Hawaii day 7

Well we are headed to another island today.  Earlier in the year I asked Colin where he wanted to spend his 10th birthday . . . he answered Pearl Harbor.  Since I am not one to disappoint it was a must do.  So we are headed to Oahu for the almost double digit boy to celebrate his big day!  First we had to check out of quarters 97; I admit I am sad to leave this house as it has been really a great place to stay.  Junior Ranger book was turned in as soon as the Ranger Station opened . . .

Apparently the Ranger asked hard questions so Colin was happy that was over!  It was off to return the rental car and catch our flight from Hilo to Honolulu.  I was caught off guard that the two airports we have been at so far all have outside check in areas that are exposed . . . no windows or doors just open to the outside.  We boarded our flight on Hawaiian Airlines and immediately I was not impressed.  When I booked the tickets we were on row 11 and now we were in the last row of the plane, and I had to pay to check our bags . . . I haven't paid to check bags in years.  Oh well . . . this was how comfortable I was during the flight . . .

. . . thankfully it was only an hour!  Even Colin complained about the lack of room.  We arrived in Honolulu and our bags were already on the baggage claim carousel.  We collected our stuff and headed to pick up the rental car.  Now for years you always read that there is a huge fee if you smoke in the vehicle.  What I never thought about was the person who gets stuck with said vehicle after someone smokes inside the car.  Well, I got that car and it was awful.  Nothing like a family of four severe allergy suffers getting into a car that obviously reeked of cigar smoke!  I went to return the paper to show damages and mentioned how awful it smelled.  I said I sure did not want to pay that fee and was told, "well if you think it is a problem and you think you really must report you can write it on the damage paper."  Ummm yes I do want to report it!  Before I loaded the bags in the car, I found my bottle of febreze (I kid you not people) and sprayed the interior as much as one could . . . it only lasted a few minutes.  Well isn't this grand.  I have now decided the cleaning fee should be $500 and they should actually do something about it!  I probably could have pushed the issue for another car but honestly the agent was less than thrilled when I mentioned the smell and who wants to waste more time!  We were on our way all complaining of course but the road lead us to the Waikiki Beach area and the Hale Koa . . . I know, I know can you believe I am staying at another military hotel?  I sure can not!