Wahines on Tour - Hawaii and peek at Aulani! LAST DAY IN THE SUNSHINE UPDATE 8/6

[saintstickets]

Sign me up coach! I'm in. DW and I are going to Aulani in Sept for our 30th anniversary so all tips, suggestions and info will be welcome!

 

[blessedmom4]

Tammie, I am so in! I am excited to hear all about the fun, the sun and the picture of the Mai Tai clinched it for me!

​

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Tammie, love the introductions, I didn't know (or remember) all of it!

So fun when a trip just falls into place and this one sounds like an extra special one!

Yum Mai Tai, even though I just brewed my breakfast tea!

Thanks for taking me/us along! Tom and I always wanted to visit Hawaii, but so far we never have made it there, so your trip is perfect for me!

It was a nice almost a surprise!

Well, maybe you could put some rum in your tea!

Now that you own DVC, it will be a good excuse to book the Aulani resort and go exploring!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

What a great way to get a trip!! I call situations that come together so perfectly like that, God kisses.

I feel like it's His way of reminding us we're His favorite. We're ALLLLL His favorite!!

I can't wait to hear more!! And yes, that drink looks amazing!! I thought those drinks had pineapple juice in it (it looks to clear to have pineapple juice in it)?

It looks really good , how was it?

God Kisses! That's a good one!

Oh, the Mai Tai was really good! It was pineapple juice - fresh, too! I think it is the reflection on the glas and the large amount of dark rum on the top that makes the juice in the pic look clear.

There were alot of different recipes, though. We were kind of on a quest to compare several - not in one night, though!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

i can''t wait to hear more about it

Laura! So nice to have my fellow Minnysoder girl and special DISbud here!

Sign me up coach! I'm in. DW and I are going to Aulani in Sept for our 30th anniversary so all tips, suggestions and info will be welcome!

Congrats on 30 years!!! There aren't many of us who make it that far! I hope I can give you some good info! Our anniversary is in Sept too! The 13th will be 32 for us. It is a great time to travel!

Tammie, I am so in! I am excited to hear all about the fun, the sun and the picture of the Mai Tai clinched it for me!

​

Welcome Judy! I'm so glad you can come along and get a little escape! A little "island magic" is in order once in awhile, right?

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Well, it seems that so many DISers are clever game inventors and pie chart makers.... which I am not... but I did think of a guessing game for you early bird readers! I posted a "bucket list" to Podsnel, while we were discussing our upcoming trips. I wonder if you can guess which things on the bucket list actually happened?

Please send your answers by PM, that way I can keep them all together. There will be one point for each right guess, and bonus points for creative suggestions to go with your answers!

Here is my Bucket List for Hawaii -A. Which items did I accomplish? B. Did I do parts of any activity? C. If I didn't do it, why not?

1. Pearl Harbor

2. Snorkel at Hanauma Bay

3. Hike (mild, mind you ) to a waterfall for a picnic

4. Eat lots of pineapple -maybe visit the Dole Plantation

5. Sunset Dinner Cruise

6. Attend a Luau

7. Check out Aulani - I guess they have a free "luau type show" on Wed.

8. Shop at the big flea market or whatever that is???

9. Visit some historical places or a museum (pre-dating PH)

10. Maybe swim with Dolphins?

I will give you a couple of days to get your guesses in before I start this puppy up - so get your thinking caps on and I'm coming over to your various TRs to get caught up!

 

[pkondz]

ok, here's my picks....
1. Pearl Harbor Done.

2. Snorkel at Hanauma Bay Done.

3. Hike (mild, mind you ) to a waterfall for a picnic Partially done. I'm guessing that you did some hiking but maybe the diamond head hike and not the waterfall one.

4. Eat lots of pineapple -maybe visit the Dole Plantation Done eating. Not done Dole Plantation... ran out of time.

5. Sunset Dinner Cruise Done.

6. Attend a Luau Done. I think it's a state crime for visitors to Hawaii to leave the island(s) without attending a luau.

7. Check out Aulani - I guess they have a free "luau type show" on Wed. Definitely done.

8. Shop at the big flea market or whatever that is??? Not done. Unless you mean International Market, then done, but may not have bought anything there.... so partial.

9. Visit some historical places or a museum (pre-dating PH) Done. Visited a historical place.

10. Maybe swim with Dolphins? Not done. You found that you have to basically sell your first born in order to afford it. And while that might be tempting to some parents, you resisted.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

ok, here's my picks....
1. Pearl Harbor Done.

2. Snorkel at Hanauma Bay Done.

3. Hike (mild, mind you ) to a waterfall for a picnic Partially done. I'm guessing that you did some hiking but maybe the diamond head hike and not the waterfall one.

4. Eat lots of pineapple -maybe visit the Dole Plantation Done eating. Not done Dole Plantation... ran out of time.

5. Sunset Dinner Cruise Done.

6. Attend a Luau Done. I think it's a state crime for visitors to Hawaii to leave the island(s) without attending a luau.

7. Check out Aulani - I guess they have a free "luau type show" on Wed. Definitely done.

8. Shop at the big flea market or whatever that is??? Not done. Unless you mean International Market, then done, but may not have bought anything there.... so partial.

9. Visit some historical places or a museum (pre-dating PH) Done. Visited a historical place.

10. Maybe swim with Dolphins? Not done. You found that you have to basically sell your first born in order to afford it. And while that might be tempting to some parents, you resisted.

Welcome and thanks for playing! I really enjoyed your answers!

 

[marvali]

Nice introductions, and it is always great when a trip like that just falls right in your lap!!!

Guessing your quest to compare Mai Tai's found some interesting results! The first one Alison and I had when we went there (years ago, pre-kids) looked about the same, but was in a much larger glass! One of those was a real butt-kicker, especially after an 8 hour flight!!!!

 

[glennbo123]

Thanks for the traveler intro's and background on how the trip came to be...I didn't realize the origins of it. Always nice to have a room paid for!

 

[Millie12591]

Oh, the Mai Tai was really good! It was pineapple juice - fresh, too! I think it is the reflection on the glas and the large amount of dark rum on the top that makes the juice in the pic look clear.

There were alot of different recipes, though. We were kind of on a quest to compare several - not in one night, though!

Excellent! And now that I look at the picture I think you're right, all the booze was on the top and all the juice at the bottom.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Nice introductions, and it is always great when a trip like that just falls right in your lap!!!

Guessing your quest to compare Mai Tai's found some interesting results! The first one Alison and I had when we went there (years ago, pre-kids) looked about the same, but was in a much larger glass! One of those was a real butt-kicker, especially after an 8 hour flight!!!!

Yes, it was an offer I couldn't refuse!

The Mai Tai quest was interesting - and some of them can really give a kick! One of us Wahines really got a comical one at one place!

Thanks for the traveler intro's and background on how the trip came to be...I didn't realize the origins of it. Always nice to have a room paid for!

Yes, free is always good! You will see it wasn't the Taj Mahal or anything - in fact I was trying to post some pics last night and the site went down. But it was clean and comfy!

Excellent! And now that I look at the picture I think you're right, all the booze was on the top and all the juice at the bottom.

Oh no, that wasn't "all the booze" - just the top part!

 

[karajeboo]

I'm here I'm here I'm here!!!!!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I'm here I'm here I'm here!!!!!

Why Mrs. McSparkleson! How wonderful to see you here!

 

[Timon]

I'm in...looking forward to this

 

[anewmac]

Well, it seems that so many DISers are clever game inventors and pie chart makers.... which I am not... but I did think of a guessing game for you early bird readers! I posted a "bucket list" to Podsnel, while we were discussing our upcoming trips. I wonder if you can guess which things on the bucket list actually happened?

Please send your answers by PM, that way I can keep them all together. There will be one point for each right guess, and bonus points for creative suggestions to go with your answers!

Here is my Bucket List for Hawaii -A. Which items did I accomplish? B. Did I do parts of any activity? C. If I didn't do it, why not?

1. Pearl Harbor check

2. Snorkel at Hanauma Bay negative

3. Hike (mild, mind you ) to a waterfall for a picnic check

4. Eat lots of pineapple -maybe visit the Dole Plantation in your drinks counts right.. check

5. Sunset Dinner Cruise check

6. Attend a Luau negative

7. Check out Aulani - I guess they have a free "luau type show" on Wed.check for checking out the resort only

8. Shop at the big flea market or whatever that is??? its shopping HELLO check

9. Visit some historical places or a museum (pre-dating PH)check

10. Maybe swim with Dolphins?negative

I will give you a couple of days to get your guesses in before I start this puppy up - so get your thinking caps on and I'm coming over to your various TRs to get caught up!
OH So glad you wait.. you know me always late to the party!
[/COLOR]

I'm here I'm here I'm here!!!!!

darn I thought I wasnt the only one late... oh well you know me got to make an entrance LOL ok all caught up and ready to hear more! how fun especially when half your trip is covered by the military! You know I love those kinds of deal.. better than when they RUIN yor plans LOL

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I'm in...looking forward to this

Welcome! Thanks for making the popcorn!

darn I thought I wasnt the only one late... oh well you know me got to make an entrance LOL ok all caught up and ready to hear more! how fun especially when half your trip is covered by the military! You know I love those kinds of deal.. better than when they RUIN yor plans LOL

Drea! I'm glad you survived your St. Pat's day celebration and made it over here! Thanks for playing the game!

Yeah, you know I had to hold the game a little, so that you and Kara could be fashionably late

Yep, it's much better when the military gives you a little bonus, instead of screwing up your life! What's the news for E's plans? Last I heard he might not be retiring after all???

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Happy Monday! I am happy it's Monday and work is over, because Jim is on his way home tonight!

I was realizing that our arrival day's activities won't give anything away, so I think we'll get this party started! Some of you have submitted answers to the game - thanks for playing! The winner gets King/Queen for a day, and maybe a little something else. It is a really close match so far! (but of course the answers are pretty much yes or no. Remember there are bonus points for creative answers)

We're in Hawaii!!!!

Our Travel day, Monday, March 5th dawned really cold, 22 deg, but no snow!

I was afraid we wouldn't hear the alarm clock at 3am, so I set 3 alarms! Michelle told me she did the same, and had me call her to be sure she was up!

We got on our little puddle jumper and made it to San Francisco in about an hour with no problems. We had a nice breakfast at Lori's Diner in the food court and then had only about 10 min until boarding. The boarding process was crazy slow as they were combining computer systems for United and Continental that day - every time they had a problem with the computer, the person checking the boarding passes would stop letting people on and help the other two try to figure it out. And then there were the gate lice, whose boarding number hadn't been called, but they were crowding the area so the ones who were called couldn't get through. I just don't understand that mentatility.

I had upgraded when I checked in the day before to an extra leg room seat, and then didn't get a seat assignment. The gentleman who assigned me a seat here in podunkville said he was giving me a nice window seat. Well, it was an exit seat on a 777 with a big door but no window! I really love to watch us fly in to somewhere new. It was okay though, I had tons of room because it was the front of a section, I sat with a pilot, and the flight attendant who had her jump seat there was really friendly. She even bought me a drink for being a military wife!

Before we knew it, we were landing in Honolulu!!! We had to board a shuttle to the other side of the airport, and then on a monorail to get our luggage. Baggage claim was kind of open air, so it was our first feel of nice warm air and the smell of flowers!

Just as we got off the escalator, one of the boys from the base called my name and said he was there with Jim to pick us up. Jim circled the airport until we all had our luggage, and we were all set!

We went to Hickham Air Field to drop off Colin and his girlfriend. And then we crossed a gate, and were met with this - (remember, I am not really giving anything away - this is not the tourist attraction, this is actually a working Naval Base):

Just so you don't think the tax payers are paying for 5 star resorts, here are our accomodations - I AM NOT complaining - it was clean and comfortable and FREE! We were staying at Hale Alii, which is a hotel with laundry facilities, a microwave and fridge and a lanai with a computer station, and a BBQ grill and deck.

The Bathroom was so small you had to step outside the door to use the hair dryer!

continued next post:

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Once we got unloaded and into our rooms, Jim had to go back to work

As soon as I kicked off my shoes, Michelle called and said Jesse wanted to go to the pool, and did I want to have a drink to get vacation started? Well, it was 5 O'clock in Oregon by then, so why not?

We walked across the yard outside

and over to the shopette ( you are going to learn all our lingo here) It is like a convenience store. They had a small food court there, so Michelle and I shared a burrito lunch and Jesse had some pizza, I think. We had brought along some plastic cups from the hotel room and got a big cup of ice. I bought a Skinny Girl Margarita, and we poured some into a cup, and tucked the rest away.

We headed over to the pool, where we had to stop and admire the Banyan trees

Jesse wanted to be Tarzan

We relaxed on the lounge chairs and the tone was set for the vacation - it started to rain. We moved the chairs back under the gazebo and continued to enjoy our drinks. Eventually, Jesse decided he was cold, as the pool wasn't very warm and it was really cloudy. We started to pack up, and got a text that our men were at the hotel waiting for us. We walked back, and stopped to admire some pre- WWII vintage homes that are still used for the top officers.

This one is the Admiral's House

The road to our back parking lot turned right next to the Admiral's yard, so when we were looking for where our turn was, we would always say, "turn at the Admiral's House".

We headed back to get ready for our dinner out at Hale Koa on Waikiki!

Next: The first Mai Tai is the best Mai Tai!

 

[eandesmom]

I love looking at some of the old military housing! Sorry about the rain but you know how the saying goes...if it rains in Hawaii...just wait 10 minutes!