The trade winds are a comfortable constant in the islands- the last necessary ingredient after sun and heat, to make the weather here absolutely perfect. So perfect that many hotels and restaurants, especially the fancy ones, are open-air. Which means you can walk through the lobbies and feel the ocean breezes, sit under the stars as you eat your mahi-mahi...
Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself. This is no time for umbrella drinks- we haven't even gotten out of the airport yet.
Whether or not you've arranged for the popular lei greeting when you disembark the airplane, you can easily feel the aloha spirit wafting toward you from the airport staff. They're all smiles, and full of friendly advice and directions.
When we looked around, we noticed that even our fellow travelers seemed calm and relaxed, even chatty. And why not? More than likely they too had just come from some dark, dank realm- and miraculously landed in this tropical paradise along with us.
Though he was still weary from his bout with the chicken pox and the ten-hour flight, even Dan had to smile. Clouds scuttled across the night sky as we waited outside the terminal, palm trees rustled in the breeze, flowers bobbed and swayed among the bushes. The moon was full.
We were so fortunate to be staying with a local friend for the week, until we could find an apartment to rent. Tammy and her family took us under their wings and helped us get our bearings- a perfect start to our Hawaii sabbatical. They were such wonderful company, and the kids' bubbly natures cheered Dan up immeasurably.
Plus, they're both doctors- so Dan's blotchy face didn't faze them one bit.
That first night in Hawaii, after everyone had gone to bed, I lay awake listening to the hard rain on the roof, and a strong wind blowing through the trees.
Warm light filtered in through the blinds early the next morning. The storm had passed. And when I opened the front door that first day in Hawaii, I was greeted head-on by a glorious rainbow.
I admit, I looked around- half expecting a unicorn to come skipping by.
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