Hawaii is great!

DaveNV · Jun 6, 2015

I'm sitting at a beachfront table on Waikiki Beach, having a refreshing cold beverage, and watching the sunset. The fireworks at the Hilton will be going off in a little while, and I have a ringside seat. It's the last night of a fantastic week here, and we've had a great time.

But before I start feeling sorry for myself, I realize that tomorrow we fly to the Big Island for ANOTHER fantastic week in the Islands! I am SO glad to be here.

Hawaii is great!!

Dave

MuranoJo · Jun 6, 2015

Have a great time next week, Dave!

The past two days or so, I've been dreaming about HI and our last trip with good friends, and I think it's time to plan another soon.

DaveNV · Jun 6, 2015

MuranoJo said:
Have a great time next week, Dave!

The past two days or so, I've been dreaming about HI and our last trip with good friends, and I think it's time to plan another soon.

We haven't been here since last September.

And even though we're not quite at the halfway point of this trip, we're already coming back next Febtuary for the whales. Can't get enough of this place!!

Dave

slip · Jun 6, 2015

Glad you enjoyed your return home for a week. I have a friend flying in
Tomorrow. He's glad the tours opened back up at Pearl Harbor in time for his
Trip.

Let us know what's up with the volcano.

Aloha

DaveNV · Jun 6, 2015

slip said:
Glad you enjoyed your return home for a week. I have a friend flying in
Tomorrow. He's glad the tours opened back up at Pearl Harbor in time for his
Trip.

Let us know what's up with the volcano.

Aloha

We debated trying to go to PH today, but decided it would be packed with people who "need" to see it. We'll do it next time. Hope your friend enjoys himself.

We'll be at the Volcano on Wednesday, after the wedding. We're staying over at the Kilauea Military Camp while the happy couple has a night of bliss at a B&B outside the Park. I'll let you know.

Dave

taffy19 · Jun 6, 2015

BMWguynw said:
I'm sitting at a beachfront table on Waikiki Beach, having a refreshing cold beverage, and watching the sunset. The fireworks at the Hilton will be going off in a little while, and I have a ringside seat. It's the last night of a fantastic week here, and we've had a great time.

But before I start feeling sorry for myself, I realize that tomorrow we fly to the Big Island for ANOTHER fantastic week in the Islands! I am SO glad to be here.

Hawaii is great!!

Dave

How wonderful. Hawaii is great! Let us know how active the volcano is. Thanks.

DaveNV · Jun 6, 2015

Duplicate post. Sorry.

Clemson Fan · Jun 6, 2015

BMWguynw said:
We'll be at the Volcano on Wednesday, after the wedding. We're staying over at the Kilauea Military Camp while the happy couple has a night of bliss at a B&B outside the Park. I'll let you know.

Dave

We love KMC. We stay there about once a year. My kids love the bowling alley there. If you like Thai food there's a fantastic Thai restaurant in volcano village. The volcano is very active now.

I've lived here for 9 years now and I'm actually growing more fond of it all the time. We've learned all the nooks and crannies and I now consider it home.

DaveNV · Jun 6, 2015

Clemson Fan said:
We love KMC. We stay there about once a year. My kids love the bowling alley there. If you like Thai food there's a fantastic Thai restaurant in volcano village. The volcano is very active now.

I've lived here for 9 years now and I'm actually growing more fond of it all the time. We've learned all the nooks and crannies and I now consider it home.

That's great to hear! I lived on Oahu for several years as a teenager, and every time I get off the plane I feel like I'm coming home.

Dave

PDXGolfer · Jun 6, 2015

No pictures? C'mon now, you gotta share so that the rest of us can dream, right?

Glad to hear you are enjoying your trip.

DaveNV · Jun 6, 2015

PDXGolfer said:
No pictures? C'mon now, you gotta share so that the rest of us can dream, right?

Glad to hear you are enjoying your trip.

I haven't taken many pictures, to be honest, but I'll post some fun things when I find some that I think are "TUGworthy."

Thanks for the good wishes. It's so nice to have had a whole week without alarm clocks or work email, with good weather, and among such nice folks as they have here. I'm staying at the military Hale Koa hotel, and I must say, it's an excellent place. It knocks the socks off a lot of "resorts" I've stayed in.

One thing I've noticed: Here in Hawaii, the "selfie stick" among Asian tourists is very much alive and well. While standing at a crowded scenic lookout, it's like being in a sword fight. Watch where you turn, or you'll get hit in the face with a mounted cellphone. Ouch!

Here's a shot from last night, taken as we hiked down the beachfront to Duke's in Waikiki.

Dave

WinniWoman · Jun 6, 2015

Hawaii is the best and the best experience we ever had was going up Mauna Kea on the Big Island at sunset, If you can get a tour up there, I highly recommend it. Look some up. (You can't drive a rental car up there). I think this is the one we used:

http://maunakea.com/

I literally cried the last time we were departing from Hawaii. We had been there for 21 days- Big Island and Kauai. Had previously been to all the main islands (including Oahu and Maui) for our honeymoon in the ancient days. Great memories.

We have literally over 1000 pics of Hawaii! Many from an old 3D camera. How have you not wanted to take a picture of everything there?!!

I just wish it wasn't so far from NY. The airfare and the long trip is a killer! I doubt we will ever be going back again...

b2bailey · Jun 6, 2015

BMWguynw said:
I haven't taken many pictures, to be honest, but I'll post some fun things when I find some that I think are "TUGworthy."

Here's a shot from last night, taken as we hiked down the beachfront to Duke's in Waikiki.

Dave

One of my favorite hikes!
Don't think I've ever visited Oahu without a visit to Dukes.

Passepartout · Jun 6, 2015

mpumilia said:
I just wish it wasn't so far from NY. The airfare and the long trip is a killer! I doubt we will ever be going back again...

Not much different than those of us who live in the West going to Europe. And for you East Coasters, you can get to Hawaii the same day you leave home. A long day for sure, but not an overnighter until you come home.

Luanne · Jun 6, 2015

BMWguynw said:
That's great to hear! I lived on Oahu for several years as a teenager, and every time I get off the plane I feel like I'm coming home.

Dave

That's how I feel, and I didn't even live in Hawaii.

Glad you're enjoying yourself.

Just finished booking the last of our flights for our trip to the Big Island next April. Can't wait to get back. :banana:

Timeshare Von · Jun 6, 2015

We haven't been in a few years. I think my last trip (with a sister) was 2010 to the Big Island. Before that, DH and I were there for two weeks in September 2007.

I'm looking forward to a work trip <<sigh>> to Waikiki this coming January!

Lets Get Going · Jun 6, 2015

BMWguynw said:
I'm staying at the military Hale Koa hotel, and I must say, it's an excellent place. It knocks the socks off a lot of "resorts" I've stayed in.

We love the Hale Koa! We were there in February and it was very, very nice. The location is great, the beach is the best, and the room rate is unbeatable! Our room faced the construction going on next door. We got a kick out of watching the constructions guys do their "morning stretch" routine! Every morning, no fail!

DaveNV · Jun 6, 2015

mpumilia said:
We have literally over 1000 pics of Hawaii! Many from an old 3D camera. How have you not wanted to take a picture of everything there?!!

Because I already have thousands of images from the last ten or twenty trips I've taken to Hawaii. I love this place, and come here often.

I have some, just not a lot. And some are snapshots of people, which don't really work on Tug. I'll try to find other Tugworthy shots, and get them posted. I'm trying to stay offline as much as I can. LOL!

Dave

DaveNV · Jun 6, 2015

Lets Get Going said:
We love the Hale Koa! We were there in February and it was very, very nice. The location is great, the beach is the best, and the room rate is unbeatable! Our room faced the construction going on next door. We got a kick out of watching the constructions guys do their "morning stretch" routine! Every morning, no fail!

We were on the 10th floor on the makai end of the Ilima tower. This was the view we had to deal with every day. Awful, isn't it?

For those who may know the area, the buildings on the right in this image are the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Dave

Luanne · Jun 6, 2015

Dave, I don't remember if you've been to the Big Island before or not. I'm going to pass along the name of one of our favorite restaurants on the Kona side. It's Keei Café in the Captain Cook area.

http://www.keeicafe.net/

ace2000 · Jun 6, 2015

Love the enthusiam! And by the way... I'm very jealous.

sjsharkie · Jun 6, 2015

BMWguynw said:
That's great to hear! I lived on Oahu for several years as a teenager, and every time I get off the plane I feel like I'm coming home.

Dave

Have a great time, Dave. Not visiting KBV this time around? -- was going to ask how the units are faring after the upgrades but guess I will check with Denise on that one.

I remember great times with my high school friends hanging out in Waikiki -- mostly to go see movies at the three theaters there that were smack in the middle of downtown ... those are long gone.

Safe travels to the Big Island!

-ryan

DaveNV · Jun 6, 2015

Luanne said:
Dave, I don't remember if you've been to the Big Island before or not. I'm going to pass along the name of one of our favorite restaurants on the Kona side. It's Keei Café in the Captain Cook area.

http://www.keeicafe.net/

Thanks, Luanne! I have been here before, but didn't do enough restaurant exploring to know what is where. Things like the Punalu'u Bakery down in Na'alehu, or the Bamboo Restaurant up in Hawi tend to stand out, but that's because of the unusual offerings and/or location. I'm always glad to hear about new places to try out. Thank you!

Dave

DaveNV · Jun 6, 2015

ace2000 said:
Love the enthusiam! And by the way... I'm very jealous.

Thanks, Ace! I can't help but be enthused about the Islands. I dreamt of this place as a kid, was lucky enough to move here when I was 14, graduated High School on Oahu, and a year later I enlisted in the Navy from here. I'm connected to the place on the inside, even if I don't quite match on the outside.

Dave

DaveNV · Jun 6, 2015

sjsharkie said:
Have a great time, Dave. Not visiting KBV this time around? -- was going to ask how the units are faring after the upgrades but guess I will check with Denise on that one.

I remember great times with my high school friends hanging out in Waikiki -- mostly to go see movies at the three theaters there that were smack in the middle of downtown ... those are long gone.

Safe travels to the Big Island!

-ryan

Wasn't that the old Cinerama theater? I vaguely recall there being one there. I think I saw the 2001: A Space Odyssey movie there, back in the day.

I dated a girl for awhile who worked for a movie theater on King Street in downtown Honolulu. She let me in the movies for free. After she stopped working there our relationship kind of fell apart. Imagine that!

Sorry, no Kauai this trip. Next February, though for sure. Already have my oceanfront KBV reservation set up. Working on a second week for that trip, too. Trying to get back to Maui. I really want to see some whales. I've been whale watching and have seen grey whales off San Diego, and Orca whales in Puget Sound, but never the humpbacks here. I think it's about time.

Dave

Hawaii is great!

TUG Review Crew: Expert

TUG Review Crew: Expert

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

TUG Review Crew: Expert

TUG Review Crew: Expert

TUG Review Crew: Expert

TUG Review Crew: Expert

Attachments

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

TUG Review Crew

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

TUG Review Crew: Expert

TUG Review Crew: Expert

TUG Review Crew: Expert

TUG Review Crew: Expert

Attachments

TUG Review Crew: Expert

TUG Review Crew: Expert

TUG Review Crew: Expert

TUG Review Crew: Expert