Well, last time i wrote it was halloween and i was going to tell you all about how they celebrate it out here in Hawaii. After coming off the beach and freshening up a little, we decided to head towards down town honolulu for dinner. We must have hit rush hour (if it actually exists out here) because there seemed to be loads of people, but all heading in the completetly opposite direction to us.....ooops, we thought! We were a bit dubious but decided to stick with our plans any way. The more we walked the quieter it got, until we were almost the only 2 people around. 'So much for a wild halloween'. We'll have dinner and then headback towards the beach we thought - in search of some life. Its was at this point, as we entered a massive american style shopping mall that the stillness was broken. The shopping asisles were suddenly a mass of clour and activity as families, friends and people of all ages wore fancy dress and were trick or treating at the shop doorways. Clutching their pumpkin shaped buckets, there were children and adults alike queueing up outside Prada, Gucci, Jimmy Choo etc in hope of a yummy treat or 2..........absolute madness and pretty random! But it was such a fun and happy atmosphere and the outfits/costumes were amazing. Although it has to be said that the baby (in arms) dressed as winnie the pooh, the waddling nemo or the toddling pumpkin were definately amongst the best...or should i say cutest??? It beats halloween in england hands down! The streets back to the hotel were also just full of fancy dress. As it got later and later the crowd got older and the costumes slightly more risque. Whilst waiting to cross the road, an old drunken guy walked up to us, put his hands in his pocket (whislt wrapping his coat around himself tighter), gave us a toothless smile and said "do you like my costume?......im a flasher!!!!!" and with this he ripped open his coat, gave a little wiggle and walked away chuckling to himself. Luckily for us he was fully clothed...else that definately couldve been the scariest thing we'd see all night!

There were alot of sore heads the next day, and it appears even the local school had a 'waiver day' - any excues for a party i say!

More beach filled days and hours of exploration later and it was time for me and clare to meet up with my friend and her boyfriend who had ben staying on the big Island and were coming over (partly)for my birthday . There was a big televised volleyball match going on on the beach, it was pretty impressive, and full of many rather toned and bronzed male bodies from all over the world (there were women matches going on too, but sorry lads i cant tell you much about that coz my eyes were otherwise engaged); it was here that we had all arranged to meet up. Obviously so engaged in the sporting action, we totally missed each other and we must have been standing right next to one and other for about 10 minutes before realising it.

After all our hellos and holas, i noticed that my friends left hand was looking a little shineyer then usual....yes....her boyfriend had proposed to her in Hawaii......how romantic and exciting! It was now going to be double celebrations all round! And with that we headed for cocktails and food and the rest is history!

Although my friends had bought some good news, they also bought some bad weather. My birthday was a little wet and definately not beach weather, i think it must be the heaviest rain they've had in a while as the roads were flooding from the overnight rain and ceilings were trickling a little. But this didnt stop us from having fun and we just kept reminding ourselves that rain was known in Hawaii as a blessing, and that i was obviously being blessed lots on my special day! So, we decided to all go to Pearl Harbour and the Arizona museum, not quite a happy event but well worth the trip. It was pretty shocking and i hadnt realised exactly what had gone on or what pearl harbour was all about, but it has to be said that that trip was definately englightening and sure confirms my belief that travelling is the university of life! Wow!

The day ended a little wet too, so after a wee celebration with the happily engaged couple we headed home and sat chatting and watching TV in our room, which was decorated with my birthday cards and birthday banners - thanks dolly! You are a star ;-)

(oops.....I didnt tell you about our attempt to hula dance, but if you are one of the lucky ones we may give you a quick show ;-) Each dance tells a meanginfull story and is expressed using words and dance (not dissimmilar to makaton).....but be warned the song they sing with it is contagious....we've been singing it ever since!

Thats all for now folks. We have a few more trips planned for the days ahead, but soon we will be saying goodbye to Hawaii and jumping ahead 22 hours for our next stop Fiji!

Aloha for now, and Mahalo for reading ;-)

Until next time - Peace!