Well folks, as sad as it may seem, today was our last full day in paradise!  Started off in the morning driving north around Diamond Head and Coco Head to see the Kalona Blow Hole.  It was a bit pathetic today as the windward side of the island was remakably calm.  Then off we went past Big Sandy beach to Makapu'u point.  Wow, what a view towards the Kanaohe Peninsula and Waiamanolo Beach as well as Bellows Beach.  Here's that view:

On we went to Bellows beach and Waiamanolo Beach.  They comprise the longest continuous beach on Oahu at 17 miles long.  We visited the Bellows AFB site and saw the cottages and other dwellings that can be rented by military personnel.  This is one of the prettiest beaches on the island for sure.  From there we headed up Wahiawa to visit the house Vanessa lived in when she was born.  46 Kukui St!!  The little old Japanese man who lives there now got a little spooked by a bunch of white people taking pictures of his house!!  Funny stuff.  Onwards to Hickam AFB for a nice lunch and then home to do some swimming before dinner.  Our last nght dinner was great as we visited Benihanna's of Tokyo.  Awesome dinner.  A walk around Waikiki and back tot he room to polish off our last bottle of wine.  Tomorrow afternoon we will take the rental car back and head tot he airport for the long, sad flightg home.  This has been a great vacation and one we will never forget.  I think Kevin and Irma feel the same.  I'll make one more post after we get home. 

Thanks for following us on our first blogging vacation.

Love, Kenn and Karen

Aloha!!! We had a wonderful day today.  After breakfast in the room, we all headed out to Hunama Bay for some snorkeling.  Saw many beautiful fish but I think Kevin and Irma liked Tunnels beach in Kauai better.  Water clarity wasn't reall good even though we got there early.  Aftwards, we hit the huge flea market at the Aloha Bowl to get all our trinkets.  Now on our way for some Italian food!!  No pic's today folks as Neither of us wanted to take our camera's out to the beach.  Suffice it to say it is a gorgeous spot.  This is agreat beginners spot and if you are a first timer here to Oahu, this is the place to go.  Tomorrow we are off to Shark Cove on the North Shore for some more snorkeling.  Then, who knows.  Getting quite the tan!!

Hope all our family is doing well.  Glad to hear John and Rhonda got home safely.  But they talk of thie "work" thing!!   What is that pray tell!  hehehhe

Love, Kenn & Karen

Dateline Monday, 7 May.  A wonderful day was had by all.  Started off this morning at the Punchbowl.  Better known as the National Cemetary of the Pacific.  Saw Lt Col Onizuka's grave (Astonaut on Challenger) and Ernie Pyle (if you have to ask, you're too young or not a person who like history).  Then it was on the Arizona Memorial.  This is a moving place everytime we come here and I firmly believe it should be mandatory viewing for every person in uniform.  This is an artsy pic I took of the flag waving in the breeze above this sacred shrine:

Tonight is a Luau at the Hale Koa so it should be fun.  Tomororw off to the North Shore to visit the Dole Plantation and see the Bonzai Pipeline and Sunset Beach as well as some snorkeling.

Aloha !!

Paradise Part deux!!  we have arrived safely on Oahau and are in our room at the Hale Koa,  Walked down the beach a bit before dinner.  We found a good place with cheap Mai Tai's so we had to sample them.  Yum!!!  After dinner we watched the sunset on Waikiki beach.  As usual it was incredible. Here's a picture:

I'm pooped so more tomorrow.  We are headed out to Peral harbor and the Punchbowl, the National Cemetary of the Pacific.

Love, Kenn

Dateline:  Last full day in paradise (At least the Kauai version).  All 7 of us left at a reasonable hour this morning and headed out to Waimea Canyon.  It's about 60 miles from our hotel and certainly a beautiful drive.  Finally, we got a really nice day today with plenty of Hawaii sunshine!!  Did I mention it rains a lot here on Kauai.  But we got to the canyon dry and happy.  Here is a picture of the canyon:

On the way up we saw a neat little waterfall in a rather odd area.  Like in a dry volcanic wash.  Here it is:

After the canyon we headed out to see the Spouting Horn near Poi'Pu beach.  In fact there were two of them.  Here's a picture of the Spouting Horn:

From there we went to Poi'pu beach for a nice swim.  No pic's there as we didn't want to take our cameras to the  beach.  Poi'puis a gorgeous beach with a breakwater which protects it from the huge swells.

One last picture.  A rare one at that this is one of me for a change at the Canyon:

As I mentioned, it's off to Oahu for us tomorrow and we reluctantly say goodbye to John and Rhona.  We've had a wonderful time with them and will miss them the last 5 days we are on the road.

That's it for tonight folks.  More tomorrow night from downtown Honolulu at the Hale Koa.

Cheers, Kenn







Dateline Friday May 4th in paradise (I'm lying, it's actually Saturday morning).  Spent the day ATVing in the land of Jurassic Park!!  Seriously, we started out in the valley where the dinosaurs ran over them while they hid behind the fallen log.  What a magnificent view.  Proceeded from there through the jungle and fields and mountains for 4 hours.  We took a break at a river in the exact spot where Harrison OFrd slid down the hill into the river in the very first Raiders of the Lost Ark.  The scene where he jumps on the seaplane and then discovers snakes in the cockpit.  We had a wonderful day there.  Got plenty wet and muddy too.  Afterwards we all went to see the Menhune Fish pond supposedly built by the Menehune, the first "little people" to inhabit the islands.  It wasn't much but it was on the list of things to see.  Stopped at the local Harley dealership and bought myself a nice T shirt from the westernmost Harley dealer in the world.  We came back to the hotel and John and Rhonda made a fabulous dinner for everyone.

Today we are all headed to Waimea Canyon and then to do some swimming and snorkeling at Poi'Pu beach on the south side of the island.  It should be another fun day.  We are looking for another really nice restaurant for our final dinner here in Kauai.  We have eaten at some great places including the Bull Shed Thursday evening where we sat right beside the sea and watched the almost full moon rise over the ocean.

That's about it for today.  Sorry about no pictures but the networks here are terrible.  In fact it's the only complaint I would have about our rooms and the resort.  Tomorrow we check out around 10 and head to the airport wher we will say good bye to John and Rhonda as they are flying home.  We are headed over to Oahu for another 5 nights in a different flavor of paradise.  There we will see the USS Arizona, and tour the North Shore as well as Honolulu.  From what I can see the weather is supposed to be wonderful.  It rains a bit here on the garden isle!!  Guess that's why it's so green here.

Peace, out!

Good afternoon from paradise, part 2.  Just got back from snorkeling at Tunnels Beach.  Incredible!!  We saw many turtles and one even crawled out of the sea at our feet as we were watching two others frolic in the surf.  There is a beautiful reef at Tunnels and we saw many colorful fish.  Look up the Christmas Wrasse.  We saw tons of these and they looked like rainbow fish to us.  Had some passing rain showers but all in all a wonderful day.  I am enjoying a cheapie Mai Tai on the balcony as I write this!!  Dinner tonight is at the Tahiti Nui that you all saw in the Descendants!! I think a Coconut Shrimp or two may make it on my plate (Again).  No pictures today  as I smartly left both my iPhone and camera home.  In the morning we head over to Lihue to go on a 4 hour ATVing ride that includes stopping at 2 waterfalls and even some swimming in one.  Will also visit the road view of the Waiamea Canyon.  Then Saturday we plan on some more snorkeling at some new beach.  Easy to do as there are so many to choose from.

Miss everyone but we're not coming home early.  Having too much fun.

Love Kenn

PS I know I screwed up the blog badly in the last two days but I now have it all figured out