Hawaii, Day 5

Day 5: Wednesday, May 7, 2014

We stayed all day at Aulani. This part of the island is totally a different ecosystem than the North Shore. It is much dryer, the mountains are brown and not lush covered, and even the air has less humidity. 

We started the day early by going to Sunrise Yoga on the beach at 7 am. The beginning and the end of the class were great but the middle part got a little to advanced for a total novice. It was still fun and an energizing way to start the day.

After the hour yoga class, I went and got a wrist band for the pool. Each day you have to get a new color wrist band which is Aulani's way of making sure only guest of the resort use the pool. There are 3 different hotels and a whole community of condos that share Ko'Olina and they are all surprisingly close together. 

We spent ALL day, from 8 AM to 5 PM at the pool and beach. Les and I took a hula class during the 11 o'clock hour while the rest of the Dawsons went snorkeling at Rainbow Reef. I got a shave ice (for $3.75!!) and it was easily the worst one I have ever had, and I've had a lot in my life!! Maybe it's b/c I was so looking forward to shave ice and we just had Mosumotos a few days ago, but this was the same price as them but the quality so different. All the food here is super expensive and it is so easy to just go across the street for much better prices.

We all showered and the walked across the street for dinner at Island Market (an ABC Store) where they have souvenirs, groceries, a deli, and a grill. It was very delicious and interesting; we'll go back. There was a whole bunch of restaurants, cafés, and shops. It is the perfect spot for retail to service all theses guests of the 3 resorts and all the condos.

We came back to the hotel and listened to a Hawaiian storyteller around a fire pit. I love listening to stories. The Ancient Hawaiians had an oral tradition and language so storytelling, song, and hula were ways that they recorded/passed down their history. 

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