Beautiful Hawaii

 

February 11 - 24, 2013

Thanks to the generosity of two couples that have been our friends for 21 years – we had a fabulous vacation in Hawaii.  John and Gail invited us to share their rental cottage in Kauai for a week and Jan and Steve let us stay with them in their new home on ‘The Big Island’ for four days.  They both were great tour guides and hosts.  I don’t know when we have laughed so much.  We laughed hysterically – tears ran down our faces and we had to pull off the road to compose ourselves.    

I had always wanted to see Hawaii, but felt a little funny about leaving Florida to go to Hawaii.  I thought it would be redundant.  Well, if you have never been to Hawaii ---- go!  It is so beautiful:  the ocean, the beaches, the lava fields, the flowers, the trees, the volcanic mountains, the waterfalls and the FOOD!  We were on sensory overload.  Two weeks of nonstop fun and two very long plane rides almost killed us.   

John and Gail met us with leis and a
smiley sign....making sure we would
connect!

The ocean -- just beyond our front porch on Kauai

A perfect cottage.  When we move back on land, I'd
love to have a house this size, floor plan and style.
Perfect! 

The spectacular view from Kilauea Light House.

A taro field.  Taro is ground to make poi, a traditional
food of Hawaii.  The natives no longer eat it -- just
the tourists.

  Talented  machete work so I can sample
fresh coconut. 

Exploring a dry cave.

King Kong Mountain.
Do you see the profile?

Wild chickens strut the entire island.  They never stop
calling cockadoodledoo.

The funky Mermaid restaurant near our cottage.

From a lookout over Waimea Canyon.

This was my leap of faith----
I'm afraid of helicopters, but agreed to see
Kauai from the air.  Most of the island is too 
rugged to see any other way.  It was worth it --
spectacular (and, occasionally breath taking).

Views from our flight

The 2200 acre Kauai Coffee Plantation was started
in the 1800's as a sugar company. 

Wild pigs were brought to the island by Tahitians
between 200 and 300 AD.  Now they are pests that
dig up the roads and golf courses.

JoJo's famous shave ice....not shaved.
A snow cone with ice cream in the bottom.
A must try, but maybe -- only once. 

We were so surprised to find a Costco that we had to
 check it out.  Main difference -- a whole aisle devoted to
 different varieties of macadamia nuts.

Steve and Jan's house on Hawaii.
No walls to the front and back and each bedroom
has a private outdoor shower!  Unbelievably beautiful. 

Jan and Steve take us for a morning hike through
the lava fields.
 



Snow on the summit of Mauna Loa, the largest
volcano on earth.  Look carefully -- it is in the clouds.
56,000 feet tall.  13,677 feet above sea level.
The weight of this behemoth has compressed the sea
floor another 26,247 feet.   

The 420 foot Akaka Falls.

We walked through this fabulous rain forest
in the Akaka State Park.  We expected
dinosaurs to peek out of the foliage.

We hoped to see lava flowing like this when we went
to Kilauea.

Instead we saw this at night, and.......

this during the day.  Still pretty cool to see.

This former YMCA camp is now a wonderful lodge
for visitors to the Volcanoes National Park.

An arbor of orchids on Oahu, our last destination.

Waikiki Beach offers expensive shopping on steroids. 
Yowza!

A statue honoring Duke Kahanamoku,
the father of surfing.

The Bishop Museum was built in 1889 and has the
largest collection of Polynesian artifacts.  It was built 
to honor Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.  

Jewelry of whale teeth secured on braided human hair.

Ku, The War God.

While I took lessons to improve my hula, Brian took
a class on celestial navigation without  instruments.
What a surprise!

Inside Diamond Head's dormant crater.

Walking the warm waters of Waikiki Beach.

We were told that we must try malasadas from Leonard's
while in Honolulu.  We thought they would be the size of
doughnut holes.  They are doughnuts filled with an
assortment of creams.  We ordered a variety of 15.  They
are not doughnut holes.  They are full size doughnuts!  We
ate until we were sick.  They were soooo good!

A definite must see -- the Arizona Memorial.  The
memorial and museums will bring tears to your eyes.

If you read all of this, then you are as tired as we were when we got home.  So many good times.  I couldn't control myself.  I had to share all of it!

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!

A Quick Florida Road Trip

February 7 - 9, 2013

We set off for Legoland on Thursday afternoon.  Christopher's 7th birthday was being celebrated and we were going to spend a day at the park with him and the family.  Since we are leaving for Hawaii Monday morning, we planned to get back to the boat early on Saturday.

Fresh and ready

  

Fabulous Lego creations

And, fun rides.......

A nap with Grandpa before dinner.

Saturday we changed course.  Instead of going to the boat we headed for the west coast.

First stop -- Largo to visit Brian's 98 year old stepmother. 

Lunch at St Armand's Circle with Jon and Bonnie.

Third stop -- the emergency room at the Sarasota Hospital.  Brian was feeling bad.  His cold had settled in his chest.  Three hours later we had three prescriptions and a diagnosis of bronchitis.  Remember how we were going to get back to the boat early?  Boats or cars -- our plans always seem to have a mind of their own.  11:30 we walked on board and collapsed into bed!    
      
Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!