When we started planning our Hawaii adventure, we started talking about what to do on New Year's Eve. Typically the girls spend the night with Grammie. The first thing the blond twin said when we told the girls that we were going to Hawaii was, "We have to spend New Year's Eve with Grammie." I loved that reaction. It meant a lot to me that she really wanted to continue that tradition.
We discovered that Oahu set off fireworks on the beach just off Waikiki. We walked to a food hall for dinner and then wandered Waikiki for a bit. The city was full of street performers, tourists and NYE celebrations.
We went back to the hotel for a bit while we decided what to do next. Daddy and I sat on the balcony while the girls relaxed in the room. We walked in to find the brunette twin asleep and the blond twin pretty drowsy. We told them to go to sleep for a bit. We promised to wake them before the fireworks.
I crawled into bed for a few minutes. I tried to adjust to Hawaii time, but my body was still on Chicago time. Daddy sat on the balcony soaking up the warm weather and street views.
We left the hotel about 11:30 p.m. to find a good beach location. The beach was already full of people celebrating. It was so festive that we spent the time until the fireworks people watching. Shortly before midnight, a young man walked into the ocean, unzipped his pants and relieved himself. The girls giggled. We laughed at their reactions. It was the story they would tell when we returned home. Sure the fireworks were great, but a young man peeing in the ocean? It was the evening's highlight.