But for first-time Waikiki tourists Paul and Jennifer Ettorre of Cleveland, it's the kind of thing that can give a journey that extra special touch. They wound up their eight-day vacation Friday, thrilled at having spent much of their time doing volunteer work to help feed the hungry.

Local volunteer organizations were at once pleased and dumfounded.

"They contacted us off our Web site and told us when they were going to be here and asked us if we could use their help," said Judy Lee, Aloha Harvest food research coordinator.

"I mean, we're an agency that's got six people — of course we could use their help."

On the last day of her Hawai'i vacation, Jennifer Ettorre delivers donated food to the Waikiki Baptist Church. She and her husband turned their 2001 honeymoon into volunteer work in New York City. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

Before taking off Friday, the Ettorres couldn't resist one last vacation highlight — unloading hefty food packages from the Aloha Harvest van and toting them into the Waikiki Baptist Church.

"I just couldn't believe that anyone would do something like this for their vacation," said Aloha Harvest driver Kauahi Sai, who served as the Ettorres' tour guide during the two days they traveled around O'ahu making pickups and deliveries.

"I pretty much took them from the east to the south to the west to the north. They seem to really enjoy doing this. They're some good people."

In truth, the Ettorres are your more or less average Midwestern couple who enjoy football, joking around and having a life.

"We did get in a little normal tourist sightseeing, rented a car and drove around," said Jennifer, as if to make the point.

Their tradition of taking volunteer vacations began by accident four years ago. They had planned a spectacular wedding for Sept. 22, 2001, with relatives flying in from all over the country. And, like most engaged couples, they wanted their honeymoon in Italy to be something they'd never forget.

Then came the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, and the whole country was thrown into chaos.

Paul recalls: "It was right after the terrorists attacks — I think it was around Sept. 13 — and I was glued to CNN and she came in and said, 'Honey, we should go to New York and help.' And I said, 'Yeah, that sounds good.' "

The wedding, albeit a much simplified version, came off on schedule. But the honeymoon was drastically amended.

"Get this," said Jennifer. "Our honeymoon began on a blowup mattress in a New York City one-bedroom apartment that belonged to one of Paul's friends — who was sleeping in the other bed. Yee-haw! Can we party, or can we party?"

Still, the couple found the experience of volunteering for City Harvest, the organization that provided food for Ground Zero, gratifying. So they decided to plan their life around it.

The two accidental volunteers have vacationed in New York, their home state of Ohio, California and now Hawai'i. For their next anniversary, they like the thought of feeding the hungry in Alaska.

"We've kind of made this pact that every year for our anniversary we would hit a different state, and that we will hit all 50 states," said Paul, 39, a commercial real-estate developer.

"I can't think of anything that I accomplish that is nearly as gratifying as being able to be of service to those who can't be of service to themselves," said Jennifer, who's a staffer for a Cleveland nonprofit outfit that makes loans to affordable housing developers.

As for Italy, they plan to travel there in 2006 — for their fifth wedding anniversary.

And will they be doing service work once they're in the land of mandolins and romance?

"No," said Jennifer, and then she began to laugh.

"She says that now, but she won't be able to control herself," said Paul shaking his head.

" ... Just a few days, maybe" she conceded.