Oct 2 - Honolulu

 Oct 2 - Honolulu 

Aloha!🌺

We arrived around 6 AM as Honolulu was waking up.  Dramatic skies over the city were constantly changing as the sun came up.  Diamond Head was our first landmark!

As we entered the harbour we passed a ship loaded with Wind Turbines!

 

Our tour today was a scenic drive along the Pali Coast, an area of Oahu we had not experienced before.  

We travelled through the heart of the resort district at Waikiki, replete with high ticket stores frequented by Japanese employees who are given free airfare and a week rent free by the owners of the stores to come and shop!  Louis Vuitton, Tiffany’s, Chanel etc.  We didn’t stop!

We passed by a marina and a beautiful park on the beach where the water temperature is about 76°.  We reached a beach with stunning views of Diamond Head and had a photo stop at Amelia Earhart Lookout.  The cliffs are steep and lush and provide a venue for hikers. ( it’s difficult to take photos from a bus!)

We drove through the ‘Beverly Hills’ of Hawaii to gawk at the homes occupied at one time or another by people like Carol Burnett, Oprah, and Doris Duke; daughter of the ‘Lucky Strike’ owner that Duke University was named after.  The land is actually more valuable than the homes!  The guide told us about a Japanese investor who purchased several lots and tore down the houses with the idea of building apartments or hotels, only to find out that there was a two-storey restriction!  An empty lot can be worth $35M in today’s market! 

We continued on to Hanauma Bay and the Halona Blowhole.  Because of the low tide there was not much of a blow but the shoreline is beautiful with many surfers trying to catch the waves.

A bit farther along, the guide pointed out a property belonging to Barack Obama; our guide had been on his Secret Service detail for a few years.  From there we reached Makapu’u Point and could look back at the  Makapu’u Lighthouse.  We continued on to Waimanalo Beach where the shoreline slopes gently into the ocean. 

After a brief rest stop we took a narrow road to the Pali Lookout where King Kamehameha I is said to have forced thousands of his opponents to jump to their deaths in the Battle of Nu’uanu. 

 

Tonight there is a folkloric show in the theatre.  It is at 6:45 so it will be a challenge to have dinner and get a seat as the theatre fills up early!

We made it!  It was a nice show with hula and Hawaiian music; dancers were boys, girls and adults from age 6 up!

More tomorrow!

Two Tired Travellers