Oahu

Visiting an “old” friend in Mililani

We stayed 5 nights with Gail’s hometown/high school/singing friend Michael, who’s lived here since 1976. He drove us ALL over the island (OK, mostly central, north shore, east, and Honolulu). We visit a number of places we’d not have gone on our own and sampled Hawaiian food we might not have on our own. We also played pitch most nights (a New England card game, popular with Michael & Gail’s families, which she rarely gets to play any more!)

Michael lei’d us with Kukui nut leis on arrival and Gail with a flower lei for dinner 1st night

Some places Michael took us over 3 days

Green World Coffee Farm where we sampled some brews and checked out the coffee plants.
Dole Pineapple Plantation where we explored the grounds and had some Dole Whip
Old Town Haleiwa, where we wandered around a bit, did a little shopping, had Matsumoto shaved ice, explored the Wyland Gallery, drove along the beaches, and had dinner at Haleiwa Joe’s.
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Punchbowl Crater where we drove to the top to look out over Honolulu. We returned on our own later to visit the Memorial Gardens
‘Iolani Palace (Tour), built in 1882 by King Kalākaua, the home of Hawaiʻi’s last reigning monarchs. It and served as the official royal residence and the center of the Kingdom’s political and social life until the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893.
Several beaches & overlooks
Waialua Sugar Mill, now shops…surf boards, soap…

Mark & Gail at Green World Coffee Farm
There are wild chickens on Oahu, too, although no where near as many as Kauai
Haleiwa Ali’i Beach
Michael & Mark at the Punchbowl Crater Overlook of Honolulu
Nu’uanu Pali Lookout over offers panoramic views of the sheer Koʻolau cliffs and lush Windward Coast.
‘Iolani Palace
View of Diamond Head and Honolulu from Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa Wayside Lookout
Lookout at Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa Wayside, approaching sunset
North Shore Soap in the historic Waialua Sugar Mill Bagasse Bin (look that one up)
Waimea Beach
Kahana Bay Beach, where Gail finally got her feet wet in the Pacific

We also spent 2 of mornings on our own to

Visit 1 Repeat National Park Site:

Pearl Harbor National Memorial (#9-Revisit), where we honor the lives affected by the December 7, 1941, attack. This pivotal moment in global history marked the United States’ entry into World War II, impacting nations and communities worldwide. We walked the grounds, saw the movie, visited the 2 museums (Road to War & Attack), and visited the USS Arizona Memorial. There, Gail laid a lei in honor of her ex-father-in-law, who was a Pearl Harbor Survivor from the USS California.

Pearl Harbor NM- Heading out to USS Arizona Memorial
Pearl Harbor NM- Portion of USS Arizona
Pearl Harbor NM- Gail laying a Lei for her ex-father-in-law at the USS Arizona Memorial

Self Tour 1 new State Capitol:

Hawai’i State Capitol in Honolulu (#49), opened in 1969, replacing the former statehouse, the ʻIolani Palace, which served as the capitol from 1959-1969. The Hawai’i State Capitol’s distinct architectural features symbolize various natural aspects of Hawaii. Among them:
- The columns around the the building resemble royal palm trees, 8 columns in 4 rows at either side of the building, representing the 8 main islands of Hawai’i.
- An open-air design, allowing sun, wind, and rain to enter; the central atrium opens to the sky and rainbows can sometimes be seen inside the building when it rains.
- “Aquarius”, a 36-foot circular glass mosaic on the floor of the rotunda, is composed of millions of overlapping blue and green tiles that mimic sunlight reflecting off submerged stones in the ocean
- Four kukui nut trees (Hawaii’s state tree), planted in four planter benches set up in the courtyard, are a numerical reference to the four main counties in the State of Hawaii and the four major Hawaiian gods (Kukailimoku, Kane, Lono, and Kanaloa)

Hawai’i State Capitol in Honolulu, with “Royal Palm Tree Columns”
Hawai’i State Capitol in Honolulu, where the “dome” is the sky
Hawai’i State Capitol in Honolulu, view of “Aquariou” and the bases of the 4 Kukui Nut Trees in the Rotunda
Hawai’i State Capitol in Honolulu, View of the mountains from the top level

Made it to Maui yesterday afternoon, for a week!

On Hawai’ian time, hence the “late” post…that and Michael kept us pretty busy on Oahu! Staying in a condo right of the beach in Kihei. We made a Costco run on our way here, yesterday…1st one to buy groceries, not just gas.