Monday, July 23, 2007

Hawaii without Summer.....

Well, Summer is back in the mainland and I am recouperating. She kept me pretty busy while she was here. But we had so much fun! I wish she were still here so we can go snorkling again.

Saturday, July 21, 2007 - Gosh - I can't remember what we did that morning but that evening we were to go on a Catamaran Dinner Cruise. We get to the pick up destination and wait for out bus. I give the gal our reservation notice and she can't find us on the manifest. So we wait, it's hot and sweaty, she calls her office - after about 25 minutes she comes back and says "Sorry, I can't find your reservation - you will have to go back to where you bought your ticket and take it up with them". HUH....You mean we can't even get on the bus? No - they just leave us sitting there. We have exactly 15 minutes to get to the agency where I bought the tour at and so Summer and I hit the road running - er well, with my ankle - trotting - ok halling butt. We get there just as the office is closing and whew - the guy calls the dinner cruise company and puts us in a cab to go to the dinner. Now - he tells us the dinner cruise company is going to pay for the cab - the dinner cruise people say not there not. Ok, I'm beginning to lose the ALOHA spirit about this time because they still can't find our reservation. Our cab has left (I paid the cab driver) and I don't know what to do. This is Summer's last night in Hawaii and I really wanted to show her how much fun this cruise was. So finally, the guy says ok - we'll fix this later and puts us on the boat - in the VIP section. Ok this is GOOD. Then he comes back saying it was all a misunderstanding and everything is on him. (By everything he meant the Drinks) Ok so we are on board and had a great dinner - dancing and VIP treatment the whole way! Summer had a blast and the agency reimbursed us for the cab fare and gave me a great deal on another tour while am here on the island. All's well that end's well.

Sunday, July 22, 2007 - Summer and I wake up at 6:00 am to head to Hanauma Bay for one last snorkling adventure. This was beautiful - there are more fish here and we heard that sea turtles were out there too. We never got to see one, bummer. But Summer has to get ready to go home.....BIGGER BUMMER.

Monday, July 23, 2007 - Sleep for me - rest for me - tomorrow I go to the Big Island and visit for a couple of days. So I'll write more when I return.

Aloha for now!

Kerri

Friday, July 20, 2007

Where has the time gone??


So much to tell. As some of you may know - I sprained my left ankle on the 12th of July. Yep, a trip to the local doctor. I was just walking and the pavement is really uneven here and I was looking around, next thing, wham I was down. But I'm ok - just a little rattled. I spent the weekend resting so I would be ready for summer's arrival.

Summer arrived on Monday, July 16, it was so wonderful to see her. We drove around and ended up at Hilo Hatties. A big store which specializes in Hawaiian Aloha attire. They also have a place where you can select an oyster and have them open it up to see if there is a pearl inside. We did that and Summer got a big pink pearl and I got a black one. They are pretty cool. Then we were off to the apartment where she settled in (A whole 5 seconds) then we were off to the beach. I showed her the International Market Place, a place with a lot of local wares and each store has the same stuff, but its fun to walk around. We ate at the local Cheesecake Factory and sat street side. It was really fun, especially when the birds flew by your table. Some would just walk up to our table and Summer got really annoyed. We stayed up and visited, but we have a busy day ahead.

Tuesday, July 17 we are on a circle Island Tour. It was very different from the tour I had taken two weeks ago. Different bus driver. Long day - going to bed.

Wednesday, July 18 we get up at 4:00am - We are going to the North Shore of Oahu so Summer can do a "shark dive". Yes, I said Shark. She gets into a shark cage which is lowered into the Pacific Ocean and the crew tosses fish pieces into the water and the sharks come. This was so cool to see - from the boat - I kind of wish now that I had done it too. I'll post pictures soon. After her adventure we went to Waimea Bay and sat on the beach for a while. We watched people jump off this huge chunk of lava rock and dive 30 or 40 feet off the cliff into the waters. Here we also saw dolphins jumping, twisting and playing in the water. The life guard got on the PA to remind the swimmers that the dolphin are federally protected and it is illegal to bother them, some are nursing, some come to heal their wounds and some to relax after swimming in the ocean... He also said that sometimes the dolphin are follwed by predators (sharks) so be careful. Up to that point we were looking at the backs of the swimmers heads, and as soon as he said sharks, we were looking at their faces and they were swimming really fast!! It was so funny! We got back to the room - took a nap and then went to the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner. Later on we went to see a local show at the Waikiki Outrigger Hotel called the Society of Seven. It was like being in Vegas. These second generation musicians, all Hawaiian, they put on a show impersonating people like Elvis, the Beatles, Sonny and Cher, James Brown, the Rat Pack, it started off dorky but as we sat there it did get pretty entertaining.

Thursday, July 19 - Summer went to the beach and I rested because today we go to the Polyensian Culture Center on the other side of the island. It should only take us about and hour or so to get there. It's really hot and humid here today. We leave around 12:30 pm. Well we take off and start driving on the interstate - traffic jam - we spend the next 30 minutes or so to go 4 miles. Ok we gotta get gas so we stop and get gas and something to munch on, since we skipped lunch. Ok on to the Likelike Highway and thru the tunnel to the other side of the island - the GPS then says TURN LEFT - ok, drive .4 miles then turn left, drive .5 miles and turn left. Now if you think about it - 2 left turns and you are going back in the direct from which you came....through the tunnel again, now we are lost. No problem, I trust the GPS, or do I? We drive just like it says - guess where we ended up? Back at the same gas station. LOL It took us 2 1/2 hours to get to the PCC. We ditched the GPS and found our own way. The PCC has so much to see but the best part was while we were there, Elder Utchburg, one of the 12 Apostles from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was visiting the PCC. I got to meet him and have a photo taken with him. I can't wait to post these pictures. We saw him off and on the remainder of the day and then again at the Luau. We saw a fantastic show of native dances put on by the kids attending Brigham Young University Hawaii. This was defintely a banner day for me in my life.

Friday, July 20. We went snorkling at Hanauma Bay. This is a freaky thing to do if you've never done it before. But once you get the hang of it, no problem man. Summer and I just cruised around the bay for the next few hours. We used alot of sunscreen, it was hot. Then there was time for a quick nap and then we were off again, this time to go parasailing! This was right up my alley. Summer didn't like it too well, but I loved it. In fact I loved it so much I went twice. A young man from Canada needed a partner - so of course I volunteered. If yu ever get a chance to do this - do it! In fact if you ever get to Hawaii - try everything! It is a blast. So now we are off to dinner and to the Borders Bookstore to wait for the Harry Potter book.

More later!
Aloha!

Thursday, July 12, 2007

One week at a time!

July 6, 2007
ALOHA!! Everyone says that here. I have been so busy here. In some ways its like Las Vegas - timeshare sales people everywhere - and when you get away from that its paradise. I took advantage of looking at a couple of timeshares....they bugged me enough. The incentive was - free tickets to different tours. Great deal - So far I have been on a Circle Island Tour and a tour of Pearl Harbor.
Circle Island Tour - Tour guide: Felix - native Hawaiian. I could go on about this tour and tour guide but it short - He was informative, funny and played the Ukelele. We saw Diamond Head, Hamana Bay - Summer - we will snorkel here. Around to see Blow Holes - cool. Across the island to the Dole Pineapple Plantation. Did you know that Hawaii is no longer the biggest producer of Pineapple and Sugar? They have been replaced by Taiwan, and other small countries - They bid ½ of what ever it is they are selling - putting pineapple and sugar cane growers out of business. Sad. Then we were off seeing little villages and shops. Finally we get to the Polynesian Cultural Center - we didn’t stop...then we drove past the Mormon Temple. Gosh - its so beautiful - again - we didn’t stop. So on our way to more shops and little villages - it seems we stopped a lot to look at shops. They back around to Waikiki. One thing Felix said that stuck in my head was how Hawaiian’s were family oriented. He gave us this little ditty - FAMILY - F is for the fathers who support the Family - A is for all the children who bring joy to the family - M is for the mothers who take care of the family and ILY is for something we should say to our family everyday - I Love You.
Pearl Harbor Tour - Tour guide: Pablo - ½ Hawaiian ½ Mexican. This was a much more somber tour. We are reminded that we are visiting a memorial for the 944 men who’s remains are still on the USS Arizona. They show a 20 minute video narrated by Stockard Channing - it is very moving. Then put us on a shuttle boat to spend 15 minutes on the Memorial. It was very overwhelming and solemn. A wonderful tribute to the men and women who died on that day. It’s like their 911 in 1941.
Now to today - I am sitting in bed - still - thinking about what will paradise bring today.
July 11, 2007
Today is my 47th Birthday. Happy Birthday to me!! I know I haven’t written everyday - but there is so much to do here. So here’s a recap of the last few days.
Friday I spent the day looking around the shops. So many shops but they all carry the same things. It’s the prices you shop, then you need to remember where the shop is so you can compare prices. It’s kind of like a Polynesian - Nogales feel - they give you a price and then you walk away and they say something like - ‘hey broda or sisa - I make you a better price’. It’s rather entertaining. I went to a Luau Friday night. It was huge, over 900 people attended this one. I meet some wonderful people from Michigan and Las Vegas. The food was good and the poi was interesting. The entertainment was awesome. These hula dancers are so beautiful and can they move. Did you know that men did the hula dances first? The women didn’t start doing hula until the 30's or 40's.
Saturday I spent at the beach then did laundry and cleaned my little apartment. That evening I sent on a dinner cruise aboard a Catamaran. Once again, the food was great....so much for dieting here. I met a couple celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary, the Campbell’s, and I met these nice ladies one from Georgia and the other from Oklahoma, Linda and Regina these girls were as fun as fun could be so they let me hang out with them.. We had a nice dinner then went up on deck to see the Waikiki skyline come into view. The back drop was Diamond Head. What a beautiful place, I can’t believe that I am here. With the wind in our faces and the sun behind us I just had to do the "I’m the King of the World". Just couldn’t help it. We were summoned back inside for the entertainment. Now this was entertainment - hula girls and hula guys but this time they grabbed people from the audience to participate. By the end of the show, everyone was on their feet dancing and laughing. This was a party and a whole bunch of fun. It didn’t end there - the bus drivers and their tour guides kept the party going all the way to the drop off point.
Sunday I took a cab to church. I met a lot of people and spent quality time with them. Half the ward were visitors and in talking to the locals told me that it’s always that way. I got to meet several local families and they gave me some ideas of what to do around the island. One told me that I could board the local public bus for $2 and go around the island...hmmmm $2 that sounds good to me. I took the bus back to Waikiki with other families and ran into Regina and Linda from last night. How funny to see them again in a city of this size. Anyway - I went home and hung out on the beach again.
Monday was just another day in paradise. I walked around to the Honoloulu Zoo and back and had the craving for some good seafood. So I went out and splurged, I had lobster. Oh my goodness, it was so good. What can I say - the seafood here is wonderful.
Tuesday - ok what to do today??? Hmm, remember I was told about the $2 trip around the island on "The Bus"? Well that’s what I did. Ok, this was something I should have really thought about before I boarded "The Bus". Did I mention this is the PUBLIC bus? This trip took 5 hours!! Five hours of public, of stopping every 500 yards at first then at every stop around the island. Of men coming to sit next to me who smelled of old beer, who smiled at me with no teeth. Of some who fell asleep with their feet on the seat next to me. Yuck. Of teenagers starting fights with other teens, of fisherman who came aboard with all their gear and (gulp) smelled like fish. Ok, not the brightest moments of my Hawaii experience, but definitely an experience. It’s kind of funny now, but it wasn’t then.
So this brings me to Wednesday, my birthday. I started the day off with a workout at a local gym, it’s not too late to start taking care of my body, is it? I worked out with this guy I met the other day, Cesar from Mexico. He’s a lot of fun and cute too - young, but cute. Then I was so exhausted I came back to the apartment, showered and crashed out for a while. Then as usual, I went to the beach. I decided to go the International Market Place and see this band I saw the other night, just two Hawaiian’s, a keyboard and guitar. I spent some time talking with them tonight, it was fun and they sang me a couple songs for my birthday then we sat around and talked when their gig was over. I have been invited out by Greg, the keyboard player. So after Summer visits we will do something. Oh, Summer’s visit....I have schedule out our time here on the island together. It is packed with things to do and of course time to relax and get some sun.
So for those of you who wished me a Happy Birthday - Maholo (Thank you) and for those of you who forgot Maholo (Thank you) but don’t forget my 50th in a few years!!! Thanks for reading - I appreciate the comments good and bad. I’ll write more soon!
Love to all!
Kerri
July 6, 2007
ALOHA!! Everyone says that here. I have been so busy here. In some ways its like Las Vegas - timeshare sales people everywhere - and when you get away from that hustling, it's paradise. I took advantage of looking at a couple of timeshares....they bugged me enough. The incentive was - free tickets to different tours. Great deal - So far I have been on a Circle Island Tour and a tour of Pearl Harbor.


Circle Island Tour - Tour guide: Felix - native Hawaiian. I could go on about this tour and tour guide but it short - He was informative, funny and played the Ukelele. We saw Diamond Head, Hamana Bay - Summer - we will snorkel here. Around to see Blow Holes - cool. Across the island to the Dole Pineapple Plantation. Did you know that Hawaii is no longer the biggest producer of Pineapple and Sugar? They have been replaced by Taiwan, and other small countries - They bid ½ of what ever it is they are selling - putting pineapple and sugar cane growers out of business. Sad. Then we were off seeing little villages and shops. Finally we get to the Polynesian Cultural Center - we didn’t stop...then we drove past the Mormon Temple. Gosh - its so beautiful - again - we didn’t stop. So on our way to more shops and little villages - it seems we stopped a lot to look at shops. They back around to Waikiki. One thing Felix said that stuck in my head was how Hawaiian’s were family oriented. He gave us this little ditty - FAMILY - F is for the fathers who support the Family - A is for all the children who bring joy to the family - M is for the mothers who take care of the family and ILY is for something we should say to our family everyday - I Love You.


Pearl Harbor Tour - Tour guide: Pablo - ½ Hawaiian ½ Mexican. This was a much more somber tour. We are reminded that we are visiting a memorial for the 944 men who’s remains are still on the USS Arizona. They show a 20 minute video narrated by Stockard Channing - it is very moving. Then put us on a shuttle boat to spend 15 minutes on the Memorial. It was very overwhelming and solemn. A wonderful tribute to the men and women who died on that day. It’s like their 911 in 1941.


Now to today - I am sitting in bed - still - thinking about what will paradise bring today.


July 11, 2007
Today is my 47th Birthday. Happy Birthday to me!! I know I haven’t written everyday - but there is so much to do here. So here’s a recap of the last few days.


Friday I spent the day looking around the shops. So many shops but they all carry the same things. It’s the prices you shop, then you need to remember where the shop is so you can compare prices. It’s kind of like a Polynesian - Nogales feel - they give you a price and then you walk away and they say something like - ‘hey broda or sisa - I make you a better price’. It’s rather entertaining. I went to a Luau Friday night. It was huge, over 900 people attended this one. I meet some wonderful people from Michigan and Las Vegas. The food was good and the poi was interesting. The entertainment was awesome. These hula dancers are so beautiful and can they move. Did you know that men did the hula dances first? The women didn’t start doing hula until the 30's or 40's.


Saturday I spent at the beach then did laundry and cleaned my little apartment. That evening I sent on a dinner cruise aboard a Catamaran. Once again, the food was great....so much for dieting here. I met a couple celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary, the Campbell’s, and I met these nice ladies one from Georgia and the other from Oklahoma, Linda and Regina these girls were as fun as fun could be so they let me hang out with them.. We had a nice dinner then went up on deck to see the Waikiki skyline come into view. The back drop was Diamond Head. What a beautiful place, I can’t believe that I am here. With the wind in our faces and the sun behind us I just had to do the "I’m the King of the World". Just couldn’t help it. We were summoned back inside for the entertainment. Now this was entertainment - hula girls and hula guys but this time they grabbed people from the audience to participate. By the end of the show, everyone was on their feet dancing and laughing. This was a party and a whole bunch of fun. It didn’t end there - the bus drivers and their tour guides kept the party going all the way to the drop off point.


Sunday I took a cab to church. I met a lot of people and spent quality time with them. Half the ward were visitors and in talking to the locals told me that it’s always that way. I got to meet several local families and they gave me some ideas of what to do around the island. One told me that I could board the local public bus for $2 and go around the island...hmmmm $2 that sounds good to me. I took the bus back to Waikiki with other families and ran into Regina and Linda from last night. How funny to see them again in a city of this size. Anyway - I went home and hung out on the beach again.


Monday was just another day in paradise. I walked around to the Honoloulu Zoo and back and had the craving for some good seafood. So I went out and splurged, I had lobster. Oh my goodness, it was so good. What can I say - the seafood here is wonderful.


Tuesday - ok what to do today??? Hmm, remember I was told about the $2 trip around the island on "The Bus"? Well that’s what I did. Ok, this was something I should have really thought about before I boarded "The Bus". Did I mention this is the PUBLIC bus? This trip took 5 hours!! Five hours of public, of stopping every 500 yards at first then at every stop around the island. Of men coming to sit next to me who smelled of old beer, who smiled at me with no teeth. Of some who fell asleep with their feet on the seat next to me. Yuck. (Cece, Barbara you would not want to work on these feet, they were so dirty!) Of teenagers starting fights with other teens, of fisherman who came aboard with all their gear and (gulp) smelled like fish. Ok, not the brightest moments of my Hawaii experience, but definitely an experience. It’s kind of funny now, but it wasn’t then.
So this brings me to Wednesday, my birthday. I started the day off with a workout at a local gym, it’s not too late to start taking care of my body, is it? I worked out with this guy I met the other day, Cesar from Mexico. He’s a lot of fun and cute too - young, but cute. Then I was so exhausted I came back to the apartment, showered and crashed out for a while. Then as usual, I went to the beach. I decided to go the International Market Place and see this band I saw the other night, just two Hawaiian’s, a keyboard and guitar. I spent some time talking with them tonight, it was fun and they sang me a couple songs for my birthday then we sat around and talked when their gig was over. I have been invited out by Greg, the keyboard player. So after Summer visits we will do something. Oh, Summer’s visit....I have schedule out our time here on the island together. It is packed with things to do and of course time to relax and get some sun.
So for those of you who wished me a Happy Birthday - Maholo (Thank you) and for those of you who forgot Maholo (Thank you) but don’t forget my 50th in a few years!!! Thanks for reading - I appreciate the comments good and bad. I’ll write more soon!
Love to all!
Kerri was just another day in paradise. I walked around to the Honoloulu Zoo and back and had the craving for some good seafood. So I went out and splurged, I had lobster. Oh my goodness, it was so good. What can I say - the seafood here is wonderful.
Tuesday - ok what to do today??? Hmm, remember I was told about the $2 trip around the island on "The Bus"? Well that’s what I did. Ok, this was something I should have really thought about before I boarded "The Bus". Did I mention this is the PUBLIC bus? This trip took 5 hours!! Five hours of public, of stopping every 500 yards at first then at every stop around the island. Of men coming to sit next to me who smelled of old beer, who smiled at me with no teeth. Of some who fell asleep with their feet on the seat next to me. Yuck. Of teenagers starting fights with other teens, of fisherman who came aboard with all their gear and (gulp) smelled like fish. Ok, not the brightest moments of my Hawaii experience, but definitely an experience. It’s kind of funny now, but it wasn’t then.
So this brings me to Wednesday, my birthday. I started the day off with a workout at a local gym, it’s not too late to start taking care of my body, is it? I worked out with this guy I met the other day, Cesar from Mexico. He’s a lot of fun and cute too - young, but cute. Then I was so exhausted I came back to the apartment, showered and crashed out for a while. Then as usual, I went to the beach. I decided to go the International Market Place and see this band I saw the other night, just two Hawaiian’s, a keyboard and guitar. I spent some time talking with them tonight, it was fun and they sang me a couple songs for my birthday then we sat around and talked when their gig was over. I have been invited out by Greg, the keyboard player. So after Summer visits we will do something. Oh, Summer’s visit....I have schedule out our time here on the island together. It is packed with things to do and of course time to relax and get some sun.
So for those of you who wished me a Happy Birthday - Maholo (Thank you) and for those of you who forgot Maholo (Thank you) but don’t forget my 50th in a few years!!! Thanks for reading - I appreciate the comments good and bad. I’ll write more soon!
Love to all!
Kerri

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

The trip from Heck....

What a trip! Planning my trip to Hawaii was so much easier than getting here.

I spent the evening with my brother and his family in Chandler. They have a new house and it is really gorgeous. They are really very happy and I am glad to see them that way. He deserves being happy and where he is in his life.


Ok, back to the trip from hell. Yes, I said hell. First off, I get a call from Delta airlines saying that my flight to LAX was delayed by an hour and my flight from LAX to Honolulu was delayed too. Ok, So I'll get to Hawaii at 10pm. I get to Sky Harbor Airport, check my luggage (will someone please teach me to pack light??) I get on the plane and we are off to LAX. Now I’m getting excited.

We get to LAX no problem. I check in and see there is a first class seat available from LAX to Hawaii, for a cost - of course - so I figure what the heck. I get on the plane and wow - first class is really great. Bigger seats, hot towels to wash your hands with, free drinks - big whoop - soda for me. Snacks right away, a blanket gee so this is how the other half lives.

We are all loaded the doors close and ready to go, er so we thought. Some lady decides she wants to get off the airplane. Huh? Yes, she wants off. Big commotion, screaming, yelling - so the airport security comes on board and escorts her off the plane. Now they need to retrieve her luggage. Ok, now for the math. There is 300 plus people on the plane - each with 2 bags a piece some with 3, the authorities now have to go through 600 plus pieces of luggage to locate hers. They go through once - they didn’t find it. Now the Police are involved and the feds too, off comes the luggage AGAIN! Still, they don’t find it. Hmm, Now it’s been about 4 hours and people are getting restless and rude. Me, I’m having fun, hey I’m in first class, I can play games on the little hand held dillybopper they have given me, I can watch a movie, I have a great seat mate- Tyrone, and we are having a blast, laughing, telling other passengers that his feet stink....really - they were really really stinky - and he says he fly’s first class all the time, apparently even the rich need to be reminded of personal hygiene. Now a lady comes up to our part of the cabin (now I’m talking like I have been flying first class all my life...hahaha) This lady is crying, says she needs to get off, she’s wailing and says she’s going nuts being held hostage in the plane, this is not fair. Poor girl, I really felt bad for her....until she blurts out "I really need to have a cigarette". We, my first class people and I are stunned. Compassion just went out the window. It’s sad to see where people are addicted to something and to see them crumble when they are forced to stop getting their "fix". Anyway, we are told we can do one of two things - 1 - get off the plane - everyone claims their own luggage so it is all accounted for, but then we would have to say the night in LA and leave at 7am. OR 2 just wait for the TSA to finish their investigation and we MAY get out tonight. I’m into hanging out on the plane, the service is wonderful. So after 5 hours we are finally taxing out to the runway. So we thought...we sit 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes....ok now this is getting to be a bummer to me. I text a few friends and that goodness my friend Michelle reminds me - the universe has you where you are to protect you. My anxiety is gone and I agree, I’m not in control and I submit to the situation. Just as I say a quiet prayer for the words of wisdom....we are off!!!! We land in Hawaii at 2:30 am - 5:30 Tucson time. Yawwwnnn....I share a cab with these two guys and get to my condo...and I fall into bed.. I’m looking forward to seeing where I am tomorrow. Gosh....I’m in Hawaii!