A Wonderful Vacation! part II

So on Wednesday we had left the Big Island and were headed to Kauai for two days . . .

Thursday, June 11: I was another early morning and long day, but this long day was so much better--still quite a bit of driving but the guy doing the driving was so much more intersting. So we went to the Wiamea Canyon--the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. Although ti was not formed the same way at the Grand Canyon, it was breathtaking all the same and very green. We got some fresh pineapple and roasted coconut while there--sooooo yummy. Back down the little mountain we saw the island of Ni'ihau. This little desert island is the island where only native Hawaiians live. They do not have electicity or running water--they live in the old ways. There are only about 270 people on the island. Marraiges are arranged with Hawaiians off the island and appearently there is a long waiting list. If a man comes to the island and the marriage does not work out, he has to leave. If a woman comes to the island and the marraige dows not work out, she can stay. Another insteresting thing about the island is they have a shell that washed up on their beach that is only found there. It is a tiny little thing and can be found in 9 different colors. We saw some beautiful jewelry made from these little shells. I got a necklace pentant made from about 50 of them in varying colors.

After a little shooping we were on our way--next to a cool blowhole. It was two lava tubes, that when the ocean waves came rushing in, they shot water spouting 50 or more feet in the air. The tide was not high enough to get the big one going, but the smaller one was shooting off pretty good. After this we have lunch and then headed to the Wailua River. Along the way, we stopped at a beaityful waterfall. Once at the river, we got on a boat that would take to the the fern grotto. Everyone that works for this boat service is family in some way and the business started with one man 50 years ago with a little fishing boat. The fern grotto was discovered by boy scouts we were told, but I cannot verify. It is a beautful spot wich a natural lava amphitheater and ferns growing all over with a small waterfall coming down in front of a small cave. at one time you could go in the cave, but now is is unstable and dangerous so it must be views from a platform at a little distance. On the boatride back, family members sage popular Hawaiian songs and we all got up and did the Hukelau Hula dance--I am sure you have heard the song before. Off the boat, back on the bus and back to the ship--another beautiful day.

Friday, June 12: this was Justin's favorite day he says. We went Mug Bugging. We drove around the island in dune buggies on little back dirt roads. There there has been a recent rain, there are lots of puddles to get extra muddy, but things had been a little dry, we got very dirty nonetheless. Our guides were very cool--Hillary and Peter, native Hawaiians. Wee stopped at a little waterfall for pictures and then we headed to a larger waterfall where everyone stripped to their bathing suites and jumped off the waterfall. We had lunch there and then get dressed again to head the 11 miles back to our starting point. The whole adventure was fun and beautiful. At one point we drove through the only tunnle on the Hawaiian islands. It was created by a sugar cane grower so he would have have to go over the mountain. It was not created with dinamite, but rather picks and shovels in about 9 months. Sugar cane trucks used to barrel thought that tunnel at 45 miles an hour. It all privately owned and protected land where this tuunel is so I guess most people have not seen it and it has become something of a myth. Well, we got to drive through it--pretty nifty. The open landscapes all around were breathtaking and I think that is what I will remember most besides jumping off a waterfall. Back at the ship, we had dirt everywhere. Thie ickiest was the chunks up my nose! This was our last day--It was back to O'ahu to disembark in the morning.

Saturday, June 13: We got off the boat as soon as we could and headed to get a rental car. Then we headed straight to Pearl Harbor to the Arizona Memorial. It was an amazing experience. First we saw a short film about the attacks on Pearl Harbor, then we boarded a navel shuttle boat out to the Memeorial. Seeing the ruins, the names on the wall and the tears of the Arizona, was all very emotional and touching. People were throwing flowers and leis into the water. Then the next boat of people arrived and we were on our way. We did not go the other historical sites there, but saw the Bowfin and the USS Missouri. Next we were off to our hotel, the Outriggger on Waikiki. I had reserved and ocean front room, but it was upgraded further to have a jacuzzi tub--it was fantastic. The view was spectacular. We checked in and then headed to lunch at Jimmy Buffet's restuarant--very good. We both felt compelled to have margarita's--I hade one, Justin had THREE!
Back to the room for a little nap, and then we were off to a lu'au at Paradise Cove.

The lu'au was pretty cool. It starts with drinking, games and crafts. They do a demonstration of hukelau (a method of catching fish with nets). More drinking. Then the unveil the raosted pig. More drinking. Some hula dancers in between all these things. And then we sat down for the feast. Pork, chicken, fish, rice, salad, poi (ick). Dessert was coconut jello, coconut cake and chocolate cake. We also got some chocolate macadamia nut ice cream--soo yummy. The show was GREAT! There were dances from many polynesian traditions and a fire dance. It was all wonderful. We got back to to the hotel around 11pm--Waikiki seems to be a town that does not sleep. Well, we slept--very well.

Sunday, June 14: I told Justin he could sleep in, but we were up about 7:45 am. we went down to the beach for a swim. The sand if different, finer, and it feel so good on your feet. We swam and floated for about 45 minutes. Then back up to the room, the shower and then off to breakfast at Duke's in the hotel. We did not want to leave. We could have just stared at the ocean for days. But, alas, we had to leave. It was a fantastic vacation with so many memorable moments! By 3 am Monday, we were back home in Tucson.