Hawaii - Land of Fire and Water

We took our five grandchildren, ages 8 to 13, plus our children and their spouses for a vacation to Hawaii on June 25 and I know all eleven of us have different stories as to what we experienced.  This is my story.  

When we started planning the trip last year I knew that the best way to see some of the islands would be to cruise.  So we chose Norwegian Cruise Line which was the only one that started and ended in Honolulu.  We decided it would be good to stay two nights in Honolulu to get used to the time change before we boarded the ship.  On the non stop flight from Chicago, our son Brett, sat next to an elderly couple who were on their way to Honolulu for a Lion’s convention and had a condo in the city. They told him of many good places to eat and soak up the atmosphere.  

We didn’t waste time getting acclimated.  We settled into the Equus, a small hotel on Ala Moana Boulevard, a main thoroughfare of the city.  We were within walking distance of a huge mall which had a food court on the bottom floor.  There I was astounded at the new world we had stepped into.   Asian food was the main fare and the colors and languages of the South Pacific were everywhere.  

Honolulu

View from the 8th floor of our hotel Equus.

Jay, Avery and Brett with Diamond Head in the background.  Photo taken by Heather.

The Ramseyer family made it to the top of Diamond Head.  Waikiki Beach is in the background.  Avery, Jay and Carter were troopers to make it to the top on a steamy hot day.  Photo by Brett.

We were also close to Waikiki Beach and spent the second afternoon there. We discovered that this is not the best beach on Oahu or Hawaii even though it is so famous. The rocks on the bottom of the ocean there are formidable and can cause pain.  

The weather was hot and muggy and we learned that it was more like the weather they have in August and the trade winds weren’t blowing. The weather made all of us eager to dive into the ocean.  The kids also swam in a small pool back at the hotel.

The gang walks down Wakiki beach on a hot and humid afternoon.  

Bella and Avery soak up the sun and water at Waikiki.

When I saw these parrots on Bella, Avery and Carter's shoulders I just starting taking a picture.  I didn't read the sign which said I had to pay to take a picture or pay the owner to take one.  He got a little salty with me so I apologized,  and he didn't make me pay.  

In order to save money we had two children in each room with their parents, and Carter, the youngest in our room.  On the ship he had a bed that folded down from the wall at night and we folded it back up during the daytime. He seemed to enjoy being with us and usually spent his last hour or so in the morning sleeping with us in our bed. Every night he was asleep within five minutes after his head hit the pillow.

In Honolulu there was good shopping, but shopping was not my intention this time.  I only picked up a few little things like soap, postcards, jewelry and some quilted items. Hawaii has their own unique patterns for quilting and that fascinated me.  

A Hawaiian quilting pattern.

Four out of five grandchildren bought  a ukelele in Honolulu. They were miniatures ones, but they have a good sound.  Photo by Brett.

Once on board the ship, The Pride of America, life took on another rhythm. Because our children had signed up for excursions, some of which we were going to go on, it was early rising and hitting the breakfast area before it got too crowded.  

Our ship - The Pride of America

Our ship, The Pride of America is anchored off the big island of Hawaii near Kona.  The small transfer boat was everyone's way to shore.  In every other port we just walked out of the ship onto the dock.

Leaving Honolulu, Adrianna, Avery and Bella dress for dinner on the first night on the ship.

Bella, Avery, Jay and Adrianna liked to swim at night when no one was in the pool.  Here they sit in the hot tub enjoying each other's company.  Photo by Brett.

Small pool at the back of the ship.

Side deck chess board.

Main pool area on ship.

In another attempt to save money I signed us up for inside staterooms. Without a window to look out I found them claustrophobic, but adequate. When I mentioned the claustrophobic part to my son-in-law Damon, he said he thought they were cozy. I then knew there would be a different perspective about the trip from everyone.  

Of course we only had Carter in our room and the others had two kids.  I wish I had counted the times there was a tap-tap at our door and a grandchild was standing there wanting to come in.

Both our son Brett and I get motion sickness so we had to take a pill at certain times when the ship was moving.  We had to take one before we went out on a smaller boat to go snorkeling as well.  That solved the problem for me.  Each day had planned events once we got on the ship.  The first day we docked in Maui and while our family went on a hike in the jungle and jumped into rock pools, Hack and I headed to Laihaina, a small village on the western side of Maui. We had been in this town on a previous trip, but this time we took a bus from the dock area of Kahului. We rode along the coastline which I think is such a beautiful one.

Laihaina on the western side of Maui

Funky sign in Laihaina.

A Sunday art fair under a huge banyon tree in Laihaina.

It was a gentle wave day off Laihaina.  

The second day we all went bike riding 26 miles down the outer rim of the volcano Haleakala. Many people get up early to try to see the sunrise, but we decided to join up with an independent company that would take us up to 6000 feet and turn us loose. The top of the volcano is at 10,000 feet.

Our guide Remy told us stories all the way up to our starting point.  We learned that many people live off the grid in Hawaii.  In Honolulu we noticed countless homeless and a man told us it is a major problem in the islands. One woman told me they come from other places, but my question is how can they afford to get to Hawaii to be homeless. I’m sure there is a more accurate story.  

Having had some recent problems with my knees I was having a hard time getting my knee over the bike bar.  When I thought I had accomplished it, the bike tipped and I when flailing on the ground.  Remy, bless his heart, came over immediately and asked if I was O.K. and if I wanted to go back down to the bottom with him in the van.  I got up quickly and said, “No, I’m biking down.”  

Since there were eleven of us I seldom saw anyone except the one or two in front of me.  I was concerned about the children and cars passing on our left. But they adjusted well, even 8 year old Carter, and for the first umpteen miles I rode the brakes hard.  Then as I began to relax and we got to lower levels I let it fly.  We went from cool to warm to hot weather as we came down Haleakala.  We stopped in a little town close to the bottom and had lunch.  I was dying for a drink of water, but a margarita tasted just as good.  

Bike Riding down Haleakala on Maui

All of us helmeted up and ready to head 26 miles down Haleakala.  

With the valley and ocean below me, I cruise down the volcanic mountain.  Photo by Brett.

It was 26 miles downhill on Haleakala. First in line is Carter, then Heather, followed by me, Aimee and Hack.  Everyone else was further ahead. So much fun.  Photo by Brett.

Day three the ship docked at Hilo on the big island of Hawaii.  We couldn’t miss Volcanoes National Park and didn’t want to be stuck on a bus excursion so rented two mini vans.  It was a fascinating day as we hiked around the steaming holes and drove almost to the ocean in the park.  We had lunch in a delightful place called Volcano House and could see a steaming volcano from the big picture windows where we lunched.

Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii

Even though the park was arid, there were pretty blooms in unexpected places.

An orchid blooming in the heat gives one hope.

Dripping with color, I have no idea what this flower is called.

Steaming volcano seen from restaurant window.

Carter, Bella, Avery and Jay pose on a lava rock.

A view showing where lava once flowed to the ocean.  We wanted to go that far, but had to time it to get back to the ship which was moving to the other side of Hawaii that night.  

During the night, the ship sailed to the other side of the island and set their anchor in the ocean as there was no port in Kona.  We then had to board transfer boats to get to Kona.  This was the whole family’s day for snorkeling.  Since I had never done that before, I wasn’t sure I would go in the water.  Our boat served lunch and drinks and also had gear for those who wanted to dive.  My son-in-law Damon decided to try diving which totally surprised me as it didn’t seem like something he would do….just like snorkeling didn’t seem like something I would do.  But I couldn’t resist the coolness of the ocean as the day was heating up and I went in with everyone else.  

Before the end of this excursion I realized how daring our three youngest grandchildren were.  They were going down a slide into the ocean, jumping off the boat and swimming without life jackets or noodles.  As the boat made its way back to the transfer boat and then to the big ship, mellow music was playing and I soaked up the sun and the thrill of being in Hawaii.

Snorkeling off the Big Island

Aimee floats in the ocean with her snorkel gear on.  

Carter balances on a paddle board. He is a fish in the water. 

Hack jumps off the boat into the ocean.  

Bella and Avery float in the snorkeling area.

From the big island we went to Nawiliwili, Kauai, an island we had not visited on our previous trip. This island is less populated and seemed a bit more laid back.  I must admit I did not see much of this island as I opted out of the zip lining adventure the rest of the family went on.  I decided to go to the ship’s spa and enjoy some quiet time after exploring the nearby town and looking at the fantastic beach close by. The final day on Kauai we had the morning to swim in the ocean for the last time at the delightful beach near the port. The kids loved the power of the waves.

We were off the boat by 8:00 a.m. on July 4 and since our flights didn’t leave until late afternoon we decided to once again rent vehicles and do a little more exploring on Oahu.  We stopped at Nu'Uanupali Lookout for a great picture taking view.  Then we drove to Waimanalo Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches we had seen on the whole trip.  Of course the kids would have loved to have gone swimming, but we couldn’t get all wet with salt water and then fly home.  

We stopped at the Halono Blowhole which was fascinating to watch.  Avery said she could watch it all day and I agreed with her.  The movement of the water through the blowhole was both a squirt and then giant explosion.  No two waves brought the same result.  

Final day on Oahu

Nu'Uanupali Lookout north of Honolulu.  It shows a great view of the valley and ocean.

Avery and Carter gaze longingly at the ocean at Waimanalo Beach.  It would have been a great day for swimming on this July 4th, but we had to fly home so there was no swimming that day.  

The Halono Blowhole was fascinating to watch.  Every time a wave came in, it erupted to a different height.  

The beauty of the Pacific Ocean.

From there we drove to Leonard’s in Honolulu for one more taste of their Portuguese pastries. Brett had heard about this bakery from the couple on the plane and had found the place on a morning run the first full day we were in Honolulu.  He said that first day he got there at 5:30 a.m. and he was the head of a line that formed after him.  On July 4 there was also a line and we got in it to order the pastries with the creamy Hawaiian fruit fillings. We had never had anything like them and they were to die for.   We ate lunch once more at the food court and then headed to the airport.  

I am always glad to go home from a vacation, but this one will linger in my memory as a special time spent with those we love the most.  I hope our grandchildren will some day tell their own stories of when Grandpa and Grandma took them to Hawaii and they saw and experienced many new things. Avery, our 10 year old granddaughter, has already said that when she has the money she wants to take us all back and especially go to Leonards. She already has a story.