Here is our trip in a nutshell:
Our first stop was O'ahu. We arrived on Saturday and checked into the gorgeous Hale Koa on Waikiki Beach--couldn't ask for better accommodations!! Once we got in our room, we headed straight for the beach. We did other stuff that day too, but mainly spent time on the beach since we don't have those here in Colorado. Every morning thereafter was spent eating breakfast on the beach, walking the beach, and playing in the water before leaving on our fun adventure for the day.
Sunday, one of the things we did was go to the swap meet at the Aloha Stadium. There you can find literally millions of souvenirs less expensive than anywhere else in Hawaii. Needless to say, we bought quite a few things. Jen even got a purple Hawaiian suitcase!! We also found out that spray-on sunscreen does not work worth a hoot; hence, the "Zorro" stripe on both Dad and Brian's backs at the end of the day.
Monday, we visited beaches all over O'ahu and just kinda messed around and had fun all day exploring the island. Jen is hoping that next time she can convince someone to take surfing lessons with her. That night, we went to a luau and it was fabulous!! Complimentary cocktails, a pig cooked in the ground, fresh pineapple, poi, and hula dancers (Greg and Dad decided they like Tahiti) - what could be finer??
Tuesday morning, after much anticipation, we went swimming with the sharks. They took us out on a little boat about 3 miles from shore, put us in a cage with snorkel gear, tethered us out about 10 feet, and let us have the time of our lives. It was absolutely incredible!! We have never done something so amazing!!(We just hope our underwater camera pictures turn out.) That night, we also had a tee time for 7:30 to play a round of "night golf." Well, apparently the facility closed for the day and neglected to call us to tell us of the cancellation, so that was a bummer. Next time though!!!
Wednesday we went to the Dole Plantation and got our pineapple ice cream. Talk about divine!! Jen also went to the Maui Divers Jewelry stand and picked out an oyster to open up and pull a pearl out of. Way cool!! She was hoping for a black Tahitian pearl, and got her wish!! Next time she's going to try for a pink pearl - we'll see how that goes. After that, we went to Waimea Bay where we swam with sea turtles - AND forgot the underwater camera back at the hotel. It sure was amazing though!! On the way back to the hotel that night, we discovered that, "Mom doesn't like Sugarland," (spoken in a nagging little kid voice, that only Brian can do.)
Thursday we didn't want to leave, but our next adventure landed us on Maui where we checked into our condo. ($1.2 million condo to be exact - who can afford to buy something like that??)
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we started off the morning with breakfast on our patio overlooking the beach before we were off to explore the island (since we had never been there before.) We went to beaches, we snorkeled, boogie boarded, shopped, and just had the best time ever.
Monday we were back home in "crappy Colorado," as Jen likes to call it, where the weather was a cloudy and brisk 55 degrees. Maybe soon enough we will be working in Honolulu......
(Waikiki Beach)
(Lanikai Beach)
(Luau at the Hale Koa)
(Dole Plantation - No, really?!?)
(Breakfast on Waikiki)
(Fun in the gay minivan)
(Outside Benihana's of Tokyo)
(Swinging from the old banyan tree)
