Staycations

The hottest vacation destination is turning out to be our own backyards.

Gas prices seem to be skyrocketing higher than fireworks this summer, and everyone is pinching pennies harder than they’ve been pinched for years. Round-trip airfares between Hawaii and the West Coast of the U.S. are reaching four figures, and even the cross-country road trip suddenly sounds like an extravagance.

Fortunately, in Hawaii, a beautiful summer is guaranteed. With a little creativity, you can have a fantastic get away without going away. And while hotels are again beginning to promote kama’aina deals to fill their rooms, vacation rentals remain a most affordable and often more comfortable option.

One Honolulu family of five recently opted to stay in the islands for a recent family vacation, traveling only as far as a vacation rental home right on the beach. Here’s a review of the “staycation” -- as written by 11-year-old Asha:

 

My name is Asha and I’m 11 years old. My family members are: my Mom, my Dad, and my two brothers. Max is seven years old. Zane is three years old.

This summer on my family vacation we went to a beach house. We arrived at the beach house around 1:30. When I walked inside, it felt just like home: the breeze through the kitchen door, my screaming brothers, my mom’s thump on the couch while reading a magazine and my dad’s voice asking for help to unload the car. A lady inside greeted us with a warm welcome.

After we settled down, my brother Max and I explored around the house, while my brother Zane stayed with my parents.

Max and I noticed a room with a sign on the door saying, “Have Fun in the Sun,” so we walked inside. In the room there was a bunk bed, a tiny table with chairs, toys and a T.V. After I saw that room I knew it was Max’s and Zane’s room because they always get the bunk bed. Next I was anxious to see my room to see if it had cool stuff like they had. When I went inside my room I saw a huge walk-in closet, a queen-sized bed, a fan, and a door to the outside. It was about the same size as Max’s and Zane’s room.

Finally I went into my parent’s room. It looked just like my room except it was totally red and bigger.

Then I went into the kitchen, living room, and bathroom to see what all of those rooms looked like. The living room had millions of flower curtains, some sofas, and a T.V. The kitchen had your basic kitchen supplies like a toaster, a microwave, a sink, cups and dishes and other kitchen supplies. Then I went into the bathroom. It was decorated with Bamboo and seashells.

Next I went outside for some fresh air and, to my surprise, I saw an outdoor shower, a gigantic playground, a table with furniture, a shed with toys to play with at the beach, and a hammock! When I saw the outdoor shower I was astonished, because I live in a townhouse in Honolulu. The shower walls were rocks from the beach. The gigantic playground had monkey bars, swings, a tire swing, a slide, rock climbing, and ladders. What I loved the best was that outside was a hammock. I know it hurts when you fall of something, but it felt awesome when I fell off the hammock!

At the beach there were so many things to do. There was stuff like fishing, snorkeling, making sand castles and racing on surfboards. When I first got there, I was surfing with my brother Max. We were trying to see who could get to my mom and dad first. Then I started making sand castles with my other brother Zane. Just like any sandcastle, it falls when the waves come in. I also went snorkeling and saw a whole school of sparkly silver fish (about 100) close to the reef. After I went snorkeling I felt the warm sand between my toes, the gentle breeze, and the relaxing waves.

The next day we went snorkeling again and saw flat white fish and hummus. We also went on the reef to go fishing. My dad caught one rockfish and my brother Max caught four. My mom caught one striped fish and Zane and I caught lots of small fish in the tides. I also jabbed my toe on the reef and it started bleeding. My brother Zane went crazy!

I saw one of my best friends at the beach, too. Her name is Mazi. We knew each other since we were in diapers. She has two brothers like me; and their names are Eddy and Bailey. Eddy is six years old and Baliey is two. I saw her dad play basketball one night. He is really good. I was so happy to see my friends again because we live so far away.

I know everyone had a great time at the beach house and that we enjoyed spending time together on the beach. I am so happy that my mom and dad could treat us to such an enjoyable vacation.

 

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