Aloha!

The Smoots are heading for Hawaii!

Well, we're heading to Hawaii a year from today. But in any case, we can finally say that the trip is less than a year away, and I'll finally be able to fulfill my lifelong ambition of peeing in every state. To date, I have peed in every state except Hawaii.

Anyway, I'm really excited about the trip, not only because of the ample urination opportunities (how cool would it be to pee on a lava flow?), but because I've always wanted to go there to explore the beauty of the land. And of course, purely for research purposes, I'll be interested in seeing whether the local women really do wear coconut bras, and what it means, exactly, to "get a lei."

Even though the trip is still fairly far in the future, I've already been studying. I have a tendency to over-research every vacation we go on, and this one is no different. I have a couple books about the state, and I've learned some things already. For example, did you know that Hawaii is a series of islands in the Pacific Ocean? Who knew?

I am also learning about their fascinating language, and I think it would be nice if I could learn a few key phrases before the trip. For example:

"E noho iho i ke opu weuweu, mai ho`oki`eki`e."

That means: "Remain among the clumps of grass and do not elevate yourself." That'll certainly come in handy.

And of course:

"Ho`ola`i na manu i ke aheahe?"

Which means, "Mind if I pee on this volcano?"

It's gonna be a long year.