...And Then Scotty Happened. A Hawaiian Adventure (CHAPTER 32 Added 5/23--THE END)

[Captain_Oblivious]

Da Plane! Da Plane!

And what were you, two???

I was old enough to remember seeing some of the episodes... but not old enough to really remember what they were about.

For a take it easy morning, you guys still did quite a bit! Pretty pretty beach and Scotty's taco looks really really good!

They were really good! Gotta love the food trucks.

Nice tee shirts!

Seen something like that before?

I am really enjoying your trip report! We actually live in Honolulu but have only been here since December. We haven't made it out to any of the other islands and you are making me want to take a trip! We also are going to Aulani for our first time in 15 days so we are super excited! Thanks so much for all the details and pics. Can't wait to read more!!

I'm glad you're reading and enjoying it...and you will love Aulani!

Nice relaxing morning. I can't get over how beautiful some of those pictures are. The gorgeous blue water. Looks amazing!

I caught myself staring at those lighthouse pictures a few times while I was choosing the photos to post in the update.

Hey - I do not take offense to whatever was said about Kathy and me ( probably because after going back about 5 quotes I really can't find it )

Don't worry, Kathy took enough offense for both of you.

What a beautiful day - after the weather around here the last couple of days
(rain, mist and cold ) it just looks heavenly.

Amen to that. I wanna go back!

Darn Rooster!!!!! There would have been some choice words yelled at that rooster from me too that's for sure.

Such as...?

You were pretty busy for a lazy day, but in paradise you need to make the most of it. Great job on a non pb&j lunch and avoiding another death march without supplies.

Julie would have killed me if I had forced her on that hike. It would have been cool to see the coastline, though.

I can imagine that poor puppy just inching his way up to see if a scrap would fall. He looks like a great actor.

Good thing I'm heartless.

Just think that was only half you day. Always up for fabulous sunset pictures.

I guess I'll have to get to work loading them up!

 

[Poolrat]

Such as...?

#$@%$% &%&^%$^%#%$I &^&^%^%$^%*& #@#%$^&(*)*)&&%

Those are some.....

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

#$@%$% &%&^%$^%#%$I &^&^%^%$^%*& #@#%$^&(*)*)&&%

Those are some.....

PAT!!! This is a family board! Sheesh.

 

[afwdwfan]

And, apparently, a rooster. A big ugly rooster who believes it is his God-given duty to announce that the sun is coming up just past 5-FREAKIN’-O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING and do so at a decibel level equal to a dump truck rumbling through a nitroglycerin plant.

We have a friend at church who is an Army nurse. She spent a couple of years in Hawaii and she was telling us about the wildlife there. She said the lizards and mongoose are annoying, but something you get used to. The things she hated were the centipedes and roosters. She said they had one that liked to spend a lot of time outside their newborn baby's window. She was never happier than she was the day a mongoose got it.

We got the little punk on camera a little later. I think I’ll name him Extra Crispy.

How did he taste? And if you don't know, I'm going to be very disappointed.

Scotty was overjoyed to see them “in the wild”.

Wasn't he excited to see a rooster in the wild?

Check this out. Even my kids take better pictures than the average stranger.

Well done.

Local custom is to allow 5-6 cars one on side proceed across before taking your turn. One of the bridges was helpfully posted with a weight limit, as though you could instantly figure out the weight of the cars ahead of you before knowing when to proceed.

I always thought weight limit was per vehicle? Maybe some DOT engineer should come up with some signs to clarify this so it is more clear.

I’m not sure how long this guy had been parked here, but it was evident that he chose…poorly.

And you're worried about getting in trouble for violating a rental agreement...

But given our experience with the other steep hike we did on Maui, we realized it was going to be too much of a struggle for a pregnant woman. So we decided not to bother trying. I guess we’ll have to go back.

We drove east to the town of Kilauea and followed the signs (and our map) to an overlook of the Kilauea Lighthouse. There’s a fee to enter the grounds, but cheapskates like us were able to park at the overlook and observe the gorgeous scenery from there.

Well worth the cost of admission.

We went for a mix of the carne asada and kalua pork tacos. I had the beef, and it was excellent. My only regret was ordering 1 instead of 2:

Well, it is definitely bigger than one from Taco Hell, but yeah, I'd have to go for 2 or 3.

The only photo I have of the pork taco is this model-quality shot of Scotty eating his

Proof that it must have been good.

Ignore my daughter being a goofball.

If we have to ignore people being goofballs, we might as well stop reading this TR right now.

Now tell me who this dog looks like? Come on? Where have you seen a cleaner and animatronic version of him? I hope you shared a little bit. He looks so darn pitiful!

I totally thought the same thing when I saw the picture! Glad I'm not the only one.

Jill in CO

Yep... I was thinking the same thing when I saw that dog. Mark, you could have had the best TR picture ever if you could have gotten this dog to pose with a key.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

We have a friend at church who is an Army nurse. She spent a couple of years in Hawaii and she was telling us about the wildlife there. She said the lizards and mongoose are annoying, but something you get used to. The things she hated were the centipedes and roosters. She said they had one that liked to spend a lot of time outside their newborn baby's window. She was never happier than she was the day a mongoose got it.

I would have loved for a mongoose to get this guy. Boy, did he have it coming.

How did he taste? And if you don't know, I'm going to be very disappointed.

Sorry, I left my deep-frying equipment back home. Those bag fees are killers.

Wasn't he excited to see a rooster in the wild?

"Excited?" You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

I always thought weight limit was per vehicle? Maybe some DOT engineer should come up with some signs to clarify this so it is more clear.

I dunno. That's for the bridge guys to worry about.

And you're worried about getting in trouble for violating a rental agreement...

Well, not anymore.

Well worth the cost of admission.

I'd say we exceeded the value of the price we paid.

Well, it is definitely bigger than one from Taco Hell, but yeah, I'd have to go for 2 or 3.

Hindsight is 20/20. At least this one was easier on the stomach than Taco Bell would have been. That stuff is like Liquid Plumber for your intestines.

Proof that it must have been good.

Exactly.

If we have to ignore people being goofballs, we might as well stop reading this TR right now.

Excellent point.

Yep... I was thinking the same thing when I saw that dog. Mark, you could have had the best TR picture ever if you could have gotten this dog to pose with a key.

If only! And then I could have locked my kids up somewhere....

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I’m pretty sure there’s a law somewhere that says if you didn’t order enough food for lunch, you have to make up for it by going to get ice cream. And if there isn’t a law, there should be.

We left the taco truck and Jack Sparrow’s dog behind and drove the short distance back to Princeville, pulling into a shopping center for another stop inspired by Ellen’s (podsnel) Trip Report. We ducked into Lappert’s Ice Cream shop for a treat. If I recall correctly, most of us went with chocolate chip cookie dough, but Julie won the day with something called Mauna Kea Eruption or something to that effect. Vanilla ice cream with brownie “lava rocks” and raspberry swirl making the “lava”.

Here’s the family with their bounty. Note Dave taking the goofball trophy for this photo.

Once we’d finished, we wandered the shopping center looking at gorgeous Hawaiian dresses for the ladies and obnoxious Hawaiian shirts for the guys. We bought a shirt for my little nephew as well, because you can’t beat a toddler rocking a Hawaiian shirt.

After that? It was hot. We were tired. Our condo had a pool. Done.

It was a pretty nice pool, too. We ended up spending most of the afternoon here. Unfortunately, I do not have photo evidence that anyone got dunked, had their head shoved into waterfalls, or anything of that nature, so it must not have happened. Afterward, we wandered the grounds, checking out the common area near the North Shore cliffs.

It was getting on time for dinner, so we ventured out to a small place in an old school building, the Hanalei Gourmet (again, hat tip to Ellen). Despite the “gourmet” in the name, it was a casual mom-and-pop sit-down place that fit the laid-back vibe of Kauai. They’d advertised an early-bird special we were hoping to take advantage of, but it was only $2 off large-plate entrees, and neither of us was planning on ordering one to begin with.

I ended up getting a grilled chicken sandwich with “pineapple aioli”. I was hoping that would make for a tasty dish, but apparently “pineapple aioli” translates to “bland sauce that has no hint of pineapple flavor whatsoever”. So it ended up being a run-of-the-mill mediocre chicken sandwich. Julie got a chicken salad that was served in a “papaya boat”, which made for a fun presentation. She seemed to enjoy this more than I liked my meal.

However, I am happy to report that the dinner was saved by the inordinately large piece of chocolate cake we got for dessert. All’s well that ends well.

Now I know I may not have sold you very hard on this restaurant, but I do think they own bonus points for putting the bathroom soap in a ketchup bottle.

Our day of nothing was drawing to a close, but we had one more destination in mind—the Hanalei Pier once again. We drove back to the same parking lot where we’d had our taco lunch and wandered out onto the beach to watch the sunset. We didn’t have to wait too long for the show to begin. It started with (yawn) another rainbow.

And an outrigger canoe.

But enough of that. You want to see a sunset. Julie and I were hard-pressed to decide whether we liked this one or the one over Aulani better. But we were thankful to have had the opportunity to witness both.

Unfortunately, this was the point where some lower clouds rolled in and kind of ruined the light show. But we still got some nice colors out of the rest of the evening.

Have a magical weekend.

Coming Up Next: A chapter where we actually do something! You’ll see the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. And the stunning view from the top of the mountain.

 

[KatMark]

The heck with any other part of this update, I want this NOW!!!!



Oh my, it looks like heaven on a plate!

Okay, back to the other stuff, I guess.

The ice cream looks good...but it's not chocolate cake.

That pool and those flowers are simply stunning. I especially like the photo of the two chairs near the water...so peaceful and serene.

Sorry your chicken was disappointing, but hey you got the biggest piece of chocolate cake ever afterwards.

Your sunset pictures are truly spectacular.

 

[franandaj]

What a nice and peaceful day. And ending it with a sunset and a big piece of chocolate cake is just perfect!

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

So....the picture with the two empty chairs is now my computer background. Thanks for that! It was previously the scene from PotC with the dog holding the keys

That cake looks absolutely DELICIOUS. Of course, you had my mouth watering at the mention of ice cream. Can't beat cookie dough! Except, apparently, you can, and you did. Or at least Julie did.

Can't wait for the next update!

 

[jedijill]

Mmm, ice cream, cake and a Hawaiian sunset. Life doesn't get much better!

Jill in CO

 

[Dugette]

Sounds like a wonderful day, just soaking up Hawaii. You don't need to "do something" every day - especially in a place that beautiful. Ice cream, pool time, checking out the views, and a sunset sounds perfect. Love the pictures of the sunset. Oh, and that lava ice cream flavor sounds delicious!

 

[Poolrat]

I love the 2 chairs one too as well as the sunset photos.

Just can't help but smile and ..... wish I was there.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

The heck with any other part of this update, I want this NOW!!!!

Never get between a woman and her chocolate.

Oh my, it looks like heaven on a plate!

Okay, back to the other stuff, I guess.

I remember that being the best part of the meal.

The ice cream looks good...but it's not chocolate cake.

Starting to sense a theme here.

That pool and those flowers are simply stunning. I especially like the photo of the two chairs near the water...so peaceful and serene.

Thanks! I liked that one too.

Sorry your chicken was disappointing, but hey you got the biggest piece of chocolate cake ever afterwards.

Wait--what?? There was chocolate cake?

Your sunset pictures are truly spectacular.

What a nice and peaceful day. And ending it with a sunset and a big piece of chocolate cake is just perfect!

I've had plenty of nice and peaceful days in Delaware, but Kauai seemed more memorable for some reason.

So....the picture with the two empty chairs is now my computer background. Thanks for that! It was previously the scene from PotC with the dog holding the keys

Glad you liked it! We are flattered. And I think that dog stole a taco from me.

That cake looks absolutely DELICIOUS. Of course, you had my mouth watering at the mention of ice cream. Can't beat cookie dough! Except, apparently, you can, and you did. Or at least Julie did.

I think it was actually a white chocolate ice cream that she had, rather than straight-up vanilla. Of course, this was months ago, so it could have been sardine-flavored for all I know.

Mmm, ice cream, cake and a Hawaiian sunset. Life doesn't get much better!

Jill in CO

Gonna have to agree with that.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Sounds like a wonderful day, just soaking up Hawaii. You don't need to "do something" every day - especially in a place that beautiful. Ice cream, pool time, checking out the views, and a sunset sounds perfect. Love the pictures of the sunset. Oh, and that lava ice cream flavor sounds delicious!

We really needed the rest. Although I will point out that resting was not without its consequences, as I'll explain in the next chapter. But you can burn yourself out if you push too hard.

I love the 2 chairs one too as well as the sunset photos.

Just can't help but smile and ..... wish I was there.

Glad you enjoyed them! I wish I was back there too.

 

[afwdwfan]

I’m pretty sure there’s a law somewhere that says if you didn’t order enough food for lunch, you have to make up for it by going to get ice cream. And if there isn’t a law, there should be.

If you want to bring this to the DDC as a new MANLAW, I'd definitely Second it.

We bought a shirt for my little nephew as well, because you can’t beat a toddler rocking a Hawaiian shirt.

After that? It was hot. We were tired. Our condo had a pool. Done.

Good plan! The pool looks awesome!

They’d advertised an early-bird special we were hoping to take advantage of, but it was only $2 off large-plate entrees, and neither of us was planning on ordering one to begin with.

However, I am happy to report that the dinner was saved by the inordinately large piece of chocolate cake we got for dessert. All’s well that ends well.

:: I'm tempted to go to Hawaii just for that.

But enough of that. You want to see a sunset. Julie and I were hard-pressed to decide whether we liked this one or the one over Aulani better. But we were thankful to have had the opportunity to witness both.

Great pictures!

When in Hawaii, you might as well enjoy as many variations of sunset views as you can. And you've done a fine job of that.

 

[eandesmom]

Chocolate Cake as big as your head! You can't go wrong with that.

Even if you did have ice cream already that day...

The pool and the sunset look fabulous, just

Sigh.

Lovely.

 

[aboveH20]

I've been occasionally posting to an unofficial trip report I started after our Aulani trip. I just mentioned that we had been alerted to the possibility of a DVC tour capped off by a $100 gift card due to one of your previous posts. I wanted to give you credit and thank you for mentioning it so we knew it would be informative and that we would be able to leave the presentation without any commitments to hand over future grandchildren.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

If you want to bring this to the DDC as a new MANLAW, I'd definitely Second it.

I guess I'd better make sure my cut/paste buttons work.

Good plan! The pool looks awesome!

It was pretty nice. And refreshing on a hot day.

:: I'm tempted to go to Hawaii just for that.

I'm pretty sure that's the main reason people go to Hawaii: the cake.

Great pictures!

When in Hawaii, you might as well enjoy as many variations of sunset views as you can. And you've done a fine job of that.

Thanks! We were surprised how many evenings we had sunsets blocked by cloud cover. I think it was a little rainier than normal on our trip. First world problems.

Chocolate Cake as big as your head! You can't go wrong with that.

This also is a law of nature.

Even if you did have ice cream already that day...

As always, the calories don't count on vacation.

The pool and the sunset look fabulous, just

Sigh.

Lovely.

I've been occasionally posting to an unofficial trip report I started after our Aulani trip. I just mentioned that we had been alerted to the possibility of a DVC tour capped off by a $100 gift card due to one of your previous posts. I wanted to give you credit and thank you for mentioning it so we knew it would be informative and that we would be able to leave the presentation without any commitments to hand over future grandchildren.

I'm glad it helped you out! And with that $100 I'm sure you came away with quite the haul, like a t-shirt and a couple of pens.

 

[that's nice]

Take a moment, if you will, and imagine spending a night on an idyllic tropical island…..
And, apparently, a rooster. A big ugly rooster who believes it is his God-given duty to announce that the sun is coming up just past 5-FREAKIN’-O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING and do so at a decibel level equal to a dump truck rumbling through a nitroglycerin plant.

Maybe that's why the room was so cheap?

Here was the view from our bedroom balcony in the morning (minus the @#$% chicken):

Stunning!

On the other side, we finally got to see Hawaii’s state bird: The nene.

So that's where that got that dance from!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG-Uklbqjjc

The fields below are taro fields, which is the plant that produces that delicious Hawaiian staple, poi. You know, the purple crap I never want to taste again.

You know you could of went don there and set it on fire. If you got caught you could of said you thought it was a sugar cane field.

Here are the kids. Note the excellent composition of this photo.

Beautiful shot!

By the way, the mountain range here on Kauai is known as the wettest spot on earth—well over 400 inches of rain fall on the peaks annually. But on this day, it sure does look clear, doesn’t it? Looks like this would have been a great day to be up there.

Until you were an hour in and it started pouring on you.

And yes, we busted out the Aulani shirts again. Because we had to justify the expense.

We reached the end of the road where there were several parking areas, both for the beach and the Kalalau Trail. I’m not sure how long this guy had been parked here, but it was evident that he chose…poorly.

I bet no one is gonna ding his door.

Kilauea Lighthouse. There’s a fee to enter the grounds, but cheapskates like us were able to park at the overlook and observe the gorgeous scenery from there.

Gorgeous! WIsh I was there right now.

It was already lunchtime, and we hadn’t bought any PB&J. To tell the truth, we may have been sick of it at that point anyway.

What? What? WHAT!!!!!!!!

So we drove back to Hanalei, headed towards the pier on the northeast end of the beach, and sought out a gourmet delicacy that had been recommended by Ellen (podsnel) in her Hawaiian trip report: The taco truck.

The menu:

Great prices!

We went for a mix of the carne asada and kalua pork tacos. I had the beef, and it was excellent. My only regret was ordering 1 instead of 2:

You couldn't go back? Did they only allow 1 order per day?

The only photo I have of the pork taco is this model-quality shot of Scotty eating his:

Another don't of photography: Taking pictures of people while they're eating.

 

[that's nice]

I’m pretty sure there’s a law somewhere that says if you didn’t order enough food for lunch, you have to make up for it by going to get ice cream. And if there isn’t a law, there should be.

should be a MAN LAW!

Julie won the day with something called Mauna Kea Eruption or something to that effect. Vanilla ice cream with brownie “lava rocks” and raspberry swirl making the “lava”.

Ding ding ding!!!!! We have a winner!!!!!

We bought a shirt for my little nephew as well, because you can’t beat a toddler rocking a Hawaiian shirt.

I break out a Hawaiian shirt in the summer for a day. Why am I telling you this?

I ended up getting a grilled chicken sandwich with “pineapple aioli”. I was hoping that would make for a tasty dish, but apparently “pineapple aioli” translates to “bland sauce that has no hint of pineapple flavor whatsoever”. So it ended up being a run-of-the-mill mediocre chicken sandwich.

I think it's time to let Julie order for you. You seem to have bad luck.

Gorgeous pictures. It always makes for a beautiful sunset when there are some clouds involved.