What a week it has been. First of all in Hawaii we had an overnight stay in Nawiliwili on the island of Kauai. It was fun because we were able to actually go out at night and have a bite to eat. WE wen to this place called Duke's with the rest of the crew and enjoyed a few beers an the ocean breeze. We went to Wailua Falls and then had Saimin at a local noodle place.

In Honolulu it rained, but I still managed to make my way to the beach. I then met up with some crew at the local Hooters, yes I know, but it was right next to the dock. We also went back there after dinner service on the ship as we didn't leave the port until 11 pm. The day we were in Kona the crew was denied shore leave on tender boats by the Captain. It was unfortunate that none of us could go off. I had really wanted to go the Kona Brewery, oh well. That night we had 0 people for dinner because there was a luau dinner on the upper deck.

The day after we left Hawaii we had a huge crew luau party near the pool on the sky deck. It was a good time with music, drinks, and good company. Then on the day we crossed the Equator there was a big celebration. It involved a guy dressed like King Neptune who came on board to judge the Pollywogs of the ship. Now this occurred by the pool and all of the guests surrounded the area to watch the show. The Pollywogs were various new crew members from different departments who had been volunteered by others to be a part of this. I was one of them. We were mustered into a luggage crate and awaited our department to be called. Then we were told what we supposedly had done, which for us was operating by the 5 second rule and adding extra fat to the food. Then cast members dressed like pirates pulled us over to a big fish that we had to bite. Kind of gross, but then they shoved us to a line of tables where more cast members were dressed up in nurse uniforms and dumped various colored meringue and spaghetti on us. Then we knelt in front of the senior staff of the ship where they could let us sit out and bake in the sun or jump in the pool. We got to jump, and hurled ourselves in. Swimming in the pool was a great place to view the rest of the show.

Pago Pago was our first stop in the islands of the South Pacific. American Samoa is a very interesting place, but I feel they are still recovering from the tsunami of last year. The mountains were amazing and so were the beaches. Crystal clear blue water and tropical greenery surrounded me. I went to a local market and saw a lot of coconuts, plantains, bananas, and the largest papayas I've every seen. It was quite warm out, and I made the mistake of not wearing sunscreen. I have to say the sun is strong near the Equator. I will know better for next time in Fiji.