Check out these photos.
Photo Description
While on a jungle tour ride, the guide stopped several times and allowed the tourists to get out of the jeep and take pictures and walk around. This grouping of different kinds of trees against the background of sky was particularly striking.
Photo Location
Jungle Tour ride at Kualoa Ranch in Oahu, Hawaii
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As some of you may have heard, the majority of the ThriftyFun staff are visiting Hawai'i, starting today, March 5, 2010. We are going as a memorial trip for our founder, Susan. She left us in December 2008 and wished to have her ashes scattered there, with her late husband's.
We are visiting Oahu for 6 days, with Susan's sisters, children, grandchildren and loved ones. Most of the family is deeply involved with ThriftyFun. Check throughout the week for updates and feedback, as we will post photos of our adventures to share with the rest of the ThriftyFun community.
A special thank you to both Kezia and Barbara for staying home and keeping the site running. This trip wouldn't be possible without the two of you.
We will still be sending out our regularly scheduled newsletters and posting new tips, photos, recipes and requests as normal. We may be a bit slower on feedback and responding to emails but we will get to all of you as soon as we possibly can.
Thank you so much! Or as they say in Hawai'i, Mahalo!
To those of you unfamiliar with Susan's story, here is a post about her. We received a record number of feedback from the many members who were touched by her kindness and generosity.
I hope all of you have a good trip! Be safe! (03/05/2010)
By Lisa
Enjoy your trip and time with your loved ones. (03/05/2010)
By Suntydt
Aloha Susan----What a wonderful legacy you have left behind for so many to enjoy. Thank you and your staff and family for ThriftyFun. Aloha
Mt St. Helens in Washington state (03/07/2010)
By Linda
Have a wonderful time and create memories....be safe. (03/07/2010)
By Sherri
Our hearts and thoughts are with you as you return Susan to her husband and hope you have many, many moments of love, sharing and fun while you're in Hawaii! God Speed! (03/07/2010)
By Deeli
Have a wonderful time! (03/08/2010)
Aloha everyone! Hope you're enjoying your well-deserved trip. Looking forward to hearing about it when you return! And seeing lots and lots of pics! LOL Have a wonderful time! (03/10/2010)
By Cricket
The first morning, most of us went to Hanuama Bay to snorkel. This is a protected marine life conservation area and underwater park. There is an entrance fee and a short video about conservation in the park. The rest of the day was taken up with sightseeing, time at the pool and shopping at the International Market in Waikiki. There are great deals there, but be sure to walk through first as there are better deals toward the back of the market, for the exact same thing.
The next morning, we went to the Honolulu Swap Meet. Vendors ringed the entire outside of the Aloha Bowl. We found that the cheaper and more local vendors were located on the second or even third ring. Everyone was willing to barter, especially if you were using cash. Then, we drove north to the Dole Plantation. We did the Pineapple Maze and toured the gift shop.
Our third day started out somber, with a sunrise memorial ceremony for Susan. We all wore bright colors and had flower leis, which is the Hawaiian tradition. After we said our goodbyes, we set our leis on the water for the tide to take out to sea. We had a more leisurely day, most of us staying close to the hotel and relaxing or going to nearby Waikiki Beach. That evening, we all had dinner together at Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Restaurant, which was delicious and elegant.
The finale of our trip was our visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center. It was a great deal of fun for our entire party. There we were able to learn skills of different people of the Polynesia Islands, including Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa and many others. Here we are learning hula, weaving and spear throwing. After a busy afternoon, we went to a luau with traditional Hawaiian foods such as poi, lomi lomi salmon and kalua pig. The evening ended with a performance that featured different Polynesian dances, including fire dancing.
It was a wonderful trip for all of us and we are all recharged and ready to face a dreary Northwest spring. Either that or ready to go back to Hawaii.
Aloha and Mahalo (Goodbye and Thanks)
