1st December, 2016. Our last days in Honolulu and return flight to Melbourne.

Our holiday is coming to an end and we are preparing to pack for an early rise in Friday morning for our Jetstar flight departing at 8.05am.  So we will have a 5.30am rise and depart at 6.15am, so all packing and clean up following dinner this evening.  We have enjoyed a wonderful 8 weeks with many highlights including the cruise, but the most enjoyable aspect has been catching up with several of our American friends.

But let us go back to yesterday and the unseasonal and inclement weather has impacted our time here at Hilton Grand Vacation Club at Hilton Hawaiian Village - Lagoon Tower.  It was a wild and windy morning with heavy showers rolling through Waikiki every 15-20 minutes.  Jeanette wanted to do some final shopping at Ala  Moana shopping  centre, which required us walking 15 minutes or catching the Waikiki Trolley (Pink Line) or taxi.  We decided to walk, and Ken closed our balcony door.  

The walk was pleasant in 25C degrees with the wind moderating somewhat between showers.  We got to the shopping centre, purchased a number of items and another Post Box to ship some items back to Melbourne, via post tomorrow.  As we were about to leave there was a full orchestra together with a Soprano and Tenor and 2 dancers who put on a concert for Christmas.  It was very enjoyable and about 200 people were stopped to listen and enjoy the concert from the Ala Moana centre stage.

Ken also picked up information to open an American Bank Account, which he will fill in tonight and return on Thursday morning.

But our return to Hawaiian Village resort was impeded by a severe storm of very heavy showers, so we decided to wait for it to pass before making our way out to the Shuttle Trolley stop adjacent to the car park in the lower level if the centre.

However, despite our best planning, we got a good soaking crossing the short distance under cover.  The Trolley doesn't have window shutters just plastic blinds but these are rolled up, so we do get wet.  The trip is no more than 5 minutes, we alight and have to walk 300 metres to the Grand Waikikian tower building in our resort.  In that short distance, we get another shower. We have enjoyed the morning.

Following lunch Ken rides the Pink Line Trolley around to T1, which whilst a shopping mall in Waikiki is also one where the various Trolley buses change and cross over.

Ken then catches the Red Line and goes for about an hour ride through the shopping and historical areas of Honolulu and Waikiki.  An enjoyable two hours on the Red and Pink Trolley routes, allows hm to see quite a deal more of the city.

He also inquires as to getting to the north of this island to see the rolling surf, turtle beach and a number of other attractions.  The concierge advises that it is a 3 hour public bus trip, a tour at cost of US$89 will take 5-6 hours or we could hire a car/ minibus.  Jeanette decided that is all too much for our last say with washing, ironing as well as posting the box and completing the new account process at the Bank, were more important.

Back here late afternoon and a walk around the lagoon, prior to dinner of steak and salad followed by apple pie and ice cream.

Jeanette was on her iPad doing Facebook messages, whilst Ken watched day 1  of the Australian PGA From Royal Pines RACV resort on the Gold Coast.  Bedtime at 10.45pm.

We woke and the grey clouds remain with threatening winds, too wild to have breakfast out on our balcony.  So we eat inside on the dining room table, but there continues to be significant shower activity. 

At 8.50am we decide to go back to Ala Moana Shopping Centre firstly to the Post Office to post our box, which we carry in our arms.  We subsequently find it is almost 14lb and costs US$108 to send home, but it is worth it because we are very close to our luggage limits.  Ken then goes to the bank and opens a new account with balance of US$200.  We complete our tasks then ambled about before aariving back at 11.45pm.

Following lunch a walk around the resort, taking some mire photos (the last fir thus trip), then complete our washing so that everything is clean.

The afternoon is relaxing and we get the cases out and place them in the bed in the second bedroom, continue to organise our gear, ready for our packing early this evening.

Ken checks with the luggage area, because we want our bags picked up at 5.45am and taxi available at that time.  We are assured of such. Jeanette wants a wake up call for tomorrow. Our chauffeur is picking us up in Melbourne and all our interim arrangements are completed.  

This has been another exceptional holiday, with many  wonderful moments and memories.  We are indeed blessed.

We do look forward to seeing our family and hopefully the work on the house gas progressed.