Two weeks in Hawaii -56K warning - Part I

[Harryb]

Hi Y'all,

I first visited Hawaii in 1968. Unfortunately I was on a military flight headed for Vietnam. During our two hour layover we were surrounded by MPs whose job was to keep us from having to decide whether or not to continue on to Vietnam or to see Hawaii instead. Ever since then I have wanted to go back and see what the army didn't want me to see.

Linda and I decided to visit Hawaii for our 10th anniversary. Now vacations for us are not easy as Linda wants porcelain and I want nature. So we decided that she would plan the first week and I would plan the second. Linda wanted Waikiki for her week and I opted for Maui for the second week.

During our Wakiki week we stayed at the Royal Hawaiian (aka The Pink Palace of the Pacific). It was built in 1927 and was the third resort on Waikiki beach. Staying there is like going back into time.

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From the air you can see how the hotel has been surrounded since 1927
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the beach was lovely
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Linda arranged for us to attend a luai and of course they had entertainment. Initially I felt that the entertainment was the usual tourist stuff but after speaking to some of the dancers I found that they took their craft and their culture very seriously .
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This dude was the "chief" so he got to play with fire
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around the island
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The Byodo-in Temple, a replica of a 900 year old Japanese temple
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this dude from Oz had a real affinity for the temple's doves
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After hearing my folks talk about what they were doing when Pearl Harbor on 12/7/41 for years a stop at the Arizona Memorila was almost mandatory
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the banyan tree in the Royal Hawaiian's courtyard
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the hotel is a popular spot for weddings
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the hotel also had a fine breakfast buffet
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I'll be back later to bore you with some more vacation pics.

[sarahcsu]

Wonderful pictures. Thanks for sharing. :D

[Harryb]

Wonderful pictures. Thanks for sharing. :D

Thank you.

[schmoo]

Looks nice, Harry!

So were these photos porcelain or nature? The only birds there are the doves. :scratch

[eenusa]

Looking forward to seeing more. The two times we went to Hawaii were quick weekend jaunts, traveling Space-A on Air National Guard flights - once on an air refueling aircraft - out of Salt Lake City. Needless to say, we didn't have time to see much, except to cover the tourist highlights - but hey, for $10 R/T, can't complain. Hope to go back for an extensive vacation someday soon.

[Harryb]

Looks nice, Harry!

So were these photos porcelain or nature? The only birds there are the doves. :scratch

This was porcelain time during our first week on Oahu. There actually isn't much wildlife (not counting the drunks) on Hawaii.

[Harryb]

Looking forward to seeing more. The two times we went to Hawaii were quick weekend jaunts, traveling Space-A on Air National Guard flights - once on an air refueling aircraft - out of Salt Lake City. Needless to say, we didn't have time to see much, except to cover the tourist highlights - but hey, for $10 R/T, can't complain. Hope to go back for an extensive vacation someday soon.

Its definitely worth a week or two.

[The Curious Camel]

Beautiful photos, love the rich, vibrant colors.

Peace, gail

[ChrisJ]

Enjoying the trip, Harry. Oahu is the one island I haven't spent much time on. You almost make it look appealling! The Byodo-in temple is beautiful. Looks like you had some good weather, too.

[Harryb]

Beautiful photos, love the rich, vibrant colors.

Peace, gail

Thanks Gail, the colors and weather were fantastic in Hawaii.

[Harryb]

Enjoying the trip, Harry. Oahu is the one island I haven't spent much time on. You almost make it look appealling! The Byodo-in temple is beautiful. Looks like you had some good weather, too.

Thanks Chris. Waikiki was made a 100% better by staying at the Royal Hawaiian. The traffic is astounding, made NYC look like a cakewalk.

[kitvan]

wow. some really nice shots- thanks for sharing!

[Harryb]

wow. some really nice shots- thanks for sharing!

Thanks, glad you enjoyed them.

[Ann McRae]

The Royal Hawaiian looks spectacular, Harry. My experience in Waikiki left me never want ing to return. But for finding this great restaurant called Chacha, and climbing Diamond Head, I foudn nothing redeeming while there. Clearly, I missed soemthing because you have great shots! Where did you find an isolated beach?

Looking forward to your Maui shots!

ann

[ed_h]

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Nice picture of the beach, it reminded me very much as a young kid (mid 50's) leaving near the Pipeline. I also enjoyed your pictures of the Royal, as a very young person I recalled the Royal was used during the war as an R and R base for soldiers at 25 cents a night.

Aloha, Ed

[Harryb]

The Royal Hawaiian looks spectacular, Harry. My experience in Waikiki left me never want ing to return. But for finding this great restaurant called Chacha, and climbing Diamond Head, I foudn nothing redeeming while there. Clearly, I missed soemthing because you have great shots! Where did you find an isolated beach?

Looking forward to your Maui shots!

ann

Hey Ann, the secret is getting out of Waikiki and seeing the island. The beach wasn't that isolated, I just shot it that way. :D

[Harryb]

Nice picture of the beach, it reminded me very much as a young kid (mid 50's) leaving near the Pipeline. I also enjoyed your pictures of the Royal, as a very young person I recalled the Royal was used during the war as an R and R base for soldiers at 25 cents a night.

Aloha, Ed

Thanks Ed and those shots were taken at the Pipeline.

[flygirl]

Those are really beautiful Harry! The scenery there is really something else!

Nancy

[bfjr]

Let's see some more :thumb

[Harryb]

Those are really beautiful Harry! The scenery there is really something else!

Nancy

Thanks Nancy it was nice to see some hills and mountains after Florida.

[Harryb]

Let's see some more :thumb

Not to worry Ben more are coming.

[Tommyboy]

Really nice shots, Harry.

Don't ever think Hawaiians don't take their culture seriously. They're serious like a heart attack.

Always wondered about the pink palace--thanks for the insiders view.

OK, I'm ready for my favorite island, Maui.

:lurk

[Harryb]

Really nice shots, Harry.

Don't ever think Hawaiians don't take their culture seriously. They're serious like a heart attack.

Always wondered about the pink palace--thanks for the insiders view.

OK, I'm ready for my favorite island, Maui.

:lurk

Thanks, I found out that the Hawaiians are dead serious about their culture.

[davev]

Great shots so far Harry.

Seeing as I hate to fly, I'll enjoy Hawaii through your lens.

[Harryb]

Great shots so far Harry.

Seeing as I hate to fly, I'll enjoy Hawaii through your lens.

Thanks Dave. Linda hates to fly too but the thought of shopping in Waikiki got her on the plane.

[ehughes]

Great stuff Harry, I'm heading back to Maui at the end of the month, now I really can't wait..