavens."

This beautiful expression of the power and beauty of nature moved me as I entered the vibrant and elegant display of "crown jewels" that had adorned Hawaiian royals through ceremony and celebration as well as during times of mourning and loss.

The good Catholic school boy (deep) inside me couldn't help but recall a similar reference. "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars..." (Revelation 12:1).

Somehow, the imagery of being decorated with the sun's golden rays, brilliant white clouds, and bountiful blue skies seemed appropriate in our heavenly Hawaiian environs.

Leaving the palace, Mari and I headed across King Street to sight another local icon and tick another item off our travel list.

This statue commemorates King Kamehameha I who unified the Hawaiian islands more than two centuries ago.

Be sure to visit both websites for helpful visitor information along with some history.

iolanipalace.org

gohawaii.com/islands/oahu/regions/honolulu/king-kamehameha-statue

Mari and I always get a little sad on our last day of traveling and, as I've posted previously, that's always a sign that we have enjoyed our stay.

Sometimes we are even blessed with the opportunity to revisit (and re-revisit) favorite locations and explore them anew.

While our visit to Iolani Palace was during the last full day of our trip, our adventures weren't quite over yet. You will find when you visit Hawaii that your last day involves more than a quick shower and a mad airport scramble, at least if you are heading back home to the mainland.

Hawaii's Pacific location and time zone allow for more leisurely departures, usually an afternoon or evening flight that will land you stateside early the next morning, like traveling to Europe from the US.

What to do with a half or three-quarters day in a tropical paradise? Staying at a resort will allow you an extra few hours at the beach after you have stored your luggage, some souvenir shopping, a deliciously satisfying stroll down to the Steak Shack... or even a catamaran sail along the shore.

That was the case with us. We had been eyeing the hotel's catamaran for over a week from our patio perch (zoomed in at right) and decided our last morning would be fully felicitous for a new sailing adventure.

Don't ever ask me my jib from my jab, and never call me Ishmael, I am not that kind of sailor.

These final offshore views (you're welcome for saving my favorite shirt for the final day, by the way) provided the perfect final memory.

I want to thank you, dear reader, for following our adventures from paradise.

I realize that currently it is cold and slushy and maybe a little miserable where some of you live, but please remember that is not always the case (and cold is not always miserable).

Postcard pictures are perfect for a reason, but life's adventures are often far from perfect. As a new year approaches, let us continue to do our best to perceive perfection even in the most unexpectedly imperfect places (and people).


I am excited to begin sharing with you our Maine adventures next time. There are many fabulously overflowing fleas, many (almost) postcard-perfect photos, many foodie favorites, and perhaps one too many lobster rolls.

Many thanks to my supportive and spirited fleamarketing copilot for always steering me in the right direction, even if we wind up taking a wrong turn. Aloha!