April 26 - May 3
Mom, Dad, Brother, Sister-in-law, and nephew all stayed in a time share unit in the heart of Waikiki. Kev stayed there with them most of the week and Carly joined them on most nights except for the few she had to work... so it was like a mini vacation for everyone. AND it happened to fall on Colleen and Brad's (mom & dad) 38th anniversary (we got them matching scrabble t-shirts).
First things first... we planned a hike up Diamond Head.
After the hike, Kev had to work at CPK so everyone came in for dinner.
Monday we tried to see some of Windward O'ahu, but it was a little cloudy and windy, so after a quick picnic lunch at Sandy Beach watching Halona Blowhole, and a hike up to Makapu'u Lighthouse, we hung out at the apartment for the rest of the evening....
The next day we stopped at a windy Pali Lookout, went to the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens in Kaneohe, visited the Byodo-In Temple at the Valley of the Temples, and then went back to Waikiki to relax at the Hilton pool and have take-out Hawaiian dinner...
Wednesday was our big trip to the NORTH SHORE. It started a little cloudy but ended up one of the most beautiful and memorable days of the trip (and our lives!). We made some quick stops at our favorite sights like the Macadamia Nut Farm, Chinaman's Hat, and Banzai Pipeline, Laie Point, the Mormon Temple... then on to Shark's Cove and set up camp at Waimea Bay. There we swam and snorkeled and, as the skies cleared and the sun began to shimmer off the water as it set, WHALES started putting on a show for us! They were playing, and breaching, and blowing, and waving their pectoral fins at us as they said good-bye to Hawaii and headed back to Alaska (they are usually in Hawaii thru april, and it was april 30th). They were just a little too far off shore for a good photo op.
(whale watching)Whew! Big day...
Then on Thursday most of us went to Pearl Harbor to see the Arizona Memorial (Greg and Amy stayed back with the baby), then we went to Lanikai for some relaxing beach time, and finished the night with a WONDERFUL dinner together at the famous "DUKES" restaurant in Waikiki...
From above the sunken Arizona, tiny drops of oil still float to the surface from the wreckage. Survivors call it the tears of their fallen comarades.
From the AZ Memorial, you can see the USS Missouri.
Kailua Beach
Friday was their last full day with us, so we went to Hanauma Bay for some snorkeling.
Saturday everyone packed up and left the Wyndham Waikiki for our respective homes... One for the record books. Thanks everyone!!!
1 comment:
Kev & Carly,
Great pictures--great commentary! I felt as if I were on the trip all over again! You two were the BEST tour guides on Oahu--thank you for a memorable trip. We miss you! Love, Mom & Dad
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