Hawaii - The Sailing Canoe, The Octopus, Lava, Shave Ice, Snorkeling (16 DEC 2008)

This morning began with a traditional Polynesian chant (while facing all four corners of the earth) blessing us with wishes for a safe voyage. Granted, we weren't exactly enroute to Tahiti, Rapa Nui, Samoa, Tonga, or Aotearoa/New Zealand, but it was a marvelous experience to sail on a real (albeit relatively miniature) double-hulled Polynesian Sailing Canoe. We also had a chance to snorkel a nice coral reef along the way. Anyone booking Hawaii with Camilla in the future will be able to do this too - and we're working on even more Polynesian cultural experiences for you...

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Here is the Maoli/Maohi chant, the Canoe, and the snorkeling:



The Octopus:



The sea urchins:


Some sailing photos:


Landing da Canoe:



Next, our new Hawaiian friend kindly explains the meaning of his beautiful Polynesian tattoo:



A pretty little drive, sweet music, and more snorkeling - and a lucky little tiare:



Lots of hungry parrotfish (you can hear them eating - scratching/scraping sounds):



Beautiful flowers by the snorkeling reef - and a few friendly crabs!:



The afternoon found us in the middle of an incredible area home to a 200-year-old lava flow (this was what most Polynesian islands looked like before vegetation covered their slopes). Join us for some old Paumotu tunes as we cruise the landscape:



Finally, we wrap up the afternoon with a delicious little marlin sandwich and a shave ice (What's a Shave Ice? Have look, we'll show ya!):



The day ended with a home made 'plate lunch' consisting of a couple of kalua pork sandwiches, Hawaiian salad, and Steve's Signature mai-tais:


Warm Aloha,
Stephen & Camilla