Christine and I arrived in Honolulu yesterday morning and have been going nonstop ever since (hence the delay in my posting). We are now back at the condo relaxing a little bit after a wonderful dinner at Christine's high school friend Shannon's house. I've added pictures from out first and second days on Honolulu.
Honolulu is MUCH different compared to Kauai. It is much more built up, there are highways and traffic, you see the typical stores and chain restaurants you see everywhere else, and it seems a bit more touristy (in the "I'm-wearing-a-fanny-pack"-sense). At the same time, it is still very beautiful and relaxing and there are definitely parts that are unspoiled. Hopefully, I'll have time to reflect a bit more on my Hawaii (and Kauai vs. Honolulu) impressions...
We are staying at Christine's aunt's condo that is right on Waikiki Beach (next door from the Diamond Head W Hotel). The place is amazing - it looks out on to Diamond Head and is directly on Waikiki, but the quieter end of the beach. Check out the view from the window:
After we arrived, Christine took me into Chinatown for lunch and then we drove up to the North Shore to check out some waves (with a brief stop to pick up some pineapple at the tourist trap known as the Dole Pineapple Plantation). The North Shore coast line is beautiful - straight out of a movie. Unfortunately, there weren't really any surfers out because the surf was pretty rough, but we did see one guy who was kite surfing and the waves were ridicously big. I included some more detail with the pictures...
Last night I planned a romantic evening to celebrate Christine's birthday (which was on the 30th) - we started with a sunset dinner at the Hau Tree Lanai restaurant (which it turns out was right next door to the condo). Unfortunately, it was too windy to eat outside, but we had a great table right in front of windows that opened on to the beach. We caught a nice sunset (slightly obscured by clouds, but not too bad) and had a wonderful meal.
This morning we woke up early and headed to the USS Arizona Memorial. We had heard that the lines can be pretty long, but we only had to wait 45 minutes and there was a small museum to walk around in to bide the time. I remembered when my parents and grandparents came out here a number of years ago my Grandpa Irv and some other veterans told war stories at the memorial. My dad videotaped the whole thing and I always wanted to come to the memorial to see it for myself - I thought of my Grandpa a lot while I was there and was happy that I was able to go to the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC with him a few months ago.
I found myself also thinking about what I would have thought had I come to the memorial prior to 9/11, the war (and even the recent tsunami tragedy). 1,170 men died on the USS Arizona on December 7, 1941. It is a huge number and the footage they show (the actual video from the day) of the ship exploding is shocking and made me jump in my seat. I don't think I can comprehend so many deaths, but at the same time, it's scary that a number so large can feel so commonplace. I don't think I would have felt that way a few years back. Not sure if its the times and the events mentioned above or just that I'm growing older... regardless its a sad (and scary) thought.
After the Memorial, we got some lunch at Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch & Crab, ran a few errands, and then hit the beach. I wish I could say I was deeply bronzed (or even burnt), but the sun keeps hiding behind clouds so color has been slow to come by. Christine and I went for a walk around the neighborhood - we stumbled across a house that Christine claimed was the Real World Hawaii house, but I didn't believe her. After a quick Google search, it turns out she was right.
Tomorrow should be interesting - Christine's cousin is going to give us surf lessons(!) and I think I've also been roped into a morning run down the beach. Assuming I can still move, I'll check in with what is sure to be high comedy...
why does it always look like you are freezing in hawaii, and yet you always wear tshirts. i hope this isn't a public post.
Posted by: Jack | January 13, 2005 at 11:49 AM