The Big Island of Hawai'i, last day. Some farewell images of this unbelievable place

[DFW]

Tomorrow starts the odyssey back. Our daughter pulled a fast one on us. She paid for EVERYTHING. Flights, hotel, meals, excursions, car, the whole package. We snuck in paying for a meal or two, and she actually scolded us!

She wanted this to be both our 70th birthday present and 40th anniversary present. Her way for thanking me/us for not spending what inheritance I got on things for ourselves, but rather saving it all to pay for our daughters' educations in the USA. They knew perfectly well how expensive it was, and the younger one said that if she ever made it big, she would pay me back. We told her that we didn't pay for her education as OUR investment, but rather as HER investment. But she is a lawyer. Argument is futile. She DID make it big, and she wanted to do this, and would have considered it as an affront if we had refused. This is the one who turned down clerking for some obscure law firm or judge during her first summer break in law school, and instead worked for the U.N. War Crimes Tribunal in Sierra Leone in western Africa. She is both generous and fearless.

I had always wanted to see Akaka Falls on the Hilo side of the Big Island, and yesterday, my wife, my sister, her husband and I drove over there to see it. It is a tiny, absolutely breathtaking state park. It is stuck off some side road with almost no markings. I hope only a few people go there. Nature in its pure state.

A bamboo greeting at the entrance:


Some other vegetation and a tiny lizard or two:






The falls themselves:


And two exhausted, but happy travelers at the end of this particular trail:



No wonder so many people who come here out of curiosity, without a penny to their name, end up staying.

[Walleye]

1. Beautiful. I love Hawaii. I have visited there when my boyfriends mom had a house on Lanai

you guys are looking great !

[DFW]

2. For 70, we try not to look too used up, thanks!

We love it here, too, needless to say.

[alwaysinasnit]

3. Thank you for sharing such beautiful photos. Your family sounds wonderful and I am happy that

you are having such a great celebration of both your birthday and anniversary. Wishing you and your family all the best.

[DFW]

24. Thanks very much!

I appreciate the sentiment!

[Docreed2003]

4. Incredible pics! Thanks for sharing

[madaboutharry]

5. I absolutely love The Big Island.

It is my most favorite place on Earth. I can't explain it, but I feel like a different person there. It is as if I become the best version of myself. It is a very magical place.

I hope you come away with very special memories. And what a lovely daughter you have.

[DFW]

23. Our daughter ended up going to school here for 2 years. Pure chance

She made friendships for life, and gave us an excuse to come back several times-

[Diamond_Dog]

6. Lovely photos!

Thank you for sharing!

[brer cat]

7. Wonderful pics.

You both look much younger than your years.

[erronis]

13. Something like: You can't be more than 70 in combined years!

The way to stay young - enjoy life as much as you can.

[DFW]

21. Well, we're 140 in combined years

Sometimes, I think she is 55 and I'm 85!

[erronis]

29. I've learned that the magic age for a woman is "39".

Doesn't matter. Don't argue.

"Oh, darling. I just know that you are no older than 37!"

My mother became a "woman of a certain age" when she breached 60 or so. A classy lady.

[DFW]

22. She is my magic formula

Simple enough, right?

[Budi]

8. Appreciate the story & pics.

Thank you!

[padfun]

9. Mom looks great and is aging well.

But who is that old man with his arm around her?

[DFW]

15. That's her grandfather who was just able to get out of his wheelchair for the photo op!

Or, so I feel sometimes!

[Solly Mack]

10. K&R

Wonderful! Thank you for sharing your family with us.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

11. Wonderful pics and wonderful story!

I'm glad that your daughter could do this for you.

[DFW]

16. We tried our best to tell them from the beginning

Girls can do ANYTHING that boys can. Find your own paths, do what you want to do, and as long as you try your best at it, we will ALWAYS support you.

They did, and we did.

[colorado_ufo]

12. Thank you for sharing this amazing trip with us!

Love, love, love the pictures!

BTW, you look very good, but your wife - she looks INCREDIBLE! I have got to spend more time at the gym! LOL!

[DFW]

18. She grew up on a bicycle.

For a 70 year old, I agree, she DOES look incredible. She has fought cancer twice, and won each time. Her smile is the best indication of her attitude toward things. She is lucky to still be here at all, and her smile shows it.

We met 48 years ago in a cabaret in what was then still West Berlin. I took one look, and said WOW, too bad nerds like me never have a chance with a girl like that. I ditched that attitude just in time, and here we are.

[colorado_ufo]

49. I remember your writing about this before, how you met!

I read every word and thought, "What a fantastic story! What love!"

[DFW]

51. When I first saw her, I just thought "WOW!" After I got to know her.....

I thought, “if I ever lose her, it will be despite everything I could possibly have done NOT to.”

[calimary]

14. WUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNderful!

Love your little green friend!

[DFW]

20. Just popped up for the photo op.

Well, him and his brother. Oh, and look who else: Rikki-Tikki-Tavi himself!

[ShazzieB]

33. Wow, a mongoose!

How cool! They almost look cute, until you remember what they're capable of.

[DFW]

40. Definitely "look, don't touch." n/t

[ShazzieB]

53. Right!

Anything that can literally chew up a cobra and spit it out is definitely on my "look, don't touch" list!

[usonian]

17. Wonderful! I am forwarding this

TO MY DAUGHTER!

You .... We are so blessed.

[DFW]

25. Please do!

Girls have to know that gender is no limit on anything.

[JohnnyLib2]

19. Thank you

For an uplifting post, in many ways.

[DFW]

26. Thank you for feeling that way! n/t

[FakeNoose]

27. Such awesome photos, and such wonderful memories

... to take back to Germany with you.

Thanks for sharing these with us! Have a safe and fun (?) trip back home.

[DFW]

28. We dread the trip back

An overnight flight to San Francisco, a 7 hour layover (we will try to visit our nephew in Palo Alto), and then ANOTHER overnight to Frankfurt.

Oh, well, it WAS worth it!

[TNNurse]

30. I believe this says that as parents you succeeded.

Well done.

[fierywoman]

31. Thank you for sharing your joy -- I'm always grateful that you do!

And happy birthdays and anniversary!

[niyad]

32. So very beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing this beauty, and your

journey, with us. Safe travels.

[kimbutgar]

34. How wonderful!!!

You have an awesome daughter!

Happy anniversary trip!

[Fla Dem]

35. Wonderful, thoughtful children are usually the result of wonderful, thoughtful parents.

So glad you had a truly fabulous time with your family in Hawaii. Happy Birthday and Congratulations on your 40th Anniversary.

[kimbutgar]

36. How wonderful!!!

You have an awesome daughter!

Happy anniversary trip!

[Retired Engineer Bob]

37. Wonderful post in many ways

Sounds like you both did a fantastic job raising your daughter. A smart woman with a challenging and promising career, yet generous and grateful.

Hawaii is on my bucket list, looks beautiful.

Did you folks consider breaking up the return flight home? A couple of days in San Francisco could be nice. I don’t know if it would help or hurt the long trip/jet lag issue.

Have a safe and uneventful trip home.

[DFW]

47. Of course we considered breaking the trip!

But I still work for a living, and it was bad enough that I took two weeks off for this. I got calls in the middle of the night from Berlin, Paris, etc, frantically asking when I'd be back. So, we'll rough it, and go to bed early when we get back Sunday night.

The last time we came out here (in 2003), my mom-in-law was along. She was 76 at the time, and we broke up the trip here with 3 days in San Francisco. We powered through on the way back, but left early in the morning from Hawai'i so that we made the overnight back to Europe from California on the same day.

[yardwork]

38. What a beautiful, uplifting story!

You and your wife look so happy. I think you found the secret of happiness.

[Stuart G]

39. Wonderful..Thank You for Posting ..K and R

[Hekate]

41. So, so beautiful. Mahalo nui loa for sharing.

[highplainsdem]

42. Beautiful! Thank you! I'm so glad you and your family had this vacation.

[Ocelot II]

43. Love to visit there someday, though that's unlikely. It looks so beautiful.

[DFW]

44. I hope you get the chance

And if not, let me lead you on a mini guided tour like this

[Ocelot II]

45. It's too expensive a trip, but I can certainly enjoy your photos.

[DFW]

46. If I had only known you 17 years ago.

A friend was involved with a children's hospital in Oakland, CA. They were holding a fundraising raffle, and local businesses contributed prizes. One was a travel agency that contributed as a prize a one week trip to Hawaii (from Oakland). I bought five $10 tickets to help out. Much to my astonishment and dismay, I won, but had no time that year to take a week free to go to Oakland and then on to Hawaii. A friend of mine from the Netherlands WAS going to be in San Francisco that summer, so I asked him if he wanted to go in my place. He said sure (DUH! LOL), and so he and his wife took the trip in my stead.

[Ocelot II]

48. Nice of you to do that - especially for someone from as far away

as the Netherlands who might otherwise might have a tough time making the trip.

[Grasswire2]

50. Oh, I have been right there some years ago.

Did you see any wild javalina in the park near the falls?

[DFW]

52. No, they are apparently comparatively shy.

The goats, on the other hand, own the place, or at least they act like it.

[jfz9580m]

54. Lovely pics

That little chameleon (or whatever that thing is) is cool looking!

[pandr32]

55. Congratulations on 40 yrs together and slaying 70!

You both look wonderful. Your daughter did you proud. What a gift of love.

Aloha!

[BlueMTexpat]

56. Beautiful pics!

Glad that you had a lovely time!

Congratulations on raising such a great daughter as well!

[mahina]

57. Aloha DFW.

You might enjoy the Merrie Monarch hula event steaming here tonight and tomorrow from Hilo. Tonight is my favorite night, kahiko, or ancient hula.

I think Hawaii loves you all back.
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2022/04/19/ready-2022-merrie-monarch-festival-heres-how-watch-air-online-or-streaming/

[DFW]

63. My daughter spent plenty of time with her former classmates, with whom she keeps in close contact

Her 20th reunion is next year. Maybe next year again?

We never made as far as Hilo. My sister did, but my wife and I headed back here to Waikoloa after Akaka Falls.

It is now almost time to head back to the airport and the long way back to Europe. It is inconceivable to us that we have been here almost two weeks, but the second you arrive in a place like the Big Island, the day you leave always seems like the day after you arrived. It's the same with Cape Cod, where we will be headed in a little over two months. Sort of like the movie "Avatar." Which world is the one where you regularly reside, and which one is your fantasy? The point can come where the lines get blurred.

[7wo7rees]

58. So very lovely to see the 2 of you!! Happy BD and Anniversary!!

You all are looking great. You survived vacay "bootcamp"!

Safe trip home with no headaches!

[Martin68]

59. Beautiful photos! I'd love to see more.

[DFW]

61. When I get a moment with my laptop

I‘ll post another reply here with more photos from the trip

[DFW]

64. Here you go!

That should do for starters!

[TexasBushwhacker]

60. I have a friend from high school who lives in Hilo with her husband

They just love it. She posts beautiful pictures on Facebook and talks about getting plenty of Vitamin "Sea".

[Dorian Gray]

62. What a blessing

the Big Island is my favorite place in the world. We were thinking of going this summer, but we decided to hold off (for a few reasons, but mostly expenses).

You're very lucky to have this time with family and loved ones in such a spectacular place. I hope you had a wonderful time.

[DFW]

65. I am sitting watching the sunset over the ocean at Waikoloa as I write this

We have to leave for the Kona airport shortly. Breathing in my last gulps of ocean air, before the brief dream is forced to fade.

The last time we were here, it was 19 years ago. We wondered if we'd ever be back. We were 51 then. We are 70 now. We leave, wondering, once again, exactly the same thing.