Cruise to Hawai’i (with incidental motorcycle content)

[UberGoober]

Nice story Phil, I'm glad you had a good time.

Back in the early 90s, my first job as a merchant mariner was for a company called American Hawaii Cruises and I spent three months out there making a weekly cruise around all the islands. The route you took was pretty much the same as we did, but we anchored out at Kona and went to the dock in Maui. Our ship overnighted in Kauai, its sister overnighted in Maui.

Even though I spent most of my time sweating my ass off in the engine room, your story brings back some good memories. I think one of my first articles talks about the little dirtbike I owned out there and how I used to cruise around Honolulu on my Saturdays off. Later, when I was working for Sea-Land, I sailed in and out of Hawaii many times but after I quit the merchant marines I didn't go back for almost 20 years.

Then, last summer I got the chance to escort a group of Okinawan reporters to Honolulu. Like you I rented a Road King and cruised around on the one afternoon I had off. I liked the bike, too. I was really surprised at how well it handled and thought it was a pretty decent bike for cruising around on.

[mariposa]

Amazing Phil! Goooorrrgeous pictures and it sounds like a beautiful trip! How lucky you are!

[blurr]

Originally Posted by PhilB

The first stop was Hilo on the big island. Our tour group had a planned event there, and K and I went with. We visited Hawai’i's only working sheep farm, and then a vanilla orchid farm. This is what happens when you are travelling with 26 women who knit, and 4 husbands just tagging along. Nice rainbow in the evening.

You get caught in the sheep pen wearing waders?

[Builtgypsy]

Sounds like a lot of fun, especially the bit where it all starts to go wrong; you know you're on an adventure when something unexpected nearly bites you on the ass.

[Alawicious]

Originally Posted by Builtgypsy

Sounds like a lot of fun, especially the bit where it all starts to go wrong; you know you're on an adventure when something unexpected nearly bites you on the ass.

That's what makes it an adventure

Glad you had a great time Phil. Nice pics too