Thursday, 19th November – Another Day at the Office
It is a little like Groundhog Day as Tony and I have had bacon, fried eggs and pork beans for breakfast followed by another workout at the gym. The girls went off for Pilates and an aqua fitness class. I must be enjoying the holiday as I made the mistake of jumping on the scales at the gym. To my chagrin I’ve added another 3kg in under three weeks.
I spent most of the afternoon trying to work out the most economical way for us to travel from KoOlina to Waikiki. Julie ended up finding a site for star taxis which is a discount taxi company. I called them and they quoted $US80 for the trip which is much cheaper than all the other options. I booked the trip and will probably use them for our transfer to the airport from Waikiki as they only charge $US30. www.startaxihawaii.com
The romantic sunset on the beach has been relegated to the back burner as the rain god has chosen to open up the heavens this afternoon. Alice and I stayed in doors but Tony and Julie backed up for a line dancing or boot scooting class. They returned looking all sweaty but a champagne and a beer perked them up. Dinner tonight is at the hotel’s longboard restaurant. There was no need to book as the rain is keeping everybody away including the local entertainer. The food was just okay but the atmosphere made up for it.
Friday, 20th November – Who’ll Stop The Rain
There was no need to hurry out of bed this morning as it is still raining. We checked out of our room at 10:00am and Julie arranged for our bags to be stored and a pass so that we could use the facilities. Tony and I hit the gym again however the girls had to be content with slumming it in the hot tub as all outdoor activities have been cancelled due to the rain.
There were some indoor activities available so Tony and Julie signed up for some Ukulele lessons whilst Alice and I contented ourselves with some light reading. Tony returned with a good understanding of the requisite skills he needed to be a player. Fortunately, for us he did not burst into a rendition of Tiny Tim’s “Tip Toe Through The Tulips”. Our Star Taxi arrived at 2:00pm and it comfortably fitted us all in and had ample room for our luggage. The driver did inform us that the company gets many calls from Australia for airport pickups. All you have to do is contact them the day before you fly out, give them your relevant flight details etc and they will meet you at the airport.
The trip to Waikiki was uneventful and took just under an hour. Our salubrious lodgings will be the not so five star budget Holiday Surf Hotel. It is located about a 10 minute walk to the beach and is next to the Ala Wai Canal on the very busy Ala Wai Boulevard. Our budget price of approximately $US95 per night isn’t too bad as our rooms have a reasonable kitchen with basic utensils. The only downside is that the noise emanating from the vehicular traffic is exacerbated by the squelching rubber on the wet tarmac. Our only solution was to crank up the air conditioner to drown out the noise.
The hotel staff are very helpful and pointed us in the direction of a reasonably sized and priced supermarket. We purchased enough supplies to last us a few days but Tony and I had to return to ensure we had enough beer for our evening respite. When it was time for bed I thought that I had not turned off the light. I then realized that we have a street light directly outside our third storey window which throws a bright yellow light through our threadbare curtains. Fortunately we both managed to drop off to sleep without the usual tossin’ and turnin’.
Saturday, 21st November – Waikiki
This morning we caught up with Sue and Russell at the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel for a look at the Ukulele Guild of Hawaii’s annual exhibition. Some of the instruments that were on display were works of art and were for sale for over $US2000. There were also some groups playing traditional Hawaiian songs accompanied by singers old and young. The rain had eased off so we took a long walk along the shoreline passing the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, U.S. Army museum and the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The latter sits next to the Ala Wai Yacht Club and is a huge complex with its own beach and private lagoon which appears to be well favoured by blushing Japanese brides.
The weather was still quite ordinary so the girls decided that some shop trolling would be a good way to spend some time. Tony and I being perfect husbands quickly acquiesced to their very reasonable request. From the yacht club it was only a short walk to the huge Ala Moana Shopping Centre. We knew that we were on the right path as we could see other tourists happily toting bargains back to their hotels in well filled Macy bags. After a spot of lunch in the food court we bid the girls farewell and set off for a leisurely stroll around the shops. We soon became bored but had a knowing laugh when we saw all the other men sitting in the suffering seats. Tony was looking a tad disheveled and went looking for a barber. He found one that was doing a brisk business which was either a good indication that it was cheap or they were good at their work. With his decision made he entered the shop and was soon in the hands of the world’s oldest hairdressers. She was probably cutting hair when Pearl Harbor was bombed. I was in fear for his ears as I had grave doubts that she could still hold the scissors with a steady hand. Nevertheless his ears remained intact and he emerged looking more handsome than ever. For three hours worth of shopping the girls returned with surprisingly little merchandise. Well there is always tomorrow!
Meanwhile back at the hotel we have freshened ourselves up and are ready to meet Sue and Russell at the Waolina Cocktail Lounge for a pre-dinner cocktail. Russell chose this place as the happy hour runs from noon until six in the evening. The beers were $2, Mai Tai’s $4 and the service terrible. In the hour that we were there we did manage to get two beers. Afterwards we took a long walk back to the Outrigger Hotel for a dinner with the Ukulele Guild. The buffet dinner was good and Tony could not resist going back for seconds as there was so much food leftover. His only mistake was that he did not have a knife or fork as they had already been taken away. Luckily, Sue had a set of used utensils which did the trick. The highlight of the evening was the concert that featured highly skilled Ukulele players who tested their abilities on instruments that were constructed by guild members. It was interesting to have a brief synopsis of the different materials used in construction and the sound that they were trying to achieve. A Japanese maker used a Vienna spruce that was harvested on a full moon light. Apparently that has an impact on the amount of moisture in the timber. A great night, with great music and a perfect way to end the day.
Sunday, 22nd November – Waikiki Rain
Well our walk up to Diamond Head is definitely cancelled for today as it is bucketing down. All this rain is a little unusual so the girls decided that they would check out a few of the local shops. Tony and I dropped them off at the Ross, Dress for Less store with instructions to meet us for lunch at 1:00pm at the Long Yard bar for a late lunch. With the rain pelting down Tony and I headed for some covered walkways which are few and far between on the streets of Waikiki in search of a hot coffee. After all we did not want to start too early at the Long Yard. Eventually we found a good coffee brew house and managed to kill an hour or so by people watching. When the clock struck twelve we headed straight to the bar and pulled up a stool with a good view of the street. There are about 150 beers on tap so we decided to try an IPA sampler. There were six small beers to sample and at a fraction over $US10 reasonable value. The following will be of interest to beer drinkers only and is a small description of our two favourites.
1. Breakside Wunderlust IPA 6.4% from Portland – A golden IPA made with 5 different hops, intense grapefruit and dank notes with a crisp finish.
2. Rouge Farms 7 Hop IPA 8% from Oregon – utilizes all 7 hops grown in the hopyard of Rouge Farms. This blend is then added to 3 varieties of Rouge Farms malt and brewed with free range Oregon costal waters.
As we were finishing off the tasting Alice arrived without any purchases. Fifteen minutes later Julie also arrived in a similar vein. It turns out that they had bought so much booty that they had to return to the hotel. The girls quickly ordered a cocktail and placed an order for lunch. The still thirsty boys were hooked on the IPA so an order for a half yard of Deschutes Inversion IPA was placed. We were still drinking that beastie long after devouring our lunch. As discriminating hop heads and at 6.8% this big, bold IPA’s intense multi-hop kick gets a subtle dose of restraint from select Munich and Caramel malts. As you can tell we think this is an amazing beer.
Back at the hotel the four of us combined our food resources and had a nice cheap dinner which was followed by a reasonably early night.
Monday, 23rd November – Big Fat Rain and Waikele Premium Outlet
The rain is still coming down but the girls are undaunted as they are booked on a Roberts Bus Shuttle ($US15 return) which is leaving Waikiki at 9:30am. We don’t expect them to return until after 6:00pm which means we have a free day. Around 10:30 and in between downpours we caught up with Russell and went for a stroll around Waikiki looking for a coffee shop that had a spare table with dry seats. After much searching we ended up down near the Long Yard and enjoyed a nice strong latte. With the rain still tumbling down we decided that it was time to have a salty dip in the briny waters of Waikiki. After all we couldn’t get any wetter. The water was warm but the area where we chose to swim was full of rocks of all sizes. It wasn’t too deep but you couldn’t see the bottom as the stormy weather had churned up the sand. We lasted for about fifteen minutes which also gave us the opportunity for a code yellow.
Russell had some business to catch up on so we left him to his own devices. We still had a couple of steaks in the refrigerator so a steak sandwich was the order of the day. A quick bus trip and the purchase of a new pair of runners filled in the afternoon. Russell had promised us a couple of beers so we headed up to his hotel. A large Hawaiian woman was on duty so we told her we were here to visit Mr. Russell in room 401. This was when our Basil Fawlty moment occurred. She then asked if we wanted a room. No, I want to visit Russell I replied. What is your room number she said. I don’t have a room, I’m only visiting…. This went backwards and forwards like an old tape recording. Eventually, she looked at the register and said Sue room 206. Seems like Sue was the magic word and Russell does not know his room number!
Anyhow we made it to the room and killed a couple of beers whilst looking out the window in anticipation of the girls return. Being impeccable husbands we decided to meet them at the drop off point to assist them in the carriage of the recently purchased chattels. After waiting for more than 45 minutes we gave up and adjourned to a bar across the road. We had no sooner sat down for a drink when they were spotted walking up the street clutching an array of bags which included Victoria Secret. The bus had apparently dropped them outside the store so they justifiably had spent the last 45 minutes there. We decided to try dinner some Udon Noodles for dinner and chose Marukame Udon Restaurant (Address: 2310 Kuhio Ave). There is always a queue outside which is testament to its popularity and value for money. The wait in line is relatively short as the diners move on once they have eaten. Guests order at the counter at this casual Japanese restaurant specializing in noodle soup. It is not a place for chatting or sipping slowly on a glass of wine. I’m not a fan of noodles but the general opinion was that the food was excellent.
Back at Sue and Russell’s the girls displayed all of the bargains that they had purchased. Alice also did a little shimmy wearing her Victoria Secret outfit. No more to be said about that!
Tuesday, 24th November – Diamond Head
The weather has finally cleared up so after breakfast we jumped on the number 23 bus (number 2 also available) and headed up to Diamond Head ($1 admission) to hike around the crater and the top of the rim. We arrived at the drop off point about 15 minutes later. It was only mid-morning but given the good weather it seemed that every tourist was out to hike the trail. There’s just something empowering about walking up the side of an extinct volcano. More than 3,500 feet in diameter with a 760-foot summit, Diamond Head in Waikiki is perhaps the world’s most recognized volcanic crater. It is a lasting remnant of a volcanic explosion that occurred about 500,000 years ago. Ancient Hawaiians called it Laeahi, which translates to “brow of the tuna.” The name “Diamond Head” can be traced to the 1800s, when British sailors mistakenly thought there were diamonds lodged in the crater’s soil. The “diamonds” turned out to be calcite crystals embedded in the lava rock.
The 0.7-mile hike up Diamond Head is considered a moderate climb and takes about an hour to reach the summit, and half that time for the return. The trail climbs the inside slope of Diamond Head for about 0.6 miles. It’s a switchback trail with the mountain on one side and a railing on the other. After a lookout point that doubles as a rest stop, the trail takes a steep upward ascent through a series of stairs and tunnels. The last set of stairs is a 99-step climb—just take it slow and steady—that eventually leads to a World War II bunker. From there, the stairs reach an end and you step up to some of the finest panoramic views on Oahu. We took a short walk around and savored the moment. The day was clear and in the distance we could see the island of Molokai. Standing atop the lookout, viewing Oahu’s entire leeward side, feeling the trade winds and hearing waves crashing far below, you can’t help but feel humbled to be on this glorious island.
Tip: Go in the early morning or late afternoon if you want to avoid potential crowds.
After a light lunch Alice and I thought it was time to have a swim in the warm waters and gentle swell of Waikiki. My thoughts are that the stretch of sand adjacent to the statue of Duke Kahanamoku is the most ideal spot for a swim. The Duke was an Olympic swimming gold medalist and is widely credited with popularizing the ancient Hawaiian sport of surfing. A patch of sand to place our towels was difficult to find but we finally secured a patch a few rows back from the surf. This is the place to come if you want to learn to surf as it is a gentle wave that starts to form right out the back and has enough power to get you moving. You can swim out for over 100 metres and still touch the bottom. The most dangerous place here is right on the beach as the waves break on the shoreline. After a relaxing swim it was back to the hotel for a mini-break before heading out for dinner.
Julie chose tonight’s destination the Waikiki Sky Lounge after reading a review in the good old Sunday Mail. The lounge is on the 19th floor of Sky Waikiki and as we found out from the surly hostess it is best to have a reservation even if you arrive at 5:00pm. On the deck, you have an almost-360 degree view of Waikiki, including views of the ocean, Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach and the famous, pink Royal Hawaiian hotel. Buildings block some of the dazzling sunset, but you’ll forget about that once the sun goes down and the city’s twinkling lights turn on around you while breathing the fresh air. Surprisingly, that given the view the drinks were reasonably priced. The staff were quite good but on principle we did not leave a tip due to the attitude of the hostess.
Wednesday, 25th November – Pearl Harbor and Swap Meet
We were up bright and early this morning as we are planning to catch public transport out to Pearl Harbor. Alice isn’t 100 percent today so has decided to recuperate at the hotel. Good weather again today so Tony, Julie and I boarded bus 42 (also No.20) at 7:00am and arrived at Pearl right on 8:00am. This coincided with the playing of the National Anthem and out of respect we joined the Americans who were paying homage to the flag. I lined up for tickets and managed to get us on the 8:45am tour. Entry to Pearl Harbor and the 75 minute tour of the USS Arizona Memorial are free. This is the number one visitor destination for Hawaii and given the history it is easy to understand why. The visitor centre features museums, theatres, wayside exhibits and panoramic views of Pearl Harbor. As you travel by launch to the memorial the battleship USS Missouri can be seen in the background. The Arizona Memorial is built over the remains of the sunken battleship USS Arizona, the final resting place for many of the 1,177 crewmen killed on December 7, 1941 when their ship was bombed by Japanese Naval Forces. The tour is a very poignant and emotional reminder of what was a horrific time in our history. As a reminder Darwin was bombed by the Japanese on 19th February, 1942. You could easily spend the whole day here as there is plenty to see with the Missouri and Blowfin exhibits.
After completing our tour of Pearl Harbor we hopped on Shanks’ Pony for ten minutes and dropped in at the Aloha Stadium for the Wednesday Swap meet. We could have caught the bus but it was only two stops up the road. Since 1979, the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet has become Hawaii's premier outdoor market, featuring over 400 vendors, crafters, artists from all over the world, a true melting pot of Aloha.
Thursday, 26th November – Thanksgiving and Circle Tour
When we awoke this morning I couldn’t believe the weather. Yes it is promising to rain on Thanksgiving Day and ruin our day out to the North Shore. After picking up our Chrysler 300 series from Dollar Rentals (If renting a car in Hawaii I would recommend using https://www.hawaiidiscount.com/rental-cars.htm) we picked up the girls and headed in an anticlockwise direction from Waikiki.
The rain is currently holding off so we were able to get a nice view of the Diamond Head Lighthouse from the roadside lookout below the crater. There were a few police cars about but they were doing point duty for what appeared to be a half marathon. Judging by the caliber of runners a few of them should have stayed at home.
With Julie providing the navigation we found our way onto route 72, the Kalaniannaole Highway, try saying that with a mouthful of dry weet-bix. Along the way we stopped off at
· Koko Crater View Point
· Hanauma Bay which is supposed to be a great snorkeling area. There is a $1 charge for vehicles and $7.50 per person. We didn’t avail ourselves of this option as the weather was beginning to get dirty.
· Molokai Lookout
· Halona Blowhole – don’t know if you need big waves to set it off but I’ve seen more smoke from one of my mate Gene’s cigarettes
At the end of route 72 we hung a right onto route 61, Kailua Road so we could have a look at what is supposed to be the best beach on the island. A couple of wrong turns later I thought that I was in Forest Lake with all the cul-de-sacs and roads that turned into each other. Just to top it off there was even a man-made lake. We never did find the beach but Julie did manage to get us onto the H3 and then route 83, the Kamehameha Highway. Alice and Tony were starting to get a bit growly as they both needed some caffeine. We decided to stop for a brew at Kahana but alas like the Polynesian Cultural Centre and the Shrimp Shack it was closed for Thanksgiving. By this time the rain was coming down in torrents and driving was becoming more difficult.
Eventually we spotted a lone roadside diner that had a flashing neon sign in red declaring that it was open. Keneke’s Grill at Punaluu was a godsend in more ways than one. The food was reasonably priced and delicious but what tickled our fantasy was that the entire wall of the dining area was covered in quotes from various bible scriptures. After lunch and a few kilometres up the road we came upon the first of quite a few Shrimp Trucks which are an institution on the North Shore. I couldn’t come all this way without trying some of these tasty crustaceans. The lucky recipient of our $US13 was Fumi’s who cooked up some rice and about 10 prawns in butter and garlic. I reckon we all had great garlic breath after that feed. Tony and Julie also opted for the Dole Pineapple whip ice-cream. I was doing a little bus spotting so on a whim I followed the number 52 into the Turtle Bay Resort. The golf course was immaculate and had the requisite 5 star hotel attached. There were also condominiums butting up against the fairways. I think you would need a pretty penny to stay here.
Finally we reached Hawaii’s big wave area and our first stop was Sunset Beach which appeared to be hosting a leg of the world surfing tour. Even with the rain pelting down finding a parking space was difficult. Alice and Julie braved the wind and the rain and reported that a few brave souls were out testing their mettle against the big surf. Just up the road was the famous Banzai Pipeline and I had a look at the surf which was big but not huge. The lifeguards were on duty but they only had to keep their eyes on a couple of guys.
Further up the road was the turnoff for Waimea Valley and waterfall which we decided to bypass in favour of Waiimea Bay. Surprisingly, there was very little swell and not a soul swimming. At every beach park there were Hawaiian families doing their best to celebrate Thanksgiving. Most of them were stuck under gazebos but one hardy bunch was having a game of volley ball or should I say mud ball. By this time we had just about had enough but we soldiered on to the historic hamlet of Haleiwa. Just about everything was shut so we headed off to route 99, Kamehameha Highway in search of the Dole Pineapple Plantation. The place was jam packed with Japanese tourists who could not get enough of the food and the pineapple inspired souvenirs. My impression was that it was like the old big pineapple at Nambour but with bigger crowds. On a fine day you could have boarded the pineapple express for a tour of the plantation or tried your luck navigating your way through the world’s biggest maze.
Tony and I consider ourselves sensitive new aged guys who are tuned in on the same wavelength as our wives. With this in mind we pointed the Chrysler 300 in the direction of the Waikele Premium Outlet for a last assault on the specials. We arrived just after 4:00pm which was perfect timing as stores like Old Navy were just opening their doors for “Black Friday” specials. The majority of stores will be opening all night and I mean all night and will finally close at midnight on Friday. The girls did manage to acquire a couple of more items. Next sensitive stop was at the Ross Dress For Less located near the Ala Moana Shopping Centre. The girls decided that they would get in early on all the specials so Tony and I left them to their own devices and headed back to Waikiki to return the hire car. It was still raining so we caught the free Dollar shuttle back to the Food Pantry for some supplies. We entertained ourselves with a couple of beers whilst watching all the action unfolding on the street below us. A little after 9:00pm we saw the girls walking down the street carrying more goods than a Sherpa on the Annapurna trail. After showing off their booty it was time for bed and some well earned shut-eye.
Friday, 27th November – Black Friday, Waikiki
This is our penultimate day in Hawaii so we decided to do virtually nothing. Nothing naturally included another trip to Ross, Macy’s and Victoria Secret. I actually came away with the best purchase of the entire trip. At the Ross store I spent $3.99 and came away with a Danos Direct type product. You have probably guessed that it was the “Potato Express” which is used for cooking potatoes in the microwave oven. Yep 4 potatoes can be cooked to perfection in 6 to 8 minutes. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QTQD354JJc
Tony and I returned to the hotel and the girls said that they would be back soon after. We decided that a swim down near the statue of the Duke would be beneficial to our health. Unlike yesterday the sun was out and so were the sand worshippers. We managed to find a place for our personal gear and spent a good hour just swimming and floating about. To finish off we took a walk around the streets and discovered that you could hire Paddle Boards and Surf Boards at a cheaper rate from the stores about a block back from the beach. Carrying a board an extra block is not a great imposition if it saves you a few dollars whilst giving you a little extra exercise. Back at the hotel and still no sign of the girls. They eventually returned and once again were fully laden. Julie has also made a good decision to purchase a large suitcase from our old friend Ross to ensure that she can transport all our goodies home.
Our last meal tonight is a roast dinner cooked by Julie in her apartment. Tony and I assisted by purchasing some champagne and beers to celebrate what has been a fabulous trip. The meal was delicious and the company even better.
Saturday, 28th November – Homeward Bound
This morning Alice and I decided to treat ourselves to the breakfast special at the Seaside Bar and Grill. As much as I enjoyed the breakfast I find that it is near nigh impossible to consume two huge pancakes on top of bacon and two eggs done easy over. After breakfast we had a last little walk around the shopping precinct before heading back to the hotel to finish packing.
We have pre-booked our Star Taxi for 11:15am for our trip to the Honolulu International Airport. http://www.startaxihawaii.com/ At a cost of $US30 for the four of us it is good value. Our flight is not until 2:35pm so we should have plenty of time to pass through the rigors of Airport Security. The driver was a little early so we ended up at the airport about 3 hours before departure. The check-in line for Hawaiian Airlines looked horrendous but fortunately for us that was for domestic travel. Tip- Allow at least two hours for check-in and security if you are flying domestic out of Honolulu. The international check-in was much more civilized and I estimate that it took only about 25 minutes to complete that process as well as security. The airport seems to be poorly laid out as we had to walk quite a distance to another terminal building to find our departure gate. With a little time to kill before boarding we headed our separate ways for a spot of lunch.
The plane started boarding just before 2:00pm and wasn’t quite full. We have once again been allocated our exit aisle seat which will make it a more relaxing flight home. We really recommend spending the extra $110 to secure one of these berths. Our take-off was spot on time for our 10 hour flight home to Australia. Somewhere before the international dateline Tony and I caught up at the rear of the aircraft for a couple of wines and idle chit-chat. The steward did not need any cajoling to top up our plastic wineglass. Actually, the service from the on-board staff is excellent. A spot of turbulence sent us scurrying back to our seats and another movie.
Sunday, 29th November – Home
One minute it is Saturday and the next it is Sunday and so it goes when you cross the dateline towards Australia. The rest of the flight was uneventful as we cruised towards Brisbane. Touchdown and that feeling of being home starts to overwhelm you. Apart from sitting on the tarmac for 45 minutes after landing it was a good trip. No hassles with immigration apart from Julie and Alice being unrecognizable on their E-Passports (Tip – don’t forget to remove your glasses from your face or top of your head if they are not on the passport photo). No problems either with the baggage or customs. The other nice thing about traveling is when you are met at the airport by family or friends. On this occasion it was Jemma who had volunteered to pick-up the ‘rents’ and it brought a tear to the old boy’s eyes as she gave each of us a welcome home hug.
