A Week on the Pride of America

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Wow what an Awesome week. If you want to go somewhere to get the feel of paradise than Hawaii is the answer. There is nothing like it that we know of in Australia.
The week didn't go super fast either like you normally feel when away on holiday. Everything was really
relaxed and laid back, we were able to eat out at a different restaurants every night or a buffet meal if you wanted too, then we just walked out without paying (as it comes in the price of the ship) So that will be difficult now to not want to just walk out when at a restaurant.

We boarded the boat Saturday 22nd Nov 1pm, that would of been Sunday 10am to you all.
Sailed out at 8pm from Honolulu Oahu.

Sunday - Monday was at Kahului on the Island of Maui
We were able to get a free bus into Hilo (hee-low) Hatties, their tourist store. They open oysters to reveal what pearl you've recieved, we managed to get two out of one oyster. Beautiful !!
The first tour we did was to the Haleakala Crater at Sunset. A 4 hour excursion. Spectatular site :o
Monday we travelled around Iao (ee-ow) Valley & Tropical plantation. Tennille had already posted photos of this.

Tuesday we docked at 8am in Hilo on the Big Island (Formally called Hawaii)
This was a very full day touring around - Rainbow falls than onto the Volcano National Park, Kilaua Caldera was spirting out lava but from the distance that we were, we could only see the steam. Then we were driven around the other side to a museum where we had a closer look. The fumes where a bit too much though. Then we saw steam vents, and was able to walk through a Lava Tube. Part of the tour was also the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut factory. The macadamia nut was introduced into Hawaii from Australia. Then onto Nani Mau gardens. The flowers here are so unique to this area. Really Amazing.

Wednesday the Ship had moved around to the other side of Big Island to a town called Kona. Known for the fabulous Kona Coffee. Can you guess what Kirsty bought ?????
The waters here are too shallow for the boat so we have to take the life boats onto shore, the pic of the ship is from this site. We just had a little look around the township here for a couple of hours. Then made the most of resting on the boat.

Thursday - Friday we docked at Nawiliwili on the Island of Kauai (Ka-why-e).
A lot of movies have actually been filmed on his Island. A great oldie is Blue Hawaii with Elvis Presley.
South Pacific (of course) All the Jurassic Park films. Seven days and Seven nights. And heaps more.
On Thurs we went to the Waimen Canyan (the grand canyon of the pacific) This was so awesome. yet they said the grand canyon is about 20 times bigger, that would be such a spectatular site as we thought this one was fantastic.
Friday we had a River tour. The Wailua River we went on a boat called Whitney K, the fern grotto was the destination. They have performed over 10,000 weddings at this site. The first wedding was for some actress in the 60's. We were entertained by some hawaiian singers and dancers and they even showed us all how to do a simple hawaiian dance.
We should of had our hula skirts hey!
Then we were back on the bus the view the Opaekaa Falls, in the hills in this area you can make out the face of king kong.
We saw the hills where they filmed King Kong the movie.
We had to be aboard the Ship by 1:30 for a 2pm sail. The ship went 2/3rds the way around the Kauai coast
to the wonderful site called Na Pali Coast, the coastline is spectacular. This is where the filmed most of Jurassic park. They said that Kauai gets the most rain on the planet.
Saturday we docked at 7am.
They annouce that you can enjoy your last morning, take it slow. then rattle of 10 - 15 things you can do on board, but everyone has to off before 10am.

So there's a quick run down to our week, since getting of the boat it's been a little bit like jet lag.
It now feels like wow did that really happen.
Hope you all enjoy reading about our adventure, as we have enjoyed being able to bring you a little of our trip.

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Comments

[Beve]

love the photo's
Soooo beautiful. love the photo's that you've shown. Hope you're not doing too much Carol. ENJOY the rest of your trip.... Beve