A Tale of Two Trips: Disneyland and Hawaii July 2014 Long Way Home: The End 9/13 p.40
- Thread starter natebenma
- Start date
Thanks for sharing the link to your pictures!!! I saw some of them- I think in your cruise report- before our trip, but it was funny to see how similar our Diamond Head pictures were. Took that one! That one, too! Yup, got that one. There's one picture in there that is a closeup of the water, where you can see the reef below. I love that! The sunset pictures are great! And front row on the outrigger- is that a good seat or not?
I said the same thing when I was looking at your pictures from Diamond Head and Pearl Harbor.
I got absolutely soaked sitting in the front seat of the outrigger. Mike was a lot less wet sitting in one of the back seats. The other girls in the canoe with us got to ride for free since they needed more folks to fill the boat. They pulled them off the beach. It wasn't cheap but it was an awesome experience. Got to cross it off the bucket list.
luvpoohandcompany
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2009
That is one beautiful beach and one vey expensive price list for tours but I'm so glad you found one you liked
MEK
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 8, 2005
Your pictures are just so lovely. I feel an inner peace whenever I see those spectacular beaches.
WOW - want an impressive array of excursions. They all look and sound amazing. Is it weird that I would have taken that volcano bike ride in a hot second because I love bike riding. I would have taken my chances, that's for sure.
WOW - want an impressive array of excursions. They all look and sound amazing. Is it weird that I would have taken that volcano bike ride in a hot second because I love bike riding. I would have taken my chances, that's for sure.
saintstickets
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2009
Great snorkeling pics! I just wish I could do it. I somehow always seem to get a mask that doesn't fit right. 
natebenma
Beach Club Dee
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2008
The price for the bike ride down the volcano is super expensive. I've seen those bikes going down the volcano while we were driving up it and they really travel fast. I can't see where it would be worth that cost, either. All the interesting stuff is in the Haleakala visitor center.
Even at the price of "free" there weren't many takers!
We didn't make it to Haleakala, but the visitor's center at Kilahuea was pretty cool!
Thanks for reading! Maui was pretty expensive and Dukes certainly knew they had us hostage as the only restaurant on property.
It's almost like you can enjoy someone elses photos and not even do the Diamond Head hike!
The outrigger sounds really fun. We saw a few of them out and about. Lucky girls who got to ride along on your dollar!
We loved the beach. It didn't look like your typical snorkeling beach because normally you can see the rocks/coral below the surface, but it turned out to be amazing underwater!
We were happy with the tour we had booked (although one of the Molokini snorkeling tours had a boat with a slide into the water- and maybe a glass bottom boat- which would have been fun. But our Trilogy tour ended up being top-notch. We were glad we found a surf school that Nate was interested in.
Your pictures are just so lovely. I feel an inner peace whenever I see those spectacular beaches.
WOW - want an impressive array of excursions. They all look and sound amazing. Is it weird that I would have taken that volcano bike ride in a hot second because I love bike riding. I would have taken my chances, that's for sure.
Thank you!!!
That is funny about the bike ride. There wouldn't have been a lot of competition!
I just love taking pictures underwater and I am so disappointed that I lost so many at the nature preserve in Oahu (because I had the video setting on, and now I can't find the video!) and here in Maui.
Great snorkeling pics! I just wish I could do it. I somehow always seem to get a mask that doesn't fit right.
Thank you. It can be tough to get a decent fit when you have a moustache. So I'm told. I occasionally have problems with leaks. Mark has his original mask from when we started snorkeling more than 20 years ago. My trusty mask, purchased at the same time as his, had its last swim in St. Thomas in 2007 and I haven't found one I like as much since then.
natebenma
Beach Club Dee
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2008
More of our “Do Nothing Day”- Shave Ice is Nice, Another Trip to the Strip Mall and More Snorkeling!
After lunch we decided we needed to go on a road trip to find some real shave ice. The glorified snow cone that the resort next door to us in Oahu tried to pass off as “The Best Shave Ice on Waikiki” was not.
According to Trip Advisor and many other travel surveys, Ululani’s Hawaiian Ice in Lahaina (and other locations) is the best on the island. Front Street along the ocean in Lahaina is famous for great restaurants, shops, bars and art galleries. I was a little worried about parking in such a popular area, so we found a nearby shopping plaza which validated parking if you went into any of the stores.
We walked along Front Street looking for Ululani’s. We are not really shoppers, the shops along the street did not interest us. There was one very large gift shop, Whaler’s General Store that we went into because they had a lot of different things like Hawaiian shirts, food, other local trinkets. The boys got very excited when they saw “Pocky”, little chocolate covered cookie sticks, for sale. They wanted that and Nate saw a Clif bar he wanted. We didn’t see anything else, so we got into line. (Of course, we could find these things very easily back home)
Continued in Next Post
After lunch we decided we needed to go on a road trip to find some real shave ice. The glorified snow cone that the resort next door to us in Oahu tried to pass off as “The Best Shave Ice on Waikiki” was not.
According to Trip Advisor and many other travel surveys, Ululani’s Hawaiian Ice in Lahaina (and other locations) is the best on the island. Front Street along the ocean in Lahaina is famous for great restaurants, shops, bars and art galleries. I was a little worried about parking in such a popular area, so we found a nearby shopping plaza which validated parking if you went into any of the stores.
We walked along Front Street looking for Ululani’s. We are not really shoppers, the shops along the street did not interest us. There was one very large gift shop, Whaler’s General Store that we went into because they had a lot of different things like Hawaiian shirts, food, other local trinkets. The boys got very excited when they saw “Pocky”, little chocolate covered cookie sticks, for sale. They wanted that and Nate saw a Clif bar he wanted. We didn’t see anything else, so we got into line. (Of course, we could find these things very easily back home)
Continued in Next Post
natebenma
Beach Club Dee
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2008
Continued from Previous Post
It took us a little while to find Ululani’s because it was actually set back into a plaza off of Front Street.
http://www.ululanishawaiianshaveice.com/
The ice is shaved into special cups and then the flavor syrup is added. There are signs all over that they are happy to add more flavor as you start eating, especially if you encounter white spots.
I believe I got one of their flavor combinations, the No Ka Oi: Coconut, Mango and Liliko’I (Passionfruit). The Mango is just slightly darker in color than the passionfruit.
The others can’t remember exactly what they got.
Ben’s looks to be blue Hawaii and perhaps cherry
Nate’s was watermelon and some sort of orange (maybe Tiger's blood)
Mark has mango and maybe watermelon
We walked along the street a little bit more and then we were ready to go back to the resort. But I think to validate our parking, we had to go into a shop. Nate picked the ADIDAS store. We purchased some t-shirts- Nate really liked one but they didn’t have it in his size. But Mark liked it too, so he got it!!! Nate did find a shirt he liked, so we were able to take advantage of the 2 for $25 special.
We also went into a popular island tourist shop, Hilo Hatties, but we didn’t purchase anything.
Continued in Next Post
It took us a little while to find Ululani’s because it was actually set back into a plaza off of Front Street.
http://www.ululanishawaiianshaveice.com/
The ice is shaved into special cups and then the flavor syrup is added. There are signs all over that they are happy to add more flavor as you start eating, especially if you encounter white spots.
I believe I got one of their flavor combinations, the No Ka Oi: Coconut, Mango and Liliko’I (Passionfruit). The Mango is just slightly darker in color than the passionfruit.
The others can’t remember exactly what they got.
Ben’s looks to be blue Hawaii and perhaps cherry
Nate’s was watermelon and some sort of orange (maybe Tiger's blood)
Mark has mango and maybe watermelon
We walked along the street a little bit more and then we were ready to go back to the resort. But I think to validate our parking, we had to go into a shop. Nate picked the ADIDAS store. We purchased some t-shirts- Nate really liked one but they didn’t have it in his size. But Mark liked it too, so he got it!!! Nate did find a shirt he liked, so we were able to take advantage of the 2 for $25 special.
We also went into a popular island tourist shop, Hilo Hatties, but we didn’t purchase anything.
Continued in Next Post
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natebenma
Beach Club Dee
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2008
Continued from Previous Post
On our way back to the resort, we stopped at the nearby strip mall.
We rented some beach gear from Snorkel Bob’s- 3 sets of fins for $8 each for the week and a beach chair for $15 for the week. We were shocked when we returned these things 3 days later- we actually received a refund because we returned everything early.
We picked up some food from dinner Pizza Paradiso. We got a large ½ cheese, ½ Maui Wowie pizza $20.75, a Vegetarian Platter (4 falafel fritters, two domathakia- grape leaves, hummus, baba ghannouj, yogurt sauce, tabbouleh & pita bread ), $13.95 and a Caesar Salad ($6.95). We had a $3.00 coupon from one of the tourist books we were given, so the total of our dinner was $40.26.
The food was excellent!
We also stopped in at the Times Market for more sushi, drinks, dessert and donut holes for the next morning ($18.69, with a $2.53 frequent shopper discount).
We didn’t eat right away. We left the food and went to the beach to try out our newly rented fins and play at the beach.
The boys returned to the room, Mark and I stopped at one of the pools- this ended up being a nightly ritual and it was great because very few people were at the pools when we visited.
Continued in Next Post
On our way back to the resort, we stopped at the nearby strip mall.
We rented some beach gear from Snorkel Bob’s- 3 sets of fins for $8 each for the week and a beach chair for $15 for the week. We were shocked when we returned these things 3 days later- we actually received a refund because we returned everything early.
We picked up some food from dinner Pizza Paradiso. We got a large ½ cheese, ½ Maui Wowie pizza $20.75, a Vegetarian Platter (4 falafel fritters, two domathakia- grape leaves, hummus, baba ghannouj, yogurt sauce, tabbouleh & pita bread ), $13.95 and a Caesar Salad ($6.95). We had a $3.00 coupon from one of the tourist books we were given, so the total of our dinner was $40.26.
The food was excellent!
We also stopped in at the Times Market for more sushi, drinks, dessert and donut holes for the next morning ($18.69, with a $2.53 frequent shopper discount).
We didn’t eat right away. We left the food and went to the beach to try out our newly rented fins and play at the beach.
The boys returned to the room, Mark and I stopped at one of the pools- this ended up being a nightly ritual and it was great because very few people were at the pools when we visited.
Continued in Next Post
natebenma
Beach Club Dee
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2008
Continued from Previous Post
We then returned to the beach for the sunset
We came back to the room and I think we relaxed for the rest of the evening- we played cards while downloading pictures onto Mark’s surface tablet.
And that was the end of our "do nothing day".
Up Next: Snorkeling is Greater at Molokini Crater
We then returned to the beach for the sunset
We came back to the room and I think we relaxed for the rest of the evening- we played cards while downloading pictures onto Mark’s surface tablet.
And that was the end of our "do nothing day".
Up Next: Snorkeling is Greater at Molokini Crater
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luvpoohandcompany
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2009
Seriously Dee that sunset is simply beautiful! I love yours and Marks nightly ritual of a dip in the peaceful pool to round off the day I must also confess I have never eaten a shaved ice! Am I missing out? They look tasty and the menu reads well but I don't think I've ever seen them for sale
I must also confess I have never eaten a shaved ice! Am I missing out? They look tasty and the menu reads well but I don't think I've ever seen them for sale
luvpoohandcompany
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2009
Your trip report is making me want to visit Hawaii asap!
HockeyMomR
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2006
I love your "do nothing day"! Great snacks, food, picture perfect sunset and the water looks lovely.
Rebecca
Rebecca
saintstickets
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2009
Beautiful pics and to a do-nothing day! Those can make the best memories!
to a do-nothing day! Those can make the best memories!
MEK
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 8, 2005
Sorry I missed this update. Where was I?
I'm glad you finally found some authentic shaved ice. I know from reading Podsnel's TRs that is a VERY big thing. Nothing but the best. Love the menu with all the possible add-ons.
Sounds like fun shopping, but even better is the yummy food picture. I would be all over that.
The prices for your fins and chair are amazing and I can't believe they gave you a refund for returning early.
That pool looks lovely. I can definitely see getting into that type of evening routine.
And that sunset is to die for! Just stunning!
I'm glad you finally found some authentic shaved ice. I know from reading Podsnel's TRs that is a VERY big thing. Nothing but the best. Love the menu with all the possible add-ons.
Sounds like fun shopping, but even better is the yummy food picture. I would be all over that.
The prices for your fins and chair are amazing and I can't believe they gave you a refund for returning early.
That pool looks lovely. I can definitely see getting into that type of evening routine.
And that sunset is to die for! Just stunning!
natebenma
Beach Club Dee
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2008
Seriously Dee that sunset is simply beautiful! I love yours and Marks nightly ritual of a dip in the peaceful pool to round off the day
It's so funny. Mark refuses to look at sunrise or sunset pictures because they look different through the lens of a camera than they do just watching them.
I was surprised how much he enjoyed the nightly swim, since he doesn't usually use pools that much on vacation, especially when we have the ocean for an option. But we took a few mid-day swim breaks at Disneyland, too. None on our Feb Universal trip, though.
Shave ice is definitely a Hawaiian treat. You don't see it in too many other places. They are good, but to be honest, I'm more of an ice cream gal.
Not a bad plan! It was the right time to visit Hawaii for our family.
Thanks!
Was it the Old Lahaina luau? I think that is the most famous one.
You know, we must not have walked far enough in the right direction. I'm guessing I would know if I saw the banyan tree.
It was really strange for us not to have an agenda or itinerary for the day, but in spite of that, it was a great day!
Beautiful pics and
Thanks! It was a welcome, relaxing sort of day, which was just perfect after our 4 days at DL, the activity on Oahu and our travel day.
Thank you so much!!!
Sorry I missed this update. Where was I?
I'm glad you finally found some authentic shaved ice. I know from reading Podsnel's TRs that is a VERY big thing. Nothing but the best. Love the menu with all the possible add-ons.
Sounds like fun shopping, but even better is the yummy food picture. I would be all over that.
The prices for your fins and chair are amazing and I can't believe they gave you a refund for returning early.
That pool looks lovely. I can definitely see getting into that type of evening routine.
And that sunset is to die for! Just stunning!
The one we had in Oahu was not good, and we had some later in the trip that was ok, not great, but baby bear would definitely approve of the ones from Ululani's. The shave ice that afternoon was just right!
I love a mixed Mediterranean platter like that, or like you can get at the Tangierine Café in EPCOT. Such light, but satisfying tastes.
We were shocked at a refund at the Snorkel place. After the high cost of everything there we almost asked- "Are you sure?" Almost!
I know you would definitely appreciate the pool and the sunsets!
I hope you and Mark can make it back there, but it is hard with so many competing travel destinations. Oh, yeah, and the huge pricetag!
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