Aloha Hawaii! Our 10 Day Cruise to Hawaii on the Disney Wonder, September 7, 2015 Trip Report completed 07/31/2016 - Page 14 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
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There are other changes as well.
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PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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Love the photos of the beach - we visited one on the southern side of the island on the day we spent on Big Island a couple of years ago and I was just fascinated by the look of it.
I so hear you about Hawai'i and Hawaii, especially as Word spent all its time correcting the first version to read Hawai'I, which was even worse!
It was overcast and drizzling, but it was still pretty cool.
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Originally Posted by Disneybine
Wonderful pictures! They make me want to jump onto the next plane to Hawaii!
We've been wanting to go back ever since we came back!
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Originally Posted by Ariel&Alice
What a great trip you are having! Love reading all about it, can't wait for more
Thanks! I'll try to have updates a little quicker
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Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
I had no idea that's where peridot came from! That's my birthstone.
I was surprised too! It's Titus's birthstone also. I'm sure people must comb through the sand looking for "gem quality" size bits.
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Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
Looks like a beautiful start to the tour even with the rainy day!
Very impressive rain coming up!
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Originally Posted by stardust190
Great pictures. Sorry it was rainy, but I'd still rather be in Hawaii.
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Originally Posted by MayraLR
Great start to your tour!
Thanks, more coming up!
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Hilo continues: Big Island Candy Company and Rainbow Falls
We loaded back onto the bus, ready for the next stop: Big Island Candy Company. I had only heard a little about this place. The only thing I knew for sure was that you could watch people making treats - totally up my alley
We drove by huge trees like this on Banyan Tree Drive. The driver said that they were planted by famous or important people. He mentioned Amelia Earhart, Cecil B. DeMille, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong. I wanted so badly to be able to walk around and look at the plaques with all the names, but sadly, we zoomed by them and I only got to snap a few blurry pics
The Wonder
This was another blurry "drive by". Liliuokalani Gardens - the Japanese Gardens. I knew we wouldn't have had the time to meander through these gardens, so I tried not to be disappointed. We were on the "dime tour".
Finally, after driving around a detour in the road, we made it to the shop. We were only given 30 minutes here. (Probably a good thing.) When we walked in, there were free samples of Kona (REAL, not "blend") for us to try - it is now my favorite. Smooth and hearty, but not bitter. I wish I had some now There were also samples everywhere of goodies. We learned quickly to not be shy about it - they disappeared in a hurry!
While everyone else was looking around, I watched these folks for a few minutes. They're making chocolate shortbread cookies.
Decisions, decisions...
It was hard to move around in there at times!
I wish I could've had a little of everything! There was so much to choose from, but it was all very expensive. I got something for us and a friend at home. I knew we were sort of at a tourist trap and although the chocolate was outstanding, I chose to be frugal.
Our next stop was pretty awesome: Rainbow Falls. If you've seen any of the waterfalls of Hawaii, I bet you've seen this one. It was raining pretty heavily at times, so I wasn't sure how it was going to work out. When we got off the ship, they gave us ponchos. I had brought ours with us, but we used the cute Disney ones When we arrived at Wailuku River State Park, there were lots of buses already there. The Hawaiian name for Rainbow Falls is Waianuenue ("rainbow seen in water") Don't worry, pronouncing it isn't hard. In Hawaiian, you just pronounce each vowel separately
The blur you see is the pouring down rain!
We walked up this staircase to get closer to the falls. Water was sluicing down it like another waterfall!
zoomed in
We could not keep our glasses dry!
There was another path through the trees, but no time to explore
Coming to Hawaii in September, we missed much of the flowering season but occasionally I could still find some.
Watch your step!
My photos don't show how tall the trees really were.
All the rain of course increased the size of the falls. Just standing there, you could try to appreciate the power of all that water.
A cheery little brook on the side.
We were pretty soaked everywhere we weren't covered. I was very impressed with Rainbow Falls (even though there was no rainbow, lol). It was pretty fun being out in the downpour and I loved how green everything was. This was another place I would've loved to explore, but we had to keep it moving. The ladies stayed on the bus and relaxed.
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What a beautiful waterfall. I'll bet it is really amazing in the sunshine. I feel your distress at trying to keep glasses dry. I always wear a visored cap or simply a visor when I'm out. I have some cheap ones I especially use in the rain. I'll put the visor on on top of the poncho hood. That keeps the hood in place and the rain off my glasses. It may look dorky, but it works.
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Hey guys, I noticed that I'm missing a few pics. (In case you were wondering why there are a few captions without pictures ) I'll fix the links tonight.
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Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
That was a lot of water pouring over the falls!
I can imagine the steps may have been a little treacherous, with all the rain.
I held onto the rails like my life depended on it!
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Originally Posted by jandsdennis
Beautiful pictures. Wow was it ever coming down on you guys.
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Originally Posted by kcamozzi67
Even in the rain, it is all so beautiful! I could use a little Hawaii right now lol!
Me too!
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Originally Posted by Pris
What a beautiful waterfall. I'll bet it is really amazing in the sunshine. I feel your distress at trying to keep glasses dry. I always wear a visored cap or simply a visor when I'm out. I have some cheap ones I especially use in the rain. I'll put the visor on on top of the poncho hood. That keeps the hood in place and the rain off my glasses. It may look dorky, but it works.
Great idea
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Originally Posted by xwewhisper
That rain was really coming down! The real downside is how brown it makes the waterfalls
Yeah, not exactly postcard perfect. I'll just have to go back someday when it's sunny lol.
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It was overcast and drizzling, but it was still pretty cool.
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There were also samples everywhere of goodies. We learned quickly to not be shy about it - they disappeared in a hurry!
We could not keep our glasses dry!
PassPorter Guide Author
) I'll fix the links tonight.
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