#10-28 Leaving Hawaii

In the lobby of the Hyatt, I made a new friend.

Waikiki beach. You are lucky if you can find a place to put your chairs or blanket. I just people watched while the guys took a nap. The beach is crowded, and so is the ocean, as you can see by the photos above.

Tall hotels and condos, along with immense Banyan trees. Quite a contrast.

At 4:30 pm on Friday’s the hotel puts on a show. We had lei making demonstrations and dancers.

The ladies are teaching a guy the hula and the man dances the "dance of fire" videos

Back at the park beside Waikiki beach. The clock is accurate and it is almost 7:00 pm. Time to have dinner and watch the sunset.

There is nothing like a Hawaiian sunset. The palms, the ocean and the sun. Serenity. Below is the swimming pool at the Hyatt. I couldn't resist taking a picture of it after sunset with the Tiki torches and the lone swimmer.

We say good by to the Waikiki Hyatt and head back to the condo for our last two days in Hawaii.

Ala Moana Shopping Center. WOW!

We had half a day, after we checked into our condo before we could use the room, so after spending the morning doing laundry (a big laundry room at the condo’s) we took off and went to the Ala Moana Shopping Center. I remembered it being a beautiful and different “mall” than we have on the mainland. It is all outdoors and not only is is full of great shops, eating places and sculptures it can be educational as well. We strolled along the koi ponds, had lunch and coconut/pineapple ice cream and Dixie even bought a new pair of shoes (big surprise!) We rode the city bus ($1.00 each senior, each way) and it was an easy trip and well worth our time.

The next day we took the mini-tour of the island, just so we can see those sights before we board our planes back to the mainland. Charlie back to Las Vegas and the two of us back to little Rogue River, OR to pick up our RV home and Gidget!

Diamond head in the left top corner.

Hanauma Bay, some of the best snorkeling in the islands. It is a sunken volcano crater. It is also on the city bus route.

And, you take this tram down to the beach from the bus stop.

This is Eternity Cove. The movie From Here to Eternity was filmed here. It is a popular spot for swimmers.

Eternity bay video showing the swimmers and the rock climbers!

The city were our bus driver lives. She told us the commute into Waikiki takes her an hour because the traffic is so heavy. Oh, but what a beautiful place to live!

The kings residence. We are back in Waikiki now. And the traffic is heavy.

Bye Charlie. Our last dining out together. “I think it is cocktail hour!”

Charlie left at “0” dark thirty a.m., and we left around noon on the 26th of Aug. We arrived back at Medford airport at 11:56 pm and Mark and Teresa were there to meet us. While we were gone, our sweet son, Mark, worked on the Suzuki and now we can roll down the passenger side window. Thank you so much!!! Lots of love.

This was an amazing trip, and I hope everyone who reads this blog enjoys the pictures and comments.

#10-25 Luau with the cousins 7-15-2010

Thanks to Debbie, we were scheduled to have a Luau all together on the evening of the 15th. Only Sandy and her family were missing. Believe it or not, there were hundreds of people and it was sold out. Good thing I bought our tickets early and picked them up at will-call.

While waiting in line to get in, we had our Mai Tai’s. Aren’t they pretty?

Now isn’t this strange. At the same Luau we run into son Mark’s best friend and step-brother Cliff and his wife Trudy and son Ryan from Wimer, OR. Can you believe this? Below is the proof!

Removing the pig from the pit. Doesn’t that look tasty?

The fire dance. We were on the second level, right in front of a post, so Frank and I moved our plastic chairs and sat in the walkway so we could see. So did a number of little kids who sat right in front of us.

Some of the dancers video for your enjoyment.

#10-24 Polynesian Cultural Center 7-14-10

The first full day that the three of us were together (Charlie, Frank and Dixie) we took an all day tour to the Polynesian Cultural Center. (Charlie stayed with us in the condo.)

Above is our bus driver (there were about 22 of us on this tour), Eddie. Wednesday is the only day of the week that Eddie takes tours and he did an excellent job! We are standing by one of the boats that the Polynesian people sailed from island to island.

The first show we saw. He was quite the showman. He is introducing the coconut tree climber!

Up he goes to the top for the coconuts, and then back down again. Ouch, just watching him made my feet hurt.

The carvings in the buildings were just beautiful. This kind of carving was on all the beams and posts.

Even the canoe was carved and beautiful. They are keeping it all under cover to preserve it. It is definitely a long boat. Cute guy in the left hand corner!

Can you believe this is a weapon? It is surrounded by shark teeth. (Better than brass knuckles for defense)

We both got ink tattoos. They washed off!

Next stop was the Polynesian Island of Tonga. Above is the show that the put on. And below is a Tonganese bedroom, decorated with tapa cloth.

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In the afternoon they have the parade of boats representing all the different island nations. The girls and boys dance on the boat as it floats down the “river.” It was amazing to see all the dancing and to know that they were floating.

Using rocks for castanets, he sings and dances too.

She is making fresh poi. Each of us were able to taste it. Much different than what we are served when we attend a luau. This tasted a lot like sweet potato.

As we drift down the “river” our boat man tells the stories about the islands and the plants. Above is the “walking plant” whose roots grow down to the ground from the stem and actually move towards the water.

Cool statues watching over another island kingdom.

This palm tree grows over the river and is now on the way back. Very unique

Waterfalls and low bridges that we passed on our trip down the river. Some of us even had to duck.

Charlie and Frank waiting until they open the seating for the Luau

We enter through the arch and see all the tables set up for our feast.

Before we eat the Royalty comes in and blesses the meal.

The pig getting raised from the underground cooking pit.

Learning the Hula before we head to the evening dance and fire show.

Sunset looking through the stage setting. A beautiful day.