Hawaii - Part 1

Aloha! I had a wonderful time in Hawaii with my Aunt, Uncle, and cousins. I linked up with them in the Detroit airport and flew with them to Hawaii where we took a shuttle to a nearby hotel.

We had several long layovers.

We finally went to sleep somewhere past 11 p.m. Hawaii time and 3 a.m. Kansas time. I had been awake nearly 24 hours straight! The worst part of jet lag manifested itself four and half hours later when Ike, Abe, and Maggie woke Katherine and me up asking us if they could get up. I told them, "No, you can NOT get up at 3:30 in the morning!"

We all dozed for the next few hours, but by 5:30 everyone was wide awake (including some young men in the next room who I think were suffering from the same ailment we were and who were loudly discussing how to turn on the shower!)

The lady who had arranged for us to borrow
two mini vans also presented each of us with leis.

From left to right: Abe, Katherine, and Ike

From the hotel we stopped at a Goodwill and a grocery store for supplies and headed for the cabin we would be staying at for the next week. Uncle Todd dubbed it "the shack." All of the windows were either all or partly screened. But we didn't think this would be much of a problem. After all, we were in Hawaii and the only thing that might cause a problem would be rain...or so we thought.

That first night proved otherwise. I awoke in the wee hours of the morning freezing! Then at 3:30 a.m. it started . . . COCKLE-DOODLE-DOO! Now if you have ever tried to sleep with five or six roosters having a competitive crowing contest right outside your screen windows, you might be able to relate to us. The incessant noise continued despite several sorties the boys made outside with a broom. This unwelcome serenade repeated itself every morning. Eventually, each of us either slept through it or wore ear plugs.

Chickens are everywhere and apparently no one owns them.

Despite the rustic condition of the shack, we enjoyed an awesome view of the ocean. The location was perfect with the beach, the rocks, and a stream equally accessible-- twenty feet out the back door.

The front of the shack.

Another option we had of accommodations: a yurt.
Suddenly, the shack looked better.

Hawaii has some very interesting trees.