Our daughter, Pamela, flew in for a week. She owns a barbershop in Jensen Beach, ‘The Family of Hair’. She was more than willing to fly out for a week to explore with us. Pamela is not the “beach” people we are, but was willing to walk with us down the Waikiki strip. She was surprised to find a very quiet place in Waikiki called “The Pink Palace,” or the Royal Hawaiian Resort Hotel.
We also got in the car to tour around the south side of the island. Hanauma State Park was our first destination. It is so beautiful there.
Our second stop was at Oahu’s famous “blowhole.” We found people playing in a nearby cove. By the lookout was a wedding photo shoot.
We had to hike Diamond Head as it was on Pamela’s bucket list. We were the third car in the crater at 6:00 A.M. You really want to get there early to escape the heat, and most importantly, beat the crowd of people soon to come. It is a beautiful sight of Waikiki and Honolulu from the top of Diamond Head, one of the main icons of Oahu and Hawaii.
That night, Pamela got us to go along with her on a catamaran night cruise, on the Maita’i. We saw the famous fireworks off the Hilton Village Resort. There was no moon, but plenty of stars and planets like Venus, Mercury, Jupiter and the Southern Cross. It was a wonderful hour and half to view Waikiki from the sea.
Pamela was told by her patrons “that she needed to take a helicopter tour in Kauai.” For a day, we all went back to Kauai. Flights leave from HNL literally every hour via Hawaiian Airlines. We just love this airline. Great service with a smile and Hawaiian Airlines rarely is late.
Pamela was on the open door of a Jack Harter Helicopter. We have to be truthful and say Pamela did get sick on the flight. She was able to get some nice pictures nevertheless.
We later drove all the way to Waimea Canyon and to the Kalalua Overlook. It was a spectacular day.
Back in Oahu the next day, we drove to the North shore. We stopped at the Dole Plantation to show Pamela “The Painted Trees.” Arguably these Eucalyptus trees are one of the most colorful in the world.
You haven’t been to the North Shore until you visit Matsumoto’s Shave Ice store. The Hawaiians never say “shaved.”
In 2012, we actually met the son of the original owner outside his store.
Pam wanted to visit Waimea Falls not far from the town of Haleiwa on the North Shore. It is a beautiful botanical gardens. At the end of a paved trail is Waimea waterfall.
The following day we went to Pearl Harbor in Oahu. The winds were up and the Navy stopped operating the craft to take you out to the Memorial. The National Park guide said “it is rare we have to close in May. The winds usually happens in January.” Nevertheless, we did see the Memorial from the distance.
In 2012, our fourth visit to Pearl Harbor, we were early and caught a full rainbow over the USS Bowfin with Pearl Harbor Memorial in the distance. A good photograph at times comes with being in the right place.
By the museum store, I was able to meet Herb Weatherwax, a Pearl Harbor survivor. He has written a short book, “Counting My Blessings.” It is an autobiography of a native Hawaiian Pearl Harbor survivor.
We did take a tour through the USS Missouri. Kathie and I had never done this tour before. It is spectacular. It was the home to over 3000 sailors and became famous when the Japanese signed a treaty of peace on September 2, 1945 on the USS Missouri. I was surprised to find out that this treaty, with Gen. Douglas MacArthur attending, was on the starboard of the ship. After the Persian Gulf War in 1992, the ship was put to port. The USS Missouri arguably was the last battleship every made.
What was one of the main reasons bringing the USS Missouri to Pearl? WWII started at Pearl Harbor for the United States, and it literally ended on the USS Missouri with the peace treaty of September 2, 1945. It was only fitting to bring the beginning and end pieces together.
We were transported by bus on Ford Island. Our last stop was the Pacific Aviation Museum. We met tour guide Vic Bonfiglio, who did three tours in Vietnam. He has a long list of accomplishments if you go to the web. Pamela, earlier that day took a picture of an F-22 flying. She asked him about the F-35. We got an ear full from Vic.
One idea about life I’ve learned over the years, you always keep learning. I did not know there was a training plane flying on the moment of the attack. An Aeronca 65TC flown by Roy A. Vitousek was flying with his son when the attack occurred. They acquired a few bullet holes, but managed to land safely and hid in the bushes alongside the runway too avoid being strafed.
We walked over to hanger 79 where there are several planes being restored. I thought the B-17 in front of the U.S. Flag made a neat picture.
It is no doubt with the arrival of Pamela that we were forced to do “new activities” and expand “our box.” We took a ride on Highway 61, across to the windward side of Oahu. We stopped at the Pali overlook. This was the place in 1795 where King Kamehameha 1st had a major battle which united Hawaii. About 400 warriors were killed with many being pushed over the cliff.
Our destination was the “Valley of the Temples.” There is a beautiful Buda temple on property. The area is actually a large mortuary for many different faiths.
We made it as far as Kualoa Point to see the island of Mokoli’I, known as “Chinaman’s Hat”.
We also caught Crazy Shirt Company doing a photo shoot for their Christmas catalogue.
On Pamela’s last day in Hawaii she was determined to see the Manoa Falls. Luckily, it was a spectacular day as it is a rainforest. It is so ironic that the Minoa Falls is less than five miles from Waikiki, but worlds apart in many ways.
It is only a mile and half round trip through a beautiful forest of trees and a bamboo forest. The falls is about 150 feet in length.
After this hike, we went to the Harold L. Lyon Arboretum operated by the University of Hawaii. Even though studies of plants go on at this arboretum, it really felt like a botanical garden. It is huge and we walked around nearly two hours. We heard the wild cockatoos, but didn’t see them.
Pam’s Delta flight did not leave until 9:00 P.M. The last several hours mom and daughter went out on Waikiki to do some last minute shopping and bonding.
Seven days with Pamela went by so very fast, like life itself. We are glad she came to share this beautiful island with us. We are sad she left us so soon.