5,017 miles

My husband and I arrived late one January night on the island of Oahu. As the plane approached the island in the dark, beautiful displays of street lights were sprinkled across the land beckoning for us to follow them. Walking off of the plane, the air was so sweet you could drink it. The trade wind carried the smell of fragrant leis of Tuberose and Plumeria that graced the necks of tourists and returning locals alike.

The following morning, we walked out of the door of our hotel, and there before us were the most amazing mountains. Everything was so bright; so colorful. It was almost as if I had put on glasses and watched as the world became sharp and clear.

During the four+ years that we spent there, Hawaii felt more and more like home. I fell in love with the land, the perfect climate, and the “aloha spirit.” We have been back on the mainland for a couple of years now, but I still miss Hawaii everyday. So tonight, yet another cold and brisk winter night, I’ll leave you with one of my favorite pieces of art from one of my favorite places. This was an oil pastel that I had done of an amazing beach on Oahu. If you are planning a trip soon, let me know and I will give you directions to visit my Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles here at this beach!