Oahu & Honolulu Hawii in 8 days

What a great place to celebrate your 50th birthday!!! The previous posts are actually backwards of when we did what, but what the heck, the main thing is we had a great time. I alone took 250 pictures, but I tried to pick out a few that were the best. We drove as completely around the island as you can go without going off-roading. We tried to hit the highlights, I think you could spend another couple weeks there and still not do all there is to do. We stayed across the street from Waikiki Beach, but found the beaches on the east and north shore much less crowded. We stayed away from the west beaches as there is alot of homeless that live on those beaches. The flower is the hibiscus, the official hawaiian flower, the fish is the Humuhumunukunukuapua. try to pronounce that one!!!

USS Arizona Memorial

We visited the USS Arizona Memorial on my birthday. What a moving tribute to all the people, not just the military who perished on the Arizona, but to all who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor. We met and visited with several survivors, many were there for a funeral that day. We were told that survivors of the USS Arizona who later die can be interred with their comrades, there is a hatch along side the memorial that their ashes are placed in and then their names are added to a special listing in the memorial.

The Blow Hole

Not the best picture, we got better pictures on the movie camera. When the waves hit just right, a mist, then water would spray up through a hole in the lava rock.

Snorkeling

Nels really liked snorkeling. We found a tidal pool on the north shore that was great. Unfortunately the pictures from the underwater cameras didn't work very well. We did manage a few shots, mostly of each other. We had went to the aquarium so we were able to identify alot of the fish that we then saw while we were snorkeling.

Luau

It's dinner - the luau and show were great. I loved the pig, don't care for Poi.

More Polynesian Cultural Center

In New Zealand Nels is trying his hand at twirling Poi balls. Such concentration. It was fascinating to watch the girls dance while twirling them and still not either hit themselves or end up with them in a knot. The other 2 pictures are of Samoa. This gentlemen spoke Chinese, Japanese, Korean, English, Spanish and Samoan. He showed us how to make fire with bamboo and coconut husk. He also showed us how to husk a coconut and told us that they hold competition to see how fast you can husk a coconut. He said men take 2 minutes. Women take ...... 2 days. That is why in Samoa, men cook. :)

Polynesian Cultural Center

The Cultural Center was beautiful. They have preserved alot of the heritage of the islands. The kids working there were lots of fun. We only had one day there, but could have spent more. These pictures are of the tour guides, who are also dancers, the grounds and one of the boats in the parade of the long boats.

Dole Pineapple Plantation

We spent the better part of a day wandering the Dole Plantation, eating ice-cream topped with pineapple. Great combination on a hot day!! They grow mangos, papayas, sugar cane, cocoa, and bananas, and of course pineapples.

Swimming with Dolphins

Our first day in Hawaii we got to do some snorkeling with dolphins. They swam along the catamaran then played in the water all around us, needless to say, they swam us in circles. This was a first for Nels and he loved it. The picture of him he is holding a sea urchin (not a poisonous one, he was reassured)!