Fri 31 Oct 2025: Honolulu, Oahu, Chinatown - Day 15

Friday 31 October – Day 15

Bought Holo 1 day pass at ABC store good for 24hrs $2 + $7.50

10:20am WLine bus to airport. Chans are departing today to go back to Sydney.

11:10am arrive- go to terminal to see where we need to go. Ride Skytrain to bus transit centre.

Catch bus to Ross. Need to walk through shady neighbourhood full of homeless.

Ross - NC buys shoes. JT buys shoes for Ally and Poppy.

Walk to Chinatown from Ross.

Chinatown - buy char siu buns at bakery

2:10pm stuck on Bus 2 heading back to Waikiki - traffic 3 lanes closed - laying bitumen.

2:30pm off the bus just after RK.

Walk to Ross - JT buying carry on luggage $79.99

2:47pm - there is a long queue for the checkout.

3:00pm back at RK - have 1/2 steamed char siu and 1/2 baked char siu bau

4:10pm bus 8 to AMSC. Get off and walk to Walmart.

4:30pm Walmart - buy mini cereal, snacks, chocolates to take home. Walk to AMSC.

5:00pm AMSC. Kids trick or treating - so many people dressed up.

Foodcourt - NC buys tacos. I buy tapioca coconut $5:24

5:47pm at bus stop behind AMSC. Too tired to walk back. Catch bus 13 back to Kuhio

6:00pm back at Target - JT buys snacks. Walk through International Marketplace- kids trick or treating here too.

6:45pm back at RK. I stay back to have shower and pack. My feet have had it.

NC and JT go to Hilton Hawaiian to watch 7:45pm fireworks

7:45pm I watch fireworks from balcony.

8:00pm pretty much packed

Lying in bed

NC and JT buy Panda Express. Have panda express for dinner with 1/2char siu bau

Thu 30 Oct 2025: Honolulu, Oahu - Day 14

Thursday 30 October – Day 14

9:00am wake up

9:30am at IW. Walk to beach with KC

Buy Starbucks Gr Pink Gr strawberry acai lemonade

11:00am back to IW. Buy Signature 6oz Steak with rice and salad. Eat at IW

12:00 check out shops on Beach walk

Then go to check out Foodhall at Waikiki Plaza

Nope - head to Marugame for lunch - udon

Wed 29 Oct 2025: Honolulu, Oahu - Ala Moana Shopping - Day 13

Wednesday 29 October – Day 13

8:30am wake up

8:50am head over to IW

9:00am IW. Head down to beach with LC and KC

9:13am Starbucks. 1Gr pink drink $6.25, 1Gr Strawberry acai lemonade $6.25

$12.50 plus $0.56 tax = $13.06

9:22am on walkway to Rainbow beach

10:30am joined by NC and JT

11:00am walk back to IW

11:50am RHSC for brunch

Food court- buy clam chowder from Wicked Maine Lobster 🦞 in garlic bread bowl US$12:

LC and JT buy Panda Express LC - fried rice, orange chicken, mushrooms chicken. JT - eggplant, broccoli, chicken zucchini.

Joined later by MC and KC (ate leftovers)

Walk to Ross. NC goes to Target. Then to Nordstrom rack. Buy tops and bras.

1 ruffle top $13.48 - JT

2 pack bralet $24.97

1 DR ruffle top $26.97

1 Melrose & Market ruffle top $29.97

$95.39 plus tax $4.49 = $99.88

MC takes shopping back to IW. We go to AMSC via The Bus 13. Get off at back of AMSC.

Walk to Walmart. JT buys clothes for FT. KC Buy pineapple gummy’s, Tshirt for NC. I buy little satchel bags x 7 US $3:68 = $26.97

Walk to AMSC heading to Ross. I’m shopped out - go to Food court to sit - tired.

3:30pm buy Thai satay chicken with pickled salad (cucumber, red onion and capsicum) with peanut sauce. US$13.09 from Little Cafe Siam.

KC buys Chick-fil-a and Jollibee. Buy tapioca coconut $5:24 from Aloha Pho and Sugarcane.

5:15pm head back. Walk to Hilton lagoon- backside to catch sunset

Walk back via beach - watching the sky change.

6:30pm Back at IW. Drink, eat chips, bok choy and pickled cucumber.

8:30pm walk back to RK. Pack stuff to see if we have room.

9:00 shower

10:00 write up diary- bookkeeping

11:00 in bed

Tue 28 Oct 2025: Honolulu, Oahu - Shopping - Day 12

Tuesday 28 October – Day 12

8:00am up

8:30am walk to IW

Go to beach with KC. Buy Starbucks drink at Outrigger.

10:30am KC buy breakfast from Steak Shack - 2 x signature 6oz steak plate USD$16.85.

11:00am back at IW. Eat steak, rice and salad

12:00 walk to AMSC. 

Le Sportsac

It’s sugar

Target - KC buys Dr Pepper drink

Mahina - buy jewellery.

3x necklace - 2 @$17 and 1@$14

5 rings - 2 @$17, 1@$19, 1 @$14, 1 l $9 (silver) - US$129.84

KC buys top and Aloha sweater

Uniqlo - buy Tshirt $24.90 plus $1.17 = $26.07

Foodland - KC buys poke and seaweed salad.

3:00pm Food court - eat poke with seaweed salad

Pineapple lemonade $6.75 from Island Crepes and Lemonade

4:00pm Target - buy Mucinex $45.48 plus $2.14 = $47.62

Back to food court- NC buys Chic-fila

5:00pm walk back

5:50pm Rainbow Hilton beach for sunset

6:05pm back at IW

Eat broccoli, potatoes, rice, steak, salad. Malasada, pineapple.

Watch Dancing With the Stars

8:30pm walk back to RK

9:00pm shower, wash hair and clothes

10:00pm bed,

11:30pm sleep

Mon 27 Oct 2025: Honolulu, Oahu - Shopping - Day 11

Monday 27 October – Day 11

Kim leaves for Sydney- KC and LC go to airport with her

Wakeup 7:30am

Sleep in till 8:30am, LC and KC come to RK to use toilet

Head down to Maccas to buy breakfast. Breakfast: sausage & egg mcmuffin, hash brown and coke. Takeout to IW.

11:30am still in IW. Head out and down to Kalakua Ave

12:30pm Victoria Secret with KC - I buy bikini undies 5 for $30. $1.41 = $31.41

1:10pm Ross. Gravel flex shorts $10.99 plus $0.52 = $11.51

1:36pm Macy’s

2:53pm International Marketplace. Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, Banana Republic, etc

3:00pm walk to Royal Hawaiian food court. LC buy garlic shrimp platter $27 plus $1.22 $28.22, JT buys Panda Express vegies $ 13.82 and KC and I buy Poke Waikiki $20.99 plus $0.99 = $21.98

After early dinner we go to claim a free bag - plastic drawstring bag - using the receipts spent at the food court. MC and LC go back to unit.

We walk up street and then cut through Moana Surfrider to beach. Walk beach to statue.

5:00 Statue of Duke. Need to clean feet.

Walk through Hyatt Regency Farmers Market - buy coconut sago $6 and mango sticky rice $6

Buy malasadas - 2 plain and 1 pineapple 1 ube $10, (2 for $5)

Walk back- go into Aloha collection

5:30pm Walk through Outrigger to beach. Stay to watch sun set at 6pm

Walk back via surfboard lane and Royal Hawaiian.

Walk back to IW - check out Market at Beach walk.

Buy pineapple at ABC store

Up to unit to eat our goodies

8:30pm International Marketplace. Coco Nene - lots of wooden frames, cards, jigsaws etc, Target - they buy almonds, chips

9:00pm back to RK

10:40pm bed

Sun 26 Oct 2025: Honolulu, Oahu - Shopping - Day 10

Sunday 26 October – Day 10

7:30am Sleep in

8:30am up

9:00am KC and KY go to beach

9:30am head out to IW

10:00am Oops remember that I left kettle on stove. NC rushes back.

11:30am Denny’s for brunch.

I order 55+ Starter - 1 egg sunny side up, sausage, 2 slices toast. Also have 1 pancake of JT’s.

12:30pm head out to Don Q walk back way

1:14pm Don Q

2:20pm Walmart

3:30pm Ala Moana SC - centre stage

Meet back at 5pm for hula show

I go up to lvl 3 - It’s Sugar - huge candy store.

Walk to Gap, Old Navy, then Famous Footwear, then Ross - feet have had it

4:30pm Then back to center stage

5:00pm Hula show

5:30pm Food court. Buy Garlic shrimp and Coconut shrimp- comes with 2 scoops rice, shredded cabbage and Asian sauce each, plus sweet sour sauce for coconut shrimp. Also get strawberry lemonade.

7:00pm walk back to IW

7:30pm back at IW. Have grapes.

KC, KY and NC go down to buy Dole Whip. Bring it back up to us. 3 cups all heaped. Can’t finish it so freeze it.

8:30pm out to Royal Hawaiian Food court- Lobster 🦞 tacos 🌮

9:00pm Aloha sign and walk to International Marketplace. NC buys drink in Target

9:30pm back at RK.

Write up diary

Shower

Bed

Sat 25 Oct 2025: Kona to Honolulu, Oahu - Day 9

Saturday 25 October

Breakfast: wheat thins ham tomato cucumber lettuce. Chips

Finish packing

10am checkout. Fill up $22 before heading to airport

10:40am Drop JT and NC with luggage, drive around to rental car drop off. Wait for shuttle

Check in - need to go to guest services - self check in doesn’t work for us.

11:45am through security facial recognition and bag scan. Restroom and to Gate 9.

12:20pm waiting to board

12:48pm on board and about to fly

1:26pm landed 🛬

2:00pm taxi to time share. USD$64.55 - JT paid cash $70. Driver gave his card. Said to txt him for return to airport.

2:20pm arrive at Royal Kuhio (RK)

Need to call 2214 for reception office who buzz us in. Go up to level 22.

Several people before us. Room not ready but they give us the keys to rm 2210. Leave our bags in office. Head down and others (MC, LC, KC & KY) have come from shopping at Ross. Need to use toilet. Need room key fob to open. Toilets are on ground floor on other side.

3:00pm Head to Target. Check out food and clothing - might get eggos.

4:15pm back to RK to check room out. Bed is smaller. Shower is better but smaller.

4:40pm Early dinner USD$20.67 AUD$31.84 Marugame Udon.

Nikutama Udon $12.99

Shrimp tempura $2.29

Pineapple Sunrise $4.50

19.78 plus $0.89 tax

Each pay our own. All have a bowl. JT buys lrg and shares with NC who orders cold udon.

5:18 head back to RK and pick up their shopping and walk back to The Imperial.

5:50pm Head out to catch sunset on the beach. Walk through Outrigger.

6:00pm sunset

6:18pm ABC shop. JT buys milk

6:27pm Imperial club lounge to see sunset from balcony. Check out the pool - still the same

7:00pm Royal Hawaiian Centre- NC checking out shops

Quick look in Ross. But NC tired. So am I. I have a blister starting on my left toe - too much walking.

8:30pm back at RK. Unpack, shower and write up diary

9:00pm in bed.

Fri 24 Oct 2025: Chans head to Honolulu - Day 8

Friday 24 October - Day 8

8:00pm wake up

8:30pm walk over for breakfast

KC and KY finished swimming

Bake bagel bites for girls

Make wheat thins with ham, tomato, cucumber and lettuce

Move cold stuff into our unit.

LC is impatient

MC is fart arsing around - took rubbish out and walked back into wrong unit

10:00 am checkout. Load car. Drive them to airport - LC nagging- worried that they will be late.

10:50am drop off and drive to Ross

JT buys 2 tops - Hawaiian one fits me. Buy phone cable and loofah towels.

12:45pm Island Nature’s Market and Deli. Buy rambutan $8.99 /pd

1:00pm Old Navy - buy Tshirt and Disney sweater. NC buys on special Tshirts

1:51pm Pau Hana Poke, back of Costco - buy #1 $15.99 1 scoop rice, 1 scoop Shoyu poke, 2 sides, ocean salad (seaweed) and crab salad. NC and JT shared a #2 $20.99 2 scoop rice, 2 scoop poke, 2 sides

Then drive to Costco - NC buys calzone and 2 hotdogs, plus drink.

Then drive back to KTA - they go into KTA - NC buys drinks. I buy med shave ice with 3 flavours $7:50, watermelon, pineapple and lemon-lime.

Drive back to resort

3:10pm have late dinner. Have nap after dinner

5:00pm start packing

5:30pm head out to Walmart. Shop in walmart - just look no buy

7:00pm drive to old Kona Airport to check out Trunk and Treat food trucks - still full. Lots of food trucks and locals out and about.  There is a baseball game on as well in the park across from the food trucks.

7:30pm drive back. Have shower and wash hair. Pack

9:00pm dinner- rice with shoyu sushi, romaine lettuce, 1/3 hotdog. Rambutan

10:00pm post to FB

Thu 23 Oct 2025: Chasing waterfalls - Day 7

Thursday 23 October - Chasing waterfalls

Wake up at 7:30am - wash clothes

Hang clothes

8:30am walk over to have breakfast- eggos with ham, tomato, cucumber, cheese.

9:30am out the door- fill up petrol

Drive to Akaka Falls

11:40am Pay for entry $5 per person and parking $10, no cash - card only. Volunteers were manning the card machine. There is a circular route from the car park down and around to view the falls. Could park outside the car park along the road but it's a bit of a hike.

12:30pm Drive to Mana - pulled into the coconut/pineapple road stand - Pina Colada $20 each - 2 coconuts plus meat and pineapple with lime wedge. Sample sugar cane with passionfruit. Sat there and drank/ate the coconut and pineapple. Family owned business. 

1:00pm Not far from the falls is the town of Honomu - stop for shave ice cream- pineapple, passionfruit and guava. One street with shops. Thought we might have lunch here, but not a lot of options.

1:30pm Stop at the Hamakua store - smaller shop with coffee and nuts for sale. There is a miniature replica of the town of Honomu.

2:00pm Continue on to Rainbow Falls, Hilo. Big car park. Free parking and falls are close. No need to hike. 

2:50pm Back at Hilo. Genki Sushi for bento box lunch for JT and I. KC and KY buy poke and sashimi

KC, KY, JT and I eat in the car, parked in Panda Express car park. LC, MC and NC eat in panda express. After our late lunch we drive to the gardens.

4:00pm Liliulokalani Park - walk the gardens - check out the plants, japanese bridge, temple.

Drive to Coconut Island which is just around the corner. Walk across bridge to get to the island. Lots of kids swimming and families having picnics. 

5:30pm leave to head back, don't want to be driving in the dark.

Take Saddle Rd but at mile markers 25 and 26 there was a very serious crash and the road was closed both ways. Had to turn back and take the north road back the way we drove in the morning. Found out the next day that a family had been wiped out by a ute driven by a drunk driver who had previous offences, who was overtaking and caused the head on collision. Very sad. 

It was along drive back in the dark. 

8:40pm back at resort

Writing up diary

Dinner: 1/2 bento box with choy and extra rice. Rambutan

12:00 shower

Post FB

1:30am sleep 

Wed 22 Oct 2025: Kona Kailua Markets - Day 6

 WEDNESDAY 22 OCTOBER – Day 6 – Kona Kailua Markets

8:00am Pool and dip with KC and KY

9:00am Breakfast: Eggos x 2 with ham tomato cheese lettuce. After breakfast all but MC walks to the Big Island Market Ho’oulu Community Farmers Market down the road at the park in front of the Outrigger Kona next door. Take a look at all the stalls – there are some nice arty ones, but don’t’ buy anything. As we leave, buy icy poles – sugar cane lilikoi x 2 and pineapple x 2 – USD$14. JT buys star fruit from same stand at $1 each.

After markets, we drive to petrol station to fill up, then drive to Kona Kailua via Ali’I Drive to the library looking for parking. Park in library parking but it’s only for library patrons. Have a look at the library. Very small, like a branch library. While we look in library, JT and NC have checked out the markets and have bought mangosteen and rambutan. Decide to see if we can find parking elsewhere. Drive up Ali’I drive and follow a sign for P and end up at a parking lot which is free parking, but keep missing spots, so we wait in car, as KC, KY and NC go down to get their Dole whip. We finally get a spot, so park and head down. They are eating their dole whips.  A Norwegian ship is in port and there are lots of passengers ashore. Walk down Ali’I drive and look at shops, different without market stalls. Check out the markets as LC, MC and JT wait in Kona Inn out of the heat.

2:06pm Walk back up Ali’I Drive  - head to Courtyard by Marriott and Ululani’s Shave Ice. KC and KY buy 2 x Ulu USD$10:50 with passionfruit, pineapple and coconut – not very colourful but flavourful and one with leehing, tamarind and watermelon.

Walk back to car – drive to …

3:37pm Hamakua Macadameia Factory at Kawaihae – free nut tasting. End up buying some – onion flavour and a can pineapple flavour for Bindy

4:00pm Kawaihae MarketPlace to buy poke. Get 2 choice bowl USD$20.99. Get white rice, furikake, shoyu poke and wasabi pistachio with crab salad – share with NC. KC and KY have shoyu with kimchi tako (octopus) with cucumber/onion.

4:23pm Stop at Spencer Beach Park for poke – late lunch  very early dinner. Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic site is closed – can only see it from the path on the beach side.

5:23pm Stop at Petroglyphs Beach/Park for sunset – need to drive through a huge resort.  Watch sunset. Beach has white (coral) and black rocks. Make Kona sign. After sunset, go check out the Puako Petroglyphs Trail but only to the circle of petroglyphs as it is getting dark and we want to leave early to get back early.

However, on the Saddleback Road we pass 4 ambulances and lots of cars on the other side flashing their lights as us. Get halfway and police cars are blocking both sides of the road and an office informs us we need to turn around and find another route back to Kona.

6:45pm Costco – try filling up petrol – but digital card not scanning.  Go to Costco and they buy food  for dinner. I rest in car.

7:30pm Back at resort

8:30pm dinner:

Tue 21 Oct 2025: Hilo, Kilauea Volcano - Day 5

TUESDAY 21 OCTOBER – Day 5 – Hilo, Volcano

10:40am Head out the door

10:50am Fill up petrol – MC pays. On the road to Hilo via Saddle Road. Can see the scenery which we missed at night.

12:00noon – Piss stop at Mauna Kea Recreation Area. The drive takes us through changing landscapes – desert, mountains, funny earth mounds – up in the highest areas, the road seems to steam and it’s as if we are driving through clouds – very misty/foggy.

12:23pm – Stop at a hiking trail entrance to take photos of vegetation – pink flowers.

1:30pm Prince Kuhio Plaza – stop to buy lunch at Gengki Sushi – Garlic chicken bento boxes, but its over 30 min wait. NC and LC takes a walk across the car parks to Panda Express/Burger King – they end up buying burgers from burger king. KC and KY also takes a walk to other side to Starbucks and buys poke at Ellie’s Poke.

2:00pm We eat in the car parked in the parking lot.

3:00pm Entry is still unmanned. Stop at Volcano House for piss stop before heading on to the West Rim Crater Trail.

3:30pm First stop at Kilauea Iki (crater)

3:40pm Nahuka (Thurston Lava Tube) – Descend into a lush rain forest before we get tp a cave entrace – and walk through it – not as dark as I imagined – it is lit with red light and exit via stairs up to another trail which comes back out to where we entered. The cave was formed by molten lava flowing through it.

4:00pm Devastation Trail (0.8km round trip) and Eruption viewing area – walk to have a look. The end of devastation trail is to an overlook of the crater – very windy – can see people walking below. Eruption viewing trail goes through lots of holes – need to look out for not to fall in. but there isn’t a viewing area as such. Can see Volcano House in the distance.

5:30pm Kilauea Overlook – not a long hike – but it’s very windy. Take photos.

6:00pm Back at Volcano House – for piss stop.

7:00pm Back at Walmart, Hilo – others go down, while driver has a rest and then drive back via Saddle Rd

9:25pm Back at resort

10:00pm Dinner fried rice, orange chicken, potato, rest of bento box.

10:20pm write up diary.

Mon 20 Oct 2025: Kona - Hilo Sightseeing - Day 4

MONDAY 20 OCTOBER – Day 4 – Sightseeing

8:30am Breakfast: wheat thins ham, cucumber tomato.

9:45am Leave resort and fill up at gas station near Keauhou shopping.

10:00am On the road south – first stop, pull up at some random shopping center – Choice Mart groceries but most of the shops are closed at Captain Cook village. Next stop – Sacred Grounds Coffee Store, but had no idea where to park. It was on a steep dead end road so we continued on.

11:50am stopped at a scenic point – some random tour guide tells us about olivine crystals which are formed from lava flows – it is light olive-green colour. Olivine crystallizes from magma that is rich in magnesium and low in silica. Luck for us, he shows us what it looks like. Must not be mistaken for broken green glass which is also on the ground. There are quite a lot in the rocks. Manage to pick some up.

12:35pm Arrive at South Point Cliff Drive – the drive to the southern point is spectacular. Pass wind farm. Apparently, this spot is famous for cliff divers, however today there are only fishermen on the diving platforms. One of them manages to reel in a pretty big fish and becomes and instant celebrity.

1:40pm Stop and pull into Punalu’u Bake Shop. Decide to have lunch here. Buy assorted malasadas (og, chocolate, taro, apple, guava, passionfruit) at one counter. At another count, buy sandwiches, (pastrami swiss, BLT and other for KY). I get a large corn chowder soup, which comes with 2 bread rolls – the rolls are like the ones you get with the chilli crab at Chinese restaurant. JT had packed boiled potatos and dumplings which is eaten by LC, MC and JT. As we are having lunch, the rains came down. Thankfully it clears up when we continue our drive.

2:45pm Stop at another scenic point.

3:00pm Punalu’u Beach – a black sandy beach famous for sea turtles.  They aren’t on the beach but they are in the water. JT and I spy 2 playing in the surf near the rock edge.

3:51pm Stop for photos at the National Park sign. Continue driving to entry to the park. No one is at the gate (apparently due to U.S wide Government shutdowns – worker strike). No need to purchase a pass. So we just drive in. The Visitor Centre is closed – due to renovations. So we pull into Volcano House.

4:15pm Walk into Volcano House – toilet stop too. Consists of 2 shops and restaurants. Has a viewing area inside and outside. It’s pretty cool. Take photos from the viewing area of Kilauea smoke plumes. Eat malasadas in the car.

5:00pm At the steam vents. JT and MC remain in car.

6:00pm arrive into Hilo. Go to TJ Max shopping center. Walk around center – KC and KY buys stuff in TJ Max.

7:00pm Leave Hilo to drive back via Saddle road in dark. Cars speeding. Trying to keep up, but they go so fast.

8:30pm Stop at Panda Express in Kona – NC buys takeout.

9:10pm Back at resort. I shower and wash hair while dinner is prepped. Have rice crackers and malasadas. As driver, I don’t get to snack, so having my share now.

9:40pm Dinner: 3 min noodles with bok choy and egg. Chips with ceviche, Ube mochi.

11:30pm Bed.

Sun 19 Oct 2025: Kona Kailua Shopping - Day 3

SUNDAY 19 OCTOBER – Day 3 – Kona Kailua shopping

7:20am Wake up – no 1 & 2, but bit constipated. Back into bed typing up diary. JT still asleep.

9:00am Breakfast – wheat thins x 9, ham, tomato, cucumber, cheese, boiled egg.  NC and LC have already taken a walk next door to check out the Outrigger hotel’s facilities.

10:10am Do load of washing and hang up in Unit.

10:54am All but MC take a walk to Outrigger next door to explore. 

NC takes a sneaky swim in their pool.

11:45am Head out to Kona-Kailua.

12:40pm Ross Dress for Less – I buy 2 cooler bags, cable for iPhone. Also pay for others shopping as I am already in queue for checkout.

1:50pm In Target – KC buys drinks – gets me a Strawberry Acai Lemonade refresher. Take a look around, but don’t buy anything.

3:00pm Everyone feeling hungry now, so we decide on Panda Express for lunch. Kim gets sushi/ramen from next door. Buy 3 sets, share between 3. JT gets fried rice, broccoli beef and eggplant. KC and NC get fried rice, honey walnut shrimp and orange chicken.

Try looking for parking but end up in a paid parking lot – Kim pays for parking. Walk the street stalls. A stall has crystals stones and a bag of Pele’s hair.

5:00pm Dole whip

6:00pm Sunset

7:00pm Back at resort. Snack on Vegie chips and ube mochi while JT preps dinner.

8:00pm Dinner : slice pizza, Ahi tuna poke, Hawaiian octopus poke and salad.  Dessert: Pumpkin spice madeleine, Lilikoi banana bread, watermelon.

10:00pm Shower

10:30pm in bed journaling.

SAT 18 OCT 2025: Kona - Day 2

SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER – Day 2 – Kona

8:00am drive to Wyndham Preview Center with LC and KC – get LC $40 refund – she was talked into it by staff on check-in and didn’t know how to say No. When we got there, I just plainly said no, we weren’t interested – had other plans already.

Drive back to resort for breakfast. Stop at scenic point for photos. 

I have wheat thins with ham, tomato, cucumber & cheese. It’s fend for yourself.

10:30am Drive to Keauhou Farmers Market which is in the Keauhou Shopping parking lot – just around the corner from us. Buy Lilikoi (passionfruit) drink in mason jar USD$10. Buy sugarcane juice with lime USD$11 med. Buy ono ceviche USD$25 for 2. LC buys 4 paw paws for USD$5. It’s a small market.

Go onto Longs Drugstore – just look, no one buys anything.

Drive around to KTA grocery store – buy poke and sushi for dinner. Drive back to resort for lunch.

Drive to airport to pick Kim up with KC, JT and NC. LC and MC stay back at resort.

On drive back, stop at scenic point for photos. 

Back at resort have snacks.

3:30pm Walk to reception with JT and LC. It begins to rain. Need our umbrellas.  Checkin and assigned Unit 21.130 which is a block next door. It’s only an upstairs unit with 1 bedroom with ensuite, lounge, kitchen and toilet. Go to check it out, but because of rain, footpaths are flooded.  Need to take shoes off to wade through puddle and then go up to check it out. Ask Nathan to bring our stuff over when it’s not so wet.  JT and I will sleep in the unit.  NC will join on last day.  Have meals at Unit 123.

5:05pm Head out to Safeway. 5:30pm at Safeway – prices look good, but only if you are a member. Can’t join, so we drive to KTA in Kona-Kailua. JT buys tuna which she cuts up into steaks. 6:19pm Unfortunately poke station is closed, too late.

6:50pm Go to Panda Express. NC and KC buy takeout.

7:00pm Head back to resort.

7:30pm Back at resort – reheat rice. Cook tuna steaks and bok choy.

8:00pm Dinner – rice with Panda Express (fried rice, beef broccoli, orange chicken and noodles, chicken mushrooms zucchini, honey walnut shrimp) takeout, tuna steaks and bok choy.

9:00pm Have Ube butter mochi, pawpaw and watermelon.

10:30pm JT and I head back to Unit 130 to shower and bed.

Fri 17 Oct 2025: Sydney to Kona - Day 1

FRIDAY 17 OCTOBER – Day 1 – SYD to KONA - A very long day.

Flight to Kona, Hawaii – 14hr 57min (incl 4hr 43 transit in Honolulu)

Depart Sydney Fri 8:25pm QANTAS 9 hrs 2min

Arrive Honolulu Fri 8:50am

Depart Honolulu Fri 1:33pm Hawaiian Airways (49min flight)

Arrive Kona Fri 2:22pm

4:30pm JT, LC and MC walk to station and catch train to Central, change to Mascot, catch bus from Mascot to airport.

4:30pm MT, KC and NC take taxi to airport $61.43.  Was trying to use Cab charge from previous trip, but it wouldn’t go through. KC paid.

5:00pm Airport – waited for MC, LC and JT – they arrived shortly after.

Printed boarding passes and checked baggage – into US side. On self-checkin – staff checked passports and stamped back page for US entry. Luggage was not overweight.

Go through security x-ray – no need for liquids to be out, everything kept in bag.

Then go through passport gates – scan and face recognition.

Look at Duty Free – KC buys perfume. Then go to Maccas lounge. Fill up water bottle. KC buys Happy Meal for me – just the toy – get Jung Kook 😊. Have apple pie with fries.

Go to Gate 8 for boarding – need to check boarding pass and passport has sticker before boarding.

8:30pm on board and finally get my Bose noise reduction headphones connected via Bluetooth.

8:33pm Taxi to runway. Watching Lilo and Stitch.

10:05pm Dinner – braised angus beef, roast veggies and potato mash, herb garlic sea salt olive oil focaccia. Crème caramel. Coke.

Watch movies: How to make a million – Thai movie. Then follow that with Apple of my eye – Korean movie.

4:32am breakfast – potato frittata. Dozing on and off. Sore bum.

[5:47am Syd time/8:47am Hawaii time for arrival]

6:11am/8:11am Wikiwiki to Customs and Immigration. No lines. LC, JT and MC had to be fingerprinted. Collect baggage and make way to Terminal 1. Couldn’t do self-checkin. Had to ask for assistance. Finally get boarding passes printed but no assigned seats. Was directed to Security checkpoint B, as it was closest, but then told to go to Checkpoint A.

9:30am Hawaii time - Going through security checkpoint – Face recognition – then full body x-ray.

10:30am Gate 17A – waiting. Anxious about seating. Gate not open. Told we need to wait for gate to open and then ask.

KC buys Starbucks – strawberry acai lemonade refresher.

Boarding is at 1:00pm. When gates open, I go to gate and boarding passes have been printed with seats 27 E/F/G – the very last row of the plane – no window. KC is seated between 2 talkative men, LC and MC are in the middle somewhere?? So tired.

2:00pm Refreshments – POG juice

2:24pm Land in Kona. Get off the plane and walk on tarmac to terminal. Can still take photos.

2:48pm
Collect baggage.

3:00pm Go to shuttle stop to get shuttle to Avis – not very organised, a lot of stops, and shuttles get filled before they get to our stop. Eventually get on an Avis/Budget shuttle – takes us to the rental car area. Go into Avis Preferred office. There is a man before me – he bribes the staff with Krispy Kreme’s in the hopes that he will get some souped up car.  Wants a Mercedes, but they offer him a Mazda 5X. Asks for a white or silver car. Asks for another type of car – Mustang?  Taking up precious time. Couple after me are also antsy. Thought there would be a fist fight – man was rude, but said couple was rude. How rude, him thinking he was so entitled.

Finally get our keys to the Infiniti QX80 4WD USD$730.35 AUD$1140.61 and told to look for it. Net charges USD$10.36 – AUD$16.47.  Find it, it is huge – need to move it out to get luggage in. Drive straight to resort.

4:30pm – LC and MC check in to Holua Resort & Mauna Loa Village

5:00pm – Check out Unit 20.123 – 2 storey – bedrooms downstairs with ensuites, kitchen/lounge/bathroom upstairs.

5:30pm drive to Costco – shopping for staples – eggs, watermelon, sushi platter, romaine lettuce, cucumber, tomato,

6:30pm drive to Walmart – more staples – milk, ham, cheese

8:00pm back at resort

Dinner is tuna poke, aloha sushi platter from Costco with lettuce, cucumber and tomato.

KC is monitoring Hawaii Volcano – Kilauea Volcano is active – but after much consideration, we decide not to go. Not familiar with road, not sure where to go. Missed our chance. See Episode 35 on the screen.

For the one night, KC sleeps with LC and MC in master bedroom. JT and I sleep in the other bedroom. NC sleeps in pull out lounge.

10:10pm Bedtime