Final thursday

Today was my last staff meeting and I gave a short presentation on my experience at the hotel and also a final presentation on the Grand Slam of Golf package. At my request, Dr.Umbreit mailed me some School of Hospitality Business Management pens for me to give to the managers. I passed them out at the meeting and they all seemed to like them, as much as anyone could enjoy nice pens :) When I finished, James said a few words and complimented me on my "sharpness." I don't know if I ever considered myself a "sharp" person, but I took it as a huge compliment. I suppose its one of those things that you need other people to point out before you realize it.

Tomorrow is my last day and there will be a pot luck in my honor! It was supposed to be a surprise, but someone accidentally told me. I'm excited about it and feel touched that they would put together a little pot luck for me. Although it might not sound like much to some, it is very symbolic to me in that everyone wants to contribute and celebrate something or someone special. I can't believe this is finally it. I've learned so much and feel like I'm a changed person for the better. I'm excited to go back to school and see how I can apply what I've learned in my classes and also in helping Dr.Umbreit with his class. A lot of things to look forward to!

Chillin like a villain . . .

I've spent the last two days working as a bell clerk and I'll be excited to move on. Tonight is my last night working as a clerk, and then I'll be back to helping James tomorrow morning. Its been an interesting experience at the bell desk, but its one of those jobs that's vital but doesn't necessarily need a lot of education. I was glad to help out and it was a great experience. I can check bell clerk off my list of things to do in life!

I went on a nice walk this morning and now I think I'm going to go hang out by the beach until work. I don't have many days left of Kauaian sun, so I better fit in where I can! It feels weird that everything will be coming to an end in a couple days, but I'm ready for it! Shoots!

PS- Here's the link to the golf package: http://hawaii-exclusive.destinations.starwoodhotels.com/princeville/golf.htm
Now we just got grab those guests!

One Week and counting!!!

My family left today and it was super fabulous to have them here, it just made me all the more aware of how ready I am to leave living in the hotel!

My family and I had quite the week, including road trips, eating bonanzas (yes it is actually possible to have an eating bonanza . . .), and toured some killa areas of Kauai. One of the highlights was a great boating/snorkeling trip we took along the NaPali Coast and on to the private island of Niihau (only true Hawaiians currently live there). The views were incredible and we even got to go under a waterfall off one of the NaPali mountains, but the ride was a little rocky and made a few of the riders sea sick. Of course, my family and I were troopers and kicked back to try and enjoy the ride as much as possible. We weren't originally going to go on a boat ride, but we won a free "two for one" ticket and being the adventurous type that we are, we decided to go for it. I begged for the day off and then we were set! It was a fun time and I can't wait to look at my mom's pictures from it.

It was great to have my family here with me especially since by the time they left, I felt that they had become kamaainas ("locals") to Kauai as much as I have. With the coaching of my Mom, after all of the hints that were being dropped by a number of employees, I decided to ask Kelly Hoen if they were considering a final offer for me. Kelly would make practically daily comments to me like "Well, when you come back next year . . ." or "Sure hope you'll be here to see the changes . . ." and even when my family was here she said to them "We REALLY want her to come back . . ." I was starting to get antsy. If she kept dropping me all of these hints why wasn't she giving me an offer? So I nonchalantly approached her about it and she said yes, they were putting together a final offer for me and that I would see it soon! Yay! Haven't seen it yet, but should be very interesting to see what they decide to give me.

With the news from Kelly, still not set in stone of course, but I started thinking about Kauai just a little differently. I looked at things as a person who could live here, a person who could make their home here. My family helped me see to see it even better. While they were here, I could see if they liked it and what their thoughts would be about me making a final move out here. It would be great to have a job in the bag before school even starts again, but I have to see what they offer me first. I really don't see how I could find anywhere better to work or a better group of people to work with, so I have strong feelings that I will come back to Kauai.

This week James asked if I would be willing to help out the Bell Desk this week, since they were short on staff. So tomorrow I will start as the Bell Desk clerk and work for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday night. Then I'll only have a few nights left and then be off to California. My parents spoiled me with great home cooking and now I'm even more ready to be out of a hotel. Oh well, won't be too much longer and I still have a few things to work out before I can leave :)

. . . going to a Hukilau . . .

My family has been chilling with me for the weekend and we've had a blast so far. I love how my family is just as open and adventurous as I am! It makes for doing family activities oh-so more exciting.

Friday night they arrived and we soon headed to their condo at Alii Kai, a very quiet condo complex in Princeville. We picked up some steaks, vegetables, and potatoes at Foodland and had an awesome BBQ at my parents' condo. It was soooo great to be in a kitchen! I've also noticed eating in a cafeteria doesn't give you much time to sit and enjoy your meal. I usually just scarf it down and head to my room. With my family here, I can casually eat dinner again! Yay!

Saturday, my family and I headed to a local south shore celebration called Plantation Days in Koloa. I talked my family in to going and I'm glad we did. We got to see a local parade full of local families, businesses, and politicians including the Hawaii Stat Governor and Kauaiian Mayor. Next to the parade was a big fair full of local foods and crafts. The celebration was supposed to celebrate the immigrant influences on Kauai, so the crafts and foods were very diverse. We didn't stay too long at the fair, because my Aunt Clare had recommend that we should try out "Puka Dogs," a Hawaiian style hot dog stop. We each had freshly squeezed lemonade and a Puka Hot Dog with different kinds of Hawaiian fruit relishes. I then took them through Kapaa and back on to Princeville. My parents retired back at their condo, and my lil sis George went back to the hotel with me.

On Sunday, my family and I headed to the great Sunday brunch. It was fabulous! I was so happy to be enjoying some of the great food again with some of my family. Since my family and I are big on food, I was glad to see the brunch got their approval. I knew it would, but its fun to still see it :) After some looking around the hotel and shopping in Hanalei, my family and I spent the rest of the day by Princeville Hotel's beach.

After we each had our prospective morning work outs, my family and I all met at my Parents' condo. We had a activities briefing from the condo's staff and also happened to win a 2 for 1 snorkeling cruise. This cruise will be amazing since it lets you go along the NaPali coast and is the only boat that will take you to Niihau, "the forbidden island." You can only access Niihau if you're 100% Hawaiian, so even to get close to it on a boat is an honor. My family and I are signed up for the 7-hour tour. Should be a long day, but what an experience! I'm pretty excited about it, since the NaPali and Niihau were two things I wanted to see. After going to the hotel and introducing my family to most of my coworkers, we headed out to Guava plantation and further onto Anahola. Once we finished driving around Kapaa as well, we went back to Princeville to get ready for the luau. Every Monday and Thursday, Princeville Hotel has a luau and since my window faces the luau grounds I usually hear most of the show without every seeing any of it. Since Jay had gotten a couple comp tickets for us to go to the luau, I was stoked to finally get to see it. The food was phenomenal! The dinner included things from poi, salads, fruit, marinated vegetables, "teri beef" (terriyaki beef), kahlua pork, rice, fish, and saimin noodles. Yum! My first taste of poi (mushed up taro, supposedly very healthy and also very Hawaiian) was pretty good, but I guess my mom claims that was the best she had ever had. Oh and did I mention free Mai Tais, well drinks, and Beer! Yes this was another favorite of my family as well. Dessert was delicious and I scored some great Haupia (kind of like a cross between coconut pudding and jello, very good especially if you like coconut) and rice pudding. After an awesome meal, the dancers performed and did a great job. Now I'm getting ready to head to bed, got to go to work tomorrow while my fam chills by the pool :) I know I'll be havin fun too though, how can you not have fun when you know your family is having a blast?!