The Spirit of Aloha - 08.07.26
Today started off with Avery going to Urgent Care as he was having incredible ear pain. While he went to seek care with his parents, I made the most of my morning at the resort. I got myself an açai bowl for breakfast from Ulu Cafe and enjoyed it while lounging on a chair with a stunning view of the ocean. Of course, I was worried about my fiancé, but too many people traveling with him would have been a crowd and it was our last full day in paradise. When he came back, he informed us that he was diagnosed with a double ear infection in both his inner and outer ear, ouch. He toughed through it as we then headed out to the North Shore.
Unfortunately, our time was limited due to the unexpected healthcare emergency, but we squeezed in as much as possible. We used the Shaka Guide app along our way to point out various sites. We made a few short pit stops along the way for shopping, sightseeing, and shaved ice at Matsumoto’s. We then headed to Waimea Valley to hike to the Waimea Falls.
Waimea Valley is a breathtaking Wahi Pana (a storied and sacred place) where nature, culture, and history come together. There is something for everyone at the Valley from immersing yourself in living Hawaiian history, to wandering the gently paved 0.75-mile trail to the waterfall, to exploring the 60 themed botanical gardens, and enjoying the lush landscapes, flowing streams, and tranquil surroundings. It has also been used in multiple films and TV productions including The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Two Tickets to Paradise, and Same Time, Next Christmas.
While our time to explore was limited, we enjoyed our hike and swim in the iconic falls. From the Valley, we headed back to our resort as we had a lūʻau to return to. On the drive, we passed several beautiful beaches where we saw turtles laying in the sand and other well-known locations such as a military base and the Dole Plantation.
After miles and miles of traffic, we made it back to our resort. We rushed to get ready as the lūʻau check in was soon. The festivities started with pre-show demonstrations, including traditional arts such as flower arranging and paʻi ai taro pounding. We then had about 3 hours of exhilarating song, dance, and storytelling as we enjoyed delicious authentic island fare. The buffet-style dining featured sea salt-crusted prime rib, fresh local seafood and produce, decadent desserts and many other Hawaiian favorites. The lū‘au performance was an enchanting, breathtaking production that brought the legends and lore of ancient Hawaiʻi to life.
We had the perfect evening to end our last night in paradise together.
Comments