Hawaii trip

I know I've been remiss in posting about Hawaii (heck about anything lately). Work has been busy, yada, yada, yada...

I really don't know how to describe how wonderful our vacation was in Hawaii. Matt and I had a lovely time together and it was so hard to come home. So as to not forget the stuff we did, I put together a little chronicle of each day's highlights. Here it is for the archives:

 October 31
o Arrive in Oahu
o Checked into hotel
o Ate Subway for dinner
o Watched the sunset and drank a beer at a bar on the beach
 November 1
o Visited Pearl Harbor
- Toured Arizona Memorial and Battleship Missouri
o Hung out on Waikiki Beach
- Had first shave ice
- Matt swam
o Dinner with Traci and Pete at ocean view restaurant
- Had first Mai Tai
 November 2
o Ran to/from Diamondhead crater and toured it in 45 minutes (instead of 1.5 hours)
o Lunch at Senor Frogs
o Drive to North Shore with Traci and Pete
- Best Shave Ice at Matsumoto’s
o Dinner with Traci and Pete at Honokai
 November 3
o Run in morning (50 minutes) plus fitness stations near hotel
o Coffee with Traci and Pete
o Flew to Big Island
o Mediocre late lunch at Market Café in Waikoloa Village
o Dinner in condominium
o Mai Tais at Roy’s
 November 4
o Yoga in morning with Matt (he ran too)
o Tour of Kona (where Ironman World Championships are held)
o Lunch at wonderful pizza place
o Drive to beaches on north shore and ice cream in Hawi
o Dinner in condominium
o Rained all afternoon
 November 5
o Long drive to Volcanoes National Park, but totally worth it
- Drove around and stopped for sights along the crater
- Did 4-mile hike through a smaller crater (took 1.5 hours instead of 2-4 hours)
- Had lunch at Volcanoes Lodge
o Visit to Akaka Falls on way back to condo
o Dinner at Beach Grille (next to condo)
- Best Mai Tais!
 November 6
o Rented road bikes and rode the Queen K highway (Ironman course) to secluded locals beach and back (total of about 26 miles)
o Ate “Plate Lunch” at shopping plaza (ice cream and shave ice too)
o Hung out at “A” beach near condo (Matt swam)
o Dinner at Roy’s – Yum!
 November 7
o Run in morning around condo complex
o Flew to Kauai
o Lunch at outside restaurant on condo property
o Dinner in condo
 November 8
o Surf lesson at Hanalei Bay for 1.5 hours
- I got up on first try – have good balance, but not sure I could catch a wave on my own
o Hike along Napali Coast
- 4 miles round trip took 2 hours instead of 4-5
- Very beautiful, but treacherous in spots
- Ended at a secluded beach
- Had shave ice on way back
o Ate dinner in condo
 November 9
o Run in morning
o Lunch at outdoor café in Poipu shopping center
o Hung out on beach
- Matt rented a boogie board
o Dinner at Keoki’s Paradise
- Food and Mai Tais were good, but Hula Pie was divine!
 November 10
o Kayak (4 miles round trip) in Wailua River
- Stopped after 2 miles and hiked 1.5 miles to waterfall
- Ate packed lunch by waterfall
- Swam in pool beneath waterfall
- Hiked back to kayaks
o Visit to Spouting Horn on the way back
o Hung out on beach (Matt swam)
o Dinner at TomKat’s Grille
 November 11
o 10-mile hike at Kokee State Park in Waimea Canyon (took 4.25 hours instead of all day)
- Ate packed lunch on hike at picnic shelter
- Views were incredible
- Hike was tough, but good
- Some of the footing was treacherous and drop-offs steep
- Saw mountain goats
o Shave ice on the way back to condo
o Dinner in condo
 November 12
o Yoga for me and run for Matt in morning
o Hung out at beach
o Ate Puka Dogs on beach
o Rented snorkel gear and Matt swam also
o Luau at Smith’s Tropical Paradise
- Tried poi for first time – yuck
- Show was very good
 November 13
o Hung out and snorkeled at beach in morning
o Drove to Kapa’a for pizza at Pizzetta for lunch
o Drove to Wailua Falls lookout
o Drove and hiked to Kipu Falls
- There was a rope swing, but we didn’t bring our suits and I'm a chicken
o Watched sunset on beach
o Dinner at Plantation Gardens Restaurant
 November 14
o Matt ran in morning
o Sat on beach and said good-bye
o Flew home

Overall, this was the most wonderful vacation. Hawaii was incredible, but more importantly, I got to experience it all with my best friend in the whole world!! I can't wait until our next vacation!