Hawaii 2009: Day 11

A tale of sadness and woe, gloom and misery, yes, today we must leave (insert wailing and gnashing of teeth here).
Ah, the drudgery of packing, especially when it’s time to leave. When you are packing to go somewhere there is a certain excitement, anticipation, plus at least I always figure, if I forget something, I’ll just beg, borrow or buy it when I get there. But when you are leaving, there’s this mental checklist you go through to make sure you didn’t forget anything; your razor in the shower, your socks under the bed, the book on the patio, the charger – where did I put that charger? By the way, I never did find the charger I was pretty sure I packed so good thing I bought one at DTW so long ago. Larry, consider my many to be of professional status when it comes to packing because of his umpteen jillion business trips, thought he was done three times before he finally located everything.
Finally everything is stuffed in, including the change into at the airport clothes to keep from freezing on board the plane, plus frostbite prevention when we return to the frigid Midwest. By the way, here’s a little news blip for you on the how-cold-is-it-in-Michigan note: there was a bomb scare in Dexter at an industrial complex across from one of the schools. The township contacted the school district to see if buses were available for the employees who had to be evacuated because it was too cold for them to stand around outside. That’s how cold it is. I get chicken skinned (local terminology) just thinking about it.
Back on point, we had to check out at 10:00 but had 6 1/2 hours to kill before it would be reasonable to head to the airport, so figuring out what to do was the immediate task at hand. We made a quick detour to pick up souvenirs for the grand kids (shark tooth surfer necklaces for the boys, a bracelet for Cosette) then went to Starbucks, trusty guidebook, my faithful companion and source of island minutia in hand. The parameters: 1. we wanted to stay on the west side of the island, no point driving over to the other just to drive right back, 2. L didn’t want to be in the sun, somehow he managed to get a burn yesterday sitting in the shade by the pool. (How I didn’t spending the day turtle watching, snorkeling, and reading in the sun by the pool is a wonder) 3. the back by 4ish time constraint. I looked through the book and there weren’t a lot of options that fit the requirements, pretty much going to more coffee farms or not going to more coffee farms. We opted to not go to more coffee farms. Instead, we drove up the coast a couple miles to see Hapuna Beach, consistently voted the Best Beach in America by travel publications including Conde Nast Traveler. 
The parking lot already had about 50 cars when we arrived shortly after 10:30. We walked the short distance to the beach and it was indeed impressive; about a mile of golden sand probably 150’ of beach front disappearing into calm Caribbean blue water. There were kids playing in the surf, a few snorkelers, and sunbathers sitting under brightly colored umbrellas. There were picnic pavilions on a slight tree covered rise overlooking the beach, full facilities (bathrooms) and lifeguard outposts (though they usually have signs that warn ‘no lifeguard on duty’.) Pretty darned idyllic. But the sand was blisteringly hot. And L didn’t want to be in the sun so he stood in the shade while I snapped a few pictures.
We went back to our home away from home and spent the rest of the afternoon by the pools at the Hilton, L in the shade, moi alternating sun and shade spots, reading good books and sipping umbrella drinks. Larry had a crab cake sandwich with a strange blue bun. All the while mentally preparing to go backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk. (sense the mild panic welling up?)
The clock ticked away the minutes then the hours and he finally said, “You ready?” Did I have a choice? Rental car returned, we caught the first flight of a three legged journey, and and spent four hours sitting in the Oahu International Airport waiting for the next leg to take up to Phoenix then back to Detroit. Sigh. And sigh again.
I barely sleep on planes, even cross ocean odysseys that have you in the air for six hours of pitch black. I comfort my self with the knowledge that the less I sleep on the plane, the easier it will be to get back to home time. I don’t know why they don’t show the movie on night flights, but I think they should for us insomniacs who find trying to sleep in half the space of a phone booth difficult. Maybe a mind numbing flick would help the situation. But no flick so I amused myself with Sudokus in the flight magazine, then my favorite, Sky Mall, the magazine for people so bored they’ll read about things that no normal human really needs. A small sampling included Superman Cuff Links (for the very well dressed seven-year-old or the exec who still wears superhero jammies – only $129.99), the “dirty dog or horse owners solution”; a commercial animal bathing system (it cleans the skin, then combs the hair – only $999.99), a custom 15’ tall inflatable of a Yetti (for the Big Foot fan who has everything except his own Yetti- just $2899.00), 5 pound Inspiration chocolate bars engraved with things like Inspire!, Home Run, Great Job! Love! Live life to the Fullest (not things like Want Diabetes?, This is Gonna Make you Fatter than a House or Ever Been in a Sugar Coma?) only $95.00 – you can get smaller ‘chocolate diamonds’ for a mere $30 for those who need less inspiration in their lives and just want to feel the love. Or possibly my favorite who-could-live-without-this-eighth-wonder-of-the-retail-world, although it’s really tough to choose, a Life Sized 8’ Grand Ruler Anubis statue (you know, the Egyptian pharaoh/dog guard intimidating looking thing), and I quote cause I couldn’t make up anything this good, “Ready to protect your Egyptian palace. We guarantee heads will turn toward this enormous eight foot high masterpiece whose wow-factor rivals every other piece . . .” (then they will double over laughing and try to sell you lake front property in the Mohave)- my addition). It IS in faux ebony (plastic resin painted black) for a mere $1250.00 + $49 shipping. Of course at that price you have to assemble it yourself, but damn! won’t you feel safe and important in your Egyptian palace (wearing your Pharaoh jammies)Who in their right mind wouldn’t want one?
Alas, no more shopping time. We just got our landing warning to time to put away.
It’s been a great time, extremely relaxing, enough touristy things to have been tourists and enough relaxing things to be vacationing. It is good to know that we will be coming back. Again. And again.