Here in Hawaii, i have had the most amazing 8 days! I have done and seen so many beautiul sites and breathtaking views! I was rather shocked at how populated the place is though! 80% of Hawaii's population live on Oahu (the island i am on) bearing in mind Hawaii is made up of a lot of islands! so waikiki beach was just mental busy! In contrast, as you go to the other parts of the island- it is much much quieter and spectacularly beautiful! please see pictures! There is so much to say i may add to this at a later date, but i will run down the highlights (and steal mc's efforts and copy them in- he he), Monday Arrived at the airport to Marie-Claires cousin giving us Leis- those flower necklaces! we were so very impressed i had to take lots of pics! they smelt absolutely amazing! Mike then took us on a tour- even though the weather was rotten! saw lots of things- gave us a taste of where we could go visit. Tuesday we just chilled that day and had a good look around waikiki, then went out to a student bar that night for the biggest pizza in the world and had apricot beer - rather nice! Wednesday Found out Fi has got on to her PGCE course in sept so she can be a primary teacher! celebration. Went to Pearl Harbour which was so interesting, there was a video about what happenend that day and then we got a boat out to USS Arizona a ship that was sunk that day and they have left it in the water with a memorial on top so you can look down to the ship and it has a memorial list of everyone who lost their lives. Had another BBQ love it except the supermarkets are sooooo expensive! could not believe it! Thursday We had a Surfing lesson!!!! so cool we all stood up pretty much everytime - couldn't beleive it, so tiring though due to all the paddling, but cut my toe which urt a lot! Went out that night to a few bars and then to a club playing reggae music, which Mike is into, bit strange seeing as i have barely ever heard that type of music let alone danced to a live band! was pretty funny trying though! Friday Road Trip! Mike took the day off and we went to the north shore, picked up Chip one of Mikes friends (how american!) Then we went to THE SET OF LOST!!!!!!!!!!!! TV program about a plane crash on a desert isaland for anyone who doesn't know - it was a beautiful beach, really deserted with that "untouched feel". There were little huts set up which we presume is the current set for filming. We sunbathed further up the coast at sunset beach and mike and chip surfed. We watched! Tried the local delicacy- poke (pronounced poke- ee)- a (raw tuna marinated in sesame seed oil) actually extremely nice although it looks like it needs to be stir fried before being edible! Then drove near where they film the jungle scenes of lost and Jurassic park - such amazing scenery! We got back and went out for st Patricks day (wearing green). St patricks day here is celebrated more than the irish it seems- i have never seen anything like it! they go wild! went to this street party and it was a whole block closed down- any excuse for a party! went to a bar later which played really cool music really good night. Saturday Went to Haunama Bay which was amazing, the bay is full of coral reefs- we went snorkelling with tropical fish - words can't describe! It was fab- however i had a slight panic attack when i went to a really shallow area- i couldnt put feet down or put head up as legs would have touched coral(which you cannot do) so i panicked- i felt really claustaphobic- so had to swim further to shore and calm down.! hope i wont do that again- as want to snnorkel at the great barrier! Sunday Rain, so went to cinema then by the time we were out the skies were so clear! went to a bar on the beach at night to watch the sunset ...lovely monday walked up Diamond Head- that mountain in the picture! it was bloody hard work in this heat- we sweated lots- nice! breathtaking views though- so well worth the effort! BBQ on evening- and pack pack pack! Update you in fiji folks!