Angel and I had a mission this morning -- to get out of the resort without our travel companions knowing the true extent of our shopping therapy. The bellman came and loaded our luggage and packages on the cart. It couldn’t have been the only time people wanted to mail packages from Hawaii.
At the Waikoloa post office, there was only one working computer. Lesley made do and we got all our packages off to friends and family. There were a few people in line behind us who were a little upset due to the delay.
We went back to the Marriott and collected Princess and Lilly. Thankfully all the luggage fit back into the Cherokee -- that was a wonder in itself. None of us were excited to leave the Big Island, especially on such a beautiful day.
Big Island
He really really wanted a close up pic
The Kona Airport had a palm tree lined entranceway. The airport was larger than the Hilo Airport, at least the drop off and pickup area was more spread out. I dropped off my compatriots and then I took the car to the rental return. Surprisingly there were about 10 cars being dropped off. Luckily I was really sweet to the attendant and he took me next -- southern charm sometimes works.
The airport was very Hawaiian. I made it back just in time to get checked in. The security line was very long. A little boy was sitting in the line in an Indian crossed leg position looking like he was meditating. Yes, the line was going slow.
All of us except Lilly made it through security quickly. She had not put her pineapple jellies and guava jellies in her checked bags. I guess she hadn’t flown much.
Once inside the airport, it was open air and had beautiful bronze statues of hula girls. We had to sit outside until they called our flight, then a pre line -- reminded me of Disney with the ante chambers.
A very nice Australian family from Cairns in front of us. The mother told us, in Kauai they rode in an open helicopter in order for the photos to come out -- WTH? All I could picture is a Vietnam Huey with guys and guns hanging off the sides, not my idea of a safe helicopter ride. Anything for a good photo -- no I don't think so.
Again we walked out on the tarmac to get on the Hawaiian Airplane -- this is their idea of shuttling between islands. But this time, we had to wind around a ramp to get on the plane -- no stairs. The weather was perfect for our short jumper flight to Honolulu.
The Honolulu airport was beautiful and we got to see the garden that we had missed the first time we were there. I have been through many an airport and never seen a full on garden in an airport, and it was past security too.
Our luggage was waiting on us by the time we made it to baggage claim. After catching the shuttle to the Thrifty lot, Sheldon tried to hook us up with an Expedition for all our luggage -- but to no avail. When I made it out of the rental office, they had loaded up our luggage in a Town and Country Minivan. We are about as far from soccer moms as you could get, but this minivan allowed us to load up everything and we had room for some more shopping.
Sheldon had given us great directions to our hotel, the Royal Hawaiian, and we drove by a few parks and saw some homeless people on the route. The traffic wasn’t that bad and when we got closer to town it was all high end shopping -- Neiman Marcus, Louis Vuitton, etc. Along the main drag it was high rise buildings and lots of concrete.
When we got to the hotel, it was a weird winding driveway past the Sheraton into a courtyard entrance. It was like an oasis with lots of trees and grass were in front of the portico entrance -- a true retreat. This hotel was an experience from the moment they opened all our vehicle doors -- they gave us beaded leis and took our luggage on big dollies. This hotel was old and had been restored.
There were two small levels of stairs leading up to the reception. At first we could barely find the check in desk -- it was literally a desk not a counter. Before we could even sit down in the chairs, a pink clad, gray haired gentleman brought us pink drinks -- raspberry guava juice -- in tall shot glasses. Then he brought us cool wet washrags. The nice lady gave us our pink keys and sent us on to our room.
We went out through the tranquil courtyard to the Ocean Tower where there was a lanai and elevators right beside the pool area. We were on the next to top floor and when we got in our room we had a bottle of pink champagne and banana bread waiting on us. The bathroom toilet freaked us out a little -- some type of electronic Japanese seat. I loved the pink striped robe -- still waiting on mine to come in the mail.
The views were great!
from the hallway -- check out all the concrete
After relaxing a few minutes, we hit the main drag to find a lunch/supper restaurant --- Duke’s (I love the one in Malibu, and this is the original). It’s located on the bottom of a big hotel. The beach bar was packed with people and it was around 3:45 in the afternoon. The only table we could find was right beside the two man band with a view of Diamond Head and the beach. The band was good and they called some guys up from the bar to sing with them. It was one of their friend’s birthdays and he came up and sang too.
We got carded when we ordered a specialty drink and it is always an ego boost when that happens.
Our hamburgers, grilled fish and fish sandwiches were delicious and the waffle fries were a treat and the Hula Pie too.
The sun was starting to set after we finished eating. After she wading in the water, Princess went to our nearby hotel and got us some pink and white striped beach towels. We found a good seat on the sand and watched another amazing sunset in paradise.
wonder what he finds???
umm, no
Though we were tired, we knew they had the International Market Place across the street. The Dole Whip stand was located in the Market Place -- Angel said “There is a Dole Whip across the street with my name on it”.
So yes, we went over there to the eclectic souvenir shops -- tons of Hawaiian shirts, dresses, suitcases, t-shirts, jewelry etc. Most of the shopkeepers were Asian ladies and they were chatty and pushy. Being nice to be is much more conducive to me buying things not pushy.
:)
After picking up a few things from the nice shopkeepers, we headed back to our ritzy hotel rooms and turned in early -- only two big days in Honolulu to see as much as we could.
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