105.1 K-I-N-E...The Hawaiian Station...a blowhole under renovation.

Cousins,

Today was the day we invaded Hanauma Bay. Figuring the girls were having too much fun, I decided to wake them up at 6am this morning. What that meant for me was...I had to wake up at 5:30. I set a wake up call...then asked for a reminder call fifteen minutes later...then set my phone...and guess what...I managed to rise out of bed in time.

Tiffany prodded and poked the kidlins awake...she should have used a chair and bullwhip...have any of you ever seen Chase at 6am? Courage is what it takes to wake her up at that hour. While the wife stirred the young ones, I sluffed down the block to McDonald's. We needed food "on the go." So I got a "Local Breakfast." This was three slices of Portuguese sausage, two slices of SPAM, scrambled eggs and rice. Now that's McEating.

We gobbled in the wee morning as I drove us to Hanauma Bay. Why so early? Because this joint is popular...and once the parking lot fills, that's it...no mas entrar.

Now if you like colorful, stripey unbashful creatures of the semi-deep, this place is the place for you. It dwarfs what we've seen earlier. But Daddy paid the price for this adventure...IN BLOOD!

As I was hauling Chase along on her LOOKIE BOARD, the coral reef suddenly became very shallow...I tried to float over it, but SCCCRRAAAPPPEEE! I lost a chunk of skin on my knee. This was the kind of wound that didn't bleed right away...but once it did...well, let's put it this way cousins...I went through two McDonald's napkins. Of course I handled it cool as a cucumber, I only cried for ten minutes. Chase watched me with great disgust as I dialed 911 on my cellphone and sobbed for an emergency Mai Tai.

While at Hanauma Bay I just kept imagining what it must have been like to just live there a long time ago...could it ever get boring? With such beauty, and treacherous coral? I don't think so. And even if things did get a little dreary there was always an angry Polynesian King to keep you on your toes.

The water at the shore was so easy and calm. Both Chase and Charlie spent a big chunk of the time just playing in about a foot of water...while the bravest of fish swam up and around them.

We boogeyed on out of Hanauma Bay right as it hit capacity, and it was the right moment to split. During last snorkeling outing Charlie and I made before we left, we actually kept bumping into other snorkelers. Nobody has any peripheral vision, thus aqua-apologies ensue.

Then lunch at this place called Kona Brewing Company. Why am I mentioning this? Oh nothing, it's just where you get the best local brewed beer on the island, that's all. No big deal. Even the wife got into the boozing spirit. She actually finished a glass of beer. I tried to use pressure to get her to drink more, but as usual, she didn't buckle.

We tried to check out the Halona Blowhole afterwards...but our attempts were thwarted...there was a sign that said it was under refurbishment. How you refurbish a blowhole, I don't know. Many different pictures pop into my head but they're all R rated. Eh, maybe they were just talking about the parking lot...

As we were cruising around we had the local tunes cranked. 105.1 plays nothing but Hawaiian tunes and music from local artists. It might be the most loathed station by the locals. But this tourist loves it! It's just perfect for the sights, the water, and the top down.

Getting the convertible was a smart choice, even though we are all getting cooked like four ballpark wieners.

But absorbing this place is a lot more pleasant when you can soak in the sun and sights with the wind in your hair...instead of being cramped in a ford focus.
For dinner we went to a place recommended to us by more than one person, THE SIDESTREET INN. It's a Karaoke Bar, Cigar Bar and Restaurant. It's described as the place where all the best chefs on the island go to nosh after hours. And let me tell you...

Korean short ribs, pork fried rice with bits of bacon, fried pork chops, calamari steak strips. It was GOOOOD EATIN'.

On the television U of H was battling it out with UCLA in some Hawaiian Invitational for Women's Volleyball. The Sidestreet Inn became electrified as U of H battled back from what was an expected loss, then came within striking distance to even it out so many times. But UCLA ultimately put the Wahini Warriors to bed. I'm sure some of the locals wondered why this white guy with a sunburn was rooting so hard for U of H to win.


At dinner, Charlie had two Sprites, so I had to take the keys from her and drive back to the hotel.


Tomorrow is our last day before we leave this place, (When Chase made this realization yesterday she actually started to sob.) So we plan to do what everyone tells you to do while you're in Hawaii - after their long list of sights to see and whatnot - and that is...chill. It's just going to be us and the beach and maybe a waterfall. But we are going to do our best to stretch the day out as long as we can.


Mahalo.