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1 arriving at the Polynesian cultural centr

Friday:

We reported on this day already, but didn’t include photos – so did that today.

Saturday: Merry Christmas!

Last night we were simply too tired to do anything but crash, but of course we were up early as usual for Christmas Day. After recording the Hawaii Christmas song for our English relatives and breakfasts, Andrew organized most of us into a sort of Olympics – long jump, ball tossing, etc. It is going to be a quiet, unscheduled day. Mike had had a dream to walk from the coast to Goat Island, and Andrew was willing to try. They got about half-way and the water was up to Mike’s waist and Andrew’s neck. The surface was very uneven and the waves fierce, so we were glad they didn’t try to go the entire way! The rest of us less adventuresome folks drove just north of us to see the “dragons” – the 5 little islands offshore, one of which had a lovely giant “hole” or natural bridge. 3 of us stayed home to cook vegetables while the other 5 went for a hike. We enjoyed the most wonderful dinner of vegetables in marinara and 4

3 Tahitian wedding ceremony

pounds of the tenderest ahi tuna, which we ate barely seared and covered in chopped macadamia nuts. Time to pack up and go to sleep – which of course was not easy to do!!

Sunday, December 26^th

We left the house at 7:45 am to drive the hour to the airport – David and I on Hawaiian Air and the rest on Southwest. Everyone arrived without incident, and the weather was good enough to see Diamondhead as we left Honolulu, and the islands of Molokai and Lanai before spying the West Maui Mountains. We bought watershoes at Walmart which we hope will serve as replacements for the lost TUSA boots for David, and then did a Costco shop before driving about 45 mins n.w. to our new digs. Of course we had to stop at the first whale-watching pull-off and were rewarded with many sightings. The single AirBnB is wonderful: on the 4^th floor with a view to the ocean, part of a complex around 2 pools and tennis courts, and really only about 5 minutes to the ocean. So the Lozas and we have 2 bedrooms on the 4^th floor, each with bathroom. Nice sized kitchen with

2 Polynesian C.C.

a counter where 6 can eat, near a living room with seating for maybe 6. Outside on the lanai are 6 tall chairs at a bar (so you can look out to the oceanview), with 2 extra chairs. We shall see how much we actually sit around!!! You know us. At 5 pm, having unpacked clothes and food, Andrew signed us up for an hour of pickleball! It was amazing how much better everyone did by the end of the hour. Another yummy fish dinner (ono this time, which evidently the same as wahoo in the Caribbean), followed by a dip in the pool for the kids and the hottub for the adults. And I’m exhausted again!

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