Aloha!

This may come as a surprise but a 5.15am start doesn’t bring out the best in us. To their credit however, our band of travellers met the early deadline (not exactly gleefully) and with limited conversation and a couple of grunts we boarded the bus to head to the Los Angeles International Airport to commence the final leg of our tour to Hawaii. After a one hour drive (which was really viewed as one hour of additional sleep time) we arrived at the airport and checked in. The enthusiasm started to creep in as the realisation dawned that we were actually heading to Hawaii – some of the lads even braved the shorts in preparation.

We boarded the plane ready for the five hour flight (which many were hoping would be a five hour nap) but were a little, let’s say disappointed, about the one hour delay sitting on the tarmac before we finally took off. At one stage it was the air conditioning that caused us to wait, then it was the loading of the luggage, but all we knew is that we’d rather have been sitting at the beach than sitting on the tarmac. Anyway, after six hours we landed in Hawaii – it was overcast and warm and the weather seemed to really warm up the kids (that and the six hour nap they’d just had on the plane).

After a quick lunch we checked into our motel and then it was a lightning quick change into bathers and shorts and an excited walk down to Waikiki Beach. It didn’t take much encouragement for our sun-starved Aussies to hit the water, and we created our own tidal wave as all 27 students converged into the ocean. For the next two hours there was swimming and relaxing before we headed back to the motel for a quick change out of the bathing attire and into our eating tea outfits (thankfully as we’re in Hawaii the fashion standards didn’t require much of an outfit change). We were then off to Waikiki’s main thoroughfare of Kalakaua Avenue where we set about eating, shopping and enjoying the buskers along the street. A great, relaxed atmosphere that the kids loved.

From there after a big day it was back to the motel for a good night’s sleep, with plans about what we’re going to do tomorrow already filling their heads. Will it be a climb up Diamond Head, stand up paddle boarding, a trip to the North Shore, shopping (there’s always shopping), or maybe just a relaxing day at the beach. The decisions are endless, but first…..sleep!

Fun Facts:

• Hawaii’s Big Island, which is the common term used for the state of Hawaii, is growing by more than 42 acres each year because of the Kilauea Volcano;
• This volcano has been erupting for around 30 years now
• It is considered rude to refuse to wear a lei flower if someone offers it
• The Hawaiian macademia nut does not actually come from Hawaii
• Hawaii is one of four states in the US that has banned the use of billboards for advertising
• Hawaii has its own timezone.

The Flag!

By decree of ‘The Godfather’ (aka Bucks) no flag has been issued today. Instead, due to the severity of Matt Black’s ádrenalin-searching efforts at Universal Studios yesterday he has the honour of being a two-day recipient. What an honour, a real sense of achievement, hopefully this is similar to the thrill you were after.