5/21 - Cheeseburger in Paradise

I am sitting here at a Waikiki hotel watching the surfers catch the most perfect waves. long periods, nice clean faces and plenty of power to sustain a long ride.   I am weighing the risks with the rewards of trying to surf.  Not sure my sternum will let me get prone on a board nor jump up at the appropriate moment.  I'ts killing me to have to watch.

The first couple of days were action packed but as of yesterday I got a chance to rest.

Day 1 - Travel to Honolulu Hi. Two plane rides 3.5 hours to LA and the 5 hours to Honolulu.  It was hard but the reward was great. On the ride from LA to Hawaii I purchased the TV package only to find out that about 20 miles out there was no TV coverage.  Didn't get to see the NBA playoff game that lured me to the TV.  Second thing that happened was Rae Nell luggage did not show up with our plane  We found out that TSA had held it up in Houston.  Now TSA becomes a travel variable as if Continental could not have lost it for us anyway.

Day 2 - Rented a car and headed for the North Shore.  First stop Haleiwa and shave ice at Matsumoto's. For me this is the origin of shave ice.  Matsumoto's is a little grocery store that serves the most perfect shave ice.  Flavors are tropical like passion fruit, coconut, etc. and they will put in ice cream or beans. 

Next stop - The famous Waimea Bay.  Not much to see as there are no waves from the north during the summer.  And then Sharks cove - Sharks cove is a game preserve where there is lots of lava structures and coral for the fish.  Just looked as nobody but me was prepared.  After a prawn lunch at a aqua culture farm we ended up at the Polynesian Cultural Center for  the island presentations, a luau, and an evening show Ha - the breath of life.  The whole experience was great.

Day 3 - Early morning trip to Hanauma Bay.  This is another bay with lots of coral and fish that is protected from the waves by a coral structure.  Also another game preserve.  This time the gang was prepared with snorkel gear and swim wear.  They loved it.  I had trouble with breathing under exertion and had to quit early.   Jane, Rae and Kelly stayed out about an hour.  Finally back to Waikiki for some R&R.  Last night we ate at a Waikiki restaurant called - Cheesburger in Paradise named after the Jimmy Buffet song of the same name.

Day 4 - Today's total objective is to catch the shuttle to the cruise ship.  I think I can do this with ease.  I will post some pictures when I find out where the camera stored them.  . Camera software wants to take over the photo management.  I refuse to let it.