Travelingman Richard and my lady Judy: Hawaian Honeymoon

Judy and I decided to go to Hawaii for our second anniversary. We are staying in Honolulu about a block from the Waikiki beach. The weather is expected to be in the high 70's during the day and about 70 in the evening. Ahhhh. No rain.

Day 1 November 25

We got up early and headed to the airport for our 8:50 flight to Oahu island. The trip to the Hawaii was uneventful except Judy sat next to a nasty little boy. We got our car and drove to the Ohana East hotel in Waikiki. Our room is on the 17th floor with a view of the hills behind the city and a view of the ocean.from the balcony.

Our room is on the 17 floor second from the left.

After settling in we headed to the main street and looked around. We ate at the Cheesecake Factory having a very nice dinner, Thai veggy wraps.. Then we walked down to the beach and enjoyed the never ending waves. The streets are full of music and many people. It is good to be alive. Unfortunately, I noticed I was having an A-fib episode. ( the first in quite a while.) We strolled back to the hotel, hoping to relax away this demon. No real sleep, and no luck scaring it away. Seek help tomorrow.....

Day 2 November 26
We got up early, called my doctor in Olympia who said we should see a local doctor. We went to a clinic next door to the hotel who sent me, by ambulance to the Hospital emergency. In the emergency room, I was electro-converted and was out of there in less than two hours. In the afternoon after a rest, we headed

back to main street and walked around,

Watched the sun set, then took a trolley around town. We ate a light dinner at the Outrigger Hotel Hula Cafe. Heart doing ok.

Day 3 November 27

We got up and went downstairs for breakfast. Judy and I wanted matching outfits for the luau in the evening. We took the Hilo Hattie shuttle to their store. We found Judy a pretty dress and me a matching shirt. In fact we got two outfits. At 3:45 we caught the shuttle bus to the Paradise Cove luau and show. At
the site we were tried our hand at spear throwing,

Hawaian bowling, and had a short outrigger canoe ride.

Watched the "imo" cerimony where they take the pig out of the pit in the ground. The dinner was ok and the show was fun and exiciting. We had a good time there.

Day 4 Wednesday 28
We caught a bus early in the morning and went to the US Arizona National Memorial at Pearl Harbor. It was a sad place knowing what had gone on here on Dec. 7, 1941.

Oil is still leaking from the boat after all these years. The drops coming up are called "black tears". After that we went to the US Missouri where the Japanese surrendered to the US and allies. The tour guide aboard the ship was very good and
knowledgeable.

The tour then went to the Sugar Bowl National Cemetary where soldiers from many wars were burried. The bus then took us on a tour of other sites in the city. We got back early enough and went to Waikiki beach to swim. I got in the water and Judy wrestled with the waves. Went to dinner and then to bed.

Here are some of the flowers we have seen.

Day 5 November 28

We got up early to ca tch a bus to take us to a free breakfast and $100 off our previous tour packages. Of course, we had to listen to a time share presentation. After that we drove North of Honolulu between the mountain ranges to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Judy was there many years ago and said back then they really tried to show the culture of each island. To day most of the presentations were shows with very little about the culture of the peoples. They were entertaining but somewhat disappointing too. We went to the canoe presentation as was as shows from four island nations. We drove back to Honolulu in the dark and ate dinner on the lanai.

Day 6 November 30

We had a leisurely morning then headed off to Diamond Head. I hiked the 0.8 mile 500 foot elevation to the summit. Spectacular views.

Most of the trail was put in before WWII and the place is covered with bunkers. Interestingly, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor from the North. Think they knew that the observation bunkers were in the Southeast part of the island. The place was called Diamond Head because sparkling crystals of calcite were found and some thought at first they were diamonds. The Hawaiian name means shark fin which it does resemble. We then headed East and up the East side of the island. Stopped at the blow hole.

At lunch on a nice secluded beach.

Drove around looking at the scenery. Last stop of the day was as Pali Lookout where King Kamehameha drove the Oahu king and soldiers over the cliff to their deaths.

Nice views from here.

Made it back to the hotel fighting H1 traffic for a few miles and had a nice dinner.

Day 7 December 1

After a leisurely morning and breakfast, we headed to the West ern side of the island. The West coast is definitely the more laid back and least populated part of the island. More to our liking.

We drove to the end of the road taking a few side trips up into the mountains. We stopped for lunch at a beach front park with almost no one there.

Picked up some nice coral.

Drove back to the hotel and then headed off to the beach for a swim in the warm ocean water. Lovely. Went out to dinner at an ocean front restaurant and had a very good dinner.