Up before the alarm (we are still on LA time) and had a leisurely preparation for our bus tour. Caught the coach in front of the Outrigger Hotel (next to us) after a wonderful breakfast of toast and coffee – 8am. We went to the Opaekaa Falls first for a photo shoot. Part of this area was used in the ranch scene and bush/meadowland for Jurassic Park.  The little village down on the river was used as the African one in “Breakout” (Dustin Hoffman).

Went past the hotel used in “Blue Hawaii” called Coco Palms, which is now closed and privately owned and falling into disrepair – was badly hit by Hurricane Iniki. Also the pond/river area where the marriage barge went.

After the photo shoot we went down the river for our river cruise to see Fern Grotto. Whilst on board the boat we were serenaded by a singing group and two hula girls. Some of their songs sound like serenading coyotes and other are quite beautiful. Nothing special to see along the way, but Fern Grotto was lovely. This is the spot where a lot of people choose to marry. It is a natural amphitheatre and seats for viewing have been built of stone on one side. Very pretty! There are lots of Japanese tourists, who waste time whilst every one gets every one else to take their photos.

We lost two ladies from our party when they went walk about with another group. They rejoined us at lunchtime. After the river cruise we hopped back on the bus and headed to Poipu for lunch at a Chinese restaurant, which did great linguine and seafood. This restaurant is part of the Golf Course where the Hawaiian PGA is staged each year, and the walls are hung with many an autographed photo of the golfers.

We recommenced out tour after lunch and we passed a tunnel of trees which was badly hit by Hurricane Iniki in 1992. We went through the town, which is where most Portuguese people live. The Hawaiians were forced to give up land so that housing could be provided to the first sugar cane workers. However, they named the streets themselves and therefore, you have such names as ‘Two Left Feet Street’, Cross-eyes Street, and Pakalini Road which means “large manhood”. Hawaiians still find this incredibly amusing.

Next we had a quick photo shoot of the Canyon before the Canyon. This is the site of the shortest battle in Hawaiian history – 20 minutes. Most of the army being overwhelmed chose to jump into the Canyon rather than be defeated by a superior force. Over 3000 men were killed in this time frame.

Hanapepe is the town where the majority of people are Japanese, or have Japanese decent. Then at Kekaha we watched as the sugar trucks unloaded into the first stage of the process to make raw sugar. All raw sugar is then shipped to California for refining. The sugar industry in Hawaii is very expensive to run (35 cents a pound in comparison to 4-5 cents from elsewhere in the world). This comes about because the sugar workers here are part of a union – say no more – therefore aren’t exploited like in the third world countries. Most sugar operations have closed down and the few still operating are also in danger of this. The same thing has already happened to the Pineapple industry in Hawaii.

Waimea Canyon was a glimpse to whet the appetite on our way to Kalaheo Lookout. This looks down onto the coastline on the north west side of the island, and we were lucky enough to see it in sunshine and with a rainbow.

Next we stopped at Waimea Canyon. This is very similar in structure to the Grand Canyon, but on a scale where you are able to appreciate the size without being completely overwhelmed. Back in the bus and we headed to the Spouting Horn, which is a lava tube under water, with the opening (landward) side on the rocky foreshore, and is very impressive. The noise reminded us of Old Faithful. Here was also where the market place for jewelry was held, and we picked up a lovely bracelet for Shelley.

It is in this area that the rich and famous live or stay. The beach sand is about 10 feet wide and is in pockets about 30 feet long. A small block of land (not even a quarter acre) on the foreshore costs $400,000 US last week, and the block that sold for $2 million US barely made the quarter acre size. Arnold Schwartsnegger has a holiday house on the west coast of the island, and so does Charro, but she lives in hers.

Back in the bus and we started dropping people off at their pick up points. We detoured to miss the traffic through Lahue and Hanamaululu, and this took us around Nawiliwili Harbour. The sea wall here was featured in the storm scene of Jurassic Park which was actually real footage of Hurricane Iniki in the early stages.

By the time we were dropped off at the Outrigger it was 6pm. As we had had a thorough lunch we didn’t feel like tea straight away. I read my thriller and Russ watched TV. I did eat one of my slip stone peaches.

We ended up eating about 8pm and by 9pm Russ couldn’t stay awake any longer. He went to bed and I waited for the dishwasher to finish its cycle, and I finished my book. Then, I too, went off to La La Land.

I had re-confirmed our flights from Honolulu and Sydney, and we were lucky enough to get our seats – back at 48 B C. Thank God!!  Russ will be able to stretch his legs during our 9 hour flight back to Sydney.  This wonderful holiday is almost over.