Hawaii Trip (Posted 8/23/2013)

On August 7th we returned from our trip to Hawaii with Amy, Mark, Olivia and Laura. We were gone 10 days, spending a week in a condo we rented on Kauai and then three days in Waikiki on Oahu. As many of you know I spent a year at the University of Hawaii way back when so I always loved Hawaii but had never been to the island of Kauai. Amy and Mark were there on their honeymoon 15 years ago but Linda and the girls had never been there so it was all new for them.

After a VERY loooong plane ride to get there we arrived in Honolulu about the same time that Amy and her family got there after flying from New York.  We all took the same plane to Kauai arriving tired but happy to be in Hawaii.

Although a tropical storm was predicted to move through while we were there, it died off as it approached Hawaii so it didn't really affect us that much or stop our touring of the island. We saw all the sights on Kauai over the week that we were there including Waimea Canyon, Hanelei Bay, the tropical botanical gardens, a luau and Polynesian dance show, and, of course, time at the beach and the pool.

I know everyone is more interested in photos than me rambling on so I will make this blog entry mostly photos! (GRIN)

OK, have to start with a photo of Laura and Olivia wearing their leis as we arrive at the condo:

 

The pool and condo buildings:



 



Mark, Olivia, Amy, Laura and Linda at Spouting Horn blowhole:

 

 

The botanical gardens:

 

 

Linda at the botanical gardens in front of a fig tree:

 

Mark, Amy and the girls in front of the fig tree where the dinosaur eggs were found in the movie Jurasic Park:

 

All of us at Waimea Canyon, known as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific":

 

Waimea Canyon:

 

Linda and I at Waimea Falls:

Kilauea Lighthouse:

Hanelei Bay:

 

All of "Papa's girls"!!:

 

 On a hike through the jungle to see another couple of waterfalls:

 

Linda trying out the only waterfront home we could afford in Hawaii!! GRIN

 

Linda and I on the grounds of the Smith Family Luau:

 

 Linda, Diamond Head and, of course a boat picture!:

 

 Kapiolani Park on Waikiki. Now there's a shot for a screensaver on the iPhone!:

 

So that's just a sample of the hundreds of photos we took. Obviously, Hawaii and especially the Waikiki area have GROWN since I lived there 47 years ago! But, still a gorgeous place!

 

After another very long and tiring flight home, Linda and I were back in our own version of paradise. Florida and Hawaii are similar, almost the same climate and plants and flowers, palm trees, etc., but without the cliffs, mountains, waterfalls and big surf.

 

When we returned Enchantress was waiting patiently for us on her anchors in Bimini Basin and we were happy to be back home aboard her.