Aloha from the Biiiiiig Island

2015 brings a new adventure for the Starretts - a trip to Hawaii with an large family group. We have team Starrett, my sister Kate and her family, and my parents. Departure from home was a convenient mid-day  exit, allowing  a reprieve from the frantic washing, drying and fridge emptying that usually accompanies a holiday. We met up at Newcastle airport for the first flight leg to Brisbane. We have 11 seats on the plane and generate vaguely uneasy looks from people who clearly hope they are not sitting next to the rowdy crew. Qantas club in Brisbane was a huge hit with the boys- free food is always exciting for them and they polished off quite a bit of it. Jason enjoyed the Chivas Regal....

The flight to Honolulu was uneventful, but has convinced me not to go with Jetstar again for an international flight. I miss the full service of a normal airline (blankets, water, rubbish collection etc). I did get the chance to use my Christmas present - Bose noise cancelling headphones, which were well worth the price. I am amazed at how much of the airplane noise is cut out. 

We had quite a long wait at Honolulu airport and the shopping was minimal. The kids played a very giggly game of old maid to keep busy. We flew over all the islands on our way to the Big Island and I was lucky enough to have a window seat. 

Tony met us at a cute outdoor airport - wooden huts with thatched roofs, palm trees and lots of sun. Hawaii at last! The theme of this post is BIG. Everything on the Big Island is huge. Kate, Tony and I did a Costco run to get food to feed the hordes. Everything was packaged in bulk, so we have a 6 month supply of peanut butter on hand. While we shopped, the rest of the crew had a swim at a local beach. We picked them up on the way home and stopped for giant shaved ice treats. A small was the size of a rockmelon.

The Slatters and the Starrets are staying in a vacant house a few doors down from Tony's. Our mansion away from home is also a monster. Three bedrooms, all with R suites and living areas that our whole house would fit into. The kids are all on futons in one of the living areas and they looked very cute asleep in a row.

We BBQ'd burgers for dinner and crashed for a much needed night's sleep.