Hawaiian Islands Vacation / Oahu Day 2

 Our second full day in Hawaii began with a dip in the resort swimming pool.  I was lucky enough to get sunburned on our first day so I stayed under the umbrella while these two had a good time swimming.  Our agenda was pretty simple for the day, we opted into a timeshare presentation at the nearby Marriott Vacation Beach Club, partly because we were genuinely interested in their program, and partly to gain a huge discount on that evening's Paradise Cove Luau (our gift for attending).

 The views from the beach club were amazing.  And can you believe that swimming pool?!  We were actually really impressed by the rooms at the beach club - though we decided not to buy in at this moment in time.  I think with our desire to travel extensively in the future, a timeshare might be a good option down the road.

 After our presentation, it was time for lunch and naptime for Zion, so we headed back to our suite and ordered room service.  The food was so delicious!  I had a seafood bisque and Jerry had a burger, we split some coconut shrimp and then nibbled on a decadent chocolate macadamia nut mousse pie.

 We arrived at the Luau shortly after they opened and took the counsel of our timeshare presenter heading directly to the activities area.  We went on a canoe ride, had polynesian body art tattooed upon our arms, made floral headbands with giant tropical leaves and snagged good viewing position for the presentations.

The cultural presentations were really fun!  From climbing a palm tree for the "Shower of Flowers" to a little hula dancing on the beach, they really immersed us in the Polynesian culture.  We learned the right way to open a coconut and Zion and I had a chance to learn a special hula dance.  I had no idea that a Luau is so much more than just a banquet and a show!

 As the sun started to set it was time for our dinner and the main presentation - which by the time we sat down to eat, unfortunately it was so dark I didn't really capture much of the stage performance on camera.  The performers were very entertaining, the food was alright (I had limited options due to my dietary restrictions) but my favorite part of the evening was the sunset!

More of our Hawaii Vacation:

Oahu Day 1

A Tour of Our Ko Olina Resort

Trip Itinerary

      

We're Back! In New York City!

Six months later, we've finally said our good-byes to the Last Frontier and made our way back to the polar opposite - the big city!  Zion and I arrived safely this morning and are busy getting reacquainted with our home here, unpacking, realizing how disorganized we were when we left, etc.  

Something about our return here feels different and good.  Maybe the break will give us a perspective change, and we'll appreciate things we've missed about this crazy city we call home.  It definitely felt good to have sunshine and warm weather after being flooded with rain and cooler temperatures in Anchorage.

Not all is bliss though, we had to say good-bye to hubby/daddy for over a month while he finishes business in Anchorage --- a parting that was met with a lot of tears and heartache.  I think if I can manage to stay busy and connected it will go by a lot faster, its the lonely nights that will be the hardest for me.

It will be a little quiet around these parts this week, though I am determined to finish our Hawaii vacation posts and share the Anchorage coffeehouse tour I did on my birthday.  Talk soon!

      

Hawaiian Islands Vacation / Oahu Day 1

I have to apologize for my delay in getting these Hawaii posts going - it has been such a crazy time of going and going for us, one that won't be slowing down for a while yet!  Our first day in Oahu started with a little trip to see the beach and a fish feeding in the lagoon.  Zion got her handful of fish feed and a chart of the potential types of fish she might see, and quickly headed to the water.  The fish were super fast, so a few minutes later as we turned to head up the beach for breakfast, we were surrounded by birds hoping to get the feed that would wash up on shore.

For breakfast we ate on the resort at Naupaka Terrace, the on-site casual dining restaurant.  There was an extensive Sunday buffet as an option as well as their regular buffet and menu ordering.  Right before I left on this trip I found out I was allergic to chicken, so I opted for the buffet which included red meat and seafood options.  This was our best resort dining experience, aside from the in-room meals I will share with you later in the trip.

One of the best things about dining at the Naupaka Terrace was the location in proximity to the shark pool.  We could literally watch the sharks swimming around from our table.  And let me just tell you about eating fresh Papaya in Hawaii!! I've had papaya a few times in other places, but never did it taste as delicious as the fresh papaya readily available here!

After our breakfast we did some hangout time at the beach and then shortly after, took a walk along the beachwalk.  The trees and plants in Oahu are beautiful and unique.  I love the fragrance that is in the air, a mix of salty ocean and fragrant fruits and florals!  There are so many plants and trees and flowers that caught my attention while there!

For dinner, we headed off the resort to a delicious mexican restaurant called "Just Tacos" and, no, they didn't serve only Tacos.  We feasted on nachos, beans and rice and chipotle buttered shrimp before heading back to our room for the evening.  Our first day in the sun left me a bit red, and all of us quite tired, so we had a relaxing time on our balcony before bed.

I have several Hawaii posts planned for this week, I hope you will enjoy seeing the island of Oahu through our eyes!