Tuesday, August 28~Boat Adventure at Kaneohe~

This morning we left the house fairly early, 7 a.m. and were on our way to Kaneohe on the other side of O'ahu to the Marine Base.  Sara went several weeks ago and got her boat drivers license so we could take a pontoon boat out into the bay.  We were assigned pontoon boat #1 and after loading our cooler and beach towels on board we were soon backing out of our slip and Sara had us on our way.  Although the day started out a little rainy and overcast it soon cleared off and it turned out to be a beautiful day.  We headed towards China Man's Hat island but found ourselves hung up on a reef before very long.  Sharon, we decided, was our MPV of the trip because of her boating knowledge and with Matt's he-man power we were soon drifting over some of the prettiest coral reefs we have seen.  We found the channel and decided to drive around Coconut Island which was the island that was used for the opening shot of Gilligan's Island.  We eventually found other boats that were at the sand bar and before long we dropped anchor and were wading in the middle of the bay in about 3 feet of water on a sand bar.  We swam some, ate out lunch and enjoyed seeing several sea turtles in the area.  We were heading back when Trish yelled "turtle" and Matt, who was driving at the time pulled the throttle into neutral or maybe reverse, it all happened so fast we really don't know, but the boat stalled.  We all admired the very large sea turtle and then realized that the boat wouldn't start.  Because it was quite windy we rapidly drifted back into the coral.  We finally had to call the marina since we could not get the motor started and even if we could the propeller would have it the rocks anyway. They didn't answer so Sara called the reservation desk where she was put on hold because she was talking with another customer.  She never did call us back but within about 20 minutes they sent a boat out after us and towed us back to the dock.  Sara was a little nervous about checking in when we got back but was surprised and much happier when they apologized for the inconvenience and refunded half of our money.  So, other than Matt's killer sunburn, it was a great day.  Tomorrow we fly out at 8 a.m. for a few days in Maui.  Aloha!

Sunday, August 26~Aulani Disney Resort~

 Our balcony view

 Trish, Luke and Matt on the floating island in the lagoon

 Sara and Evelyn relaxing at the beach

 Lily looking for fish.

 Lunch time at the cafe poolside.

Yesterday we checked in at the Aulani Disney Resort and have been enjoying the water activities here on grounds.  This morning we were up fairly early so we headed to the pool area and floated around the lazy river before heading down to the beach area to play in the sand, snorkel and jump off of the rubber raft dock that was anchored in the lagoon.  My underwater camera died for good yesterday so no pictures of the fish I saw in the lagoon. We were hoping to see some turtles but we didn't.  After lunch we waited in line to see Minnie and Mickey so we could get pictures.  Later, Luke and I signed up for the adventure trail.  We were issued a handheld computer that gave us clues and a map to find various items in the resort area.  We found a hidden Menehune, petroglyphs, lava vents and we activated water spouts and water falls.  We completed 2 levels and Luke is going to do another level in the morning.  Sharon and I checked out and are staying at Sara and Matt's house tonight.  It is very, very quiet.  The plan is to rest up a bit before our trip to Maui on Wednesday.

 Lily was so excited to see Minnie Mouse

 As soon as we saw Minnie, we got back into line to see Mickey.

Saturday, August 25~Aulani Disney~

 Our semi-sunset on the west end of Molokai

 Waiting at the Molokai airport for Captain Tim to get us checked in and on the plane

 The Disney Resort at Aulani

 The cove in front of Aulani, we plan to snorkel there tomorrow

 Playing on the lawn as we waited for the sunset.

After the movie in front of Longboards Restaurant

Sorry that I did not post yesterday.  We flew in to Honolulu from Molokai early in the morning which was quite interesting in itself.  We arrived at the airport an hour early to check in.  After we turned our rental car in we found the ticket counter for Pacific Wings but no one was there.  A sign read, "Ticket Self Check In with instructions to use the phone on the desk to call and check yourself in. About 30 minutes later the pilot of our plane, Captain Tim, walked to the counter and began weighing our bags and checking our ID.  We were then instructed to go to the baggage claim area, not security, to wait.  In another 10 minutes he came to pick us up.  He took a head count, there were 9 of us, and walked us out onto the runway where our plane was waiting.  Captain Tim then proceeded to give us our seat assignments, no doubt by our weights that we were forced to reveal, in order to balance the plane.  After we were seated he gave us the pre-flight briefing including instructions of how to use a sick bag, stressing accuracy, and the fact that this small plane has many bells and alarms that may go off during the flight, explaining that most of the sounds should be normal.  He did not expound as to the abnormal sounds we should listen for.  The flight was a short 25 minutes and was quite beautiful just like our flight to Molokai.  The landing was perfect, we disembarked from the plane, Captain Tim unloaded our luggage, we picked it up, he walked us to the gate and bid us farewell.  Talk about "no frills".  Also at no time did we or any of our luggage go through any security!  I spent the next 2 hours at an Urgent Care facility because I experience severe ear pain as we were landing and I suspected that I was getting an ear infection.  Sure enough the doctor found fluid behind the eardrum and prescribed a Z-pak.  I am feeling a lot better already.  As if that weren't bad enough, as we were driving down to Waikiki to see the fireworks, Sara's car overheated and stalled in the Honolulu rush hour traffic.  We were able to get the car to a filling station and had to refill the radiator.  We ended up parking it and picked it up this morning and dropped it at a service garage.  Hopefully it isn't going to be a huge expense to fix.  We rented a car for the next few days to get around.
Today at 2:30 we checked in to the Aulani Disney Resort.  In true Disney fashion we were greeted at the front lobby by valets, bellhops and greeters that showered us with leis and helped us to the reservation desk offering assistance at every turn.  I guess this is how the other half lives but it has been really fun so far even if it is kind of a splurge for me.  My water camera died so I wasn't able to get pictures of all the water features but I will try to post some tomorrow.  We went for dinner tonight but ended up watching an outdoor movie, The Smurfs, and just dining on deli ham sandwiches, fruit and popcorn sitting on the lawn.  We did finally see a beautiful sunset tonight in the cove.  So all ended well.  Tomorrow we hope to see Mickey!
P.S.  I almost forgot, as we were picking the kids up at the Hale Koa this morning we saw the guy from Pawn Stars leaving the same time as we were.  I slowed the car down and told Matt to take a picture, He saw us and told us to come over and get in the picture with him.  My brief encounter with celebrity!

Thursday, August 23~Kalaupapa Mule Ride~

 Buzzy who is the mule trainer extroidinare!

 Here is where the fun begins

 Switchback #3 of 26

 Finally on the beach

 Sharon's first day of retirement!  Well, really her second day.

 Look closely on the side of the mountain and you can see the switchback trail we just came down.

 St. Francis Church

 Father Damien, who is now Saint Damien

 The road to the old settlement.

 The beach where the first patients were dropped off.

 On days when the weather did not permit the ships to get close enough the patients were sometimes forced to swim to shore from these rocks.

 The lighthouse of Kalaupapa

 Mounting up for our return trip to the top

 It's all uphill from here

 Views of Kalaupapa are breathtaking all the way up

Our Columbus Dispatch Travel shot

Last night our plan was to drive to the west end of Molokai for the sunset.  What we did not check on before we left was to see if there was any place to eat once we got there.  We assumed, and you all know what they say about that, that there would be some place to eat in Moanaloa or at the lodges at that end of the island.  WRONG!  Even the general store was closed so we thought perhaps we could make it back to the Cookhouse Restaurant to eat and then back for a sunset.  Once we ate we noticed that it was really pretty cloudy and decided to head back to the room to get a good nights sleep before our mule ride down to Kalaupapa.  (unfortunately, Sharon and I are both catching a cold!)
Early to rise this morning, it is the day of our long awaited Mule Ride to Kalaupapa.  We stopped at the Coffee House for a breakfast croissant before checking in at Buzzy Sprouts Mule Ride.  We were briefed and then matched up to a suitable mule (Buzzy said they try to get a mule that looks like you!).  I was put on EB while Sharon drew Elvira who spent the entire trip trying to eat along the side of the trail.  Going down was definitely the most difficult because of the steep angle of the trail.  The trail was 3 1/2 miles with 26 switchbacks but once we opened our eyes, the views were spectacular.  At the bottom we were met by another tour guide who drove us through the colony itself and gave us a wonderful account of Hawaii's department of health's attempt at stopping the spread of leprosy.  Unfortunately, there was not enough known about the disease at that time and many people were exiled here who had other skin conditions or with a milder, non-contagious form of the disease.  At present there are 14 patients who still call Kalaupapa home even though they are free to come and go as they please now.  Until 1969 they were forced to live out their lives on this small peninsula.  We visited several of the churches that Father Damien established while he lived out his life there among the lepers only to contract the disease himself and die among the people he loved.  Our tour guide, Norman, was very knowledgeable and we spent a very pleasant afternoon learning more about this once dismal place.  It is quite a testament to the people who were sent here that out of their adversity they formed a community of love.  We also were taken to the far side of the island where the original settlement was.  It was called Halaewa and the weather was much colder and damper and many of the early patients did not survive more than 2 years after their arrival.  Most did not die from leprosy but from complications of pneumonia or tuberculosis.  Leprosy is now known as Hansen's Disease named for the scientist that found a sulfur compound to cure the disease.  Our ride to the top side of Molokai was quite a bit easier and only took about an hour as compared to the hour and a half on the way down.  We are thinking we may try to catch the sunset tonight but will eat first tonight!  Scratch that idea, the sun set before we got there but we did see several of the island's Axis deer.  Ate a late supper at Molokai Burger.