Day 6 - Granny's Birthday

Hau’oli la hanau!

(Happy Birthday)

Most of the day is going to be spent at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Mom asked in an earlier comment what tickets we should purchase. I would lean toward the Ali'i Luau or the Ambassador Luau...I would not spend any extra for the Super Ambassador. The Ambassador or Ambassador Luau tickets will get us Premium seating rather than Preferred Seating and will get us a Dessert during Intermission and a Souvenir Video and Program...which may be worth the additional cost...it depends on which buffet you think sounds better between the Ambassador Luau or Ambassador ...they are the same price... if you fill out the online survey you get 10% off...that makes the difference in price about $10 between Ambassador vs. Ali'i Luau....

Today's word in Hawaiian is Lu'au (LOO-ow) it means a Hwawaiian fest; literally means young taro leaves

Day 5 - ???

I'm a little perplexed by day 5...there are many things, at least tourist things that will be closed because it will be Sunday...this may be our last/best day for beach exploring or anything else that anybody can think of...please add any Granny inclusive ideas for Sunday that you can think of...i was thinking shopping...but we may want to do that on Tuesday before we fly out, as we will probably want to stay somewhat clean...


Today's word in Hawaiian is Paniolo (pah-nee-oh-low) it means Hawaiian cowboy.

Day 4 - Garden Day

Today let's start the day at the Waimea Valley Audubon Center http://oahu.aloha-hawaii.com/tours/waimea+valley,+oahu/ . This is a 1875 acre botanical garden. There is a 40 ft. high water fall where we can swim, if there is water in it. This botanical garden is north of Hale'iwa on Hwy 83. Then we can catch Hwy 99 toward Honolulu. As we get there we can stop at Hawai'i's Plantation Village http://www.vacationidea.com/destinations/hawaiis_plantation_village.html . This is a recreated sugar plantation, there is a 90 minute tour, if we are so inclined. After lunch we can hit Bishop's Museum http://www.bishopmuseum.org/ . Bishop's has the most comprehensive collection of Hawaiian culture and history. Next is the Foster Botanical Garden http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foster_Botanical_Garden , this one is much smaller but is supposed to have some interesting trees. We could wrap up the day with a short tour (about an hour) through the Waikiki aquarium http://www.traveltohawaiireviewed.com/waikiki/waikiki-aquarium.html . If time permits we can travel over to the West side of the Island. The water and beaches are a bit "different" than on the rest of the island, it might be good for a drive. The only "gem" on this side of the island is an old temple, or, heiaus. I don't know if any of us are really interested or not.

Today's word in hawaiian is a great one....'Okole (OH-koh-leh) it means derriere

Day 3 - Hit the beach

On day 3 what about a nice morning at the beach…the best beaches for swimming in the area of the house are supposed to be:

A short drive gives us Punalu’u Beach: “the perfect beach for the lazy beach goers”. The beach literally touches the road; there is lots of shade and full facilities. There seems to be a beach with the same name on the Big Island so don't get confused.

La’ie Beach http://www.hawaiiweb.com/oahu/beaches/laie_beach_park.htm a.k.a. Pounders: “an attractive beach with a sandstone cliff defining the south end”. The waves on the south end are what inspired the name “pounders”. When the surf’s decent the pounding waves can make for some good bodysurfing. Except during high tide and high surf, there are some wonderfully protected sets of ponds creating bathtub smooth water, it is nicknamed Bathtub Beach (not to be confused with Bathtub Beach at Kokololio Beach).

Hukilau Beach: not much shade here but good views of La’ie point and Goat Island

Goat Islandhttp://www.discoveringhawaii.com/SF_DesertedIslands/DiOAGoatIsland.html: If you are feeling adventurous Goat Island is 720 Feet from Malaekahana beach. If the ocean is calm we can swim/wade out to the island that has two beaches on it that are very rarely crowded.


After morning swimming/playing in the sand with Granny and the kids then I propose lunch at the house followed by a trip to the Dole plantation http://www.dole-plantation.com/Train/james.aspx in the afternoon. We can include any other activities at this point that we may have uncovered on day 2.
This also may be the best day to play golf, as the prices are cheaper on the weekdays than they are on the weekends. Speaking of golf I would like to play the Arnold Palmer course at Turtle Bay http://www.turtlebayresort.com/Home_Flash.asp, however the cost is going to be about $200 each, I’d like to know if anyone else is committed enough to playing that they would join me here or should I work on a course that is cheaper.

http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/coasts/oceansafety/oahu/northshore.html


Today's word in Hawaiian is Humuhumunukunukuapua'a (hoo-moo-hoo-moo-noo-koo-noo-koo-ah-poo-ah-ha) - it is the Hawaiian state fish.

Day 2 - Island Exploration

Today we should travel Hwy 83 to the south. There are several beaches along the is track to see/investigate. Near Kualoa Park is Kualoa Nursery and Garden http://www.kualoa.com/agriculture.htm. It is a "mac nut farm with a pretty garden area". According to my information they are generous with the flavored mac nut samples. Kualoa Park has a large lawn and a long ribbon of sand to play on. If the seas are calm you might want to swim to Mokoli'i (aka...Chinaman's Hat) Island. There are also some civil war era sugar mill remains. Back in the car we continue south toward the Hygienic Store http://www.terragalleria.com/pacific/oahu/oahu-north/picture.hawa32996.html. We can then take 830 toward the Windward Mall, then follow 830 to Hwy 61 and that takes us to Hwy 72, where we will be over by Enchanted Lake. Hwy 72 then travels around the southern point of Oahu. This is where Sea Life Park www.SeaLifePark.org is located. Also here is Dragon's Nostrils, but that involves a "short" hike. A stop further down the road at the Japanese Fishing Shrine http://family.webshots.com/album/521796657merTUq?start=72 including a walk past the shrine will get us a view of Halona Beach http://www.hawaiiweb.com/oahu/beaches/halona_beach_cove.htm (aka From Here to Eternity Beach, where the movie scene was filmed of them rolling in the surf). We also will have a view of the Halona Blowhole. A couple miles down the road is Lana'i Lookout, www.shorediving.com/Earth/Hawaii/Oahu/Lanai_Lookout/index.htm if we stop we can try and glimpse several of the other islands: Lana'i, Maui and Molka'i. We can also stop by the "spitting cave" http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1501114395028702361ikYSHC of Portlock. Hwy 72 turns into H1 as come to the Diamond Head area. The H1 goes past Waikiki and Honolulu. We can Take the H1 to the H2 and cross the island toward Hale'iwa www.gonorthshore.org on the North Shore. The H2 becomes 80 then 99. Hwy 99 takes us to Hale'iwa, which is the largest town on the North Shore. Hwy 99 becomes Hwy 83 and if we follow it around we will come to Turtle Beach, www.turtles.org/laniakea.htm which is the best place to see/watch turtles. Further along we find Waimea Bay www.hawaiiweb.com/oahu/beaches/waimea_bay_beach_park.htm , Sharks Cove www.snorkeling-hawaii-insiders-guide.com/snorkeling_sharks_cove.html (the best place to snorkel) and if we can figure out where to look Banzai Pipeline gohawaii.about.com/od/pearlharbor/l/blpipeline1.htm. Further still is Sunset Beach www.hawaiiweb.com/oahu/beaches/sunset_beach_park.htm and Kawela Bay. www.topix.net/city/kawela-bay-hi We then will drive past the Turtle Bay Resort www.turtlebayresort.com and into Kahuku. In Kahuku www.yelp.com/biz/BMY42zkV79vhYWDMX-TkfQ there is a sugar mill as well as several shrimp wagons. Also in the area is the S. Tanaka Store Antiques and Bottles Store www.turtlebay-rentals.com/site/4486/default.aspx . Between Kahuku and the house in La'ie are several beaches. then we are "home" for dinner....Wow what a day!

Today's word in Hawaiian is Makai (mah-kigh) - Toward the sea.

Day 1 - Arrival

We are scheduled to arrive around 3:30…I assume that it will take some time to get everybody to the potty, get the luggage, get the rental cars and get on the road…so…. I think we plan to be at the Ala Mona Mall at or near 5:00 PM. Everybody can find the choices required to feed their individual families at the mall (there are over like 50 places to eat). Sam’s Club is in the same general area so if we choose to do our shopping there instead of Costco we can. We need to plan to get some if not all grocery shopping done at this time, so prepare any list of special items you may require. Following shopping we will take the H1 to the H3 over to the windward side of the Island, locate our house and unload vehicles. If there is any more day light and anyone feels like it I propose that we do a little beach combing and call it a night since everyone will be weary from traveling.

Today’s word in Hawaiian in honor of “baby” Haden’s arrival at home is Keiki (kay-kee) son, child or children.

Botanical Gardens of Oahu

According to my information the Walmea Valley Audubon Center and Foster Botanical Garden are the two best gardens to tour. The Walmea Valley is on the North Shore and is very large (1875 acres) if you take a bathing suit you can swim in the water fall....audubon.org/local/sanctuary/Brochures/Waimea...Foster is small but apparently has some really cool trees including one that is 10 feet in diameter...my computer connection is to slow to try it but you can take a virtual tour of Foster at...vthawaii.com/OAHU/foster/foster2 ...Foster is in Honolulu


Words in Hawaiian...the Hawaiian alphabet only has 12 letters they are A,E,I,O,U,H,K,L,M,N,P and W...the consonants are pronounced just as they are in English, with the exception of W it is often pronounced as a V if it is in the middle of a word and comes after an E or I...vowels are pronounced as follows A as in Ah(stressed) or in above(not stressed), E as in say(s) or as in dent(ns), I as in bee, O as in nose and U as in stew...our word for today is: Mahalo (mah-hah-low) it means - Thank You.

what's on tap

Start thinking; here is our next step…I am working on a proposed schedule of “Granny/family” oriented events for each day. Activities are mostly optional, remember though we have all agreed we need to spend time with Granny, so if an activity sounds interesting use that time to be with her. The only day that includes a MANDATORY activity is Monday the 25th (Granny's Birthday), we will ALL be going to the PCC. The current plan also includes family breakfast everyday, optional lunch foods at the house (i.e. sandwiches, hot dogs, etc.) and an optional family dinner. There will also be activities during the day, such as botanical garden visits, the Dole Plantation, ETC. If you have any input please make that available here. I know that Jeff, Dedra and the kids will be home shortly and I will wait for them to advise me of their ideas as well. Also be thinking about the logistics of trying to move large groups around to various activities…if someone wants to go shopping, while others are playing golf and still a third group wants to go snorkeling…if we only have the two vans and 1 car, how do we make it work??
Thanks for the forth-coming input

Eats in Hawaii

Not all the places to eat are going to be $30 a plate...for example...http://cholosmexicancom ...there are over 3500 places to eat...i'm sure we can find some that would better suit our budget...besides up on the north shore in the area where the house is there is a McDonalds and a Dominos Pizza...

Things

I would suggest that we all get the same color shirt that way we can be distiguished as a group. I have ordered a travel book about Oahu that should be here anyday and a buddy of mine is getting me some travel infromation from AAA as he is a member. Anyway, unless he can get us a discount on Golf at the Turtle Bay Arnold Palmer Course, I don't know that I have any questions yet...Love ya'll

Happy New Year

Happy New Year Everyone. We are excited that we have reached the year that Granny will turn 100, we are excited to go to Hawaii, but we are more excited that Jeff, Dedra and Hanna are on such a great adventure that will bless our family with a new member. The Granny update was a great story, glad to hear that she is doing well. We love everyone and just wanted to wish you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!