Hawaii 2018 - Day 3

Day 3: Fun day today doing exactly what I said we wouldn’t do - shopping! But it was actually a super fun drive & the coast itself was, well, kinda empty otherwise. It’s so hard to find a town or a cafe or a place to eat lunch on the beaches. That’s so foreign to me as an Aussie where every square inch of the coast is coveted by beach houses, pubs or cafes. We had a half decent coffee (served wayyy over temperature here generally weak, burnt milk & hot as hell!) But a yummy pineapple muffin & a fun shop at actually super cheap prices! Then up to Waianae for lunch. A few plain coloured but big houses in west Oahu then basic living with rusty cars followed by poverty with some homelessness as we travelled further north. It may be an aloha choice to live simply but a lack of jobs seems more likely.. So excited for my first pokè bowl lunch tho yum yum. We are currently driving the Leeward coast & arrived in Waianae pretty late for lunch but this place is perfection! This is raw fish with a sesame chilli dressing is called ahi pokè. Served with bubble “tea” Which I thought sounded healthy but it was topped with whipped cream & doesn’t resemble tea at all 😂! Delicious purple taro flavour though & so weird when the “bubbles” of tapioca travel up the straw into your mouth! 

Back home for a Crossfit seshat Crossfit Waialua. A hero wod today Holleyman. 30 rounds of:

5 wall balls

3 Handstand push ups 

1 Power clean. Was a goodie & everyone very friendly! 

Then home for a toastie & a movie before we head Back to Waikiki for a catamaran snorkell tomorrow!

Word/expression of the day: 

Aloha au ia ‘oe

I love you

Hawaii 2018 - Day 4

Up early was today & down to Waikiki for a Catamaran Turtle Snorkel & sailing tour. We meet at Hilton Hawaii Village bus stop which we know from Day 1 at 10:10am & there were a couple of dental assistants there too in town for a convention. Our hosts Kia & trainee Katherine drove by 2 other hotels to pick up passengers then to the port to board our vessel! After a quick 20 min cruise I realised this must be an inland reef rather than a shore dive. Other boats were there so we circled around & waited for them to leave then we kitted up & jumped in. Mum didn’t snorkel she has a very dicky knee & I could tell she was terrified so I hopped in for a look. The flow was fast on a bland & nondescript reef & visibility was poor. After 10 minutes I saw 3 turtles & climbed back aboard to check on mum as I knew that was it. Rather disappointing as I’ve swum 2-3 metres from turtles before in crystal clear shallow waters before so it was “ok”. Lunch & mai tai’s followed plus a very short nap & sailing in the ocean. It was great! It was a budget lunch of rolls with meat & salad plus chips etc but it was $170pp for a 3 hour tour! (Eek no Gillian!) so no complaints on our first “tourist” adventure. We departed the cruise about 2pm & headed to the shops for a few gifts before we depart the island tomorrow for Maui & Lanai. The drive home was busier than usual with heavy traffic however we were warned it was a long weekend due to Memorial Day Monday. Then another cheese & fruit platter followed with our last beer, gin & tonic. It’s a magical spot we stayed in & well worth the drive away from the hustle & bustle of Waikiki! I still haven’t taken mum out for a proper dinner so after we tour Maui a bit tomorrow & mum had her first Lomi Lomi massage, I’d like to take her to a proper luau to learn more about the culture & experience hula. Now for the shitty job of packing all the shopping in while my suitcase is the same size & was full on arrival 😂😂😂

Word/expression of the day: Aloha au ia óe - I love you 

Hawaii 2018 - Day 2

Exploring the north & north east coast today! Plus a few tourist favourites but we both prefer nature to crowds so was awesome to see more of the sea, some falls & a gorgeous tropical botanic garden filled with gorgeous fragrant plumerias & tropical jungle. Interesting to hear many locals using the native language which, though they seem jaded by tourism & not super friendly like aussies (Americans are a little serious & guarded we have found - or maybe they just can’t understand our twang so well?), was reassuring & also beautiful to hear their Polynesian type family connection (ohana) with one another. Waimea falls was a pleasant 3.2km stroll through manicure gardens to a popular waterfall full of swimming & selfie-ing humans in life vests with life guards 😂 Then we took a drive up to Sunset, Popukea, Laniakia beaches plus Turtle & Kawela Bay’s. First stop today though was the Dole Plantation for some pineapple-centric fun. The whip was sooooo delicious!🍦Strangely, I was was craving pineapple before I even arrived in Hawaii ! I NEVER eat pineapple in Australia but I just knew my body needed it &  it is AMAZING! Lunch was so yum at a shrimp stand & gift shops where I got me a nice hat :) . Not many towns or restaurants along this coast so food vans are a huge favourite! 

And super delicious. We had fish & taro tacos yesterday so rice, taro & flatbreads are staple carbs here. Home for another nap now I think & another night in relaxing I think (lunch was huge & it’s so pretty here we love it. Stroll in the beach then a gin & tonic I think. Mum found a Californian Chandon too so another night in with a toastie for Mum & Lomi Lomi salmon & poi for me for dinner tonight. Who says you can’t eat healthy in the US? Might be time to explore Crossfit Waialua tomorrow then head down the Leeward Coast for more nature! 

Word/expression of the day: e komi mai - welcome. 

Hawaii 2018 - Day 1

Day1: Flew in early due to huge tail winds & got stung an extra days car rent for being 45 mins early picking up our Jeep (note: @budget not friendly service sadly - in any way - tried to sting me for extra insurance + 3rd party liability + GPS hire too!). Anyway not a bad flight on the new 787 dreamliner although it felt longer than it should have at just over 9 hours. Was quiet & more comfortable up front on the head & sinuses loved it. Staff were lovely too I must say. In-flight service & entertainment was generally good (although I wasn’t offered water once & the touch screen was dodgy). The Shape of Water was an amazing film & definitely a highlight! Loved it! Economy seats looked just as great & I look forward to trying it out on the way home (mum upgraded me on this leg thank you so much @dihartley!!!). The @jetstar business class MEL-HNL however, was virtually no different from economy except for slightly wider seats, better meals & a pre-flight champers. The seats didn’t recline properly or footrests work. Not a lay-flat bed in sight here folks! Adults & children still coughed constantly without medicating in any way, but the @bose noise cancelling quiet comfort 35 headphones really are worth every cent! After walking for what seemed an eternity to the car rental place 😂 we finally got our Jeep SUV & yep sorry I’m spoiled but yeah, it’s “ok”. Drives well if lacking any top end power, but it’s so boofy & unnecessarily high & clunky inside at best. Fuel economy appears great though so that’s awesome! It would want to be at $3.48 a gallon! It’s also a bit scary to back as it has blind spots galore & I wish it had a screen or backing camera at least.  GPS & screens as standard would be nice but yes Australia, we are very spoilt with our car choices! So after a thorough check & get to know you with the car we headed off to find free parking (which the Budget lady said was “not available in Waikiki - wrong!!!) I had researched it before we left like everything else & we parked (6 hours free) on the foreshore in front of @hiltonhawaiiwaikikivillage easily! A yummy breakfast including fresh beer from @waikikibrewingco went down well with eggs & delicious non-fatty home made hash browns! Great staff too! After a walk around the massive Hilton “village” it was time for the big 70km Drive to the north shore via Diamond Head & the Kalanianaole Highway then back toward Pearl City before heading north for Waialua via Hanalei. Not being able to check into @airbnb places til 3pm is a pain after 24 hours travel & a 5am arrival but it was ready by 2pm & we arrived armed with groceries & dug in (like Alabama ticks) for the night, showering & PJs  early, taking a nap & finishing with a @bombaysappgire gincolada & a cheese platter for dinner! Yum! It’s a fabulous place right on the water & we couldn’t be happier. So glad to spend time with my precious mummy & even watch the feel good @mammamiafilm tonight - a tough one for me as musical movies are a challenge at best! But I let myself go & it was a bit of fun actually. I miss my hubby & dogs already but after ringing dean I’m more at peace with my decision to come here. I know they are confused at my absence & miss me too but are well loved & cared for! Night all time for some shut eye! We just adore our little bungalow by the sea with its crashing waves & stunning, manicured tropical garden. We have horses next door at the polo club & paragliders everywhere. Can’t wait to explore the region more! 

Word/expression of the day: Aloha - hello, goodbye, love, spirit & many more.