One of the backpacks had gotten hung up in Vancouver – tag came off, which meant the pack stayed behind. The delay resulted in our not having a chance to buy food for the six-hour flight to Honolulu. Certain that we could buy supper on the plane – at a ridiculous price, to be sure – we settled into our seats, baggage frustrated, but excited to be on the paradise leg of our trip.
Famished, we waited for the supper trolley to roll up. Eventually the wagon appeared, but a quarter of the plane had been served all the food. There was only the ultra processed meat and cheese packs ... or oatmeal. And so, having to be satisfied with protein bars and porridge garnished with trail mix, we settled in. No one complained. There was no whining ... from the kids. In fact, more conversation was about how we could help Sean deal with his lost luggage than about our empty bellies.
Our accommodation was close to 4,000 feet in elevation, so we were prepared for a cool sleep. After supper we drove to the end of the road to look out over the Pacific far below and trace the thin line that was the Kalalau Trail. Watching it disappear in the gusting mist far below, we started to reminisce about the warmth of sea level. And it was in ignorant awe that the group listened and politely attempted to trace our route over razor-backed ridges and the prominent red hill to the trail's end. Reality was descending on us like the thickening fog.
It wasn't a cold night after all. But it was a brief one. Just before 3:00 a.m., the feral roosters start their racket. Not many can sleep through that relay of noise. Early we were up, packed and on the downhill drive to Weimea and shave-ice treats that equalled our caloric intake on our WestJet travel day. Macadamia nut, chocolate, coffee, topping laced with condensed milk over ice cream buried under ice shavings would be a memory on the trail.
The rest of the day was spent getting our final food and fuel and returning rental vans, sorting through our gear, ruthlessly pitching items that were more luxury fluff than useful stuff and driving it to our storage site.
Next morning would come early.
