Task 51 - Create a Photo to Album for Hawai'i

Traveling to Hawai'i was a great experience, one that I will never forget.  I saw some beautiful places and did some amazing things.  Even though the flight was long it was worth every minute to check off one more box on my bucket list.  For those who know me know I love to travel. It is my biggest passion in life and I would love to have visited every country. I know the chances of that are slim given limited resources and the political climate but its a dream.

Second only to traveling is collecting keepsakes from all the places I visit. I have a huge display case in my home and proudly showcase many of the unusual and amazing things I have added to my collection over the years.

Another way that I like to remember my trips is by creating wonderful photo albums. They are almost always organized in the order in which I saw them and generally include some notes about the location or experience. I created a photo album for Hawai'i to do just that. Remind me years from now what an amazing experience I had. Below are just a few of the pages from my newest photo album.

Hawaiian Quilt

The last company I worked for one of the people who I worked closely with was a Hawaiian born and raised. She had moved here shortly after getting married and as such still had many Hawaiian habits and her office was decorated in Hawaiian motif. One thing that she had that really caught my eye was a Hawaiian quilt she had handmade.  She had told me that it was a labor of love and that it had taken her nearly 3 months to complete it.

After commenting on it and admiring it many times she asked if I would be interested in learning how it’s done and making my own. I said I was interested and the next day she had brought in a variety of patterns for me to choose from.  I selected one and she gave me a book on Hawaiian quilting and helped me get everything lined up, cut out and even started.

It wasn’t an easy process and it really put in perspective how much work it really took to create one of these. I spent many hours on it and worked hard to sow the top piece of fabric with the body layer. It honestly took too much time and has ever since been sitting in a container waiting to be finished.

While in Hawaii I was again struck by the beauty of the quilts and decided rather than finishing mine I would buy one made by someone who knew what they were doing. The colors I had also selected at the time no longer work with my décor and the variety that was available gave me more options.

They were not inexpensive and at roughly $55 for a pillow cover I had decided I would bite the bullet and find one I like and buy it. I had looked around a few shops and nothing really hit me exactly but while at the Dole Plantation I score a major find and located one that was almost a perfect color and include the traditional Honu or green sea turtle in its motif.

While paying I discovered an added bonus because it was on clearance since they were expecting a whole new shipment soon and needed to clear out some older inventory.  When I got home I went to Home Goods and bought an ugly piece of art whose frame I liked and which would fit the pillow cover perfectly. After a quick DIY project it was framed and hung on the wall.

Hawaii - Day 7 & 8 (Fly Home)

After a great vacation so far we all woke up sad that this was our last morning in Hawaii. With a scheduled pickup by Speedie Shuttle at 1:30pm for our 4:05pm flight we decided to head out for breakfast and some last minute shopping on Kalakaua Ave.

We started at the International Market Place at the koa wood dealer where I had already picked up a few really nice items earlier in the trip. While I didn't add any additional purchases to my large pile of things I had already packed it was nice to get one final look at everything she had.

We continued walking to our goal destination being this $5 breakfast place Dan had been wanting to try all week. After waiting in the long line for only a few minutes we got lucky and scored a table with out too much effort. In no time at all our food had arrived and we were enjoying our eggs, sausage, and hash browns.

After finishing breakfast we talked about the many things we did and each picked a favorite. Everyone came to the same conclusion that the Fly-Away to the Volcano's and Ha: Breath of Life were the top two attractions.

We again talked about our disappointment in having missed the opportunity to see Pearl Harbor because of the government shutdown but agreed that the trip as a whole was a blast.

As we walked back to the hotel we stopped by one of the many Honolulu Cookie Company stores and picked up several boxes of cookies to bring home as gifts. I know my dad will enjoy them so I got him a nice box set of their coconut collection.

Chris wanted to swing by the lucky store I had hit a few days ago but on our way we found the sidewalk closed for filming. Nothing exciting and certainly not Hawaii Five-O but instead some retail commercial.

When we finally got the go ahead to continue on we found that Lucky was closed. We still aren't sure if they just hadn't opened yet or if it was closed because of the filming.

We returned to the hotel having finished everything we wanted to do and decided to relax for a couple hours. At about 11:00 I suggested we grab a pizza before checking out. Little did I know we were supposed to have checked out by 11:00. We asked for an extension to 12 Noon and ate and showered quickly.

Not wanting to hang out in the hotel lobby for 1.5 hours I called Speedi Shuttle and managed to get an earlier pickup.

By 1:00 we were sitting in the airport lounge ready to fly home. Boarding was a breeze and our long flight with a stop over in Atlanta had begun. It wasn't until the next day at 12:00 Noon had we touched down in Hartford.

Hawaii - Day 6 (Pearl Harbor, Dole Plantation, Polynesian Cultural Center, & Ha: Breath ot Life Luau)

Thanks to the government shutdown this day was a complete fiasco. We were supposed to be picked up by the tour company at 6:00am. If it wasn't for my persistent calls the night before I would have had no idea that we were actually not going to be picked up until 8:30. When we finally did get picked up it was 8:45. But here is the kicker the buss was just transporting us to another hotel where we would get picked up by the tour bus we would actually be taking.

That tour bus didn't actually arrive until 9:20. The tour guide almost immediately apologized knowing that he was late. I think he could tell from the look on the faces of the nearly dozen people that we were all less then happy.

After we were all on board he introduced himself as Kona like coffee and told us we had just a few more stops before we would be underway. Moments later we were out of Waikiki and heading towards Pearl Harbor. Even though the shutdown closed the attraction we learned that the tour company had failed to advise a group who were flying over from a different island that their tour was cancelled and we would have to pick them up at Pearl Harbor.

We arrived at Pearl Harbor at 9:50. This is where we all really got annoyed since we found ourselves sitting in the parking lot of the attraction we were supposed to be visiting waiting endlessly for another group they failed to call. After sitting restlessly and Kona telling us they were just around the corner for the last 20 minutes I told him I was going to walk down the street to try and get a picture of the memorial. Another tour guest joined me and we managed to find a decent view over a chain link fence of the Arizona Memorial and snapped a few pictures.  As I turned around Kona was driving down the road towards and it was about 10:45.

We continued on to what should have been our second stop at the Dole Plantation. We arrived at  11:15 and were only allows to spend 20 minutes since we were running behind from all the delays. I managed just enough time to buy a Dole whip, some pineapple flavored gummie bears and a Hawaiian Quilt pillow before being hustled back to the buss.

We stopped quickly at subset beach where we should have had 30 minutes for a quick photo op. Having been there already from the Circle Island tour this was a redundant stop for us and we just put our feet in the sand and waited to get back on the bus.

Still running behind we arrived at our final stop at 12:15. We were supposed to be there for a 12:00 buffet. Sadly by the time we all got our tickets it was 12:30 giving us  only 30 minutes to scar down lunch at the Island Buffet before our first presentation by the Aotearoa tribe. We arrived late and missed the first half of their presentation. Next up was tonga then the 4d movie about the Polynesian culture.

If was after the movie that I learned Kona would be leaving us behind and that he was actually running 2 different tours of his bus and that we would be picked up later after Ha: Breath of Life by a different bus. I asked if he minded if we stayed with him until they left rather then wander around. I learned that after the Canoe Parade that they were leaving but he did give us a an idea of what we should do.

The Canoe Parade was impressive and it gave each represented group an opportunity to demonstrate to the crowds their culture through traditional dance. After the canoe parade we moved on to the next village to watch a demonstration by a Samoan teaching us how to cook and survive on coconut. We also got a show and demonstration on how to climb a palm tree. It was an excellent show.

Next up was Fiji where we learned how to greet and perform a traditional song using bamboo shoots as instruments. It was interesting but very warm in the hut that provided us shelter from the sun.

Our final village was Hawaii where we played traditional village games and tour traditional structures. After a good 30 minutes playing the various bowling like games we grabbed a ride on the canoe to take us back to the main pavilion where we would be having our Ali-Luoa dinner buffet. It was a little early to eat since we ate late because of the delay but we enjoyed the presentation and the pulled pork dinner before leaving the venue.

We still had an hour before the show started and enjoyed the International Marketplace Bazaar where we explored the different handmade and mass produced products. None of us bought anything but I almost bought a hand carved tiki man.

Finally people started to queue up for the show and we joined them at 7:00 promptly they opened the gates and we found our seats.  They were excellent 3rd row side center seats that gave us a great view of all the action. The show told a story of a village and that of a man and woman who would marry and continue the traditions. At the end we were treated with an amazing fire show. It was really an impressive sight and we cold feel the heat from the torches as they spun them with precision.

When it was all over we found the mega bus that would take us back to our hotel. The ride was a good hour with all the stops to drop everyone off and we got home about 10:30. It was a poor start but the show finished our day leaving us all with a smile on our face.

Hawaii - Day 5 (Fly Away to Volcano National Park)

Our day started at 5:30am when we got picked up and driven to the airport for our flight to Hilo. After a short plane ride over the other islands we arrived at 8:00 am where we meet Our Korean tour guide named YB. I asked what the YB stood for and we learned that it was short for Young Bok.

He also gave us a quick introduction the the town we were visiting. He told us that Hilo is located on the windward side of Hawai'i and gets over 200 inches of rain a year. It is the 3rd wettest city in the US.

After a 20 minute ride we stopped at Banyans Restaurant and Bar for malasadas and to pick up a few snacks and gear at Uncle Billy's general store. We were back on the road at 8:55 heading for our first stop of the tour.

Our first stop was the Black Sand beaches of Richardson State Park. Here we learned that the sand is volcanic basalt mixed with white coral and green peridot. While here we ventured out on the volcanic rocks and made our way over a shallow section of water to reach the outer bluffs where we discovered a green sea turtle enjoying the protection of a tidal pool. We took several pictures and I was thrilled to have my water proof camera to capture this creature in his natural environment.

After seeing the turtle and feeling the black sand between our toes we moved on to the Japanese gardens. We learned that this tribute to the Hawaiian people from their last queen is the second largest Japanese garden outside of Japan. Just off the shore from the gardens is Coconut island which during war was considered a safe haven for warriors. If they made it to the island then they were given a reprieve from battle and likely death.

After getting back on the bus we moved on to the third stop of the day to witness the power of water at Rainbow Falls. The falls are 80ft tall and part of the Wailuku River system. Dan and I after taking pictures from the lookout ventured up the path and then off the path finding our way to the top of the falls. Here we could feel the power of the water as it roared past us and over the edge.

It was a spectacular sight to see the water fall from above. We ventured back to the bus and returned to Banyons Restaurant and Bar for a lunch buffet of fish, BBQ chicken, and beef stew. Dessert was pineapple and mango. It was a satisfying meal and I could have definitely used a nap afterwards.

Our next spot was the Volcano's National Park and we arrive after a 45 minute / 29 mile ride. We climbed to an altitude of 4080 ft. Here we learned that Hawai'i experiences 11 of the 13 possible the 13 climate zones.

We also learned at the visitor's center that there are 5 mountains/volcano's on the big island. Youngest to oldest. Kilauea, Mauna Loa, Hualalai, Mauna Koa, and Waimea. After that introduction we walked along the Sulphur Banks Trail where we enjoyed the aromatic smells and views of the sulphur fields. At the end of the Sulphur Banks Trail we found ourselves at the rim of the Kilauea caldera. After some pictures we moved on to the steam vent near the parking lot where we all got a steam facial.

Next we drove along the road until we reached Kilauea Iki which erupted in 1959. Here we saw people hiking on the surface of the caldera and were told that the ground is still warm to the touch.

A short walk from the edge of KilaueaIki was the Thurston lava tube. It was named after the guy who found it. He got the privilege of having it named after him because there was no indication that anyone had ever been there before him. It was an interesting walk through the tunnel and we took a few pictures as hard as it was given the lighting.

Next we visited a series of other smaller craters before heading to the lava fields. We learned that sharp jagged lava is called ah ha. The smoother is called pahoehoe. The newest lava and land is from the 1974 lava flow which is still flowing today. It was during this lava flow that the road got covered. We took pictures on what was left of the road as we meandered down the new road. As we got close to the shoreline we stopped once more to see the arches created by the ocean and lava meeting. What we didn't realize at the time was that while we admired another arch we were actually standing on another.

After enjoying the lava fields we headed back to the summit for dinner at the military camp. The food was standard military fare and satisfied even the hungriest members of our tour. Before leaving to head back to the airport we took one last trip to see the caldera glow at night. It was impressive to see the red glow we couldn't see during the day coming from the center of the caldera.

After a 45 minute ride back to Hilo Airport for the last flight of the day we relaxed to the sounds of Hawaiian music. At 8:00 we re boarded our Go Airlines for our return flight to Oahu and were back on O'ahu by 9:30. It was a long day but by far the most exciting.

Hawaii - Day 4 (Free Day)

Dan and I started our day enjoying breakfast on Waikiki beach before wandering to the other side of the beach to see the 'Art on the Zoo Fence'. At first I thought the artist who I was most eager to see was not going to show. I suggested we hang around for a bit while they all finish unpacking in hopes he might. To my luck the artist who I had specifically wanted to get a piece from arrived.

After a quick conversation with him and his wife while admiring all his amazing work I settled one of a boogie boarder riding a wave. His art work is all acrylic on canvas. The piece was unsigned but he gladly offered to sign it and had his paint brush out and on the canvas. After takings a few pictures with the artist and chatting about our experience thus far on the island we said our good byes and ventured back down the main drag too our hotel. We did a little more shopping along the way and picked up a few gifts for those at home.

When we got back to the hotel we rounded Chris up and I suggested we go down to Cheeseburger in paradise for lunch. Along the way we bumped into my friend Cody. After a quick hello we finally made our way to the restaurant. After a decent burger we headed back to the hotel making a few stops along the way for more gifts to bring home before retiring to enjoy our afternoon in the pool.

We decided since the pool was jammed with people and not a single lounge chair was free that we finally take a dip in the ocean off Waikiki Beach. It was refreshing and it was a blast working our way out to the sandbar where the waves were breaking and the surfer's were catching the waves. Dan and I spent a fair amount of time enjoying the experience before deciding to head back in.

It was too early to go to dinner so we decided to take a walk and venture the other direction to Fort DeRussy. Dan and I watched the sun set as we strolled along. The water. We were both getting hungry and went back to the hotel where we ordered a tomato basil pizza from Ingredients and then enjoyed our dinner on our balcony overlooking Waikiki beach.

With a early morning scheduled for the next day we all called it a night and went to be early.

Hawaii - Day 3 (Circle Island Tour)

After a busy travel day and day 1 on the water today's tour was picked to give us a baseline to know the island. It took us around the island to the most culturally and geographically significant areas. Our first stop was Waimea Valley. Waimea Valley is a culturally rich 'wahi pana' (storied place). The 1,800 acre valley historically was home to many priests but was given to the Kahuna Nai and got the title valley of the priests. One of the most beautiful physical landmarks of the valley is Waimea Falls (1) a 45 foot high fall where the adventurous can swim in the 30 foot deep pool. We didn't know until we got there that we could swim at the falls and as such weren't dressed to go for a swim but we did take our shoes off and enjoy the refreshing cool waters.

Our next stop was Sunset Point Beach known for its spectacular sunsets. It is also home to the Bonzai Pipeline (2) and some of the most internationally renown surfing competitions such as the Triple Crown of Surfing. It wasn't big surf time on the island so the waves while still impressive were small compared to what they experience later in the season.

Having not yet had breakfast our tour guide Josh suggested a stop at the local farm stand (3) known for its banana lumpia. It's got its origins from the Philippines where they take a banana dusted with brown sugar wrap it in a spring roll wrapper and fried it. To say it was delicious is an understatement and for $1 each I spoiled myself and had 2.

Next we stopped at La'ie Point (4). While it is part of the North Shore of Oahu its views from the State Wayside give amazing views of the Windward Coast of Oahu.

After traveling along the coast for roughly 45 minutes we ended up at Kualoa Ranch where many movies like Jurassic Park, Godzilla, Lost and Pearl Harbor were filmed. Here we picked up our lunch and ventured a little farther down Kamehameah Highway to the Milo'I Fish pond which is also part of Kualoa Ranch. There we toke a quick boat ride across its barracuda infested waters to the Secret Island (5) where we enjoyed our Chicken Caesar salads.

Next our tour took us to the Valley of the Temples - Byodo-In (6). This little known secret is located in the Valley of Temples cemetery. This Buddhist temple is held together with interlocking plates and uses no nails in its construction. It's surrounded by a large Koi pond and the main room of the temple there is a large Buddha. To enter you must remove your shoes and it smelled of strong incense.

Nu'uanu Pali (7) is a lookout above the tunnels where visitors are treated to a panoramic view of the Oʻahu's windward side with sweeping views of Kāneʻohe, Kāneʻohe Bay, and Kailua. It is also well known for strong trade winds that blow through the pass, forming a sort of natural wind tunnel. It is also the location of the Battle of Nu'Uanu where in 1795 Kamehameha I forced 400 of Kalanikūpule's soldiers off the edge of the cliff to their deaths 1,000 feet below.

After the windy Nu'Uanu Pali look out we ventured back down to the coast stopping at Waimanalo Bay Beach (8) which is the longest stretch of sandy shoreline on O'ahu.

Halona Blowhole (9) while a beautiful site is also a hidden danger. On windy days when the tide is high waves roll on to shore where the rock formation shoots a geyser of sea spray high into the hair. Below the Halona Blowhole is one of the most dangerous ocean currents in the world know as the Molokai Express.

After watching the power of the ocean shooting in the air we moved on to the tranquil waters of Hanauma Bay (10) is known as one of the best places to snorkel. It's shallow waters are a protected area. It was formed when a caldera blew out its side and water from the Pacific Ocean rushed in.

Diamond Head (11) is a volcanic cone that hasn't been active in 150,000 years and is a prominent symbol of the Hawaiian Islands because of its close proximity and stunning views from Waikiki. We stopped here only briefly for a view of the the neighborhoods below.

 

Map on Google Maps



Hawaii - Day 2 (Sail & Snorkel)

Even though we had a scheduled 5:30 wake up call we all found ourselves wide awake set 4am. After a quick leftover pizza breakfast we all got ourselves showered and dressed for our morning Sail and Snorkle.

At 6:00 we headed down to Don Ho lane to meet our driver to Ko'Olina. After our pickup we had a few more guests to round up before making the 30 minute ride to the leeward side of the island.

When we arrived at Ko'Olina (M) we headed towards their 43 acre marina where we would find our boat ready and waiting. After a quick check in we purchased a few last minute supplies (namely towels which we forgot) and had a quick snack we boarded the 53-foot Holole'a kai catamaran. It's name means "to sail freely and with adventure on the ocean"

Before heading out into the Pacific we meet our crew. Todd would be our captain, Daniel his first mate, and Asia would be our photographer for the day. Once underway we traveled by sail 5.22 miles up the coast zig zagging a little bit before stopping at our first snorkel spot.

Map on Google Maps

Not expecting any additional costs other then drinks we each only brought $40 bucks with us. I wish I had brought more, since I would learn that we could have scuba dived to the bottom for an extra $69.

When we got to the first snorkle spot (1) they handed out all the snorkel gear which included masks, snorkel, flippers, and a life jacket. After a quick explanation of what we would see we were off the boat swimming in the warm pacific waters watching the fish and two green sea turtles enjoying a symbiotic relationship. The fish clean the turtle shells for them by eating all the algae they collected. We spent roughly a hour here and were amazed by the shear volume of fish we encountered.

Chris had stayed on board and met a pair of travelers. Wanda and Chuck Heath who were a delightful pair from Arizona who travel here often and shared some insight with us.

Next we traveled half a mile farther up the coast to our next dive spot (2) where we hunted for an elusive shark that called that reef home. Sadly we didn't get a good glimpse of him but we saw hundreds more fish and some of the coolest coral reefs around. We also got to hold a large piece of sea cucumber which first Mate Daniel joked was a piece of whale poop. Asia the photographer joined us this time in the water and captured some amazing pictures of us. Again, I wish I had brought more money with me since she would later offer the hi-res pictures to us for $60 bucks.

After another hour in the water we all got back on board for a nice early lunch of pulled pork, grilled chicken, and all the fixings made by the crew. Lunch hit the spot and we chatted some more with Chuck and Wanda. They suggested we check out a few good restaurant spots one being Jimmy Buffets for the Nachos.

After a quick cleanup by the crew we motored back to the marina at about 11:30. While sailing back the water was really choppy and we struck up our conversation with Chuck and Wanda again. I offered to e-mail some of the great shots I got of her feeding the fish and she kindly offered to send us all the pictures Asia took since she had bought the CD.

Our ride back to the hotel was fast and after a quick shower we ventured down onto the main drag to do some shopping and try out those Nachos. I picked up a nice pair of sea turtle sterling silver earrings for my mother and a jade fishing hook necklace for myself, and Chris bought a few keychains for his roommates.

Our nachos and drinks at Jimmy Buffets was a disappointment but satisfied our hunger. Still not yet adjusted to the time we went back to our room and were all out cold by 9pm.

Hawaii - Day 1 (Arrival)

It was an early morning and we were all dragging at 3:00am EST when our alarms went off simultaneously. After a quick breakfast snack we and our luggage were packed neatly in the car and we were speeding down 91 to Bradley International Airport.

Having already checked in the day before we passed through security quickly and relaxed as we waited to board. Right on time they began the boarding process. If was a full flight and we settled into our seats. Before we knew it our journey began and we were in the air on our way to Atlanta.

The flight was typical and after a few hours the pilot told us to prepare for landing. With only a few hours until the long voyage to Honolulu began we grabbed a quick breakfast in the airport McD's. While I did my best to book our seats near each other Chris ultimately got shifted around and separated from the group.

This was one long flight and after spending 9 hours and 47 minutes flying across the country and over the Pacific Ocean finally I caught a glimpse of an island. It wasn't Oahu. Instead it was Moloka'i. It was long after when we saw our first glimpse of Oahu and I realized we were flying right over Hamamuma Bay and then right over Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach. I captured some great pictures from the air.

Our landing was picture perfect and it took less time then expected to debarking then plane. The airport was dated and showing its age but it's small size made finding our way pretty simple. Not that we were here it was time to get to the hotel. We didn't prebook any transportation but found speedishuttle in baggage claim who we scheduled our transportation to and from the airport.

We spent all of about 10 minutes in the shuttle while we waited for a few more guests to load up their luggage. As we drove away from the airport our first impression of Honolulu was a densely populated urban environment with lots of traffic and graffiti. I admit I knew this was the case after talking to a few people I know who have been or lived here.

As we passed over the canal from Honolulu to Waikiki it was a dramatic change to a more upscale environment. As we drove down the main road of Kalakaua Ave which was wall to wall fancy stores. Finally we arrived at our hotel the Sheraton Waikiki. The hotel is huge and the lobby was a very active area.

When we checked in the concierge gave us a complimentary upgrade from our partial ocean view to a full ocean view suite. We hopped on one of the 10 elevators and zoomed to the 11th floor. When we finally located our room I couldn't have been more happy with the view. Our room looked out over Waikiki Beach and the Royal Hawaiian.

Starved from our 14 hours of travel time we changed quickly into shorts and made our way back to the lobby. As we walked back towards the restaurants we caught a glimpse of a lady on stage teaching a large group of women's to dance a traditional Polynesian dance.

Since we were all tired we noticed an Italian restaurant Il Lupino Trattoria and Wine Bar and decided to give it a try after reviewing the menu. We all ordered the same thing a prosciutto and arugula pizza with garlic infused oil and a fresh rum mai tai. The pizza was delicious and the mai tai was extremely strong.

After dinner Dan and I took our first swim in the hotel infinity pool. The warm salt water pool was both refreshing and relaxing after a long day of traveling. We watched the sun set while the surfers and the sunset cruise catamaran's return to shore.

We returned to the room, scheduled our wake up call for tomorrow and called it a night since we were all exhausted.

Task 1 - Visit Hawaii (The Tours)

My trip to Hawaii is coming up fast and still many things to do. The flight and hotel are booked and paid for. The extra camera gear I wanted was ordered and has arrived. New swimsuits and other clothes have been purchased. The packing list has been written. I even bought a new snorkel set to use at the beaches.

The hardest part being the itinerary of what to do and when to do it is nearly done all that is left is to finish booking the tours. It wasn't easy to decide what to see and when to see it and I decided to use the services of a tour company who has expereince on the island and whose track record and reviews demonstrate that they are a trusted resource on the islands for helping tourists cover as much ground and see as much as they can during their trips.

We selected 4 different tours to make sure we see as much of Oahu and Hawaii as possible.   Our tours are a tad out of order from how maybe they should go but in order to get everything done I had to get creative with the order.

1. Tour one is something I really wanted to do and the others while not necessarily their first pick agreed to join me.  This excursion is a hike, kayak, and hike trip through Kualoa Ranch and out to Mokoli'i island also known as Chinaman's Hat by kayak. While out on the island we will enjoy lunch and an opportunity to explore the island and snorkel its shores.
2. The second tour perhaps should have been the first since it really is a great way to get an introduction to the island of Oahu.  It includes a stop at Waimea Valley & Waterfalls, Kualoa Ranch, the beaches of Oahu's North Shore, Nu'uanu Pali Lookout, Halona Blowhole & Cove, Turtle Beach, Byodo-In Temple, Hanauma Bay amung other locations.
3. The third tour we selected is the One-Day Hawaii Volcano Eco-Adventure to the Big Island to visit the Volcanoes National Park, Hilo Town, Rainbow falls, the Thurston Lava Tube, The Black Sand Beach and other attractions on the Big Island.  It will be a long day and much ground will be covered but it will be an adventure we won't soon forget. I am looking forward to seeing the lava flows.
4. Our final scheduled tour is another long and very full day of exploration. It starts off with a somber reminder of Hawaii's role in WWII by visiting the Pearl Harbour Visitor's Center and the USS Arizona Memorial.  It is followed by a trip to the Dole Plantation where we will get the opportunity to explore its Pinaple Maze and possibly send a pineapple or two home to family. Next we take a Hoku Pa'a Canoe Ride at the Polynesian Cultural Center followed by a Ali'i Luau Buffet and a La'ie Town Tram Ride before enjoying the Traditional Ha: Breath of Life show.

The tours are not cheap and to help spread the cost rather then book them all at the same time we are going to the most expensive today and the rest later as we get a little closer. The most expensive tour is the one-day fly away to the Volacano National Park on the Big Island.

Prepping for Hawaii - Nikon AW110 Waterproof Camera & Nikon D80 Additions

Well we are 3 month away from Hawaii and I decided that while I love my SLR camera It isn’t always the most convenient. There are often times when conditions prohibit the use of my favorite camera such as events where water is involved. Since much of my time in Hawaii will be spent either at the beach or doing some form of water related activity I thought it was time for me to spring for a waterproof camera.

I researched many different options and settled on the Nikon AW100. I picked it for a couple reasons. First, I have experience with the brand and am comfortable with the quality of their products both in build and performance. Second, the reviews speak for themselves. Who can argue when so many people have such great experiences? I am looking forward to getting this camera wet in the waters of Oahu.

I do plan to bring my SLR for those days and events where I prefer the performance of an SLR but this camera will be a great compliment. I also plan to be able to use it when I am Kayaking or Boating. Great way to get those shots without worrying about the water.

I also got a great deal online and only paid $184.95 for the camera which has a retail of $349.99 at Target. That leave me with enough extra to purchase a second battery, a case and a couple good high speed memory cards with plenty left over.

Update 7/11/13: So this camera is out of stock and the vendor informed me that it is back ordered and they expect it to ship in 2-4 weeks. Hopefully that is accurate and I will have it in time for my trip. If not I’ll end up paying full price for it at Target. Everyone knows I am not a fan of paying full price for anything. They also adjusted the price to 174.95 to the currently website price.

Update 7/23/13: The vendor informed me after calling that it is due to ship on Friday and they have upgraded my shipping from ground to 3-day air at no charge. Looking forward to trying the camera out soon.

Update 7/29/13: Vendor informed me after calling that they are having trouble sourcing the camera and that it could take a while to receive. I cancelled the order since I want it for the trip and didn't want to risk waiting for it.

Update 7/30/13: I purchased the camera on eBay. It is new in the box and unopened I am looking forward to receiving it and testing it out in the pool. I also ordered a floating strap and case for it as well. I did pay a little more then the online retailer's price of 174.95 but I know it will get here on time. I just need to purchase a second battery and Ill be satisfied I have everything I need/want.

Now that the camera is purchased and actually coming I thought I should pick up a float and case for the device. I don't want to risk dropping it an losing it in the water and when not in use I don't want it getting damaged. As such I purchased the Coolpix Floating strap and the Nikon Sport case. Both will be great additions to the new camera.

In addition to finally buying the AW110 I also picked up a few other items for my Nikon D80. Battery power is always something to be aware of and rather then worry about carrying an additional battery I purchased the MD-80 Battery grip for the d80. It will hold two batteries and double my camera's battery life. It does add weight to the unit but worth not having a battery flopping around in my pocket. It will be a great addition for those long day long tours where I want to make sure my camera will last all day.

Task 1 - Visit Hawaii

Task 1 - Visit 1 New State or Country: Oahu, Hawaii

While I have not yet gone to Hawaii the trip is booked and I am excited to go. I used money made from my part time job to finance this incredible adventure and I can't wait.

Step 1: Pick the Island: After researching where to stay I settled on Oahu and particularly Waikiki. I picked Oahu because it has many of the attractions that I feel are must see's while in Hawaii. It is also the state capital and home to the majority of Hawaii's population. I choose Waikiki because of its notoriety as the place to visit. Usually I prefer to be off the beaten path but for this trip I thought I would follow the herd.

Step 2: Pick the Dates to Travel: I know a few people who have or do live in Hawaii and asked what time of the year did they think it was best to travel there. They all thought that the fall was the best time because it was before the busy holiday season but after the kids all go back to school.  That left me traveling sometime from late September to early November.

Step 3: Pick a Hotel: I looked at alot of hotels on Waikiki from the Hilton Hawaiian Village, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, to the Sheraton Waikiki and the Moana Surfrider. My critera was simple I do not want to have to cross Kalakaua Ave to get to the beach. I also didn't want to be right smack in the middle of the beach either where the majority of the crowds would be. As such I settled on the Sheraton Waikiki. Its ideal because I can get to the beach easy enough but also have the option to swim in its incredible infinity pool overlooking the ocean.

Step 4: Plan the Activities: Once the dates and hotel were locked down the fun part of planning what activities I wanted to do began. I decided that I wanted to do a few guided tours to to compliment the free time I would have on Oahu.

1. To acclimate to the island I thought that an island tour would be ideal as an opportunity to see what was on the island and what we might want to go back and explore more.  I settled on Discover Hawaii Tours Ultimate Circle Island Tour.
2. What vacation to Hawaii is complete with out visiting Pearl Harbour and the USS Arizona Memorial. To maximize seeing everything we opted to include that in addition to visiting the Dole Plantation and the Polynesian Cultural Center with an included Luau. Discover Hawaii Tours Pearl Harbour, Dole Plantation, Polynesian Cultural Center with Luau
3. Being an avid fan of kayaking, hiking and anything really outdoors I picked a tour that would allow me to do all the things I wanted to do without torturing my travel companions. We would visit the film location for Jurassic Park as well as hike above the Kualoa Ranch fish ponds before kayaking to Chinaman's Hat. Discover Hawaii Tours - Chinaman's Hat Experience
4. One final tour we have yet to settle on is a big one and would add a good deal of expense to an already pricey vacation. It's an opportunity to visit the big island on a fly away tour to visit the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and rainbow Falls. We would get to see the most active volacano in the world and walk thought the Thurston Lava Tube. Discover Hawaii Tours - One-Day Hawaii Volcano Eco Adventure.

The rest of the vacation would be spent with out any planned tours or trips and we would get the opportunity to relax, enjoy the beach, and explore as we see fit.