May 29,2026 - Marietta, GA to Hale Koa Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii
We got an early start with one Uber and one Lyft taking Ari, Robert, Lily, David, and I to the ATL Airport. We opted to stand in line for an agent to check us in to have the luggage fee waived for our extra luggage. TSA was about a 30 minute wait, which wasn't bad. We made a Starbucks order, Lily and I went to our gate to save seats, and the guys brought back our breakfast. We gobbled down our breakfast just as they were calling our Zone to board. We settled in, taking up most of row 36, and just as we were about to take off, the pilot announced that our "Black Box" was malfunctioning, a new one was on the way. Sigh... Oh well, we were delayed about 30 minutes, and finally started our 9 hr 9 min journey. David was the only one who managed to sleep, while the rest of us read or watched movies.
Gratefully, we gathered our luggage and walked outdoors. Just as we were walking to the curb, an Uber driver walked up, said his ride had cancelled, and offered to take all of us to the hotel for $64.00. The Hale Koa was as efficient as I recalled, and in no time, all six rooms were checked in!
While unpacking, David happened to notice a beautiful rainbow just off our balcony. What a fabulous welcome!
We met in the lobby to go to dinner at Happy and Fast before watching the beautiful fireworks courtesy of the Hilton Garden Hotel next door. The weather was perfect and we had such a fabulous time.
After the fireworks, I immediately went back to the room to shower and crash. I was so exhausted, probably because my body was on the Atlanta time zone which was 2:00 AM!!
May 30, 2026 - Grand Island Tour of Oahu
Another early morning wake up - 0500 - for our Grand Island Tour of Oahu. Everyone was on time, so the loading went smoothly. Six passengers in one van and 13 in the other. Our guide was Nevin, and he was delightful. Our first stop was Diamond Head.
We were busy taking pictures, and suddenly, Ari said that he didn't feel well. He walked back to the van, and just as he was about to get on, he collapsed. Robert helped him up, and he collapsed a second time. That's when 911 was called. Naturally, everyone was concerned. Once the ambulance arrived, the rest of our group continued on, and I stayed with Ari. The paramedics were awesome, and immediately began running tests on Ari. They felt certain that he was dehydrated, but strongly advised that we take him to the nearest emergency room, which was Straub Medical.
Every test imaginable was run on Ari, and after a liter of IV solution was administered, he began to feel better. Liver, kidney, heart, Covid, RSV, and flu tests all came back normal. So he was discharged at 10:30 AM and we took an Uber back to the Hale Koa. We walked around for a bit, ate an early lunch, and went by the PX to purchase a case of water!!! You can bet we'll be pushing water for everyone!! The grounds of the Hale Koa are so gorgeous and very well maintained. We saw an egret, mongoose, and a variety of birds. I've been researching the Hale Koa, which interpreted is, House of the Warrior.
Ari is resting while I do laundry, conveniently located on every floor. I will have to rely on stories and pictures from the rest of the group to complete today's entry!
The other 17 members LOVED the tour. They argued over who had THE BEST tour guide, Nevin or Roberto. Everyone raved about lunch and the variety of stops. Here are a few of their pictures:
We met for dinner at Bibas and had an amazing dinner. Poor Ari, tried to come to dinner, but had to return to his room before ordering anything. Robert and I took him some chicken, then picked up a Sprite and ice. I went to the PX and purchased the last bag of Epsom Salt to help his sore muscles from the fall. Many of our family members played cards, while others retired for the evening.
May 31, 2026 - Surf School and relaxing at the Hale Koa
Seven of our more adventuresome family members - Robin, Ashley, Beth, Jennifer, David, Lily, and Colin were picked up at 0820 hrs by Ohana Surf Project for Surf School. It was a glorious, sunny day, perfect for being outdoors. I decided to walk the beach and gorgeous Hale Koa grounds. Here are a few of my favorite pictures:
Ari and Robert met me for breakfast. We stopped first to get delicious Kona coffee and then went to Happy and Fast for a fabulous breakfast bowl. OMG - scrambled eggs with cheese, tater tots, and crispy bacon.
Lots of family went to the pool which was relaxing and fun. Others were relaxing on their balconies, taking naps, and enjoying some down time.
