Hawaii Days 7 - 9 Oct. 25 -27

Next was our PPP day, Pearl Harbor, Punchbowl, and Pali Lookout.

Before we visited the Arizona monument, we toured the Battleship Missouri. It saw action even in recent years.

Oh, but first the famous kiss. They were having a contest to find the best couple who could replicate the famous New Year's Eve Time Square kiss. We tried just for fun, not for the contest.
Quite an entrance.


Impressive.
There was information about the kamikaze attacks that took place at Pearl Harbor.
This is the ship where they signed the peace agreement.

This is a monument to commemorate the signing of the peace agreement.
This was our tour guide. I think he must have been a veteran.
Lots of equipment on this ship.
This was an area where you could have special events.
One of the control rooms.

The view from the captain's chair.
Look who's in command.
Or is she in command?

Some of the interior living quarters.




After visiting the Missouri we headed over to the Arizona Monument and Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.
Beautiful flowers.
The Arizona Monument. This was one of the ships that sunk and has been preserved with a monument built over it.
You take a ferry over to it.
At the monument.

Map of the sunken Arizona.
Part of the ship.

The monument.


Leading to the ferry to go back.


Map of Pearl Harbor area.
Next we visited the Punchbowl National Cemetery.





At the highest point there, we got some good views of Honolulu and the area. The small apartment building just in front of the building with the green roof on the left side of the picture is where Patsy used to live.

Another silvery view looking on the opposite side of Honolulu.
Diamond Head in the background. We hiked to the top of it on another day.
More views.



Coconut tree. They aren't ripe yet.
These special memorials lined the walkway up to the lookout area.


The final P stands for Pali Lookout. We tried to visit this lookout several times, but we either missed the turn to take us there, the weather didn't cooperate, or it was too dark. Today was THE day.










This was a weird tree.

We got home in time to watch Dancing With the Stars elimination show. Can't miss that, you know.

The next day Patsy made plans to have lunch with some of her former work friends. We were going to do our own thing until we found out they were going to a Thai restaurant, our favorite, so we joined them. I had my usual panang curry. I forgot to take any pictures. Oops.

Afterwards we made a trip into the Honolulu and did some touristy things. This is their court house. Interesting architecture.


This is a statue of Queen Lili Uokulani. We visited the palace where she lived and where she was held prisoner for a period of time.

This is the Iolani Palace. We had to wear little pull over slippers when we toured it. They did not allow pictures so these are the only ones.

Across the street was the building they use in Hawaii 5 - O. I guess I've never watched it, but now I need to watch so I can recognize this building.


The statue of King Kamehameha is right in front of the building. There are several King Kamehameha, I, II, III, IV, V......


We walked by this church which is the oldest church in Hawaii or Oahu.


This was an eternal flame to honor the 9 - 11 victims.

We took a little drive to see the China man's hat, a little island just off the shore just outside of Waikiki.
The next day we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center. We definitely got a taste of Polynesian life with their programs and hands on events. Interestingly enough the center is operated by the Mormon Church and the students from Brigham University there work at the center to help pay for their education.

First we took a ride in their outrigger to get deeper into the park.

Bob tried his hand at dancing. We got there too late for Patsy and me to learn how to hula.
So we just watched.
They had some of this bread to sample and it was pretty good. Maybe I'll have to try to make some one day.
This young man showed us how to make this cute toy using palms.
At one of the programs we used these hollow poles to help make music with the presenters. Each one had a different pitch depending on the length.
Dancers telling stories.

Photo opts.


Mid day they had a pageant on the canal and every Polynesian area performed in their costumes and with their unique form of dance. It was very colorful and entertaining.





The finale was the float with the royalty.
We went to several programs that were quite informative and some were quite entertaining.
This guy made fire.
First the smoke.
Then the flame. He was also very entertaining. He was also an artist who displayed his works in the gift shops.
This one climbed the trees. He knew how to pose.
This was a welcoming New Zealand ceremony for guests.
He introduced it and explained it.

The women sang a welcoming chant that signified it was time for the quests to proceed into the area.
This group was selected to participate in the ceremony while the rest of us watched on the sidelines.
This was the program inside the building.
At another site they had drums. They were serious, but later they had audience participation which was pretty entertaining.
Here they are demonstrating local types of food. We could taste it if we wanted. It didn't have much flavor.
Another program.

After enjoying the center, we decided to go to their luau. You have to go to a luau when you're in Hawaii. It was quite enjoyable and the food was pretty good. The Royalty welcomed you.
Bob and Patsy look pretty happy with the leis that they gave us.

First they introduced you to the food you would be eating.
The main entree, of course, was the wild boar or pig. They had slow cooked it in the traditional way in palm leaves. Here they are uncovering it.
Then they carry it around for you to see it.
As you ate, they entertained you with Polynesian dancing.



We had a great time and learned a lot about the Polynesian way of life.

North Shore Trip Day 6 Oct. 24

This was the day we drove to enjoy the North Shore. This is the northern part of Oahu. Here is some scenery at the beginning of our drive.

This is a drier area. Oahu has lush areas and dry areas.
We did drive on an interstate. There are 3 of them on Oahu. This is a sign showing the exit to Schofield Barracks. My mom lived there when her father was stationed there. In fact my Uncle Chuck was born there. So I kind of took the picture in his honor. Hi Uncle Chuck. Hope you see this. My Uncle Scott lived there too. This is for Uncle Scott too.

Our first main stop was the Dole Plantation Visitor Center. Hawaii really isn't a main producer of pineapple, but I guess it's tradition to at least, have a visitor center with pineapple as a theme.
One of the treats that Patsy wanted us to enjoy was a Dole Whip which is pineapple flavored soft ice cream. It was quite delicious.
Bob added a pineapple topping to his.
This was the patio outside of the visitor center.
We did drive by this pineapple field so I guess they grow some pineapple.
Our next stop was a beach where turtles come to rest. Luckily there were some there when we were. Some have names and stories to go with them.
Volunteers rope off areas and monitor the area to protect the turtles from the people who are admiring them.







This map gives a little overview of some of the area on the North Shore.
This is a beautiful beach where they warned people of dangerous undercurrents and dangerous shore breaks. Patsy and I took one look at the shore breaks and decided getting into the water was definitely out of the question.
So we just sat in our chairs and enjoyed the scenery.
Some people decided to get in and thought that they could out wit the waves and undercurrent. Well Bob watched them for a while and decided, (against the lifeguards' advice) to join them. It was OK for a few minutes, but then a big wave crashed on the shore as he was getting out and he learned what dangerous meant. I think he was sore for a couple of days, but luckily he didn't end up with a broken back and being taken to the emergency room like someone that day had. It was a beautiful beach, but you have to respect the power of water.

This is an area of the beach where my sister, Susie, had fun when she visited this beach in the past. We took a picture to commemorate the experience. I guess there was a lot of laughter and a lot of sand in the suit. The tide was out so we couldn't replicate the fun.
On the plane a woman suggested that we try eating at a shrimp shack which is portable eating place set up by a shrimp farm. So we decided to try it. Luckily we picked a good one.
There was an article posted on their truck telling it was a pretty good place to eat.

At another beach we picked up "buttons." Buttons are the small part that help keep shells together while the shelled animal still lives in them. You collect a bunch and put them in a bowl and sift through them. They are small and smooth, and they just feel good. I guess it's a kind of therapy.

There were a group of lifeguards that looked like they were doing some training. Their training is a lot different from the training pool guards get.
This beach also posted the warning signs for dangerous shore breaks and undertows. But there were people out there surfing. I guess it is a popular place for surfing. You need to know what you're doing.





On our way home we stopped at a lookout, Lahie Point View. It was one of those out of the way places that Patsy knew about and knew how to get there. It was pretty interesting.







In Hawaii, the sun goes down about 6:00 so after the sun goes down, you might as well go home. So we did, just in time to watch "Dancing With the Stars." I had beautiful pictures "Dancing in my Head."