Back to Oz

Saturday April 20th - Sunday April 21st 2013

The final morning of our holiday was an early one. We had to be up at 6am, to try and squeeze in a quick brekfast at 6.30am before checking out and being picked up by our airport shuttle at 7.15am. As it turns out our shuttle was early so we left at 7am. We collected a handful of other passengers on the way - all Australian. We had  great chat to another Aussie family who had also been travelling through the US for a few weeks. They highly recommended Nashville and Maui. Hmmm another time perhaps???

When we arrived at the airport we were a little horrified to see that there were QANTAS and Jet Star flights with the same flight number going to Sydney - JQ4 and QF4. We were really hoping it was not a codeshare flight being operated by Jet Star. If this was the case we would be back to having to pay for everything on the flight and given they only take card and we can't use our credit card it would be a nightmare 11hours. We checked our baggage through with no problems but would have to wait until boarding time to see who's plane we would be on.

Customs and Security were straighforward. We then went to the food court to spend some of our last US cash. The food court is right next to a beautiful Japanese Garden complete with fish in pond. Just as we were about to check out books in the bookstore the flight to Sydney was called and we had to go to our gate. We were gutted to see two Jet Star planes. Thankfully when we looked into it a little further we found that although it was the right gate number it was not our flight - Jet Star were leaving at 9.30am and we didn't fly out til 10.55am. Back to the main concourse and the bookstore.

Once we had made our bookstore book and snack purchases we went back to our gate. We have never been so happy to see a QANTAS plane in all our lives. We didn't have to wait too long before boarding. Poor Ryan was quite upset as he wasn't ready to leave Hawaii just yet. We did hold our breath for a moment when we saw the plane was a 2-3-2 configuration with NO seat back TVs. Instead we found that in the seat back pocket of each seat was a personal IPad - which according to QANTAS is the latest state of the art in flight entertainment system. Yay - free luggage, food, drinks, snacks and individual IPads.

The flight was relatively trouble free although poor Connor was still feeling unwell. We landed in Sydney just after 6pm. We then had quite a few things to get done before we could board our next flight - we had to line up to clear Immigration, collect our bags, clear Customs, walk to bag drop, drop off our bags again, go back through Security again, and then catch a shuttle bus to the Domestic Terminal. Although we, and many others, were worried about missing our connection we made it with plenty of time to spare.

When we arrived at the Domestic Terminal as we were walking in we noticed another large group of people all in some sort of uniform. At first I thought, Oh, cool some sort of sporting team. It took me a few minutes to register that it wasn't just any old team, it was the Adelaide Adrenaline Ice Hockey Team. We stayed and chatted for a while with Connor's hockey idol, Josh Harding, Greg Oddy and Ryan O'Handley. They were very keen to hear all about the Friendship Games. Later when we were waiting at our gate. We heard someone call Connor's name and found it was one of his friends from school. Jack and his family were on the same flight back to Adelaide as us having just returned from a Pacific cruise. The Adrenaline boys were also on our flight after their road trip.

We boarded the plane for our short flight home. Connor and I dozed most of the way. When we landed in Adelaide we sure noticed the climate change from Hawaii. We had left sunshine and 25-30 degree weather and landed at home to rain and 7 degrees. Not to worry it was good to be home. Thankfully David's parents met us at the airport which was nice.

Well that brings our travel adventures to a close.....for now!!!! We hope that you have enjoyed sharing our adventures with us.

Last Day in Pacific Paradise

Friday April 19th 2013

Today is our last day in Hawaii (and for our holiday) as we fly home early tomorrow morning. We decided to take it pretty easy today. After our buffet breakfast we returned to the room for a little while before going for a long walk along Waikiki Beach. Along the way we came across an enormous Banyan Tree and the lei draped statue of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku. Duke was a native Hawaiian who between 1912 and 1932 won 3 gold, 2 silver and a bronze medal as an Olympic swimmer in 4 Olympic Games. He is also known as the father of international surfing credited with introducing surfing to the Eastern seaboard of America, Europe and Australia. He apparently saved 8 people's lives using his surf board when a boat capsized in California and was a movie actor before being elected the Sheriff of Honolulu from 1934-1960. A very accomplished man.

Our next stop was the International Market where the boys each bought hang loose t-shirts and caps and we stopped for ice cream and shave ice. Despite our best efforts we couldn't entice David away from his chocolate macademia nut ice cream in favour of a shave ice. The rest of us certainly enjoyed ours.

We made another quick stop at a souvenir store for the boys to each buy some key chains and then it was time to hang out at the hotel pool. While the boys swam I had a poolside massage - a traditional Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage - fabulous!!!

After a bit more r and r in the hotel room we walked to Jimmy Buffet's restaurant for dinner. We didn't realise but it was happy hour. Nothing like half price Margaritas!!! This time we had to order a Cheese Burger in Paradise.

There was time for one last trip to the International Market as Ryan needed one last shave ice. He also needed to play in the water fountain near our hotel. Once we got back to the room the boys and I got changed and went down to the pool for one last swim. While we were there we were treated to the fireworks show that is put on by the Hilton every Friday night. It was beautiful. We didn't really know what to expect from Hawaii but are definitely sorry to be leaving.

Quiet Afternoon

Thursday April 18th 2013

We returned to the hotel after surfing and spent some time just relaxing in our hotel room. David wasn't feeling the best and feel asleep for a few hours while everyone else caught up on some reading, blogging and TV. It was then time to hit the pool. The boys had hours of fun swimming while David and I moved between the pool and the spa.

After the obligatory cocktail we went and changed before going out for dinner. Tonight David was really keen to have some local seafood so we headed to Atlantis Seafood and Steak. It was beautifully decorated and the service was incredibly fast with both servers and table clearers. David and I shared a calamari and octopus appetiser. For mains, David had Mahi Mahi Macadamia fish, I had Steak and Shrimp and the boys choose pasta and chicken fingers. The food was delicious.

We decided to take a walk to the International Market where Ryan bought a surfboard necklace and both the boys had a traditional shave ice. We then headed back to the hotel for the night.

More Surfing

Thursday April 18th 2013

Connor woke up this morning still not feeling very well. We hoped that with a full breakfast and some water he may feel a bit better as he still really wanted to surf. After breakfast he was feeling a little better. We went up to the room and got ready for surfing. As housekeeping wanted to clean our room we left a little early so decided to go for a walk along the foreshore. It was really interesting watching some of the ocean front palm trees being pruned and seeing the locals playing beach volleyball and racket ball.

We made our way to the meeting point for surfing and waited for the instructors. Today the boys were lucky enough to have Jo Jo, the owner, and Brad. Ryan was going out tandem with Jo Jo as she was hoping to build his confidence and get him standing more, while Connor was heading out with Brad. GIven they had both had lessons two days ago the on shore briefing was very brief. Before we knew it they were all paddling out to the break. David and I stayed on the beach for the two hours of their lesson. Occasionally we could make them out at a distance but most of the time they just looked like specs on the horizon.

Both boys were so happy when the came back in. Ryan had been talking non-stop to Jo Jo, who said remind people never to rob a bank with Ryan as he would whistle like a canery. He managed to get up a lot more today and also enjoyed it when Jo Jo said they had to go "overboard". He even came back with a blister. Connor also loved it. He said today was much harder as the waves were wilder and random. He also said the waves he was catching were much bigger today and he loved that Brad was teaching him more about how to turn on the waves. Overall they both had a great time. Connor is sure he needs his own long board. Good luck to David packing that one!!!!

Pool Time Fun

Wednesday April 17th 2013

After our busy day sightseeing we rested in the hotel room for a little while. The boys decided that they really wanted to have another surfing lesson so I contacted Jo Jo, the owner of Gone Surfing, and arranged a private lesson for each of them tomorrow morning. It was then time to go down to the pool for a swim. David enjoyed reading his book while the boys and I swam.

We again stayed for part of the Manager's Reception trying different cocktails tonight before getting changed and walking to the International Market for dinner. The boys chose lasagne, I had vegetarian fried rice and David chose a seafood basket.

Poor Connor has still been feeling unwell. He was really not feeling good while we were on the USS Missouri and slept most of the way back on the bus to Waikiki. He then came good for a while before worsening again. He really didn't not cope well at dinner and so we needed to quickly come back to the hotel. You know he's not well when he hardly eats lasagne, doesn't touch his garlic bread and refuses an icecream. We got David and icecream and Ryan a vanilla, mango and orange shave ice (Hawaiian favourite instead of icecream) to eat on the go. We are hoping Connor will feel better in the morning.

World War II History - US Beginning and Ending

Wednesday April 17th 2013

It was an early start to the morning today with a 6am wake up call for a 6.45am pick up for our tour. As the buffet breakfast at the hotel doesn't start until 6.30am we had gone to the ABC Store and bought some cups of cereal, milk and fruit last night so we could have something to eat to start off the day.

After breakfast we were collected by our tour guide/bus driver. We made a couple more stops before making our way out of Waikiki to Pearl Harbour. The main focus of today was to visit the Arizona Memorial and the Battleship Missouri. Having said that the site had been redeveloped and is now known as the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument recognising the sacrifices not just of those who died on the Arizona, December 7th 1941. All flags at Pearl Harbour were flying at half mast in recognition of the Boston Marathon Bombings that occurred on Monday.

We began our time here by watching a film about the Arizona. This included why and how the Japanese attacked and the resultant outcome. All footage shown was actual news reel footage and film. It was very interesting and sobering as it detailed the damage to the whole fleet and the to airforce. When the film was finished we boarded a naval launch out to the Arizona. Each launch of people is only allowed to stay at the Memorial for 15 minutes. If you are not on a tour it is very difficult to get tickets especially at present as due to US Budget cuts and wage sequestering the number of tours per day have been cut.

The time at the Arizona Memorial was one for quiet reflection. It was sad seeing the list of all those who had died and the remanents of the ship. Now days there is also a new list - those servicemen who survived the attack but have subsequently died and had their remains returned to the Arizona to rest with their ship mates.

When we returned from the Arizona we had time to explore the many other memorials and weapons of war on display. David and Ryan even decided to visit the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum which they found fascinating.

After a quick food is fuel, hot dog snack, it was soon time to board the bus for the drive across to Ford Island Naval Base, and the tour of the Battleship Missouri. Here we had a 35 minute guided tour and also some free time to look around ourselves. The Missouri was enormous and has a very colourful history. It first served in the later part of World War II. On one occasion it was hit by a Kamkaze pilot. The plane broke up on impact; part of the plane fell into the water and the other part onto the deck. The young pilot's dead body was found on the deck. A decision had to be made about what to do with his body as this was unprecedented. The Captain of the ship decided that the pilot deserved a proper burial and so the following day he was given a full sea burial complete with honor guard. The Missouri was also the site where the documents to end World War II were signed by the Allies and the Japanese in Tokyo Bay, Japan, September 1945. The Missouri went on to serve in the Korean and Gulf Wars before being decommissioned for the final time. It was deemed fitting that she be brought to Pearl Harbour to look over the Arizona - this now becomes the site where America's involvement in World War II began and where it ended.

Once everyone had finished at Pearl Harbour we made our way back to Waikiki via the Punchbowl National Military Cemetery. While Punchbowl was still a solumn place, as the tour guide pointed out, it has lost a lot of its impact since they made the decision to replace the crosses that marked each grave with flat headstones in the grass. When leaving Punchbowl we were treated to amazing views over Waikiki and Diamond Head. We then travelled through downtown Honolulu where we saw Iolani Palace (the former Royal palace), the statue of King Kamehameha and other significant buildings.