Trip Reports - Hawaii (Koala) Blue: A DO-licious Summer Preview

Dear reader,
I hope to take you on a quick ride around a few hawaiian islands, as we road-test the advice from the shakalicious Hawaii forum regulars. ^

A long time in the planning, I was lucky enough to get the tip on an introductory fare sale on the Qantas budget offshoot JetStar (from another forum, but quickly announced here too ^).

Thus our AUD$44 tickets (plus $205 charges+taxes) were purchased in 9/06 as the basis for our adventure.

There were a few incidents along the way ;). Met lots of FTers...

More details in a couple of hours...

Happily, it seems the terms of my travel insurance (ANZ VISA Gold) will cover Mrs BB's costs incurred from a visit to a doctor plus medication for her unexpected illness on the flight across (less an excess, natch ;)).

Despite our unenthusiastic feelings about using JetStar, the flight across was no worse than a UA flight. There were sufficient vacant seats for us to get a centre row of four to use as a bed (in turns, while the other sat across two seats, against the window).

I will be sending a glowing report of praise for the CSM and crew (mostly Thai, one man and one woman in particular), who assisted Mrs B during the final hours of the flight when she became very short of breath and required oxygen. Paracetamol was also provided earlier, as Mrs B had developed a fever (41 degrees).

In short, we are lucky to have made it into the US after Mrs B developed a temperature, considering the case of the US gent with TB flying the week before us.

JQ's CSM arranged for a paramedic to check Mrs BB once we had deboarded. Unfortunately we had only 2.15hrs before our next flight HNL-KOA, so we were a little worried about that, if Mrs B was OK to fly.

The paramedic insisted we wait for a doctor from CDC to come and check, before giving any go-ahead for entry to customs (or straight to hospital).

As Mrs BB gets somewhat ill anyway during flights but normally recovers once we have landed, she was feeling more normal after an hour, but needed rest and a doctor's prescription to help with symptoms. We suspected a virus or flu, based on Mrs BB's medical history.

In the end, the CDC doctor let us go on to our inter-island flight if we immediately saw a doctor there, which was our plan anyway.
A porter had been arranged to assist Mrs BB in a wheelchair to Customs/Immigration and on to our checkin/gate and that was a great help to us. ^

We made the flight and by the time we landed, Mrs B was feeling a little better (we had a wheelchair again at KOA - nice one AQ). We had priority boarding because of the wheelchair so happily had first row seats and the attention of the AQ FAs and Mrs B could rest until our doctor's visit.

A tip if you or your partner is unwell pre-flight: try to see a doctor for a quick pre-fllight diagnosis, in case you can get some medication to assist during flight and to assist the US medical/CDC people you may need to see on arrival to the US. We were a little tight for time but would see the SYD airport doctor regardless, if this occurs in future. ;)

First experience of the Hawaiian-time meaning of 'Urgent Care' in the next report... :eek:

Just remembered that at the HNL Do, I found out that the HNL-KOA flight, which became a last-minute change to HNL-OGG-KOA due to AQ's plane shortage, was 'Frankenstein', after mentioning the very prominent thick patches above the wing!

Better patched than unpatched I suppose, but we eventually made it, though 100 minutes late, thanks to three pax who left at OGG, believing they were in KOA. Surely the pax could have asked an FA upon arrival - an FA would have spoken enough Japanese to communicate.

More coming tonight... maybe even with pictures:
- Waikoloa (with just a taste of HWV service ^, A-Bay and what's happening with all the building work around the place);
- 'Discovering' Captain Cook and the tasting places;
- Unexpectedly interesting tourist places, plus cheap (and good) eats; and
- Aloha hospitality :D and our quest for a Hawaiian service on sunday ;).

Plus, the Hawaii Monster Truck Phenomenon. ;)

I ran out of time to write, so will try to load something in the morning.

We had our first, underwhelming Wal Mart experience (first time in their stores - slightly depressing!) in Kona, but I guess we saved some $ through their Pharmacy operations. Even then, medicines without insurance was the cost of a fairly OK dinner! Not nearly as much interesting stuff as I'd expected... Pringles... :D Okay, it as worth it!

Traffic from KOA into Kailua-Kona was okay every time, just 5 minutes of very slow going at the three lights before the turnoff.

A most kind and generous Aloha local helped us get to a medical centre first, which was the main priority on our arrival. The KOA Urgent Care likes patients to wait out in the heat in the middle of the day while the whole place closes one hour for lunch. :td: It was better that our new friend led us to the next-closest doctor, who was in the house.

The other first impression was that I did get an okay rental car - a Pontiac Grand Prix was fairly pleasant to drive. Big, easy but still felt okay. :)

Aloha!