Hawaiiiiii!!!!! ... last port :-(

Well sailed in to Honolulu and when we got there we didn’t really know what to do. So we ventured around and just relaxed for the day. We went and searched for a California pizza kitchen and enjoyed the heat and the down. We stopped by park/beach thing for a little bit and enjoyed that for a while until we had worn ourselves out and headed to the ship because we needed a nap. That night we babysat for Kate and Shawn because we were so tired we couldn’t go back out.  The second morning we woke up quite early to go see the Pearl Harbor sight.   Oh man was that a sight to see. It was heartbreaking at points but it was something I am so glad I saw.  The place was beautiful and they were setting up for the December 7th memorial because it was just a few days away. We took the ferry over to the USS Arizona monument to check it out.  That is when my heart just ached that this many people had lost their lives I couldn’t believe it but the names and the ship were right there to prove it.  The oil was still leaking out of the sunken ship which baffled me.  After we walked around the monument for about an hour we walked down to go check out the flea market that was supposed to be down the street. After walking a ways we saw a sign that said No flea market. It was pretty devastating but it’s alright. We took a bus back to port and was going to go to the beach but decide to just chill by the boat and go to Hooters for lunch. Nothing like some football and some wings, on a Saturday. After enjoying some Hooters which wasn’t the same without my loves from home.  We walked around and shopped a little before heading back to the ship for on ship time.  We got back on the ship and decided to lie out in the sun for a few hours instead of going to the beach it’s the same sun on deck seven just no sand.  That evening we sailed out of Honolulu and headed for Hilo.

                The next morning we arrived in Hilo on “The Big Island” they had told us that there are not tons to do and there aren’t many beaches but we found one. I went to my first black sand beach which was pretty cool. We laid in the beautiful weather all day and walked around and saw Sea Turtles. They were so close we could swim with them if we wanted to.   After lying on the beach all day we headed back to get ready for our Lu ‘Ou that someone had given us tickets to. We headed to the University of Hawaii Hilo campus and were greeted with such welcoming people. We tried some new foods and had a lot of fun for the evening.  Once that was over we headed back to the ship for the night.  The next morning we got up and rented a car for the day with all of our friends. We drove to see some beautiful waterfalls and do start this hike that was the CRAZIEST thing I have ever done. Picture just walking so straight down that you have to lean back. And when you’re walking up you have to lean forward or else you would just tumble down.  It was the craziest thing. We got halfway down and decided it wasn’t worth it , and went back up. It was crazy it took us way longer to get half way back up.  We went to the next falls called Akaka Falls which was beautiful.  After going to Akaka falls we went and got frozen yogurt. Returned the car and headed back to the ship for the evening so we wouldn’t have to wait in any lines. They had a BBQ on the ship for us that evening which was pretty sweet.  As we pulled off the port one last time we got quite sad and realized this amazing journey is almost over and it is so bittersweet. As much as I want to go and see my family, this is my home now and my shipmates are my family and I am going to be lost without them.

So there’s no next port. Next port is home.. San Diago here we come.