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Aloha!

Winter 2013 Janet was on maternity leave.  Our daughter Kaitlyn was 9 months old, Winnipeg was frozen, and Dairy Queen was closed for the season.  The Gauthier Clan had booked a 7 night Hawaiian Adventure that visited 4 Hawaiian Islands. The Big Island, Maui (overnight), Oahu, and Kauai (overnight).  I came home from work, showed momma the itinerary, called the travel agent the next day.  Janet had been to the Aloha state before, and always wanted to revisit.  Pack the swimming diapers and 1000 spf, The Millers were cruising Hawaii!

Following a long flight, we arrived in Honolulu. Gilfish Gauthier had reserved us a room in the complex they were staying in, the Gauthiers and Legaults had already arrived.  Picked up the car, checked into the hotel, found some cold “Longboard Ale” and talked all evening about what to do in Honolulu the next day.  Saw Waikiki beach, shopped our faces off, spent one more night in the hotel than Embarked onto The Pride of America.

The overnight in Maui was imperative, there was so much to do!   Rented a Tahoe, loaded the stroller and off to explore.  At the car rental agency the kind agent offered a little advice on what was best to do in Maui.  It was the NFL playoffs so first order of business; find somewhere showing the Ravens/Pats game.  Met up with the Gauthiers, ordered libations to watch the Baltimore Ravens upset the New England Patriots.

After the game we explored some of Kahului. Reloaded the diaper bag and ate a snack on board the ship, then off to find the Betty’s Beach Cafe Luau.  We took a hour long drive, towards Lahaina, to watch the sunset on a beach.  This view was staged for a postcard, the sun set behind a silhouette of the distant island Molokai.  The orange light glistened on calm ocean waters right across from the beach where we sat. From there 15 min drive to the quaint cafe for some fresh, tender fish tacos, Long Board ales and a free Luau.

Woke up early, loaded the Tahoe with Paul and Michelle, Janet and the Goober and set out for the “Road to Hana”.  We stopped at mile marker 6 to look for a small path that apparently led to a waterfall.  Found the path, took the unexpected hike through a bamboo forrest and swam in a tropical pool at the base of a hidden waterfall.

Couldn’t stay long, I had been challenged to drive this Road that wrapped the north side of the island called the “Road to Hana”.  Like the reviews said the road winded and dropped, blind corners everywhere.  Crossed a few or 6 single lane bridges, most of us felt safe in the big Tahoe.  Near the end of the Road we turned around at a black sand beach to crush our cooler, change a diaper and have some snacks.

“The Big Island” of Hawaii is the southernmost point of The Aloha Islands. The Pride of America docked at Hilo, then Kona so we could explore both sides of the largest of the islands.  Prior to the trip the Travel Agent and I made sure to lock down a rental vehicle in each port,  Kaitlyn was still in a rear facing car seat which made for easy transport of the Goobs, car seats are available to rent from the car rental agencies.

Hilo was great.  Had a lot planned including a stop at the “Hawaiian Volcano Observatory” on the way visit 400+ foot Akaka Waterfalls.  These two attractions were accessible, simple to navigate, cheap to visit and made for great pictures.  Akaka falls wasn’t too far.  Arrived and spoke with an employee handing out maps and information, he pointed us to the best route for pushing the stroller. We casually strolled around the park down a few stairs and to the platform look out.  This Hawaii is something out of a movie.  These pictures don’t do it justice.

Climbed back up to the Jeep continued to the Volcano Observatory. Found another cool little waterfall on the side of the road.  Paul and I climbed down to check out the Lava Tube that the water was flowing through, you could see right through the other side!

Continued to drive, elevation above sea level continued to rise (they had markers every so often) and we arrived at the HVO Visitors Centre.  There are campgrounds and hiking trails all around the Volcano.

After arriving on the west side of the Big Island we joined a tour to Kona Joe, which produced some of the best coffee beans in the world.  The nutrient rich soil and tropical temperatures of these volcanic islands make for ideal coffee bean farms.  Kona Joe Coffee took us on a tour and showed us how they grow coffee beans like grapes in a vineyard, all across the trellis. We got to see the roasting operation, bought some keep sakes, drank a gallon of coffee and continued the tour to “Origonal Hawaiian Chocolate Factory”.  Chocolate and Coffee, guess you could call this Janet’s Port.  En route back to the Vessel we passed a black sand beach and decided to stop and take pictures.  Make sure to empty your sandals, taking the black sand off the islands is BAD LUCK.

Our last island in the “Paradise of the Pacific” was the Northern Island Kauai, a visit where again we stayed overnight.  This meant lots of time for exploring, a helicopter ride and relaxing on the most beautiful beach I have ever seen. Kauai A.K.A. “The Garden Island” was cute and elegant.  Polihale Beach was a magnificent white sand beach at the beginning of the Napali Coast.  We weren’t permitted to take our Jeep there, off roading was restricted by Alamo, but took the hour long unpaved drive because we were told not to miss it.  Sure enough, Somewhere from a dream.

Enjoyed the sunset, met up with some Gauthiers for some Cerveza and red wine on the balcony.  The next day we had a big day planned.  Our travel agent, set up a rather unique tour which left from the Kauai Airport.

Great guide, he’d been flying the islands for most of his life.  Birds eye view of huge Whales off the Napali Coast, towering mountains of lush rainforest, waterfalls that seemed to flow from the heavens and disappear into the abyss below.  We even landed in Jurassic Park!  Back to the Pride of America, the ship was taking us around the little island to say goodbye to the Napali Coast, which will always hold a piece of my heart. Next day back to Honolulu, back on a flight home, back to The frozen prairies…