There’s not a whole lot to say about our last day. We had a red eye flight, so we had a whole extra day. We decided to go see some of the nearby waterfalls, buy some souvenirs, and hang out at the Marriott pool. We hadn’t even SEEN the pool yet.
Back to Sweet Maries for our last breakfast. I wanted to burst into tears when we hugged Marie goodbye. I wanted to assure her that I’d be back, and soon, and I’ll come in for coffee every day.
I think we had beauty fatigue by this point because the waterfalls were, of course, gorgeous, but it felt like “yeah, they’re lovely. of course they are. EVERYthing is.” We went into Kapa’a to shop and I got some Japanese fabrics to take back. For lunch we had huli huli chicken, a local bbq specialty. There was a mother hen and chicks at our feet, greedily fighting over every scrap we tossed them. Yes, cruel lesson folks, chicken’s favorite food? chicken. My gals can clean an old soup carcass like pirhana.
I finally got a shave ice, which was yummy, but I forgot to get the kind with beans in the bottom. Then we just hung around in the pool for a while until it was time to go eat dinner and leave.
I’ve gone native by this point. I want to wear a plumeria bloom every day.
Opaeka’a Falls
Wailua Falls
Wailua River
A historical Hawaiian village that I couldn’t help imagine as the Hawaiian Punch Village at Sea World in Geauga Lake
Totally badass dude that rappels down that mountain wielding a chain saw to cut brush.
Abundant chickens at the Opaeka’a Falls stop
Old guy pulls up on a moped and the chickens go NUTS. he feeds them. As soon as he walks away, they jump up and start pulling bread out of the basket and dropping it down.
Wailua river
Sign in Kapa’a. The shop was abandoned. I didn’t check the liquor store
rooster that was hassling us for some shave ice
Kalapaki Beach Hut, home of our last meal, a damned fine burger and fries.
Delta Airlines did their level best to make our exit as unpleasant as our stay had been lovely. The very cranky desk agent told us our bag was 9 lbs over. it would cost $100 to ship it at that weight. We’d already paid the $25 ransom to have a bag at all (don’t even get me started). The groom had given us bottles of wine and removing those brought us back down to 50 lbs. So we could either stow the bottles in carry on and check another bag or leave the wine. Regretfully, after making sure we couldn’t just break one open now (open container law. bummer), we gave the bottles to some employees. Steve even gave one to the nasty gate lady. I wanted to crack it over her head (I realize these are not her policies, but she was just awful about it. and rude to other folks besides).
The flight was cramped and condensation dripped on Steve’s head. We got to LAX at 5 in the morning and hunkered down to wait for our Virgin Fight to Dulles. The actress that plays Meredith on “The Office” plugged her phone in next to us. and then was on our flight. Going from Delta to Virgin is much nicer than the other way around, feels like there’s room to stretch out. Ahhhh. Uneventful flight, and we landed in Dulles in a cold grey drizzle. Sigh.
We’re already plotting our return.
Squid Ink 
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October 14, 2013 at 9:45 pm
Tash
The pictures are Absolutely gorgeous. Too bad it costs $1.2 million to own a cardboard box to live in there, but I see why. Take me with you the next time around!
October 15, 2013 at 5:52 am
mazeway
Thing is, it doesn’t really. Fancy houses on the water are, in fact, a gazillion dollars. Very modest houses a mile from the water are not much more than houses here. You could be poor on a pretty middle class salary there. :O) other stuff–food and clothes and such–is a bit more than usual but less than I thought. They’ve been lying to us to keep us out.