Day 4 of Honeymoon: Lanai Dolphin Adventure, Luau (4 Pictures)
(Transcribed from entry written on Thursday, June 30th, 2005.)
COOL DAY! :) We got up around 5:30 a.m. to go on a dolphin snorkeling trip. IT WAS GREAT! We took a hard bottom raft to the island of Lanai.
At Lanai, we first stopped to see the dolphins. There were a MILLION of 'em! Ok, well only 300-400. :) And they were all swimming right by the boat--literally maybe 10 feet away! We saw them jump and blow water . . . it was just so damn neat!
This is a crappy pic, but it's the best I've got. We took mostly little short videos of the dolphins, so I don't have too many pics.
We couldn't swim with the dolphins for one reason: sex. See, dolphins are nocturnal, and during the day is when they get bi-zay. Dolphins, humans, and apes are the only creatures that have sex for pleasure, and when people started to swim with them, they would stop having sex (because you wouldn't want someone watching YOU, would ya? OK, well some of you probably would . . . ) Anyway, their population went down, so they don't allow you to do that anymore.
However, we stopped twice to snorkel. I am HOOKED on snorkeling!!!!! :) The first time we stopped it was at a place called "Sweetheart Rock" and our guide told us this story of two lovers that died there. Basically there was a Hawaiian princess who fell in love with a commoner, and her dad found out. The lovers used to make love in the caves that are under the rocks, and when dad found out, he sent his henchmen out looking for them. The henchmen were ordered to seal up the caves, and they sealed the princess inside! :( So when the tides came up . . . she drowned. Her lover found her, and buried her on the rock, and then jumped off to claim his own life. So there IS a Hawaiian "Romeo and Juliet" story. :) Anyway, Sweetheart Rock was a 40-50 foot deep snorkel spot (shallower in spots). I wish I had an underwater camera!!
The second snorkel spot was in a bay. It was a LOT shallower and it was pretty cool! We also ate lunch at this spot. This is me snorkeling naked . . .
OK, so i am not REALLY naked in this pic--it just looks like it because my pale skin, my light blue swimsuit, and the water all meshes together. :) Ya got me. :)
We stopped a second time on the way back to see the dolphins again. This time you could really get a feel for just HOW MANY there were. It was just INCREDIBLE! We also stopped to see a natural blowhole formed by the rock, and our guide brought us in close enough to get sprayed. :) He was a great guide!
After the dolphin adventure, we came back to the hotel to shower. Then we went BACK to Lahaina to check out "The Store of Hawaii": the Hilo Hattie (you see this place advertised EVERYWHERE). It WAS pretty neat, and we finished up our shopping in there! We also played "Glow Putt" (glow-in-the-dark putt putt golf). Cory and I won one game each, and we won a total of three little flashy thingys for sinking the last hole. :) After that we headed back to Ka'anapali for the luau.
The luau we picked to go to was at the Royal Lahaina Hotel just down the street from our hotel (KBH). We took a walking path along a golf course to get there. The luau itself was crowded, but we made friends with our tablemates--mostly vacationing anniversary couples. They were REALLY nice people! I also had a real Hawaiian pina colada and my first Blue Hawaiian! Mmmmmmmmmm. Open bar so we were all feeling friendly! LOL
Cory and me at the luau!
The food was typical luau stuff. The took a pig out of the oven (Imu) and we ate it (it's called kahlua pig). They also had fresh mahi-mahi, poi (ew), and other Hawaiian stuff. Good eating!
After the food was a NEAT NEAT show! Lots of fast-paced hula dancing, and a short fire show. It was GREAT! The dancers were all really young award-winners, and they were just FABULOUS! You could tell they had been dancing since they were probably in diapers.
Fire show!
Cory and I were both a little drunk on our way back down the dark and scary footpath to the hotel. I was freaked out, but Cory was also crackin' my ass up! He fell a little sideways, and I laughed at him and said "Where ya goin' honey?" and he says "I'm walkin' sidewards." :) LMAO--It was SOOOOOOOOO funny!!
[That was my favorite day in Hawaii!!] :)
~Love, Leah W.!!