Last updated on December 14th, 2021
Ah, yes, memories of paradise recently visited.
Sigh.
At least the temperature here is no longer sub-zero. Still, I’d MUCH rather be back in Hawaii.
Hawaii four-island itinerary
Arrival – Sunday, January 06
Gate 60
Our flight from Honolulu to Kauai leaves from Gate 60.
This is the last gate in this part of the airport and, while not open to the air, it has huge windows on three sides that provide a glimpse of spiky green mountains on one side and a low dark rise on the other. Mostly I see palm trees and dark blue sky.
I think I’m going to like it here.
Kauai – (Monday, January 7 – Thursday, January 10)
Sunset Down the Street
We don’t have to go very far for sunset.
Lovely.
And tonight there is no bagpipe serenade to disturb the peace!
Sunrise From Our Beach (Thursday)
I ALMOST didn’t’ get up for sunrise this morning. (I was tired and I’m not really a sunrise sort of girl anyway, as most of you know.) However, Lane decided to get up and, not wanting to miss anything, I am joining him.
Things start slow, but eventually we are treated to a magical light show that goes on and on, the light shifting and changing until the sun disappears again into the clouds.
The sun is up, but it’s still pretty dark . . . I hope that doesn’t mean that rain is moving in!
Beach Time?
The day has become hot and sunny and some time playing in the water sounds wonderful, so we stop at an inviting-looking beach.
We really should change and jump in, but the day is late and we watch the waves roll in instead of jumping in ourselves.
Big Island of Hawaii (Friday, January 11 – Sunday, January 13)
Sunset from our Window
Our B & B is located at the very southernmost end of the island and it takes longer to get there than I am anticipating. (Distances here on the Big Island are deceptively long compared to those of compact little Kauai.) It is an interesting drive, but it is a relief to pull into the sweeping yard that leads up to Kalaekilohana.
Even in near darkness, it is easy to realize that we have landed at a very special place.
As we watch the sun sink beneath the trees, I already wish we were staying here a lot longer.
A Lazy Saturday Morning
It begins to rain soon after we awaken.
I love the sound it makes on the tin roof. . . this might be a good day just to relax.
A little more rain falls during breakfast and then it seems to be over . . . ok, so much for relaxing – let’s go shopping at the farmer’s market in Naalehu!
The market is small, but there are plenty of fruits and vegetables, flowers, and homemade goodies – including exotic-looking rambutan and strange flowers.
The market also features local coffee (both the local Kau beans and the well-known Kona), so I can check coffee shopping off my list!
I even stop in Will and Grace’s little shop. I’m searching for their award-winning coffee, but, when I ask about an odd-looking vegetable on the counter, an elderly woman responds by feeding me freshly cooked purple sweet potatoes! Beautiful and tasty.
Back at Kalaekilohana it is a lovely morning for sitting on the porch and catching up on my writing. It is a very, very good place to be!
Maui – Monday, January 14 – Thursday, January 17)
View From Our Yard – Evening in Hana
A Minor Meltdown
I’m tired after a long morning on the water and now I’m ready to relax, have a drink, write, and look at the ocean.
Except, there is no place here where I can do that.
I mean NO place at all. The beach here is beautiful and great for swimming, but there isn’t any place where you can sit with a drink and watch the water. (No beach bar.) And the view from our room, well, when we checked in, the bellhop actually apologized for the view and showed me the one spot where I could stand on the lanai and see the ocean. Mostly we see the edge of the landscaping between the formal yard and the parking lot. I was disappointed, but figured that’s what I get for trying to save money by booking a garden view room instead of an ocean view.
But now, looking at my paperwork, I realize that this is supposed to be a partial ocean view room and that I am paying what seems like a small fortune for it.
There doesn’t seem to be much I can do about it now except burst into tears. Of course, that does nothing to solve the problem at hand.
Maybe we should pour ourselves a couple of rum and cokes and head for the beach. Would anyone stop us?
Instead we head off on a scouting mission, searching for a spot where we can settle in for the afternoon. First though, I insist on stopping by the front desk to complain about the description of the room’s view.
I’m not really expecting the hotel to do anything, but I do think their website is misleading and it seems only fair to tell them that before I post my complaints on TripAdvisor for the whole world to read.
I ask the desk staff to pass my complaint along to the manager, but she insists I speak to the manager.
The manager on duty turns out to be pleasant enough, although insistent that I got exactly what I paid for. When he realizes I booked on my own (not through a travel agent) and used the hotel website, he shows me the web page I should have referenced. It is exactly what I was looking for, but couldn’t find. I assure him I’ll make a note of it when I write my report for TripAdvisor.
At the mention of TripAdvisor he reminds me of the advantages his hotel has over others in the area (of which there are a number) and then asks if I would be happy if he upgraded me for the night.
I’m not really looking for an upgrade and I know Lane doesn’t want to hassle with moving, so I tell him no, that’s fine, we only have one more night. I just want him to understand why I am unhappy.
He insists he can give me a wonderful room if one is available and, yes, there is an ocean front room still available. Wouldn’t that make me happy? It is mine if I can make the move in the next hour or so.
I feel a little guilty – I really hadn’t been angling for an upgrade (I hadn’t thought of it, actually), but this is too good to pass up. I just hope Lane won’t be too upset with me!
A room with a view
We are now ensconced on the deck off our new room, drinking in gorgeous views of the ocean and mountains along with our rum and coke. Heaven!
It’s hard to imagine a better place to be as the afternoon passes and evening approaches.
Oahu – (Friday, January 18 – Monday, January 21)
Waikiki – 5 p.m. (Sunday)
After a relaxed morning that included dim sum and the Honolulu Academy of the Arts, Dawn drops us off at our hotel along Waikiki Beach.
We check in and head up to our room, which turns out to have great views of Waikiki. Yay!
It is another stunningly beautiful day and, on the street below our lanai, the local college football team is celebrating a successful season with a parade. There are marching bands (including one playing from a trolley – how come Mr. Rader never let us do that?!) and lots of football players and cheerleaders. There are even a few floats, including ones for the port authority and the new Superferry, which I find amusing.
We relax on our lani, watching the scene unfold below.
This is a good place to be.
Evening along the beach in Honolulu
We sit and watch as afternoon turns to evening and the sun sinks out of sight below the horizon.
Out along the beach and on the streets, the city has a different feel at night – still warm and tropical, but energetic in a way it was not during the day.
A Honolulu Holiday
The rainbows fade and the marchers move along, but Waikiki Beach continues to shimmer enticingly.
Time to get in the water!
Soon we too are splashing and playing out there. It is wonderful.
We also watch the newbie surfers practice. Maybe I should have asked James for a surfing lesson after all . . .
When we tire of playing in the water, we still have most of the afternoon left. What to do next?
The Pearl Harbor museums are near the Bishop Museum, so we decide to start at the Bishop and then finish the afternoon at Pearl Harbor. . . until the hotel staff explains that we will never get into Pearl Harbor at this point in the day.
Ok. So, despite the outrageous cab fare, we are off to the Bishop to see their amazing collection of Hawaiian artifacts. . . . Except, when we arrive, we find that the Hawaiian Hall is closed for remodeling. Dang.
I am getting crabby, but Lane reminds me that we paid a lot to get here, so we might as well see whatever is still on display. So in we go.
The first exhibit we come across features contemporary crafts created at a cultural exchange that Kilohana had participated in told us about. The art is wonderful (and includes pieces by a number of artists with whom we are already familiar) AND they have a video of the event that shows the artists at work. Cool!
My mood restored, we continue on to the amazing collection of Pacific Island artifacts, the sort-of-creepy feather fan display (how many birds died for these?), a fascinating display of Hawaii artifacts related to the Princess for whom the museum is named, and the totally cool three-D video-scope images.
It’s a great way to spend an afternoon.
Now, having had a dose of culture, we return to Waikiki for a little shopping. Well, mostly looking longingly at the luscious garments for sale at Tori Richard.
Good-Bye, Hawaii
Our final evening here has arrived.
In search of a relaxing spot from which to watch the sun set, we end up with drinks and pupu at a open-air Tiki bar with a view of the beach.
I wish we weren’t going home now.
