Kualapu'u East Coast Trip: Day 4, Taking a Bite out of the Big Apple

Day four started real slow for a lot of us. We didn't get in until about midnight the night before as we attended Aladdin and got our group photo in Times Square. Late night and early to rise. That's okay though, the crisp air outside woke us up and back to reality in a flash. Since everybody is getting good at it, we took the subway again to breakfast at Cranberry Deli. After filling up, we walked over to where the Today Show was being filmed. We got a spot along the rail and waited. Somebody with some official power said it would be ten minutes and the Today Show people would be outside. Unfortunately, due to poor lighting and shadows, they decided not to at the last minute. It was still neat to be there and see how it is done. Many staffers came by and talked to the kids and mentioned how jealous they were that we were from Hawai'i and how come they never took field trips to Hawai'i. Pretty funny.

Today Show

We then did our final subway ride to Central Park. Kids were becoming real good at getting on and riding the subway. Sometimes the subway was packed with people going to work or any other place somebody may go in New York. Or it was also quiet at times.

Final Subway Ride

Final Subway

Last ride

Bye Bye Subway

We then arrived at peaceful Central Park. Amazing how you can be one minute walking along loud streets, music blaring, people talking, cars honking, and then after a minute walk be in a peaceful park that is nice and quiet. You can hear the birds and squirrels. We learned that Central Park was designed to be different all over so that when you went around a corner or up a hill, the next segment would look completely different. Sort of like different art work all over. We had a great time walking through Central Park and seeing different statues from stories we know such as Alice in Wonderland.

Central Park

Learning about the pond and surrounding buildings at Central Park

Central Park

Whole group photo at Bethesda Fountain

Girls with Bethesda Fountain in background

Hans Christian Andersen Statue with kids from Kualapu'u

Kawena's third duck ride of the trip

Alice in Wonderland Statue

Running and rolling down a hill

Namaka blew the rollers away

Rollin' and rollin'

Somehow some went sideways

Group of Bears Statue

Walking out of Central Park we came across the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET), our destination. The MET is one of the three largest art galleries in the world with a ridiculous amount of art to look at. We had 90 minutes but you barely scratch the surface. From famous statues, ancient artwork, ruins from Pompeii, armor, Monet and Van Gogh, to super old baseball cards. The MET is an exciting museum that you could easily get lost in as it is HUGE!

Disclaimer here.... For the MET and afternoon we broke up into our groups and went to different areas. I therefore was only with a few kids so a majority of the photos with kids are the ones I was with.

Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET)

Getting instructions about the MET

Ugolino and his Sons

Crossing the Delaware. Notice how huge the painting is!

Creepy statue hanging sideways down a wall with eyes that were lifelike staring at you as you walked down stairs.

Top of the MET

On top of the MET

After searching for art from all over the world, we got our lunch from one of the many food carts that line the MET. Robert, our tour guide, told us about scams that some of the vendors may try such as not giving the correct change saying you paid with a ten when you really used a twenty. Happy to report, nobody said they were ripped off!

Lunch on the steps like an NY local

An artsy lunch

After lunch we again split up and walked where we wanted to on 5th Avenue. 5th Avenue is a fancy street with super expensive stores. One store even has a single tube of lipstick that sells for over $60,000! Holy Cow! Was good fun seeing these amazingly expensive stores.

FAO Schwarz soldier

We then went up the GE Building more famously known as 30 Rock. We went to the Top of the Rock which is 850 feet tall! The views were amazing as you could see the Statue of Liberty so far away, the entire Central Park, so many buildings and bridges. Fantastic view and a fantastic weather day as well!

Top of the Rock!

View of the Empire State Building, One World Trade, and the teeny tiny Statue of Liberty

Saige on the top

Central Park behind Lia-Chae

Viewing the city

Heno with the Empire State behind him

Our tour guide Robert has named this the Molokai Waterfall as he has only ever taken a picture here with a a group with our group from Molokai. 2013 and now 2015.

Our visit to New York was rapidly coming to and end. We had dinner at a Cuban restaurant called Havana Central. We got to eat Cuban beef and sandwiches. They were good. Something many of us have never had.

A Cuban dinner

Havana Central dinner

One last look at Times Square before we boarded our bus to head towards Philadelphia. Amazing what it is like walking around a city that 8 million people live in. It is so foreign to us on Molokai. Loud, fast, tall, cement, so much action going on. It is fun though. A completely different lifestyle. Have to give a huge thanks to our guide Robert. He does such a great job with the kids and keeping everything interesting. We were lucky to have him on our last trip in 2013 and I hope the tradition of having him on our Molokai trips continues! Thanks Robert, can't wait till next time. Maybe you can come to Molokai and we can show you around!

Times Square

And finally. What many had been waiting for.......the rumored night of swimming became a reality. Even though we had only about a half hour to swim they had a blast. You never could tell for a brief second that this group was tired in any way shape or form. They had a blast in the pool playing all together. Love seeing the kids interact like this and having just a great time together. The trip can be grueling and sometimes overwhelming so a nice break like this is needed. Tomorrow we are off to Philadelphia and then on to Washington, D.C. Until then.......