Beaches, food, shopping and culture, Waikiki style.

Let's face it, the beach is central to the lifestyle in Honolulu. The city beaches are great, crystal clear and clean as are the streets and surrounds. There's always plenty to see while people watching or scenery gazing. The food ranges from delicious to scary all within one block. The culture is relaxed and anything goes. Dress up if you want, it's your choice. These are some of our observations: 

The biggest avocados we have ever seen

There's always somewhere for us to store our surfboard!

I think I want to decorate my thongs (flip flops). No problem, step this way.

More avocados for Mr X 

No words are needed

You think Melbourne is the nanny state, there are friendly reminders everywhere 

Always a place to have a drink or two 

Or shop if you need to

Or grab a coffee- sorry, no boffees here

Or catch a wave....

Or then again, shop!

Fitbit got a workout today

Up and at 'em early to get to Diamond Head to tick off another sight seeing moment. 

Unlike Cinque Tera in Italy, water bottles were in hand.( Well, Mr X had his. Ms X left her bottle in the uber cab on the way. Her spy skills are rusty)

 Unlike Sigiriya in Sri Lanka we actually finished the task at hand.

The steps were challenging in parts

but when one has conquered Cinque  Tera, it was a stroll in the park. 

Lots of photo opportunities at the top, overlooking Honolulu

We enjoyed looking at the map below and seeing how far spread out in the world our family is at the moment. Mexico, Hawaii, Melbourne. 

On the way down a battle weary very large American who was on his way up yelled out to these two who had just finished the circuit,  'hey you two, you look like you blitzed that mountain'  The 2 spring chickens flew the rest of the way down. 

The evidence:

Island sightseers are we.

Back in 1984 we visited Pearl Harbour and the Arizona monument. A lot has changed since then. Now there is a Bridge connecting the Arizona Monument, there is a submarine to investigate, a larger museum to tour and now the USS MISSOURI to explore.

It was agreed that the Missouri would get a nod on this trip. It's history was inviting to both our travellers. On this ship, WW2 ended. The surrender by the Japanese was signed and witnessed by all the allies. Mr X did his usual crowing about how he could have been in the navy and sailed during that time and Ms X did her usual, telling him how she could have made a great spy and shortened the war. The fact is Mr X demonstrated he would have flunked the physical as he bumped his head on every overhead beam. HE would have been too tall!! Ms X continues to forget the number of the hotel room she is staying in let alone the code on the door. They really are a pair of dreamers. 

Interesting things to see on the USS MISSOURI (or big Mo to the inner circle) 

The spot where CHER filmed her famous 'if I could turn back time' music video on board with all the sailors at the time- yep, that's the level Ms X operates at. The important stuff. 

The surrender documents (interesting that the documents for the Japanese to sign were all in English, with no translations)

The marker on the ship that showed the spot where and when the war ended 

Ms X was happy to pose here away from the guns- she loves a good WW2 romance novel! 

Mr X dreaming about what could have  been if he was only shorter. 

Hello old friend, it's been a while.

We first came to Honolulu in 1984, crossing paths with our friends the Van Oois. Back then they stayed in what we thought was the swish Outrigger Surf, whilst we were confined to the Edgewater Towers Hotel. Let's just say that the 'chip 'n dip' tradition always happened at the Van Ooi's pad in those days. Our old place stands no longer, although it holds the title of having the first ever pool in Waikiki!!!

Memories of John and Mr X on surfboards all day at Waikiki whilst Mr X turned a deep beetroot colour were remembered fondly on our flight back from Maui.

We had since been back to Honolulu in 1995, this time with Ms C and Ms A in tow. Ms C recalled the room number of the hotel in which we stayed back then, Room 1000. She thought that was just the best number for a hotel room! Ms A remembers the jeep without the top that we hired to explore the island. Mr and Ms X are a little foggy about that trip now but they have put their spy skills to the test and have remembered it was the Mirimar Hotel that housed them in Room 1000!

On arrival this time in Honolulu we shared a cab from the airport into Waikiki with a lovely couple from Alabama. He was a definite 'Ashton Kutcher look-alike'. This was our 2nd Airbnb experience and our host this time was Francisco. The view and the balcony great. The location, great. 

The condo....... Cosy!  We are very rarely here so it's cosiness  hasn't bothered us. Ms X only had to email Francisco about the hairdryer malfunction and he replaced it quick smart.So far so good with Airbnb

Walking up and down Kalaluha Avenue is easy, safe and like visiting an old friend.

Somethings have changed and some things , haven't. The ABC stores are still there although we think the number of them have have doubled. 

There is always something to spot.  Cheesecake anyone?

The gun shop with inviting signs on the stairs...

Perhaps matchy-matchy outfits?

Ah, and there she is, the Pink Palace!

Super Bowl Sunday

A drive to Wailea exposed the 'Toorak of Maui'. The golf loving- resort loving- Gucci-Prada wearing set. You know what I mean. Would they be driving to Hana? NO. Why not? Because that would mean they would have to leave their manicured resorts. Each to their own I guess 

Fun was had driving around though before stopping by the golf club to have a drink. Hang on. The Super Bowl was about to begin. Mr X just couldn't get his LA/Melb/Hawaii times sorted in his head! We settled in to have some lunch and watch the first half.

We were back by 3/4 time whereby Ms X joined the Idaho 'gals' in the pool and Mr X watched the remainder of the game. Everyone happy! 

The plan was to go to the other Restaraunt in town for dinner, Seascapes.

This is what our two travellers found: 

BUT, ALWAYS READ THE FINE PRINT....

UGH! With far too many beers and wines had for driving anywhere it was back to our old friends, 'Beach Bums'. This time however we were ready for them. M

Ms X: 'have you anything not crumbed or battered and not deep fried?’ Her spy-training was already kicking in. 'I'm looking for something light.' Well that completely through Scotty however full marks for honesty. 'Not really' was the reply. together they found3 grilled prawns and a bowl of lettuce with dressing on the side.  See, it can be done.

We tucked up our Maui car rental for the night, thankful that it did not receive the same treatment as the car parked next to us did. A smashed window. Hard to believe in this sleepy fishing village 

You've heard of 'Gorillas in the Mist'? This was Mr and Ms X in the Mist!!

25 years ago, Mr and Ms X and daughters C and A visited Mt Rushmore. Alas, the mountain sculpture that day was covered in mist. 25 years ago, all was not lost as they had a boffee and maybe even a moffee in the Visitors' Centre as they waited for the weather to improve. 

Skip forward to 2016 and this time Mr and Ms X have driven up to the summit of Haleakala Crater only to find cloud coverage covering the crater and no Visitors' Centre anywhere in sight (this is serious hiking/cycling territory) so there are only a few pieces of evidence to prove their visit!

So what did they get up to then? More activity in the golf-club crawl and yes, more golf attire purchased. 

Tally so far? 2 golf shirts, 1 pair of golf shorts, 1 long sleeve golf jumper, 2 boxes of golf balls and 1 pair of golf shoes.  

Where is RACV Home-Assist when you need it?

TThe day was planned to Mr X's schedule however Ms X thought a pool visit could be fitted in after breakfast.... Just a quick visit.

Lesson no. 1. Read the fine print. With no keys to the pool she returned to the condo to retrieve the said key.  

Rule no. 2. Don't assume.  Mr X is O.I.C of the keys. Ms X has other duties.   So they both now go down to the pool. 'Have you got the key?’ 'No I thought you had the key' 

Rule no. 3. Focus on what matters most.  The pool activity became secondary as now Mr and Ms X realised they had locked themselves out of the condo!

Rule no. 4. Don't underestimate the usefulness of a mobile phone.  'I'll just ring the condo owner'said Ms X calmly, only to realise that both mobiles were in condo.

AHHHHHHHHHHHH

Thank goodness for the residents of' Del Boca Vista' as word quickly spread amongst those in the pool regarding our plight. The gals from Idaho clustered around us. (Some needed to put their throw over tops on!) Another guy, think Morty Seinfeld set Denis off in one direction to seek help but those gals from Idaho just invited Ms X to pull up a lounge chair and hang with them! 

Rule no 5. Always remember that Americans are so helpful.  

Our problem was eventually solved ( it cost us 1/2 doz cans as a thanks) and of course there was no pool time left.

It was time for whale-watching. 

which we loved.one jumped right in front of us right out of the water which has been a highlight of the trip.

 LOTS of whales to watch and lots of other passengers to watch as well. Mr X made his big statement regarding his current research. 'all American women over 50 are unattractive' 

Ms X made a really big observation that there were SO many male retirees who have pony-tails. Think Willy Nelson.

A drink at 'Mick  Fleetwood's Bar in Lahaine followed and no, he wasn't there because the red flag wasn't flying.