June 30

Today we were up bright and early - the 5 hour time change was in our favor to let us get up so early with really no problem!
We started off eating breakfast with my parents downstairs at our hotel for a buffet - mighty tasty and right on the beach/ocean. Beautiful way to eat breakfast, I must say!! Then the 4 of us were off walking all around downtown Waikiki. I wasn't able to get a picture to capture it all - it's like Michigan Ave, little longer I think, in terms of all the high-end stores (Rolex, Chanel, LV, Gucci, Tiffany's, Ferrari, etc...) and also had it's nice mix of average stores for us non-millionaires! There is also the International Marketplace with lots of shops - good & well...bartering types as well (not my thing I learned...I'm too nice haha! I kept saying, "Oh, it's okay - they need the money!") We did lots of browsing & got some good purchases too. ...Which leads me into our next adventure!

15 years ago when my parents took my sister and I we got caught (these locals SEE US COMIN'!!!) and taken to Maui Divers Jewelry. Maui Divers big thing that is exclusive to them is the black coral jewelry. Here my parents got 25 year anniversary rings, my sister got a ring - and since I was just 10 - I got to pick out an oyster and see if there was a pearl inside - there was, white, and I got it made into a necklace.
I kept telling Jack that 15 years ago I got to pick an oyster and see if and how many pearls were inside...so, Jack's mission now for the trip was to do the same! He was so cute and fun about wanting to do this! (And I knew in the end I wouldn't mind!)

SOOO...we are shopping along and what do we find...Maui Jewelers! Now my parents had brought their rings back to be resized so we had to go anyways, but on the first day wasn't what any of us had expected to be doing. My mom found a ring she liked - so my parents were busy doing that. I immediately went to the black coral section and started showing Jack what it was and explaining again how my family had all gotten it last time, esp. the story about my parents and their new wedding rings. So, Jack tells the lady to let me see this one ring that looked just perfect and simple for me - how I love my jewelry! Tried it on - wow, looked like it was meant just for my finger!!! Jack got a smile on his face and I knew that was a great sign!! But we decided that since this Hawaii trip is special for so many reasons, as is Maui Divers hehe, we got him one too!! So now we each have our 2 year anniversary black coral rings from Hawaii while celebrating my parents 40th!! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!

Well - when you make a purchase you get to pick an oyster for pearls. Jack's face lit up when he found this out - his mission for the trip was now a reality! So we spent the next 30 minutes doing this...because they basically let you keep going until you want to stop. Our "issue" was that Jack was doing SOOO well he wanted to keep going. First try - 2 black pearls...my response - EARRINGS!! Second try - 1 big pink pearl...my response - NECKLACE!! Thrid try - 2 white pearls!! ....Do you see why we kept going?! haha If only Hawaii did lottery tickets....he woulda bought one!! So, Jack's picking out pearls adventure came true and let's just say I left a happy lady!!! Thanks honey, you're the best!
P.S. We went back to pick up my ring from being resized a few days later...Jack got 2 oysters, each with 2 black pearls in them. LUCKY MAN!

That evening we went to Roy's - which was one of my most tasty meals of the trip!!

Great first full day!!!!