Hello,
I know it has been a long time since I wrote a blog. The semester just kind of got taken away from me plus it didn't help that I didn't have my computer for almost a month and a half. Jon's parents got us a tickets to go on a submersible scooter adventure as a graduation gift for me. We went the Saturday after Thanksgiving to Hawaii Kai. We got on a boat there and headed off shore for our excursion. As we got out to our location we spotted two Hawaiian monk seals. They were so cute and came right up to the boat. I have lots of pictures and video for you all.
The watersport company next to Island Watersports had this new toy. It is like a jetpack with water. It was pretty cool.
Here we are...ready for our adventure. We have had lots of fun over the last 3 1/2 years. I'll definitely miss these guys.
This is a view of Koko Head.
Here's a view out to the horizon. It was a beautiful day and the water was so blue and clear.
Just having some fun as usual. Tami can make all these faces and Jon tries to copy her. I have to say this was his best fishy face of the day.
On our way past one of the diving boats they told us that there were two Hawaiian monk seals in the water. They swam around the boat and were just having fun playing.
This is the view of the back of Diamond Head. On the other side is Waikiki and Honolulu.
We went on the upper deck to listen to the instructions of how to get into the scooter. Then we stayed up there until all four were put in the water.
We of course had to get another group shot. As you can tell it was really windy so my hair was crazy. We took another with Tami holding my hair down but I thought you all would get a kick out of this one.
Here's a better view of the submersible scooters. If any of you watch The Amazing Race, the last season the teams did a Road Block with these. They are really fun. They use some law of physics that prevents water from going in the bubble so the water only goes to your shoulders.
Since we were going to be the last group to go out Tami and Jon decided to go snorkeling after all the scooters were in the water. Here they are looking at me. Tami saw a turtle while she was out there.
I didn't go out because the water was kind of rough. Its not that I'm not a strong swimmer but its more the fact that when I go snorkeling I don't really swim because I'm enjoying looking at the things around me more. I probably would have gotten carried far away.
The company we went out with took pictures and video of us under the water so when the seals were close to the boat they went in and got some pictures of them under the water. Aren't they just so cute??
Finally it was our turn to go scoot around underwater. We only spent about 20 minutes in the scooters but it was so much fun. The little bag in front of the bubble has fish food so the fish will come up by your face so they can get some good pictures with you. I had several up by my face but of course that was before they came to take pictures of me.
Here's Tami scooting around.
And of course I couldn't forgot to put a picture of Jon.
Then they got several pictures of all three of us. Tami and Jon missed the message about doing the shaka or hang loose sign in the pictures so I'm the only one doing it in most of the pictures.
Now I have some videos for you.
This is the first video I took on our boat ride out to the middle of the ocean...well not quite the middle but off shore.
Here's the second video with the Hawaiian monk seals.
This video has the song "Better Together" by Jack Johnson which I thought was totally appropriate for the three of us.
This is the last video I shot. This is from when we were up on the top deck of the boat. It was really, really windy as you'll hear.
I have two more videos that they shot of us underwater but I'm having issues uploading them. I have them on my Facebook page if you would like to check them out there. Just click the links below to see them.
September 10, 2011 was officially named Hawaii Five-O Day in Hawaii. It was also the day that Season 2 was premiered on the beach in Waikiki. There were 10,000 people in attendance. It was the most packed we had ever seen Waikiki Beach. I got locked out of the apartment but luckily had my bus pass, credit card, I.D., elevator card and phone so I just headed to the beach to meet up with Tami and Jon. That day was not going the way I had planned so I just was not thrilled about anything even though this was something I was excited to get to do. It did turn out to be a great night except for having to spend $60 to get back in our apartment. Since I got locked out of the apartment I didn't have anything with me so all of the pictures are from Tami and Jon's camera. Hope you enjoy the pictures :)
Okay so this picture isn't any of ours. I got it from the CBS Hawaii Five-O Season 2 Beach Premiere website. As you can see there were lots of people. The VIP section is the biggest open section in front of the screen. The red carpet was on the water side of the screen. They had food and souvenir vendors along the street side. We were sitting a few hundred yards in front of the white umbrellas (in the middle).
Here's the view before they put the screen up.
And the screen is up.
Here's looking down Waikiki Beach away from all the action.
After we ate some dinner Jon, Tami and I walked over by the red carpet to see if we could see anything. Tami knew it would make me feel better if I'd be able to see some STARS!!! So this picture is looking at the VIP area in the back where all the STARS were walking through.
Lots of people. This is actually the area that I got my picture taken when I was here for Wisconsin Down Under team. Before I get to the pictures of the STARS I should tell you that I stood further down than Tami and Jon did. So I got to see the STARS before they did. But I'm sooooooooo glad I stood where I was because I was standing next to some crazies but their craziness is what brought the STARS so close to me.
So our first STAR spotting was Grace Park who plays Officier Kono Kalakaua.
The crazies I was standing next to weren't crazy enough so Grace didn't come over by us but that was totally okay because of what happens later.
Next was Terry O'Quinn. He is a new addition to the cast starting this season. You may recognize him from Lost.
The crazies called him down so we got upclose with him. One of the fans gave him the lei.
Next was "the man we all love to hate" as the MC put it, Mark Dacascos who plays Wo Fat.
Next up is our local boy, Taylor Wiley. The shirt he's wearing is actually the logo from his shave ice shop from the show. He's a big, funny guy.
Next is Daniel Dae Kim who plays Detective Chin Ho Kelly. We didn't get to see him upclose either. This picture was right after they had to fix his hair.
Okay now we're getting to the big guns. First was Scott Caan who plays Detective Sgt. Danny Williams.
I could see him being interviewed and the crazies kept interrupting him. The funniest thing I noticed was that he was wearing red and purple striped socks. Click here to watch the video of his interview from KGMB/KHNL.
This was the best picture I could get when he came over by the crazies.
Here's the first picture I got of Alex O'Loughlin. I was so excited to see him. He plays Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarret. Now by this time I only had one person standing in front of me whereas when I started out there were about 4 or 5 in front of me.
He also sat down for an interview which you can see here.
I was literally a foot away from him. It was pretty amazing. It definitely made my night much much better.
They also had the Aloha Kia Hamsters on the beach for when they cut to commercial breaks.
After Alex O'Loughlin had left our area we headed back to find our sits for the big show. Sunset on the Beach is put on every Saturday night and they show movies and such.
We were all ready for the show to start. After everyone had walked the red carpet they had several performances for the crowd. They had hula dancers and fire throwers. They also had a group that performed the Haka. The Haka is a warrior dance. The Mayor and Governor came up and pronounced that September 10, 2011 was Hawaii Five-O Day. Then the executive producers came up to recognize the actors and actresses of the show before the big premiere of episode 1 of season 2 began.
Here's a video of a hula dance to the Hawaii Five-O theme song.
Here's the video of the cast of Hawaii Five-O being recognized on stage. Enjoy our commentary and sorry about the screaming. This video is about 8 minutes long but I didn't want to cut anybody out.
I hope you enjoyed the pictures and videos. It was a great night and I can't wait to see the rest of season 2. The first episode of this season was amazing. Sending you warm wishes and aloha kisses.
Hola All,
Last spring 2 different travel companies started offering double decker bus tours around Honolulu. They come through downtown so we see them all the time and it really made us want to go on them. Then we can be tourists for the day. That is exactly what we did the Friday before classes started. Enjoy the pictures and video from our day on the big red bus.
Here's the three amigos...all ready to enjoy our last semester together.
This is the other double decker bus tour in Honolulu.
Then I had to take a picture of the bus we normally take. I have to say this day was all about the buses.
Now here's our bus...yay!!!! We were so excited and ready for a fun day.
We were all ready to go.
This is driving down Kuhio Ave in Waikiki.
This is heading towards the Ala Wai, a man-made waterway. Tami said that if it wasn't there we wouldn't have Waikiki and there would be way more mosquitoes.
Here we are heading down Ala Moana Blvd to Ward Warehouse.
One of the many murals on the buildings around Honolulu. Funny story about this building in particular because this is the building that we had storage in the first summer I was out here.
Here is the Blaisdell and it is where graduation will be held this December.
I added this picture for a very special reason. Dad and Katie, does this remind you of someone? I believe her name starts with an "S". Hehehehe.
Check out the pictures from blog and you'll figure it out.
Now we're heading to downtown on Beretania.
There's the building Tami and I live in.
Just down the street from where we live is Aloha Tower Marketplace.
We got out at Hilo Hattie and enjoyed some free juice before getting on another bus going back to Waikiki.
We got off downtown at this familiar place. We actually walked through the free museum that I skipped on my Historic Honolulu walk.
They have a courtroom there so I got to be the judge.
We're back on the bus and ready to go. We sat all the way in the back for the last part of the trip back to Waikiki.
The Waikiki skyline.
Going past the Honolulu Convention Center. It is just beautiful. After making it back to Waikiki we went and had lunch at Puka Dog before heading back home. Tami and I went back later that night and enjoyed the night loop on the bus. It was quite beautiful. We had lots of fun that day and it was a really great way to spend time before the semester starts. Enjoy this video from the big red bus!!
