Longer stays in Hawaii have gotten to be a habit. Much as I love a good snowfall, the lengthening periods of freezing temperatures in the Northeast convinced me to enjoy Hawaii a bit longer.

So what did I do in my little corner of O’ahu when I wasn’t running local races, or spectating swim lessons and Kendo practices?

Here are a few samples:

Delicious New Year Eats

January always begins with a beautiful New Year’s Day lunch, including local fish and vegetable dishes and of course, Ozoni, a Japanese Mochi soup traditionally eaten at the beginning of the New Year.

Waikiki Beach

Morning walks and runs along Waikiki Beach and Diamondhead were a special treat. The beautiful creatures that occasionally merge from the Pacific for a bit of sun and rest on the beach are well protected from gawkers like myself, entranced by them. Volunteers who patrol the beach ensure their safety and peace.

This monk seal above is known to locals. She rests on the beach, then returns swimming between this beach and the Island of Kawaii.

MLK Parade

The Martin Luther King Day Parade begins around downtown and the Ala Moana area and ends at Kapiolani Park. We enjoyed it, sitting on the curb in Waikiki.

Led by the Royal Hawaiian band, it looked like every group or organization was represented in the parade.

The North Shore

We decided to take a weekend away to another area of O’ahu, the beautiful mostly unhurried North Shore. After taking care of some morning chores, we drove the long way around the island, through Hawaii Kai, stopping to relax on Sandy Beach where we saw the first whales for this season, passing by on their return to Alaskan waters.

By the time we reached the North Shore, blinding rains made visibility difficult. We found our B&B, up the mountainside after about four switchbacks. It was a cute and comfy little spot, a good thing since the weather was relentless. You know it’s going to be a tough evening when your host calls to let you know they have left extra lanterns on our porch and give an admonition to keep our phones charged.

In fact, we did not loose power. We did learn that while we were curled up in a cozy cottage on the North Shore, all of O’ahu was under emergency orders with schools, government and businesses ordered to close. A strong storm system known as a Kona low was pummeling the island.

The following morning, the rain gave way to normal showers, an improvement over the typhoon-type storm of the night before. We donned raincoats and attempted to do the typical tourist thing of lingering in the shops around Haleiwa.

The Big Island

To celebrate some family birthdays, the final getaway was to the island of Hawaii, otherwise known as the Big Island. What a difference in landscape from O’ahu. Fields of lava rock, then beautiful coastal views.

Donkeys and goats along the road (my camera wasn’t quick enough to capture them), but the sea turtles hanging out on the black sand beach were easier.

From there, we continued around the island to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park where we hiked through the Nāhuku Lava Tube.

After dinner at the Volcano House, we walked to the lookout and watched the steam and small flares from Kilauea Volcano. The power and vastness of Kilauea was mesmerizing. Time passed quickly and soon darkness fell as we watched this amazing site

The steam and shoots of fire we experienced were nothing compared to the eruption days after we left. The power of the volcano’s eruption threw rocks for miles.

That’s it?

Yes, that’s a wrap on Hawai’i. It’s time to catch up with friends and family on the Mainland and see what adventures await us there.