Adventures with Buzz and Woody: May 2010

With it being the the series finale of Lost tonight, I thought it might be appropriate to put these last few photos from the last couple of days of my stay in Hawaii out here to share. I used to tell people that if Colorado had an ocean it would be heaven. Well touring the island I felt this place was perfect. Mountains and ocean. Heaven on Earth.

The Northshore

Waves were a bit light that day but I could imagine during the winter they must be awesome.

Audrey laughing at me as I try and take a picture of Buzz and Woody with Chinaman's Hat in the background. This is near Kualoa Ranch which is where a good portion of Lost as well as many films were filmed.

Close up
or Wide shot

Kualoa Ranch

Please no more pictures

Monkey Pod Trees.

Yes a grown woman is having her picture taken with "action figures" on a film location. I know I am such a geek.

Ahh was that the MIB or Jacob? ( those Losties will understand)

View of Chinaman's Hat from Kualoa Ranch. One of the oldest working ranches.
http://www.kualoa.com/ Check out their website.

This shot was taken on the Northshore.

This one too.

One our adventures we went to visit Audrey's home where she grew up in Kailua it's now been torn down by Ed Catmull, one of the head honchos at Pixar. It looked like it was an amazing home. I thought it was appropriate for Buzz and Woody to check out the sight.

"So do you think we'll be invited out here to bond with Ed?"

The funny story is that while I was taking these photos Matthew Fox was walking down the street with his dog. I'm sure he didn't find it odd at all for a grown woman to take photos of "action figures" at a construction sight. No not at all. And no, I didn't ask him for a photo with the boys. Oh well maybe next time.

Kailua Beach

These were taken right before I headed to the airport.

Aloha Hawaii. Hope to return soon.

Greetings to all who come to this page. Our latest adventure was traveling to Hawaii and enjoying catching up with a dear friend Audrey who I hadn't seen in over 20 years. She kindly offered us such wonderful hospitality in her lovely home in Kailua, on the windward side of the island. Her mountain views were amazing. And if I could I would've stayed longer. : )

Audrey and I at the Marriott after having a lovely lunch.

Now the reason I was in Hawaii was to attend the Honolulu International Film Festival to accept an award for "excellence in filmmaking" for my documentary A Parallel Universe: A Journey Through Autism http://www.aparalleluniverse.com/ But I have to say any chance to go to Hawaii is a reason. It was like old times catching up with Audrey and meeting her little four footed child, Tiffany. Who is exceptionally cute and has such personality. I was ready to clone her and take her home with me. : )

Tiffany with Buzz and Woody. She was so sweet even though I would take "shotgun" in the car.
I arrived into Honolulu airport in the afternoon and grabbed a car, (convertible because the guy in front of me didn't want a hard top convertible. I had planned on a tin can car but yes a convertible was nice, although the top didn't go all the way down which in the long run was wise because otherwise I would've been a crispy critter again. ) ANY way I crashed pretty early that a first night I was with Audrey and of course then woke up rather early the next day. The sunrise was beautiful and I can't remember if that was the first morning I locked myself out of the house. OOPS. By mid-morning I was ready to go and do a little touring of the island, a little snorkeling and just enjoying myself. Audrey had meetings to attend so we decided to meet back at the house by mid afternoon and get ready for the big meet and greet OPENING NIGHT festivities. After many great directions from Audrey I was off into paradise.

Near Audrey's Home

"Really Buzz, the smoke monster is not going to come and get us. It was just F/X for the TV series Lost. " Shot on the beach that they shot many scenes of the TV series Lost.

more picturesque scenery

Yes it's rather wild that this beach was almost deserted.

amazing color of the water

traveling to Hanauma Bay for some snorkeling

website for Hanauma Bay http://www.honolulu.gov/parks/facility/hanaumabay/index.htm

Photo I sent back to my loved ones with "wish you were here" My sister's response was a photo taken of the view outside her office and text saying " Wish you were here and I was there. " Don't'cha just love sisters. : )

"okay here's the plan, you go out and snorkel and we'll watch your stuff" Just remember you should have a buddy while you're out in the water so go make some friends. " Woody's advice to me. I only snorkeled for about 45 minutes and then came back on to the beach. The fish were amazing.

I then headed back towards Kailua but on the way stopped and saw some more of paradise and locations where Lost was shot.

This is called the Blow Hole here's a link to find out more about it and Sandy Beach
http://www.portaloha.com/SecretsOfHawaii/BlowHole.htm

I was becoming a bit hungry and stopped at a place for a "plate lunch" at Keneke's Plate Lunch
http://www.kenekes.net/ it was okay. Loved the rice and the mac salad not so much the terriyaki beef.
I brought my lunch to another beach/park http://honolulu.citysearch.com/review/3215599?reviewId=17135191where their were tons of students from a local school celebrating, maybe end of year? I'm not sure but it was beautiful. I know you are going to get tired of hearing that adjective.

I returned just slightly pink showered and then we got ready for a night on the town in Kailau.

We ate at a great little placehttp://www.frommers.com/destinations/oahu/D53679.html and had appetizers and drinks. It was quite good. The next day we traveled into Honolulu and it's suburbs

( View from our table at the Marriott for lunch)

and visited with Audrey's parents and did a bit sight seeing and shopping. Then we picked up Tiffany from the Hutton's and returned back to Kailua and got ready for It was at the Aston http://www.astonwaikikibeachhotel.net/dining/ tiki bar and grill. It was nice to meet other struggling filmmakers and we met the new director for the festival, which is going to be changed to the Waikiki International Film Festival for next year. Here is the current website: http://www.honolulufilmfestival.com/Home/tabid/176/Default.aspx
I took one photo that night and it was very dark but it was lovely to watch the sunset in Waikiki and I was thankful for Audrey driving us into town and navigating the streets of Honolulu.
The next day we went our separate ways in the morning, Audrey was showing a few homes in downtown Honolulu and I wanted to see a few of the films that were being shown at the festival.
We met back at the Hutton's and I have to say they have not changed a bit. Audrey gave the guided tour of their home and it is so welcoming and beautiful. The views are also spectacular

We went out to lunch and then did a bit more sight seeing and shopping http://www.hilohattie.com/
Again, Audrey could open up a tour guide service as she was super as a guide. We then picked up Tiffany and returned back to Kailua and primped for our night at the awards ceremony. I told Audrey I hoped I could stay awake as it wasn't scheduled to start till 9:15 p.m. Which is 3:15 a.m. on the east coast. We had a nice time visiting with other's at the festival. It was a rather intimate group of people all in the film industry. I went up and accepted my award and then it was over. I was exhausted.

I did after the ceremony thanked the film festival director and the staff from HIFF for the honor and then asked Audrey to roll me to bed. I don't think I talked at all on the way home. It was close to 11:30 by the time we went home and I had been up since 3:30 a.m. Hawaii time.
We went to bed and the next day we did a bit more sight seeing. North Shore and beyond. I had heard how beautiful the waves were and the surfing.
First Stop the Dole Plantation