Day 442 - Hanauma Bay to Paradise Cove

Saturday 7/2
Breakfast: same as previous days at the Shore Bird breakfast buffet.

Ashley & Andrew did not feel like snorkeling so they stayed back with G'Pa. They swam at the pool & chilled in the room. The rest of us made our way to Hanauma Bay for some morning snorkeling.

Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay was simply amazing. Saw dozens of types of fish & other types of sea life in these shallow coral filled waters. The weather was actually partly-cloudly and we endured a few showers while there. But rain while in the water face down is no big deal. The coral definitely needed to be respected. Not a one of us emerged from the bay with at least one scrape or cut from a run in with the reef. If we ever come back to Oahu we'll spend a full day here I'm sure.

Lunch: On the way back to the hotel we hit McDonald's with the expectation they had ramen soup. They used to serve it there when Cathy lived here in the 90s, but they no longer serve it. Still, even though that novelty stop was a bust, we ate there. I had a chicken sandwich meal.

One more stop before getting back to the hotel: Food Land grocery store. Cathy was on the hunt for a specific Hawaiian wine we weren't able to find thus far. On a whim she thought it might be here, and it was!

We had enough time to shower & get dressed in our Hawaiian best for the luau. A 45 minute charter bus ride brought us to Paradise Cove. Sione was our bus host who chatted at us the whole ride. He was funny & informative. Basically his job was to be sure knew we were on bus #5 and when we needed to be back on the bus so as to avoid a 27 mile walk back to Waikiki or $100 cab ride.

The luau was a very good event, well organized and lots to do for all. We got temp tattoos, I got a shark on my forearm. I asked if the artist could do Nemo, he said he didn't know what that was; huh? We threw spears, Ryan & I got ours to stick on target; Ryan's was a better stick while mine was closer to center but it sagged. A bunch of men were adorned in grass skirts and did a dance for us at the cove while pulling in fishing nets, so glad I wasn't picked for that demo.

The pig unveiling ceremony was a mouth watering show, a treat to the sense of smell for sure! I need to roast me a pig in my back yard.

Dinner: Roast Pork, fried chicken, mahi-mahi, lomi-lomi salmon, salad, poi, rice, and a few mai-tais. Flavor surprassed the smell that teased us since we got off the bus. Coconut cake and a coconut gelatin item were consumed happily for dessert.

During dinner was the show complete with the traditional island music, hula dancers, flaming acts of insanity, and random embarrassment of customers. A couple was married there earlier in the day & had their reception at the luau. Another couple was there with the maybe 2-week old infant, not sure the sense in that.

A great time was had by all. The luau was a fantastic way to enjoy our last dinner in Hawaii.

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!