Off to Hawaii

April, 2018

 

Another airport, another few time zones and we arrived in Honolulu. From the arid desert to the lush tropics, put away the dry skin lotion and break out the sunscreen. .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful sculptured trees and plants wherever you look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As it grows the banyan tree produces aerial roots that hang down and take root wherever they touch the ground. Here's one that has been at it for some time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone comes for the beaches,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Famous Waikiki Beach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And for the sunsets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watching boats coming into the harbor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ala Wai Harbor, downtown Waikiki

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View of downtown from the Top of Waikiki Restaurant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We rented a car and drove up the mountain for a better view of the city

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We believe this neighborhood has an excellent ZIP code.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bit of a windy day, but quite a spot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pali Pass in the middle of the Island where it was raining and cloudy most days we were in Honolulu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Makes for a beautiful green valley on the other side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some desolate craigy rocks offshore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a windswept beach at the shore

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some crashing waves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And rocky beaches on this side of the Island

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still beautiful beaches though

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lovely small lagoon with a small entrance allows the chilly Pacific to warm up a bit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We thought we might try learning some of the language but the pronounciation of this one stumped us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jim spent about two years living here in the early 60s. Said he spent his first night here at this same posh hotel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still a beautiful place that seems like a quiet sanctuary in the middle of all the bustle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the photo from 1964 taken from a tall restaurant in Waikiki

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the (almost) same spot, giant hotels encroaching on all sides.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diamond Head circa 1964

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Waikiki to Diamond Head, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luxury transportation, circa 1964

 

Next stop Sydney, Australia.

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