I still have lots of shopping photos to share, but this time it's finally time for our return home! ✈️ While we were in Hawaii, Hurricane LOWELL hit 🌪️ One night, while I was taking a shower... 💡...the lights went out. "Hey! Don't turn them off!!" At first, I thought it was my daughter's prank 😂 But then I realized The light switch was inside the shower room! 🤣🤣🤣 There were several more power outages after that. 💦 I was a little scared, but "If we turn off the lights and sleep, it's the same thing!! Let's sleep!!! 😂" So we went to bed. 🤣 The next morning 🌺 The wind was still strong, but had the hurricane passed? Diamond Head, as seen from Waikiki Beach, was hazy. ⛰️ And what I was worried about was returning home ✈️ Apparently, a typhoon is also approaching Japan. "I wonder if the plane will actually take off..." And to make matters worse, I have work the morning after I return home! 😂💦 Despite my worries, it seems the plane is indeed heading to Honolulu ✈️ So, I headed to the airport as planned. Honolulu Airport is huge! 😳 And then... Immigration was so strict, but departure was a breeze! 😂 The lounge was full, so I gave up on that and enjoyed the last bit of Hawaiian air while strolling through the "Cultural Garden" 🌺🌴 And we departed right on time! ✈️ The in-flight meal arrived quickly! Since it was a flight from Hawaii, "I wonder if the rice is American? 🤔 Maybe I should get something other than bibimbap..." But then... 😳😳😳 It was a Korean rice pack!! 🤣 As expected of Korean Air 🇰🇷 So, I changed my plans and chose bibimbap 😂 However... To make bibimbap on that in-flight tray, You have to plop the rice on top of the ingredients‼ ️ It ends up like this 🤣🤣🤣 But... It's delicious‼ ️😂❤️ And on the return flight, we fly through the daytime the whole time ✈️☀️ So, I didn't sleep 🤣 "The Devil Wears Prada 2" "Wicked" "Wicked 2" "National Treasure" A movie marathon 🎬 And something I didn't even notice on the outbound flight. On the way back... We flew right over Japan 😂🇯🇵 We flew over Tokyo, and over Nagoya... "Let me off! 🤣🤣🤣" That's what I thought 😂 And perhaps due to the typhoon, the flight was the most turbulent between Tokyo and Nagoya 💦 We continued over Osaka, and headed to Incheon 🇰🇷💨💨💨 We had a few hours for our connecting flight in Incheon. We were taken care of here... Nap Zone 🤣👍 After a good rest, we headed back up the same sky we came from ✈️ And safely arrived at Kansai International Airport. 🌺🌺🌺 My first time in Hawaii. There were changes to our plans due to a hurricane, power outages, not being able to climb Diamond Head, delicious food, and a deep sleep at the spa 🤣 So many things happened. But looking back... Because things didn't go according to plan, I discovered so much of Hawaii. And... It's already been three weeks since I got back! 😳💦 Time flies so fast! 🤣 I hope I can go again! 🌺✈️ ALOHA🌺 And... Mahalo Hawaii❤️

📍Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa 92-1185 Aliinui Dr, Kapolei, HI 96707 Thinking about visiting Aulani but put off by the high room rates? 🥹 Actually, you can have a full resort experience without booking a stay! ✨ For this trip, I took an Uber from my Waikiki hotel to Aulani. 🚗 With rain in the forecast, Uber was definitely the right choice! It was so convenient to be picked up right at the hotel entrance. 😊 💰Uber Round Trip: $86 ✨ ______________________ My first stop was the incredibly popular restaurant, "Makahiki." 📍Makahiki, Aulani Hawaii 92 Aliinui Dr, Kapolei, HI 96707 Breakfast reservations are available between 7:00 AM and 11:00 AM! I booked the very last slot at 11:00 AM, which was perfect because it wasn't crowded and I could really relax. The main highlight of Makahiki is definitely the character greetings! 📸💕 It is a rare spot where you can meet characters without staying at the resort, as they come around to each table during your meal. ✨ Plus, there was a live ukulele performance that really set the Hawaiian mood. 🌺 📖 Makahiki Breakfast: A 3-course style meal where you choose an appetizer and a main dish. 🌟 $57 for adults. There is a wide variety of options like omelets, loco moco, and pancakes! You can even have your Belgian waffles made in the shape of Mickey or Minnie. ✨ They looked so cute and were totally Instagrammable! 💓 ______________________ After breakfast, I took a stroll around the resort. 🏝️ The lobby and courtyard are filled with Aulani-themed decorations and art—it’s exciting just to walk around and take it all in! ✨ Also, the beach is open to non-guests as well. 🌊 Just walking along the beautiful ocean gave me that perfect resort feeling. ☺️ ______________________ Next, I headed to the shops. 🛍️ The store is packed with Aulani-exclusive merchandise! From ear headbands and pin badges to apparel with designs you won't find in Japan, it’s a dream for Disney fans. ✨ The ornaments were especially cute and really caught my eye. 🎄 Since I visited during the Halloween season, they also had limited-edition spooky items on sale! 🎃👻 ______________________ 🌴 Here are my takeaways from this trip: ✔ You can meet characters at Makahiki ✔ You can buy exclusive Aulani merch ✔ You can enjoy the beach ✔ You can fully soak up the resort atmosphere That's the best part! ✨ If you feel like staying at Aulani is a bit of a hurdle but you've always wanted to visit, I highly recommend a day trip! 🌺💕 Disney

📍Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa 【Makahiki】 🌊Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa 92-1185 Aliinui Drive, Kapolei, HI 96707 🍳Character Breakfast Reservations start 45 days in advance 💨💨 There are reservation slots available between 7 AM and 11 AM ✨ Since breakfast was included at our Waikiki hotel, I booked the latest slot, 11 AM 👍 I wanted to take my time browsing the shops filled with sparkling Aulani-exclusive merchandise, so I arrived at 10 AM 💨 As soon as I entered from the entrance, everywhere I looked was like a postcard ✨ I looked at the price tags in the shops 😳💦 But it was Disney magic 🎩✨ "I don't know when I'll be able to come back again..." And so I ended up taking things home 🎁 It was 11 AM in no time, so I hurried to the reception 💨 Suddenly, there was Mickey next to me 💕 What a surprise!! ️ It was raining on and off, so we met Mickey at the restaurant entrance! You're guaranteed to meet Mickey, but this is the only place you can meet him! 💦 So this is your chance to get his autograph!! ️ Afterwards, we were shown to our seats and ordered, and Stitch came right away! I'd heard that three characters rotated for the character greetings, and since we were in Hawaii, I was hoping to meet Stitch! 💕 So I was incredibly happy! Then there were Max and Pluto... They were all so friendly and gave us lots of fan service!! ️ Since it was the last slot, the guests started leaving one after another, and we were able to enjoy the character greetings at a really leisurely pace! ✨ Disney is amazing after all!! ️ After thoroughly enjoying the restaurant, we strolled around the area open to non-guests, visited the beach, and went to other shops 💕 We had a fantastic time! I'd love to stay at Aulani Disney someday, but who knows when that will be! 😆 #Over50Travel #Hawaii #HawaiiTrip #HawaiiHotel #AulaniDisney #aulani #Disney #disney #Makahiki

Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay was the activity I was looking forward to the most during my trip to Hawaii. Thanks to the volcanic crater terrain, the waves are calm, making it easy for even beginner swimmers to explore the underwater world. It was incredible to see colorful tropical fish and sea turtles swimming leisurely right in front of my eyes through the shallow coral reefs. I was also impressed that watching an educational video is mandatory before entry since it's a marine protected area. It's so popular that you need to book right at 7 AM, two days before your visit, so be sure to check your schedule and create some special memories!

We had planned to climb Diamond Head that day. However, due to the hurricane, the climb was unexpectedly canceled. 😂 We suddenly had a free half-day. "So, what should we do?" That's when I thought, "There's the Izumo Taisha Shrine in Hawaii on the extension of our bus route!" So, we spontaneously hopped on The Bus and headed to the Izumo Taisha Shrine in Hawaii. 🚌💨 Before the trip, Izumo Taisha Shrine in Hawaii was on my list of places I wanted to visit... Actually, my daughter wasn't very enthusiastic. She knew about the safety situation in the area. "I'm not alone," "It's daytime," "I want to visit a power spot in Hawaii!" And so, I, the mother, made a carefree request. 😂 When we got off at the nearest bus stop... "Oh! 💦 Something... feels different..." Even as a Hawaii novice, I could feel that the air was slightly different. Without looking around nervously 👀 I walked quickly 💨💨💨 And the moment I saw the torii gate, I felt a sense of relief. There were also Japanese worshippers, which made me feel even more relieved 😂 I passed through the torii gate and entered the shrine grounds. The purification fountain even had paper towels and a trash can, "This is so convenient!! 🤣" I couldn't help but think from a traveler's perspective. The guardian lions were adorned with flowers and leis. Although smaller than the Izumo Taisha in Shimane, the shimenawa rope was magnificent. In the midst of the Hawaiian landscape, there was a distinctly Japanese shrine. And this place has a long history. The Hawaii Izumo Taisha was established in 1906 (Meiji 39) by Katsuyoshi Miyao, a Shinto priest from Hiroshima Prefecture, with the aim of spreading Shinto to Japanese immigrants. A temporary shrine was built in 1907, and the current shrine was completed in 1922. However, with the outbreak of World War II, the shrine experienced great hardship, including the suspension of its activities, the confiscation of its property, and the detention of its priests. After the war, a long legal battle ensued to reclaim the shrine, and in 1962, following a ruling by the Hawaii State Supreme Court, the shrine was returned. It was subsequently restored and relocated, and continues to welcome many people here today. In Hawaii, far from Japan, Japanese culture and beliefs have been passed down for 120 years. Thinking about this, I felt that it's not just a "Hawaii tourist spot," but a place where the history of Japanese immigration itself remains. And 2026 marks the 120th anniversary of the founding of the Hawaii Izumo Taisha Shrine. My visit coincided with that milestone year. The enshrined deity is Okuninushi-no-Okami. While famous as a god of matchmaking, this shrine is believed to offer blessings for a variety of things beyond just relationships, including health, family safety, traffic safety, business success, academic achievement, and finding a good partner. After offering my prayers... I went to the shrine office. I received a Hawaii-exclusive amulet and a Goshuin (shrine stamp). And... A pet amulet 🐶 I've never seen an amulet like this before! 😍 "May I stay healthy," And, "May I be able to come back to Hawaii again 🌺" I made these wishes. I couldn't climb Diamond Head, But because I couldn't climb it, I was able to go to places that weren't in my plans. And there, I was able to experience Japanese history rooted in Hawaii. Travel is about unexpected encounters precisely because things don't always go according to plan, isn't it? ☺️ This trip to Hawaii... It was a day that made me realize I really love trips that involve not only "spectacular scenery" but also experiencing history and culture like this. And... I'll try Diamond Head again next time!🤣⛰️ I need to lose another 5kg by then... No... First and foremost, I'll prioritize my health!😂🌺 I hope I can come back to Hawaii again!🙏✨ 📍Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii ⛩️ Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii 📍215 North Kukui Street, Honolulu, HI 96817 🕗Worship Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM 🕣Shrine Office Hours: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM #Over50Travel #Hawaii #hawaii #HawaiiTrip #HawaiiTourism #IzumoTaishakyoMissionofHawaii

The world's largest open-air shopping mall in Honolulu 📍Ala Moana Center Ala Moana Center 1450 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814 ⏰10:00 AM - 8:00 PM It has about 350 stores!! ️ My local Aeon Mall in Katsuragawa has about 220 stores. I wonder what I'm comparing it to 🤣 Anyway, it's huge! 😳 From high-end brands to local brands 💨💨💨 If you have something you want to buy in Hawaii, you'll probably find it here! ❣️ YETI is super popular!! ️ There are tons of collaboration products with cafes and shops. This YETI store is a specialty store, so there weren't any individual collaboration products, but the lineup is amazing! 💦 There's also a Rakuten lounge, and Japan's leading brand, Uniqlo, has a two-story store!! ️ Uniqlo has great taste in local designs❣️ Hawaii has high prices even within the US It's making my sense of value all messed up 😂 When I calculated it in yen, the yen was so weak I almost cried 😭 #Over50Travel #Hawaii #hawaii #HawaiiTrip #HawaiiTourism #AlaMoanaShoppingCenter