Part 1
Travel day
mom and dad did not get a lot of asleep before we left as there is always a lot of last minute packing and clean up to do. but we did manage some sleep before loading everyone into the cab early around 7. we all got to the airport fine and started our pairing off. k and i were flying to denver and then on to maui with an interisland hopper to honolulu to arrive around 5:30 pm. the boys had a flight to texas, then LA, then to honolulu arriving about 4 hours later. mind you, the time difference is 5 hours, so this was going to make for a long day. we then had an hour to two hour drive up to the north shore to the condo. our flights were fine, long, but fine. k and i walked around denver's airport exploring the food court and toy store. she was terrific on the flight and she only napped a half hour, which promised an exhausted monkey later. we arrived in maui, played and watched helicopters. we watched our suitcase get loaded onto our little plane, but did not see car seats. this did not bode well as they were supposed to be checked in all the way through. of course, when we arrived in honolulu, they were not there. so she and i got a loaner, got our car, and hit the road looking for the grocery store. we followed both the phone's GPS and the directions perfectly. however, the store was well hidden in the ala moana shopping center which is a shopping center surrounded entirely by parking ramps so that you can't see the stores. by the time we shopped, picked up our car seats, and got the boys, everyone was tired and cranky. but as soon as we hit the major highway, the kiddos knocked out and we had a mysterious drive up through some of the most beautiful island in the dark. we arrived in turtle bay, unloaded, and went to sleep.
map north shore
Day 2 -- Mon
needless to say, we woke up on the early side. with our sparse groceries, we ate a decent breakfast. r woke up early, sat on the lanai (porch/deck/balcony) and communed with the birds. he had quite an emotional/spiritual connection that morning. we ate our fresh pineapple, talked, played, and packed up all our gear to walk to the beach -- turtle bay which had no turtles. it was pretty and gentle. so a good place to practice snorkeling for the kiddos. unfortunately, the kiddos started getting tired by about noon, and then crabby around 1pm. k, at first, had to be coaxed into the water. she was, at least, smart enough to realize that she was hungry and that was why she was having a melt down. r was cold in the water which did not surprise us. we have bought him a short wetsuit to try to keep him warm. there was some light snorkeling by dad as mom watched the kids play in the sand. and then a trip home. dinner was light and then an early bed. it was a good transition day.
Day 3 -- Tue
this was our day to head south to honolulu to spend the week with our friends. we decided to have a leisurely day driving down. it rained this morning so we hung around the condo. soon after we packed up and checked out. we headed down to haleiwa for lunch. the north shore is renowned for its surfing in the winter. in the summer it is a much calmer and beautiful place. clearly the seasonal change also changes the tourism. but surfers and locals seem to still claim this part of the island. dad wanted to eat at giovanni's shrimp truck, but alas we did not make it. we did however find a fruit stand where we got guavas, papayas, mangos, sugar cane, and passion fruit. we also got a green coconut to drink. those things made me happy. after an unremarkable mexican lunch we went to play at three tables beach. it is a nice beach with gentle waters for easy snorkeling. the kids still seem a little apprehensive about the snorkeling. but ruskin was able to take them out a little. they are not used to the equipment. we also noticed that r gets cold immediately, even in a wetsuit. nevertheless, everyone got some snorkel time, including mom. we stopped for shave ice (which only mom enjoyed -- haupia/coconut, lychee, and vanilla with vanilla ice cream and adzuki beans). the kids got chocolate and vanilla corresponding to their preferences and then did not truly enjoy them. however, k saw a mongoose. and we all saw roosters.
the drive back to honolulu was stunning through pineapple fields (next to the dole plantation) and through the plains between peaks. the old volcano peaks themselves were beautiful and honolulu perched with its gentle curves on the ocean like mumbai. we got to our rental place where our friends were waiting for us. we stayed quite close to diamond head and (not too) near waikiki. it was perfect. our friends had been there for quite a few days -- both are historians and their kids are similar in age. we all had been a little apprehensive because the kids were friendly but not quite bonded. it was kind of them to invite us as we had not contemplated coming. the place was perfect for us -- it had 3 rooms. the 4 of us shared the largest room and had our own bathroom. there was also a large kitchen and laundry room. it was convenient to buses and highways. there was much within a couple miles. we filled each other in on our respective adventures and then hit the sack early again.
so our first few days were transits and transitions. it was good to be on the north shore before diving into honolulu. in my next entry, i will tell about our adventures in honolulu and oahu with our friends before we all departed for the big island/hawaii. pictures to follow too!
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