Pearl Harbor boarding area
Hanauma Bay

Hawaii 2005

 
We just arrived at the airport and we
are ready for five days in Hawaii.
We have our Lei's so, Honolulu
here we come!
 
 
 
 
 
This is Anne with our tour guide Tony. He was a very pleasant and informative person to show us around.
 
 
 
 
 
Not to be outdone I had Anne take one of me with Tony too.
 
Outside we met a woman we assumed to be local. She recommended a few good steakhouses and told us of a nightly show on Waikiki Beach. We had steak and lobster and steak and prawns at the Seafood Village and went across the street to the show on the beach. It was great to hear and see authentic Hawaiian song and dance by some of the local preformers. There were whole families doing the hula for us. It was great and so nice of the city to provide it for us. We thank you!
 
Hula Dancers on Waikiki Beach
This was a free nightly show
 
Hanauma Bay
Part of "From Here To Eternity"
was filmed here
 
Diamond Head as seen through
the tour bus window
View from where we had dinner
the second night
 
I took a nasty spill at the temple. Not a great way to start this long planned trip. I was taking a picture at the Buddist Temple and tripped on a root from a tree trying to get a better position. I recieved medical aid from some of the monks. After a little rest we continued on our way. We went to the Diamond Head Lookout, Sandy Beach, From Here to Eternity Beach, Blow Hole, Makapuu Lookout, the Windward Coastline, the Pali Lookout, the North Shores Surfing Beaches, the Dole and Del Monte pineapple and coffee fields,and the Dole Plantation where we had lunch.We also spent some time at Kukui Nut Gift store. We spent the whole day enjoying the gorgeous scenery and we got back to the hotel at 4:30PM. We freshened up and went to dinner at Antonio's and to a show called "The Magic of Polynesia". Mystifying illusions and special effects take the art of magic to its outer limits. Hawaii's internationally acclaimed illusionist, John Hirokawa, is a master. You must keep your eyes on his hands as he casts his spell and transforms the showroom into a spellbinding arena of brilliant magic.There is no transportation provided from the Magic of Polynesia Show back to your hotel and that was the only drawback to the evening.
 
Replica of Japanese Buddist Temple
City hall with King Kamehameha statue
Honolulu from Alii Kai
our dinner boat
The Alii Kai waiting for us to board
These are the members of the
Society of Seven Show.
Dancers during the dinner cruise
The next day we took a half day tour where we relived that moment in history that entered America into World War II when we visited Pearl Harbor, the Arizona Memorial and Visitor Center. In the theater we watched excellent film of the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, we browsed through fascinating displays, and then boarded the Navy launch for a trip to the Memorial itself. Then our driver took a trip through Honolulu where we saw the Civic Center, Kawaiahao Church, the church of Hawaiian monarchs, the State Library and Archives, the statue of King Kamehameha, plus City Hall and the quaint Mission Houses. We drove through the serenity of Punchbowl National Cemetery with its meticulously landscaped acres, which includes the Courts of the Missing, the chapel, and finely-detailed mosaic maps of the Pacific theaters of action in World War II and Korea .
 
Sunken ship at Pearl Harbor Memorial
Grounds where we boarded to go to the
Pearl Harbor Memorial
 
The Rememberance Wall
at Pearl Harbor
 
Anne standing in front anchor at
the grounds at Pearl Harbor
That evening we were picked up for a two hour dinner cruise aboard Alii Kai for an unforgettable dinner and evening. We enjoyed the flavors of the islands in the Makahiki buffet and got a taste of island entertainment through Polynesian and Hawaiian songs and dances. We expected a sunset but it wasn't to be. From there we were taken on a bus to see the spectacular Society of Seven Show.This is Hawaii's longest running show, having entertained locals and visitors alike for over 30 Years. It was an evening of music, merriment and mirth with Hawaii's most brilliant showmen, The Society of Seven.This was a very enjoyable evening.

Dancers at the Elvis impersonator show
Anne with the Society of Seven
 
Next was an evening to remember at the Blue Hawaii Cocktail Show, as Jonathan Von Brana gave a colorful and energetic performance of Elvis' classic hits and romantic ballads. The show opened with the story of Old Hawaii and how the first settlers made their way to these shores. We were then treated to the rhythmic moves of our four beautiful Hula dancers wearing grass skirts and headdresses. Jonathan starts his performance with classic Hawaiian Elvis songs such as "Rock the Hula" and the" Hawaii Wedding Song" from the movie "Blue Hawaii" and then continues with more of Elvis' hits. This is a great show and was one of the highlights of our vacation.
 
An Elvis impersonater was on the
agenda for our last night
"These Boots Are Made For Walking"
by the Elvis' dancers
 
 
"Elvis" presented me with one of his scarves,
..................................and a kiss
 
All too soon the vacation was over, but we had a wonderful time in spite of my fall at the beginning of the trip. Reflecting back this trip was even more special because as it turns out it was probably the last time I will be able to go to Hawaii. On my return home I fell once again at the Seattle airport. It was decided that the fall in Hawaii, the fall at the airport and the intermittent falls that I hade during the several previous months were more than accidental falls. So we made an appointment with a Neurologist.The results showed that I have a Parkinsons Plus syndrome disease, called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). My husband and I still travel but he isn't a flyer so we limit our trips now in the motor home or by car. My life has changed but I still love to see new and different places.
 
Written by Helen Wandke
 
1/14/2007