1 May 2004
Volcanoes, and A Wedding
I actually thought I had had the maximum fun that was possible on this vacation, and that today it would begin winding down. But no! This was the fullest, most delightful day yet.
Lamont dragged me out of bed early (8am!) so that we could drive down to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and try to see some lava. Alas, the only flowing lava today required a ten-mile hike for which we did not have time. We were happy to settle for a tour of various steam vents, craters, and exhibits. Satoshi put his geology degree to good use by providing us with educational facts about the formation of these islands and about volcanic activity. We had lunch at the farmers' market in Hilo before showering and dressing for the wedding.
At the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, we found our friends. That place is super-swank! We congregated at the poolside bar before streaming down to the beach for the ceremony, many of us carrying our mai tais and our margaritas. This was possibly the shortest and most beautiful ceremony I've ever seen. The bride and groom exchanged their very special vows, were declared man and wife, and everyone walked back to the bar as the sun was setting over the sea.
Like any good wedding reception, this one quickly degenerated into a drunken festival of hilarity. Frank, Cutter, and Kendal were all thrown into the pool, though I believe Frank actually jumped in willingly. Someone made a pipe out of an apple. Frank and I ran screaming through the service corridor.
The rest of the evening is pretty hazy, but I distinctly recall one unbeatably wonderful moment: skinnydipping in warm, gentle ocean waves, late at night, under a full moon, with five other drunken pals. I'm pretty sure it was Sonic who yanked off my swimsuit! Eventually, hotel security appeared on the beach with flashlights—not to tell us to put our clothes on, but to gently request that we please stop squealing. That swim will put a grin on my face every time I remember it.