Today was a hectic day. All courtesy of Russell. We've come to Oahu for, oh, 10 years or so and on every trip he's wanted to go to the "Swap Meet" (Flea Market) at the Aloha Stadium. For 10 years, I've managed to say "No" and prevent it. This year...I was outgunned. Russ, Mom Lisa, Mom Edna, Dad Garry, Boytoy Garry simply "because." So....to the flea market we went.
Imagine a football stadium. Imagine the parking lot that circles the stadium. Imagine three concentric rings of tents circling that stadium. Three rings! Of tents. All selling essentially the same junk! <sigh>
But everyone had a good time. Everyone (yes, including Damian) found a couple of things they liked. Damian found a silly lei to go around his new silly hat (to protect his silly, bald head), and a fabulous multicolored sarong (traditional souvenir). The others found necklaces, material, toys, yard signs, shirts, board shorts, and other minutia.
Sadly, about 1/3 of the way through, Damian felt a migraine coming on, so he took a couple of Advil and camped out under a tree to let it pass.
Finally, everyone had had their fill of treasure hunting and it was back on the road to the next stop!
Off to the Punch Bowl which is sort of a military-type cemetary / memorial inside the crater of one of the island's extinct volcanoes. Very serene.
Still nursing his headache, Damian didn't get out to walk around the park; instead he sat in the car in the shade under a tree to nap. A car pulled in front and unloaded and a group of Hawaiians cleaned up a nearby gravesite and started a little remembrance ceremony of their own. It was sweet and touching.
Finally we all reassembled and it was on to the top of the Tantalus Drive. Several hair-pin turns gave Russ a chance to lean out the passenger-side window and take pictures of Mom and Dad on their "hawg" dealing with the curves.
Atop Tantalus, we just enjoyed the view of Waikiki, the island, the ocean, and being with each other...
Then, after a nice time we headed back to Waikiki and the room. Russ made horribly delicious nachos as a snack (which turned into our meal). Dad Garry crashed into a nap (it's a lot of work hauling that Harley around the curves and hills of Tantalus). The Three of We went for a swim in the bay. The two Moms went down to International Market where they bought some turquoise jewelry and souvenir T-shirts!
We then reassembled in time to hit sunset! Do you even need to guess.....
And then they day was done....
...well... except for the trip to the hot-tub. Then coffee and dessert. Then talking and chatting. Then pictures....
But finally the day really was done and we dropped into our beds in preparation for the next day. Gonna be a busy one...
ALOHA!
