Kaua’I to Oahu

Leaving Kaua’I today, and a bit sad to do so.  We came to like these accommodations, and the island in general.  We liked the apt up here in Princeville, and the diving down south in Poipu, and really enjoyed our two weeks here.

Our original plan would make today a trip to Oahu for our final week before heading back to the mainland.  Instead, we’ll be there for a week and then, as long as there’s no block on flying, we’ll head to Kona for a month in leiu of NC and then Europe.

We found the Kaua’i airport (LIH) a little bit hectic, and were a bit surprised at some changes in procedures, however informal. Our check-in bags were not weighed, and i was simply instructed to “put the bag over there with others going to HNL.” For the first time in our flights since December, neither my carry-on bag nor I were subject to additional screening; on every flight over these past months one or the other was always re-examined/scanned/patted down. Nonetheless, everything and everyone was calm, and the 30′ flight went smoothly, without delay, and with good cheer throughout the experience. In fact, there were 40 people on our flight, a plane capable of carrying about 120 passengers; plenty of room to stretch out.

Arrival in Oahu (HNL) found a relatively empty airport. At the baggage claim adjacent to ours was a planeful of folks from Boston–and there were only about 50 people there. Our luggage arrived quickly; we were the only people on the shuttle to Alamo, our checkout there was less than 5′, and we were on the road from the airport about an hour after take-off from Kaua’i.

The drive up the east coast of Oahu was pleasant enough, as we remembered it pretty well from the one time we’d done it in mid-January. We’re now staying at a place just a few miles south of the Polynesian Cultural Center, which is only about 9 miles east of where we stayed our first week of this Hawaiian adventure.

Our stop at the grocery store for some provisions was interesting, as anyone shopping these days can likely attest. No toilet paper, anything with alcohol (cleaning wipes, etc.) was gone, as were any cold remedy sorts of things. We were just looking for food, so none of this was an issue for us, but it certainly made clear the zeitgeist.

We made to our place, a lone high rise (9 floors) in this area. It’s nice enough, and will certainly be just fine for the (hopefully just) one week we’re here. We are really looking forward to a month in Kona, and hope nothing impedes those plans.

We found the Kaua’i airport (LIH) a little bit hectic, and were a bit surprised at some changes in procedures, however informal. Our check-in bags were not weighed, and i was simply instructed to “put the bag over there with others going to HNL.” For the first time in our flights since December, neither my carry-on bag nor I were subject to additional screening; on every flight over these past months one or the other was always re-examined/scanned/patted down. Nonetheless, everything and everyone was calm, and the 30′ flight went smoothly, without delay, and with good cheer throughout the experience. In fact, there were 40 people on our flight, a plane capable of carrying about 120 passengers; plenty of room to stretch out.

Arrival in Oahu (HNL) found a relatively empty airport. At the baggage claim adjacent to ours was a planeful of folks from Boston–and there were only about 50 people there. Our luggage arrived quickly; we were the only people on the shuttle to Alamo, our checkout there was less than 5′, and we were on the road from the airport about an hour after take-off from Kaua’i.

The drive up the east coast of Oahu was pleasant enough, as we remembered it pretty well from the one time we’d done it in mid-January. We’re now staying at a place just a few miles south of the Polynesian Cultural Center, which is only about 9 miles east of where we stayed our first week of this Hawaiian adventure.

Our stop at the grocery store for some provisions was interesting, as anyone shopping these days can likely attest. No toilet paper, anything with alcohol (cleaning wipes, etc.) was gone, as were any cold remedy sorts of things. We were just looking for food, so none of this was an issue for us, but it certainly made clear the zeitgeist.

We made to our place, a lone high rise (9 floors) in this area. It’s nice enough, and will certainly be just fine for the (hopefully just) one week we’re here. We are really looking forward to a month in Kona, and hope nothing impedes those plans.