So, I should be there sometime in October. The Mini? Well, that might take longer, but it'll get there.

I have not told the wife yet. I have been hitting the sights here, and will get a few more before leaving. I'll be able to see MTTS in Boston en route.

Wish me luck!

 

WooHoo! Lucky Kristen even if she doesn't know!

 

My deception plan seems to be working -- she announced last night that she thinks it's Washington, DC.

 

Won't the clothes you pack give things away????

You know, swim stuff and snorkeling gear, flip flop slippers and underwater camera?

OK from your list-
10 places to go in Oahu

April 21, 2008 by surprisekristin 10. Pearl Harbor. Do not tell me that you want to go there and “get bombed” or I will disown you.
9. Kualoa Regional Park, where they filmed Jurassic Park
8. The top of Mount Ka‘ala
7. The Polynesian Cultural Center
6. California Pizza Kitchen. What? A man’s gotta eat!
5. Waimea Bay, home of some seriously big surf..
4. The Toilet Bowl. What, you think I’m making this up? No, we’re not going in the Toilet Bowl — get your mind out of them, um, toilet.
3. Diamond Head. Just ’cause.
2. The North Shore.
And the #1 place we should go in Hawaii? Waikiki, baby, Waikiki!


In reverse order-
1- Yeah, Take some surfing lessons or go out for some paddling or dinner catamaran cruise. Don't forget Kristin.

2- Excellent. In the winter the surf can be 30+ feet. Don't forget to stop by Matsumoto's store for shaved Ice.

3- Excellent for a good hike and nice view of Waikiki and Kapiolani Park, bring your camera and some water. Wear comfortable shoes and come early for good parking.

4- OK, but don't fall in, even if you have toilet paper in one hand.

5- Nice beach, some big waves but in the summer you can go early for best parking (notice a trend?) and go to the extreme left side for some snorkeling past the rock that people jump off of.

6- CPK? They're all over the place but Kahala Mall and Pearlridge are worth the wait.

7- PCC, great stop, spend the day. Check out the shrimp trucks if you can in Kahuku. Spicy Garlic Shrimp is too good to pass up.

8- Never got there myself- I lack the necessary keys and security clearance. But you could drive over Kolekole pass through Schofield Army base near Wahiawa if you get someone with military connections to get you on base, It's a nice drive from Wahiawa down to the Waianae side of the mountain range.

9- Good for swimming and next door at Kuuloa Ranch you can go horseback riding or ATV driving.

10- Don't forget the museum and show then ride the small boat out to the memorial. While you are there don't pass up the sub museum and the USS Missouri on Ford Island. There is a new aviation museum as well.



More stuff-
Snorkeling at Shark's cove or Haunama Bay.
Swim or kayak (rental) off of Kailua Beach
Jet ski out of Haleiwa on the Northshore
Drive around the Island- well sort of, no road goes all the way around
Drive up tantalus in Makiki for a view of Honolulu from the park at the top.
Visit Punchbowl National cemetery and go up to the view area overlooking downtown.
Drive up to the Pali Lookout for a view of Kailua and Kaneohe.
Drive over the H3 highway for a scenic view of the mountains and windward side of the island
Take a helicopter ride from the airport over to the windward side and back.

 

OK, folks. Need some more help.

Need to ship my beloved R53.

Anyone have a favorite firm for shipping Minis to HI?

 

Not really.

I've used Matson before. I think the dealership uses them to ship to the west coast.

Some companies advertise they use containers.

Take your pick. Check with the Better Business Bureau for any complaints.

 

I went through Verizon Lines, and they did a pretty good job. Its closed container and it arrived with no damage for $1000.

The only gripe was that the battery was dead on arrival, but I dont see how they could have caused that. Also I shipped 2 cars, and 1 showed up a week late, which I've heard can happen with any shipping company. The first car arrived in 10 days, and the second arrived in 15.

Just make sure you ship from Long Beach (or wherever) with less than 1/3 tank of gas. They are ***** about that, and it costs $10 to siphon and they keep the gas... plus its a 20 minute drive to find a station to do that.

 

Looks like I'll be shipping it out of Atlanta early next week. Thanks for all of the ideas -- I just ran out of time when my schedule got crunched and I suddenly lost the time needed to get from here to LA / Long Beach. too bad, too -- I was really looking forward to that drive. Would have been awesome.

I drop a note when I make it to the island. They do have beer there, right?

 

Have a safe trip.

 

Abu, per my daughter her boyfriend and his other crew mates find plenty of beer to drink.

Although, I'm sure your used to the finest of German beer.

Where are you going to be on Oahu? I presume Oahu, hope I'm right.

My daughter is in a Graduate program at UH, her boyfriend is a Black Hawk crew chief.

Lots of MINIs in the area.

 

Lots of minis, but not so many waves.... I got way more waves in KC.

Make sure and pay attention to the way you park, drive, and even walk. In a month I got 4 parking tickets, mini towed, a speeding ticket, and a jaywalking ticket. I had NONE in the last 5 years previously... Cops here are ******! Not much crime so they are stuck on "construction" and "jaywalking" duty.

 

I'll be stopping by Oahu long enough to grad a rifle and some gear, and then it's off to another tour in Iraq. I suppose I'll need to snoop around NAM some -- have not seen a badge for "Mini Owners in Iraq" yet. Won't be bad -- I'm not a door kicker, and if I fire a single round during the year, I'll be a failure on about 37 different levels.

Wife found a place already with a two car -- a massive step up from the German one I had that had room for the Mini but not even enough room to open the door all the way. Passengers? They had to wait until the car was out, or be very small and very skilled and sneak in the driver's door. No wild about parking her for a year, but hey, it'll give me a year to shop for parts and mods for when I got back. I had a good laugh when Loesches got back and immediately dropped on new ginormous rims and JCW brakes. And then his wife ordered a JCW Clubman!

 

Hey Abuvazi I just ran accross Killboys blog and I can't help but wonder if this is your MINI in the picture..

 

Oh. absolutely. I was up at the Dragon this past weekend with some of the kids from NAM and the Tar Heels club (details are here). Great, great weekend -- really flogged my car! Came back to GA and then put Tess on a boat to Hawaii. She and I should be there in a little over a month.

 

Wow! we must have just missed you, I was up there on Sunday doing a little scouting for MOTD 2009.
My trip wasn't as pleasant, I had the misfortune of having a black bear run into my MINI about a
mile from the end of the Dragon.

Well I hope you have a good and safe trip to Hawaii.

 

I saw the photos -- pretty funny.

You going to put a little sticker of a bear up on the quarter panel, fighter-aircraft style?

 

That would be a great idea. Now all I have to do is find a good sticker to put on there.

 

Well, I made it. Got in last night. I pick up the car on Tuesday. On Tuesday, even before going to the office.

So, any good drives around here?

 

You should come out to our coffee gathering next Sunday (@Starbucks near Home Depot in Kapolei). http://hawaiiminiclub.org/wordpress/ (the address and directions are on the link)

 

Aloha and welcome.

Where are you living?

Some drives-
Around diamond head along the coast- stop for scenic spots near the lighthouse.
Around Makapu from Hawaii Kai to Waimanalo
Around the Northshore along the coast from Haleiwa to Kaneohe or the opposite way around.
Up Tantalus/Round top drive with view at Park on top
Around the Waianae coast from Kapolei (Coffee gathering next week) to Waianae.
Over the H3 freeway from Pearlharbor to Kailua
Over the Pali Highway from Downtown to Kailua and stop at the lookout over the tunnels.
With a military ID- drive from Schofield to Waianae over Kolekole pass.

 

Thanks -- I just added to the calendar. I'll probably bring my pit crew with me -- though they are too young for coffee.

I'm up in Waipahu, and so far, I've found the end of the street and a big "honey-do" list waiting. I guess it's time to open up google Earth and check out the area....

 

You guys take it easy on Abu... He's still reaclimating from so many years on the Autobahn... He might fly off a cliff or something ...

 

Dude, enjoy the islands!

 

Well, I plan to block 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th gears. That should help!

 

Autobahn! Hawaii is the exact OPPOSITE! Speed limit is as much as 45 mph on some stretches on the freeways. Might as well have a Yaris or smartcar.

Waipahu is central. Drive to the north via H-2 and you get to the Northshore.
Drive to the west and you go to Kapolei (coffee get together) and out to Waianae. Drive to the east and you get to downtown.

Your pit crew is welcome and there is a nearby Jamba juice for those that do caffeine free drinks.