12/16/2014 – Oahu, Pearl Harbor Museum

Tuesday started with a very early wake up call. We headed out in the two cars to Honolulu where we would meet the Discover Hawaii folks for a circle island tour.

First stop was the Pearl Harbor War Memorial. We entered an open area with some displays and museums about the events leading up to the day, as well as the attack. Since it was very close to the anniversary date there were still some flowers and things around the memorial.

Cody and Kasey enjoying the exhibits

After we watched a movie on the events, we got a navy launch out to the Arizona Memorial The Memorial sits atop the sunken hull of the Arizona where most of the people died that day. It’s a beautiful memorial.

The memorial from the arrival dock.

You can only stay a very short period of time on the memorial, but they did talk to us about the champagne toast that the survivors of the Arizona had there last week. The four survivors who attended (of the 9 still alive) had a glass of champagne, while a navy diver swam with a 5th glass to the smoke stack of the Arizona where he lowered the glass into a crack that is open to the place where most of the remains lie inside of the ship. There are more than 900 people still inside the ship.

When we arrived back to the entrance Cody and Kasey talked to a survivor who was sitting outside of the bookstore.

Speaking with a survivor of Pearl Harbor.

After Pearl Harbor we headed off to a tour of the island of Oahu where we were staying.

Next stop was the Dole Pineapple factory. It was interesting to hear how the pineapples are planted and harvested. It’s all by hand and very hard work. We enjoyed some Pineapple and also Pinneapple Whip which is like Ice Cream.

Next up we headed along the north shore, mostly to beaches that we stopped at on our first day. Pipeline, Sunset Beach etc… We passed Turtle Bay and headed to the Windward side of the Island. This side is where the wind comes in and it gets lots of rain so it’s like a tropical rain forest in places. We went through a little neighborhood and ended up at a place called La’ie point which was stunning. The rock formations and blue water were very beautiful. Here are some pictures.

Puka Island seen from La’ie point

Puka Island

Steph and Conrad posed for pictures

La’ie point

The family at La’ie point[

We stopped at lots of beaches and overlooks along the way for pictures. Our guide Hana also gave us a lot of history of the area. We stopped at the Kualoa ranch for some lunch. This was right near the valley where Jurasic Park was filmed.

Mountains with grooves from the rain running down

Steph and Conrad also found a friend at the Ranch

Miniature Horse at the ranch

After lunch we stopped at a Macadamia Nut farm where we had samples of Macadamia nuts and Kona coffee, and then on to more beaches and overlooks –

We saw the beach near where the Obama’s stay and the water was incredible –

Kailua Beach

Kailua Beach

Cody and Kasey in front of the baby blue water of Kailua Beach

Mom Mom at Kailua beach

Kailua Beach

Hana our tour guide and the rest of our group.

We then moved on to an area where there was a blow hole made from Lava and if the waves came up correctly, the water would come through the rock and out the top. It’s a place that Conrad Sr remembered from his trip here when he was young.

Blow Hole

We also went into the valley where the Oahu Warriors lost the battle for the island to King Kameamea. There was a beautiful overlook there as well called Pali Lookout.

Pali Lookout

We hit a few more short stops and then back to Honolulu to end the tour. We had about an hour ride home so it’s good that Wednesday is a day off for us. We plan to sleep late, hang out at the beach, and pretty much do nothing but relax.

#Hawaii2014