This is a brief photo journal of her trip. All photos from Liz unless otherwise noted.
See more photos and short videos of her trip on LizKauai's facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1405680069
More photos of the Tsai-kos at the Sugar Bowl
Departed Lihue, Kauai with Kekoa near midnight December 27. Kekoa in First class on PHX segment.
Liz was moved up too...
Liz gets bumped in PHX. Gets free CONUS trip.
Kekoa continues on to HOU. Liz finds electrical outlet.
Landing at MSY at about 2030 HST Dec 28. 20+ hours in transit. The kulolo was inspected at HOU again.
Dinner at the steak house in Avenue Plaza Resort. Dec 28
Shrimp Appetizer, fried green tomatos, veal and pasta, and steak and pasta w/shrimp.
View from rooftop of Avenue Plaza Resort. This was the anticipated site of the Tsick-Call on game day. High probability of rain on game day necessitates PLAN B.
PLAN B: St. Charles Japanese Sushi Buffet across the street from Avenue Plaza Resorts.
Kekoa, one of our senior buffet line inspectors in New Orleans, starts preliminary testing. Dec. 29
Liz's first round selections? Can also order other items separately. St. Charles Japanese Sushi Buffet Dec 29.
Satisfactory! Kekoa negotiates with the manager of St. Charles Japanese Sushi Buffet. $12.99 for Tsai-kos on game day.
LizKauai: "We took the trolley down St. Charles Ave towards the Marriott and stopped at a great little souvenir shop on the way."
Gator display. Souvenir shop. Dec 29
Beads...
Boas...
Masks...
Hot sauces. Souvenir shop. Dec 29
T-shirt shop enroute to Marriott. No white UH T-Shirt in Kekoa's size. Dec 29
The New Orleans Marriott in sight. Dec 29, 2007
Marriott elevator instructions. Dec 29
Marriott view from the 41st floor. Dec 29
Tsai-note: when coming up the Marriott elevator, you have to press the floor you want BEFORE you get on the elevator. The name of the elevator will flash. ALSO, do not overload the elevators. There have been a few drops. No one hurt. 8 people MAX.
12/29/07 @ 14:49
Comment from: LizKauai [Visitor]
Stephen- where is everyone? Kekoa and I are at the Marriott.
12/29/07 @ 14:57
Comment from: LizKauai [Visitor]
Stephen- ayah...
12/29/07 @ 14:59
Comment from: Stephen [Member]
Liz:
I'm transcribing notes.
I'll try to make it down to your Marriott tonight.
12/29/07 @ 15:07
Comment from: LizKauai [Visitor]
Stephen- can you email me? Kekoa and I are in need of adult supervision. We are just wandering around and will be getting hungry soon. We are standing in front of Preservation Hall in an empty lobby on the 2nd floor.
12/29/07 @ 15:22
Marriott Preservation Hall (2nd floor) closed to public.
Dec 29, 2007 7:22 PM
UH Sugar Bowl office at the Marriott. Dec 29
J. David Miller book autographing session in the Marriott Lobby. Dec 29, 2007
Comment from: LizKauai [Visitor]
OMG !!!
Kekoa and I cruised down the escalator and ran into the Warriors Haka table in the lobby. Got some great shirts and David Miller was autographing books. So we just went over to shake his hand and say mahalo. Wow! We all hit it off and met his wife Laurie (sp) and then Mouse Davis and BrianK showed up and the next thing you know, we are all hugging like old classmates! Mr. Miller asked me what I liked best about the book and I just started tearing up and gurgling something about love and spirit and unity...
Phew!
Pics to come soon. Kekoa and I had to sit with a Starbucks after all that!
12/29/07 @ 16:37
Comment from: LizKauai [Visitor]
Well, We have had the most interesting evening and are heading home in a taxi in the pouring rain.
Just as we were leaving the Marriott, I spocked JJ coming in and talking on his phone. We waited for him to finish and then just got his attention to say hi and mahalo. He posed for a pic with Kekoa and I shook his hand and said I was the one who called and spoke to him on Call the Coach to find out what color shirt to wear at the SB :-) JJ smiled politely and we let him go on his way.
Kekoa and I were just grinning like fools as we left the hotel. More soon.
12/29/07 @ 20:13
LizKauai, J. David Miller and wife, and Kekoa. Book autographing session at Marriott. Dec 29
"Mouse" Davis, J. David Miller and Kekoa greet Brian Kajiyama. Book autographing session at Marriott. Dec 29
LizKauai meets fellow blogger Brian Kajiyama (BrianK) for the first time. Book autographing session at Marriott. Dec 29
LizKauai and Kekoa each posed with New Orleans police officers at the Marriott. Dec 29.
June Jones stops to chat with LizKauai and Kekoa as he coincidently strolled into the Marriott as they were leaving. Dec 29, 2007
Dinner at Brennan's Restaurant. New Orleans Dec 29, 2007
LizKauai's email message with the food pix:
We did not make it to the French Quarter. It was raining and we wanted saimin. We settled for gumbo. Both of us were still full from the sushi brunch!
We ducked into a nearby restaurant- one of the Brennan's family of eateries. The French bread was really great and there was a table full of crumbs in no time.
We both ordered the seafood gumbo and it was served beautifully by Cynthia, our server.
We had a leisurely simple feast and talked about our families and the special things that have happened in eventful lives.
We watched another table being presented with bananas Foster and got in the mood for dessert. We decided on creme brulee cafe which was delicious. Kekoa tried the coffee with chicory which was the perfect accompaniment.
We caught a cab back to the hotel as it was really pouring by then and here I am at 1:45 AM uploading pix!
Heading to the blog now!
Back to the New Orleans Marriott where fans are getting player autographs. Dec 30, 2007
Jazz trio in Marriott lobby. Dec 30, 2007
UH Sugar Bowl center (Marriott 2nd floor). Dec 30, 2007
TV news reporters Mike Cherry and Liz Chun get the scoops from Kekoa. Dec 30, 2007
Kekoa and LizKauai meet Augie T. New Orleans Marriott December 30, 2007
Vili the Warrior. New Orleans Marriott December 30, 2007
Ti leaves arrive at UH Sugar Bowl Center. Distribution starting Dec. 31. New Orleans Marriott.
Liz and Kekoa meet Brian Kajiyama again. December 30, 2007
Kekoa and LizKauai at the Allstate Fan Fest held in the Jax Brewery lot downtown. December 30, 2007
The A-House family are among the first Tsai-kos Liz and Kekoa find at the Allstate Fan Fest.
Liz and Kekoa in the Hawaii TV news. Kekoa is holding up the Hawaiian flag and Liz is holding up camera. Allstate Fan Fest December 30, 2007
They spot UHfan808 and UHfan808's///Friend in the crowd. Allstate Fan Fest December 30, 2007
More Tsai-kos and friends find each other. Calvin from Kona on left. Allstate Fan Fest December 30, 2007
LizKauai: "...and then ran into the Brennans (Terry and Betsy) as we were leaving." Allstate Fan Fest December 30, 2007
Looking toward Eddie Money live concert at Allstate Fan Fest. 5:00 PM December 30, 2007
LizKauai: "Ended up in a great eaterie across from the fan fest..." December 30, 2007
LizKauai: "Kekoa ordered red beans and rice and a pastrami sandwich".
Kekoa's pastrami sandwich at top.
LizKauai: "I got the seafood platter w/fries and salad. The catfish, calamari, shrimp and oysters were cooked to perfection and placed over slices of bread to catch the oil".
Tim arrives at the condo (finally -- 24+ hrs enroute). December 30, 2007
Noticed the TV truck and crowd outside the New Orleans Marriott enroute to the Harrah's lunch. December 31, 2007
Live TV feed back to Hawaii with Augie T, Vili the Warrior, and Willie K (foreground).
LizKauai, Tim, WillieK, and Kekoa.
New Orleans Marriott. December 31, 2007
Lunch buffet at Harrah's. December 31, 2007
Stephen Tsai, Merv (GA fan), LizKauai, RainbowCliff, and Garret.
Harrah's December 31, 2007
LizKauai and Rainbow Cliff. Harrah's December 31, 2007
LK repairs LizKaui's camera at Harrah's. December 31, 2007
Harrah's December 31, 2007
Ronnie arrives at the condo. December 31, 2007
Na Koa Cajun Warriors Bash. Long lines to get in, long line for food. Meet Carole Kai, though. But Liz, Kekoa, Ronnie, and Tim leave hungry at 2207 December 31, 2007
St. Charles Tavern at around 2245 December 31, 2007
Back at the Avenue Plaza near midnight, December 31, 2007
Ringing in the New Year with new (Georgia) friends in the lobby of the Avenue Plaza. January 1, 2008
Tuesday, January 1, 2008 –
Game Day
Bell staff of the Avenue Plaza Resort sample Liz's kulolo. January 1, 2008
Ronnie carries the kulolo to the St. Charles Japanese Sushi Buffet, the last segment of its 4,000 mile hand-carry journey from Kauai. January 1, 2008
Kekoa (01/07/08 @ 23:00): "The owner told me that he had never had a noisier, more fun-loving or happier group in his restaurant - ever. We are invited back EVERYTIME we make it to the Sugar Bowl".
St. Charles Japanese Sushi Buffet
Kekoa's "Tsick Call" at St. Charles Japanese Sushi Buffet. January 1, 2008
St. Charles Japanese Sushi Buffet. January 1, 2008
LizKauai prepared a plate for homey, complete with left-hand chop sticks. St. Charles Japanese Sushi Buffet. January 1, 2008
UKU@la distributes the ti leafs he brought from California. St. Charles Japanese Sushi Buffet. January 1, 2008
St. Charles Japanese Sushi Buffet. January 1, 2008
Merv and his boys join the Tsai-kos again! St. Charles Japanese Sushi Buffet. January 1, 2008
Merv keeps his Georgia cap but receives his Tsai-ko T-shirt.
St. Charles Japanese Sushi Buffet. January 1, 2008
Merv's boys.
St. Charles Japanese Sushi Buffet. January 1, 2008
Long time Tsai-ko, 99club, drove from San Angelo, TX.
St. Charles Japanese Sushi Buffet. January 1, 2008
Entering the Superdome. January 1, 2008
Mr. and Mrs. UKU@la notice another UH fan next to them. Sugar Bowl game, January 1, 2008
Stranger revealed as occasional Tsai-ko blogger, midnight. Sugar Bowl game, January 1, 2008
Sugar Bowl. January 1, 2008
Liz, Kekoa, and Ronnie meet Adam Leonards' parents in the lobby of the Avenue Plaza Resorts. January 1, 2008
The webcam at the corner of Bourbon and St. Peter streets.
Photo courtesy of Stretch
Comment from: LizKauai [Visitor]
OK you webcam addicts. We are nearby and ready for our closeup. anybody there to screen capture??
01/02/08 @ 18:25 (10:25 pm CST)
it is 34 degrees here!!
01/02/08 @ 19:15
Photo courtesy of d1shima
LizKauai, Kekoa, and Ronnie at the Bourbon Street web cam. Tracy said the moon is out and shakin'... :-)
We are freezin on Bourbon St. trying to help Ronnie shop for souveniers.
Went to Johnny Whites and just missed Dan Kelly. We are cleaning out the rest of the Hawaii shirts in a store nearby.
01/02/08 @ 19:31
Photo courtesy of Tracy
LizKauai captured this photo of Sleez, Stretchette, and Stretch on the Bourbon Street web cam at approximately 2230 CST (1830 HST) January 3, 2008.
Comment from: LizKauai [Visitor]
Just got home, Thanks to I Believe!
We had a mini Kauai Call. Hamuras was SRO so we had pho at Pho Kauai- ending my trip where it started ;-)
Stretch just called from Bourbon Street- and, of course, I Believe was on the road!!!
I caught Stretch and co on the cam and will send to SteveM. Hopefully Tracy caught them too.
Ahm tard...
01/03/08 @ 18:53
Comment from: LizKauai [Visitor]
uh... when it comes to football, Ronnie is a stud. She is a match for anyone.
As a roomie- there is none better!
And before you think I have lost my senses... I will say
nitey nite!!!
01/03/08 @ 19:56
ADDENDUM:
Comment from: Liz Kauai [Member]
Dunno if this is the right place to mention it, but what the heck.
The wonderful people at Murphy's responded maturely and generously to people who let them know at the time that they were unable to eat at/enjoy the Cajun Bash in NOLA.
They did not try to make anyone look bad but explained the situation and apologized sincerely and with their pocketbooks. For me, this erases all negative feelings about the event and makes things very pono.
Mahalo, Murphy's!
(SteveM, can you add this to bring resolution and closure to the negative comments in the NOLA diary? Thanks!)
02/04/08 @ 22:26