Cruising Hawaii
2006
In celebration of our 40th anniversary and Pat’s retirement from teaching, we took a cruise of the Hawaiian Islands. We visited 4 islands, including 2 nights at Waikiki Beach and visits to Hilo and Kona on the big island of Hawaii.
Marriott Beach Hotel on Waikiki Beach
The view from our balcony. The church on the right is St. Augustine's where we attended Mass on Sunday morning.
Waikiki Beach in front of hotel with Diamond Head in background
Lunch at Lulu's with view of Waikiki Beach.
USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor
USS Arizona as viewed from the memorial
Waikiki Beach in front of hotel with Diamond Head in background
Lunch at Lulu's with view of Waikiki Beach.
USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor
USS Arizona as viewed from the memorial
The memorial wall, listing the men lost on Dec 7, 1941, stirred the same emotions as the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC
2 days on Kauai
On the first day, we took a 7 hour jungle trek and zip-line excursion.The second day we took a 4WD tour through some back country.
We
were driven in a tractor pulled wagon to the start of the hike. Here
one of our guides, Pono, sings some Hawaiian songs accompanied by his
ukeleli. The other guide, Chas, has a better voice.
There are numerous feral hogs on the islands, this one and others come running to be fed when the guides call them.
There are numerous feral hogs on the islands, this one and others come running to be fed when the guides call them.
A deep pool in a stream, with a rope swing. I went on the rope swing, but Pat was chicken.
Pat taking a dip at one of the popular falls we visited.
Pat and me
Pat jumping off the 40ft high
platform for her zip-line ride.
She looks a lot happier, now that it's over!
The shore-line of Kauai from the ship as we head for Hilo.
Hilo
At Hilo, on the big island of Hawaii, we first took a helicopter ride for views of the active Kilauea Volcano, then a trip to walk on the lava fields and explore a lava tube.
Circle of fire helicopter passengers
Kilauea Volcano
Hot lava, boiling and spitting in the crater.
Molten lava flow coming to the surface on the side of the crater.
Steam caused by the hot lava flowing into the ocean.
You can see the red-hot lava flowing into the water.
Pat and I on the lava field which covers many square miles of the island.
Pat and I in a lava tube, which is said to be at least 40 miles long.
If it's Thursday, we must be in Kona
Our friends, John and Chris Barnett, moved into a beautiful home in Kealakekua, HI (near Kona)
last January. They invited us to spend the day with them and they
picked us up in Kona when we arrived. They took us to their house, from
which they could see our ship in port. We visited a nearby National
Park, then had a nice lunch before it was time to re-board the ship at
5:30. Not enough time, but a nice visit.
John and Chris's house on a hillside, overlooking the ocean.
Papaya thief, caught in the act!
John, Chris, Pat and me at the Kaloko-Honokohau NP.
The endangered green sea turtle. We saw many of these turtles during our visit to the islands.
Maui
We
spent 2 days on the beautiful island of Maui. On the first day we hiked
to a couple of water falls through some jungle and the second day, we
went to the beach and a luau in the evening.
We had a knowledgeable guide on the hike that explained much about the flora and geology of the island.
Some steep terrain
Pat with some jungle flowers
One of the swimming holes. Pat and I swam out to the falls and I climbed a rope up about 10 feet on the cliff for a nice jump into the pool.
The falls at which we had our lunch
Pat and I at an ocean view
The myna is a common bird on the islands. It reminded me of our robin, due to it's size and actions on the ground.
Uncovering the roasted pig at the luau
Hawaiian blowing his shell horn as a call to the luau
Hula girls
Tahitian dance
I made a couple of friends at the luau ....
...so did Pat.
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We had a knowledgeable guide on the hike that explained much about the flora and geology of the island.
Some steep terrain
Pat with some jungle flowers
One of the swimming holes. Pat and I swam out to the falls and I climbed a rope up about 10 feet on the cliff for a nice jump into the pool.
The falls at which we had our lunch
Pat and I at an ocean view
Pat at
Ka'anapali beach. It was a nice beach. I did some snorkeling also. It's
amazing how unafraid the beautiful tropical fish are. I guess they have
grown accustomed to all the snorkelers.
The myna is a common bird on the islands. It reminded me of our robin, due to it's size and actions on the ground.
Uncovering the roasted pig at the luau
Hawaiian blowing his shell horn as a call to the luau
Hula girls
Tahitian dance
I made a couple of friends at the luau ....
...so did Pat.
O'ahu
When
we got back to Honolulu, we had until 10:00 in the evening before our
flight home, so we took a tour around the whole island. We made many
stops, including the Dole pinnapple farms, ocean views, and a macadamea
nut outlet. The driver was native born and gave us lots of information
about life on the island.
At one of the stops, there were a couple of spear fishermen that caught this parrot fish, an octopus and few other fish.
Go to Gene's home page