Nawiliwili, Hawaii

Hello from Kauai!

After a crappy breakfast of scrambled eggs, peppers, onions, and cheese

Gross

And a 20 minute session on the treadmill 

Morning treadmill view

I went back to the cabin, changed shoes, and got packed for my day. Today’s plan was going to happen, rain or no rain, so the waterproof jacket and hat got tucked into my bag.

There was only one place (technically two?) I wanted to go today, the nearby Kalapaki beach and Duke’s. When Ed and I have been here before we’ve contemplated Duke’s, but there’s always been a long line. It’s also so expensive it’s been hard for us to justify eating or drinking there. But on this visit it’s just me, the sun is shining, and it’s my last Hawaiian port. So today I first perused the grounds of what used to be the Marriott but is now the Royal Sonesta. Beautiful flowers and foliage and a koi pond, complete with food so you could feed them. The koi were huge.

There was a bathroom nearby, too

Then a little stroll down the beach and a little bit of people watching had me ready for the 10:45 AM opening of Duke’s.

Once seated somebody may or may not have had more than one Mai Tai.

Mai Tai #1

#2

#3

And a guava daiquiri/martini kind of drink.

Before my cheeseburger I contemplated having a piece of hula pie but when the server told me there is a pint of ice cream in one slice, I passed.

I could only eat half. But so good. 

Instead, on my way back to the ship I stopped off for one last shave ice. 

What would you choose?

I chose the small Alive made from strawberry, banana, and vanilla. I guess the vanilla was the blue? Oh so tasty. 

It was definitely a magnificent day and a great way to end my time on the islands. We now have five long sea days until we arrive in Ensenada, Mexico.

Bye, Nawiliwili. Hope to see you again!

Honolulu, Hawaii

Hello from the island of Oahu! It’s a rainy day here in Honolulu.

Diamond Head is out there

After my omelet breakfast I walked the treadmill while hoping the skies would clear. 

18 minute treadmill view today

I also watched the weather from up in Skywalkers and even made my way across the wet deck to double check the abilities of the scooter to navigate slick surfaces. I knew the answer already, but how could I come all this way and miss going out in Honolulu? By early afternoon my decision was made. With weather on the bridge cam looking like this I would have to stay put on the ship. 

Looks like today’s a wash

Things lightened a little bit later in the afternoon and I probably could have chanced it, but by that point I had lost my motivation. I’ve been here many times before so it’s not like I haven’t experienced everything Honolulu and Oahu have to offer. Plus I’m certain I’ll be back again another day. 

The rain stopped tonight so it’s easier to see Diamond Head.
Too late for me to go anywhere now.

Pre dinner drinks included a new one, some kind of vodka, blue curaçao, and pineapple juice mixture.

And some delicious dumplings from the Elite Lounge

A shrimp dish for dinner with a sugar free coconut cake and orange sorbet for dessert rounded out the evening.  

A little too spicy for me

A great combo

A nice little swan towel animal greeted me upon my arrival back at the cabin. 

Look at the “feathers”

Tomorrow we’re in Kauai. I’m hoping for some good weather there. So you then!

Kahului, Maui

Hello from Maui!

A beautiful day is brewing

View during my 16 minute treadmill session

I contemplated involving an island bus in my travels again today but changed my mind. Ed and I have been here several times as well so I really didn’t feel the need to venture out across the island. So I bypassed the lines for the ship excursions and the even longer line for the taxis

Me, choosing to be in a taxi like this? No thanks. 

and followed the convoluted path out of the port.

The fenced walkway was narrow in some places 

Once out of the port a right turn takes you to a stoplight. Cross the street to the left and you’ll find yourself in the Maui Mall Village, an outdoor mall with a collection of shops and restaurants and even a movie theater. 

A Regal Theater with a splash pad and palm trees? Oh, yeah. 

In the mall there is also a Long’s Drugs (haven’t seen one of those in years) and a Whole Foods. There’s plentiful outdoor seating and that’s where I encountered momma hen and her chicks looking for crumbs. 

Sorry, no food here

I did some souvenir shopping at Long’s Drugs.

Unique Japanese flavors I can’t find at home - matcha and kohaku

Had a personal-sized pizza lunch at Round Table Pizza. 

Strolled over to the guri guri place for a guri guri dessert. The frozen dessert similar to sherbet was so good I wish I had ordered a larger size.

Strawberry and pineapple flavors are all they sell.
The perfect combination. 

Rolled my way back to the ship for yet another nap. What is up with that?

Home sweet home

The nap and phone calls from home led into drinks before dinner, 

Lemon Drop martini

Angelo Azzuro martini, too sweet for me

which led into my dinner of appetizer-sized portions of roast pork tenderloin, wok-flashed shrimp, and a watermelon sorbet dessert. 

I also had the sweet longan fruit from yesterday. Peeling the hard outer shell revealed a soft semi-clear white fruit with a dark pit. 

We had some mighty 45+ mph winds howling as we left the breakwaters of Kahului tonight and had some very noticeable listing of the ship. (As a passenger I would call it significant but I’m sure it wouldn’t be in Captain’s terms.) Thankfully we’re getting into open waters for our short sail to tomorrow’s port of Honolulu. See you there!

Hilo, Hawaii

Hello from Hilo, Hawaii!

The ship’s Bridge cam shows a rainy start to the day 

Thanks to the weather I was almost certain plan A, B, C, and D would not happen. We were told to prepare for heavy rains today and were urged to take an umbrella or waterproof jacket. I remembered practicing driving on wet surfaces with Scooter in Isafjordur, Iceland and figured it meant I would have to stay on board today. 

I decided to kill time and walk on the treadmill - 15 minutes this session - while I decided what I really should do.

Treadmill view of the industrial area and Hilo airport

As the clouds started moving out I decided to take advantage of the break in the weather and attempt my plan. I thought it would be availability of different accessible transportation options that would determine which plan I’d do. It actually was the lines of people that held me back. No way you’ll get me in a line of 50 people deep to sign up for a free shuttle, scooter or no scooter.

Ed and I have been here many times before and have covered all of the island multiple times so today I retraced our trek to the Hilo Farmer’s Market. The island bus (like a city bus, but for the island) stops a little ways outside the port area every hour. 

The free, accessible, island bus you don’t have to sign up for is how I made my way to the market.

Hey, there’s my ship

Large banyan tree near the drop off 

I really only wanted a couple things from the market with number one being shave ice from a place Ed and I have gone to in the past. I chose a large coconut and strawberry but in hindsight should have gone with a small size of something that packed more flavor. There were lots of other options that sounded great. My mistake.

Since we spent the winter on a ship cruising Mexico we had Taco Tuesday every single Tuesday we were in Mazatlán. I missed tacos yesterday so I needed something to resemble Tuesdays in Mexico on a Wednesday in Hawaii. Tamales were my choice. Had them wrapped up and brought them back to the ship. These Peruvian tamales had chicken, carrots, peas, and corn in the filling.

Peruvian tamales from Hawaii eaten on a cruise ship deck

I did take lots of pictures at the market of fruits and vegetables I was - and wasn’t - familiar with. 

 

I asked a guest waiting for the bus about the longan fruit she purchased. She showed me how to eat them and even gave me a couple to take back to the ship. I’ll be trying them tomorrow. 

I had another well-deserved nap this afternoon and was up and out by the time we sailed away. 

Goodbye, Hilo

Then off to another round of pre dinner drinks (just one this time, go me!) before a dinner of the coconut shrimp appetizer

Presentation probably could have been better

followed by my standby dessert, sorbet. Another round of blueberry. 

Passing through the casino to get back to my cabin I came across this sign. 

Interesting

Tomorrow we’re on the island of Maui. Unfortunately we won’t be making a visit to Lahaina and will be docking in the industrial area of Kahului instead. No plans yet (well, sort of) but I’ll see you there!

Just a sliver of sunset left