Aloha ~ It’s bittersweet when you make it back home from vacationing in the Hawaiian islands and find sand at the bottom of your suitcase.

This red headed mermaid just returned from a family vacation to the garden island of Kauai.

Luckily, I was surrounded by people I love – my mom, dad, nana, papa, my brother, his friend Conner and even my boyfriend Jonathan came with us. Over nine days we explored the tropical paradise. Venturing by zodiac boats, we raced through the aquamarine-colored sea to remote parts of the island. For me, the highlight of the trip was seeing pods of spinner and bottlenose dolphins come right up to the boat.

We used Kauai Sea Riders for our Na Pali Coast guide.

After snorkeling and getting to know Crush the turtle, Dory and all of her friends during the first couple of days along Na Pali Coast and at Tunnels Beach, the girls split up from the guys.

The next day the guys went deep-sea fishing with Captain Terry Teves and caught 10 Aku Tuna. The girlies ventured through the shops at Poipu and had lunch at the historic Gaylords.

Next on our adventure, (Jonathan’s highlight of the trip) we went to a luau! After the endless pork, poi, pineapple and Mai Tai’s we all went to sleep with Hawaiian dreams of hula girls as they danced in our heads. Smith’s Garden Luau was where we went.

Nothing like a photo bomb from Nana!

Another high to our Hawaii trip was when Jonathan and I trekked the eight-mile round trip hike through Hanakapi’ai beach and up to the highest waterfall I’ve ever seen in my life. It was definitely a difficult hike as we trudged through mud, in the rain and in the hot humidity, through bamboo trees to the coolest pool of water at the base of the canyon. Jonathan and I took one look at our surroundings and then at each other and for a second we thought – Are we in Jurassic Park?

The remaining days we spent paddle boarding, boogie boarding and eating Hawaiian Host Macadamia Nut Chocolates along the Kalapaki shore. We left our condo and spent the last two days at the Marriott’s Kauai Beach Club. We stayed at this hotel because it was my parents 25th Anniversary and this was where they spent their honeymoon.

Right next door to the hotel was my favorite restaurant Duke’s. We literally ate there for lunch and dinner one day … you can never have too much Hula Pie.

There’s something funny about island life … the days go by quickly but the moments and the memories linger in the salty breeze.

Aloha!