As most of you know we just returned from 11 fabulous days in beautiful Hawaii. I took way too many photos and wanted to share our time with you. I hope you enjoy.
Day 1-September 2nd
We flew American Airlines on a direct 9 hour flight to Honolulu. Moxie, our four old, stayed awake the entire time was so much fun to travel with. She actually was the entire trip which was just wonderful. We got in around 3pm local time which is 6 hours behind home in Woodstock, IL. Jodie’s parents met us at the airport and after some major arranging we were able to fit all our luggage in the rental car and head to the hotel.
Hawaii is far from a cheap destination but there are many things that can be done to make it cheaper. The first is to shop and shop and shop around for car rentals. Usually car rentals in Honolulu are around $50 a day even for a midsize. I kept looking and finally found an Alamo full size rental for less than $20 a day. The final tally for the rental was $206.79.
The other thing you need to consider is parking. We stayed at the Waikiki Marriott and self parking is $35 a day for self park or $42 for valet, instead we parked directly behind the hotel at the Waikiki Banyon for $60 for 7 days. Right there we saved $185.
Once we got checked into the hotel and got settled we went for a walk and to a great dinner at Gyu Kaku which is a Japanese BBQ restaurant that are all over Japan. There are several here in the states, we have one in Chicago and there are outposts in California and New York too.
Waikiki Marriott
View of Diamond Head from our Room on 33rd Floor
With the time difference Day 2 started really early for me. I was up around 3am and went for a run up and around Diamond head. There was something about the location that made me feel I could run all day long. First morning I went 4 miles.
It was Saturday and the first day of the Ala Moana Farmers Market. Ala Moana is the premier mall in Honolulu. We went and has the most incredible fresh Pineapples and apple banana’s.
Fresh Pineapple
Hawaiian Dancers at the Farmers Market
Coconuts
This guy is amazing. He is a vendor at several different farmers markets on the island, as we saw him the next day in Haliewa on the North Shore. He backs his pickup to his stall unloads hundreds of coconuts, I’m sure he gets for free, and spends the day using a machete, opening them up and sticking a straw in it for $5 a shot. Freshest Coconut Water in the world. After you finish the coconut water, he will open it the rest of the way so you can enjoy the coconut flesh. I want to be like him when I grow up.
Next we went over to Queen Kapi’olani park for a Japanese Festival they were having. Moxie got to play on some jumpy houses, we saw some incredible bonsai trees and take in the culture.
Festival
BONSAI!!
We ended the day at Dukes on the beach for dinner. There is a great song by Jimmy Buffett called Dukes on Sunday that is set there.
On the way back to the Marriott, we meandered through the International market place and someone took our picture in front of this huge Banyan. Aside from Moxie playing shy it’s a pretty good picture.
To be continued…
