We left SLC for HNL on Thursday, June 7th. We spent 3 days on Oahu before starting our cruise, including one day at the Polynesian Cultural Center, learning about the various island groups, watching their dances and making a few crafts. The Samoan fire knife dance was a special treat. On Sunday afternoon, we boarded our ship, NCL’s Pride of Aloha. I won’t bother with the ship’s specs because I don’t know them, but suffice it to say it’s slightly bigger than the boats we water ski behind in Utah.
We sailed from Honolulu on Sunday night and arrived in Nawiliwili, Kauai, on Monday. We spent most of Monday swimming and snorkeling at one of the beaches we discovered when we were here 6 years ago to pick up Katie. In the pictures, this is where Grandma took a brief dip in the ocean.
After leaving Nawiliwili Tuesday afternoon, we sailed past the Na Pali Coast of Kauai (think South Pacific) and then set off for the Big Island. We had one day in port at Hilo, where we visited Volcanoes National Park and a few other sites, then a day in Kona where the new temple is located – you can just see the Angel Moroni statue peeking up from above the palm trees of the city. More snorkeling and time at the beach – the key sightings here were several Humuhumu-nukunuku-apua’a (Hawaii’s state fish – bonus points if you know the English translation – see * below) and a half dozen or so sea turtles.
After the Big Island, we spent Friday and Saturday on Maui, where the boys (even John!) took a surfing lesson and we all spent more time playing at the beach. We also took several hours to travel about half of the famous Road to Hana, which puts the S-curve in Big Cottonwood Canyon or Colorado’s Million Dollar Highway to shame. The posted speed limit is either 15 for the curves or 10 for the bridges, many of which were one lane. When things straightened out a bit, the speed limit was raised to a breezy 25! It takes about 3 hours to travel less than 50 miles, and that’s without stopping at any of the waterfalls, beaches, or other pullouts along the way.
We sailed from Maui on Saturday through the night back to Honolulu, and spent the day on Waikiki and a farewell dinner at one of Marilyn’s friend’s house up on the hill. Then off to the airport for the delightful red-eye back to SLC, followed by long naps on Monday afternoon.
Mom was a great sport the whole trip, although she declined our invitation for surfing lessons. And Katie and the other Phillips grand kids loved having rides on the back of the scooter. Everyone got a good suntan, had a great time playing in or on the water, and we all made it back in one piece. Hope you enjoy the pictures!
* trigger fish with a snout like a pig
Take a look at the pictures below:
