28 April 2009

Spam Jam? Thank You, Ma'am...

Here is a quick rundown of our activities on our Hawaii anniversary get-away. Bear in mind that this was intended all along as a low-key few day escape from our kiddos, and originally we were to go to Bahamas, but figured out that HNL was likely cheaper and no surprises...

THURS: Flew to LAX and stayed the night at Travel Lodge, in the same room where our minister & wife stayed 4 years ago, on our way to HNL for our wedding. (Kind of fun to sleep in the same bed your minister did....) Ate at one of our favorite romantic restaurants.....Denny's......in the Travel Lodge building...

FRI: Flew in Bus First to HNL, ate steak & lobster, slept like babies. Once in HNL, got off bus and went to Chan's chinese buffet near HNL airport. Tummies full, went to Waikiki on city bus, coincidently called 'The BUS.' (we are big spenders). Once in Waikiki, went to beach, and waited for dusk hula show which has always taken place before. Show did not take place, perhaps due to city budget cuts, economy, etc. (Hula beach shows are now just on Tues/Thurs/Sat...) Took some great sunset pics on beach, then went strolling about Waikiki looking at nightlife and shopping...later, we split up, Kani to Intl Marketplace, me to go find her a special gift for next day....

SAT: Picked up rental car, went to breakfast at Pete's Smorgy, then took Kani to Ka-akako State Park, where we had our wedding in '05, and surprised her by wearing my wedding shirt, re-stating my vows to her, and giving her a pearl necklace bought secretly night before. Kani was very happy and I earned big-time points... Then, went on a wonderful driving tour of Oahu beginning in Waikiki and driving counter-clock-wise around island. Just wonderful!! Highly recommend it. Stopped at Dole Plantation but blew off going in. After most of day touring, went back to hotel, freshened up, went to 'Spam Jam,' a street festival(of many)held in Waikiki annually. Watched sweet little girls' troupe put on wonderful hula show. After festival, once again strolled nightlife of Waikiki and went to one of our favorite romantic restaurants........Denny's......where we romantically split the chicken fried steak....

SUN: Went to Chinatown and had dim sum. Kani was very brave and did not squirm when I ate a whole bowl of chicken feet. Kani got to try several dumpling variations, sesame ball filled with bean curd, steamed bun with minced pork inside, and Chinese tea. A feast!! Then , tummies full, went to DiamondHead and climbed up and down in 1 hour. Last time we did this, Kani was 5 1/2 months preggy, and we began our hike from central Waikiki, not base of DiamondHead Volcano... We still can't believe we did that. (No wonder Chase turned out like he has)...Checked out of hotel, went shopping at Aloha Tower stores and Ala Moana Mall, then feast at Bubba Gump's. Then on to airport and a whole other adventure getting home....

Again, this trip was a low-end affair but was much needed and we both agree has been perhaps our best to Hawaii: no wedding or kids or relatives to worry over, etc... Just relaxing....Ahhhhhhhh.........

1 comment:

Kelly Sessions said...

so, I got to sit with your son through church yesterday! He's such a sweet boy! And he was really good! Hear y'all moved?? Are you becoming vagabons now (not sure of the spelling).

Well hope y'all all had a great mother's day! Talk to ya soon!


In Waikiki, Feb 2010