Meeting the grandparents means a trip to Hawaii
By KALEY LYON
Stan and Mae Moore's four children have never have flown in an airplane or seen the ocean.
They also never have met their grandparents.
In about a month, Robby, 13, Maxine, 12, and Jarod and Ryan, 4-year-old twins, will have a chance to do all three when the family will fly from Hays to Hawaii for summer vacation.
"It's time to make some memories to last awhile," Mae said. "We need to make the most of it now."
To help compensate for the years of frequent phone calls, letters and mailed Christmas presents, the family plans to spend nearly a month on Oahu island, leaving in mid-June and returning in early July.
They have plans to visit several tourist attractions, such as zoos and sealife parks, and also are eager to hit the beach, which is only a mile away from Grandpa and Grandma's house.
But most of all, the family plans to spend lots of time catching up with loved ones.
"Who are you going to see?" Mae asked the excited Jarod.
"Mom's parents," he promptly responded.
"See that right there?" he asked, pointing to a framed portrait hanging on the wall. "That's my mom's parents."
The family will fly out of Hays on June 12, switching planes in Denver during the long flight.
"And I get the window seat," Maxine exclaimed.
The Moores also will celebrate Independence Day with a barbecue and fireworks on Kailua beach.
Mae Moore, a native of Kailua, hasn't been home for 16 years, last flying to Hawaii soon after moving to the mainland.
The couple met in Hawaii when Stan, a Kansas native, was in the Marine Corps, and they were married on the island before flying across the country to make their home in Hays.
Stan hasn't been to Hawaii since the couple was married 19 years ago.
Mae's parents are in their 80s and aren't as able to travel. They did visit Hays when teenage Robby was born, flying home when he was 2 weeks old.
The Moore family has long wanted to visit, but the high expense of air fare has made it difficult.
"We finally got it together and have the chance," Mae said. "I kind of made it a point because it's real important."
In the mean time, the family talks on the phone several times each week, and the parents take a lot of pictures to send to the proud grandparents.
"I take pictures of the kids quite often. We get them printed up and send them to Grandpa and Grandma," Mae said. "They have their little brag books they carry with them to show everybody."
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