Hawaii trip report

"Everyone behave on the bus. I use a machine gun to punish people." — our tour guide in Honolulu

Hope y'all are having a great summer. I just got back from Hawaii and really enjoyed the trip. One cool thing is that my cousins were also there. Our families went separate ways for the most part because we had different itineraries. However, that didn't matter too much as we still got to see each other.

Day 1

Uncle Harrison gave us a ride to SFO and wished us safe travels. Check-in was a little hectic due to the fact that this is peak season for tourists. We actually got lost and ended up in customs. So now's a good time to mention that Hawaii doesn't allow certain foods to be brought into the state. Mom happened to have a pear — which she kept in her bag — that she forgot to declare. Imagine her surprise when it showed up on the X-ray scanner. Oops.

She expected to get in trouble, but all they did was ask her to toss the fruit into the garbage. Dad decided to eat it so that it didn't go to waste. He must have gotten some strange looks. Only later did we realize we didn't have to go through customs for domestic flights. Go figure.

Honolulu is about five hours from San Francisco. Lunch was pretty good as far as airline food goes. I also saw Spider-Man and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron on the plane. Both are still in theaters. One great thing about flying is getting to see the latest movies for free. I personally liked Spider-Man more, but to each their own.

We arrived around 2 p.m. due to the time difference. Our hotel in Waikīkī seemed quite nice. Dad was hungry and wanted to go to Taco Bell for a quick bite. I got some quesadillas — they're a little salty but otherwise delicious. All of us then went for a stroll along the beach. You wouldn't believe how big the crowd was. One can see why Oʻahu is called the "Gathering Place." Of note is that there are hot girls everywhere. I wanted to talk to them but didn't have the courage to say hello. Oh well.

Our travel package included the Aliʻi Kai catamaran dinner cruise. Drinks were served as the host welcomed us aboard and talked about Hawaiian culture. Guests were treated to a buffet and a live performance. After dinner, the dance floor opened up for everyone. Some people gathered on the deck to watch the sunset and take in the ocean breeze. For me, the cruise was the best part of the trip.

Day 2

Also included in the package was the Polynesian Cultural Center. You can go to several "villages" that represent different countries. We got to see a guy climb a coconut tree with bare hands. He then took a coconut and cracked it open with a rock — just like a karate chop. It looked pretty badass.

Visitors can also experience a variety of cultural performances, such as traditional dances and music. However, the fire dance was the most impressive. I've never been so mesmerized in my life. Our stay at the Polynesian Cultural Center concluded with a buffet lunch.

Some time later, the Shiehs arrived at their hotel in Waikīkī and invited us to join them for happy hour. Everyone had a great time catching up even though the food wasn't as good as the price suggests. Soon the Shiehs had to leave as they had also booked the dinner cruise. I wouldn't have minded going on it again with my cousins. But once is more than enough.

Honolulu also has a vibrant nightlife. I was excited to go for a walk around downtown after dinner. Mom noticed a huge crowd on the beach and realized there was a movie. People were watching Ocean's Eleven on a large projector screen. Although we only stayed a short time, this was a neat experience.

Day 3

We boarded the bus for the Honolulu tour. Our guide was humorous and very knowledgeable. He first stopped at the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. For those who fell asleep during history class, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II and caused the U.S. to enter the war. About half of the casualties occurred on the Arizona after a bomb hit the magazine. Visitors are able to take a shuttle boat to the memorial. Inside is a plaque dedicated to those who gave their lives. I'm glad they're not forgotten.

Another interesting stop was Aliʻiōlani Hale. Located in the building's courtyard is a Kamehameha statue that was built over a hundred years ago. I didn't know Hawaii had such a rich culture. On the whole, this was a worthwhile tour.

Dad took us to Hanauma Bay later in the afternoon. A cool thing is that the water has a deep blue color. It's quite beautiful and made for great pictures. Because we had so much fun in downtown Honolulu the day before, my family decided to go there again after dinner. Party on!

Day 4

We left Oʻahu to see what Kauaʻi has to offer. Our flight to Līhuʻe was only around 23 minutes due to the short distance. Kauaʻi is fairly quiet and doesn't have the crowds. On the upside, the views were far better. I'm not surprised to hear that it's a popular filming location. Also worth mentioning is that there are wild chickens everywhere. Some people probably eat them.

Having been to Kauaʻi before, the Shiehs were knowledgeable about the area and more than happy to be our guide. Our first stop was the Kauai Kookie factory outlet in Hanapepe. I enjoyed checking out the store and got to try some samples. All the flavors looked delicious. Too bad they aren't cheap :-(

Another place that stood out to me was the Red Dirt Shirt store in ʻEleʻele. It used to be a small print shop... until a major hurricane hit the island about 10 years ago. Dirt got in and ruined a lot of shirts. Rather than letting them go to waste, the company decided to sell them anyway — and they became popular. Talk about making lemonade when life gives you lemons.

Day 5

We spent the morning exploring Kauaʻi on our own before going to Waimea Canyon State Park with the Shiehs. Our group hiked to the Waimea Canyon Lookout to see the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. I couldn't believe how amazing the views were. Pictures simply don't do them justice.

One thing I noticed is that the trails were muddy due to the rain. I was afraid someone would slip and fall into the ravine. It didn't help that there are no guardrails. Or at least that's what I remember. I was so relieved when everyone made it back in one piece. Perhaps I was worrying too much because no one else seemed concerned. Being paranoid sucks.

In any case, the Shiehs had to get ready to leave as Cathy starts school in two days. You could tell she was sad even though they often come here. Our families spent time together as the Shiehs packed up. As you can imagine, this was an emotional moment for all of us.

I should mention the Shiehs have a timeshare at Embassy Suites that they graciously let us use. It had all the amenities and was quite luxurious. I've never stayed in a place like this. Of course, the downside is the price: the normal rate was around $400 a night plus taxes. We're blessed that the Shiehs are so generous.

Day 6

One place we hadn't seen was Spouting Horn. Pressure from the water causes it to shoot up like a geyser. You're supposed to keep a safe distance from the blowhole. However, that didn't prevent people from getting close. Some walked right up to it despite the warning signs. Stupid is as stupid does.

Given that the island is very quiet and doesn't have many attractions, there wasn't much else to do. But at least the views were incredible.

Day 7

I wasn't looking forward to leaving either. Hawaii is really a paradise. Our schedule was tight as we had to return to LIH to catch the plane to Honolulu for a stopover. Lihue Airport is pretty small and only had a few shops and restaurants. Soon we arrived at Honolulu International Airport for the flight home. I was tired and decided to get some rest on the plane. On the bright side — pardon the pun — we saw a beautiful sunset as we approached San Francisco. It's the perfect ending to a perfect trip.

Conclusions

Everything about this vacation was incredible. Oʻahu was quite memorable, especially the Aliʻi Kai dinner cruise and the Polynesian Cultural Center. Same goes for the Honolulu tour. Kauaʻi doesn't have much of a nightlife but does have some amazing scenery — no wonder it's called the "Garden Isle." Although we liked Oʻahu more, there's something about Kauaʻi that makes it a fascinating place.

Hawaii is very special due to its unique culture. Considering that there are eight main islands — and all except two are open to the public — this trip has barely touched the surface. One thing for sure is that we'll have to visit Hawaii again. Everyone loves to talk about Maui's beaches and the Big Island's volcanoes...

So this reminds me — school starts in four days. I do expect to have the holiday blues for a while. But at least I'm looking forward to an exciting new school year. :-)

Currently listening to: Relaxation & Meditation with Music & Nature: Amazon Rainforest

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Historical note: Pictures from the trip are available on Flickr.