Today is Saturday, and we leave to go home tomorrow night about 10:15PM. We have all had a BALL, and no signs of any sort of illness! WOO-HOO!
We arrived last Sunday about 6PM, and were greeted with fresh lei’s, picked up the van and headed to the condo. It is a one bedroom, with a fully stocked kitchen — we supply the food. As soon as we landed, Johnny wanted to get in the water, of course once we got our bearings and finally had a bite to eat, everyone could barely keep their eyes open — it was 2AM our time. We didn’t have any problems getting to sleep that night. It’s about a four hour time difference, so we hit the hay early every night.
Monday (and every morning since then), Mike got up early and went surfing before we all woke up. By the time he got back to the room, we were all ready to get to the beach. My parents stopped by our room to see what our plans were, I think they decided to go shopping, and we were headed up to the North Shore to meet up with some friends, Colin and Kili, who live on the Island.
We went to Haliewia Town. One of our favorite spots on the North Shore. Colin told us of a spot where the local groms go to learn to surf, and it would be a perfect place for the boys, really mellow — turns out, that’s where Bay Watch was filmed too.
I had my camera ready to catch Johnny’s first wave in over a year, we were all excited for him, and knew it meant so much that he was in Hawaii, my hands were sweating, and butterflies in my tummy in anticipation for him. Mike took the boys out and pushed Johnny into his first wave, and he caught it — no problem, like he never stopped. My eyes welled up, with happiness and pride. He made it. He did it, just as brave and strong as he always was, grinning from ear to ear. I have chills just thinking about it again. It was incredible. Totally worth the wait, I am so glad we didn’t push the trip during his hardest part of treatment in December.
We met Colin and Kili, and their beautiful kids Kiani(she’s 9), and Stridder(he’s 3) — perfect for our kids. They all surfed and got to know each other, and then headed up to Sunset to get some pizza. Then called it a day.
Tuesday was our helicopter ride, which was amazing! Johnny and Mike were in the front seat and had a birds eye view the whole time. It was about an hour, and was PLENTY long enough for all of us, we hit a little turbulence while we were in a valley and about that time I was ready to land — all of us were! It rained on us a bit, but it was worth it, we got to see whales and turtles, and of course the Island where Gilligan’s Island was filmed. I WAS STOKED, of course it meant nothing to the kids. After the ride we hit the beach — of course!
Everyday was whatever Johnny wanted to do. We would mention things to him, but if he didn’t want to do whatever we mentioned, we didn’t do it. We had dinner at this awesome steak house that night — Chuck’s. If you ever get the chance to go there — do it. Johnny CHOWED DOWN on the fries, and all through dinner he kept telling he “these are the BEST fries EVER!”.
Wednesday was a day at Waikiki. It is crowded, TONS of tourists (like we aren’t!), but Liz set up a great day for us. My parents joined us as well. We started off on an outrigger canoe, and actually went surfing with it! It was a BLAST. Liz’s friend’s set us up with beach chairs and umbrella’s, so we could chill out in the shade, which makes a day at the beach much more tolerable. Then we took a catamaran ride — again, an incredible experience. We all rode on the netting up front, and the boys had their heads hanging off the very front of the nets. We weren’t able to see much sea life, but lots of beautiful coral and a few fish.
Earlier that morning, the life guards spotted about 200 jellies, so we didn’t get to go surfing, Johnny was disappointed, but we let the boys skate everywhere we went, so that made up for the no surf day. I guess there are a ton of skate parks here but since we didn’t pack their helmets, I wasn’t going to push the subject too much. Johnny seemed satisfied with the street just the same.
Liz took us out for pizza that evening, and it was yummy, I think all the meals taste so good because we have so much fun during the day, that by the time dinner rolls around, we are READY to EAT! Then she headed home, I guess she is used to taking day trips out here — it kills me and I have seven days in between!. So far Wednesday was one of the best days. Just lots of Aloha spirit, and it had a really great vibe.
Thursday was our surfing lessons. It was on the other side of the Island (I know it sounds far, but it’s really only about 45 minutes away), at Barbers Point. It was the PERFECT beach, quiet, we were the only ones, nice easy waves, and it pretty much never gets any rain. I can’t believe that more people don’t go there. The only folks on the beach were the ones taking lessons! Anyway, Johnny and Joey had private lessons, and I was part of a group. Since I have very limited skills, I was slightly ahead of the rest of the group — but not by much. During the “talking” part of the lesson, all Johnny could think about was “let’s get this thing STARTED!”. Of course once the boys got in the water, they caught every wave that came their way. Johnny let the instructor push him into the waves, and Joey caught his own.
Mike figured out that Johnny wasn’t exactly tired, but more scared than anything. Scared, not because of the thought of sharks or anything, but scared because he knew he didn’t have his full strength, and wasn’t sure of himself. He went back in after about 20 minutes. I think he had fun just watching Joey catch the waves. Joey was doing so well, the instructor took him WAY out, and gave him his board. Joey was catching tons of waves and even did the “coffin”, that’s where you lay down on your back on the board, with your hands behind your head, then get back up. He was STOKED! I told Joey that he deserves this vacation almost as much as Johnny does.
Friday, we met up with Kili and the kids at Waikiki again. We had so much fun, regardless of the crowds. Joey and Kiani took off and found out a pretty good break and surfed together all day long, Sophie and Stridder played in the sand together, and Johnny and Mike hung out in the surf. Johnny had fun, but gets tired pretty fast. Kili brought a boogie board, and he used that most of the day.
Another Make A Wish dad came up to me and asked if we were with MAW. I said yes, and he said his daughter was here also (they came from Vermont). Turns out, she has AML (another form of Leukemia), and just finished her treatment as well. We have a Luau tonight, and they will be there too.
Friday was great day as well. It’s nice to meet a family, and have everyone hit it off so well. The kids didn’t want to leave each other. Sophie and Stridder hugged and cried when they had to go home. I think we made some friends for life! Great family, shared lots of the Aloha spirit!
Today is kind of a chill out day, then the luau. It starts at 3:30 and we don’t get home until 9PM! Tomorrow we have all day, and I think Johnny wants to hit Pearl Harbor before we go. And of course the beach. We might try and get back up to the North Shore again and surf the harbor. We will just have to see what the little guy is up for!
I’ll post photos when we get home!