Allergic to Paradise?

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“Two extended and blended multi-generational and crosscultural families become intertwined and interwoven with each other to form a tangled web of relationships. Funny and emotionally moving.” –R. Bruce Logan, co-author of the award-winning Back to Vietnam: Tours of the Heart ​

​​ALLERGIC TO PARADISE?

...Continued from previous post:
     On Tuesday morning we all met up for breakfast at the Koko at Kalia, 

...the Hale Koa breakfast eatery,

...with a beach view,

...and the world's best breakfast buffet.

​Omelet Station

Crispy Bacon

Grand Marnier French Toast

​Waffle Station Fixin's

     Us at Koko's.

       After our fabulous Koko's breakfast we packed our beach and snorkeling gear into the car and some of us drove and some of us opted to walk the two miles up Kalakaua Avenue, the main thoroughfare through Waikiki that runs parallel to the shoreline,

...to Sans Souci Park Beach.
​      Sans Souci is a state park of enchanting tropical trees

...set in a green space that slopes down to a beach that offers a panoramic view of Waikiki,

...including the historic pink Royal Hawaiian Hotel,

...as well as the mountains off in the distance.

     We came to Sans Souci because we'd heard that there was great snorkeling here, and it was so close by. The general consensus among the snorkelers in our group was that the variety of aquatic life to be seen here was decent, about as good as what one could find on our Fort DeRussy beach (see previous post), but that the sea here was so gentle and easy that this made for a very nice snorkeling experience.

     Plus the park in the background made for a pretty view from the beach as well.

     Theresa and Mayren at Sans Souci Beach

     However as for me, soon after we arrived at Sans Souci Beach my sinuses began filling up, my eyes watering and my nose running.
      "What's going on, Mom?" asked on of my daughters. "Are you allergic to paradise?"
      (I was definitely allergic to something. My guess was some of the flora or fauna growing in the park, as I was immediately better after we left).
         When lunchtime rolled around we walked a couple of blocks from Sans Souci,

...to a cute restaurant called LuLu's.

...where the vibes were as good as promised,

...as was the view,

...and the food.

    And, as in the spirit of Aloha folks were welcome to enter in their beach wear, I had my first experience of eating in a restaurant in my bathing suit.

     It was kind of liberating.