What's the Matter with Bootblacking?: Aloha means Hello and Goodbye!

...we were leaving The Big Island and headed to Oahu.

Crazy times getting out of Kona. Our plane was super late and no way to contact anyone inside the terminal without going back through security, and no one was answering the phones when I called. After looking up the airline, they have a really poor record for on time service.

After a little crisis involving our rental car, we were finally on the ground in Oahu and headed to our condo in Pulaluu. This was the exact same property Malia had stayed at with her family over 20 years ago, so it was a homecoming of sorts for her. We stayed in a different condo, but it was exactly as she remembered.

That night we drove to find a place to eat, and ended up at a place we lovingly called Jesus' Burger. It looked like a quaint little drive up burger stand. Horrible food and the atmosphere was...interesting. Eating in a room festooned with Biblical quotes was odd. So, we finished up and headed out quickly.

Sunday was Father's Day. Kind of a weird day since I wasn't with the boys, and I was feeling kind of blue. So, what do I do when I am feeling blue? Get a Disney fix. But where to get a Disney fix on Oahu?

Oh yeah, that's right!

One word describes this place. Wow. The grandeur of this hotel is just mind boggling. Sadly, I can't afford to stay there, but holy cow, just getting to walk around it was impressive as all get out. Disney magic extends all the way to the islands. If I ever do get to stay here, it will be a great experience.

Looking out at the water park that makes up the middle of the hotel. In the distance you can see the ocean. They have their own private beach and cove here as well. Just crazy!

Me and my friend Stitch.

The next day we decided to head over to the Dole Plantation and learn everything we could about pineapples, because, you know, pineapples.

It was an interesting tour and I did learn quite a bit about pineapples, the pineapple industry, and the history of the islands at the same time.

This guy wanted to eat lunch with us. We politely declined.

I didn't know there were more than one type of pineapple, but there are, including this red variety!

The next day was a lounge around the condo day, so a perfect day for toes in the sand.

We spent the next day in Honolulu and did some touristy things, including driving up to this vantage point on the Pali Highway.

Very beautiful view over the island...

but very windy!

Our last full day on the island was spent at The Polynesian Cultural Center. It was a really cool place, but you need more than one day to experience it all. Had I known that, I would have scheduled a second day there, especially since you get a free second day admission when you buy a one day ticket with the tour. Disappointing to learn that AFTER we had already scheduled our visit for our last day on the island. Below are just a few of the pictures from there.

Statutes in front of the PCC.

A very beautiful sight. And the waterfall is okay as well.

Full head tattoo.

Derp faces before the night show at the PCC.

On our flight home, we had an empty seat between us so we had some room to stretch out, as well as being an emergency exit seat, so we had even more room! Woot!

Coming home was nice, but I do miss the islands. We had a really nice time and I am looking forward to going back. Noah wants to go there for his high school graduation present. We shall see!

After coming back from Hawaii, we had a few weeks and then the boys and I were off to Camp Fleischmann for a week of Boy Scout camp.

It was an okay experience, but didn't quite go the way I had hoped. The boys had a fun time though, and that's what counts.

Here is Marc during the Polar Bear Swim. He got out there every morning at 6 AM and jumped into the lake. Crazy boy, but the water was warmer than the air temp!

Here the boys are getting ready for the flag ceremony.

My (not so) award winning, but pretty darn tasty, chili.

Noah and his wilderness survival shelter.

The funniest part of the trip was when we were leaving, the camp director and I were talking about next year and I said something to the effect of "See ya next year!" and his reply was, "Maybe with a different troop?" We both got a laugh out of that, but just 3 months later, we have registered our new troop and will hopefully be at Camp Fleischmann next year with Troop 46.

The same day I came home from camp, I hopped in the shower, got all the Camp Fleischmann dirt off of me, put on my clean clothes, grabbed my bag, jumped in the car, and drove to the airport to catch a flight to Seattle.

Sunday morning was the usual music lessons for John and the little druid, while Jean and I watched the guys in the glass blowing shop do their thing.

John serenading us on the ukulele.

That night John and I were in the city for the album release show for one of my favorite bands, Kirby Krackle. on of the greatest providers of nerd rock the world has ever seen.

Lead singer Kyle Stevens, playing an acoustic version of their song, "Up, Up, Down, Down"

Opening act Molly Lewis. She was good. I thought she set a good tone to start the show.

Second act was a band called H2 Awesome (more like H2 Okay). Maybe their are better recorded. I wasn't quite into them.

Third act was a band from Portland, The Doubleclicks. Yes, the girl on the left side of the picture is playing the cello. They have some really fun songs. I liked them a lot.

The main act was so much fun. I enjoyed their set quite a bit, although if if were me, I would have picked a different selection of songs from the new CD to play as well as a few different older songs. Good stuff, though.