Kona, Hawaii

January 2013

Kona, Hawaii has always been a place I have wanted to visit. So you can imagine my excitement when my school/work colleague and I heard about the opportunity to present a study in that very place. We quickly set out to conduct a research study so that we could present at the Division of Autism and Developmental Delay conference. We studied, we searched, we conducted, we did everything we could so that we could make it there. As a graduate student who was also teaching for the second year, you can imagine the difficulties that were faced. But we weren't going to let any of it get in our way of an all paid trip to Hawaii. Somehow, we did it and we were accepted to present! I called my Mom and talked her into applying to present her study at the conference with us, and she too was accepted. My two sisters decided to tag along, because who doesn't love a free hotel room? They just couldn't pass up the opportunity.

My mom and little sister had never been to Hawaii, and Kaitlyn and I had never been to the big island so it was a new experience for all of us. 

We spent our time exploring the island and all of its natural beauty. We hiked up to Akaka Falls, visited a volcano, journeyed to a luau competition, ate way too much delicious food, searched for whales, and enjoyed all of our sunny days with little to no sleep.

Oh and the conference was great too. I'll admit we didn't go to many sessions, but we loved presenting at the conference and we were able to meet so many wonderful people from all around the world. We were so thankful to the University of Utah for allowing us to attend this wonderful conference. It truly was a once in a lifetime opportunity. 

I sure do love you Hawaii. The only reason I left the island was to get home to that honey of mine. If he had been able to tag along, we would have never left.