Workout length:  15 minutes
Workout focus:  Core Body Strength
Workout music:  "80's"
Workout location: Island Paradise
Maximum bpm:  150
Average bpm: 120

Exercise of the Day:  Single Leg Kickback

Sorry, that's all for now.  Busy getting ready for work.

Workout length:  30 minutes
Workout focus:  Upper Body Strength
Workout music:  "House"
Workout location: Empress' Dojo
Maximum bpm:  162
Average bpm: 133

Exercise of the Day:  Tricep Kickback

Standing up, bend forward about 45 degrees and keep your upper arm in line with your back.  Forearm is down.  Bring forearm back, in line with the rest of your arm, then return.  Repeat 7 more times, rest and do again.  Later do it again but hold your arm in line for a count before returning.  etc. etc.

Yesterday, we came back from Hawaii.  I am still on Hawaiian time.  I stayed up until 2:00 am, went to bed and woke up at 10:00.  When I am sitting or in bed, I feel like I am rocking back and forth, like I am still on the ship.   Not enough to make me sick, but it makes me feel tipsy.  Today we are going grocery shopping and doing about 6 loads of laundry. 

Even with the free washers and dryers on the ship, there just wasn't enough time to keep up with all our clothes.  Plus, I got into the habit of wearing two or three outfits each day.  For dinner I tried to dress in long pants and a nice polo shirt or a black Hawaiian shirt.  For excursions, it was a short sleeve shirt (usually Hawaiian) and short pants.  Sometimes for breakfast I wore a T-shirt and short pants also. 

We should have some pictures and video up later today, so stay tuned.

Tonight we have gamers coming over.  I am putting together a D&D character to play in this game.  Probably a cleric. Haven't thought much about it yet.

Greetings!  We didn't find any other internet cafes convenient during our other excursions and thought the prices on ship itself were not worth it, so I find myself at home now thinking all the way back to the early morning we woke up to see the sun rise on the top of Mt. Haleakala (10,000 feet).

Should you ever decide to do this, please bring the following:  a flashlight, mittens or gloves, long sleeve shirt, jacket, warm stocking cap or perhaps a face mask.  We woke up around 2:00 am, drove away from the cruise ship parking lot (next to the shore) at 3:00 am and arrived near the summit just before 5:00 am.  Sunrise was scheduled for 5:52.  It is a little earlier when you are on top a mountain.  However, we could already see the sky was turning a light blue.  There is a enclosed area that shields one from the wind but we decided to stand outside and brave the elements.  There were many people milling around, ready with cameras of all different shapes and sizes.  As it slowly grew lighter, we noticed that there were clouds all around the mountain below us.  The blue gave way to green and finally yellow as the sun peeked out through the clouds and lit up the whole area.  It was simply gorgeous!  We took more pictures while other people left right away.

We went from the summit to the visitors center nearby and there were about 50 people readying themselves for a bicycle trip down the mountain.  Trucks hauled up cattle cars filled with bicycles and vans brought up the bicyclists, each with their own safety vest and helmet.  Each group had a bicyclists tour leader who would shout back instructions as they winded their way down the mountain, followed by a van.  If someone got tired or hurt, they could ride in the van the rest of the way and the bike would fit in a trailer behind the van.  Next time we go, I think I would like to do that

However, that trip we were in the convertible.  We stopped at a few more outlooks and the main visitor center.  Finally, after doing a bit more shopping we returned the car and found that as we were boarding the ship at 11:00 am, there were others who were just leaving to start their second day on Maui.

After a short nap, I attended a workshop where we made leis from kukui nuts.  Happy Lei Day, by the way!  The kukui nut is one of those things of nature that has a thousand and one uses.  The oil inside the nut can serve as a candle.  It can also moisturize your skin, or help a would heal more quickly.  It can even serve as a laxative when taken in a small dose, but don't eat the whole nut because that can cause respitory failure.  When they are young, the color of the kukui nut is beige.  As it gets older on the tree, the color becomes darker and turns brown.  If left on the tree, it continues to become darker and turns black.  After that, it becomes black and white.  However, after you pick the nut off the tree, the color doesn't change anymore.  Traditionally, the nuts to be used for a lei are buried in the ground where the insides are eaten by insects and bugs.  24 nuts are strung together to form a lei.

I used a set of black and a set of black/white to create two leis, one for me and one for Chuk.  After I was finished, I found he was still asleep so I wrote more postcards.

Since we had taken naps during the afternoon, we were finally able to see some of the entertainment on the ship.  At 10:30 pm, we watched Miss Richfield 1981 perform a number of interesting acts, including playing the saw.  After that we enjoyed the comedy of Jim David, which was part stand up comedy and part videos of pieces he did on TV.  It was all very funny.

Friday found us in Kona / Kalui on the Isle of Hawaii.    Here the ship was too large go into port so some of the lifeboats were lowered into the water and used as "tender boats" to transport us to and from the island.  This section of the island reminded me a lot of Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco.  Lots of shops, restaurants, bars, hotels, tours, etc.

The car rental agency was just steps away from the port, in the King Kamehameha Hotel.  We drove south and snorkeled near the Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park.  The names means "Place of Refuge at Honaunau" and it is a restoration of a religious sanctuary.  We went into the water twice and saw all manner of fish and even a couple of sea turtles.  We kept a respectful distance.  After snorkeling, we visited the park.  As we got back into the car, it started to sprinkle.  We had lunch on the beach, near where we returned our snorkel gear.  After returning the car, we got back to the ship about 4:00 pm.  We tried to stay awake to watch Alec Mapa, but conked out about 10:00.  His show was at 11:45 pm. 

Saturday, we arrived at Nawiliwili, Kaua'i.  The apostrophe means there is a glottal stop before the final i, just like in Hawai'i.  We rented a convertible again and drove along the Waimea canyon.  It was very beautiful, but in every parking lot, there were chickens.  There were roosters, hens and chicks, running around.  I am surprised none of them got squashed.  The first time I saw them, I had Chuk get out of the car and chase them away so wouldn't run over them.  We ate at the Kokee Lodge and then continued to the very top where we were able to see the beginning of the Napali coast line.  It was breathtaking.  The drive back down, we took a slightly different route and stopped to get some Hawaiian ice cream.  I had a scoop of Tutu's Anniversary, which was a combination of three different sorbet flavors, and a scoop of Coconut Macadamia Nut Fudge.  That was really tasty. 

we got back to the ship in time to enjoy a cocktail on the pool deck while the Cruise Directors did the "Not-so-Newlywed Game" with couples in the audience.  It was very funny.  After that we had dinner.  Again, we tried to stay awake since we had a real star performing for us.  Deborah Cox!  Yeah, I hadn't heard of her either....  Instead we were asleep by 11:00 pm. 

However, Chuk woke up around 2:00 am and went to the White Party.  The White Party started at 11:00PM and lasted until 7:00 or 7:30 am.  It's called a White Party because you only wear white.  Not khaki.  Just white.  He said he had a good time.  About the time he went to bed, I woke up.

Sunday was our day at sea.  Apparently the ship left Kaua'i, went around Ni'ihau and came up on the Napali coast of Kaua'i.  I wrote postcards and walked around the ship, exploring places I hadn't seem before.  Chuk slept most of the day.  We took pictures and videos of the Napali coast.  It was very beautiful.  We packed and had dinner with some of the people we had met earlier in the cruise.  For the last night, we stayed up and attended "Shann Carr's Last Laugh" where she went over all the funny things that happened to everyone over the past week.  She was very funny.

Today, we woke up, had our final breakfast in the buffet, took our luggage off the ship, got into a cab and went to the airport.  I read while we waited for our flight to take us back to San Francisco.  It was a book about modern ghost stories in Hawai'i, which was pretty interesting.  Several hours later, I am back in the comfort of our own home.  It is good to be back!

Sunday, we woke up early to go to the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.  We arrived at 7:30 and there was already a line of about 300 hundred people.  We were on the 8:30 am group.  It was very sad, especially the movie they make you watch before you get on the boat.  It was very somber and everyone was very quiet.  The memorial itself is very beautiful and inspiring, but also a little macabre as it sits over the graves of over 1,000 men.

For lunch we had a plate lunch at the Rainbow Drive-in but ate it at our room.  It was two scoops of rice, macaroni salad, fried fish fillet, chicken cutlet and teriyaki beef.  It was tasty but put me to sleep.

After that we did more shopping and in the evening met with some acquaintances of Chuk for dinner who were also taking the same cruise as us. 

Monday, we packed, shipped stuff to friends and family, then rested in our rooms until check out time.  Then we drove up to this beautiful look out before turning in our car and going to the pier.

We surrendered our luggage and boarded the boat.  Our room was not quite ready so we had some lunch in one of the cafes and looked at the Aloha Tower until the room was ready.  We are on deck 5, the next to lowest guest deck.  There was a party on the pool deck and then we had sushi for dinner while the ship pulled away.

Monday, we found ourselves in Hilo on the Big Island.  We rented a car, and visited Rainbow Falls, Volcano Natl. Park and Walmart (inexpensive Hawaiian shirts).  Oh, we also tried some wines at Volcano Winery.  I really liked the Pele Red and the one made with Guava.

Today, we are in Maui for two days (one night).  We rented another car.  We tried to do some snorkeling but the waters were too choppy.  Now we are in the old capital of Hawaii, Lahaina, which had a history of whaling.  Tonight we go to bed early and drive up to the top of Haleakala (very tall mountain on East Maui) to see the sun rise.

5 hour flight

Rented huge vehicle with seating for eight.

Visited Bishop Museum & learned about Hawaiian history and the royal family.

Rented snorkel equipment at Snorkel Bobs.  Prescription goggles.

Shopped for Hawaiian shirts.

Tried some new flavors of shave(d) ice.

Checked into hotel and got a suite on the 11th floor.

Dinner at "Da Big Kahuna"

Friday, we woke up early and ate breakfast close to the hotel.

We drove to Hanauma Bay and snorkeled there for 2 or 3 hours.  The coral was very interesting.  There were lots of different fish and sea urchin.

We continued up the coast to the valley of temples and visited Byodo-in, a replica of the one in Uji, Japan, built in 1968.

From there we pressed up to the Polynesian Cultural Center, which was quite a trip.  Canoe pageant.  Canoe ride.  Imax movie about coral reefs of the world.  Luau with entertainment.  Evening show with dances and songs representing all over Polynesia.

Long drive home.  Long time parking car.

Saturday

Breakfast at the Farmers Market near Kapilolani Community College.

Return snorkel equipment.

Stop by Leonards to get delicious Portuguese pastries.

Drive to the Swap Meet circling the Aloha Stadium.  We see about a fifth of it.

Drive to Hilo Hatties.  Buy stuff.  Ship stuff to my parents via Fed Ex.

Return to hotel to drop off stuff.

Lunch at Vietnamese place.

Nap.

Dinner at Chili's

Visit Internet Cafe.

Blog about vacation, starting with 5 hour trip.

Tomorrow:  Pearl Harbor

Got a new prescription but its almost the same as my current one.  New set of glasses should be ready when I return to work.

Got home around 6:00 pm.  Had leftovers for dinner.  Then from 7:00 am to about 12:00 midnight we were packing and cleaning, printing up maps, confirmation emails.  Everything is packed. 

Woke  up at 5:00 am and took a shower.  About to call a cab to take us to the airport.

Probably won't post much while on vacation.  Thanks for all the kind wishes!

Had to go into work a little early.  Didn't have time for all my morning rituals today.

Maybe I will have a session when I get home.

Leaving for Hawaii tomorrow.

Must pack.

Bought a roll of stamps and printed out my address book so I can send postcards.

I have a feeling I am going to be waking up very early the first few days I am there, so planning to use that time to write postcards, exercise, work needepoint and / or read my book.

addendum

The state of Hawaii does not practice daylights savings time.  Since the state is within the tropics, the length of the day is almost uniformly long throughout the year.  So HST is 3 hours behind PDT.

I should have mobile phone coverage while on the islands or the ship is docked, but I probably will not while the ship travels from island to island.

Workout length:  15 minutes
Workout focus:  Cardio
Workout music:  "House"
Workout location: Island Resort
Maximum bpm:  162
Average bpm: 139

Exercise of the Day:  Seal

There weren't any memorable ones today so I will describe this one from yesterday.  Sit on the floor with the soles your feet facing each other, knees to either side.  Hold ankles underhand.  Maintaining this position, roll backwards but don't roll onto your neck.  Return to a balanced position.  Repeat 5 more times.  I think this works on your core strength.

Yesterday, we didn't watch a movie.  Instead we watched the third episode of The Tudors.  Right now, it's about Henry VIII while he is still married to his first wife, but he has just met Ann Boleyn.  Not sure how many seasons this will actually run but it is fun to watch.