Hula!

Patty finally caved in to the Facebook frenzy.

It's now nearly 9 a.m., which is very late for a Hawaiian morning, but the sun hasn't quite come out to invite us to the beach yet, either.

"We should put these away soon," Patty said, referring to the computers.

Sounds good.

While the sun may not be out, there are vacationers running, scuba'ing, snorkeling, catamaran'ing, floating on sea kayaks and standing surf-board'ing on the other side of the window here.

We were also able to make coffee this morning, and, once that kicks in, so may we.
Off to the beach we went, but I was quickly bored by the limited seating positions offered by a towel. If you're not napping, you're kind of just sitting there. Sitting. Sitting. Sitting.

Patty knocked out another chunk of her book (continuing her record of reading more of a book in one sitting than I ever have), while I read a few magazine profiles -- Sarah Palin and Marlon Brando -- to prove than I am also literate when there are big pictures around the words. And then I napped.

Back to the condo for lunch again (ahh, A/C), followed by the beach, Round 2. Greeted this time by a chaise lounge, I was much less likely to complain. There's something about sitting like a normal human being. The sun wasn't blaring down on us either, so maybe that's why there was less critique.

We also went with a water activity -- boogie boarding. We were about average at riding the waves, but when you're out there and finally catch a good, long ride, you realize what everyone was talking about in Point Break. Johny Utah? I get it now.

By early afternoon, we had also booked ourselves a fancy seat at a luau. I don't remember a luau scene from Point Break, and maybe that's where it all fell apart for that film. It certainly wasn't the fault of the cast of Patrick Swayze, Gary Busey or Lori Petty, all of whom were overlooked at Oscar time.

Our luau table neighbors were JOE! and his wife FROM CHICAGO!, STEVE! and his young wife FROM NEW MEXICO!, their friends on the other side of the table and a couple from Grand Forks who wore a matching outfit with green flowers. (And, by "matching," this means her dress and his shirt were made out of the same material. Got to coord'nate. Which movie reference is older? Point Break or Boomerang? Answer later.)

Because Patty put her card down for the luau, I treated it like a free buffet. Pork, chicken, beef, potatoes, pasta, cole slaw, salad. I remember hoping that the plates were sturdy when we made our way to the buffet. Free drinks, too.

Out-of-character alert!

Before the show began, Patty was coerced into learning to hula on the stage. She was up there with a bunch of strangers, who provided moral support, and she betrayed no signs of being mortified. Either way, she looked great in the dress she had picked up a few days earlier. As an aside, Patty also looks great on the beach. I, sadly, look like E.T., but without the color.

Anyway ...

Drums, fire, hulas, storytelling and semi-awkward conversation with the neighbors followed, but this was a priceless night and well worth the money (easy for me to say). We capped it off with a drink under a thatched roof hut place. (Not at thatched roof prices.)