Many thanks to the trip organizers Gerry Hills and Dan Tom. Though health problems prevented several from attending, those who made it had a wonderful time.

The first few days were spent in Honolulu on the island of Oahu. The small hotel, Lotus Hotel in the shadow of Diamond Head was the perfect local headquarters. Located north of central Honolulu, it was the perfect place for reunion central. We shared many delicious meals, enjoyed the secluded beach behind the hotel and took an interesting and educational tour of historic Pearl Harbor. A few folks ventured out to see the north shore, famous for its BIG surf and other island points of interest.

We then traveled by air to the big island of Hawaii where we met up with Gerry Hills to spend two nights at Volcano House on the edge of the Kilauea caldera. Gerry arranged a gathering with a group presenting authentic Hawaiian hula. We took a guided tour of the caldera area suggested by Peter Diamond and organized by classmate Jim Lawrie. Our guide, Jodi Adams Kitsell, owner of Big Island VIP, was extremely knowledgeable and gave a great tour to our entire group in two sessions. Some of us traveled by car out to the coast on the Chain of Craters Road. Looking back from the coast, it was possible to glimpse in the huge lava fields the awesome power of the earth. It's little wonder the early inhabitants of the island saw the god Pele in nature.

The following day we traveled by car to the city of Kona where we stayed at the Royal Kona Hotel. Days were spent sight-seeing and evenings enjoying group meals sampling the local Hawaiian cuisine. Classmates John Russell and Tom Stonecipher drove down from John's home in Waimea to join us one evening for pre-dinner festivities. For the final night the group organized cocktails and dinner on the veranda of one of our rooms. Looking down from our oceanfront suite, we were treated to views of the hotel's luau and could enjoy the dancers while hearing music from the drums and ukuleles.  The amazing ocean view afforded an opportunity to experience one of Kona's spectacular sunsets.

Participants

Peter and Leila Diamond

Gerry and Martha Hills

Gary and Kathryn Horlick

Jim and Bev Lawrie

Rich Olin and Dianne Martin

John and Bev Pfeiffer

Scott and Ginny Reeves

Bob Ross

Larry Smith and Mary Pritchard

Dan Tom

Our hosts and organizers Gerry Hills and Dan Tom assembled a complete description of the trip (see below).