Waikiki Overnight

M and I spent one more night down near Waikiki.  We did a lot of walking including visiting our favorite hotel, the Royal Hawaiian.

They have such beautiful grounds.  Someday maybe we can stay here. 

When you go out the backside of the hotel you are greeted with the Pacific and lots of pink umbrellas.

Something is always blooming on the grounds. 

This back lawn has been the site of many weddings over the decades. 

It was too hot for these North Dakotans to spend more than a few minutes on the beach.  Notice that many are taking refuge under the pink umbrellas.

This old hotel was one of the first things I learned about Hawaii as my Uncle Carl visited here after WW II and of course took pictures on his slide camera.

I like to show what a superzoom camera can do in these next pictures.  Diamond Head crater is in the far distance with the camera a wide angle - 25mm.

Then zooming 96X toward the crater you can see people on top of it, though granted the picture isn't really clear.

Here is a picture of our next president's condominium that he owns near the beach.  Mr. Trump may not be our next president but he has some nice digs for sale.

We saw a gorgeous sunset over the beach. 

Some sail boats went to see it from the ocean. 

Then we went to the "House Without A Key" Restaurant for their famous and absolutely best,  coconut cake.  Oh my is it good.  We enjoyed some Hawaiian music and dance by this nice lady doing the Hula. 

Then on Saturday morning the rest of the crew joined us for a birthday breakfast for Rob.  It was raining when we left the hotel so they picked us up and we went to Longhi's at Ala Moana.  After we parked the car in the ramp, we took the elevator down, but soon it stopped and we were stuck in the elevator.  Some interesting minutes followed as Rob called and visited with someone somewhere who said he "would try to get help to get us out."  After waiting awhile I was able to open the door manually (which he told us not to do) and exit on a floor where workers were remodeling the parking lot and said we should not be there.  They led us to safety.  Quite an experience and one we will all remember for Rob's birthday.  I think the man on the other line we were talking to may not have been local because he asked us, "where is the elevator that you are stuck in?"  Oh my.  Maybe he was from India. In the background is a crane involved in some remodeling of the Shopping Center.  I told the kids that there was a man way up there running the crane and then zoomed in on him with the camera. 

Apparently crane operators have no dress code. 

Then we headed back to the car with Daddy's two favorite Presents in tow.

Still More Hawaii

More Hawaii

While the kids and ladies went to their tea (see Marilyn's blog), Rob and I went to Kailua Beach.  It is one of the top beaches in the world and is very near where my Uncle John and Aunt Lydia had their evangelism training school for Asians.

Just down this beach is a home that President Obama has used for his Christmas holiday several years in the past.  When you hear that Obama is in Hawaii, this is where he hangs out.

Then we stopped at the Pali Lookout where King Kamehameha turned back his enemies and united the islands in the late 1700's. 

Great views of Kaneohe and the Marine Base.

There are some interesting tree roots up there. 

I'm not sure what kind of tree this is but wonder if someone could make some interesting furniture from these stumps.

In the bushes I heard some chirping and found a newly hatched batch of feral chickens which run wild in Hawaii. 

This critter was sitting in the top of the tree in the back yard.  I think it is a Cattle Egret.

We had to have some shave ice from Uncle Clay's one more time. 

And then there are sidewalks to chalk.

Supper at Sam Choy's minus Rob who couldn't make it from work on time.

Where Hickam Air Force hits the beach.

I ran into three of these on my walk by the channel today.  They look like a big rat but are actually Mongoose.  Notice his long tail.  Nice.  They love to hide in the culverts.

I've seen these fish several times and would like to get a line wet and see if I could catch them.   But no fishing on Hickam.

There are some big spiders on the islands

Beautiful Hawaii