Last day Oahu

Last day on Oahu before Kauai – (Wednesday)

I think I may have failed to mention that I ended up buying a timeshare here in Waikiki.  Yes that’s right – I’m the sucker who went, heard and bought.  It’s thru the Windham and the way they do it is on a point system, much like a rewards credit card but it’s deeded ownership. I now own real property in Hawaii!  I bought enough points for a studio unit for 1 week a year in Waikiki.  But since Waikiki is the primo destination for travelers – I really bought enough points for 3 weeks a year anywhere else in the world – at virtually any hotel and most hotels don’t have studios – so I get bumped up to a 1bdrm.  SWEET DEAL!! The woman who “sucker sold” me into this SWEET DEAL is Meile – A white girl born and raised on Kauai.  Jerome and I became instant friends with her – she was/is great and we had a blast during our 2.5 hour ordeal with her.  We are meeting her for happy hour tonight! Looking forward to that!

OK – so another update on the night we were in Makaha for our night out! Get ready for good story:   So – were at Beaches – that hole in the wall bar where the bartender is instantly liking both Jerome and I. (notice a theme here?) So she’s waxing on about how much she loves it when good people come in and how welcome we are anytime and how fun we are and how “local” she thinks we are and on and on.  I was eating it up cause I didn’t see it in any way but sweet and friendly.  We order our drinks and fried food meal – (Nasty)  and are having fun! So far so good.  We are laughing and joking, I sing with her, she signs the Electric Slide and dedicates it to inducting me into Beaches the “right way” – So I’m on the dance floor dancing the electric slide with exactly 2 other woman – both employees.  We both do a Lychee vodka shot that I BUY for her – were having a blast! She tells us all about her family, we tell her all about our vacation past and future plans, We are happy to have found this place!  So far so good…..

THEN – 2 hours into it - she places yet more fried food – Fried Mushrooms to be exact – in front of us.  The kind of mushrooms you can tell came out of a jar. I take one look at it and I’m already so full and sick from all the friedness that I instantly say “There is NO WAY on earth I can eat that” I didn’t think about it being a gift from her – all I could think about was how I didn’t want any part of more fried.  Well this “friendly/funny/sweet/kind/generous” SheMan flipped out.  She told me I had no “ALOHA” that I offended her, that I was rude and went on like that about my offensive behavior.  Are you kidding me? I instantly started crying -  Thanks Lychee Shot.  So now I’m crying, Jerome has no idea what to do with me – I’m a mess.  I’m crying and apologizing and telling her how I so didn’t mean it like that – That of course I’m grateful, just that I didn’t think about it and I’m so sorry and sorry and sorry.  She never really makes it be ok – I have that kicked in my stomach feeling and all I want to do is runaway.  So – lesson learned AND it helps me reiterate the other lesson I’ve been working on – that I am only responsible for my behaviour and I can’t be responsible for how someone else interprets what I do.  I had nothing to do with her not being able to forgive and move on – I have to let go after I do what I can authentically to make it better.  It’s a hard one for me because I feel like I’m supposed to dwell and morn – like if I don’t then somehow I don’t care enough.  But really – it just makes it worse.  “Beaches” will not make my recommendations for anyone traveling to the West Side of the Island ☺

Today Carla and I got  up early for a 6am class at the Crossfit Gym then a run and jumping jacks on the beach.  The crossfit gym here is so much better than my gym at home.  And the trainers are pretty hot – Maybe a move is in my future… Carla and I are getting pedicures later then heading to the post office to ship what we don’t want to have to carry back.  After that we go back to round the troops and head over to the Japanese Temple and Gardens – It is a full scale replica of the Byodo-In Temple built in 998 in the city of Uji, Japan. The Byodo-In Temple is located on the grounds of the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park in Kaneohe. It was built in 1968 to celebrate the anniversary of the arrival of the Japanese culture in Hawaii. The grounds look gorgeous and there are peacocks everywhere so we are excited about it.  Boys are playing golf so it’s just the ladies and Carson all day.  Tonight we have yet another Karaoke bar with all the family (sorry if I’m repeating myself) it’s our last night to woop it up with everyone!! Because have I mentioned… we are go to Kauai tomorrow!!! Yippie!!

Tomorrow our fight leaves at 10am for Kauai.  We check into our BandB at noon and then board a boat at 2pm for a 3 hour boat tour to the Na Pali Coast – the portion of the trip I’m most looking forward to and then I have an appt at a tattoo shop… I may come home with not only a timeshare but a permanent scar.  Oh Memories…..

The Na Pali Coast is on the north western shoreline of Kauai and runs for over 22 miles with 3000 foot vertical cliffs rising out of the ocean. Too steep for roads, this rugged wilderness stands today pretty much as it has for thousands of years.  There are only two ways to see it and we aren’t up for a 20+ mile hike so boat trip here we come!! You get dinner, drinks and the best sunset pictures in Hawaii!!