Lanai 2011

Every now and then life scoots aside, the waters part, and the Smith Family gets to return home to our Hawaii.  As it is well documented, our longing for the islands inevitably carries us on an adventure every year or so to check out a new island, a new job, and a new view of what life could be.
Someday for sure.
But for now, here are our favorite memories from the small but very significant island of

Lanai...

Ferry ride from maui to Lanai.

A pod of whales surfaced on our way home.

I think it was an omen:)

After driving to Las Vegas to catch the plane and flying all day,

I took my first breath.

Breathing is so much easier by the sea.

Lahina harbor

Garrett & I worked here 15 years ago.

Crazy.

Malia wrote a to do list.

#1 learn how to surf.

Mission accomplished.

This was her cute little dance to celebrate her new surf skills.

Her passion for life moves me everyday.

Savannah and River popped right up too...

This was our surf teacher Nick.

How can you not smile when you are in the presence

of such undiluted joy?

The second item on Malia's list:

#2 Find a guava

This was no easy task, being guava's were not in season.

But we did.

I will save that story for next post:)