A Visitors' Guide
Coming back from Micronesia, after a 7 hour flight (in a cramped Continental Micronesia DC-10 seat), we stopped in Hawai'i for a few days. As was mentioned in the Palau Visitors Guide tour page, our land camera died a quick death on Palau, so we don't have any photos (which aren't copyrighted by someone else) to share from Oahu! However, we found some great places we want to share!
We stayed at the Holiday Inn at the Honolulu airport and rented a car.
One day's trip was up the central valley.
We stopped at the Dole Pineapple information center and at their store. We found thier prices to be high. However, their parking lot (64-1510 Kamehameha Highway) was shared with Helemano Plantation. The
Helemano Plantation is part of a project to help mentally challenged folks live in our society. They raise money at that site with a restaurant, bake shop, produce market and gift shop, amongst others! We found
their pastries very tasty and took some back to our hotel for breakfast. We also bought some souvenirs in thier gift shop. Prices were good and we felt good to be helping folks who need a hand.
The Wyland Gallery in Waialua yielded a print of a sunset at Kaena Point for Bruce's office.
The remainder of the day was spent driving along the North Shore (not very large waves in late April) and visiting places like Waimea Bay.
Another day was spent finishing the North Shore and touring Waikiki.
In Palau, we had met Richard, who worked for the Waikiki Aquarium, administered by the University of Hawai'i. He showed us around his fantastic
place of employment. They are growing coral reefs there. They have monk seals and Jellyfish from Jellyfish Lake. Richard showed us thier "Shark Tank" with lots of pelagics. You can enjoy thier "Shark Tank" now from your very home over the Internet! Just click on "Shark Tank" and you will be taken to their Coral Cam website. There you will get a new photo every ten (10) seconds, live from their tank. Just remember the time difference between where you are and Hawai'i! The photos aren't too great when the sun isn't up!
Other places to visit:
The 'Iolani Palace - the residence of the only rchy in the United States!
The USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park, located next to the dock for the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. This is your opportunity to tour a World War II
Diesel / Battery submarine. A great tour!
In Waikiki, the Army Museum gives a great idea of what life was like in Honolulu in 1941 and how it changed very quickly in DecemberIt was bittersweet to board our plane in Honolulu to return to the mainland. Fun times. All gone so soon. Great photos to keep the feelings alive!
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