Disclaimer: This is purely fiction but based on the WB series 7th Heaven.
The WB and Spelling Television, unless you don't recognize them, own all
characters.
(Note: I have never been to Hawaii, but I am very interested in going someday! Ha! Like that will ever happen. Anyways, everything about Hawaii in this chapter has been researched online. In fact you can check out http://www.htbg.com/ yourself for more information about what is talked about in this chapter.)
The Greatest Gift of All
Chapter 20
The Spectacular Day
"Akaka Falls State Park is one of the gems of the windward side of the Big Island. The park encompasses 66 acres of lush tropical forest and two scenic waterfalls," Lucy read from a brochure on the park. She and Kevin pulled into a parking lot, stepped out and looked over their surroundings. "Gorgeous," she described the area as they grabbed some hiking supplies from the backseat of the car.
Kevin noticed two trails, one heading right and one heading left. "That sign over there says we should take the right trail," he pointed toward the sign in between the two trails. It was an old wooden sign that said "Circle Route" on the top. Underneath that it said "Kahuna Falls" with an arrow pointed toward the right and then "Akaka Falls" with an arrow pointing left. Then it added "suggested circle route" with a longer arrow pointing to the right.
"What's the difference?" Lucy asked.
"The difference is that it leaves the best and most spectacular site for last - Akaka Falls," he smiled and handing her a water bottle for the trip. "How long does the brochure say the trail is anyway?" He grabbed the camera case and clipped it to one of his belt loops on his jeans.
Lucy looked down a couple paragraphs. "Half a mile. It loops around in a circle, so I guess we'll wind up coming back on the left trail." She observed.
"That's not very long. I expected it to be longer."
"The brochure says that it's best to check out everything. It's a very scenic trail," she told him. "That's why it will probably take most of the morning."
"Well, then. Let's get going. We still have to hit the botanical garden later." Kevin and Lucy headed off to the right trail. They began their walk through the lush rainforest taking in all the plants, flowers, trees, and animals along the way. A little later they came across Kahuna Falls.
"Cool!" Lucy smiled as Kevin pointed the camera toward the waterfall and snapped some pictures. She gazed out over the field toward the 100-foot, thin drop surrounded by trees, trees, and more trees. "Dad's going to wish he were here," she said thoughtfully.
"Maybe we'll have to get them to come someday and check this out for themselves. Maybe they could use it as a second honeymoon or something."
"No way. If they come here; I'm coming back with them. This is too gorgeous not to see again." They finished up admiring the falls and headed on down the trail. They followed the path and walked through a heavily wooded area filled with tree branches that they had to duck under and step over. In the middle of this heavily wooded area, they crossed over a small, rapidly flowing creek. Eventually they wandered out of the forest and into a more open area. From a distance Lucy spotted the most breathtaking waterfall she'd ever seen. She pointed, "Look!"
Kevin walked up behind her and stopped. "That must be Akaka Falls," he nodded. They both moved in toward the waterfall as close as they were allowed on the trail. They were staring at a perfectly vertical, 420-foot drop into what from a distance could be described as a "black hole". The closer they got to it; they noticed a stream-eroded gorge at the bottom of the falls, which ran into a long river. As impressive as Kahuna Falls were before, Akaka Falls was completely breathtaking. It was again surrounded on all sides by endless rainforest.
They leaned against the railing on the trail and looked out at the waterfall. "This I could stare at all day," Lucy admitted.
Kevin again got the camera out to snap some pictures. "If this doesn't make your family want to come to Hawaii, I don't know what will," he joked as he pushed the shutter button on the camera. He quit taking pictures long enough to turn to Lucy. "Thanks!"
"For what?"
"For choosing Hawaii for our honeymoon. This is something neither of us are ever going to forget."
"Then I guess I should thank you," Lucy told him.
"Why?"
"For getting me here. I wouldn't have stepped on that airplane without you."
"You going to be able to get on the airplane the day after tomorrow and go home?" he asked.
Lucy turned back toward the waterfall, "Yeah, but I wish I didn't have to go home."
"I know what you mean, but I'll get you back here someday," he promised.
----------
After grabbing some lunch, Kevin and Lucy headed over to the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. They went into the gift shop to register before walking across the street to begin their four-mile long tour of the garden.
"This is where we're going to have fun," Kevin told her, referring to the long hike they were about to take. "Four miles is a bit more then a half a mile. Think you can make it?" he asked her.
"Of course," she told him confidently, but then added, "I hope."
"You better. I don't care to carry you the last two miles," he laughed as they walked over to the gate entrance. After talking to the gatekeeper, they passed in and headed down the boardwalk to the trail.
"Let's get this road on the show," Lucy said excitedly.
"That's show on the road," Kevin corrected her with a smile.
"Whatever! It was a figure of speech anyway."
On the first section of the trail, the "Palm Vista Trail", the two of them walked through a bunch of palm trees and into what is called the "Fern Circle".
"Where are we at?" Lucy asked her husband.
Kevin pointed to a sign about 20 feet in front of them, "Looks like we're heading to the Palm Jungle Trail." They walked on a little further and spotted Onomea Falls up ahead of them. "Well, it's not Akaka Fall by any means, but it's pretty," he smiled.
"It's peaceful," Lucy added. They stopped a moment and quietly listened to the sound of the waterfall before heading off down the trail again.
Almost an hour had passed by the time they had passed through Heliconia Trail, Banyan Canyon where the Onomea stream flowed through, a into the beautiful Orchid Garden. They arrived at the Flamingo and Duck Pond. "Oh, how cute! Look at the duckies!" Lucy pointed toward the birds.
"I prefer the Flamingo's myself," Kevin said as he snapped yet again another picture along the trail. This time of one of the pink flamingos who appeared to be posing for him.
"Do we have anything we can feed them," Lucy asked.
"We are not feeding them, Luce; although, feeding us is a good idea," he reached into his backpack and pulled out a small bag of potato chips.
Lucy sighed and began walking on down the trail. She reached over and grabbed the potato chips from Kevin. "Hey!" he said surprised.
"You can eat in front of those poor birds if you want and get away with it, but not me. You're sharing," she munched on a few chips.
"Ok. Take as many as you want," he gave in.
"It's not like you needed to give me permission, honey," she smiled sweetly at him. " I was gonna do it anyway."
A little while later they came to the trail that took them past the Pacific Ocean, around a few more streams and lakes, over Boulder creek, and into the bird aviaries where they identified many different types of birds. The time seemed to go by very quickly.
"Well, Lucy. Looks like you made it without me having to carry you after all." Kevin told her.
"What? We're done?" Lucy asked, surprised.
"Yeah," Kevin pointed toward the trail's end a little way ahead of them.
"You're kidding. That's it? I could go on another four miles."
Kevin grinned. "You know. That's the thing about you. You're a lot like your dad."
"I am."
"You and Dad both like to be one with nature. You love nature and everything in it. I've noticed the way you've enjoyed yourself on these scenic trails. You love it. Although, what I can't figure out is why you're not a camping person."
"I am too a camping person. I just need to have my hair dryer and curling iron. . . oh, and indoor plumbing. A hot tub is good too," Lucy continued naming off things she'd have to have if she went camping. Kevin just smiled to himself and walked off toward the end of the trail.
-----
Stay tuned for chapter 22 - Lucy and Kevin head home from their honeymoon, and the Camden's prepare for the beginning of a brand new year.
(Note: I have never been to Hawaii, but I am very interested in going someday! Ha! Like that will ever happen. Anyways, everything about Hawaii in this chapter has been researched online. In fact you can check out http://www.htbg.com/ yourself for more information about what is talked about in this chapter.)
The Greatest Gift of All
Chapter 20
The Spectacular Day
"Akaka Falls State Park is one of the gems of the windward side of the Big Island. The park encompasses 66 acres of lush tropical forest and two scenic waterfalls," Lucy read from a brochure on the park. She and Kevin pulled into a parking lot, stepped out and looked over their surroundings. "Gorgeous," she described the area as they grabbed some hiking supplies from the backseat of the car.
Kevin noticed two trails, one heading right and one heading left. "That sign over there says we should take the right trail," he pointed toward the sign in between the two trails. It was an old wooden sign that said "Circle Route" on the top. Underneath that it said "Kahuna Falls" with an arrow pointed toward the right and then "Akaka Falls" with an arrow pointing left. Then it added "suggested circle route" with a longer arrow pointing to the right.
"What's the difference?" Lucy asked.
"The difference is that it leaves the best and most spectacular site for last - Akaka Falls," he smiled and handing her a water bottle for the trip. "How long does the brochure say the trail is anyway?" He grabbed the camera case and clipped it to one of his belt loops on his jeans.
Lucy looked down a couple paragraphs. "Half a mile. It loops around in a circle, so I guess we'll wind up coming back on the left trail." She observed.
"That's not very long. I expected it to be longer."
"The brochure says that it's best to check out everything. It's a very scenic trail," she told him. "That's why it will probably take most of the morning."
"Well, then. Let's get going. We still have to hit the botanical garden later." Kevin and Lucy headed off to the right trail. They began their walk through the lush rainforest taking in all the plants, flowers, trees, and animals along the way. A little later they came across Kahuna Falls.
"Cool!" Lucy smiled as Kevin pointed the camera toward the waterfall and snapped some pictures. She gazed out over the field toward the 100-foot, thin drop surrounded by trees, trees, and more trees. "Dad's going to wish he were here," she said thoughtfully.
"Maybe we'll have to get them to come someday and check this out for themselves. Maybe they could use it as a second honeymoon or something."
"No way. If they come here; I'm coming back with them. This is too gorgeous not to see again." They finished up admiring the falls and headed on down the trail. They followed the path and walked through a heavily wooded area filled with tree branches that they had to duck under and step over. In the middle of this heavily wooded area, they crossed over a small, rapidly flowing creek. Eventually they wandered out of the forest and into a more open area. From a distance Lucy spotted the most breathtaking waterfall she'd ever seen. She pointed, "Look!"
Kevin walked up behind her and stopped. "That must be Akaka Falls," he nodded. They both moved in toward the waterfall as close as they were allowed on the trail. They were staring at a perfectly vertical, 420-foot drop into what from a distance could be described as a "black hole". The closer they got to it; they noticed a stream-eroded gorge at the bottom of the falls, which ran into a long river. As impressive as Kahuna Falls were before, Akaka Falls was completely breathtaking. It was again surrounded on all sides by endless rainforest.
They leaned against the railing on the trail and looked out at the waterfall. "This I could stare at all day," Lucy admitted.
Kevin again got the camera out to snap some pictures. "If this doesn't make your family want to come to Hawaii, I don't know what will," he joked as he pushed the shutter button on the camera. He quit taking pictures long enough to turn to Lucy. "Thanks!"
"For what?"
"For choosing Hawaii for our honeymoon. This is something neither of us are ever going to forget."
"Then I guess I should thank you," Lucy told him.
"Why?"
"For getting me here. I wouldn't have stepped on that airplane without you."
"You going to be able to get on the airplane the day after tomorrow and go home?" he asked.
Lucy turned back toward the waterfall, "Yeah, but I wish I didn't have to go home."
"I know what you mean, but I'll get you back here someday," he promised.
----------
After grabbing some lunch, Kevin and Lucy headed over to the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. They went into the gift shop to register before walking across the street to begin their four-mile long tour of the garden.
"This is where we're going to have fun," Kevin told her, referring to the long hike they were about to take. "Four miles is a bit more then a half a mile. Think you can make it?" he asked her.
"Of course," she told him confidently, but then added, "I hope."
"You better. I don't care to carry you the last two miles," he laughed as they walked over to the gate entrance. After talking to the gatekeeper, they passed in and headed down the boardwalk to the trail.
"Let's get this road on the show," Lucy said excitedly.
"That's show on the road," Kevin corrected her with a smile.
"Whatever! It was a figure of speech anyway."
On the first section of the trail, the "Palm Vista Trail", the two of them walked through a bunch of palm trees and into what is called the "Fern Circle".
"Where are we at?" Lucy asked her husband.
Kevin pointed to a sign about 20 feet in front of them, "Looks like we're heading to the Palm Jungle Trail." They walked on a little further and spotted Onomea Falls up ahead of them. "Well, it's not Akaka Fall by any means, but it's pretty," he smiled.
"It's peaceful," Lucy added. They stopped a moment and quietly listened to the sound of the waterfall before heading off down the trail again.
Almost an hour had passed by the time they had passed through Heliconia Trail, Banyan Canyon where the Onomea stream flowed through, a into the beautiful Orchid Garden. They arrived at the Flamingo and Duck Pond. "Oh, how cute! Look at the duckies!" Lucy pointed toward the birds.
"I prefer the Flamingo's myself," Kevin said as he snapped yet again another picture along the trail. This time of one of the pink flamingos who appeared to be posing for him.
"Do we have anything we can feed them," Lucy asked.
"We are not feeding them, Luce; although, feeding us is a good idea," he reached into his backpack and pulled out a small bag of potato chips.
Lucy sighed and began walking on down the trail. She reached over and grabbed the potato chips from Kevin. "Hey!" he said surprised.
"You can eat in front of those poor birds if you want and get away with it, but not me. You're sharing," she munched on a few chips.
"Ok. Take as many as you want," he gave in.
"It's not like you needed to give me permission, honey," she smiled sweetly at him. " I was gonna do it anyway."
A little while later they came to the trail that took them past the Pacific Ocean, around a few more streams and lakes, over Boulder creek, and into the bird aviaries where they identified many different types of birds. The time seemed to go by very quickly.
"Well, Lucy. Looks like you made it without me having to carry you after all." Kevin told her.
"What? We're done?" Lucy asked, surprised.
"Yeah," Kevin pointed toward the trail's end a little way ahead of them.
"You're kidding. That's it? I could go on another four miles."
Kevin grinned. "You know. That's the thing about you. You're a lot like your dad."
"I am."
"You and Dad both like to be one with nature. You love nature and everything in it. I've noticed the way you've enjoyed yourself on these scenic trails. You love it. Although, what I can't figure out is why you're not a camping person."
"I am too a camping person. I just need to have my hair dryer and curling iron. . . oh, and indoor plumbing. A hot tub is good too," Lucy continued naming off things she'd have to have if she went camping. Kevin just smiled to himself and walked off toward the end of the trail.
-----
Stay tuned for chapter 22 - Lucy and Kevin head home from their honeymoon, and the Camden's prepare for the beginning of a brand new year.