Ohana Means Family - Part 5

Hey, you should read Part 4, if you haven't already done so.

Sunrise on another amazing day!

Morning 4 rolled around and found us sleeping in until the luxurious time of 5:30am!  Determined to avoid being branded a lazybones (extreme sarcasm), I headed out for a short run, once again around Ala Moana Park.  Chris kept an eye on me from above, once again resting his toe on the lanai:

"Bye, hon!"

Running around the marina

For my part, I stopped to take a few pictures as well:

Surfers in the water in front of Diamond Head

Looking east(ish) toward downtown.

Not too shabby on the scenery front, non?

When I got back, we cleaned up and started a load of laundry, then headed downstairs to the Ilikai's onsite restaurant, Cinnamon's, where we hadn't eaten yet.  We each enjoyed a giant portion of breakfast food, and we took some back to the room, where I enjoyed it the next morning, too.

My elderflower champagne cocktail and Chris' bloody Mary

Once breakfast and laundry were done, we went up to Risa's room to visit with her and get our fancy new Onde Amo team shirts, handmade by Debbie, another of Dad's crew on the boat (she sails AND sews!).  As it turns out, we were in the right place at the right time, since at that very moment, Dad called on the boat's sat phone, and I got to chat with him for a few minutes.  After spending the night on Moloka'i, the Onde Amo was under tow across the channel, and she'd be making it to the harbor in Honolulu in just a few more hours!  We'd finally get to see everyone!

The boat's Garmin tracker says they're close!

Around 10am, a bunch of us met Risa in the lobby and we started our stroll down to the Hawaii Yacht Club, where we'd camp out on the second floor patio and watch the boat finally make it into port.

Strolling toward the docks and getting excited!

Originally, before the rudder fell off and one sail ripped and another one sausage'd itself, the plan was for Dad and the crew to race the boat to Honolulu, head home for a few weeks, fly back with a slightly different crew, and then sail the boat home.  After all of the damage occurred (to both the boat and everyone's psyches), the decision was instead made to have the boat shipped home, and on the way to the Yacht Club, we made a quick stop to chat with the folks who would be handling this.

Piles of sails and other things ready to be shipped home

(not for the Onde, just in general)

We also made a quick swing by the party tent,

where the amazing volunteers were getting ready

to serve all of us - the crew, family, friends,

and various and assorted hangers-on - an amazing

spread of food and drinks.

They did this for every single boat that came in,

whether it was day, night, or the wee small hours of the morning.

They were seriously great.

We made it to the Yacht Club, and we got ourselves settled for the arrival.

Representing the teal!

Since this was the new camera's maiden voyage, I also killed the time until the Onde came in taking pictures of random things and trying out settings.

Boat names are the best.

Eventually, we started to see the Onde and her trusty guide come into sight, and much rejoicing ensued.  The tow boat brought them right up to the entrance to the harbor, and they were able to motor into their slip on their own power, helped (read: watched very closely - remember, Dad didn't have true steering capabilities at this point) by the crew of the boat in the slip immediately next to them.

Wait!  What do I see through all of those masts?

There they are!

Lots of happy folks to greet our sailors

I'm pretty sure Risa is wiping away tears in this one...

After they sailed past us, we all stampeded down to the docks to give them hugs as they headed off the boat.

The assembled paparazzi

Tying the welcome wreath to the front of the boat

The skipper getting a kiss and a mai tai

from his best girl

Time for a celebratory team picture!

Eventually, the crew disembarked (all of the official check-in bits and bops being done), and we got to say hello face to face.

Don and Susan share a much awaited hug

I know that guy!

Time for me to get a hug!

So many overdue hugs!

Mary Ellen and Mikey, reunited!

Dad with his favorite son-in-law

Since the crew's mai tais were almost gone, it was time to head to the party tent to replenish!

Of course Dad managed to find the one other guy

on the docks in an FSU hat.

I'm pretty sure I was standing on a cooler here.

I wouldn't have been this tall otherwise.

Toe had to get into the swing of things, too!

After burgers and cookies and drinks, we were beat, and we could only imagine how the crew felt.  It was time for all of us to head back to the Ilikai and our respective condos for afternoon nap time!  We met Dad and Risa again in the lobby around 5 and wandered over to the official Mount Gay party at the Hawaii Yacht Club, but after taking in the crowds and waiting quite some time for one round of drinks, we bagged it; the four of us wandered down the now (very) familiar route to the Waikiki Brewing Company, where we enjoyed craft beer and some delicious sandwiches (my cuban was outstanding!).

The hubs attempting to find a shorter bar line at the party

At Waikiki Brewing Company

As we walked up, Dad goes,

"I think we ate here last time with your

Uncle Gene and Aunt Linda."

Apparently, this is now a tradition!

After dinner, it was back to the Ilikai for all of us, and we bid adieu to Dad and Risa in the lobby; they went to bed (much deserved for both of them) and we stopped into Dave's Ice Cream once more.  While Chris had another ice cream, I opted instead for a passion fruit shaved ice, and I wasn't disappointed.

It really was the size of my head.

Or at least a softball.

Even with all that sugar in our systems, we were pretty tuckered out by being in the heat all day, so we crashed out hard, happy to have our family and friends on solid land once more!

Later!

Amy