Hilo, Hawaii

November 13, 2012

Hilo, Hawaii

We ordered breakfast to be delivered to our room this morning. they called us around 6:35 to see if we were ready for it. we were barely awake, but i told them to bring it anyway. Kandi and I ate on the balcony as we were nearing our dock. We arrived in port this morning around 7:30 am.  It's an industrial port but there are nice green areas to look at. 

 View from our balcony.

 I scrapbooked for the morning then went in search for lunch at 11:45am. Some of the restaurants don't open until noon so I went to the Cadillac Diner and had lunch with Sherry and her sister as well as Lynne and Erin.

I had potato skins, mozzarella sticks and a hot dog followed by a brownie sundae. 

One of the signs in the Cadillac Diner.

After lunch I went back up to the scrapbook room and completed another page. About 4 I decided to go to our cabin for a rest. As I was walking there I ran into Kandi, Crystal and Trudy who just came back from the volcano park tour. They said tonight around 8 PM our boat should be passing by the area where the lava is flowing into the ocean. We should be able to see the red glow. 

I have put on mascara and lipstick again and changed into my blue dress. I didn't plan it very well because neither of the two bras I brought are hidden by the dress. I am going braless tonight but wearing a camisole. You can't tell I'm not wearing a bra.  We had dinner with Bertha, Joan, lee-Anne, Lynne, Kandi and myself in the Skyline Restaurant. 

We were late getting to the crop party. We had another crop challenge. Got more free stuff and crowned the Queen, Linda. Since the crowns Allison brought got damaged during the flight to Honolulu I made new ones out of a shaved ice cup and some stickers. We re-crowned Queen Jennifer S. with the new crown since she won on the land portion.

Day 2 on Maui

November 12, 2012

Kahului on Maui

This morning we slept until 7am. We are still docked at Kahului on Maui Island. We had breakfast in the Skyline Dining Room. I had eggs Benny and Kandi had waffles with banana compote. 

 Ceiling above staircase in Skyline Restaurant.

Eggs Benny!

After breakfast we went to the scrapbooking room to get our I instructions for the day. Right after that we caught a shuttle into town that dropped us off at Island Paperie. They were expecting us, just not all at the same time. It's a small store with lots of product. It took a long time for everyone to get through the check out line. For every $50 you spent you got to pick a free item from a certain section. There were two options for catching shuttles back to the ship. K-Mart or Wallmart. Half of us went to K-Mart. Some of us waited over an hour and the shuttle which is supposed to stop every 20 minutes still hadn't come by. We ended up taking three cabs instead. It cost less than $8 per cab.

They make their own laser cut-outs

The aisles are pretty narrow

Outside waiting for the rest of our friends.

When we got back to the boat Kandi and I went to our cabin to rest and get pretty for dinner. It's a fancier dining room that has a reservation for all the crop and cruisers. I'm going to wear my new black dress.

We met up with a bunch of girls to get their glam photos done. Allison needed an assistant so I was one and Kandi was the other. I am learning a lot more about portrait photography and how to pose people. 

We played with a few different locations before going to dinner. I was impressed with everything but others were not. It was a slow process but no different from going to a fancy dinner.  

 Me and Kandi

The usual group!

We disembarked just as we were starting dinner and even though I took something I was not feeling good. I think my headache was making things worse. I went to bed, because once I'm laying down I'm fine. I started to watch Julie and Julia on my iPod for 45 minutes before I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. 

First Port Kahului on Maui

First Port
November 11, 2012

Kahului on Maui

Kandi and I got up this morning by having room service bring us a breakfast snack. It was supposed to be orange juice, but came as tomato juice. We also had bananas, croissants and chocolate croissants oh and Kandi had coffee. We then got dressed and went to find the buffet to have some warm breakfast. 

 The view from our balcony as we are coming into port.

Parasurfers

After breakfast we went back to our rooms and got our stuff ready to go to the scrapbook album techniques class part 1. We did introductions since not all of us knew each other, then started the class. It's a totally different format from what we had on the land portion. They are basically giving us the techniques to be used then letting us work on our own. I worked on two of the layouts given to us from the land portion but was only able to go so far before needing a circle punch.  After working we went to take our stuff to our rooms then go have lunch. We went to the Aloha Cafe again for buffet. Next Kandi went out exploring off the ship and I visited with a few other of the ladies. Celia told me of a place on the ship having a 50% off sale on scrapbook albums, paper and stickers. I stopped in there and bought a pad of paper and a package of stickers. Then I headed up to our room to unpack and get organized.

 At 3:30 we were to meet the bus to go to Haleakala which is the top of a volcano. It's not extinct but it's not active right now.  The drive takes a out one hour and 15 minutes to get to the top. It's 38 Miles of nearly all switchbacks. 

About half way up the mountain.

I forgot to take Gravol with me. It wasn't so bad on the way up because we stopped a couple of times and there was things to see to distract us, but the way down didn't have stops and it was dark. I wasn't the only one feeling nauseous. Even people who don't usually get car sick were not feeling well. It was worth the trip and the terrain was amazing and the sunset photos even better!

 This plant is only found in one area in the world!

 The "Crater"

 The weather was cool at the top, about 5 degrees C.

 There were many there to take photos of the sunset, high above the clouds

I am laying down now and have taken a Gravol. I will take a shower then head to bed to read for a bit.

Sail Away

November 10, 2012

Honolulu

Today was my last breakfast on Waikiki Beach. We meet at 10:45 for group photos then those of us going on the cruise board the bus to the Harbor to get on the ship. We are sailing on "The Pride of America". I will not have Internet or phone access on board. I will keep up on my journal entries and send them with photos when I arrive home on the 18th.

Both the land and the cruise groups met for lunch at the Tiki Tiki Lounge for a small buffet.

After lunch those of us leaving on the cruise boarded the bus that will be taking us to the ship.

We boarded late afternoon, got settled, then attended our safety meeting.

 The wind was blowing under my dress making me look like I am with child.

Kandi and I then went for a bite to eat beside the pool before watching the sunset. I had fun with the panorama option on my iPhone.

Last full day on land!

November 9, 2012

Honolulu

I was supposed to go Parasailing today, but there was only room for 5 and it was during my class. So I took part in Christy's Trinkets and Treasures class. The class took until noon and I'm not done yet but, still have to gather stuff to put into the boxes. 

After class I had lunch with Jennie, Erin, and Jennifer at Lulu's overlooking the ocean. Got some more great photos. After lunch I met Celia and Kay to grab a taxi to go to Ben Franklin Crafts, which is like Michael's, sort of. We were there about an hour then caught  "The Cab" back to the hotel. I spent the time between getting back and the wrap up party packing and organizing. I may have to buy another bag to bring things back. 

Before the wrap up party there were fireworks going off at another hotel and we took photos of them from the lanai of our scrapbook room.

 Announcements were made. We played a couple of games and the some of us exchanged photos and well wishes as some of us were leaving for home and tomorrow we meet 26 new friends.

After the party Jennie, Jennifer, Shelly and I went out for one last drink, as Shelly is one of the people going home tomorrow.

Luau and Polynesian Cultural Centre
November 8, 2012

Honolulu

This morning I had breakfast by myself on the beach. It was nice but I kind of missed the company. 

I returned to my room to get ready for the day. 

 Above: Taro Root Donut



 








While having lunch with Celia this little guy showed himself.

Crystal and I are catching the shuttle to Hilo Hattie's for some shopping this morning then we have a busy afternoon of events planned at the Polynesian Cultural Centre. 

A view of the mountains from the bus.

Paragliders in the sky

Our ticket for Luau and Breath of Life fire show.

Floating Parade

Hailie our guide.

Auntie Celia playing games.

A group of school children doing a hula.

Some of the ladies having dinner at the Luau

The show before dinner at the Luau.

A sneak peak behind the scenes before the fire show.

The hula skirts are made with tea leaves. They take a lot to burn.

Practicing behind the scenes

The costumes are hung on a dry cleaner rack to easily access them. I believe there were over 1200 costumes.

The show is about to start. There's no more photography allowed.

After the show. Get ready to board the bus back to Honolulu. Sweet dreams!