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

[saintstickets]

And our first rainbow of the trip-

That's one thing I remember from our trip 30 years ago...plenty of rainbows. It rains so much that there are plenty of opportunities. Great TR! I can't wait to read more.

 

[ACDSNY]

You're starting to sell me on Kauai (although I really want to do the Big Island), we may do both and Aulani!

Great idea! Kauai, Big Island and Aulani

 

[anewmac]

you guys party like rock stars I wanna vacation with ya .. oh wait LOL. Food looks yum. And of course the views are breath taking.

 

[MEK]

OMG - I looked at all your pictures this morning and they are stunning! The view from your condo is amazing. I didn't realize you were going to so many different destinations while you were visiting. Of course - you are still saving the best for last.

The resort where you had dinner looks phenomenal. Of course, reading quickly this morning I can't even remember where you said you went, but it looks like it was the perfect night out. The food looks amazing.

I promise to go back and reread when I am not as rushed.

 

[papertraveller]

Hi Ellen,
Your photos are simply magnificent. 'Nuff said!
Keep it coming girl!

 

[englishrose47]

That Rainbow pix is awesome !!!!

 

[G'sMaman]

Love your trip reports and love the Princeville Resort as well! It’s one of my favorite places to visit. When we stayed there a couple of years ago, Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler were filming a movie there. Wasn’t really a fan of Adam Sandler’s, but every time we ran into him he couldn’t have been nicer to my DD who was 3 at the time. He seemed like he's probably a pretty great father. Really looking forward to the rest of your report!

 

[podsnel]

The scenery is breathtaking Ellen !!! I agree with the boys Roosters are not fun in the early morning

Yea, well- roosters are a part of the Kauai package, whether ya like them or not! Fortunately, the room was quiet when the door was closed- kind of.

Hi Ellen!
I actually started my trip report yesterday. (see the link here? )

We booked those Fantasy cruises about half a year or so ago (well, in February ) and had already the whole trip laid out perfectly. Now, given our trip this year we are going to throw it all around again (but keeping the two cruises )

I am really trying to incorporate Hawaii into our 2014 itinerary, but at the moment it does not look good. Flights to California, 4 weeks there AND then a flight to Hawaii and possibly Aulani .... maybe if we win the lottery or flight prices go down.
In the meantime I am just taking in your photos and am hoping and praying we will make it to Hawaii some time.

You going to Hawaii is like me going to New Zealand- that's alot of flight time. When I make that trip, I will be going halfway and staying a while before I do the rest. And yea- I'll have to win the lottery to do it, too!

Nice update! The room looks great. I assume that being a third floor unit you had to climb stairs to get there right?

You're starting to sell me on Kauai (although I really want to do the Big Island), we may do both and Aulani!

YOU saved my BUTT the other day- and you don't even know, because I didn't stick around to post, I was too busy freaking out and changing flights and hotels!!! I saw in a thread you were on what the dates are for next year's D23 event- and how the villas are sold out already for some dates at 11 mos out. I am hoping to score GCV at 7 mos out- I hope I do have some kind of a shot right at 7 months- EXCEPT when it is that expo weekend!! OMG- I was on the phone with United and the Ahwahnee and the Charlotte Hotel changing everything to the next week. I was a little worried about the flights, I'm using miles and there are a ton of planes, and United is messed up and who knows WHAT they'll put out there. But I called the Ahwahnee at EXACTLY 1 year and 1 day out because it's August. SO FREAKED OUT. Anyway, as of now I had to add another day (no good flights on 8/7 to San Fran for 12.500 points) but they are messing around with everything, so I am hopeful they will release more as time goes by. Cross your fingers for us!

Now- for your question- yes, sorry, we did have to climb stairs. No elevator, but there was a porter who helped with our ton of luggage. And the way the building was, it was only up one flight- because it's built on a hill, the 1st floor was actually a flight down.

Definitely do both!! I have been to the Big Island and it is very different from Kauai- kauai is just so lush and green- Hawaii reminds me of vacationing the moon.

Hi Ellen! You got some amazing pics! Looks like paradise with a capital P! I thought Oahu was beautiful, but Kauai is beyond words.

Im glad you took advantage of going to dinner at Kauai Grill. It's not like you could just save it for next week or something.

What a fun adventure for your brekkie! You had my kind of breakfast this time!

I agree, Kauai IS beyond words. I need a thesaurus, there are only so many times I can say Beautiful, goreous, breathtaking and amazing- and I am only on the third day! Oahu also was lovely, but I felt like there to get to the beauty, you had to first pass by factories, parking lots, traffic, highways, traffic, traffic and traffic to see it. On Kauai, when you sat in traffic, it lasted 10 minutes, and you were still blown away by the view. Very different.

I'm back & getting caught up. I love the pictures of Kuai, (my spelling isn't so good), exactly the type of place I would like to visit!

I love the outfit you wore to dinner, the colors are beautiful!

Thank you! I ordered it from Nordstrom's online- it looked Hawaiian to me!

 

[podsnel]

I love the Princeville area and going out to Ke'e Beach to walk the beach and watch the sunset.

Sorry- I missed you on that last one!

We loved it there, too. We did got to Ke'e, but during the day- so sunset there will have to go on my list for next time (and then we'll have dinner at Med Gourmet on the way back- already planning my return!!

Wow! Great updates, Ellen!

The photos in part 1 are again stunning and the food looks ..... well, let's say, VERY inviting.
Just what I need when I am trying to skip dinner.

After vacation dieting SUCKS!!! It's just another dose of cruel reality where calories count again!

That's one thing I remember from our trip 30 years ago...plenty of rainbows. It rains so much that there are plenty of opportunities. Great TR! I can't wait to read more.

Loved all the rainbows- saw loads of them on Oahu, too!

Great idea! Kauai, Big Island and Aulani

YES!! DEFINITELY!!

you guys party like rock stars I wanna vacation with ya .. oh wait LOL. Food looks yum. And of course the views are breath taking.

I can't WAIT for next May!!!

OMG - I looked at all your pictures this morning and they are stunning! The view from your condo is amazing. I didn't realize you were going to so many different destinations while you were visiting. Of course - you are still saving the best for last.

The resort where you had dinner looks phenomenal. Of course, reading quickly this morning I can't even remember where you said you went, but it looks like it was the perfect night out. The food looks amazing.

I promise to go back and reread when I am not as rushed.

It is such a hike to get there, I would hate to only visit one island- really, each one is very different from the rest. I am going to have a VERY hard time figuring out my next Hawaii vacation, tho- because I want to go back to Maui, and I will NEVER visit Hawaii without spending time on Kauai ever again- and then there's that Disney resort....so much to decide! Where's my winning lottery ticket already????

Hi Ellen,
Your photos are simply magnificent. 'Nuff said!
Keep it coming girl!

THANKS!!! And I will update later today- I REALLY need to get to BJ's....

That Rainbow pix is awesome !!!!

Thanks Rosie!

Love your trip reports and love the Princeville Resort as well! It’s one of my favorite places to visit. When we stayed there a couple of years ago, Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler were filming a movie there. Wasn’t really a fan of Adam Sandler’s, but every time we ran into him he couldn’t have been nicer to my DD who was 3 at the time. He seemed like he's probably a pretty great father. Really looking forward to the rest of your report!

Well, that's very kind, thank-you! How cool about adam Sandler! They make soooo many movies on that North Shore- and sooo many celebrities have homes there- if I were a celeb, I know that's where I would want to be, too. Crap AGAIN! Where's my winning lottery ticket????

 

[papertraveller]

Love your trip reports and love the Princeville Resort as well! It’s one of my favorite places to visit. When we stayed there a couple of years ago, Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler were filming a movie there. Wasn’t really a fan of Adam Sandler’s, but every time we ran into him he couldn’t have been nicer to my DD who was 3 at the time. He seemed like he's probably a pretty great father. Really looking forward to the rest of your report!

We got that movie in a basket at a school fundraiser. It's called Just Go With It. And in the genre of Jennifer Aniston-Adam Sandler rom-coms, it's not bad. And I say this having sat through it at least four times. The check-in scene at the hotel is pretty funny. The scenery, of course, is terrific.

 

[podsnel]

We got that movie in a basket at a school fundraiser. It's called Just Go With It. And in the genre of Jennifer Aniston-Adam Sandler rom-coms, it's not bad. And I say this having sat through it at least four times. The check-in scene at the hotel is pretty funny. The scenery, of course, is terrific.

Oh yea! I've seen it, too (although not nearly as much as you!). It really amazes me how many movies have been filmed there, including POC On Stranger Tides (and I have my own movie of where they filmed from this trip!) I'll have to find a list and add it into my next update. I LOVE Rom-coms....

 

[rndmr2]

Glad you enjoyed your dinner at the Kauai Grill, it's really pretty there and you had a great view from your table. That dessert you ordered did look a little crazy, what was all that?

Beautiful view from your room, must have been awesome to have breakfast out on the balcony.

 

[G'sMaman]

We got that movie in a basket at a school fundraiser. It's called Just Go With It. And in the genre of Jennifer Aniston-Adam Sandler rom-coms, it's not bad. And I say this having sat through it at least four times. The check-in scene at the hotel is pretty funny. The scenery, of course, is terrific.

Good memory! I always meant to go see the movie, but it seemed like it came and went pretty quickly. I'll have to see if it's still available on DVD. It's always funny to see what ends up in the movies. They can spend weeks shooting at a particular location and it ends up only being 5 minutes of the finished movie.

Oh yea! I've seen it, too (although not nearly as much as you!). It really amazes me how many movies have been filmed there, including POC On Stranger Tides (and I have my own movie of where they filmed from this trip!) I'll have to find a list and add it into my next update. I LOVE Rom-coms....

Great idea! I have already added The Descendants to my list based on your TR. Your pictures are amazing and are the perfect reminder of why we love going to Kauai. We live in San Francisco so flights to Hawaii are not too bad, but we skipped Kauai this year and went to Aulani instead and loved it, especially with a toddler in tow. I told my husband if we bought some Aulani points then I would forego our trips to the Princeville Resort . . . at least for now. Oh, the bargains we have to strike to get our DVC fix.

 

[podsnel]

On Sunday morning, we had booked a Zip and Dip tour at Princeville Ranch Adventures- http://princevilleranch.com/ The zip n dip included 9 ziplines, a hike through the rainforest to a watering hole and small waterfall where we would have a picnic lunch. The boys were REALLY excited about doing this- I was looking forward to it, too. Although I am afraid of heights, I was pretty sure once I did it, I would be over it and I would love it! Well....I was right! I loved it! There were 12 of us in our group, plus our two AWESOME guides, Kaye & Chet. They start you off with a little one, and the lines keep getting bigger and bigger until the end when you ride the double zip- King Kong. Ok- THAT one I was shaking on, it's a little different than the rest- but more on that later. First- a few pics of the others-

We got into our harnesses and boarded a truck for the short ride to the ziplines-

My family went first-

It's nice that they have that little practice one, but when you do it the first time, you are scared nonetheless! There was one woman in our grouop who was absolutely TERRIFIED- and she never got over it. She would not even open her eyes- and she was shaking like a leaf. We all felt so bad for her- I can't begin to imagine how stressful it all was for her.

We actually chose this zipline tour for several reasons- at the top of the list was that it was located about 5 minutes from where we were staying...but, besides that, it gets excellent reviews and it has the kind of ziplines where you run off a ramp- somehow that is less stressful when you are afraid of heights- I know this because King Kong is NOT a ramp- but more on that later-

Click to play-

On the website, the video says screaming makes you go faster! So I always made sure to test that theory when it was my turn!

click to play-


The zip n dip also includes a swinging bridge- THAT was pretty scary, it took a while for me to get across! But Timmy went first, and Kay shook the bridge the whole time- it was pretty funny. She also ran across before any of us, with no hands, and challenged us to do the same. Pods made it about 1/3 of the way like that- me, I wasn't up for that challenge AT ALL!

Crap-Photobucket issues- back with more soon-

 

[podsnel]

Ok...so that time I couldn't even close the page the PB was on- what a mess that sight is lately! Anywho..... we walked over to another zip-

On the next one I took some pics of myself while I was flying through the air, so I guess I was comfortable doing this now!

It was beautiful on that ranch- well, DUH! Of course it was!!! It was on Kauai!!

We did a group pic-

Our guides told us to jump-

So then we told them to jump-

Those guides were the BEST- I really loved Kay, she was hilarious.

click to play-


At the end she hugged me good bye twice and told me what a great family I had- that made me like her EVEN MORE!

This is Chet coming in- Kay told us to high five him- he said it was awesome and it made his day!

Then it was time for a hike into the rainforest-

PB issues AGAIN!!! Back in a minute-

 

[ACDSNY]

Love the pics!

You're a braver woman than I was. Six of us did the Hike, Zip and Kayak tour in 2008 at the Princeville Ranch, I took pics instead of doing the ziplines. We all loved the tour and guides. We had a couple from NYC in our group so the guides kept telling them to watch out for wild pigs and kept making pig noises. We raised pigs so we knew the noises were nowhere close to the real thing, so it kept us all laughing on the hike.

 

[KristiMc]

That looks like so much fun. That is on my list for when I get to Hawaii - someday

 

[podsnel]

Above us was a zip we had already done-

This part was muddy and slippery on the rocks- once again, I was ELATED we were wearing Keens. The hike was rated moderate, and was just over a mile in.

While the guides got lunch ready, we all grabbed an inner tube and jumped in the watering hole. To get in, we all climbed up a little cliff and jumped in.

Except...jumping off was freakin me out!!! It was only maybe 8 feet, but I was freaked! What a loser!!! But, I really wanted to go swimming, and the group encouraged me- so I sucked it up and jumped. We had a really, really great bunch of people with us that day- I LOVED those total strangers! I KNOW! You're SHOCKED!!!

That was not me jumping, by the way. But she looks much better in her swimsuit than I did in mine, so you can look at her instead. We floated around for a while-

It was a great way to cool off. Then it was time to get out and eat. DUH!! I didn't have to jump! I could have just gone in the way we got out! I am just so stupid sometimes it's a wonder I remember to breathe!

Lunch was make your own sandwiches and cookies. It tasted great. See the little cat in the pic?

He lives there. Someone tried to find him a home, and moved him about 5 miles away. He ended up coming back. That cat REALLY wants to be there!

A pretty view for lunch-

Then it was time for our last zip- King Kong- yikes!! 26 ft high platform, on the edge of a ravine, 1200 feet long, and side by side- a double. First you had to climb up this-

And lemme tell ya- I was shaking by the time I got to the top. Then they unhook you from the wire you were attached to coming up, and ask you to stand on a box on the edge of that platform so they can attach you to the zip.

No lie- my knees were knockin together! It was really high up there!! Remember I said King Kong was different than the other zips? Well, that's because there is no ramp, and you just jump off. Seriously. I had heart palpitations over 8 feet, and now THIS??? OMG- not only that, but you also have to grab the brake yourself- on all the other zips, the guides stop you. So even the nice woman who was terrified was going to have to open her eyes on this one.

I was shaking so much when T&T came up the ramp I am AMAZED this pic isn't blurry-

Oh- and one other tiny detail. You'd better make sure you are going fast. Because if you don't make it all the way across, well, you are outta luck. And they have to manually drag your big ol' humiliated butt all the way in. Which is not easy and NOT good.

In case there was any doubt in my jumping off and zipping, not to worry. The only thing scarier to me than jumping off a 26 foot high platform is getting stuck in the middle of a 1200 foot zipline hanging 50 or so feet in the air over some ravine.

I balled up into a canon ball and shot right past Pods!

I even managed to take his picture as I was about to sail past him-

My favorite group of total strangers cheered like crazy when I beat him- especially Kay. I really miss her!

The boys were the last right after us- here they come!

They were very impressed I had beaten their Dad. Good thing I had all those total strangers to vouch for me, because they never would have believed just me.

A short walk back to the truck, and it was time to say good bye. I overheard Kay telling Chet when we were leaving that she was really going to miss all of us- that we were the best group ever. Awwww..... I really miss her, too...

Fwiw, I thought this was an EXCELLENT way to spend 4 hours- it was REALLY cool, very thrilling. T&T thought so too. Pods, on the other hand, thought it was kind of tame.

I guess it takes a LOT to get a CPA's heart pumping. I've decided to arrange his next excursion soon- we're going to throw him out of an airplane with a paper napkin for a parachute. Woohoo!!! Maybe that'll get him THRILLED, lol!

Up next- well, they have beaches in Kauai, don't they?? Let's do something new- let's RELAX.......

 

[podsnel]

Glad you enjoyed your dinner at the Kauai Grill, it's really pretty there and you had a great view from your table. That dessert you ordered did look a little crazy, what was all that?

Beautiful view from your room, must have been awesome to have breakfast out on the balcony.

The dessert had a thai basil sauce on it. It tasted extremely herbacious- I LOVE to try everything, but I was not willing to try more than once with that one.

It WAS awesome to have ANYTHING on the balcony- I did love being there sooooo much. So incredible.

Good memory! I always meant to go see the movie, but it seemed like it came and went pretty quickly. I'll have to see if it's still available on DVD. It's always funny to see what ends up in the movies. They can spend weeks shooting at a particular location and it ends up only being 5 minutes of the finished movie.

I think I watched it on DVD- I didn't see it in the theatre. Now, of course, I need to watch it again so I can say- I was on that beach! I was at that hotel!

Great idea! I have already added The Descendants to my list based on your TR. Your pictures are amazing and are the perfect reminder of why we love going to Kauai. We live in San Francisco so flights to Hawaii are not too bad, but we skipped Kauai this year and went to Aulani instead and loved it, especially with a toddler in tow. I told my husband if we bought some Aulani points then I would forego our trips to the Princeville Resort . . . at least for now. Oh, the bargains we have to strike to get our DVC fix.

That's a really good movie- the book was excellent, too. You live in SF? I just booked our flight there for next year- August 6th. Can't wait! I think we're going to stay at the Suites at Fisherman's Wharf- all based on the fact that we'll have 2 rooms instead of being crammed into one for 4 nights. So far I am planning to ride bikes over the GG Bridge to Sausalito and take the ferry back, hopefully catch a Giants game, hike in Muir woods (I adored Muir woods when I visited the last time), visit the Disney museum, go to Alcatraz.....then we're headed to Yosemite with an overnight on the way at the Charlotte Hotel (after we raft with Sunshine Rafting) and then 2 nights at the Ahwahnee.....then a night somewhere on the way to DL and hopefully 5 nights at GCV. ANY advice or recommendations you have on your lovely city- well, I'm all ears!

Oh! And good luck on convincing your DH! Sounds great to me!!!

 

[podsnel]

Love the pics!

You're a braver woman than I was. Six of us did the Hike, Zip and Kayak tour in 2008 at the Princeville Ranch, I took pics instead of doing the ziplines. We all loved the tour and guides. We had a couple from NYC in our group so the guides kept telling them to watch out for wild pigs and kept making pig noises. We raised pigs so we knew the noises were nowhere close to the real thing, so it kept us all laughing on the hike.

How did you get across if you didn't zip? They have 9 lines now- maybe it was different then? That's VERY funny about the pigs- it must be a pre-requisite to have a great sense of humor to be employed there. That kayak trip looks great. Maybe I'll do that next time-

That looks like so much fun. That is on my list for when I get to Hawaii - someday

It was a blast- extremely empowering!