O'ahu - Day 7

After spending 5 days on Hawai'i, we wanted to explorer this island to compare and contrast. Late last night, Josh and Caroline showed up from the mainland, so they joined us for the day before heading off to the Lopers.

First we hit the USS Arizona Memorial. Very moving. We spent a couple hours here in the museum and out on the memorial.



More pics here.

Since we had a few hours to kill before the Turpens flew out, we drove up to the North Shore and saw the famous surf area. Then we came down the east coast and cut back over to Honolulu.



After we dropped off Turpens at the airport, we drove over to the west side of the island and were greeted by the poverty side. There were people living in make shift tents right on the beach. I can think of worse places on the planet to be homeless, but it was still sad. Then we dropped off the rental car and hopped on the flight back to Vegas at 10:30pm.

Waikiki - Day 6

Today our stay on Hawai'i came to an end. Here is a picture of the house that the Lopers were nice enough to let us share with them. It was a petty darn good view of the harbor which saw a fair number of cruise ships.



On last stop to get some Coffee and we were off.


The Kona airport is far from the monstrosity that are the mainland airports. Almost the entire airport is outdoors.


Once we landed back in Honolulu, we stopped in a a Rose-Hulman Alumni Reception being hosted for the alumni in the area. Met some really nice people including a gentleman named Al Yee, who was the consulting engineer on the USS Arizona Memorial.


After the reception we headed to our hotel in Waikiki. I have to take a moment to explain how different Waikiki was then our experience on the Big Island. We were expecting a couple large resorts on the beach and some interesting shopping. What we got was high rises in every direction, for blocks and blocks from the sea. High end, world class shopping, Erin called it Michigan Avenue (referring to the shopping meca in Chicago). As well as all the people that go with it. A huge Japanese influence (our snack bar in our hotel was all Japaneses menu with English subtitles on some stuff.) It was entirely overwhelming from the relaxed, rural atmosphere in Kona. 24hrs and we were fried.


Check out some more pics here.

Kealakekua Bay - Day 5

Sea kayaking and snorkeling were the activities today. We rented a kayak at the Kona Boys surf shop and headed down to Kealakekua Bay a.k.a. Captain Cook Monument and set out accross the bay. On the other side, we beached the kayak and put on the snorkel gear. It was like swimming in a fish tank, except much cleaner. Tons of cool fish. We took some pics on a disposable film camera and are awaiting development so those will come later. On the kayak trip back, we got to see a large group of Spinner Dolphins playing in the bay. They are aptly named because they were jumping completely out of the water and doing several spins (not flips) before landing on their sides making a loud "smack". I managed to get a couple pics on the digital camera before they moved off to play around the tour boats.




We ended the day having drinks and appetizers at the Outrigger Resort and dinner at the Kona Inn. At both places we sat right out on the patio next to the surf for the sunset, what a great end to the stay here on the Big Island.


Tomorrow morning we are headed into town (Kailua not Kona, Kona is actually the name of the region) and loading up on souvenirs and Hawaiian Shirts before our flight to Honolulu. We are going to hit the Rose-Hulman Alumni Reception and then meet up with Team Turpen. We are crossing paths for a day as they head in from the mainland to stay with the Lopers for a few days. Saturday we are all going to try and make it to Pearl Harbor.

Waipi'o Valley - Day 4

Today we went north east. Probably the farthest east we'll make it on the big island. We drove through the towns of quaint little towns of Waimea and Honoka'a to a lush green valley called Waipi'o Valley. There was a cold fresh river flowing down it and some rough surf and a black sand beach on the coast. The drive down into the valley was quite fun. It was 45 degrees and 4wd only. Most people walked, but we paid for the Jeep for a reason.






After we spent some time in the valley, we headed back to the west coast and hit another epic beach called Mauna Kea. Almost as cool as Hapuna, but a lot less people. Then we hit Bubba Gump for dinner on a recommendation from some friends, Jasen and Abby, who actually worked there for a few months right after college.

Kohala - Day 3

Today started with another visit to the Holualoa Cafe. Man that coffee is good.

We then headed north and hit the Mega Resorts area of the island. This is the place all the timeshares and all-in-one resorts are. We decided to hit the Hilton Waikoloa Village. First impression was Wow, this thing is huge! It is so big it has it's own train system and boat system. We enjoyed watching the Dolphin Encounter. Then we realized we were in the midst of a giant beach resort that actually doesn't have a beach! LAME! It had some kind of lagoon thing and a bunch of pools. The only problem is that they were filled with shorties, and I am sure, shorty sewage.




We had lunch in the car and headed north a little more. We hit Hapuna Beach and that is what we were looking for. Now this is a beach. For future reference the Hapuna Beach Resort is actually on a beach.



Dinner? Kona Brewing Co. I had a porter and a stout. Erin had two wheats. And we shared a pepperoni pizza.

South Island - Day 2

Today we took the rental Jeep south to visit the southern most piece of United States soil (not in the Florida Keys, check out a globe).

The first stop this morning was at the local coffee shop. A few of those in the area since we have coffee plantations on all sides.


After the excellent coffee, we stopped at the South Kona Fruit stand. Tasty fruit I have never heard of. Most of it was described in terms of combinations of "common" fruit. For example, the first one I had was described as a creamy pear. Of course I don't remember the real name.


A little further south, we left the highway and traveled about 7 miles down a 4wd road. The Jeep was very useful, we got it stuck a little in the sand exiting the beach up a 45 degree slope (4wd low solved that). The volcanic black sand beach at the end was totally worth it.


The drive back to the highway went much faster since we were now skilled off road drivers :) and we stopped for lunch at the Hana Hou Bakery and also visited the Punalu'u Bakery for some traditional Hawaiian Sweetbread Rolls.



The big destination for the day was south point, the southern most point in the United States. The wind was crazy, along with the surf. Here are some pics of Joe and Erin getting a bit of a surprise from the pounding surf.



Nothing but wind, wind and more wind. Always coming from the same direction so the trees grow sideways.

Mahai'ula Beach - Day 1

Erin is enjoying the beach and surf at Mahai'ula Bay

The Loper Boys Enjoying Hawaii

Aloha!

We landed in Kona

Bye Bye Vegas, Honolulu Here We Come

We are on the plane and ready to go. The only thing standing between us and tropical, pacific beaches is six hours in an aluminum can with 300 strangers. Erin and I have both survived the flight to Europe, but this flight just seems different. Maybe because it is six hours and we still don't need passports.

Le Reve

Wow. First of all, this is not a Cirque du Soleil show. Second, it is better. Personally, I have only seen O and Zumanity, but I like this more. The audience surrounds the stage, we were 6 rows off the water. Very 3D show. You are totally immersed in what is going on above, behind and, of course, in front of you. Afterwards I felt almost like a victim, they have such control of your feelings and senses during the show that you have no choice to but watch, feel and sense exactly what they want you to. Impressive. Very positive experience and highly recommended.

Chillin at the TI Pool

Relaxing at the Treasure Island pool

Hendricks Martini @ Wynn

Tasty cucumber gin in at a nice relaxing lounge next to the waterfall at Wynn. Just beyond the artificial hill is 6 lanes of stop and go traffic on LV Blvd, but you wouldn't know sitting here.

And we're off

On the plane to Vegas, then on the red eye to Honolulu. We're going to catch a show during our layover at Wynn called Le Reve.

The hardest part of a vacation

Normally, one would think the hardest part of a vacation is coming back to work afterwards. For me, the hardest part is the week before. Racing to get all the loose ends tied up, making sure all the plans are in place and the idea that in 5 days, Mai Tai's and sand will be on the agenda instead of sales calls and project status meetings.

I hate this part, the waiting. The vacation starts on Saturday with flight to Vegas and an 18hour layover (intentional) and then off to Honolulu/Kona. What makes it even harder, our friends have already left for HI and have been blogging for a few days now. We'll eventually meet up on Sunday and spend the week together, but it sucks sitting in the office while everyone else is on the beach, including other friends who are in Bon Aire for the week. They, too, will eventually make it to HI by the end of next week and we'll be meeting up in Honolulu for a visit to Pearl Harbor. A friend from high school is even blogging from the Irish beaches, is everyone on vacation right now?

Father's Day in Central City

We took Erin's dad, Don, up to Central City / Blackhawk for the morning. Nothing says "thanks dad" like the quarter slots.