A Frolic Through the Sunflowers

I'm sure  you've seen tons of pictures of sunflower fields all over Instagram. I know that, personally, I've always loved Sunflowers. They're tall, strong and beautiful. They are the unspoken symbol for summer. Honestly, sunflowers are probably my favorite flower.

Well, I had the opportunity to visit a beautiful sunflower field, tucked away between some mountains on Oahu. Who doesn't want to visit a beautiful field of flowers in paradise? I'm talking about the sunflower fields at Waimanalo Country Farms.

It's a little farm down a small dirt road. Every year they open it to the public. It only cost $3 per person to enter. You can stay as long as you wish. Trust me, you'll want to take your time while visiting.

I mean look at this view. It's absolutely breathtaking.

They even have some chairs set up throughout the field and a bathtub!

There's a vintage van parked at the front of the field. It definitely has so much potential for Instagram worthy pictures.

There is also a little farm with goats, pigs, chickens, turkeys and even horses!

There's so much to see and do. It's a place for everyone to enjoy.

Have you ever been to a sunflower field? Or any memorable field? Where at?

The Mighty Mo!

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to take a step back into our military history. Anyone who knows me, knows I love to study and learn about WWII. It was the war that changed everything. So this weekend I decided to visit the USS Missouri.

If you don't know about the USS Missouri, here's a little history lesson for you. (It's really interesting, I promise!)

The USS Missouri, also known as the "Mighty Mo," was built during WWII in a Brooklyn shipyard. She was launched on January 29, 1944 and was commissioned as the USS Missouri on June 11, 1944. It is an Iowa class battleship.

On April 11, 1945 the USS Missouri was hit by a Japanese "Zeke" aircraft northeast of Okinawa. A fire erupted on the plane but no bomb exploded which meant no loss of American lives. It's no secret that Kamikaze pilots were a big part of WWII. But this story isn't finished with just the death of the pilot. In fact, I never knew the rest of the story. I'm sure most people don't. So I want to share this super IMPORTANT story.
The crew of the USS Missouri pulled the body of the Japanese pilot from the wreckage. The officers and crew created a Japanese flag and paused the next morning to pay their respects to their fallen enemy. They stood at attention and offered a salute for the fallen pilot. The Marine Honor Guard fired a three rifle volley and the Chaplain on board said "Commend his body to the deep."
When I heard this story while visiting the Mighty Mo, I couldn't help but tear up. People tend to forget that the pilots of these Kamikaze missions were people who were doing their duty to their country. In fact, the youngest Kamikaze pilot was only 17 years old.

Years later, a couple of WWII vets were visiting the USS Missouri from Japan. They made it a point to learn the identity of the pilot who was honored by the sailors and marines that were aboard on that fateful day. They did just that.

His name was Setsuo Ishino. Please remember that name. So many lives were lost on all sides of WWII and many of them have been forgotten.

On September 2, 1945, representatives from the Allied and Axis powers met aboard the USS Missouri, in Tokyo Bay to "conclude an agreement by which peace can be restored." It was aboard the USS Missouri that the Empire of Japan signed the two copies of Instrument of Surrender. General MacArthur signed on behalf of the Allied nations that were in attendance.

The exact spot of surrender

In 1955, the USS Missouri was decommissioned.

In 1984-1986, the ship was modernized and reactivated.

May 10, 1986 the USS Missouri was recommissioned.

September- November 1987 the ship was underway in the Persian Gulf as part of the Operation Earnest Will.

January 17, 1991 the USS Missouri was the first battleship to fire Tomahawks as the start of Operation Dessert Storm.

March 31, 1992 The USS Missouri was decommissioned again.

Overall, my trip to visit the Mighty Mo was a success. I had a great time and learned so so much. If you're ever visiting Hawaii, please be sure to stop by.

Have you ever visited the Mighty Mo?

Queen Emma's Summer Palace

Over the weekend I got to visit Queen Emma's Summer Palace. I've been meaning to go for quite a while now, but I haven't had the chance.

The back of the palace

The palace was a place of retreat and comfort for Queen Emma Kaleleonalani Rooke, King Kamehameha IV and their son Prince Albert between 1857-1885.

The house was built in 1848 by John Lewis. The house was sold to Queen Emma's uncle, John Young II for only $6,000. The house was then given the name Hanaiakamalama which means foster child of the moon. In 1857, John Young II left the house to his niece, Queen Emma, in his will.

In 1885, after Queen Emma's death, the home was bought by the monarchical government and leased. In the early 1900's it was bought by the Daughters of Hawai'i and was restored, in an effort to preserve a piece of Hawaiian history.

Upon entering the palace, you are asked to remove your shoes. Photos are allowed, but don't use flash.

The house is filled with beautiful portraits of the royal family. About 80% of the furniture in the house is original and belonged to the royal family, many of which were gifted to the family by other royalty throughout the world.

The Front Bedroom

The entry hallway

The beautiful 3 tiered cabinet in the Edinburgh Room

The Edinburgh Room

In the back bedroom, there is a tall glass display case. In the display case is a small fireman's jacket. It belonged to Prince Albert, who died at the age of 4 due to sudden illness. He became an honorary member of the Honolulu Fire Department.

The house is filled with so much history and it was a great honor to be able to see the furniture that the royal family had and to be able to walk in the rooms that they once filled.

If you're ever in Hawai'i I recommend visiting.

2913 Pali Hwy
Honolulu Hi 96817

What's your favorite museum you've visited?

A Unique and Fun Experience on Oahu

This weekend I had an amazing opportunity to do something I've never done before. I'm always looking for new and unique coffee shops to try. Well, this weekend I got to go to Oahu's new and only Cat Cafe. It was so much fun!

So anyone who knows me knows I'm allergic to cats. But I wasn't about to let that stop me from having this incredible experience. So I put on my battle armor (a hoodie, long pants and closed toe shoes), took allergy medicine and walked into the cafe.

The Cat Cafe partners with the SPCA. All the cats are available for adoption. In the two weeks and three weekends that they have been open, they've been able to adopt out, I believe, 17 cats. That's amazing!

The cafe itself is cute. Their menu board is shaped like a cat head.

They have various coffees and pastries you can order. I ordered my coffee and paid for my half hour to spend with the cats.

Before going into the cat area, you have to sign a waiver saying that they aren't responsible if you get hurt or if you have an allergy. But trust me, none of these adorable cats were mean in the slightest. I sat at a table and played with a couple of kittens. I mostly spent the time watching them play.

This cat was sleeping. How cute is she?

These are the kittens I played with!

Overall, I had an absolutely amazing time at the Cat Cafe. I would highly recommend visiting.

This is me in my "battle armor."

Hawai'i Cat Cafe
415 Kapahulu Ave
Honolulu Hi 96815

What's the most unique cafe you've been to?

How to Make Your Travel More Eco Friendly

It's no secret that our planet is being overrun by garbage and pollution. It honestly breaks my heart to know that humans have done such damage to our planet and done so much harm to the animals that inhabit it,

But it's important to remember that all hope isn't lost. We can each make small changes in our lives that have a huge impact on the environment. There may even be things that you haven't thought about. So I wanted to take the time to share with you all the small things that I like to do while traveling.

• Bring your own water bottle. 

When traveling I always carry a water bottle with me. I keep it empty when I go through security at the airport and then fill it up at a fountain or even at a restaurant in the airport. Not only does it help me save money (I mean who really wants to pay $5 for a bottle of water?) but I don't add to the plastic waste that is ending up in our oceans and landfills. I personally use this water bottle. It doesn't leak and it keeps my water cold.

• Reusable cups, mugs or jars. 

If you're a regular reader on my blog, then you know how much I love coffee. One of the first things I do when I go someplace new, is find a small coffee shop to try out. One day I was sitting in a coffee shop, drinking out of my paper cup and I realized that I've added so much waste to our planet simply by drinking coffee. Sure paper is biodegradable, but the plastic lids are not. So I've made a conscious effort to bring my own cup when I buy coffee. In fact, a lot of places even offer a small discount for doing it!

• Reusable straws. 

I'm sure you've all seen the image of the sea turtle with a straw in its nose. If that doesn't bread your heart, I don't know what will. Some scientists estimate that there are 7.5 MILLION straws currently polluting the US Shorelines alone. That doesn't include other countries or the straws that have washed away. You may think that you making a change to not use straws won't help the planet. But think of it this way: on average each person uses 2 straws a day. That's 14 straws a week, 56 straws a month and 672 straws a year. That means there will be 672 less straws in the ocean if YOU refuse to use them. Think of the change we could make if we get our friends and family members to also not use them.

• Reusable produce bags. 

When I travel I love visiting farmers markets or local markets. I love trying all the produce that different places have to offer. I noticed that quite a few stands I'd visit would give me plastic bags to hold the produce that I bought. I hated that I would get so much plastic. So I bought reusable produce bags to take with me. They're sturdy, don't take up much room and super easy to wash. I use these and I absolutely love them.

• Reusable shopping bags. 

When I travel I like to bring a reusable shopping bag with me. I don't usually buy a lot, but I like to have it with me just in case. I carry it in my purse that way I have it if I need it.

These are just small changes that each of us can make while traveling and even in our daily lives.

What are ways that you help stay eco-friendly while traveling?



 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for which I may receive compensation. Your purchases help me to continue to share tips and adventures with you. But as always, all views and opinions are my own. 

More of the Best Coffee Shops on Oahu

Since writing my previous post The Best Coffee Shops on Oahu I've discovered a couple more hidden gems. I mean, I'm sure that comes as no surprise for any of you, since you all know how much I love coffee! 

Honestly, most of these I just happened to drive by and I had to try them. 

• Ali'i Coffee Co

I was driving around downtown and I looked over and happened to see it. I immediately pulled over into a nearby parking area and went in. 

They have tons of unique options of drinks (they're known for their cold brew). I decided to try the  iced Taro Ube Latte. 

The barista shook my drink as though it was a cocktail and handed it to me. The vibrantly purple drink was absolutely delicious! If you're ever in Honolulu I totally recommend trying it. 

35 S. Beretania St

Honolulu Hi 96813

Also, they offer reusable straws for $1. You should totally get one! Help save the environment!

• Drive Thru Joe

Drive Thru Joe is a local coffee truck. They offer unique takes on cold brew coffee, such as Caramel Cream and Hawaiian Tropic.

Caramel Cream Cold Brew

 All of their coffee is delicious! And the owners are absolutely lovely people.

Drive Thru Joe is currently located at Schofield Barracks. You will need base access to try their delicious coffee. 

Here's their Facebook where you can see any updates or changes in location.

• Chad Lou Coffee Roasters

This small, cozy coffee shop is hidden in Kailua Town. It's the perfect place to stop and get a coffee and just hang out. 

 They even offer bagged coffee for purchase, that is roasted in store.

45 Kihapai St

Kailua Hi 96734

• Morning Brew

Morning Brew just opened in downtown Kaka'ako. The coffee shop itself is very modern and clean. They have local art displayed on the walls.

The view from upstairs in Morning Brew

The coffee is amazing! They also offer a pretty large food menu that includes waffles and sandwiches. It's a great place to hang out with friends or even bring you laptop and do some work. 

685 Auahi St 

#113

Honolulu Hi 96813

Have you tried any of these coffee shops?

The Pink Pillbox

Since moving to Hawaii, I've wanted to do the Pu'u'ohulu Kai hike, also known as the Pink Pillbox. Well, I was finally able to mark it off my list!

We started out kinda late in the day (later than I normally like to hike), and headed to the west side of the island.

The hike itself wasn't bad. The beginning has a semi-steep incline but nothing crazy. The best part was the fact that the hike wasn't overly crowded. I feel like so many times we miss out on beautiful sights due to the crowds.

A super cool tree on the hike

There are 3 pillboxes you can see, go into and climb on top of. The views are absolutely phenomenal.

Tips for this hike:

• Bring lots of water, especially if you go later in the day.
• Don't leave anything of value in your car.
• Be safe. There are some tricky parts on the hike, with some drop-offs.
• But most of all, take some time to sit at the top and take in the scenery. 

Have you ever been to the Pink Pillbox? What did you think? Do you plan on visiting it one day? 

Kaniakapupu Ruins

The Kaniakapupu Ruins are nestled deep within a bamboo forest on the island of Oahu. It holds a lot of meaning and history to the island.

The bamboo forest 

It was the summer home of King Kamehameha III and dates back to 1847. King Kamehameha III ruled the Kingdom of Hawaii between 1825 and 1854. Kaniakapupu was built as a place of relaxation for the king. No one knows the exact reason that the palace fell into disrepair.

We made the short trek through the bamboo to the "old ruins." There were a few people present, even one doing a photoshoot. We explored the area some while waiting for the people to clear.

There was a nice little hike to a waterfall nearby. Definitely take the time to visit the falls, if you can.

Part of the falls 

TheKaniakapupu Ruins

The remaining structure is absolutely beautiful and the area is breathtaking. You can really understand why King Kamehameha III decided on this location to build his summer palace.

Can you imagine what it looked like when it was first built?

If you decide to visit the Kaniakapupu Ruins please be respectful. Do not leave anything behind and don't climb on the building itself. Let's all work together to preserve this piece of history.

Have you visited the Kaniakapupu Ruins? Do you want to?