Hawaii- Day 5: Diamond Head & the BEST Wedding EVER!

I was told the Diamondhead sunrise hike was not to be missed by several people who had actually done it. I've already mentioned the required reservation no one mentioned and this was our redemption day where we returned triumphant, reservation in hand. 

Ironically, this sign is not visible for those who do the sunrise hike since it's still dark when you begin. 

Initially the hike seemed like a nice, paved, slightly uphill bike path. Then the pavement soon gave way to the dirt trail and things got a little harder. There was a tunnel in which the echoes of everyone breathing hard could be heard. I'd been told there is an option to go to the right which leads to a very long stairway or to the left. There were still stairs when choosing the left, but there were also a couple of places to stop and take in the view. Well, as much of the view as the darkness of early morning would allow anyway.

Just before this we ran into a couple of people coming down- they'd arrived first and ran the entire thing! We finally made it to the top, top and that is where the reservation requirement suddenly made sense. 

It was packed. I mean really packed and people jostled each other with a steady eye on the horizon and an unflinching refusal to make room for others. Brent overheard a little boy ask his mom over and over, "So there's no way it can explode? You're sure it can't explode?" Gave us a chuckle.

I heard another person comment, "Yeah there's the photos you see online and then there's reality." Sunrise was another 20 minutes off when I turned to Brent and suggested we catch that sunrise on the way back down. No matter how beautiful the sunrise was, I simply wasn't going to be able to enjoy it. He asked if I was sure and yeah- I was sure. We decided to go down using the other trail.

Here's a diagram of the Fire Control Station we would be using. 

It was an awkward duck and kneel situation to get into it in the first place.

Luckily we had the tight, spiral staircase all to ourselves.

On the other side of this tunnel were the 99 stairs we'd heard so much about.

It's pretty narrow as you can see and there was a mom with her teenage son about to come up so I paused to give way. The son bounded up those steps and yelled, "C'mon Mom!" over his shoulder. I could see the trepidation so I pulled out my phone, opened my music and played the theme to Rocky. "You've got this!" I encouraged.

The mom smiled at me and as she made her way steadily up those stairs said, "Yes, ok, I can do this." 
Finally we both made it down to the bottom of those stairs but I let the music play.

It echoed through the steep tunnel and as we passed by people they gave me a wry smile. After that Brent pulled up The Climb by Miley Cyrus but that didn't get quite as positive a reaction. Regardless, we were really enjoying this time together. We aren't campers but we definitely enjoy a good hike! We were also relishing this new stage of life where our kids are grown up enough that we can sneak away to do this kind of thing. We were both slicked in sweat and having the time of our lives just being together on this little adventure. 

Some nice tourists took our picture if we agreed to take theirs and we headed back to the resort invigorated.

I joked with Brent on the way home that maybe just being in Hawaii means you get spammed? My phone was lighting up all the time!

There's really no better way to cool off from a hike than to spend time in the pool. I'm a huge fan of Sigfried and Joy on TikTok and they agreed to help me make a video so I could tag them. Not gonna lie, I rewatched this a lot and laughed every time!

After a lot of hair and makeup, we headed to the wedding venue for the big day! I knew Reagan would look stunning, but it was so good to see my mom all fancied up too! Katrina had taken Mom and Dad to a salon for some TLC the day before and then Whitney did hair and makeup that morning. 

I love a room with feminine energy! This is where I feel at home.

I barely saw my cousins growing up and I love it when the girls can get time with theirs.

They have some pretty fantastic cousins after all!

I'm getting ahead of myself. We were able to get a family photo before the official festivities.

There was a minor crisis with a grey eyebrow hair but aside from that, everything was running smoothly!

Liesel came in on the arm of Clayton

Ireland with Logan

Brigitta and Sydney came together.

It was a huge wedding party but I think Reagan and Doug did it right by involving so many of the cousins because you can see they were positively thrilled to be a part of it. Gita and Sydney in particular were strutting their stuff and they looked adorable in their yellow dresses. I'm told Noah and Eli decided exactly what they were going to do just 15 minutes prior. It was fantastic, so funny and by far the best flower men entrance I've ever seen!

As a fan of the movie 27 Dresses, when the bride made her entrance, I decided to watch the groom instead. His reaction made me tear up a bit. He loves my sister so much and after years of heartbreak, that's all I want for both of them.

The ceremony was amazing- so touching and heartfelt. The woman who officiated did the whole thing from memory and it was beautiful. The girls really enjoyed it too.

Everyone was brimming with joy for these two!

Mom and Dad looked so great!

Here they are with all their 17 grandchildren.

The wedding was at Kualoa Ranch and no matter where you aim your camera the view is stunning. Those lush mountains are almost unreal in this photos of these cute girls!

It was time to party and the girls had promised Reagan they would dance. Man alive, they made good on that promise! They danced until their feet hurt. The wedding party came down in their pairs and did a little dance to start things off.

For me this one was the money shot. Brigitta and Sydney don't actually get along very much. If there is fighting, 9 times out of 10 it is these two. Somehow the photographer caught them in their youthful joy dancing their hearts out. If you look closely, you can see neither of their feet are touching the ground. They are literally kicking up their heels!

This is my all-time favorite picture of Ireland on the trip. Again, so happy and doesn't that pineapple drink just look delicious?!

This is getting to be the longest post ever so I'll try to wrap this up! 

Rockwell was having a hard time so my focus completely shifted to him for much of the evening. We left the crowd for a bit and he laid down and cried. Even though this was a happy change in his family dynamic, it was a change nonetheless. Once I was able to sneak him some dessert he perked up quite a bit. There was an absolutely incredible program with hula dancers and fire spinners. You can see how mesmerized Sydney was!

Whitney and Tim's gender reveal was done by changing the lights of the tent and when they turned pink my daughters screamed with utter delight. They passed out chocolate cigars for everyone. Whitney was told it's considered unlucky for a woman to wear a closed lei so they cut hers for her.

I adore this picture of Brent. It's not often that he completely lets go and thoroughly enjoys himself and the photographer captured it.

We danced and danced and danced. Dad even got up with his walker and bounced up and down and we all went wild. 

This wedding was just everything!