Hawaiian Airlines (Alaska Airlines) to Raro, most interesting things, getting disinfected, forgot they feed you, and Starlink wifi.

Air Tahiti from Raro to Papeete, plane must be small, I got weighed with my carry on. Glancing at the flight attendant taking the weight counts … it looked like a seating chart 😳 🤣. They sprayed the carry on bins again but this time we didn’t even land yet. I put a mask on and wiped my eyes with a wet napkin, I felt prepared. And food was a part of the package, I had a tuna sandwich and a little citrus filled pastry. The flight was only 2hr30min and I was so amazed how small the airport felt. It reminded me of Island Air.

Air New Zealand Papeete to Auckland, couch seats. Loved this. It made it a little more comfortable having the extra space. Especially on a late evening flight. One meal and it was breakfast.

Air New Zealand Auckland to Honolulu. No declaration forms, just verbal declaration. OK. That is easy. I actually don’t know how I feel about that given that I was sprayed with pesticide and had a more rigorous procedure going into New Zealand on a short flight. Two meals because the flight was 8hrs 30mins long, started at 7 am and arrived at 4ish.

Sad that the wifi wasn’t working especially after the flight had been delayed by nine hours but considering the plane had been hit by lightning, hence the delay … I guess it makes sense.

Air New Zealand did comp rooms for us overnight and shuttle us to and from the airport. It was recommended that we go early by the hotel people because we weren’t the only ones delayed and everyone would be trying to check in. This was one of the earlier flights and the international checkpoint wasn’t even open once we went through Air New Zealand check in.

I have to say though they had an impressive system though, it moved. Once we got through the checkpoint it was to duty-free for me. I didn’t realize how far the gate was from there and then that wasn’t open either. But it was nice to be in the same boat as so many others.

So this was a long day due to a 9 hour delay of our flight which was supposed to leave at 10 p.m. in the evening.

We ended up leaving at 7 in the morning. This means I still get back on Sunday but at 430 p.m. instead. Timezone math is so confusing for me. I get SO confused. I refuse to think in days of the week because of it. I just have to remember what I need to do in terms of activities and cross my fingers that is enough.

But let us begin at the beginning, lol. Early in the morning, Jenna said she was getting another bag, I got one too. I went downstairs to weigh my bags and I was pushing it. But due to the second bag … I went shopping! I was even thinking Christmas. Then I really did need to repack. I was going to try to make it to the Fish Market, Maritime Museum, and Ahi..

It turned into WIPCE, Maritime Museum, dinner at Ahi., more shopping, and our delayed flight for a memorable end to New Zealand leg.

When I checked out at 12, I walked out to a parade in the street. It was the different indigenous tribes and nations going to Aotea Square.

It was a busy and crowded event and I saw someone from Cook Island and I managed to by a souvenir from there even though I was worried about getting one prior, due to luggage across countries and New Zealands strict customs policy.

I wasn’t going to go but it kind of hit me in the face when I walked out the hotel and I was like, it only makes sense to go up and check it out. I saw three nations do offerings of cultural dance in the street and up at Aotea Square the New Zealand contingent did an opening for each nation, welcoming them into the square. I then saw some friends from work. It actually made me feel overflowing seeing Hawai’i representing here when I was visiting so randomly myself.

Then I went to the Maritime Museum and learned more about boating, sailing, the America cup, waka, Māori wayfinding and culture through some of the exhibits. I even saw some of the crew from Polynesian Voyaging Society.

Dinner time. Then we found out about the delay of our flight.

But this I especially liked about the Sunday drive to the airport to ask the desk what we can do for accommodations for the evening.

I saw the sunset in New Zealand! Although we were close to the harbor, I was surrounded by buildings and didn’t have the views I had prior. No surprise there, but it was a nice little capper for me. Part of me really thought it was a perfect and fitting moment for me to have on the last evening there.

Walked around with Jenna. Tried some foodie things and made a visit to Sky Tower.

This building also housed wēta workshop, all blacks rugby team store, and a casino (didn’t go to). It rained, so I picked up an umbrella from Dangerfield.

I had some fantastic baked goods and lunch at Amano. It was so yummy.

This was just the airplane ride New Zealand from Tahiti but we changed days via time zones and the international date line.

So ‘tomorrow’ will actually be today.

I love the couch seats on Air New Zealand.

So Tuesday ‘hit’ as soon as we landed and the hotel was too early for us to check in for so we just dropped our bags and went to check out the area.

We met Paige in Gormans, she managed a few locations of this store and their other brand Dangerfield. This store is only in Australia and New Zealand. It was fun and everything feels so cheap because the dollar is strong here.

I feel like my tired made me want to shop more. It was so much fun. This place was so dangerous. I bought a ridiculous amount of stuff so far, just for me!

Jenna went to Moorea. I hung out here again 😀

So happy. This is my jam. My speed and my way of enjoying a view and bungalow that is not an every day occurrence for me.

The nōio make me happy because they remind me of Hawai’i.

They are also used in navigation and a sign of land on the distance. They are also a sign of good luck.

I saw some familiar faces today and met some new ones, Claire sold some crafts and I purchased a pareau from her. She was a treat. She loves Hawai’i so I gave her a treat and she gave me a discount. She asked if I was Chinese and another of the hotel staff asked if I was Polynesian. I just said I was from Hawai’i because they were both correct and explaining my mix can be confusing in another language.

She was fun,she talked about legends, she loved me using the Hawaiian equivalent to the Tahitian. She kept hitting me and it makes me smile and chuckle because it wasn’t sore but meant to be familiar. She told me to kiss her on the cheeks and I shared breathe with her. It made my day fuller having met her.

I tried the Tahitian Brunch Buffet, the food was yummy and they had an assortment of local foods. They also had a show. It was neat to see how the dancing styles differ from island to island to island. The speed, footwork, and male and female dance styles all have something unique to each area. I am not sure why, but it is fun to compare and wonder.

Flying out on Air New Zealand, this seems to be a common flight with an awful time that the staff knows by heart. 3 a.m. leaving one day and arriving a whole day later but two hours earlier. I think. I suck at time zones.