Our Hawaiian idyll is coming to an end - off to New York tonight, and sub-zero temperatures.

The weather here, though, is gorgeous - warm and balmy days, which begin early each morning with what the locals call "Hawaiian blessings" aka showers which soon clear up.

As ever, the local gilded youth hang out on their long boards, waiting for the wave that never comes, while the tourists, derisively known as tea-bags for their habit of bobbing up and down in the water, hang closer to shore.

We are staying at the Royal Hawaiian - which like much else in Hawaii seems to be feeling the effects of the recession.

Many cut-backs are in evidence since our last visit - the abundant breakfast buffet is no more, no turn-down service in the evening, no mini bar - although the essential beauty of the place makes any flaws seem trivial.

Lots of tents in the parks, though, and much more evidence of homelessness than I can ever recall in the past.

But the Ala Moana Shopping Centre continues to expand, and despite their own recession, the Japanese appear still determined to spend their way to happiness.

Undeterred, we are also doing our bit for the economy.  Mr S has bought a ukulele, and is threatening to learn to play.  I shop for shoes in Cole-Haan and Ferragamo, and score well on both counts.

For this part of our trip we are accompanied by our friends Matt and Amanda, and their 10 month old son, Harrison.  A small blond infant, still with the impossibly round blue eyes of babyhood, Harrison is cute, placid,and able to draw a crowd wherever he goes.  He's great for attracting attention, but rubbish for getting any service, as the staff seem to want to do nothing else but down tools and play with him.

Mr. S celebrated his birthday with style, where a personal hula was offered by the dancer at the Halekolani, while the resident ukulele band sang Happy Birthday to "Captain Skinner" in Hawaiian, then off to Orchids for dinner.  Nobu and Roy's both provided excellent evening meals - lots of seafood, imaginatively cooked and presented.

We are walking every day but suspect that it's not going to be enough to ward off the kilos.  The cocktails are lethal, but irresistable!
We've succeeded in skyping for the first time since the trip began.  We were able to both see and talk to our son Matt, his wife Elissa, and our two little grandsons, Will and Harley - which successfully made me terribly homesick, and our daughter Anne appears to have acquired a new family member - a black kitten called Ella.  I realize their lives are moving along, and I'm not there to offer a running commentary.

Yesterday was a long lazy day at the spa - I have been successfully de-fuzzed, massaged, buffed and pampered - it was fantastic.  Our sybaritic days are closing in on us - the cold weather in New York is going to have us much more focussed on intellectual pursuits, but for now the opportunity to let our brains turn to mush for five days has been a most welcome diversion.