Walmart, Canyons and Luaus

It is hard to believe that Monday is already done and gone. Our time here is going to be WAY too short!

We started out the day with me cooking breakfast at the condo. Once I found all the frying pans in the dishwasher, it was a very easy task as the kitchen is very well equipped. After eating, we headed back to the coconut market place. All of the shops were now open. We are on the hunt for a new wedding band for Darren as his is unsizeable (Tungsten) and he has lost a fair bit of weight, so now the ring kind of floats around on his finger. We are looking for something distinctly Hawaiian, but something that will suit Darren as well. Not an easy task.

One of the ladies at the marketplace suggested Walmart. So off we went, exploring. We eventually found it and had a look, but no luck for Darren. I walked out with 2 new pairs of shorts and a cute skirt ;-)

Instead of turning around and heading back, we headed off on the highway in the opposite direction as our condo. It's a beautiful highway. Everything on this Island is so GREEN. With the exception of the red clay earth of course. Wow, that stuff does NOT come off!

We made it to the first lookout for the Waimea Canyon. Maybe after our Snuba on Tuesday, we will head all the way up. I hear it's beautiful. If the first lookout is any indication, I know I won't be disappointed!

After heading back, and spending some time at the pool, off to the Smith's Family Luau. But first, we went on their river boat tour to the famous Fern Grotto. Before the hurricanes that hit Hawaii, apparently the walls of the caves were covered in ferns. Now, although there are plenty of ferns, it obviously is not what it once was. Due to the heavy rains in 1996, people are no longer able to go up into the caves. However, there's something to be said about hearing Elvis' Hawaiian Wedding Song sung up in this amazing place. Makes me want to do it all over again...ALMOST.

After the boat tour, it was off to the garden Luau. The grounds are beautiful, and I can see why many many couples decide to get married there. After a tour of the grounds, they opened up one of their pits. The smell was to die for! Cocktail hour followed and we were joined by another couple from Ohio who actually just got married Saturday. They were great company and seemed to have a lot in common.

Dinner was fantastic. The music was great. The company was wonderful and the show afterwords was beyond words. I can't imagine someone coming to Hawaii and not seeing that show. It was so purely Hawaiian. Pictures will come, I promise :-)

Tuesday will start with Snuba in the morning and hopefully a drive up to the canyon afterwards. I want this vacation to last forever.