Hawaii

My plane from Los Angeles arrived in the late afternoon in Honolulu. I walked out of the airport at the sign "Ground Transportation" and was directed to a shuttle bus to the city. At the airport I saw a sign for hotels and notices YMCA, so I asked to be let out at the YMCA in Honolulu. There was a sign at the desk: "No Vacancy", so I asked the attendant for help locating another place to spend the night. This was the most unfriendly person I ever met at a hotel reception. He would not help, but he gave me the phone book where I could locate a Youth Hostel. It took time for me to find out that one needs to put 50 cents and not just a quarter into the pay phone. Well, after another bus ride I got to the YH which was just behind the huge Hyatt Regency hotel, very close to Waikiki Beach.

Waikiki Waikiki Beach, when a bit less busy.

Next day I took a bus tour of the island which was most enjoyable. The driver taught us to sing "Hang loose" but I soon forgot the words. Several very interesting stops were made, and we had lunch at the Dole pineapple plantation.

Dole pineapple Dole, pineapple variety demonstration.

On Sunday morning, after swimming, I attended "Bruch on the Beach" of Waikiki.  It lasted from 9:30 till 1:30 and a large audience enjoyed watching hula dances and  rock-and-roll music.

Brunch
  Brunch on the Beach in Waikiki.

Another day I took the bus to downtown Honolulu. I took the elevator to the Aloha tower, from which I had a nice view of Honolulu.

Aloha
Honolulu
Aloha Tower
Honolulu toward airport

On my third day in Hawaii, I decided to visit Pearl Harbor. This was most interesting but sad.
Arizona
Arizona, Turret

I stayed in Waikiki 4 days, then left by night plane for Los Angeles. Being booked for another night flight, I had time to visit downtown Los Angeles. Among things I saw there were the Court house, several skyscrapers, the Wells Fargo Museum, and had lunch near the fancy Water Court.
Los Angeles  Los Angeles


familyleis
At home with leis (Me, Margaret, Andrea, Sandra and dog)

The night flight from Los Angeles back to Jacksonville, Florida was without incident. Jacksonville, though, was quite rainy as I drove by rental car back home.

For other travel stories, please click: http://www.freenet.tlh.fl.us/~heinisj

you may e-mail me at: jheinis@nettally.com