The end

The end of the hawaii adventure came with a wee dose of excitement.
The day started well with lots of people heading to the beach for a swim or stand up paddle board.
We had a late check out so we were able to spend a few hours making the best of our last hours in Waikiki.

We boarded the bus and headed out to the airport where we checked in and then joined the huge lines of pre screening by the TSA with only one person checking a line that was around 150m long which led to a big delay.

Everyone got through ok and we headed off to get a snack.
Unfortunately we didn’t notice that the information screen had changed from having no info to saying now boarding !
We gathered up the students and set off to the gate (the furthest away of course)
It came down to a mad run and the aircraft door being closed behind me as the last one on ! ( I was always the last one on to everything to make sure that the students all got on) so that was a little closer than we planned – but we made it!

I had some dramas dealing with the Hawaiian ground crew as I was trying to get confirmation that all the students would have access to the movies and TV at their seat. This escalated to a long and confusing conversation with their customer services call center.
It ended up with a call to NZ and a resolution to our problem and the students all had the entertainment that they should have !

The students presented us with some great gifts to show their appreciation and we were all very touched by their thanks !
Mahalo nui Ioa to everyone !

Returning Home

Hi Everyone

We arrive home on Hawaiian Airlines flight HA 445 at 2145 on July 17th – we have a bus picking us up at the Airport to take us back to TGS and should be there around 2245 to 2300.

We are off out to enjoy our last morning – the students have the last of their bonus money that i gave them last night for breakfast this morning.

Mahalo

S Smith

 

A few pictures of the last day

The last day.

Today we took a walk around the area and looked at some of the new developments in the western end of town. The new ritz and the new international marketplace.
We then toured around the hilton hawaiian village.

I then gave out some more bonus money which was very well recieved.
Tonight we will have sunset photos on the beach after dinner then some free time

Pearl Harbour and Hanauma Bay

Aloha Everyone,

Today we battled road works traffic to get to Hanauma bay to go Snorkelling with tropical fish. Hanauma bay is a marine reserve full of tropical fishes and you just snorkel around in the shallows and they are all around you. 

We got picked up again by the bus company and headed off for Pearl Harbour. We had pre booked our tickets to ensure we got into the monument and memorial, after a quick lunch of american hotdogs or nachos we went into the theater to watch a documentary about the attack on Pearl Harbour.

After that we boarded a naval boat and headed over to the monument. This was a time to reflect on those who had lost their lives in the attack. The names of all those who lost their lives in the attacks were printed on the end end wall of monument (including the sets of brothers and a father and son who went down with the ship)  

 

After our time was up we headed off and had a relaxed evening before a free choice dinner.

Due to the good exchange rate I have been able to give the students some bonus money to help their food fund as some are getting to the end of their money now. 

 

 

 

Water Park and Walkabouts

Aloha Everyone,

Yesterday was Waterpark day. We spent the day sliding and swimming floating on the lazy river or just lazing by the pool. 

When we got home we went out and took a walk around the local area looking at the new developments. We looked at some new tourist developments and took a walk through the Royal Hawaiian center and the Moana Surfrider hotel.

Today we head out to Hanauma Bay to snorkel with the tropical fish and then we head to Pearl harbor which has been closed to the public because of the RIMPAC naval exercises.

There is a huge number of army and navy personnel around the area because of the exercises with some army soldiers staying in our hotel.

I have added more photos to the hawaii set on flickr at FLICKR HAWAII 

Mahalo

Markets and hula shows

Hello Everyone !

Today we headed out to the Markets beside the Aloha Football Stadium. it was a day for fresh fruit, Hawaiian shirts and Extra bags.

This evening we saw a little of the hula show on the main beach. Then we headed to Cheeseburger in Paradise ( some bonus money was handed out as we have a little extra ) we handed out some bonus breakfast money earlier in the week too.

Sam and I took on the cheeseburger challenge ( a massive cheeseburger that you get for free if you can eat it in under 20mins) neither of us finished it but one guy at another table did ! and he got the burger for free ! the waiters described him as an ‘animal’ 

Tomorrow is the water park day – slides and pools (and it is forecast to hit 32 degrees tomorrow)

Mahalo

Mr Smith

Volcano day

Aloha Everyone,

Yesterday was volcano day. We left the accommodation at 6am and headed to the airport for our flight to the big island it took around 40mins.

When we got there we picked up our two rental cars and headed out to explore. We spent the day driving around the southern part of the island looking at steaming vents, open craters and lots of black basalt. Unfortunately we could not get close to the active zone as at the moment it is a 10 mile hike up into the center of the national park. but we still saw lots of awesome sights. We headed back to the airport for out 9pm flight home and arrived home tired but glad we could get to see the geographic awesomeness that is the big island.

 

The non volcano group spent the morning on a bus tour of the historic sights of the honolulu area and here learnt all about the history of the area and how it came to be the bustling tourist area that it is today.

After the tour the students either chose to go to the aquarium or the zoo. Both of these house some interesting species and have been in operation for a very long time. This was an opportunity to learn about the reef life around the area at the aquarium or to see some more tropical animals at the zoo. ( including a bear and tiger !!) 

 

Today we head to the flea markets at the aloha stadium ( the big american football stadium ) and then this evening we are going to see the local hula show at the main beach, This hula show has been run by the same family for 25 years now. 

Shopping day !

Aloha Everyone,

Today was shopping day. 

Some stayed 3 hours at the outlet shops and some stayed 6 !

Lots of gifts were purchased and we saw the new building and extensions that are occurring at the outlet mall. We have seen lots of new building projects and I have been telling the students about the new developments that are happening in the area.

We have been on a few walking tours to learn about the history of the area and hopefully some learning has occurred !

Tomorrow is volcano day for some of us and the others are doing a tour of the historic and important sites of Honolulu. they will then go to either the zoo or the aquarium ( one of the oldest in the USA ). 

The Volcano group leave at 6am and return at 10:30pm so it will be a big day on the road seeing the sights of the big island.

I might not be on the blog tomorrow night, depends on what time we arrive back at the accommodation.

Best regards

Mr Smith

 

 

Photos !

Hi Everyone,

you can view our photos at  https://www.flickr.com/photos/crispysmith/sets/72157645597586471/

or

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjZxdaKV 

Mahalo !