hula sumo

Hawaii is home to many statues dedicated to local hero's... but this one seemed different from most, more Japanese than Hawaiian. As it turns out it is not a tribute to hula dancing but is a statue of one of Ray's heros, Akebono the first non Japanese-born person to become the Yokozuna, the highest rank in sumo wrestling.

Aja frolics with dolphins

Aja has always loved dolphins. So in Hawaii when she had a chance to have a full dolphin experience she jumped at the chance... well dived at the chance. Getting up close and personal splashing around and swimming with these delightful creatures is an experience, I am sure, she will always remember.

Life is a beach

The beaches of Hawaii are way more commercialized then the beaches of Asia. However, they have also become way more part of the Hawaiian take it easy life-style than the beaches in Asia for the Asians. From dawn to sunset the Hawaiians are out swimming, surfing, walking, fishing, playing the ukulele and dancing in the surf the sand and under the stars. In Asia there is far less time to relax, let alone make it a life-style. We however, quickly got into the `A `ole pilikia... Malama pono...E hana me ka ha`aha`a ....way of doing things.

Quick in Hawaii

The only thing quick about Hawaii is how quickly we and Ray got into the relaxing Hawaiian life-style. We made time for nature, including some meerkat spotting, hung around the pool and the surf, got up early and went to bed late all the while learning how to walk, stand and repose just like the locals on these ancient trails along the coastlines of this tropical paradise. Ray even turned getting past the security on the hotel room doors into a slow Hawaiian experience.

ray and aja

Ok... Ray would argue that the biggest thing about us going to Hawaii was to visit him. He flew to Hawaii with Leah to act as cruise director, as he has been to Hawaii several times and knows all the great places to see, things to do and places to eat... and of course the location of all the free wi-fi and Starbucks coffee shops. It is great to get him into the blog as he has made the most comments on the blog. Aja and I have missed our regular coffee breaks with Ray, on our year away, so it is great to reconnect and catch-up in person over a cup of Hawaiian Gold Kona Coffee.

Family Holiday

Well the biggest thing about Hawaii was that Leah was able to join us. After 11 months away from her baby and me she was able to join us for part of our adventure. People always praise me for taking Aja on such a journey, but more praise needs to go to her mother who recognized how great it would be for Aja to travel but had to spend the year away from her. Leah's arrival certainly made our travels into a nice family holiday... of course our time in Hawaii is only for a week then Leah heads home to Victoria while Aja and I continue our travels to Alaska and the Yukon for three weeks. I wonder if Leah letting Aja go for the last three weeks will be harder for her than than letting Aja go for the eleven months?

Hawaiian paradise

Hawaii is everything the postcards and the travel agents say it is.. sun, sand and world class surf.... I was a lot more impressed than I though I would be with the touristy stuff, except for the food was not as great as I had hoped for , but how could it be, we were just in Thailand and Japan with amazing delicious culinary delights.

After a 7 hour flight we arrived in Hawaii...We found the cheapest way to travel between Japan and Hawaii was to buy a round trip ticket and throw away the return portion.... it was twice as expensive to fly one way then to buy a ten day excursion round trip. So here we are on American soil.... although it does have a subtle un-american undercurrent about it... or may be it is that it still has a Polynesian overcurrent about it.