Honolulu, Oahu
A short (20-30 minutes) flight on Friday took us from the garden isle of Kauai to Honolulu, Oahu. I feel like we've landed in a different continent. We are a 2 - 3 minute walk from Waikiki beach and among high rise hotels, busy traffic-congested streets, unlimited restaurants, major shopping lining the streets, and PEOPLE everywhere. We haven't been to Oahu for many years and want to do Pearl Harbor, hike Diamond Head and search out a few beaches around the island.
The Hard Rock Cafe was our first meal choice.
Waikiki Beach looking out toward Diamond Head
DIAMOND HEAD
Diamond Head Crater was created about 300,000 years ago. The trail to the top of Diamond Head is about 1 mile and gains over 560 feet. It is uneven and rocky, goes through a long tunnel, has 99 steps near the top, then a spiral staircase followed by more steps, then a low duck through a old military bunker look-out and then the summit. What a grand view of Waikiki.
the trek up
Views from the top!
EXPLORING THE ISLAND OF OAHU
With a rented car and the famous blue guide book we left Honolulu behind and traveled the east and north shores to explore the rest of the island.
The spitting cave of Portlock is below a gorgeous layered shoreline. Hiking down and out on the cliff gave us a good view.
Halona Blowhole
Sandy Beach and time for lunch
The sea arch off La'ie Point
The jumping rock at Waimea Bay
Turtle Beach
shave ice at Aoki's in Hale'iwa
Central Oahu - this area is dominated by one crop - pineapple.
PEARL HARBOR
Pearl Harbor is still an active Navy base. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941 21 vessels were damaged or sunk. The sinking of the USS Arizona caused the most deaths - 1177. The vessel sank in 9 minutes. The memorial visit included an excellent 23 minutes film, a short boat ride to the memorial and time there.
The USS Missouri Battleship is a short distance away from the sunken Arizona. When the Navy was looking for the final resting place for this warship, the symbolism of this location wasn't lost on them: placing the floating ship that ended WWII next to the sunken ship where the war began.
This is the spot where the Japanese signed the surrender papers to end WWII.
EXPLORING MORE OF OAHU
We drove through central Oahu via the H-3 (a 16 mile road costing almost $100 million per mile to build and took 37 years to complete) and back on the Pali Highways.
Looking down on one of the tunnels we drove through.
Tantalus - Round Top Drive - a 10-mile-long road that wiggles and winds up the mountains through a pretty forest above Honolulu to the l610-foot level.
Driving back to Honolulu we stopped at PUNCHBOWL CEMETERY.
The Punchbowl Crater was used in ancient times for Hawaiian royalty burials. Since 1949 it's been used as a cemetery for those in the military who sacrificed their lives in the Pacific.
We finished the week on Waikiki Beach! We had a terrific week in Honolulu.
Wonderful memories!
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