Aloha... now wait!

I am back to the place I love the most!

After a crazy summer full of events, I was able to book a flight to Hawaii for a few weeks. Naturally I had to plan this following my last big event of the year. But it is vacation all the same. I will be able to spend much needed time with my family, which I missed out on, over the summer of madness.

I would like to say our trip was without any issues, and for the most part... that would be correct. Our flights were fine. We flew from PDX to HNL, had a quick bite to eat before hopping on our inter-island flight. Unfortunately Hawaiian Airlines does not fly directly from PDX to KOA or ITO. So if we fly with them, we have to fly to HNL first.

Our kids enjoy flying and are well behaved on the plane as well. They know when is a time to be crazy, and when is not.. and clearly on a plane.. is not the time. We also plan as parents, meaning they have activities to do as well as their Kindles.

All was well tho, with flying. Once we landed, we booked it to the shuttle to get our rental car. We didnt have any checked baggage, so the process was fast. The shuttle arrived with in a few minutes and we were on our way!

Typically we do not book a car for the entire trip, but my parents were at the house and therefore they had primary real estate over the car. Even tho the minivan would fit us all, we enjoy our freedom. Additionally I had plans of my own. In particular a surprise Mother/Daughter date with my mom.

When the shuttle pulled into the rental car lot, we realized that perhaps all good things were about to come to an end. There was a large outdoor waiting area, FULL of luggage. People milling around in the hot sun, looking irritated.. this was certainly a bad sign.

I was slightly confused, tho there were not many rental cars in the lot, there certainly were rental cars. Either way, we needed a car to get to the other side of the island. The building, was one of those modular buildings. I step inside and the line snakes back and forth all the way to the door. There was a good 15-20 people in front of me. Possibly worse than the line.... the odor. Some people are unaware of deoderant. Yes, it was warm in there, but not warm enough to make it that stinky.

After about 30 minites, Phil said he was going next door to see if they have a car for us, as this was ridiculous. I insisted on staying in line. I booked our car through a Hawaiian site, which offers better deals. Needless to say, I was paying just under $200 for a SUV for nearly two weeks. Which is cheaper than most people get their compact cars for. I knew no matter what, I was not going to find a better deal.

Some would say that the reason there was a line was because of the deal. However, that is incorrect. I expected some wait, mainly because we flew in just two days after the IronMan competition was done. So that meant that there could very well be a shortage of cars. That also meant there would be a lot of people returning cars hopefully. In addition to all of that, a large banner on the wall that stated they had gotten a new computer system and were still learning the new system.

I can kind of see why there is a wait, but to this extend.. no. As the line slowly moved, and an hour had passed, those in front of me grew more frustrated. Typically I would join the party of impatience. But, I am in Hawaii. I am off work, and in the place I love the most. I am happy. Even if I am waiting in a stinky line for an hour. Besides.. negativity gets you no where.

After reaching the counter, the guy apologizes for the wait. I asked politely what the wait was all about and he informs me that they are oddly busy. Part of the reason I travel in the fall and after IronMan is because it is low season. Fewer tourists and better deals. But he had said that for whatever reason their tourism had peaked in the last few weeks. They are 2-3 times busier than usual, but with the new system, and not enough staff.. they just cant keep up. I asked if we were getting a car, and he assured me we would get one.

After the paper work, and discussing Oregon where he is originally from and hopefully moving back to in a few years... he told me we would be getting a minivan. Outside of our minivan at the house (which is old and fits in nice in Puna..) I hate minivans. I asked if we could trade it or do something else, because that was not what I wanted.. but I would take what he had for now. He told me once I got to the other side of island, I could trade it out for my contracted car if/when they have one. I felt like that was good enough for me.

I waited at the counter for another 10 minutes, before he handed me all my papers. At the bottom it showed the license plate, and he told me the keys would be in the car. So I scoot out feeling pleased that I was very likely one of his only nice customers that day.

Once we got out there, we then realized why everyone was standing outside. For one... people were waiting for their cars to arrive. When the previous renter dropped the car off, they were rushed for their inspection and cleaning and just as soon as they were brought into the parking lot.. someone would get in the car while running and leave with their rental.

Then you had the guy who finally got his rental after bitching endlessly in line.. to then give it a FULL body inspection, photographing everything, and video documenting it.. and then taking his form inside to make sure they know, that he knows the car is less than prestine. This often makes me wonder if these people have EVER rented a car before. In particular Hawaii. Or Mexico for that matter. I have never rented a car in grand condition. Nor have I ever documented the dings... and nor have I ever been billed for damage that was there previously.

Anyway... after nearly 2 hours since arriving at the car rental company, our minivan pulls in. We load it up quickly, walk around it to ensure the tires are inflated and we pull out. We had intended on going to Costco, but now that we had lost two hours, we just wanted to get across Saddle Rd and to the house.

If you havent been to Big Island, Saddle Rd is the "go to" road to get from the west side, to the east side. Previously, not too many years ago it was the "I am desperate and must take" road. But now since its been paved over nicely, it is the main route. You climb high in elevation, high enough that the road is occassionally closed in cooler times due to blizzard white outs. The weather is unforgiving up there, if its raining.. ITS RAINING. If it is windy.. IT IS WINDY!! So, this is not a place you want to drive at night, when you see rain clouds looming ahead.

Unfortunately, thanks to some incredibly slow drivers through Waikoloa, by the time we reached Saddle.. there was a drizzle and the sky was becoming darker. At one point, it was raining so hard, I actually considered pulling over due to visibility.

By the time we reached the top and were headed down, it was completely dark out. Even worse.. I begin to realize the brakes on ol Mini are crap. They are hot.. and I now need to nurse it and go really slow, to avoid break use. Being there were no cars behind me, this wasnt a problem. But I am not a "go slow" kind of person, I was also very anxious to get to the house. So I was in HELL driving slowly, behind some tow truck who's lights remained on the entire time.

Once we made it to Hilo, we decided we should eat... but none of us wanted to stop anywhere. We also never went to the store and had no idea what my mom had at the house. So... we stopped at McDonalds in Kea'au for their all day breakfast menu.

We arrived at the house around 7:30 pm. The rain had let up enough to make bringing luggage in easy. Per the usual, it was a perfect temp and delightfully muggy. All I wanted was a shower in that magical outdoor shower, with my delicious Filthy Farm Girl Chai of the Tiger soap.

Before I could shower... and despite it was dark... I had a few other things to do.

1. Go across the street and see Marcie and Jim. (Marcie was bedridden following her surgery placing about a bazillion screws in her broken ankle.. so I figured a break from Jim would be welcomed)

2. Walk around the property and take it all in. This may sound strange.. but I suppose it might like be the same to those who go on vacation and come home. They walk through their house looking around. Perhaps even appreciating it. Either way, this is home to me.. so I walk the property, to take it all in.

Just thinking about it, sort of washing this sense of happiness over me.

Now that I have seen my ohana across the street, taken in the property.. found that incredibly disgusting snail, which was REALLY large and creepy. I was ready for my shower, and a sleep. Mainly because I was ready for tomorrow!

This is what I wake up to! Ok, not that crappy minivan.. but the view from the lanai. It is my little place of perfection!