Hawaii Expedition 2010

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Tuesday, 8/10

I am back home and in my office this morning. It was a long trip, that thankfully, didn't end up being much longer. I missed my connection in Denver due to the plane leaving Honolulu two hours later that it's listed departure time. This was partly due to a medical passenger who took 30 minutes to be loaded on the plane (they came with a full set of medical support staff) and then a broken part. I eventually arrived in Denver about 20 minutes after my flight left for Florida. The next confirmed flight out was at 8 pm, not getting in until 1:26 am today. However, I managed to get on standby on a 12:30 flight back to Orlando, eventually arriving at 6 pm. I got home by 8, went out to dinner around 9, and to bed around 2 am.

I have some pics to post from Sunday, when it was driving all around the island for most of the day, including a visit back to the Dole Plantation and a tour of the pineapple farm. (I posted them in the previous entry!)

I have a pile of work to do and finish up in my office throughout the week. However, I will post some last pics and do a proper write up before the end of the week.

Thanks for reading...

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Sunday 8/8

Last Day!

I spent yesterday packing, brunching with the 10 remaining people, running to the post office to mail off too packages back to myself (one including books we got from the WWII workshop) and then checked in at Lincoln Hall. I have some pics to upload later, but this place is even nicer than the first room I was in. Small kitchenette, a living space and a separate bedroom, though the bath is identical. Okay, the lack of A/C was a bit rough last night and the bird calls I missed for a week I didn't miss this time, waking me up again around 5 am. However, I could really get used to staying in this room if I come back.

Anyway, yesterday I finally got out around 1pm, and drove around the island a bit, taking more pics, getting out of the car as well and exploring a bit. Got to see more of them filming Pirates of the Caribbean 4, this time on Blackbeard's ship, which was right up to the dock. I couldn't take pics, but I staid for about half an hour, after I struggled to find a parking space. Still, it was a lot of fun. Then I drove back on the H3 to Honolulu, through the tunnels carved through the mountains. Not as scenic as driving over them, but still interesting. Around 4:30 I got groceries, then decided to stay in for the evening, watching tv, doing laundry and folding clothes, working on the computer, and otherwise just relaxing for once.

Today, it has been work, then off a shower, finish packing what I need to do, and then check out around 10. I will leave my bags here, drive around the island for a few hours, maybe go to the mall, and then come back around 6 pm to pick up my luggage, change clothes (after being in the sun all day, 12 hours more with the same clothes on will not be fun) and clean up, then return the rental car to the airport around 7 pm. I also decided to splurge on the flight back, buying an upgrade to economy plus (7" more leg room!) for $69 dollars on the flight from Honolulu to Denver. It wasn't worth the upgrade on the flight to Orlando after checking seats on seatguru.com. I am pretty sure that $69 will turn out to be the best bargain ever.

Okay, time to get moving. Shower, packing and stuff to do. I will post pictures tomorrow when I get home and have one last round up post, unless I get some time at the airport tonight before my flight.

Bedroom in the Lincoln Hall Suite

Kitchenette

Part of the living room

Looking from the bedroom to the kitchen and entry hall.

Rugged coastline

Dole Plantation

Dole Plantation Pineapple Machinery

Aloha Tower


Falls of the Clyde, was one of the oldest vessels of its type still in service, but the museum is closed and the ship is falling apart. It's sad. Compare this picture with the one from wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falls_of_Clyde_%28ship%29

Aloha!

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Friday 8/6

Not much to report. This was the last day of the workshop and was a relatively full one: 8:30 until 4 or so. I did my presentation on my WWII in the Pacific through film class, and was asked for copies of my syllabus. I then went back to my room, hung out for a bit, then went with one of the guys who was flying back to Tampa this evening, splitting the coast of a cab ride. Despite it being rush hour, I had to wait almost 75 minutes at the airport, because I didn't want to get the car too much before 7.

However, I didn't know that Alamo car rental was off airport property, and after waiting 30 minutes for a shuttle bus, I finally got my car around 7:45 in the evening. I had ordered an intermediate car, because it was only 2 dollars more a day than a compact. When I got there, they told me to take any car on the immediate other side of the mini vans. Those were all full size cars, not that I am complaining, and I had my choice of a bunch of them. I was torn between a Dodge Charger and a Ford Fusion. I took the Fusion because it looked nicer and for some reason I had qualms about taking the muscle car. Anyway, I drove home, got some groceries, then ate dinner, and relaxed. I am organized to pack up in the morning, though I get brunch, then head out to Lincoln Hall around 11 or so. Hopefully they will let me check in early, or my day will be somewhat curtailed because I will need to be back by 7 or so, because I don't want to drive around with my luggage all day. I also need to run to the post office as well, and mail some remaining items home. Other than that, I am not sure what my plans are for the day.

Oh, an Indian statue I sent home got broken, but Eric said he thought I could fix it. I only paid $25 dollar for it, so we shall see what superglue can do in the end. I am looking forward to getting out this dorm and back to Lincoln Hall, though I might miss the A/C.

Time to get to bed...

Friday, August 6, 2010

Link

Here is a link to some pictures taken during the week. You can pick me out in a few of them.

http://www.pacifichistoricparks.org/blog/

Thursday, 8/5

Basically a day in the classroom in the morning and early afternoon, then down to Waikiki in the middle of the afternoon to get some souvenir shopping done for people I know. A trip back to my room, then out again in the evening briefly to the only hobby shop on the island, before returning around 9:30. Finished my reading for tomorrow, then answering email, before calling it a night.

Friday, 8/6 is the last day of the WWII workshop. It pretty much goes until 5 pm. Then I am headed to the airport to pick up a rental car for the weekend, before driving back to Frear Hall (or the gulag). I have to make a presentation tomorrow on my WWII through film class, then I get some more free books, and then the rental car around 5:30. I may have to hang out at the airport for an hour or so. I don't want to get the car too much before 7, but I am sharing a cab ride with one of the attendees from Polk Community College who is returning home tomorrow night around 5:30 (his flight is around 7:30 or so). Saturday I need to check out of one dorm, check back into Lincoln Hall, go to the post office to send my last set of packages home (including the books) and then go on a tour of the rest of the island.

Sunday should be a tour of the island after I check out around 10 am, then back to Lincoln Hall to get my luggage around 6:30. A quick change is needed before I spend the next 12 hours on an airplane flight home. I figure after a day out on the island of Oahu probably requires a change of clothing. So Sunday night, around 7 pm, I head to the airport, return the rental car, check in for my flight at 10, then make it back to Orlando around 4 pm on Monday afternoon.

If I take more pics, I'll update you more over the next few days. I doubt there will be much tomorrow, but there should be some from Saturday, and Sunday's pics may have to wait until Monday or Tuesday.

Thanks for reading my blog and checking out the pics! The journey is nearly over...