Aaron Riveroll | Photographer

So we are a couple of tuckered out guys. I left the room for like 3 minutes to run out to the car to get the video camera and the lei I left out there and when I came back, he was out like a light. It’s been a long day. Technically speaking, we woke up at about 1am Hawaii time. It’s now 11pm. It feels like it should be 2am. I am soooo tired! But I’m going to try and recap some highlights…

First of all, the flight over was long, but once I saw land it was amazing. It just goes to show how little I know about our 50th state. For example, these islands are HUGE. They look so tiny on the map that it’s deceiving how big they actually are. And not only that, but they are so spread out. It took getting on a third plane to fly from Oahu to Kauai and it was a 20 minute flight. The same amount of time it took to fly between San Diego and Los Angeles. Crazy, or what? And it’s also surprising how much of the land is uninhabited (at least from the map’s point of view).

Crazy story…we got to Honolulu a tad late because our flight out of LAX was a tad late. So we missed our island-hopping jet. We were hopping mad. But, had we not missed the jet, they would have never put us on the next flight out. So, we they call our group and we start to board the aforementioned later flight and I see a woman I recognize. I don’t give it a second thought, but I look at her again and I KNOW I recognize the girl standing next to her. The girl was Courtney Smith. And I *knew* that if I looked around some more I’d find…yes…her sister, Caroline. Caroline is a friend from high school…and I actually was hoping that she was there. Sure enough. Tell me what a small world this is…it seems I’ve been running into her at the most random places. At the movies in Mira Mesa, for instance. Anyway, it was good to see her…her family is vacationing on Kauai too. Total coincidence.

We got to Lihue and drove right over to the bowling center, or the LBC (Lihue Bowling Center) for the practice rounds, which Brian was already late for. He bowled until around 4 and then we drove out to our resort and checked in. The place isn’t bad. Right on the beach, nice ponds. The Jacuzzi could use a little work, but that’s okay. After laying around for a split second to catch our breath, we headed back to the lanes for a luau for the bowlers. It was actually really nice: quite the variety of Hawaiian favorites and some entertainment by this guitar dude and his REALLY hot daughter. I fell in love. She did a few hula dances with another girl and it was amazing to watch. The story they tell with their hands is amazing…but the way they move in other places is amazing too. This girl had the most amazing smile and bright eyes that could light up a room. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

Alas, the night did come to an end…I met a few of the bowlers and then we cruised around the south side of the island a bit before heading back to the resort. We hit the hot tub, which is filled to capacity with people…but it was awesome when the rain started coming down on us. Everyone got out, but a few of us stayed in and enjoyed the rain. The droplets, along with the gentle Pacific wind, made it quite relaxing.

And now I’m about done for the day. I’ve been awake for nearly 22 hours and I need to get up tomorrow for a day of exploring. Good night, all!

Well, I did not lie…we in fact woke up at the butt crack this morning to head out to the airport. I was awakened by the song Holiday…and it’s still stuck in my head, even at this very moment. We got to Lindbergh at a little after 5. Our cab driver went on about Schwartzenegger and some other stuff that I couldn’t really understand since he was of a different ethnic variety. So I nodded and laughed at what I could understand.

Check in was a breeze, with the exception of Brian’s balls that he carried on. They gave him strange looks and ran his balls through the scanner a couple times. It was exhausting. They made me take off my shoes and belt. You have to realize that this is my first flight in many years (my last time in the air was back in 2000 when I went to Scandinavia). Things are much different now. But you would think that they would carpet the area where they make you take off your shoes. But nooo, there is nothing but cold tile. Definitely not foot-friendly.

We decided to take an earlier flight out of San Diego to get the ball rolling…and now we are sitting at Gate 77 at LAX waiting for our flight to Honolulu. Our first leg was fast and friendly. Brian and I were the emergency door handlers. I definitely think my leadership skills would have paid off had their been an emergency. Also, the fact that I’m buff also would have helped. Our flight attendant was totally hot too. She looked sort of like Kristin Davis (a.k.a. Charolotte from Sex in the City). I was going to ask for her number, but considering the fact that I’m a wuss and she’s from Utah, I don’t think it would have been a good idea. Besides, long distance relationships just don’t work…especially when they are with hot flight attendants.

More later….