Hawaii trip with some pics!

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ChipnDaleFan's picture
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Hawaii trip with some pics!

Okay so I have so many photos and a lot of stuff going on getting ready for school to start again but I'm going to try and post some trip highlights and pictures because Hawaii is amazing!

We left home sooo early in the morning to get to the airport (3am) and had a 6:00 flight out of Newark to San Fran. Then we had a one hour layover until we boarded for Hawaii! Our first stop was Oahu. I had heard mixed reviews of the island. Some people loved it and others said it was too commercial. It is very commercial- the main strip was like being on 5th avenue in New York- Parada, Coach, Salvatore Ferragamo- but Oahu still managed to charm me! Living 15 miles out of NYC, we found the city/beach fusion to be kind of a neat site. Oahu also housed one of our favorite restaurants of the whole trip!

Anyway, enough of me, I'll let some photos tell the tale!

We stayed at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach in Waikiki- wonderful place!

We had a great view from the Lanai!

By now after about 12.5 hours of travel we were exhausted but we had to stay awake to make sure we got back on track so we hit the pool restaurant bar to grab some grub!

and of course some mango margaritas/ daiquiris

We walked around Waikiki that afternoon and then just relaxed by the pool and listened to a Hawaiian band.

International Marketplace

BEST coffee ever from Island Vintage Coffee Co. Banana Mocha

Poolside listening to the band

Waikiki from the balcony at night

The hotel sent us some champagne so we drank it on the balcony and then hit the bed early- we had been awake over 24 hours and were heading to Pearl Harbor at 7AM the next morning!

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The next day was our Oahu historic city tour and Pearl Harbor tour. We woke up to a rainbow!

We learned some neat facts while on the bus with our driver! Oddly enough, we sat next to another honeymooning couple, from New Jersey, who were also both teachers, and also both had July birthdays- freaky!

Our tour took us past some neat sights

This mountain was called the "punchbowl" by early visitors. It's a crater. Early Hawaiians used to take their royal dead up there to be burried away from commoners. They would actually tell servants that if they carried their dead up their, they would earn their freedom. However, it was their belief also that the "mana" or power of their royalty could somehow pass to the servants on the trip so upon reaching the crater the servants were sacrificed. No one tells you that in a guidebook!

Statue of Father Damien who helped develop Molokai for the lepers and eventually contracted the disease himself- amazing story! There is a book called Molokai which is a great read if you are interested- I couldn't put it down!

We then took the bus ride up to punchbowl to see the national cemetery.

On the way back down and to Pearl Harbor we visited the old palace. They make you wear booties over your shoes and you may only take notes in pencil- not pen.

Our next journey was through China Town- yes they have a China Town in Oahu! We learned an interesting story during that part! Apparently it was overrun by rats at one point. The US Government came up with the idea of releases tons of mongoose because they would stop the rats. However, rats are nocturnal and the mongoose were day hunters! So now the city was overrun by both! Then they decided a controlled fire would fix the problem- so they set one but never accounted for unpredictable island winds and the fire spread and burned down china town. Sound about right!

Now we were on our way to Pearl Harbor which I will upload next!

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Grovesnor offsite '93 ~ Port Orleans '94 ~ Port Orleans '95 ~ Caribbean Beach '97~ Carribbean Beach '99 ~ Caribbean Beach '00 ~ Offsite '02~ Caribbean Beach '08 ~ Port Orleans French Quarter '10 ~ Dolphin/Hilton '12-~All Star Sports '16

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Great pictures. Can't wait to see the rest. I took an island tour when I went to Waikiki a couple of years ago. It started out at Pearl Harbor and then circled the island. I didn't see much of the city of Honolulu.

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Very cool pics! I remember that last one from Hawaii 5-0! lol

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Great pics, thanks so much for sharing!

That story about China Town is too funny. Sad to a degree, but just too funny. laugh

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Great pictures! You're making me miss Hawaii so badly!

Brad's picture
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Great pictures! You're making me miss Hawaii so badly!

Why can you only take notes in pencil?

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Pearl Harbor was beautiful but very sad. They have two museums there- the pre-war and pearl harbor museum. They also show you a short video with clips before boarding the boat to go the the USS Arizona. The whole experience was a bit indescribable and sad. We learned that there are few survivors left and as they pass away many ask to have their ashes scattered over the wreckage to be with their crewmates. After closing the park takes the family out at sunset, has a ceremony, and scatters the ashes.

at the museum

Arizona Memorial

Pearl Harbor Ship

I never thought I would see Pearl Harbor since I'm afraid of flying and what a flight from NJ it is! I'm glad I made it there though because it was an experience. I picked up a tshirt for my dad since he's a war veteran and he was super excited!

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Grovesnor offsite '93 ~ Port Orleans '94 ~ Port Orleans '95 ~ Caribbean Beach '97~ Carribbean Beach '99 ~ Caribbean Beach '00 ~ Offsite '02~ Caribbean Beach '08 ~ Port Orleans French Quarter '10 ~ Dolphin/Hilton '12-~All Star Sports '16

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That afternoon we hot the pool and Waikiki beach and got some snacks! Yum. Then we explored town a bit and went to Duke's for dinner- Duke's was delicious and what a view!

Poolside version of Spinach Artichoke dip with Taro Tortilla Chips
http://s478.photobucket.com/albums/rr143/jessadams/Oahu/?action=view&current=IMG_0344-1.jpg

Tasty Poolside Skewers

Taro Bread at Duke's

View at Duke's during Sunset

Dinner!

We headed to bed early after this since we were hiking Diamond Head the next day!

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Diamond Head was a must do for me- a challenge! We took the local bus to the state park prepared with hats, water, and sunscreen!

Diamond Head is an old extinct volcano. You basically hike into the crater and from there up to the top to a lookout. You even climb through an old world war two bunker on the way. They named it diamond head bc from the sea when the light hit it, it sparkled like diamonds to the sailors.

View of the top from the street before climbing

Climbing up!

View from the top! We made it!

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Grovesnor offsite '93 ~ Port Orleans '94 ~ Port Orleans '95 ~ Caribbean Beach '97~ Carribbean Beach '99 ~ Caribbean Beach '00 ~ Offsite '02~ Caribbean Beach '08 ~ Port Orleans French Quarter '10 ~ Dolphin/Hilton '12-~All Star Sports '16

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eek

WOW!

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After Diamond Head we explored that part of the Island. My favorite was the giant Banyan Tree- they are amazing! Banyan Tree's grown trunks from the branches down into the ground so they have multiple trunks!

This is one tree!

We checked out the beach there which was great for me- it had a "wall" like a man made reef so there were no waves! (I'm afraid of the ocean but oddly enough I love man made wave pools haha)

We headed back to the hotel after some swim time to get ready for a dinner I was super excited about. It was on the beach at the Hau Tree Lanai. You kind of sit under these mangled, twisted trees while you eat. Our travel agent (who was beyond amazing if anyone, anywhere needs one since she willw ork by phone, got us sunset seatings at front tables every single night)

This was tied with the beach house on Kauai for my favorite meal of the trip- just because of scenery!

The next day we were off to Maui- and our pictures starting getting more and more beautiful island to island ending with Kauai our favorite of them all!

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Grovesnor offsite '93 ~ Port Orleans '94 ~ Port Orleans '95 ~ Caribbean Beach '97~ Carribbean Beach '99 ~ Caribbean Beach '00 ~ Offsite '02~ Caribbean Beach '08 ~ Port Orleans French Quarter '10 ~ Dolphin/Hilton '12-~All Star Sports '16

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C&DF Fantastic pictures and really looking forward to more Thanks!!

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Fantastic pics! Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us. One of these days I'll get back to Hawaii. I think I was 6 last time I was there.

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Great pics. That place where you ate looks amazing

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Oh good lord, that eating on the beach picture is just wonderful. I want to eat there..

Thanks for sharing your trip photos! Did you post wedding pictures or did I miss those??

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Great pictures. Banyan trees are so cool.

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Thanks so much for posting your pics! I think my fave is looking down at the lighthouse from the top of Diamond Head! And the Pearl Harbor pics are so stirring.

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I have to agree with Lizzy those pictures from the top of Diamondhead are absolutely incredible! And the Pearl Harbor pictures are just saddening and stirring at the same time. I love WWII history and Pearl Harbor is on my list of places to visit! Smile

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Bella- waiting for the photog's disk to arrive this week and then I will post!

I'll be getting to the photos from Maui and Kauai this week- Kauai was the best!

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Grovesnor offsite '93 ~ Port Orleans '94 ~ Port Orleans '95 ~ Caribbean Beach '97~ Carribbean Beach '99 ~ Caribbean Beach '00 ~ Offsite '02~ Caribbean Beach '08 ~ Port Orleans French Quarter '10 ~ Dolphin/Hilton '12-~All Star Sports '16

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This just makes me want to go there more and more, haha. It all looks so amazing!

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Great pics. Look & sounds like you two had an amazing and very memorable time!