Dreaming of Hawaii. The Bucket List Got Longer!

So, here we are in London, loving everything the capital has to offer, but still, the dreams and the plans are with us and as strong as always. We’re slowly stashing away the travel bucks and getting ready to spend them next year, but where, where will we go next?

Deepest thanks to Suzanne of Boomeresque travel blog for sharing some of her images with us. Suzanne and her husband lived on the Hawaiian islands for 3 months this year. For more Hawaii posts visit her blog or find Boomeresque on Facebook. or Twitter.

The Indian sub continent is calling us, it has been for a long time, but a new destination has made it onto our travel wish-list, Hawaii. Not just Hawaii. A trans Pacific cruise with Hawaii as our final destination, yes, it’s true, a plan is forming. You already know how much we love cruising and how affordable it really is, but why Hawaii?

Why are we Dreaming of Hawaii?

Great Climate. Tropical temperatures with little seasonal variation at sea level keep the Hawaiian islands blissfully warm all year round. There can be snow on the highest peaks in winter.

Child Friendly. Keiki, children, are welcomed and accommodation and attractions are geared for families.  This is a great list of kids’ attractions on the islands.

Iron Man Friendly. My husband is an Iron Man, Kona is an Iron Man Mecca. He’s not training at the moment, a full event takes a year of preparation, but he wants to breath the air, swim in the sea and touch the tracks of Kona.

Dolphin and Whale Friendly. We’ve got a thing about marine mammals, nothing beats seeing them in the wild. We’ve experienced hump back whales off Australia and from cruise ships, seen blue whales in Sri Lanka and spotted dolphins many times. On the Hawaiian island they come in close to shore, I hear you can even swim with the dolphins.

A New Cuisine. Polynesians, whalers, diverse immigrants and missionaries contributed to Hawaiian cuisine. We want to try Kalua pig, lau lau and lomi salmon, I’ll have a Blue Hawaiian with mine please.

Diversity. Volcanoes, huge surf, history, local and WWII, high rises, rain-forests and ranch land. We want to see it all!

Grass skirts and hula dancing. Indie travellers with attitude may call it cheesy, but cheesy is fun, we want to go to a luau, a traditional feast with music and dance. Hawaiian men were barred by custom from eating with women, in 1819  King Kamehameha II did away with the old rules and luau parties were born.

Luckily, the nice people at Australian site,  My Holiday Centre have sent me this info graphic on how to Hula, the kids and I are in training. This wahine, however, refuses to wear coconuts!