Press reporter celebrates birthday in Hawaii

Buffalo Press reporter Morgan Anderson. photo by Dana Anderson As I followed the very good looking young man down the aisle and up the steps to the stage at the Paradise Cove Luau, I couldn't help but think how blessed I was to be having one of the greatest seventeenth birthdays a girl could ask for. Not only was I spending time with loved ones, we were spending that time in Hawaii!

After an eight hour plane ride, we arrived in Honolulu around 2:00 p.m. Hawaii time, which gave us the rest of the day to explore the resort which was located about twenty minutes outside of Honolulu. Several severe cases of jet-lag resulted in an early bedtime for my family and I on our first night of vacation.

On our second day, we drove our rental car to North Shore- the surfing capital of the world. On the way, we stopped at a national park where we explored a rainforest and swam at the foot of a gorgeous waterfall. We were told that side-of-the-road shrimp shacks and shaved ice were musts when traveling to North Shore, so we were compelled to stop at a local favorite shrimp stand, Romy's. After a delicious lunch, we happened to run across the famous Hawaiian shaved ice shop, Matsumoto's. Needless to say, our trek across the North Shore was a success.

The Big Island and the Kilauea Volcano. photo by Morgan Anderson After a relaxing second day, day three was exhausting! We returned to Honolulu International Airport and caught a hopper plane to The Big Island of Hawaii, where we hiked an active volcano. Miles of hardened lava from the Kilauea Volcano's last eruption provided for an interesting and very bumpy hike. When we reached the observation point, we could clearly see the steam erupting from the mouth of the volcano. Another hour-long plane ride and we were back at the resort, more tired than we had been since our arrival!

Gun Turret #3, my Granddaddy’s station on the U.S.S. Arizona, is still visible in the crystal blue waters of Pearl Harbor. photo by Morgan Anderson Day four was an adventure. We drove back to North Shore for parasailing and shark swimming. After admiring the ocean from the sky, we got a chance to get up close and personal with the ocean's most intimidating predator, the shark. We donned our goggles and snorkles and hopped in a shark cage to observe the graceful yet terrifying creatures. What an adrenaline rush!

Our fifth day was set aside for the most special event. No, it wasn't my birthday it was our trip to historic Pearl Harbor. Perhaps the whole reason behind our trip, Pearl Harbor was no letdown. My mother's father, Clarence Otterman, served on the U.S.S. Arizona prior to World War II and survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. While visiting the Arizona Memorial, we were reminded that 1,177 of Granddaddy's shipmates and friends lay entombed beneath us and grateful that he was one of the 337 who survived. At the memorial, a very helpful tour guide showed us Granddaddy's station- Gun Turret #3- which is still visible above the water, and the deck where he was setting up for Chapel on that Sunday morning before the attack. Our journey into my family's past was an amazing experience that served as the highlight of our trip to Hawaii.

The U.S.S. Arizona Memorial - in loving memory of those who lost their lives on December 7, 1941, and are buried with their ship. photo by Morgan Anderson Our sixth and final day was also special, because that was my birthday! We drove into Honolulu for some shopping and explored the many beaches of Waikiki. That night we caught a resort shuttle just down the road from our room to the Paradise Cove Luau. At the luau, we participated in lei-making and canoeing and observed coconut tree climbing and pig roasting. After a delicious authentic Hawaiian meal, we were treated to a fantastic hula show. Normally a shy person, I couldn't say no to the gorgeous male dancer who ventured into the audience and drug me on stage as his volunteer. I was forced to hula dance in my mini skirt in front of 200 strangers, but it was hard to be embarrassed with such a handsome dance partner at my side! Happy birthday to me!

A housing development at the foot of the Kilauea Volcano-right on top of the lava! photo by Morgan Anderson We spent our last day in Hawaii souvenir shopping at Waikiki's International Marketplace. I even got to practice my old haggling skills with the vendors! While we were shopping, however, we realized that there was no room left in our luggage for the many souvenirs we were taking home. Luckily, we ran across a luggage shop, where we bought a brand new suitcase just for souvenirs. We decided the extra checked bag fee was worth all of the souvenirs and cute new Hawaiian luggage we were bringing home. Then we hauled our luggage to the airport and began preparing ourselves for another eight-hour flight.

Happy Birthday! Me blowing out my candles in Hawaii! photo by Dana Anderson My vacation to Hawaii was an adventure that I will never forget, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to share it with my family. I have done a lot of traveling for a seventeen yearold, and I can say that my Hawaiian trip was my best vacation ever, and I hope I will be able to go back someday and re-live all of the adventures.