Nyquist

On our second day on Maui we decided to rent a car and drive the road to Hana. Along the way we stopped to take pictures of the many waterfalls, streams and beaches that line the road.


Waterfalls, Streams and Beaches on Road to Hana

At one point Ian and I decided we wanted to get a closer look at some of the waterfalls and I nearly broke my neck scaling the rocks down to the pool at the bottom of the falls. That was a little scary. But other then that it was a beautiful relaxing day. And a great way to end our trip. That afternoon we boarded the ship for our last night before landing back on Oahu and heading for our flight out later that day. All-in-all is was a great vacation and a wonderful way for us to relax and rejuvenate before heading back to work for the New Year.

~ Christina

Friday morning we arrived in port at Kahului on the Island of Maui. Ian had a bicycle tour scheduled for the day. He got to bike down Haleakala Volcano. I hung out on the ship reading and knitting. Then that evening we had the "Pacific Paradice Luau". We boarded a bus where they drove us about and hour and a half to the luau site. The food was OK and the show wasn't as good as the one we saw at the Polynesian Cultural Center, but we did get to meet some other couples from our ship, which was nice.


Ian & Christina at Paradise Luau on Maui

~ Christina

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January 14 Maui - Day 2

We arrived in port at Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii on Thursday morning. This was the only port where you would need to take a small boat to shore (we weren't actually docked on the island). Ian and I decided to stay on the ship and just relax for the day. That afternoon there was also a chocolate buffet I was eager to check-out.

We arrived a few minutes before the buffet was scheduled to open and were surprised to see a huge line had already formed. They were letting people in to take photos of the buffet before opening the doors to guests who wanted to eat the chocolate. We went in and I snapped a few shots of some of the chocolate sculptures.


Chocolate Buffet Sculptures on the Pride of Aloha

Then the opened the doors and we've never seen such a mad rush before. People were going crazy! It was actually pretty funny to see. We both put a few items on our plate, chocolate cakes, fruit dipped in chocolate, chocolate pastries and of course I had to have a hot fudge sundae. It was all pretty yummy, but the best part was definitely people watching.

~ Christina

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January 13 Maui - Day 1

On Wednesday we arrived in port at Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii. We had a "Kilauea Lava Viewing Adventure Hike" booked for that day. Kilauea ranks among the world's most active volcanoes and is the home of Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess.

We disembarked from the ship where we were met with vans ready to take us to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. We drove through the park and caught views of past lava flows that had hardened into vast lava fields. Remnants of tress, with only burnt stumps remaining, dotted the landscape.


Kilauea Lava Fields

The road eventually ends where a 2003 lava flow crossed, making driving any further impossible. We all got out and were given gloves and rain ponchos to wear. The gloves were to protect our hands from the super sharp lava shards we'd be walking on. The ponchos were given to us because it was drizzling slightly. We were given instructions to walk single file and told that there would be a guide every 15 people or so. We were only to walk where they walked so that we didn't accidentally step on a hidden lava flow (yikes!).


Kilauea Lava Hike

We hiked for a couple of hours when one of the scouts that was sent out ahead told the leader where he had spotted active lava flow. We headed towards it and were amazed at how close we were able to get to it. You could literally reach out and touch it if you wanted to (with the intense heat coming off of it, getting within a couple of feet was close enough).



Kilauea Lava Flow

We stopped to rest and take photos of the lava flow before heading back to the vans.


Ian & Christina at Kilauea Lava Flow

The hike was challenging, with sharp uneven rocks and a couple of people fell and cut themselves. My legs were a bit sore, but seeing the lava made it worth it! Once back at the vans we had a bag lunch waiting for us. We ate and then our guide drove us through the park some more, stopping so we could take photos of a waterfall.


Kilauea Waterfall

Then it was back in the van and back to the ship for the night. That evening we set sail for Kona and did an evening sail by mount Kilauea to see the lava flow at night. It was beautiful but difficult to photograph, so no photos.

~ Christina

Next Hawaii January 1-15, 2006 Post:
January 12 Chocolate Buffet

For our second day on Kaua'i we booked a helicopter tour. We disembarked from the ship and met the van that would take us to the helicopter company. First we had to watch a safety video and they tried to sell us videos of the flight. They also weighed us so that they could break us into groups based on maximum weight. Then they put us into a van and drove us to the helicopter landing pad. We waited a few minutes while our helicopter landed from a previous tour.


Helicopter Ride on Kauai

Ian and I were lucky and got to sit in the front next to the pilot (there were two rows of seats, 6 people total, including the pilot). We put on headsets and seatbelts and we were off!


Helicopter Cockpit & Ian w/Headset

The flight was amazing. We first flew over our ship, then all over the island, with excellent aerial views of Waimea Canyon (The Grand Canyon of Hawaii) and the Na Pali Coast. We flew over too many waterfalls to count and into narrow inlets and over scenic beaches. (The photos aren't the best as I was taking them through the helicopter window.)


Waimea Canyon on Kaua'i from Helicopter



Na Pali Coast on Kaua'i from Helicopter

It was so beautiful and a really great way to see the island since there are so many places that you can't reach by car or hiking. Unfortunately Ian got a little air sick, but luckily it was towards the end of the flight.

Once we were off the helicopter we needed to head back to the ship as we set sail for the Big Island of Hawaii at 1pm.

~ Christina

Next Hawaii January 1-15, 2006 Post:
January 11 Hilo, Hawaii

We sailed into the port of Nawiliwili on Kaua'i on Monday morning. After grabbing a quick bite to eat in the Hukilau Cafe on the ship we disembarked and jumped onto a shuttle for a rental car. We picked out our car and then got on the road on our way to the North Shore of the Island. Along the way we saw lots of lush farmland.


Kaua'i Farmland

We also stopped to explore the Waikanaloa (or "Blue Room") Wet Cave. The cave is right off the road and you can walk a few feet into it before you get to the water. Swimming isn't allowed, but by the looks of the water, you probably wouldn't want to anyway.


Waikanaloa (or "Blue Room") Wet Cave - Last Photo Shows View from Inside Cave Looking Towards Opening

Once back in the car we continued on to Hanalei where we stopped for lunch. Then it was back in the car and on to Ke'e Beach. Here we parked and got changed so we could hike the Kalalau Trail to Hanakapia Beach, and if time permitted, Hanakapia Falls. Along the trail there are beautiful views of Ke'e Beach and the Na Pali coast.


Ke'e Beach View and Na Pali Coast View from Kalalau Trail



Christina & Ian on the Kalalau Trail


One drawback was that the trail was super muddy and slippery and there were streams to cross! Ian didn't want to ruin his sneakers so he hiked barefoot for a while and then eventually wore my pink flipflops (I had sensible hiking boots on).


Ian's Feet After Kalalau Trail Hike

After hiking (and slipping and sliding) for about two miles we crossed a stream and then came to Hanakapia Beach.


Ian at Hanakapia Beach

We sat for a while to enjoy the view and made friends with a stray black cat. He wasn't that interested in the granola bar I offered him.


Black Cat at Hanakapia Beach

Unfortunately we were running out of daylight and needed to get the rental car back, so we turned around and hiked back to our car waiting at Ke'e Beach (it's even slippier going downhill through the mud!). After washing the mud off the best we could we got back in the car and retraced our drive back to the rental car place. Then it was back to the ship for dinner and bedtime.

~ Christina

Next Hawaii January 1-15, 2006 Post:
January 10 Kaua'i - Day 02

On Sunday we got to board the Pride of Aloha for our cruise around the Hawaiian Islands. We would disembark from Honolulu on O'ahu, stop for two days in Nawiliwili on Kaua'i, then travel to Hilo and then Kona on the big island of Hawaii, and finally spend two days at Kahului on Maui before heading back to O'ahu.

We boarded the ship early so we could enjoy the lunch that was included with our cruise package (hooray for "free" food!). After finding our room and eating a buffet lunch on the pool deck we decided to check-out the ship.


Pride of Aloha - Pool Deck - Upper Deck - Karaoke Lounge - Theater

Then we had to hurry back to our room for a safety drill. Ian had a little trouble getting his life vest on.


Ian trying to put on his life vest

Then it was off to watch the ship set sail before heading to dinner. The great thing about the cruise itinerary was that you spent the day in port and traveled between the Islands at night. That would allow us to make the most of our time on each Island. Plus, since Ian gets seasick it would allow him to spend more waking hours off the ship if need be! :)

~ Christina

Next Hawaii January 1-15, 2006 Post:
January 9 Kaua'i - Day 01

Editors Note: Once we were on the ship I wasn't able to post about our trip, so I had to wait until we got back. By that time my memory was already hazy and I can't remember exactly what day we did what for Friday and Saturday. I'm relying on photos to write this so I can't guarantee 100% accuracy.

On Friday we were extremely lazy and spent the whole day lying by the pool reading books and taking naps. It was great!


Outrigger Reef Hotel Pool

We went to dinner at the Shore Bird again. While waiting in the bar for a table we saw a commotion just outside the door. Johnny Knoxville was eating at the Shore Bird too and people wanted his autograph and to take photos with him. It was pretty funny to watch.

Then on Saturday we took the local bus to Diamond Head. The bus drops you right outside the entrance, which is a huge hole they cut into the sides of the volcano. You walk (or drive) through it into the center of the crater. You can then hike to the rim of Diamond Head.

The hike starts off on a sloping path that turns into stairs up the inside of the crater. On our way up we stopped and looked back to take photos of the crater.


Diamond Head Crater w/Entrance in Background of Photo on Left.

We then proceeded through tunnels that dug into the crater wall, taking you fron the inside to the outside. Pretty cool.


Ian Hiking Through Diamond Head Crater Wall

Once at the top and on the outside edge of the crater, you had excellent views of Oahu.


View from Top of Diamond Head Crater

It was a really nice way to end our stay on Oahu, as the next day (Sunday) we were heading off on the cruise ship!

~ Christina

Next Hawaii January 1-15, 2006 Post:
January 8 Setting Sail