Aulani Jan 19th-30th -Embrace the Ocean-Jan30th FINISHED

[Malia78]

Tuesday Jan 26

Solo breakfast for me at Aunty’s Character Breakfast—it was great to see Aunty Sonya again and she recognized me too. I was chosen as one of her helpers with the ALOHA song (spelling Aloha instead of YMCA)--lucky no one there to take my picture because I was having some coordination issues. Breakfast options were plentiful--I don't really like bananas but I couldn't resist the adorable banana dolphin. Again I also have to praise my server—she was wonderful in making me feel comfortable as a solo diner. The photopass package was with Mickey Mouse and both Minnie and Goofy rotated around the restaurant.

Met up with parents lounging by the adult infinity pool then off for photo opportunities with the chipmunks and around the family pool.

 

[Malia78]

DA, DM and I left the resort around 1100 for downtown Honolulu. As DA was getting the car, I took some shots of the lobby. DA was taking us out to a fancy tea at the Moana Hotel, one of the Waikiki resorts-this was a combination birthday treat and nostalgic walk down memory lane.

We started with a stroll through some of the neighboring resorts like Royal Hawaiian and Princess Kapolilani. Sipped some drinks at the outside bar of the Moana before tea. As part of the tea, DA had also invited an old friend from her and DM’s past time living in Hawaii. DM told me that the last time she had seen this Friend, that Friend had gotten mad at her over something and stopped talking to her. So, you can imagine how that might be a little bit awkward. Well it was but DA was oblivious to it so we could still enjoy the tea service. I wasn't a huge fan of the sandwiches but the pastries were delicious—the best part though was the pot de crème. I'm normally not a chocolate fan, but I could have eaten both of these.

Couple notes: There is a mammoth mangrove tree in the outdoor courtyard, outside of where we were seated. The server told us that when the tree started declining, the hotel brought in a tree whisperer to nurture and coax the tree back to health. The seabirds were also very bold and this particular fellow stole a bite right off the plate from another person's table.

 

[Malia78]

Continued...

Sunset and more wave watching at the Marriott cove. Opportunity to embrace the ocean once more.

Tonight's evening soak was in the adult infinity pool spa and then we listened to Uncle tell stories by the fire pit...re-living the Maui Superman song/chant in my head right now.

 

[Malia78]

The moonset photos are absolutely stunning.

Thank you!

 

[dolphingirl47]

What a great day. Those banana dolphins are precious. Tea looked amazing, but what a shame that there was a bit of an atmosphere.

Corinna

 

[alohamom]

.re-living the Maui Superman song/chant in my head right now

I LOVE this song, I have the version by IZ and it is a regular part of our playlist. We missed Uncle last time but now I will make sure we go when we stay in August, thanks for posting this!!!!

 

[Malia78]

I LOVE this song, I have the version by IZ and it is a regular part of our playlist. We missed Uncle last time but now I will make sure we go when we stay in August, thanks for posting this!!!!

There are a couple different Uncles who visit and since this event is almost nightly, there is variety in the stories. You might want to visit more than once

 

[Malia78]

Wednesday 27 Jan

DD, DM and I were off to Pearl Harbor. We all went out to the Arizona Memorial and then I branched off to listen to the full audio tour around the museum. It's grown since I was last there and it is a really nice museum and memorial space now. The full audio tour took me about an hour.

I met back up with my parents and DM and I decided to tour the USS Bowfin submarine—DD said he’d been on his share of submarines so he stayed ashore; he was a torpedo man so we took a couple shots for him. I don’t know how full grown men moved around in those things—certainly not fast. Can imagine constant bumps and bruises on foreheads and knees.

This would have been my dad's bunk-- sleeping above the torpedoes.

 

[Malia78]

USS Bowfin continued...

 

[Malia78]

Back on the Aulani lawn for a slew of photos with Mickey/Minnie, Stitch, and Duffy.

Walked with DM to first Marriott cove, then out to Ko'Olina Golf Course where we met DA for drinks (pineapple ice tea) and apps at Roy’s. Best chicken spring rolls I've had in a long time and the shrimp weren't too shabby either.

 

[Malia78]

Walked back to beach and farther along to second Marriot cove (third cove overall) for some wave photos. On the return to Aulani, we stopped for sunset at our favorite cove (the second one) and yet another opportunity to embrace the ocean. Also practiced my ALOHA song that I learnt from Aunty Sonya—will have to use imagination for the second A. I promise I do know how to spell it...

Comic relief nudists story on walk home—from the snippets of conversation we overheard, it seemed a little boy, maybe 6 or 7, had decided to use the bathroom in his swim trunks. So after dodging dad for a couple passes, mom got a hold of him in his birthday suit (to each his own, but her thong didn't hide much more than this either) and was marching him off on the walking path in front of us to get cleaned up. When we passed them on the path further on, she had him tush first in the water showers normally used for rinsing sand off feet. You probably had to be there but we got a good laugh.

 

[alohamom]

Loving your report and pics! Thanks so much for the shrimp shot from Roys, my son is such a picky eater but he loved grilled shrimp so that means Roys is now an option for us! Also DUFFY-how in the heck did I not know that Aulani offered a Duffy character meet? My daughter is going to be so happy! We met him at Epcot a few years ago but now that meet is over and she was bummed about it. I might even just keep it a surprise. Great report...

 

[franandaj]

Nice sunset photos. You sure got in a variety of activities!

 

[rfc0001]

Walked with DM to first Marriott cove, then out to Ko'Olina Golf Course where we met DA for drinks (pineapple ice tea) and apps at Roy’s. Best chicken spring rolls I've had in a long time and the shrimp weren't too shabby either.

[

Roy's is amazing! Their Prix Fixe dinner at sunset with live music is an incredible deal -- food is 10X better than Aulani for half the price. We love dropping the kids off at Aunty's Beach House for dinner then heading to Roy's.

 

[dolphingirl47]

I managed to get behind again. This pesky real life keeps getting in the way and I would much rather dream of Aulani.

We did not do the audio tour at Pearl Harbor. Would you recommend it?

The photos from the submarine brought back some childhood memory where I was herded through a submarine in Germany. I am not overly keen on confined spaces so this definitely was not for me. Funny enough, I am perfectly happy with the submarine ride at Disneyland though.

I love Duffy's outfit and so wish he had visited while we were there.

Roy's looks great and I think this has to go on the to do list for 2018.

Your sunset photos are so beautiful.

Corinna

 

[Malia78]

Nice sunset photos. You sure got in a variety of activities!

It was very hard to weed out my favorite pics--tons of sunset photos.
I like to keep active on vacation--I'm not very good at sitting around whereas my dad was perfectly content reclining by the water with his kindle.

We did not do the audio tour at Pearl Harbor. Would you recommend it?

I've like history, particularly WWII era so I thought it was very interesting and really connected you to the memorial. I would listen to it again.

I love Duffy's outfit and so wish he had visited while we were there.

I think he is a staple now at Aulani--him and Shelly Mae occupy a lot of prime space in the shop.

Roy's looks great and I think this has to go on the to do list for 2018.

Excellent food--my next post mentions our lunch there too.

Your sunset photos are so beautiful.

Thank you--I had fun trying to capture the different moods of the sunsets--each night was a little different.

 

[dolphingirl47]

I've like history, particularly WWII era

I like history, too although I like mine a bit older. I have a special interest in social history from the mid 18th century to about 1900.

Corinna

 

[Malia78]

Thursday Jan 28

First off, I was finally successful in capturing this lit up---mission accomplished.

Turtle beach walk in the morning. No turtles but there was a sleeping Hawaiian monk seal, carefully guarded by members of the all volunteer Seal Emergency Response Team. Just like at the zoo, I couldn't resist taking a ton of photos of that seal--I'm a sucker for animals. According to the SERT guard, her name was Pohaki, she was 9 yrs old, has given birth to three pups and they suspected she was pregnant again. She'd given birth to her last pup on Kauai. You could also see the scar marks on her hide from shark attacks. The Hawaiian monk seal population is dwindling fast so the SERT folks take their duties very seriously and unlike with the sea turtles (mentioned next), folks respected the barriers and signs.

A couple hours later, DM and I headed back to turtle cove in hopes to see some sea turtles. We were rewarded with glimpses of a couple turtles from the beach (we weren't in the water). Unfortunately, the beautiful creatures were mobbed by the turtle stalkers. It kind of made sad and angry. Why can’t these turtles be given a little space and then everyone can appreciate them…it you stand calm and still, the turtles come to you; there is no need to go chasing them around. There is a whole rant in my head but I will stop here. You'll have to take my word that the dark shadow in the water is actually a sea turtle.

DM and I walked back to Roy’s for lunch and I had a most excellent meal of Macadamia nut mahi mahi. The view over the golf course was really pretty and I just couldn't get enough of the black swans.

In the afternoon, I took some more photopass photos with the Stitch statue, Goofy, Donald, Chip & Dale, Duffy, Goofy in the pool, outside the lava shack and DD & I. Goofy is in the list twice because I caught him on my way to the lawn and then on the way back. Normally I wouldn't have gotten back in line right away but the second time he was in the water!--couldn't pass that up.

In this next pic, I totally look like I can't get away fast enough—goes to show you that an instant in time can totally skew the big picture.

 

[Malia78]

Cont...

Pinky swearing with the chipmunks—can't remember what for but it must have been good!

I then corralled both parents into the first half of the outdoor garden Menehune Adventure game. Close to 5pm so time to close out the lazy river with three and a half laps—this time another photo pass photographer lurking in the bushes to take our picture.

DM struck out on her own and walked to the end of the walking path down to Barber's point where she finally found the beautiful sea colors we've been looking for. Meanwhile I bought myself some coconut shrimp at Mama’s Snack Shack for dinner—the flavor was good but for the price, could have given me one more shrimp.

We wound down the evening in the adult infinity hot tub. Throwing in a shot from earlier—these are DM's favorite kind of —reflections in water.

 

[dolphingirl47]

How lucky that you got to see a monk seal and turtles in the same day. What a shame that people did not show more respect for the turtles. Lunch looked delicious and the photos are great again. I particularly liked the second set of Goofy photos.

Corinna