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. :)
