5/29 - Home Again in Friendswood.

Sorry all for the long time between posts.  The cruise ship charges a fortune for internet and I didn't want to spend my island time in an internet cafe.  So I am playing catchup.  Summary is we had a great time and I held up.  Some of my activity was limited by my earlier injuries, no surfing and only limited snorkeling.  Most things getting better, range of motion increasing, pain from sternum subsiding.  The newest concern that will need attention is I am now sporting two hernias, one from each side.  The newest is causing some pain and will need repair.  Long plane ride was hard on my back and hernia.  Now that I am home I can relax and lick my wounds.   Now to catch up.

Trip Day 5 and 6 - Cruise Day 2 and 3 - Maui
We arrived in Maui early AM Sunday, rented a car and drove up the Hana coast.  Kelly did most of the driving and Rae sat up front.  This allowed them the opportunity to control the discovery as Jane and I had 8 years ago.  The Hana coast was a beautiful as I had remembered.  Kelly enjoyed the drive through 600 hairpin turns as much as the scenery along the way. 

 On Monday we took the car to the west side of Maui and found a great place for snorkeling that we could walk to.  I stressed my sternum at the previous site and thus did not go out.  Rae and Kelly had a great time. Saw some turtles and lots of reef fish.   After this we returned the car and made our way back to the ship for a 7 PM departure.

Trip Day 7 - Cruise Day 4 - Hawaii Hilo
First stop on the big island was Hilo.  We signed up for the volcano bus tour  which took us to a the Mona Loa macadamia nut plant, then to the Hawaii Volcano's National Park, and finally an orchid nursery.on the way back.  The Kilauea Volcano at Hawaii, the most active in the world, was just making steam and spewing sulfur as it has been dormant since the earthquakes and tsunami in Japan.  It's surprising to find out how connected all the seismic activity is interwoven throughout the world.   We had fun walking through 400 ft of a lava tube however.    The orchid nursery was amazing as well.  Orchids are Hawaii's third major export behind coffee and macadamia nuts.    They had an orchid plant there valued/insured at $20,000.   I took pictures.

Trip Day 8 - Cruise Day 5 Hawaii Kona
At Kona we took a short bus ride down to a Keauhou Bay / Turtle Bay for more snorkeling.  Here there were lot's of turtles that came up even to the shoreline to eat algae off the edges.  We got photographs right from shore of Jane "swims with turtles".    Rae, Jane and Kelly all had a good time seeing the fish and turtles.  I stayed dry.  

 Some shopping and then back to the ship.

Trip Day 9 -10 Cruise Day  6 - 7  Kauai
Got to Kauai and first took a bus tour to the Waimea Canyon, a place where Mark Twain dubbed " the grand canyon of the pacific".  Just beautiful and impressive but you could only stand at the threshold for a minute or so as cold air rushes up to the top.     After we got down from the canyon we were looking at a trip to the NaPali coast line.   Only options are boat or air.   The only thing we could find was an afternoon helicopter ride so we jumped on it.   A great experience and likely the highlight of the trip.  The helicopter ride took us back over the Waimea Canyon, to the NaPali coast, and into a crater.  Along the way we passed by water falls and mountain views that were amazing.   The whole thing was narrated and recorded.   The second day on Kauai we walked around the local beaches, the Marriott hotel grounds and did did some light shopping.  Rae and her friend rented a kayak and Kelly went on a 4x4 tour back up to the crater we passed over in the helicopter.
The ship departed at 2 PM and swung around the island to pass the Napali coast on the way out.   I'll bet the people that paid for a bout tour of the NaPali coast were miffed.  Got it for free.

Trip Day 11 - Cruise Day 8 -  Honolulu to Friendswood
Travel day, ship to Honolulu, shuttle to airport, airplane to Houston via LA, shuttle to car, car to Friendswood.  Arrive 7:30 am Sunday.  Resting today.

Check out these photos
Flora in Hawaii
Us in Hawaii 2011
Landscapes from Hawaii 2011