Hawaii pt. 8: Pearl Harbor

If you've never been, visiting Pearl Harbor while in Hawaii is a must.  And since neither Eric nor Emma had been, we knew we'd be visiting.  This is yet another early morning activity.  You could easily spend all day out there, but you must start early.  Tickets to see the Arizona Memorial are free, but they are by time.  So unless you want to run the risk of either getting a late time and needing to wait around a long time, or possibly not getting a ticket at all, you go early.

We arrived just after they opened and only had to wait about 15 minutes before our tour started. Before we came on this trip we had talked to Emma quite a bit about World War II.  She knew some about the war in Europe, but not much about the war in the Pacific.  We wanted to make sure she understood what happened, not only because it would make all the Pearl Harbor stuff make more sense, but because two of her great-grandfathers served in the Pacific during the war.  One on each side of the family.

Before you take the boat over to the Arizona Memorial, you watch a film about WWII.  The memorial itself is a very reverent sort of place.  Each time I've been there the feeling has been the same.  After you come back from the memorial there are several things to see including displays, pictures, videos, and other artifacts inside a couple different exhibits, and plaques and other informational boards outside.

There was still oil escaping from the sunken Arizona.

They were fixing up the marble wall (which bears the names of those killed on the Arizona) in the shrine.  You can see the wall in the background, but they put a large photo of the wall at the entrance to the shrine where visitors could actually read the names.

We then boarded a shuttle and headed over to tour the USS Missouri.  This thing is huge!  They've opened up a few more areas that you can now tour than there were last time I was here, so it was interesting seeing a little more this time.  There happened to be a bunch of army soldiers visiting, and the presence of so many soldiers in uniform (even if they weren't navy uniforms) added a really neat element to our visit.  Almost like we were there in the midst of battle preparations.

I love all the flags lining the walkway to the ship.  And the soldier in the shot makes it perfect.

Even here there were beautiful flowers.  I love these hibiscus flowers. 

Again, seeing the soldiers on the ship in the background and the truck on the dock was surreal. 

Emma trying to lift the chain attached to one of the anchors. 

Emma thought the beds stacked three tall were crazy!  She
couldn't imagine adults climbing in and out of these things.

After climbing all over the Missouri, Emma said she was too tired to tour the USS Bowfin, the submarine they have there.  I've toured it before, and so I just told her about it.  Maybe next time she'll be up for it.

After we finished at Pearl Harbor we went back to chinatown.  Emma really wanted to go look in more shops to try to find more souvenirs, including a little coin purse she'd seen our first time there, but hadn't bought.  Since we had plenty of time we humored her and went.  She quickly learned that most of the shops there have pretty much the same thing.  I told her that, but it means so much more learning it for yourself than just listening to mom.  I think it's hilarious that it cost us $3.00 (for parking) so Emma could by an .85 cent item.

We stopped by the Kahala Mall again and were planning on going to a sushi place my cousin had recommended, but the wait was longer than Eric wanted to deal with.  So instead we went to pick up some California Pizza Kitchen to take back to my aunt's with us.  There was a wait here too, just as long actually as the sushi place.  Oh well.  While we waited we shopped in Macy's and ended up finding Emma about $200 of new clothes all for only $50 or so.  Score!

Hawaii pt. 7: Traditional Tourist Sites

Our next day was filled with traditional tourist sites.  We started by driving up to the Nu'uanu Pali Lookout.  Besides having a beautiful view (one of the best on O'ahu) overlooking the 985 foot cliffs of the Koolau Mountain Range, it was here in 1795 that King Kamehameha and his warriors defeated the O'ahu armies by sending them over these steep, forested cliffs and claimed his victory, thus uniting the Hawaiian Islands.

Next stop was a new one to me, but one we wanted to go to with Emma.  It was Queen Emma's Summer Palace.  It was just down the road from the Pali, and given that it was the former residence of a Queen Emma, we felt we had to go.  The tour inside talked a lot about Hawaiian history and the former rulers of the islands.

We then went into downtown Honolulu to visit the Iolani Palace, see the King Kamehameha statue across the street, and wander over to the old mission homes of the early missionaries.

This is Kawaiaha'o Church.  It's the first church the missionaries built. 

I loved the white plumerias everywhere!

Some of the old mission homes and buildings.

We had to stop and get a picture of Emma on Queen Emma street.

Punchbowl Cemetery (as it's informally known), is the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.  It's located in the Punchbowl Crater, named for it's punchbowl shape.  It serves as a memorial to honor those men and women who gave their lives in serving in the US Armed Forces.  Besides having over 50,000 soldiers interred here, there are approximately sixty memorial markers with bronze plaques commemorating soldiers of various wars.  There is a pathway lined with these markers that leads to a spectacular view of Honolulu and Diamond Head.

After finishing at Punchbowl, we headed to Chinatown.  We were picking up dinner for everyone here, but first we wanted to wander around a little.  We found a market place with loads of fun things.  Emma bought several little souvenirs for herself, including an umbrella hat and some necklaces.  There was a big halloween festival that was about to start as we were picking up dinner.  It had made parking a little scarce, but it was fun seeing some of the costume contest entrants, as well as listening to the band play just down the street.

Dinner was fantastic - I love chinese food!  After dinner we held another uke jam, spoke some German with my uncle (he served a german speaking mission years ago and has kept it up better than I have!), and Emma showed off some of her taekwondo moves.

We enjoyed some yummy pancakes the next morning with Marcellus and Jo, and then headed to Waikiki.  Normally I prefer avoiding Waikiki because it is so crowded with tourists, but Emma really wanted to see Waikiki beach.  Her reason is too funny though.  She likes the Brady Bunch show, and loves the episodes when the family went to Hawaii.  In those episodes, the kids have a tiki necklace which they believe brings them bad luck, and causes several near mishaps.  One of these mishaps is Greg nearly wiping out while surfing at Waikiki beach.  This is why she wanted to see it.  How can you say no to that?  We also did a little shopping in the area (more souvenirs for Emma!), and then headed to Kahala Mall which is really close to my aunt and uncle's house.  We finished there and then spent some time in the backyard throwing a frisbee or just relaxing with a ukelele, which is now one of Emma's favorite things to do.  We decided to have a quiet evening at home with Marcellus and Jo, so after dinner we all watched Napoleon Dynamite.  It was Emma's first time seeing it, and she thought it was hilarious.

The famous Royal Hawaiian pink hotel.

I have no idea why Eric's pulling this face.  Emma took this picture and I didn't notice at the time what he was doing.  I can only guess it has something to do with the tiki necklace he's wearing.  Yes, before the trip I bought a tiki necklace just like the one in the Brady Bunch.  Occasionally Eric wore it on the trip and we always pretended that something bad was going to happen because of it.  Yes, we are nerds.  =)

The video below is of Emma learning to play the ABC's or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (whichever you prefer).

Hawaii pt. 6: Pineapples, the North Shore, and Hanauma Bay

The next day, after sleeping in (we'd had a lot of early mornings and late evenings - and what's a vacation without some sleeping in and relaxing?) we headed to the Dole Plantation.  There are so many things to do here.  We tried the maze, rode the train, and wandered in the gardens.  But no trip is complete without having at least one serving of their pineapple ice cream.  I dream about this stuff.  And it always seems to taste better here than anywhere else.

Their grounds are so pretty.

They have the world's largest hedge maze.  Dang, it was big.  We didn't find
everything before we were all exhausted and very hot from the sun.

Inside the maze.

We rode the train after we did the maze.  We all wanted to sit, so it seemed like a great activity.

Here Emma is showing just how hot and tired she was.  She's enjoying the little fan quite a bit! 

Lots of different plants to see on the little train ride. 

One of their pineapple fields. 

Starfruit. 

In their garden.

After the plantation, we went to the North Shore.  There are several cute little towns that are fun to visit.  Eric had been wanting to get a new ukelele while we were in Hawaii, and we happened to pass a ukelele shop, which just happened to be the best shop on Oahu to find ukeleles.  No lie.  What a great coincidence!  We went in and he found one he liked.  Well, actually he found several he really liked, so I should say he found one he decided to purchase.  We all love it.  I think Emma wants it for herself, even though Eric gave her his old one.

We stopped by a beautiful beach to enjoy some of the north shore waves.  I went in and swam with Emma first, and then Eric took a turn with her.  I don't think Emma was ready for the big waves.  It was so fun to watch her try to stay standing only to be bowled over by the water.

This might be my favorite picture from the trip.  I love Emma's expression mid-wave.

As we passed Pearl Harbor on our way back into Honolulu, Eric was excited when we saw an aircraft carrier.  Those things are huge!  Once back in town we went to Ala Moana mall for some shopping.  Emma wanted more souvenirs.  I already didn't know how we were going to get everything to fit in our suitcases.  More stuff was crazy to think about.  But she was determined.  I admit that I always like wandering around this mall, so I didn't really mind.

The next day was an early one for us.  We were heading to Hanauma Bay for some snorkeling.  This place is always packed with people, and the parking lot fills up early.  We grabbed a waterproof camera on our way, which Emma was excited to use.  Sure enough there was already a line, but luckily it wasn't too long yet.  In order to get down to the beach you have to walk down a steep road.  We went down and found a spot for our towels and umbrellas.  Then Emma and I went to look at the fish.  I love Emma in a snorkel mask.  She's so cute!  After awhile I switched places with Eric.  This is the kind of place you could stay all day.  So beautiful.

The light was all wrong when I took this, plus I took it with my iPod, so not a great camera.
 But I love it.  She's like a creature that just emerged from the water!

This place really never disappoints.  Every time I come here
I am blown away all over again with its beauty. 

When we left it was packed.  This is just one part of the beach!

Afterwards we drove through Hawaii-Kai (the town where Hanauma Bay is located).  It's really pretty there.  Then we headed to the Island Snow store (a store my family has always loved because we're all Snows), bought Emma her first Island Snow shirt, and enjoyed some of their shaved ice.   On our way back home we stopped by Makapu'u Lookout for the views.  After we got home, we cleaned up, and hung out in the backyard.

Hawaii-Kai

The view from Makapu'u lookout.  Looks like a rabbit.

Emma playing Eric's new ukelele.  I think she played it there more than he did!

We ate dinner with my aunt, uncle, and cousin, and then held a ginger jam on some ukeleles (my cousin also has red hair).  My cousin Matt was so great with Emma.  He would teach her chords and help her learn songs.  He also taught her the blues.  She spent the rest of the trip trying to sing the blues.  Not an easy task while in Hawaii I might add.

All of us!  My cousin Matt on the left, my aunt Jo on the right, and my uncle Marcellus in the front.