We stayed on the southern side of the island, which is known for its beaches and sea life. We spent a lot of time soaking up the sun at the pool and the beach. Every night, turtles and sea lions would come up to the beach to sleep. Tons of people would gather to watch as they made their way onto the beach. We always made sure to end our nights by watching the sunset and turtles. 

The north coast of Kauai is a stunning combination of hidden beaches and dramatic landscapes. It had a much more rustic and laid-back feeling, probably because this is where most of the surfing happens. The beaches and scenery were so beautiful; I could have spent a whole week just in this region! 

West Kauai consists of Waimea Canyon, which offers drastic views and countless waterfalls. Each viewpoint was more breathtaking than the last. Emily and I took a helicopter tour, which weaved us in, out, up, and around this gorgeous landscape. It was by far one of the coolest things I have ever done in my life and allowed me to see the island from a jaw-dropping vantage point. 

We took a day trip over to Oahu to see Pearl Harbor. It was such a cool (can I use this word when talking about this?) experience. I had always known about the events of December 7, 1941, but being there brought the history to life. It was so surreal and eerie to see the sunken ships still looming beneath the surface. It was heartbreaking to see the names of everyone who died, not only at Pearl Harbor, but during all of World War II. We also took a tour of the USS Missouri, the battleship where the Japanese surrendered. We spent the whole day at Pearl Harbor and still could have used more time. In fact, we lost track of time and almost missed the bus back to the airport. The funniest thing I have ever witnessed is my entire family running through the crowds trying to make it to the bus stop.