Hawaii, April 2025

We went to Hawaii in April 2025 so I could FINALLY complete my 50 State Half Marathon Challenge. And since Wil had never been to Hawaii we decided to add on some time on the Big Island, and had a great time. 

On our last day in Hawaii we drove out of the park and toward Hilo. We stopped at a big grocery store (which I'm told is now called "Tiny Tourism" -- visiting everyday places rather than big sites...), bought some Hawaiian goodies and our last poke. Mmmmm, poke. 

Then down to the water, where we parked up and walked around Liliuokalani Park and Gardens⁩.

We laughed because, in 2.5 days in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, seeing all the "don't feed the nene" signs, we didn't see ANY of them. But here they were, in this city park. 

Then we drove up and over the Saddle Road back to Kona. We had a LOT of time to kill, so we drove south of Kona along the coast and poked around a little town, got great coffee, and looked in an amazing vintage store that whas overwhelming because it was all SO GOOD. We took a break to clear our heads at Wai'aha Beach Park. Again, so glorious!

Still antsy -- and with more time to kill -- we turned back toward the airport and stopped at Old Kona Airport State Beach Park, which has still has the runway and a loooooooong beach. 

The park also had a sweet, looping "walking / jogging path" where people had set up little mini gardens. We walked around there until it was just TOO HOT. 

who doesn't love a "walking facility"??

Then, on a whim, we drove to Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park. It was peaceful and quiet, and a perfect spot to get in the water for the last time. As I stood up to my shins in the water I stopped -- because THERE WERE HONU ALL AROUND US!!!

Mr. Turtle is my FATHER

The pictures aren't great -- I didn't want to get any closer or drop my phone. But Wil had wanted to see sea turtles, so it was a thrill to see a bunch of them, by accident, on our last day. 

We gassed up the car, dropped it off at the airport, and went inside to wait. I love an open air departures terminal, and the sunset was amazing -- a great way to say farewell to Hawaii!

I "published" this post on the day we returned home from Hawaii, and have finally written up all the days. Here's the omnibus to keep them all together. 

We flew out on a Thursday, arriving in the late evening and just enjoying a drink on our balcony. 

On Friday we spent the looooong day at the Polynesian Cultural Center (and loved it!)

On Saturday morning we hiked the Diamond Head Trail and went to the race expo.  

On Saturday afternoon and early evening we went on a Honolulu cocktail crawl (that, admittedly, extended to the next day, post race.)

On Sunday we got up early to run the Hapalua Half Marathon and finish my 50 States Half Marathon Challenge!

On Monday we flew to Kona and spent a day or two kayaking, snorkeling, and seeing massive manta rays. 

On Wednesday we stopped at the Pu'uhonua o Honaunau, Punalu'u black sand beach, and stayed in an amazing yurt.

On Thursday we drove to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and drove the Chain of Craters Road. 

On Friday we hiked the Kilauea Iki Trail, visited Hilo, and watched the eruption. 

Funky Chickens Stitch-a-Long, part 1

Hi everyone! Last time I decided to start working on some smaller pieces -- easier to manage in the busy summer time. First up, Funky Chickens by Satsuma Street:

I went on a trip over the past three weeks (more on that later), but I still got a very good start on the first of three: the rooster. 

I love how the colors pop on the black Aida. I'm using Cosmo floss and, well, I don't see much of a difference from good 'ol DMC. But I'll see how I feel as I finish each of these pieces. 

By our next check in I hope to have finished the stitching on the rooster and be well on my first chicken. 

Now, about that trip....

We just got back from 10 days in Hawaii where I was running the final race in my 50 State Half Marathon project. The race itself was fun, and I took it as a "victory lap" -- high-fiving kids along the course, thanking volunteers and police officers, cheering for other runners, and enjoying the time. 

One of my all-time favorite craft projects is a jacket that I embroidered for myself, filling in the states as I went along. I used different colors of floss per year, and finally got to fill in my last state. I very rarely wear it, but it makes me smile to look at the map and think about each of the races I ran. 

I'm now going to run over and check out all the projects that my fellow stitchers are working on -- it's always inspiring to see! Avis, Claire, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, Cathie, Linda, Mary Margaret, Cindy, and Helen.

Hapalua Half Marathon Race Report

I have been planning to run this race as my 50th State for years. I didn't want to run the half of a full marathon -- I wanted the half to the be focus. The fact that Hapalua means "half" in Hawaiian makes me smile. 

Race expo was at the convention center -- a little ways away from our hotel -- but it was well signed and very well organized. We got our bibs and t-shirt, and then went to look at merch. 

The race design included the names of EVERYONE who pre-registered. The men's shirts had all the men's names (a little confusing at first...), the women's shirts had all the women's names... and the big towels and the photo banner had both. Really nice touch, and fun to find our names!

The next morning we rode down in the elevator with another couple and a random guy headed to the gym. I said, "I think we're headed to the same place!" and she laughed. Wil said, "She's running her 50th state!" and the woman said, "OMG, ME TOO!!!!" and we both SQUEALED and the random guy quickly exited the elevator. 

We hadaed to the start corrals, just down the street from our hotel. We admired Duke, his arms full of leis, in the moonlight. 

Finally, we started. There was a surprising amount of random city miles, out and back to Ala Moana and Honolulu Harbor. 

But eventually we looped back and around Kapiolani park and then an out and back along Diamond Head Road. As we passed the zoo I heard a "running guide" telling some tourists that Hawaii has a lot of "hobby joggers" and a bunch of us insulted him (and his slower-than-us tour group) right back. 

It was hot -- especially on Diamond Head Road. But on the way back we had a nice breeze and I was grinning because we were almost done.

We stopped a lot to take pictures, thanked all the volunteers, and did a lot of smiling. 

And then I was crying because I could see the finish line and I had almost finished the project!

As we entered the finish chute we held hands, had our names called out, and then someone gave me a medal and a bottle of Gatorade and I was just so very happy. And crying. 

The race had a huge runners zone in the park with food and drinks and, very cleverly, a big screen running on a 15-minute delay so people could watch themselves crossing the finish line. I'd never seen this before and I think it's a genius idea. 

It hadn't been fast -- of course. But we did it and had a lovely morning. Walking back to the hotel felt surreal... I had thought about this day for years and it was finally here! We had a dip in the pool, went up to the room, and eventually headed out for a very fine celebratory mai tai. 

Our server delivered possibly the best mai tai I'd ever had, and asked, "How do you feel?". I told her I felt great, very happy, and that I NEVER NEEDED TO RUN AGAIN." It was the first tiem I'd said it -- maybe even the first time I had THOUGHT it, but I think it might be true.