Hawaii for the Holidays
° Hawaii ° Kauai ° Maui ° Oahu
° Holidays in Hawaii ° Hilton Hawaiian Village
° Dawn Patrol ° The Seahorse Farm ° Our Environment
° The Maritime Heritage Project: Hawaii
Years ago we purchased a week at the Lagoon Towers in Hilton Hawaiian Village on the beach at Waikiki. This year, we had a "use it or lose it week," for $59 . . . and we had virtually free airfare from accumulated mileage. Actually, we thought we had a studio -- it turned out to be a two-bedroom, two bath unit with a balcony facing the beach at Waikiki.
So, at the last minute, we hopped a plane and flew from cold, grey, rainy California to the land of sunshine, warm turquoise water and surfers! It doesn't get any better.
- 4 swimming pools . . . not to mention the warm waters of the Pacific right outside the door. Dive, surf, or kayak within feet of the towers.
- About a dozen restaurants and lounges
- Mandara Spa for exercise and massages
- Children’s programs
This year, I have been fortunate to have to conduct research in port cities for The Maritime Heritage Project, which means travelling to exquisite ports in the Caribbean (while following Hurricane Thomas!) and then a last-minute unexpected trip to Hawaii. Hawaii during the holidays was unusual . . . I've never wanted to go there at the end of the year 'cause it didn't seem the thing to do. Well, it is.
Oahu hosts the Hawaii Marathon which draws people from around the world, of course, including about 13,000 entrants from Japan. Young Japanese women dress so chic. I didn't want to embarrass anyone, so don't have photos of their attire, but they wear far more interesting combinations than most people do. Such flair!
The International Surfing Competition on the North Shore was also underway. Those waves are 10-30 feet high during winter. This is the most dynamic competition in the world and, of course, draws the best competitors in the world. Because my trip was last minute, I didn't see as much as I would have liked of the competition and have a feeling this is going on my "annual visit to Hawaii" calendar.
We're trying a new means of presentation for these images. A service entitled SmileBox has a unique way of setting up the photos -- it's quick and fun to do. View some images from that trip left and by clicking "Hawaii for the Holidays" below.
Aloha.
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(Note: Smilebox is fun and easy to use. Just click the icon below if you would like to start your own scrapbook.
You can choose from dozens of background images and layouts.)
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Jimmy Buffet's "Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude" is elsewhere on this site as I live with those words and take them to heart by travelling as much as possible. Travel can even mean walking through a neighborhood or city in your area that you have never visited. Any change in your usual routine will help to broaden your horizons. There are few things more valuable than learning about others and seeing new sights.
Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude