Gidget Goes Hawaiian- Kauai & Aulani 8/2012 TR- 5/24 COMPLETE!!

[MEK]

So I am caught up back to your Kuani day. I know I need to read backwards a little bit more, but I had to see your room at Aulani. Wow Wow WOW WOW WOW! Love it. I know it will be years before I make it there, but it looks fabulous! Can't wait to see the day time view.

And the food on your last day. YUMMY! That pie looks so amazing for so $7.95

You day time scenery pictures continue to be wonderful.

Oh - and thanks for posting all the infr about Aulani. Pretty cool stuff going on.

 

[rentayenta]

REALLY?????? That would be AWESOME!!!!! When are you going?

It's just in MY mind at this point. If Jenna and her gang go in June, then we'll join them. If not then it'll be August. What are your dates? And then of course I'm trying to swing a bday trip for myself to meet some friends in March. Michael is all for it, it's just getting the dates set.

 

[ACDSNY]

Hope you, pods and the kids are ready for Hurricane Sandy. Sending a prayer your way. Stay safe and sound. I hope your power doesn't go out...I need my Aulani fix from your fantastic TR!

Ditto from me too. Wishing you a safe week.

 

[podsnel]

Right across the street from Aulani is the Ko Olina golf course- the boys and I were signed up for a clinic at 3, followed by 9 holes of golf. Pods dropped us off, we did some shopping in the pro shop for souvie golf shirts (I actually would be wearing mine today)- yes, that's right- shopping, largely frowned upon by my men, is always approved in a Pro Shop. While we were in our clinic, Pods was going over to the ABC Store in the shopping center and picking up a few necessities- like Koloa Rum- for the villa. This was AWESOME! Twice we had to go to the grocery store and TWICE it wasn't me who went!

The pro was very good- we had our lesson with another 3 person family who was Japanese, and so there were 6 of us in total.

Well, the pro gave good advice, but, unfortunately for the rest of my family, I still stink it up BIG time out there- Pods returned, and we teed off- this course had the same deal as the one on Kauai, which was GREAT for families- one free kid with each paying adult.

This guy was gorgeous-

The water bottles were pretty too!

Timmy has a sweet swing- both in golf and in baseball-

In case you were wondering, I did NOT help Tyler put his outfit together...

I got another souvenier from that golf course- a blister on my left thumb. It left a scar in the shape of the Big Island (I don't think the blister knew it was from Oahu not the BI). These are the stores that I never shopped in-

We returned to Aulani just in time for the sunset- from our balcony-

Cont'd next post-

 

[rndmr2]

Yay you are at Aulani!

Wow what a beautiful resort, your villa is really nice and tropical looking with a great view!

Glad you were able to get a tee time, looks like you had a nice time golfing, sorry about your blister. Had to LOL at your comment about Tyler's outfit, I just thought he looked like a lot of golfers out there, mixing plaids and stripes, LOL At least the colors weren't too outlandish!

 

[Mysteria]

LOVE the view from your balcony!

 

[podsnel]

And now you know what the view is like from 1058-

Pods and I had a dinner for two planned at AMA AMA tonight, so we hopped in the shower. I also hopped downstairs to fill our mugs almost all the way up with diet coke- to be filled the rest of the way with Koloa Spice Rum. YUMMMMMMMMMMM.......

The boys were having DiGiorno pizza for dinner...at 7:30 they were going to go to a dance party at Painted Sky. A quick pic of the parents before we went downstairs-

I know it's kind of strange that we ate here twice in one day, but we wanted to have a day of just hanging around, so this was it. We started with cocktails- I ordered a Liliko΄i Mojito Old Lāhainā Light Rum, Liliko’i (Passion Fruit), Organic Agave Nectar, Mint, and fresh Lime Juice topped with Soda Water 9

Pods had a Mai Tai or maybe something else- I can't remember!

They served us the bread-

Pods tried ‘AMA‘AMA Chopped Salad, Crispy Wonton Strips, Bacon, Avocado, and House-made Ranch Dressing 18 But he subbed balsamic vinegar and oil for the ranch.

He loved his salad, so much so he had it again another time during the week. I was excited to try Big Eye Tuna and Sea Asparagus Poke Martini - finished Tableside 18

It was everything I hoped it would be- so refreshing, so delicious! And I love sea asparagus! For our entrees, I went with Today’s Hawaiian Sustainable Catch
Fresh from the fish auction served with Island Vegetables and Potato Purée.
Prepared to your liking either Grilled or Pan-seared, and
served with choice of a Lemon-Caper Brown Butter or Tomato-Ogo Market Price, and I chose the brown butter, but I don't remember which fish I was offered- some sort of sea bass?

Pods chose Seafood Paella with Green Asparagus, Baby Fennel, Chorizo, and crispy Herbs

We both were happy with our choices. This was such a good meal- I know it is pricey here, and reviews have been variable, but I am so glad we decided to make our own decision!

The long hallway we never needed to go down-

This hotel REALLY feels like AKL in so many ways-

Back to our villa after our lovely meal and a little tv before calling it a night. Tomorrow morning we'd be busy again...headed to Oahu's North Shore for kayaking, scuba diving, shrimp and shave ice!

 

[englishrose47]

Those are some amazing pix Ellen, Tyler's outfit is "different"It is a look I strive to NOT have my individuals choose to go to program in ,but they seem to share Tylers taste !!!

 

[ACDSNY]

Beautiful pics! The food at AMA AMA looks delish!

 

[franandaj]

Nice of you to scan and post all those activity sheets and stuff. I'll have to remember they are there once I start planning a trip to Aulani. I'm glad I have a good idea of which restaurants there are and what they serve. I've heard that there's not a lot of choices and going next door to the Marriot isn't a bad option too.

As far as your DL trip, here's a few reccomendations for some grub on your way down the 99. In Tulare at Properity Lane you'll find Cool Hand Lukes (a local chain of steakhouses), they've got some good eats there. There is also a Mexican restaurant called Chilitos, I haven't gone wrong at that place other than it can get loud at happy hour.

A few exits later (maybe Tulare Road) there is the Black Bear Diner (also a chain, but really good food). You'll see signs for Apple Annies, but we were warned to not eat there.

If you get all the way to Bakersfield (an hour past Tulare) before you're ready for dinner we like Zingo's Cafe on Buck Owens Blvd. It's a typical 50's diner and evidently hasn't changed since then. I was reading reviews on Yelp (they don't have a website) and everyone talks about the "politically incorrect" food that they served and how wonderful it is and has been for the 50 years. We just stumbled upon it a few years ago, and keep coming back, didn't realize that it was sort of an "institution" as a Greasy spoon in town.

At this point you're probably thinking about WDW....you can come back and revisit your TR and say, "Now I know I had a recomendation for places to eat on the way to DL..."

 

[anewmac]

Okay, what did I miss I knew you were going to DL next Aug, but you are in single digits for a DL trip??? We will be at DTD next Friday night - heading to LA - staying in San Pedro (where the DCL ships sail out of) - Jim and DBIL are going to the Ducks/USC game on Saturday, and DSIL and I will be shopping.

What you will be in my hometown! Darn it and I cant get to DL to see you.. SOMEDAY LOL. Where in Pedro are you staying? Oh and Tell Jim.. BRING IT Ducks are goind down! Fight on SC lol!

We are going to WDW on Friday for 10 days- going to DL next summer in August, silly girl!

Yeah think of me while I'll be suffering at work LOL

I saw your message- I just haven't looked at the stuff yet! I'll try to get to it in the next couple of days- if we don't lose power, that is....

Stay safe my friend!

Loved hearing your story about how you and pods met that is such an great story, what is meant to be will be. You being the pea in the pod was just faite too how cute.

The resort is AMAZING. I agree it looks a lot like AKL and the Poly combined. Sounds like you had a nice relaxing day also. I was going to say Tylers outfit was cracking me up. Thats something that my kids would do too... with the "eh good enough" look. You never stear wrong of the good food porn too. it all looks amazing!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

What you will be in my hometown! Darn it and I cant get to DL to see you.. SOMEDAY LOL. Where in Pedro are you staying? Oh and Tell Jim.. BRING IT Ducks are goind down! Fight on SC lol!

Shoot! We are staying at the Doubletree - I think it's near the marina.



Oh, and GO DUCKS!!!!!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

We are going to WDW on Friday for 10 days- going to DL next summer in August, silly girl!



I saw your message- I just haven't looked at the stuff yet! I'll try to get to it in the next couple of days- if we don't lose power, that is....

Okay - it is August - you were planning your drive down the coast, so I thought you had planned a quick post anniversary trip! - for WDW on Friday!

Stay safe, my friend!



ETA: Didn't see that Drea wrote the same thing! - great minds, I guess! Or lots of prayers for your safety.

 

[jenseib]

Gorgeous! I would love to go there too. Add it to my list of places my husband will tell me no about!

 

[dizneeat]

All caught up, Ellen!

I love your meet/fall in love story!

And you finally made it to Aulani. May I say it's BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks so much for all the photos .. very much appreciated!

 

[englishrose47]

Checkin' in, I am doing a Marv, posting on otheres threads instead of updating my own

 

[papertraveller]

Stay safe through Sandy!

 

[podsnel]

Thx- we just lost power- had a huge tree fell in our front yard- t&t wasted no tome they're Already playing chess!

 

[ACDSNY]

Thx- we just lost power- had a huge tree fell in our front yard- t&t wasted no tome they're Already playing chess!

Sorry to hear you're without power, but happy to hear the tree didn't fall on your house.

 

[franandaj]

Thx- we just lost power- had a huge tree fell in our front yard- t&t wasted no tome they're Already playing chess!

Ugh! How long till you go to WDW? I think you need it! Hope your plane is still on schedule!