2016 - Oahu Hawaii - Day 4

Today was the beginning of our trip home or so we thought. We woke up early in the morning  at 6 AM to watch general conference. We really enjoyed the first session of conference. In between that session iand the next session we got showered and packed our bags so we could leave when the 2nd session ended.  We then watched the second session of conference out by the small swimming pool and garden that they have behind their own.  It is quite pretty back there.  So at noon, we loaded the car, and headed over to Honolulu.  But before I left, I asked if we could return if we did not get on a flight.  That proved to be prophetic.  

It took about 20 minutes to get to the other side of the island.  We remembered that they have a big flea market by Aloha Stadium.  So we thought, why not.  It cost two dollars to park the car.  We walked around just long enough to find a colorful poncho for Denise.  She bought it and she was done!  It was quite hot.  So off we went not knowing where to go.  I then suggested the old stand by...a movie.  Denise loved the idea...so,off we went to the closest theater.  We saw the movie where the little girl has a horrible des ease but after falling from a tree, is miraculously cured.  It was pretty good.  

After the movie, we headed to the airport in hopes of getting on a plane.  But...that was not happening.  There were 70+ standby passengers in queue for a plane that had no seats to Houston.  On a flight to Denver, we were # 1 & 2 in the queue.  We got excited when the gate agent said there were 2 seats.  But then she gave them to two fellows who had military orders. We were crushed.  We did learn, while waiting, that an LAX flight had been delayed 12 hours until the next day.  That turned out to be a blessing.  We went and got a rental car and returned to out Airbnb room.  While there, we mulled our options and went to bed.  At 3:30 AM, I woke up and checked the plane loads.  The LAX flight was the best. It had 150 seats open now.  It was to leave at 7:30 AM.  We got on that flight along with 130 other standby passengers.  It must have been spring break and tons of United employees and their families were trying to get home.  Once I knew I was making it to LAX, I looked at purchasing a flight from there to SLC because United only had one flight remaining to SLC and it had no seats.  The cost of flights home versus hotel plus United tax costs would be ability a wash..so we booked two seats on Alaska Air.  We were home by 10 PM.

It was a fun trip other than the stressful standby flying.  Hawaii is beautiful.  Some pictures....

The pool and me...watching conference on IPAD.....

ALOHA Stadium...

Me,after having waited an eternity, to get a snow cone.  Notice the photographer is away standing in the shade....

The photographer ended up,with the goods....

Coming home finally...lights out!

2016 - Oahu Hawaii - Day 3

Day 3 was a nice day.  We both got sunburns yesterday.  So you mix that with a messed up internal clock and warmer weather...sleeping has been tough.  So we were both up early again.  I once again logged into work and knocked a few emails out.  But I chose to not get on to meetings.  However, I was thinking that I would not blog but in the end chose to do it...right then.  That took longer than planned.  So we got a late start.  Our plan was to go to Laie and visit the LDS temple there.  We wanted to do the 10 AM session but arrived there at 9:55 AM....too late.  So we walked around the temple grounds, visited the visitor center and took pictures.  We then attended the 11 AM session.

Funny story...as we pulled out of Kaneohe towards Laie, Denise mentioned she forgot a wire to power our devices...should they need it.  I got all over her for that.  (She loves that about me...my patience with such omissions.). Anyway, while sitting in the temple, it occurred to me that I ran out of the place so fast hoping to get to Laie and into the 10 am session that I forgot my GoPro...which I wanted for my snorkeling adventures later on.  Now I knew that Denise would rip into me about this after I had done that to her.  So being the smart man that I am...I decided to tell her in the temple...what could she do there?  She would not interrupt the serene, peaceful spirit that we felt there...right?  So as we completed our session and coming down the stairs to change back into our street clothes...I whispered to her...'I forgot my GoPro!'.  She looked at me, wanting to kill me, then we both burst into a quiet giggle.  There was nothing she could do.  I know she wanted to slug me.  But a temple going person wouldn't do that...right?  It was so funny!

After the temple session, we changed into our beach attire and headed further north.  Along the way, we hit an area that had food trucks.  Most of them sold shrimp, as shrimp farms are all near by.  But, we chose a BBQ guy.  He was personable.  But his food ended up being a bit lacking...compared to the lunch we got our first day here.  So we were a little bummed.  

We returned to our car and drove to the Turtle Bay resort.  There is a cove there where the reef system is good and fish are plentiful.  It was nice.  A bit crowded though.  We found shade for Denise and I headed to the water.  The snorkeling was pretty good.  There were lots of fish to see and the coral colors were better than Hanauma Bay.  We stayed for a couple of hours there.  Very relaxing.

The drive back to Kaneohe took about an hour.  Most of the time the max speed is 35 mph.  You do get a few rare spots where 45 mph is the limit.  But the numerous 25 mph cancels that out.  It is a beautiful drive with gorgeous green mountains on one side and blue, blue ocean on the other.  Upon arriving, we showered and drove into Kailua Town to a Pub there.  The fish and chips were recommended and we were not disappointed.  I got a French Dip which was also awesome.  We split things up...yummy meal.

After dinner, we returned to our room to relax, enjoy the cool breeze,s and get ready for a travel day tomorrow.  I checked the loads on the planes and oh my goodness...every United employee from SFO and LAX are trying to get home.  Ques of people to those places are in the 70's with maybe 20 seats available or less.  Not good...it is not like Europe where you can jump on train and get to another airport.  We'll see how it goes.  Pray for this poor couple!  😄

Some pictures.....

Hawaii Laie Temple is beautiful....

Us in the visitors center....

Denise's island cook...whose food was not that good.

The meat...mostly bones.  Bummer....

Don't look at the cleavage.  This shot is here to show the sunburn...ouch!

Beautiful mountains....

...even  when it clouds up.

Pub food.  We also watched the Warriors lose at home for the first time since last year.  The place was going crazy over that.  My root beer did not have the same impact as their beers!  😄

2016 - Oahu Hawaii - Day 1 & 2

Aloha!  We made it back to Hawaii.  So nice to be back to Oahu as it has been many, many years (23 maybe?).

Our trip began on Dustin's birthday with the caveat that we WOULD BE home Sunday to be a part of the family gathering to celebrate his 31st bday.  The flights looked really good going and a little tight getting back.  So we went for it.  Plus, I had already put some money down for an AIRBNB place on the windward side of the island.

We easily got on our flight to SFO.  We arrived well in time to make the connection.  However, when arriving to the gate, the monitors showed only one seat available.  And get this....37 standby's listed.  We were 7 & 8 on the list.  It looked grim.  So my back up plan was San Luis Obisbo....lots of seats to there.  In the end, they gave 9 seats out and we got on.

It was a 5 + hour flight to Honolulu.  We arrived on time at 7:30 PM, got our rental car...$9 per day I might add...and arrived to our room at 8:30.  It took some time to walk and get the car.  The drive to Kaneohe was only 20 minutes.

Lesley, the owner, was there waiting to greet us.  The room is very nice with a nice little sitting area outside the room.  She has a little nook with supplies for a small breakfast.  The bathroom facilities are all right there.  Very nice choice I made....if I say so myself!

Right to bed and to sleep we went.

Day 2.....

I naturally woke up at 2:30 AM due to my body's clock.  I did fall back to sleep but was up working at 5:30 AM.  I had meetings and calls until 8:30 AM.  I logged off about 9 AM and started to get ready to hit some beaches!

The nice thing about people who host through AIRBNB at resort like places is that they usually provide all the beach things you need.  They have towels, beach bags, chairs, mats, snorkel gear....the whole deal.  So we gathered up what we needed and headed to Kailua Beach...about 10 minutes down the road.  

Kailua beach....

This beach is a beautiful beach that works well for families with young kids.  It is scarcely populated.  The sand is awesome.  The sand bar goes way out into the ocean.  So boogie boarding and body surfing is quite easy to do....and is really fun.  It was so easy that I convinced my dear wife to go out further into the ocean and to bob a little to catch a wave.  I think she loved it!  Great fun.  We did not stay too long at Kailua.  We became hungry.  So around 11 AM we decided to pack up and go find some lunch.  We ended up in a small Hawaiian BBQ place..  They all sell 'plates' at lunch time for about the same cost.  The food reminded me of Mobetah's back home.  Very good,

We then drove the southern eastern coastline trekking our way to Haunauma Bay.  I wanted to find my wedding ring that I lost there while swimming so many years ago!  We spent the rest of the afternoon there.  I snorkeled many times over the shallow coral reefs.  The fish life is abundant and fun to watch.  Denise made friends with a lady from Germany who had travelled here to be with her daughter who is attending San Diego State University.  They were struggling with the unplanned expenses that the resorts were throwing at them.  I felt good about the cheaper way I went using Advantage rental car and AIRBNB. I think they are converts now.

We returned to our room, showered, and then went off to find dinner.  We ended up in a Chinese place.  The food was good.  Our choice of the recommended Taro Duck was not the best.  We could have chosen better.  We then hit Foodland, a grocery store, to buy some breakfast stuff.  Naturally, we picked up some Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream to eat while we sat outside, watching the sun go down over Kaneohe Bay...and watching the end of the movie Creed that we had started on our first flight.  After the movie, we came in, tucked ourselves into bed and lights out!  Another day awaits us tomorrow.

Nice chairs at SFO.....

Our place at Kaneohe...

Prisoner.....

Kaneohe Bay from our room...

Kailua Beach...tough life.

Lunch....way too much!

My goal...snorkeling fun...Hanauma Bay.

Dinner....