October 12, 2024 Honolulu Day 2

Day 2 moored at Honolulu Harbour. Pier number 11. We were up and finished breakfast just after 7 a.m. Already the temperature was 25°C and a partly cloudy sky.

Today’s tour was Oahu’s Scenic Shores which was a four hour scenic drive seeing Diamond Head, an extinct volcano visible from Honolulu and a drive along Oahu’s southeast

windward coast. The meeting time was 7:45 a.m. in the terminal and we arrived just after 7:30 a.m. The coach was being loaded as people arrived. Already the coach was more than 2/3’s full. By 7:50 a.m. all but four people were waiting on the bus. The bus left at 8:05 a.m. without the missing people. While waiting there were several people were coughing, we were happy that we were wearing N95 face masks.

Our driver, Tim, gave a running commentary of Hawaiian history. In the late 1700s the Hawaiian islands were united after several years of fighting. Lahaina, Maui, became the capital. In the early 19th century, Honolulu’s harbour was bustling with trade which lead to King Kamehameha III deciding to move Hawai’i’s capital from Lahaina to Honolulu. Unfortunately, the historic part of Lahaina was destroyed by a wild fire in August 2023.

Our route went southeast along Ala Moana Blvd to Kalanianaole Highway. As we got closer to Diamond Head, which is an extinct volcano crater known as Lē’ahi, we went through the smaller cities that make up greater Honolulu. We saw the oldest hotel in Waikiki and a park with statues of the first Hawaiian king and the last queen. We passed the Diamond Head lighthouse on the way to enter the crater. The Lē’ahi crater area was an American military base which could only be accessed by a tunnel that was blasted through the crater wall in 1902. The site was given to the Hawaiian people in the late 1940s. It is a one way road through the tunnel, which traffic takes turns using. The bus could just journey into the crater and drive a loop road and then leave. Parking costs $90 for 15 minutes and after COVID an extra charge of $5 per passenger was added.

Back on Kalanianaole Highway we saw Kahala volcano and Koko Head crater. The tops of the volcanos were covered by fluffy greyish clouds all morning.

The first stop was at the blowhole at Halona Point where a geyser erupts from a submerged lava tube whenever a wave hits the cliffs at the right angle. From the viewpoint you can also see the sandy beach of Sandy Park Beach where we could see surfers in the water.

Further along at Makai Poi Point lookout we could see Rabbit Island and another lighthouse.

About halfway into the tour, there was a 45 minute stop in Waimānalo, one of the Hawaiian natives town, where, as passengers exited the bus, we were given a small bowl of Macadamia nut and coconut ice cream. Everyone agreed that it was delicious. There was plenty of time to browse and shop. There was an array of souvenirs and Hawaiian print clothing.

The next stop was at the cliffs named Kaleleka’anae. Here in 1795 the battle of Nu’uanu was fought where about 400 Oah’u warriors were backed to the cliffs by King Kamehameha the Great’s warriors and fell almost 700 feet to their deaths. King Kamehameha I had already negotiated surrender or captured the islands of Hawai’i and Maui in his vision to unite all the eight main islands of the archipelago.

At Nu’uana Pali Lookout there was a great view of Kāne’ohe Bay and Coconut Island (Moku o Lo’e) and the Ko’olau mountain range behind us. Before Western Contact the land below was taro patches (lo’i halo) covering the area’s land and fish ponds. I the distance Ulupa’u Crater could seen.

We returned to Honolulu and the bus drove past ‘Iolani Palace, the only royal palace in the United Sates built in 1872. Across the street from it is the eternal flame to Hawaiian warriors. Close by was the White House, home to Hawai’i’s last queen after Hawai’i became a Republic. Nearby was a seven foot life size statue of King Kamehameha III. Across from the palace was Ali’iolani Hale which houses the Judiciary History and Hawaii Supreme Court. Next we passed the historic Kawaiaha’o Church which is considered the Mother Church of Hawai’i. King Kamehameha III awarded the land establishing the new kingdom’s first church on O’ahu. Statehood was marked at the church on August 21, 1959. We arrived back to the ship at noon, right on schedule.

After lunch at the Dutch Grand Café on Deck 3, we took the shuttle to the Ala Moana Shopping Center to find some complimentary Wi-Fi. You had to signup for the shopping centre’s loyalty card. It was a little more than three km back to the ship. We walked a different route than the shuttle took, mostly on Queen Street until we recognized the area of the royal palace. We detoured over one block to take better photos than when we were just passing this morning on the bus. When we reached Bishop Street, we turned to go to the Starbuck’s where we found Wi-Fi yesterday, but it was closed on Saturdays and Sundays. It was less than one kilometre back to the ship. There is an open air shopping area which also houses Pacific Hawaiian University right beside the Aloha Tower, next to the cruise terminal. We thought there could be free Wi-Fi there. There were only a few people in the courtyard, but there was a signal. Yesterday’s blog entry could be posted although slowly.

At the cruise terminal, we went through Customs, then the security scanning before entering the warehouse where Koningsdam staff were handing out chilled face cloths, ice water or lemonade before passengers climbed the gangway to the ship and had the keycards scanned to enter the ship. We stopped at the Dutch Grand Café for takeout coffee before returning to our stateroom.

We walked into the dining room with Suzanne and Graham. Jo and Mike caught up to us as we reached the table. Dinner with the three couples is usually just under two hours since we enjoy each other company. Most of the diners have long gone when we leave our table.

Today’s main stage entertainment was the comedian Kevin Flynn, who we all agreed cold be missed.

Total steps 14,886