Flame lady in lua show.
Plantation at lua.
Stream at Coco Palms, can't you just picture Elvis getting married in the movie?
Steps in Coco Palms where Elvis sang.
Alan in front of Coco Palms, where the Elvis Presley movie, Blue Hawaii was filmed.
Waterfall used in Fantasy Island.
Movie tour bus that took us to movie locations.Day Three: Kauai-cloudy, 83’
We arrived in Nawiliwili, Kaua’i around 8am. Kaua’i is known as the Garden Isle and when you visit this island you understand why. Koke’s State Park is famous for its different shades of red and brown rock formations and has been dubbed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. This beautiful, arid landscape can be seen on the Journey to Waimea Canyon Tour or for those who are a little more adventurous, you can view this 3800-foot deep ravine that winds its way through the island on the Mountain Safari Adventure Tour. We drove there the last time we were here, it’s truly an inspiration. We took a hopper from Oahu and rented a car. I collected some red dirt to use to make a Red Dirt Shirt. They were quite popular in the stores. When we went through the airport security their scanner showed we had some dirt so we told them what we had. They thought it was hilarious what I was planning to do with the dirt and said, “you go for it girl”. This was 15 years ago. If there is an island to explore from the sky, it’s Kaua’i. With so much of the island being inaccessible by road, a helicopter flight is practically the only way to see this magnificent island. Be sure to take in the Waimea Canyon, breathtaking NaPali Coast, countless waterfalls and sheer natural beauty on the Mokihana Helicopter.
We scheduled a Movie Tour where we would visit places where movies had been filmed. Then we would go on a ride through a Kilohana Manor Plantation on their little train, finishing up with the Luau Kalamaku afterwards. We had a departure time around 9:15 in the morning so we had to gobble our breakfast fast. We decided to go to the Hukilau Cafe up on the pool deck thinking it would be quick but what a surprise we got…there weren’t even any trays! We had to carry our dishes one at a time to a table once we finally found one that didn’t have plates piled all over them. Seems the staff didn’t even care about clearing the tables. With this being the ship’s final voyage as the Pride of Aloha a lot of the staff were disgruntled about losing their jobs. I couldn’t even find a spoon to eat my cereal with so I ended up using a fork…good thing I opted for Cheerios. The coffee wasn’t too bad. Alan had some powdery scrambled eggs, sausage and potatoes that were barely edible. I had a banana to help fill me up, as it would be a long time till we ate lunch. There wasn’t any sweetener of any kind on the table or salt & pepper. It seemed like the restaurant staff at the buffet didn’t want to do anything. We heard there would be omelets made at different locations throughout the cruise…that seemed odd but that too ended up being misinformation. There were daily omelets outside at the grill but only one person making them and he had one burner so it naturally took forever. Several times when Alan stood in line for omelets the person standing behind him would leave after finding out Alan was getting one for me too. A person could go to the main dining room for breakfast but it would take a lot longer, usually two hours. We ended up eating all our morning meals in the Hukilau (Buffet) Café.
While reading the ‘Freestyle Daily’ I noticed an article on one of the specialty restaurants, Kahili. The Kahili is a feather-tipped staff, used to signify the arrival of Hawaiian royalty. Think of the Royal Flag-bearer from Medieval Europe. From a distance, you would hear the sound of the conch shell as the royal procession approached. Based upon what color Kahili bared, the people of Hawaii would know which royal family or type of royalty was arriving. Red and yellow Kahilis signified the arrival of the king and/or queen. If a chief or Alii was arriving from any of the Hawaiian Islands, the Kahili’s color would resemble the color that was chosen for each island. For example:
Big Island of Hawaii-Red
Maui-Pink
Kaho’olawe-Gray
Lanai-Orange
Molokai-Green
O’ahu-Yellow
Kauai-Purple
Ni’ihau-White
This restaurant is rich in history and heritage and not just from the miniature Kahilis adorning the room. Each picture on the walls hares the lifestyles of the Hawaiian people and the monarchs that once ruled the islands. Some of the pictures in the restaurant of importance are: Iolani Palace, the only palace on United States soil located on O’ahu and King David Kalakaua & Queen Lili’uokalani, the last two monarchs to rule the Hawaiian Kingdom.
After breakfast we grabbed the camera bag and headed on down to the place assigned to us where we would meet our tour group. Alan checked earlier at the shore excursion desk and they told him we could go down early. We boarded the van and were off to see where movies were filmed. Inside the front of the van by the driver was a video screen. Our guide, Kathy, would play parts of various movies as we passed the filming locations. She told us all kinds of interesting movie-shooting trivia. In the movie ‘Donavan’s Reef’ the director thought the location of a particular area needed palm trees so fake ones were put up. When we were home watching the movie we laughed when it got to the part in the where fake palm trees had been added. Kathy also told us how John Wayne and Lee Marvin weren’t really the best of friends like people thought they were and how some of the fighting scenes in ‘Donavan’s Reef’ were more real than viewers thought. She also told us that a lot of movies were filmed in Hawaii even though they were depicting another location such as like Viet Nam. The Jurassic Park movies were all filmed in Hawaii as well the latest King Kong movie. Besides visiting movie locations we also saw some fabulous waterfalls; one being the famous falls shown in the beginning of the ‘Fantasy Island’ TV show. The highlight of our tour was getting to visit the Coco Palms Resort where ‘Blue Hawaii’ was filmed starring Elvis Presley. Hurricane Iniki destroyed most of the resort in 1992. This was the worst hurricane in Hawaiian history with 140mph winds making it a category 4 hurricane and 6 people died in that storm. Kathy told us that the Historic Society is trying to pass a ruling to have it declared a historical site. They would like to have it turned into a Cultural Center. If that happens it may once again look like the elegant resort it once had been. The tour agency had to obtain special permission for us to visit and it was a truly special treat! When we returned home from Hawaii I had to buy the Blue Hawaii and DVD for our collection. Alan found a small souvenir for me while we were at the Coco Palms. A piece of the destroyed entry building was lying on the ground so he casually picked it up for me. Other places of interest we saw were: the beach where the SS Minnow from Gilligan’s Island was beached, the building used as the airport in 6 Days and 7 Nights, Kong Mountain used at the beginning of the Paramount Movie in Jurassic Park, and the meadows where dinosaurs are first seen in Jurassic Park. We even went through Hanalei where ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ lived. Other movie location titles included: ‘Lt. Robin Crusoe USN’, ‘Donavan’s Reef’, ‘Outbreak’, ‘South Pacific’, ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’, ‘Lord of the Flies’, ‘Uncommon Valor’, ‘Mighty Joe Young’, ‘The Time Machine’, ‘North’, and ‘The Wackiest Ship in the Army’. Did you know that ‘The Thornbirds’ was even filmed in Hawaii? We stopped for lunch and enjoyed sandwiches, chips, brownies and sodas. It was fun watching the chickens and birds flock around food guests would leave or give them. It was fun seeing the small baby chicks scurrying around their mothers. There was one particularly handsome rooster with brightly colored tail feathers making sure everyone knew that he was King of the roost. After lunch we were back in the van to finish our tour. We returned back to the ship just in time to board the big bus going to the plantation and luau.
It wasn’t far from the ship and once we arrived at the plantation we boarded the small train that chugged its way through the plantation. The guide explained what the various plants were and pointed out the animals such as: Clydesdales, goats, cows, pigs and yes chickens that we saw along the way. The plantation many grew different crops such as: pineapple, sugar cane, bamboo, taro, several kinds of citrus trees, and three different kinds of pine trees. Various produce was also grown. Workers lived right on the premises and a Produce Stand was in the process of being erected. At the luau we were seated in a large outside, circular tent. Outside the tent was an area where various native games were played. It was fun trying them out. One of the games was ulu maika (rolling stone disks this was fun and kind of like horseshoes). There were also venders selling handcrafts and jewelry but I didn’t buy anything this time.
We were seated at a large round table with a family of four and another couple. The family group was rude. We seemed to run into them often throughout the trip. Soon the conch shells were sounded and prayer said signifying the luau was beginning. Each table was called individually by their waiter to get in line where everyone piled their plates high with all kinds of native goodies such as: shredded pork, BBQ ribs, rice, fruit, and other delightful dishes…of course there was Poi too. A lot of people don’t like Poi but if eaten with the salty pork it helps to take the saltiness taste out of it. Most people who are not familiar with Poi try it plain and immediately take a disliking to it, which is understandable as it’s like eating paste. While waiting to be called we enjoyed eating a green salad and purple taro rolls. There was also an appetizer plate at our table with cheese and fruit on it. We enjoyed a nice dinner. The show was different than any we’d ever seen at a luau before. The story started out with Kalamaku, a child of the new land, who carried the fiery torch for one family's future. We enjoyed the story through song and the primal rhythm of Kauai. We were able to see the depths of the family's great effort as they sought the courage and vision that would carry them far over the horizon. It was during the time of epic voyages between Hawaii and Tahiti, along one of the longest sea roads of Polynesia, that the journey takes place. Through laughter, fear, seduction and fire, a new legacy was created, born from the cherished seeds of their ancestors. The theatrical luau culminated with a fantastic fire dream featuring fire poi balls and traditional fire knife dancing. In a climactic ending, Pele the fire goddess, her sister Hiiaka, Lohiau the prince of Kauai, and the fire breathing Moo-dragon women paid homage to Kauai’s mythology. It was quite the show!
Afterwards, I was given a braided stem token made by one of the workers as we waited to board our bus back to the ship. I wasn’t able to see much of the show as the people sitting in front of me made it difficult, though I would get a peek now and then between their heads. We got back to the ship around 9:00 and went to bed, as it had been a very full day for us. I noticed our room had been decorated for my birthday with balloons and banners by our cabin steward and she’d even made up a cute towel animal…it was her only attempt though so I don’t think she knew how to make anything different. At least she tried.
Talking about our cabin steward she was a jovial person, and so upbeat that we wondered if she might be on some kind of ‘happy pill like Prozac’. Diane always had a smile on her face and you could tell she was working hard for some extra big tips. In fact she told us how the staff doesn’t receive their tips and that the cruiseline kept them. We thought her story was kind of fishy so we went to the front desk and inquired about it. They assured us that the staff does in fact get their full percentage of tips. Since the cruiseline decided to automatically charge guests for gratuities on a daily basis we have noticed that the service is not as good. We tried to get the gratuities removed from our on board account but the staff at the Purser’s Desk refused. We were told only if we make a specific complaint showing they did something inadequate, then they might consider removing the gratuity for that day and that staff person would be reprimanded. We prefer doing our own tipping, that way if the person does an exceptional job we can give them more than the usual percentage. We also feel if we don’t receive the service we’re entitled to the staff person should not be compensated as much. The sharing of tips is not a good way to do business and it really should go back to each staff getting what they earn instead of sharing. Diane was always bubbly and helpful. She was going to the Pride of America, which is still a Hawaiian itinerary and American ship. The American staff refuses to go to an international ship due to having to work longer hours for the same pay plus they wouldn’t have a union. A lot of the staff is transferring to the Pride of America, some are staying with the Pride of Aloha, which go back to being the Norwegian Sky doing short cruises to the Bahamas. Since the ship was changed to the Norwegian Sky hardly anything was changed on it. The Hawaiian murals that were on the walls and even the atrium totem pole are still there. There is an additional specialty restaurant, a steakhouse called Cagney’s. If we ever end up taking a cruise on that ship again it will be interesting telling the other guests about the history of the ship and when it sailed in the Hawaiian Islands.
It had been a long day and we were both pretty tuckered out so we called it a day and soon Mr. Sandman was making a visit to us both.
We arrived in Nawiliwili, Kaua’i around 8am. Kaua’i is known as the Garden Isle and when you visit this island you understand why. Koke’s State Park is famous for its different shades of red and brown rock formations and has been dubbed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. This beautiful, arid landscape can be seen on the Journey to Waimea Canyon Tour or for those who are a little more adventurous, you can view this 3800-foot deep ravine that winds its way through the island on the Mountain Safari Adventure Tour. We drove there the last time we were here, it’s truly an inspiration. We took a hopper from Oahu and rented a car. I collected some red dirt to use to make a Red Dirt Shirt. They were quite popular in the stores. When we went through the airport security their scanner showed we had some dirt so we told them what we had. They thought it was hilarious what I was planning to do with the dirt and said, “you go for it girl”. This was 15 years ago. If there is an island to explore from the sky, it’s Kaua’i. With so much of the island being inaccessible by road, a helicopter flight is practically the only way to see this magnificent island. Be sure to take in the Waimea Canyon, breathtaking NaPali Coast, countless waterfalls and sheer natural beauty on the Mokihana Helicopter.
We scheduled a Movie Tour where we would visit places where movies had been filmed. Then we would go on a ride through a Kilohana Manor Plantation on their little train, finishing up with the Luau Kalamaku afterwards. We had a departure time around 9:15 in the morning so we had to gobble our breakfast fast. We decided to go to the Hukilau Cafe up on the pool deck thinking it would be quick but what a surprise we got…there weren’t even any trays! We had to carry our dishes one at a time to a table once we finally found one that didn’t have plates piled all over them. Seems the staff didn’t even care about clearing the tables. With this being the ship’s final voyage as the Pride of Aloha a lot of the staff were disgruntled about losing their jobs. I couldn’t even find a spoon to eat my cereal with so I ended up using a fork…good thing I opted for Cheerios. The coffee wasn’t too bad. Alan had some powdery scrambled eggs, sausage and potatoes that were barely edible. I had a banana to help fill me up, as it would be a long time till we ate lunch. There wasn’t any sweetener of any kind on the table or salt & pepper. It seemed like the restaurant staff at the buffet didn’t want to do anything. We heard there would be omelets made at different locations throughout the cruise…that seemed odd but that too ended up being misinformation. There were daily omelets outside at the grill but only one person making them and he had one burner so it naturally took forever. Several times when Alan stood in line for omelets the person standing behind him would leave after finding out Alan was getting one for me too. A person could go to the main dining room for breakfast but it would take a lot longer, usually two hours. We ended up eating all our morning meals in the Hukilau (Buffet) Café.
While reading the ‘Freestyle Daily’ I noticed an article on one of the specialty restaurants, Kahili. The Kahili is a feather-tipped staff, used to signify the arrival of Hawaiian royalty. Think of the Royal Flag-bearer from Medieval Europe. From a distance, you would hear the sound of the conch shell as the royal procession approached. Based upon what color Kahili bared, the people of Hawaii would know which royal family or type of royalty was arriving. Red and yellow Kahilis signified the arrival of the king and/or queen. If a chief or Alii was arriving from any of the Hawaiian Islands, the Kahili’s color would resemble the color that was chosen for each island. For example:
Big Island of Hawaii-Red
Maui-Pink
Kaho’olawe-Gray
Lanai-Orange
Molokai-Green
O’ahu-Yellow
Kauai-Purple
Ni’ihau-White
This restaurant is rich in history and heritage and not just from the miniature Kahilis adorning the room. Each picture on the walls hares the lifestyles of the Hawaiian people and the monarchs that once ruled the islands. Some of the pictures in the restaurant of importance are: Iolani Palace, the only palace on United States soil located on O’ahu and King David Kalakaua & Queen Lili’uokalani, the last two monarchs to rule the Hawaiian Kingdom.
After breakfast we grabbed the camera bag and headed on down to the place assigned to us where we would meet our tour group. Alan checked earlier at the shore excursion desk and they told him we could go down early. We boarded the van and were off to see where movies were filmed. Inside the front of the van by the driver was a video screen. Our guide, Kathy, would play parts of various movies as we passed the filming locations. She told us all kinds of interesting movie-shooting trivia. In the movie ‘Donavan’s Reef’ the director thought the location of a particular area needed palm trees so fake ones were put up. When we were home watching the movie we laughed when it got to the part in the where fake palm trees had been added. Kathy also told us how John Wayne and Lee Marvin weren’t really the best of friends like people thought they were and how some of the fighting scenes in ‘Donavan’s Reef’ were more real than viewers thought. She also told us that a lot of movies were filmed in Hawaii even though they were depicting another location such as like Viet Nam. The Jurassic Park movies were all filmed in Hawaii as well the latest King Kong movie. Besides visiting movie locations we also saw some fabulous waterfalls; one being the famous falls shown in the beginning of the ‘Fantasy Island’ TV show. The highlight of our tour was getting to visit the Coco Palms Resort where ‘Blue Hawaii’ was filmed starring Elvis Presley. Hurricane Iniki destroyed most of the resort in 1992. This was the worst hurricane in Hawaiian history with 140mph winds making it a category 4 hurricane and 6 people died in that storm. Kathy told us that the Historic Society is trying to pass a ruling to have it declared a historical site. They would like to have it turned into a Cultural Center. If that happens it may once again look like the elegant resort it once had been. The tour agency had to obtain special permission for us to visit and it was a truly special treat! When we returned home from Hawaii I had to buy the Blue Hawaii and DVD for our collection. Alan found a small souvenir for me while we were at the Coco Palms. A piece of the destroyed entry building was lying on the ground so he casually picked it up for me. Other places of interest we saw were: the beach where the SS Minnow from Gilligan’s Island was beached, the building used as the airport in 6 Days and 7 Nights, Kong Mountain used at the beginning of the Paramount Movie in Jurassic Park, and the meadows where dinosaurs are first seen in Jurassic Park. We even went through Hanalei where ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ lived. Other movie location titles included: ‘Lt. Robin Crusoe USN’, ‘Donavan’s Reef’, ‘Outbreak’, ‘South Pacific’, ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’, ‘Lord of the Flies’, ‘Uncommon Valor’, ‘Mighty Joe Young’, ‘The Time Machine’, ‘North’, and ‘The Wackiest Ship in the Army’. Did you know that ‘The Thornbirds’ was even filmed in Hawaii? We stopped for lunch and enjoyed sandwiches, chips, brownies and sodas. It was fun watching the chickens and birds flock around food guests would leave or give them. It was fun seeing the small baby chicks scurrying around their mothers. There was one particularly handsome rooster with brightly colored tail feathers making sure everyone knew that he was King of the roost. After lunch we were back in the van to finish our tour. We returned back to the ship just in time to board the big bus going to the plantation and luau.
It wasn’t far from the ship and once we arrived at the plantation we boarded the small train that chugged its way through the plantation. The guide explained what the various plants were and pointed out the animals such as: Clydesdales, goats, cows, pigs and yes chickens that we saw along the way. The plantation many grew different crops such as: pineapple, sugar cane, bamboo, taro, several kinds of citrus trees, and three different kinds of pine trees. Various produce was also grown. Workers lived right on the premises and a Produce Stand was in the process of being erected. At the luau we were seated in a large outside, circular tent. Outside the tent was an area where various native games were played. It was fun trying them out. One of the games was ulu maika (rolling stone disks this was fun and kind of like horseshoes). There were also venders selling handcrafts and jewelry but I didn’t buy anything this time.
We were seated at a large round table with a family of four and another couple. The family group was rude. We seemed to run into them often throughout the trip. Soon the conch shells were sounded and prayer said signifying the luau was beginning. Each table was called individually by their waiter to get in line where everyone piled their plates high with all kinds of native goodies such as: shredded pork, BBQ ribs, rice, fruit, and other delightful dishes…of course there was Poi too. A lot of people don’t like Poi but if eaten with the salty pork it helps to take the saltiness taste out of it. Most people who are not familiar with Poi try it plain and immediately take a disliking to it, which is understandable as it’s like eating paste. While waiting to be called we enjoyed eating a green salad and purple taro rolls. There was also an appetizer plate at our table with cheese and fruit on it. We enjoyed a nice dinner. The show was different than any we’d ever seen at a luau before. The story started out with Kalamaku, a child of the new land, who carried the fiery torch for one family's future. We enjoyed the story through song and the primal rhythm of Kauai. We were able to see the depths of the family's great effort as they sought the courage and vision that would carry them far over the horizon. It was during the time of epic voyages between Hawaii and Tahiti, along one of the longest sea roads of Polynesia, that the journey takes place. Through laughter, fear, seduction and fire, a new legacy was created, born from the cherished seeds of their ancestors. The theatrical luau culminated with a fantastic fire dream featuring fire poi balls and traditional fire knife dancing. In a climactic ending, Pele the fire goddess, her sister Hiiaka, Lohiau the prince of Kauai, and the fire breathing Moo-dragon women paid homage to Kauai’s mythology. It was quite the show!
Afterwards, I was given a braided stem token made by one of the workers as we waited to board our bus back to the ship. I wasn’t able to see much of the show as the people sitting in front of me made it difficult, though I would get a peek now and then between their heads. We got back to the ship around 9:00 and went to bed, as it had been a very full day for us. I noticed our room had been decorated for my birthday with balloons and banners by our cabin steward and she’d even made up a cute towel animal…it was her only attempt though so I don’t think she knew how to make anything different. At least she tried.
Talking about our cabin steward she was a jovial person, and so upbeat that we wondered if she might be on some kind of ‘happy pill like Prozac’. Diane always had a smile on her face and you could tell she was working hard for some extra big tips. In fact she told us how the staff doesn’t receive their tips and that the cruiseline kept them. We thought her story was kind of fishy so we went to the front desk and inquired about it. They assured us that the staff does in fact get their full percentage of tips. Since the cruiseline decided to automatically charge guests for gratuities on a daily basis we have noticed that the service is not as good. We tried to get the gratuities removed from our on board account but the staff at the Purser’s Desk refused. We were told only if we make a specific complaint showing they did something inadequate, then they might consider removing the gratuity for that day and that staff person would be reprimanded. We prefer doing our own tipping, that way if the person does an exceptional job we can give them more than the usual percentage. We also feel if we don’t receive the service we’re entitled to the staff person should not be compensated as much. The sharing of tips is not a good way to do business and it really should go back to each staff getting what they earn instead of sharing. Diane was always bubbly and helpful. She was going to the Pride of America, which is still a Hawaiian itinerary and American ship. The American staff refuses to go to an international ship due to having to work longer hours for the same pay plus they wouldn’t have a union. A lot of the staff is transferring to the Pride of America, some are staying with the Pride of Aloha, which go back to being the Norwegian Sky doing short cruises to the Bahamas. Since the ship was changed to the Norwegian Sky hardly anything was changed on it. The Hawaiian murals that were on the walls and even the atrium totem pole are still there. There is an additional specialty restaurant, a steakhouse called Cagney’s. If we ever end up taking a cruise on that ship again it will be interesting telling the other guests about the history of the ship and when it sailed in the Hawaiian Islands.
It had been a long day and we were both pretty tuckered out so we called it a day and soon Mr. Sandman was making a visit to us both.
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