Hawaii - Days Two and Three - Oahu

So guess what?  I look out the window and THIS is the view.  Who knew.  When we arrived it was dark and we left the hotel yesterday before light and returned after dark.  This is the first time I have looked out the window in the daylight.  Yes, that is Waikiki beach beyond Kapiolani Park.  If the picture went a little further on the left, it would be the beginning of the Honolulu Zoo.  What a fantastic location Mister picked out for our hotel.

Our first destination today is Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial.  It is President's Day and the Great Aloha Run is taking place today so we have to make many detours to arrive at the park.  The grounds are beautiful and we have tickets for 9:15 so have about an hour to visit the museum and take pictures.

It is windy again today and so the decision is made not to run the boats out to the memorial.  Dang.  Our time here was not wasted though as the museum, the films, and the grounds are excellent.

We spot a table where gentlemen are signing autographs and answering questions for anyone who wishes to do so.  They are Pearl Harbor survivors and can tell the story as no one else.

Since we are unable to go to the memorial we decide to walk over to the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park, a tribute to the role of the submarine in war and peacetime security.  I cannot believe how large and yet small these are. I enjoyed playing with the periscopes to see the harbor.

On to the Northshore!  Haleiwa is the next stop and the drive up is beautiful.  We pass pineapple fields all along the way and stop to take a shot of one of them.  I love seeing how different foods grow.

Mister is really hoping to see the beautiful waves of the northshore, but the weather is making it a bit difficult.  We stop at Haleiwa and Alii Beach Parks and walk around the lava and out on the sand.  Even with the weather, it is beautiful here.  Almost picture postcard worthy.  Almost, I said.

We are hungry.  Go figure.  For some reason we forget to eat when we are busily looking at things.  Haleiwa Joes is the stop for some wonderful food.  I have the absolute best coconut shrimp that I have ever eaten while Mister enjoys some amazing looking fish tacos.  Oh yes, that is much better.

Continuing across the northshore, I am rapidly trying to locate a beach on the GPS that someone had told me about.  Ahhhh, there it is.  Laniakea Beach is supposed be the most likely spot to view sea turtles at any time.  Sure enough, there is one on the beach.  Isn't she beautiful?  I am in heaven.

The local sea turtle watch groups work the beaches and when the animals are around, rope the areas off  to protect them.  Even still, the woman working this beach spent a great deal of time asking people to respect the space.  Ugh.  The turtles come up onto the beach to rest and sun themselves.  They will stay for several hours and then turn around and leave, usually with the tides.

I want to stay here all day, but am also looking forward to visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center today, so we must be on our way.  Soon we are on the west side of the island in the town of Laie.  The Center is just down the road and the thought of getting out of the car and walking around for a bit sounds great.  Even though the distances here are small, the time to travel is huge due to a two-lane road and heavy traffic.  And this is not peak season --- oh my, another good reason to stay away during that time. We arrive at the PCC, purchase our tickets, and are told that the main river show is just starting.  We quickly walk over and watch as each country that is represented here does a small dance on rafts down the river.  The one from Fiji is my favorite.  We scan the schedule to see which shows we would like to see and first up is Samoa so we head to that island (kind of like the different "lands" at Disneyland, only much smaller).

The presentation is excellent.  We are taught about the culture in Samoa, how to make fire, weaving, and coconut tree climbing.  There is even an opportunity to climb the tree ourselves, but we pass.  I want to be able to move tomorrow.  Our next stop is at the Hawaiian Mission Settlement to view the incredible quilts that are on display.  Someday I will make something that beautiful.

On to Tahiti and the chance to watch a wedding ceremony presentation.  It tells the story of their courtship and is quite beautiful.

We then walked over to Fuji and found a woman working on a ceremonial costume.  We visited with her for awhile as I watched her weave with her fingers and toes.  Then, on to Hawaii where we came across a poi demonstration.


The taro corm is cooked and then mashed down and fluids are added to achieved either a two-finger or three-finger consistency.  They give us toothpicks to use instead of fingers though.


Next up is the Islands of Aotearoa, the Maori name for New Zealand.  Since this is high on our list of places we want to visit, it is a must stop.  Here the presentation is on their ceremonies and is in the form of music and dance.  It is great and varies at all times.  At one point, the white puff balls that  you see in the picture are removed and twirled as they dance.  Their timing and facial expressions tell the stories impeccably and for me, it is my favorite presentation thus far.

Our last stop is in the Islands of Tonga where we are given a presentation with drums.  They are the heartbeat of the islands and can give more information quickly than many other forms of communication.  Again, a great demonstration.

Our time here is finished.  How did the hours pass so quick?  It is easy when you are having a good time.

Mister decides when we leave to retrace our route back around the northshore instead of following the west side and cutting over.  We had passed several shrimp farms on the way here and a certain shrimp truck had been highly recommended to us.  We had passed it also and so are now returning to Giovannis Shrimp Truck.  We order the Scampi to share and oh my goodness.  Even though it is the second shrimp dish for me today -- it is divine.  Mister always says that he has a hard time finding a good shrimp scampi.  Well, he did today.

Satiated again, we continue on while watching this phenomenal sunset and Mister surprises me with a repeat visit to Laniakea Beach.  Crazy, but there is another turtle on the beach.  Fantastic!  What a perfect end to a great day.

A new day dawns and we want to explore the west side of Oahu today.  First stop is Leonards Bakery for malasadas.  This is another one of the "must eats" on our list.  This bakery has been in this same spot for over 50 years and is a tradition throughout the island.  Superb donuts.

With our tummy's happy, we continue through the mountain to the west side.  Yep, that's right - a tunnel. Always fun.  When we exit the tunnel, it looks as though we are on a different island altogether with high mountains that butt up against the ocean in places.  Nestled on the slopes is the Byodo-in Temple.  It is at the back of a very large cemetary at Valley of the Temples Memorial Park.  It has been here since 1968 and is a smaller-scale replica of the 950-year-old one in Japan.  They had to get permission from  the Japanese government to even build it here.

Across the road from it is perhaps one of the most intriguing cemeteries I have seen.  It is serene and beautiful with headstones unlike any I had seen before.  The stones are all black granite with gold lettering and all are facing north.

The very first thing on the property once we pass the gates is the Bon-sho or "sacred bell".  A "shu'moku" is used to strike the bell and is customarily rung before one enters the temple to purify the mind of evil spirits and temptation.  So, I give it a ring.

As we walk towards the temple, there is a little meditation area that we explore and can hear the wild peacocks in the area.  I hope and hope that we will see one, but no such luck.

I watch Mister as he sets about capturing the temple.  What do you suppose he sees?

Ah -- nice.

I leave him to his photography and as I start to explore the grounds I run into a pond full of turtles.  I watch the for quite awhile until Mister joins me.  These little guys are almost posing for us and one of them sticks out his hind leg and literally stretches for quite awhile.  Just as Mister tries to snap the picture, he pulls it back in showing just who is in control.

Our time here is finished and so we reluctantly point the car southeast and back through the mountain - via a different tunnel.

Also on our "must see" list is the The Bishop Museum and so that is our next stop.  Once we arrive, we face a sign that says "closed Tuesdays".  Grrrrrr.  I cannot believe that I didn't find that in my research. Oh well, moving along --- onto The Lyon Arboretum.  We arrive at the same time that a downpour does.  What is going on today?  Thankfully, the storm is short-lived and we dart out in between showers and head into the rainforest.  We plan on walking up to the Aihualama Falls which is about 45 minutes each way.  Let's go.

Someone has a sense of humor.  Says psst to me.  Too cute.  Soon our path opens out onto Inspiration Point and this is our view.  Oh my.  How lovely and aptly named.

Another couple pops out of the vegetation a few minutes later and so we exchange photo opportunities with them  Cool -- I will get at least one pic us together on this trip.  As we start back onto the path, a flowering plant catches my attention.  So unique.

Back on our trail.

Along the way there is an old, abandoned seismograph station.  Mister just has to explore.  I am surprised that there are not any barriers keeping people out.  Oh well, it is the rainforest and not a very accessible trail.
As we enter The Great Lawn, we have become targets for the rain again since we have lost the canopy.


This has been a great place to visit and we enjoyed ourselves tremendously.
It is time to wind our way back into town, but a quick stop at the National Memorial Cemetary of the Pacific is in order.  It sits in Punchbowl, an inactive volcano crater and pays tribute to those who lost their lives in the Pacific during WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.  Almost half of those buried here were from WWII, including victims of Pearl Harbor.  We have to wait awhile for this picture as there is a tour group there at the same time as us, but it works.

A walk around the grounds takes us to an overlook of Honolulu.  Mister did a couple of panorama shot but they are not attached yet and so I will fix it when he finishes.  While up at the overlook, we spot this cute little guy in a tree.  He was pretty shy though and took off when I tried to get closer. I also spotted a coconut tree that was FULL and some gorgeous bougainvillea plants.

We drop down the mountain and back into downtown Honolulu.  We park in Chinatown for a quick bowl of noodle soup and are soon on our way again.  A quick stop at the Hawaii State Capitol building emits a WOW from me.  My picture does not do it justice nor could I find any link that did.  It is way cool.  The architecture reflect the island so well.  I am going to simply quote from Eyewitness Travel here as it is spot on: "The building rises from a reflecting pool just as the islands rise from the blue Pacific.  Fluted columns, suggesting lofty palms, circle the veranda, and two volcano-shaped chambers contain the houses of the legislature."  It is true AND the entire thing is open air -- you can walk all through it even now, way after closing hours.  I loved it.

The last couple stops of the day are at the Iolani Palace and the Aliiolani Hale.  These two buildings represent both old and new governments combined.  The Palace is the only royal residence in the United States.  The Aliiolani Hale or "House of the Heavenly King" was designed as a palace and built in 1874.  It currently houses the Supreme Court and the Judiciary History Center.  The statue out front is that of King Kamehameha.

Our day is finished with a stop at Hawaiian Islands Brewing Co. and we enjoy a beer just as they are closing.  It is time for bed as we are flying early tomorrow morning.  Time for the Big Island.