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Hawaii almost done.......what a great trip!! #108887
10/01/2016 08:40 PM
10/01/2016 08:40 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline OP
Traveler
pat  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
So! Our much awaited and anticipated anniversary cruise through several of the Hawaiian Islands on NCL's Pride of America is now over and behind us, and what an incredible week it was!

We both fell in love with our butler, Georgie, and sadly I had to break it to John that "No! We can't keep her or take her home!" The NCL people ALL treated us as though we were royalty so it was a fun experience in every way.

During the course of our cruise we managed to see dolphins swimming with us on Kona; we saw molten lava spilling from the volcano, Mt. Kilauea, as we departed Hilo. It was a beautiful sight to see as the mass of glowing and molten lava tumbled down the mountainside, probably in and back out from numerous lava tubes and finally into the sea with the backdrop of the night skies and the music of the waves. You could actually smell the burning sulphur-like odor even as far out as our ship was. We tried to video it but that just didn't work out. I would have loved to share the sight of it with everyone since this is the only currently active volcano in North America. We saw Hawaii gold, a school of golden colored fish (Tang or Ono?) swimming in the waters at the state park on Kona and they really did turn the water to gold as they swam by....as well as a few turtles beaching themselves for short shore breaks. And also, a couple of manta rays swam by us while we were on a boat excursion off Kuwai.

And then, there's the historical stuff - learned both legend and lore about Pele, King Kamehameha, Captain Cook and viewed the memorial in his honor at either his original landing site or perhaps it was the spot where he was killed, depending on whose version you most liked. We visited the Painted Church where one of the earliest missionaires first settled and erected his house of worship. Since he spoke no Hawaiian and his potential communicants spoke no English, he painted murals on the interior of his church explaining the Lessons of the Word to the possible parishioners with, of all things, house paints - since he had no artistic paints, and those murals and teachings have lived on from the late 1800's in this beautiful little church to the present. It was very beautiful. We did the volcano tour and John even walked through the lava tube there, which wasn't my idea of anything fun to do so I stayed behind and contemplated all the different shades of green Hawaii has to offer in its vegetation as well as the beautiful flora that abounds naturally on each and every island.

And of course, what would a trip to Hawaii be without a day spent driving the road to Hana? Our tour was the deluxe option and it was the best! Spoke to several who did the tour in other ways - rental car or big bus trip - and didn't enjoy it nearly as much as we did. I don't remember all the details but I want to say it was approx. sixty miles each way, with a thousand ninty degree corners and over a hundred little one lane bridges. When we finally got to Hana we enjoyed a catered picnic lunch just off the black sand beach there. It was ringed with black sand and ultimately lava rock everywhere. It was a great day, too.

We took the Director's Cut movie tour on Kuwai, seeing so many places first on the movie screen of our van and then a stop at some of them along the way. Much of the filming for Jurassic Park, along with many scenes from The Wackiest Ship in the Navy, Donovan's Reef - a real oldie but goody - and even South Pacific did actually take place on Kuwai. I was crushed to learn there really was no Bali Hai.

And here we are, back in Honolulu with just this one last day before we head home tomorrow afternoon. A power nap for Johnny and then we're off for a few last sites or maybe a chair by the pool?

It's been a great trip and everyone should visit this beautiful 50th State if the opportunity ever presents itself. If you're at all interested in real history and/or island lore, there's plenty of it to go around here, for sure. But one last thought - we've now visited beaches in Kona and Hilo, Maui and Kuwaii, not to mention the beaches all around Oahu including those out at the North Shore, and they were each beautiful in their own way, but NONE, IMHO, can take the place of priority over our favorite Caribbean locations if it's just plain 'beaching' you're looking for. The beaches of SXM, AXA and St. Barths would still win in my book. Of course, the differences between a 3.5 hour flight time and an 11.5 hour flight time have to be factored in there, too, and might have something to do with my preferences also.


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
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Re: Hawaii almost done.......what a great trip!! [Re: pat] #108888
10/01/2016 08:59 PM
10/01/2016 08:59 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,479
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,479
Central Florida!
thanks for the note. So glad you enjoyed it! Safe travels home!


Carol Hill
Re: Hawaii almost done.......what a great trip!! [Re: Carol_Hill] #108889
10/02/2016 02:05 AM
10/02/2016 02:05 AM
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 588
Las Vegas, NV, USA
Ellen777 Offline
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Ellen777  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 588
Las Vegas, NV, USA
Pat, what a wonderful, memorable trip.
I could not agree more, while the HI islands are beautiful and scenic, they cannot compare to my AXA and I am sure for you, your SXM - they are more than beautiful, they are "home" to us, a feeling we never achieved when we visited HI.
Thank you for the great pictures and the wonderful travelogue, safe travels my friend. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />
Ellen


Life's a beach
Re: Hawaii almost done.......what a great trip!! [Re: Ellen777] #108890
10/02/2016 10:26 AM
10/02/2016 10:26 AM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,668
L
LBI2SXM Offline
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LBI2SXM  Offline
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L
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,668
Thanks for a great report and beautiful pics! Would love to visit Hawaii but I could not stand the flights. Too far for us. By the way, my Bali Hai is Saba looking at it from our hotel balcony. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Re: Hawaii almost done.......what a great trip!! [Re: Ellen777] #108891
10/02/2016 05:00 PM
10/02/2016 05:00 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline OP
Traveler
pat  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
Ellen,

Every aspect of this trip has been wonderful but I'm thinking it's probably our second and last Hawaii trip but you never know. Thanks for your kind words and good thoughts and someday maybe we'll meet up on SXM or AXA. That would be so nice........ <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Hawaii almost done.......what a great trip!! [Re: LBI2SXM] #108892
10/02/2016 05:05 PM
10/02/2016 05:05 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline OP
Traveler
pat  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
LB12SXM,

You are very welcome. I'm glad they were well received.

As far as the flights go, they are miserable even in first class. Well, the JFK-LAX leg wasn't bad but the flight into HNL was a bear. I started dreading the return even before we left the terminal on our arrival and soon we're heading out for the return leg. Ugh!! Which is why, as wonderful as this trip has been, I doubt we'll return again. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Hawaii almost done.......what a great trip!! [Re: pat] #253589
04/21/2021 05:42 PM
04/21/2021 05:42 PM
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 216
Dana Point
C
captdennyj Offline
Traveler
captdennyj  Offline
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C
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 216
Dana Point
Pat,

Aloha nui loa,

Thank you. Would like to talk story with you all bit, and share some Kauai memories, that you kindled in your wonderful trip report.

We actually visited Kauai 13 different two week vacations and then lived on island for 10 years full time. We melded in, and were quite active, hiking, snorkeling, exploring, kayaking, and eventually were Sierra Club HIke Leaders, and also joined in
and volunteered for beach and river clean ups. Lots of wonderful friends gleaned, and good news, we are headed back to Kauai for a 30 day visit in September 2021. We miss the Garden Island and the people so very much..

Talking story:

Many years ago, concerning one of the movies you mentioned that I saw on the mainland, long before Kauai became our home. That movie was Donovans Reef, with John Wayne. Much of the film was in a Bar ,, that was called Donovans Reef. in the movie. John Wayne's character was John Donovan. Love that extremely feel good movie...to this very day.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a true story.

Back in yonder years in Orange County, Calif, We went to see Donovans Reef. In the middle of the film, I stood up in the theatre pointed at the big screen and actually yelled, ONE DAY I AM GOING TO DRINK IN THAT BAR !. Of course at the time I had no idea where it was located. But we were quite active sailors world wide ...so who knows ?.

On Kauai, we lived several years across the road from the Lihue Marriot ( Kalapaki Beach ) near the Cruise Ship Port at Nawiliwili. We had only been on island a short time, and met a local wahine who asked us if we had been to the TAVERN.

Nope, But she said we should give it a try.

OK, the following day, we walk across the road toward Kalapaki Beach, We find this old Tavern, Which was now the NAWILIWILI TAVERN, with a worn framed printed notice on the outside wall that this was the Bar in Donovans Reef.
In we went, and discovered it was true. the Tavern became a bit of hang for us . As did several of the bars/restaurants next door at Anchor Cove, the Harbor Mall across the road, Dukes, and the small outside TIKI bar at the Lihue Marriot ( Kalalpaki beach).

End of this one story :

From standing up in that movie theatre saying SOME DAY I AM GOING TO DRINK IN THAT BAR......WE WOUND UP LIVING ACROSS THE ROAD FROM IT IN BANYAN HARBOR.

Just FYI, Anyone thinking of vacationing or even moving to to Kauai, and have any questions, we would very much enjoy sharing our knowledge to help if we can..
We are now back on the mainland, living in Dana Point, Ca. Small beach community between L.A. and San Diego.

Me ke aloha pumehana

Denny and Erica

Re: Hawaii almost done.......what a great trip!! [Re: pat] #258608
06/18/2021 04:41 AM
06/18/2021 04:41 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,666
MIA
I
irina Offline
Traveler
irina  Offline
Traveler
I
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,666
MIA
Pat,
We too went to the "Bali Hai" beach. Love love love Kuwaii.
Did you see the canyon? Crazy drive!
mwah!
i


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