Up before 6:00 AM we headed to the sports bar for the relaxed breakfast as the ship came closer and closer to the island of Molokai. This lightly populated island of only 9000 people has perhaps some of the most rugged shoreline terrain. Our wonderful Captain brought the ship within a mile or so of land so that we could see the wonderous sites that can only be seen from the sea or from the air. The only signs of civilization was some remote antennae, a lighthouse, an old lepper colony and the occasional house. All accessible only by mule or boat. At the extreme northeastern corner of the island of Molokai we feasted our eyes on the tallest sea cliffs in the world adorned by some 100 cascading rivulets streaming hundreds of feet down to the ocean below. All along the way we were treated to sightings of whales showing off for us some within 100yds. off the bow of the ship.
That evening we did "dress up" and got a group photo before heading to the dining room.. We had a lovely meal, I had the pork loin. John and Cheryl were celebrating their wedding anniversary so the wait staff sang a rather ragged version of "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" and we all had cake. Donna had arranged earlier for their room to be decorated and other special treats.
The grand finale of our day at sea comes between 10:00 and 11:00 PM as Captain Idar Hoydal steers the ship close to the shore of the Big Island and an active volcano (Kilauea) lava stream. We see the glowing red lava with steam billowing violently as it falls into the ocean. It is a scene that I have always imagined, yet seemed so surreal when viewed live.
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