Maui's very own Gator Club at the BCS National Championship Game!!
The Sun is Orange, the Sky is Blue... God must be a Gator!! And he sent Hjalma & Laura (pictured above w/ Dusty) our way with the best seats in the house for the Big Game!!
Wow! What a game!!
We had arrangements to be home for the holidays when we heard news the Gators would be playing for the National Championship in Glendale, Arizonia on January 8th! We thought since we had to fly over the Phoenix area to get back to Maui... why not make a little pit stop and try to catch the game. We are so glad we did!!!
Our game plan was simple... just get to Arizonia. A friend of a friend was supposed to have tickets to the game for us once we got there, but nothing was definite. Leaving Daytona with no actual game tickets in hand, we were really praying for a miracle, and boarded our plane out west.
On our 2nd layover, our miracle happened: Hjalma Johnson walked into our lives at a food court in the Denver Airport. Hjalma approached us and we all began chatting. We soon found out he is the President of the Gator Boosters and he showed us his National Championship Ring for Basketball. As Gator lovers, we were with out a doubt impressed and continued talking to Hjalma.
One thing lead to another and we found out he was the owner of the former Ormond-by-the-Sea Bank. Of course this lead to knowing many of the same people... after all Becca's parents did bank there when she was growing up! Hjalma asked about us and we told him how we are currently living in Maui, we even had some newly recruited Gators from Maui meeting up with us in Arizonia.
Before leaving to catch his plane, he asked if we had tickets. We told him none in hand, waiting to hear from a friend of a friend. Hjalma said he would hate to see us miss the big game. He had two tickets, he told us if ours fell through to call him and he would sell his tickets face value!! With that, Hjalma gave Dusty his business card and was on his way.
It took us no time at all to realize we didn't want to chance these tickets... Dusty ran to catch Hjalma at his gate, while Becca made a mad dash to the ATM to get some money. Hjalma asked Dusty to touch base with him later on in the evening. If we were able to get our original tickets, then he would sell his tickets to someone else for quite a bit more. We thought this was understandable...
As time went on, we never heard from the friend of a friend... to make a long story short: we bought Hjalma's two tickets, sat with him and his family on the 10 yeard line, 11 rows up... and had the time of our lives!!!!!!
Two loyal members of our Maui Gator Club, Chad & Robin, also met up with us for the Big Festivities in Arizonia. Chad even decked out as *Super Gator* and his picture made the local newspaper. In addition to our Maui friends, we met up with Cheryl & Patrick who were in town for the Big Game, and some Daytona Gators for a little tailgate action!! We all had a great time rallying up the Gators and stomping on Buckeyes before the game. We felt it was our duty to ensure that Ohio State knew these Gators did not "Fear the Nut."
We want to send a Special Thank You to Denise for her generous hospitality and letting us stay at your house! We are so glad you were able to join in our Gator Fun!And another Thank You to Uncle Gus for a great lunch before leaving Arizonia! 
Sato catching some waves at Lahaina Harbor
Dusty & Becca celebrate the Gators National Championship Victory over Ohio State!!! 41-14, GO GATORS!!
Maui's very own Gator Club at the BCS National Championship Game!!
The Sun is Orange, the Sky is Blue... God must be a Gator!! And he sent Hjalma & Laura (pictured above w/ Dusty) our way with the best seats in the house for the Big Game!!
Our last evening in town, we got together with our family at Salt Water Cowboys in St. Augustine.
The guys waiting in line for their wave
The Surf Crew... minus a few late comers
