Smoke Signals
Aloha! After a couple of days recovering from the 11-hour drive, we arose at 2 a.m. On Tuesday morning to head to the airport to begin 15 hours of traveling via American Airlines, from Savannah, Georgia to Charlotte, North Carolina, to Phoenix, Arizona, to Honolulu, Hawaii. Finally reaching the hotel, we had been up for 24 hours. We encountered a few bumps, such as my scooter was not there, the hotel got the reservation wrong and there was one queen size bed and a fold out couch for five of us. There were no other rooms available, so a cot was brought in for Landon while Olivia and I collapsed onto the fold out couch. Food here is expensive for sure. One delicious and large hamburger with fries was $25. Breakfast each morning consisted of snacks we had packed.
Wednesday, the family made it down to the resort area and the beautiful Pacific waters while I rested and waited for my scooter. We went to lunch at an open-air café with an ocean view where the birds waited nearby for anything you dropped. I had chicken tacos. Climbing into a rented minivan we explored much of the countryside. There is so much beauty everywhere. We stopped at many scenic overlooks. Dinner was a $14 hot dog, but it was large and very tasty. There are many homeless people in city parks, under bridges, and further out on beaches. You wonder about their stories. Not every area is pristine. There are also areas of run-down houses. There are small towns with treasures to offer.
Thursday, we found one of these treasures in a place called Surf and Salsa. My choices were somewhat limited due to recent flareups with my food allergies, but the staff ensured they prepared delicious beef tacos that contained no allergens. We visited the Dole Plantation and saw first-hand how Dole pineapples are grown and harvested by hand. We also enjoyed pineapple whip and fresh pineapple! From there, we headed to a local park where after a 30-minute walk (scooter ride for me) the family swam in the pool formed by a waterfall while I watched! Unfortunately, SIL reinjured his knee; he was already scheduled to have surgery at the end of June. This required a trip to Walmart to purchase crutches. He was still able to snorkel on Friday, along with the kids, but the hike up Diamondhead had to be canceled.
Friday morning either the jet lag or my recent illnesses hit along with Vertigo I had had since Tuesday. I spent most of Friday and Saturday in bed while they went to the beach and had family pictures made. I did go to the Herbalife Reception on Friday night, since I had already paid for dinner and a show. I did get a dinner, but in my opinion the hotel had seriously overstated their ability to handle this type of crowd. We had to eat in an overflow room that was difficult to reach for handicapped people and folks with strollers. Matt and I could not get into the show as it was past capacity, and the fireworks show was not visible where we were.
Sunday I was finally able to leave the room and cruise along Waikiki Beach, walk in the sand and put my feet in the cool waters of the Pacific Ocean.
The rest of the story next week!