Friday, June 27, 2025
In the dark morning hours of Friday, June 27, two Babemans scurried to gather their belongings. Waiting downstairs at 5:30 AM was a sleek black Mercedes SUV that Lynn had arranged to pick up AJ and me. The driver was very kind and got us to the airport, opting for a creative route sans navigation apps while AJ and I exchanged amused glances in the backseat. We arrived at Long Beach Airport and realized we’d forgotten to grab cash for our driver. Luckily, as she unloaded our bags, she spotted a $50 bill on the ground, so she left happy. After a quick stop at the restroom, AJ and I waited for the rest of the crew in the newly remodeled entry area.
About ten minutes after our arrival, at 5:50 AM, Lynn and the Hamiltons arrived in a black Mercedes Sprinter. Our gate was located all the way at the end of the terminal, so we took our chance to glance at the food and drink options available. With time to spare, Lynn and Andi stood in line at Sweet Jill’s to get some special treats.
Boarding began at 7:05 AM, and by 7:18 AM our whole crew boarded the plane with smiles all around.
We took off at 7:50 AM Long Beach time on Hawaiian Airlines Flight HA69. The plane was specially decorated for the new Lilo & Stitch movie; the same special edition plane I’d seen on Instagram, and the kids loved it.
AJ and I sat in a row of three seats with Ava between us (14A–14C). Lynn, Ford, and Elizabeth sat directly in front of us (12A–12C), and Jon and Andi were across the aisle (12D, 12E).
Ford kept pulling the armrest up and hiding from me while I pretended to poke his finger.
Ava bonded with AJ over Lilo & Stitch movies and shows.
She kept tapping AJ’s shoulder to show him things on her iPad while Ford provided Grammy with her own in-flight entertainment. I managed to get a few pictures of the clouds outside our window.
After about five and a half hours, we finally saw land (what a relief!)
and landed at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu at 10:30 AM local time, gaining three extra hours on our first day in Hawaii!
At baggage claim, we were greeted with a premium arrival service offering fresh flower leis,
and Mitch sent our first update photo of the little baby.
We took a shuttle to the rental car area, but ended up waiting at the wrong Hertz office before being redirected to the Gold Office. Once there, we added drivers, picked up a booster seat for Ford, and split into two vehicles; Lynn, AJ, and me in one Dodge Durango and the Hamiltons in another, with consecutive license plate numbers.
Our next stop was Costco, where I stocked up on three 8-packs of tropical High Noons, drinkable yogurts, turmeric shots, and some apples and oranges (which turned out to be awful). Lynn picked up supplies for her and the Hamiltons.
Then we headed to Haleiwa Joe’s for lunch. It took a while to seat our party of eight, so AJ and I went to the bar to order our first official drinks in Hawaii
a piña colada for him and my first-ever mai tai. Both were excellent.
Once seated outside, everyone was in good spirits, though eager to get to the resort. The food was just okay, but I didn’t mind (see above boozie drink). The kids colored pineapples, and Andi even named hers “Jerry,” which cracked everyone up.
After lunch, we finished our journey to Turtle Bay and checked into the Ritz-Carlton. AJ and I were welcomed with kukui nut shell necklaces and settled into our gorgeous room (#542) at 3:42 PM. The view from the room was absolutely stunning.
Lynn arrived in her suite to find the flowers we’d arranged for her as a thank-you gift.
Later, AJ and I freshened up and explored the resort. I went for a swim in the ocean.. the water was warm, clear, and incredibly refreshing. We stopped at the Sunset Bar for drinks and chatted with a friendly bartender named Vincent (though some insisted his name was Paul?? haha).
Originally, we had planned to eat at Beach House by Roy Yamaguchi, but after our late lunch at Haleiwa Joe’s, we canceled the reservation. Instead, we joined the family for a walk around the resort,
and I gave the kids their underwater camera.
AJ was feeling particularly tired, so we went back to our room and admired the nighttime view.
AJ decided to go to bed early, but I wasn’t ready to call it a night. I grabbed a High Noon and wandered the resort, eventually meeting up with the family after they finished dinner. I spent the rest of the evening enjoying the warm air, my drink, and the beautiful surroundings.
The Life of Babeman 
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