8 Years!

8 Years! I have really been looking forward to this anniversary. 8 years on the 8th. 8 is my favorite number... on top of that it is the first time we have gotten more that one day off together in months- and 3 days at that! It worked out that Labor Day weekend was the same as our anniversary. I normally have Sundays and Tuesdays off, so with Monday being a holiday= 3 days! The weekend started pretty normal except that everything seemed a lot more fun since I knew we were on vacation and best of all I didn't know the plans. I love surprises! Sunday night Aaron said we needed to get our rest because we had a full day ahead of us. So Monday morning we got up and Aaron told me what to wear and what to pack. We went for breakfast at McDonald's then to Borders where he told me to pick out any book (eeee!) Then we hit the road. We went up to Hawi, a little town on the very top of the island. My favorite outlet store is supposed to be there, but we discovered when we got there it had closed down.  :( But no matter, we went for lunch at the best sandwich shop EVER (I normally don't even like sandwiches) 

and then browsed the other shops.

 I got a really cool pair of earrings. Then we got in the car and Aaron said I got to choose my adventure. He had 2 hiking options planned. I chose the Waipio Valley rim. So we headed off. It was a bit of a guessing game because the guide book doesn't actually tell you how to get there. We found our own way though. It was awesome. On our way back it started down-pouring!  Brrr! We got back to the car wet and muddy and tired- meaning the hike was great. 

I didn't know where we were going next, but I rode along contentedly until we arrived at the Hapuna Prince Hotel - a beautiful hotel next to one of the best beaches on the island!! When we checked we got an upgrade to a partial ocean view room. 

We cleaned up, dressed up and went to dinner. Yum! From there we went down to the beach and relaxed in the lawn chairs listening to the waves and star gazing. Sigh. 

I had mentioned to Aaron months before that my idea of a perfect day would be to go on a hike then stay at a nice hotel, he remembered and gave it to me!

The next day we chilled by the pool till we had to check out then we headed off to do whatever we felt like. We bought me a canvas, (yeah! my first one in forever) then went to some shops in the resort area and drove around some neighborhoods. That night we went to dinner by the ocean and had a beautiful sunset. It was a great weekend. I was super sad to have it end...I'm already looking forward to next year.