so the weather cleared up on the day we were leaving for the trip only to be faced with a delay due to mechanical problems. we had to deplane and then board another plane and then wait and wait and wait... not too fun. stopped over in oahu for a night before heading to our first stop. we stumbled across this little diner -- still craving the korean bulgogi tacos there! not exactly hawaiian but yuuum. or maybe we were just ravenous after the long flight?
anyway, some highlights...
hawaii/big island:
pololu valley lookout (hike down to hidden black sands beach); king kamehameha statue; south point; major off-roading to papakolea beach (green sands!); night volcano/lava trails hike w/ local guide; waipio valley; waimea; hilo (found a yogurtland there -- apparently, recently opened) & farmers mkt (y was happy seeing exotic fruits like durian & rambutan); hawaiian chip company (taro chips from the taro plantation in their backyard and more!); two ladies kitchen (strawberry mochi); whale watching w/ captain dan mcsweeney (awesome humpbacks & spinner dolphins); mauna kea stargazing by night (astronomers, scientists and staff let us hang out late w/ them) and driving/hiking to summit by day & seeing the keck telescopes/observatory; donkey balls; incredible coffee in kona; ukelele hunting (for y's dad); puako's petroglyphs; rainbow falls; y discovers (& falls in love w/) musubi
kauai:
so GREEN! (but lots of showers); north shore and hanalei; hiking the kalalau trail (y nearly lost his DL to get a permit) of na pali in extreme mud & rain for spectacular views; wild chickens roaming about; finding interesting friends along the way; fording a river & literally hanging by a cliff @ the end!; wailua river kayaking & hiking to "secret" waterfall; waimea canyon -- "grand canyon of the pacific" on a rainy/cloudy day and then a sunny day; hanapepe (artsy town & home of taro ko chip company -- meeting the 3 retirees running the taro farm & op); lappert's ice cream; kokee state park & hikes to see na pali shores; memorable mermaid's cafe w/ homemade sambal & other s.e. asian inspirations; li hing mui everything; aunty liliko’i (the passion fruit queen -- we picked up pf BUTTER & homemade pf sorbet)
oahu:
private surfboat to secluded bay for surf lessons -- met couple chris & trish who recently moved to the island & drove us around for some scenic points; sunbathing/swimming/snorkeling (amazing underwater creatures!) @ hanauma bay; diamond head crater; ocean kayaking fm kailua beach w/ turtles swimming between to off-shore lanikai beach & mokulua islands; 10 last minutes in oahu on the famous (but overrated?) waikiki beach; 1st loco moco; to-melt-for snow ice (diff fm shaved ice); pearl harbor; aloha stadium & swap meet; very unreliable "VIP transportation" and adventure w/ shuttle mates (& y's lost & found phone); meeting a malaysian college/film student; hanging w/ yuee's s'pore friends; moped-ing (& g's fall + rescue, hehe); spontaneous, unplanned v-day roaming
did lots but seems like didn't get to do everything... guess that means a return trip someday. y is still itching to do the full na pali one day in kauai (or maybe kayaking it in the summer) and more surfing. :)
snow day #4. epic. (but still fail... no slopes. :\)
happy white CNY. & welcome to scorching hot texas, super bowl XLV!
ironically, for once, instead of heading for powder days, we're escaping from the cold. aloha, waves and sunshine. farewell, crazy wintry mainland... island-hop hopping to hawaii, kauai and oahu. :)
