So, I can invite three guests?… hmmmm… let’s see. I thought about Janie but I knew she would never want to leave Pittsburg in February to travel to a warm, sunny destination, so I first asked my wife…. obviously I wanted to live a few more years. Our two grown sons were presently unattached so the decision was easy for the final two. Our oldest son lives 250 miles to the southwest of us, so we had to hustle to get all four notarized documents completed and returned to State Farm in less than 72 hours.

Thursday, February 7th arrives and we fly on American from St Louis to LA, then on to Honolulu, arriving around 7:30pm.

A representative awaits us outside security at the airport.

We, along with the other winners, are bussed to the Hilton Hawaiian Village where we will stay in the Tapa Tower. Five years before, my wife and I came here on our anniversary in lieu of Cancun and stayed in the Rainbow Tower.

The itinerary was such that we had Friday free. Since our whale watching tour five years earlier was a bust, my wife and I did another tour on Friday.

Other views from the ship.... Diamondhead and Wakiki with the Hilton Village

Chris and Eric did Pearl Harbor, the Punch Bowl and Honolulu high lights. Marsha and I did this tour our first time here.

Once the tours for the day were done and we were back at the Hilton, we walked next door to the military recreational services’ facility, The Hale Koa Hotel,for dinner. Being retired army has some benefits, and eating at the Hale Koa was much less expensive than other places in and round the Hilton.

Tomorrow…. The Meet and Greet…..

My dad was navy and was the Bunker Hill carrier during WWII. My mom was raised at West Point and therefore army. Needless to say we love the army/navy football games!

Thanks for the report and great pictures.

Fran in NY

Ben