After a terrifying morning where all flights out of Kelowna were cancelled, I managed to get my flight to Vancouver after all. I was due to leave around 1:30, and after a three hour delay due to backed-up flights from the morning’s fog, we left for Vancouver and I caught my connecting flight to Honolulu.

Renate, now called Sam, met me at the suitcase carousel and put a fake lei around my neck, greeting me with “aloha!” and a hug. Even though it was 10:00 PM the temperature felt wonderful and warm.

We then spent a happy week of daily beach walking, site seeing and thrift store shopping. Because we were always out over lunch we’d find a nice restaurant. In the evenings we ate at home because Sam and Peter don’t like to go out, and by then I was exhausted from the sun and sea air.

One day we got up before dawn to beat the bus loads of tourists and headed to Hanauma Bay to snorkel. It’s a marine preserve, but I have to say I was a bit disappointed compared to the snorkelling on the Big Island. There weren’t any colourful urchins on the coral, which was bare.

But it was still great to be snorkelling, and I took an underwater disposable camera, thinking I’d be able to take photos. I forgot I can’t see a thing without reading glasses, and so putting the camera to my face did nothing for me. I had to point into a school of fish and hope for the best. I can just imagine how those 27 shots are going to turn out.

We took two day trips to the north end of Oahu which is rural and really lovely. I enjoyed being up there, stopping at fruit stands and speaking with eccentric locals. On our second drive we went all the way over to the historic town of Haleiwa, heading southward on the other side of the island. It’s a really cute spot to visit.

On the opposite end of the scale we also went to Honolulu and strolled along Waikiki Beach. I found it really beautiful too, even though stacked with tourists, whereas at Kailua Beach were we walked daily, there are only a handful of people.

We walked through the enchanting Royal Hawaiian Hotel, which is pink and was built in 1927. We had a drink in an adorable thatched roof themed bar and grill called Dukes. It was all very chi chi.

Then on top of the general happiness at being in Hawaii, and doing it all for a song as I was staying with someone and being chauffered around, I got a call from mom saying Luke and Jan found out Jan received her permanent visa to come to Canada! I was so happy for them, it made my holiday a complete dream.

The only fly in the ointment was Sam’s husband, who was a Canadian and became not only an American citizen, but a Republican. He explained to me Obama was born Barry, but changed his name to Barrack. I replied calmly I didn’t think that was right.

Fox News was on 24/7, praise was heaped on Bill O’Reilly, and you’d be really proud of me but I didn’t get into a single argument.