Any way that you look at it the trip back to the east coast from Hawaii is never easy. If you're on one of the outer islands you most likely have to fly back to Oahu, take another flight from Honolulu to a city on the mainland west of Chicago and then take a final flight to your ultimate destination.

We awoke at 5:00 am Friday in Hawaii and arrived home 7:00 am Saturday in the Philadelphia area. When you factor in the six hour time change and your natural sadness about leaving the islands, it makes for a rough trip.

That being said, our two weeks in Hawaii were amazing, as always. We'd like to share with you some of our major highlights and a few of our disappointments also.

First off, however, we'd like to really express our thanks to some people who made our trip so wonderful. Mahalo to Kathy Durham and her husband Brian. 

Kathy is our local Honolulu/Hawaii Guide here at About.com and she was so kind as to be our tour guide for a day. Mahalo to Heidi Scoggins of Klahani Travel Travel in Lahaina for giving us some great advise and arranging our luau, our trip to Molokai and our sunset cruise.

We'd like to thank the staff of the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel in Honolulu. From the superb housekeeping staff who were always on top of things, to the valet parking attendants who ran for our car every time, this is a top notch hotel in what we feel is, without question, the loveliest part of Waikiki.

We'd like to thank Bill Hunter, our friend who gave us such a good rate at his condo in Honokawai, Maui. When you can save 50-75% off the cost of a hotel room, you have done well.

We had a wonderful time at the Old Lahaina Luau and we were so lucky to be seated across from photo journalist Robert Holmes. We can't wait to read his new Hawaii photo book from Random House.

Mahalo to Timothy Poaipuni of Molokai Offroad Tours and Taxi. Timmy is 100% Hawaiian and he made our day in Molokai so very special.

We'd also like to thank Mike Seitman, our skipper on our dinner cruise aboard the Scotch Mist II as well as Caroline Howard and Jeff Sorensen of Maui for some great conversation aboard the boat.

Last but not, least, mahalo to Rose Bompadre of United Airlines who saved the day when our original flight from Philadelphia was cancelled.  

It never gets old or tiring to say that as beautiful as Hawaii is, it is the people that make it so wonderful. Mahalo to all.

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