Saturday was pretty great - we had to be at the airport around 5pm, so we had the whole day to enjoy ourselves!
We got up early and had a little room service - which was delicious! We checked out of the hotel, got in our trusty car, threw our bags in the trunk and we were off to the Bishop Museum for a last day activity!
Now I've wanted to see the museum ever since I started reading my guidebooks - each guidebook says the museum is one of the must-see attractions in Hawaii. It reminded me a lot of the Minnesota Science Museum combined with the NYC Natural History Museum AND it had a whole hall filled with Hawaiian and Polynesian culture information.
James and I went to see a planitarium show where we learned how to track the southren cross and the museum showed how a modern sea captain used aincent sailing tools (aka - using only the stars) to travel from the southren Polynesian countries to Hawaii. Then we walked through a black light tunnel with images done by local school kids on the walls - there are some good up and coming artists in Hawaii's schools!
We also saw a demonstration on lava! They had the demonstration in the "Hot Spot" or the lava center of the fake volcano that the science wing revolves around. No joke. They heated up lava to 2700 degrees F and we all watched it bubble over. It was a very informative and exciting demonstration! The above photo was of a blacklight path you have to walk through to get to the hot spot. The overhead lights in the hot spot are below - they looked so cool!
Then we toured the Hawaiian wing and were planning on going on a tour of aincent Hawaiian people and how they lived their day to day lives. We were the only ones who showed up for the tour. Which equals PRIVATE TOUR FOR RUTHIE AND JAMES. And get this - the guide's husband was from Minnesota... The world could not get any smaller. Really.
The museum also had a circus exhibit which talked about what it was like to be in a traveling circus and they even had a couple machines which acted like a faux circus act. (One hoisted you in the air and you got to flip around and get a feel for what it was like to fly on a trapeze, another had you walk a tight rope!)
The lines were long for both of these, but we had to get going... so I gave up my place in line and we headed off for the airport.
The lines were long for both of these, but we had to get going... so I gave up my place in line and we headed off for the airport.
After a surprisingly quick check in, security sweep and gate arrival we decided to just take a moment and chill out. James blogged. I got a salad and relaxed before the flight. Then after a bit of waiting, and eating far too many chocolate covered macadamia nuts, it was our turn to board the plane.
I almost cried when we got on the plane I was so sad to leave. This was one of the best vacations I've ever been on! But I like how James put it best. He told me "Ruthie, Hawaii is just a place. And our adventure is only beginning."
Here's to many more travel blogs, friends. Hope you all enjoyed reading about our activities, sillyness and fun in Hawaii!
Thanks for reading! Mahalo!
