That's a WRAP!!!

Well, we have been home for about 4 days.... MAN, we were jet lagged for daaaays!!! For the first couple nights we were home, we were awake until 4-5 in the morning (10-11pm Hawaii time) and slept until 2 pm. We got back to work tomorrow; we've been off work for almost a month. Ahhh... back to reality!!!

For this last entry we decided we're going give our readers the "Pros & Cons" of Hawaii. Basically, all the info we wish we knew before we went, but wouldn't have known unless we went! HA!!!

So, first and foremost - I would recommend EVERYONE visit Hawaii at least once in your life. It's beautiful, the weather is perfect, and it's part of the United States!! :)

When planning your trip, plan 1-2 days when you get home for jet-lag ESP if your returning to the east coast. Be very picky and selective about flight times.

Flights: Schedule a lay-over in LA. Traveling from Chicago to Honolulu in Coach is NOT recommended (especially if you are 8' tall like Matt!) :)

Visit Kaua'i at least once... yes, the roaster are obnoxious, but the lush jungle is quite a sight to see. The air is so fresh. The entire island has a small town/local feel. There isn't a strip of fancy hotels (like Waikiki). It is the most relaxing, laid-back island.

Go to Pearl Harbor (Oah'u). A) It's free B) The history behind it is quite a sight to see. We saw people from all over the world visit and it's so surreal.

If you are staying in Waikiki - renting a car is not really necessary. We were only there for 2 days before traveling to another island, so we didn't rent a car, but if we would have been there a week, we probably would not have either. Everything is close and there are streets and streets of shopping-site seeing. The bus is very inexpensive. We took the bus to Pearl Harbor-one way was less than $5 for both of us. In Waikiki there are trolley buses-they are color coded and depending where you are staying the trolleys are free. We stayed at the Outrigger-Waikiki West, we were on the Pink trolley and that route was free.

Waikiki/Diamond Head (Oah'u): Eat at surf-n-tacos. Small whole-in-the-wall Mexican place. Best food we ate our entire trip. Get the Spicy Salmon tacos...you will not be disappointed.

Stay in Kona on the big island. We stated on the East coast (Hilo) and drove 2 hrs (one-way) to Kona 3 days we were there. Hilo was very nice the house we stayed in was spectacular, but it's very suburbia - not every "tourist-y"

Go to Volcano Park. It's just cool. Hopefully the active volcano will soon for it's new tube and you'll be able to see the lava flows. Unfortunately for us, the lava tube collapsed about a month before we visited.


If you have any questions, you are more than welcome to contact Jenny (jenny.wesley2@gmail.com) and we'll be happy to answer any questions.  Mahalo!!