I may have told you this before……I used to be a professional dancer!
🤣 Okay, so 99% of you reading this already knew that!!! And that’s actually NOT what I was going to say….Just Kidding!!!!! 😁
Rather, I wanted to not talk about my knees and injuries today and instead tell you about one of my most favorite places on Earth: HAWAII!!!
Earlier with some company, I was talking about all of the traveling that I had the opportunity to do while I was dancing on my contracts. And it made me start to reminisce about visiting magical Hawaii for the first and the last time, twelve years ago!!! 🙀
AND what better way to fully reminisce about it all than to share my experiences and memories with you!!! Equipped with fun photos and everything, of course….because you COULD take my word for it; however, why settle for that when I could also SHOW you!!! 😃💯
SO, backtracking into history twelve years ago, I was on my final Sesame Street Live contract, on a show called “Elmo Makes Music.” It went for 11.5 months during 2008-2009.
On this one exceptionally long contract, where we traveled across the country, then to Mexico City and Puerto Rico, then back to the states….our tour ended its last full MONTH in Hawaii!! 😍 And it was a dream come true. 💭💖
First of all, I had always wanted to go there!! It just sounded like this island paradise. So, as we were boarding the plane to go to Honolulu, Oahu, I was ecstatic!!!!!
Secondly, it was absolutely an island paradise!!!!! It literally blew my mind. 🤯 Everywhere you looked, it was a postcard photo in real life. Talk about actual MAGIC!! ✨✨✨
I was always so frugal and careful with my money on all of my dance contracts. Even all the way through this third contract on Sesame Street, so my third year on tour, I was very selective with the touristy things that I did because my goal was to save a lot of money as I went. 🚫 💵🚫 Well, when I got to Hawaii…….
As soon as I saw the flawless beauty that is Hawaii, I knew that I wanted to do everything that I could possibly do while I was there. And the coolest thing was that we, as the cast and crew, flew to Hawaii, as you know. But our actual set pieces and props – – as in our actual SHOW – – were shipped by sea. Which meant that we had 10 FULL DAYS of no shows or obligations right when we arrived on the shore of Oahu. If that wasn’t a sign that it was time to explore, be a crazy tourist, and try to do as many “Hawaii activities” as possible , I don’t know what is!!!! 😜
Are you ready for my long list of checkmarks from my time spent in Oahu?!?! I wonder if some may surprise you…🤔 I can’t wait to show you these photos!!!!! 😀😃🙃
Let’s gooooooooo!!!!! So, the first three that I shall mention are the very first things that I did when I got to the island of Oahu. In this exact order over the course of less than 2 days:
✅ #1: Shark Cage Tour with the company, North Shore Shark Adventures!
And there were quite a few sharks that came to visit us!!
✅#2: Cliff jumping at Waimea Bay! It was terrifyingly high up – – and there were many people that climbed this monstrous rock, waiting in line, so one was unable to back out at the top – – so, I DID IT even though I was thoroughly freaked out!! 😬
✅#3: Skydiving with the company, Skydive Hawaii! I believe that I already spoke about my hypocritical behavior about skydiving….like where I was completely against it, right up until I was standing on the island of Oahu and then I said, “never mind, I’m in AND I’ll organize the whole thing!” And I did. 🤨🤣
And, as a side note, I did all of these things, and did them successfully (thankfully), AND THEN I called my Mom and told her what I “had been up to” in Hawaii so far. Yes, she semi-panicked and couldn’t believe that I had swam with sharks, cliff jumped, and jumped out of a plane in less than two days….but she also felt very pleased that I was still alive and well!!! I believe she only needed one glass of wine after our conversation. 🍷 Maybe two…🍷🍷😉
Now, the rest of my checkmarks are in a random order because I don’t remember exactly what came next….but I think you’ll still get a VERY good idea about how all-out-busy I was in Oahu!! Spending lots o’ money on all the experiences that I could because it felt so surreal to be in this heavenly place. I mean, look at this!!! 👇🏼
✅#4: Walked to the top of Diamond Head State Monument, also known as Diamond Head Crater!
✅#5: Went to the beach on the North Shore
✅#6: Exploring the North Shore, coming upon a famous SHRIMP TRUCK, called Macky’s…..
……at first, questioning if it would be wise to order food from a Shrimp Truck….😳…..and then going for it!!!
✅#7: My first-ever snorkeling adventure in Hanauma Bay! Like, really swimming with the fishies in this crystal clear-blue water. Just amazing!! 🐠🐟
#8: Visiting Pearl Harbor 🇺🇸
It was a truly powerful and emotional experience to visit this historic site. I was (and still am) so grateful for the opportunity to have been there. ❤️💙❤️💙
Wanna know something else that I learned while I was on the U.S.S. Missouri?? On a much lighter note, I learned that I would be a horrendous and useless soldier…
✅#9: I went to this massive Flea Market and got to drink coconut water out of a real coconut! 🥥
✅#10: I was told that I HAD to go to the infamous Leonard’s Bakery and try a Malasada. So, I found Leonard’s Bakery…..
…..and I tried a Malasada!!! And shared some with my castmates. They are very tasty – like a denser and doughier version of a donut!
✅#11: A trip to the Dole Plantation, where I tried Dole whip with pineapples, of course, (I did not include a photo but Dole Whip is a delicious version of frozen yogurt/custard) AND I went through the largest maze in the world!!
✅#12: I went to the Waikiki Gun Club and shot a gun for the first time in my life in their indoor range! Why, you may ask??? Because my friends and I walked past it one day, joked about going in…and then we said, why not??? So, we went in!
✅#13: I went to Sea Life Park, was captivated by their phenomenal aquarium, AND I swam with a dolphin!! 🐬
Also, I learned that there is such a thing as a Wolphin. Did you know??
✅#14: I took ballet class at Ballet Hawaii!!
✅#15: A Boat Cruise where we learned how to Hula dance and play the ukelele!!
✅#16: Festivities at the Paradise Cove Luau!!
I will stop this official checkmark list at #16!!! Though other fun things I did include going to a restaurant to eat real authentic Hawaiian food, like tarot root and spam; attempting to teach myself to surf on Waikiki beach (I did terrible but it was great!!); shopping and exploring boutiques; and getting out on the town and enjoying the Oahu nightlife with my cast and crew!! There is SO MUCH to see and do!!!
And speaking of Waikiki Beach, I definitely spent some time there, in addition to my surfing trials!! It is a touristy favorite, that is for sure, and always jam-packed with people. Even still, I managed to take a couple of pictures where the major crowds were out of sight!!
Perhaps I can include Waikiki Beach on my official list of checkmarks?? WHY NOT, right??? 😉 Okay then, ✅ #17: Waikiki Beach, it is!!!
I’ll never forget my time in Hawaii, that is for sure. 💘 And I have a secret for you: I only spent 3 out of the 4 weeks in Oahu!! Which means, all 17 items on my checklist were just from 3/4’s of the time that I spent in Hawaii!! I have another full week left of adventures to tell you about!!!!!
And that will be for another time!! Perhaps next week?!?! I will see you then! ☺️
Until then, sending you much love and magic, as if I was still on the perfect beaches and admiring the postcard views everywhere I looked in Hawaii. 🌺✨💜🌞🏝🐬❤️🐠✨🌸💛🌈
