Trip to Oahu, Hawaii January 5-11, 2019

Saturday, Jan 5 - I was picked up about 6:30AM by Vancouver Cab.  I checked in with Alaska Airlines at PDX.  The flight left at 9:10AM, arriving Honolulu about 1:40PM.  I sat aisle seat which was a big mistake.   Too much activity.  I watch two films during the flight - "Mamma Mia, Here we go again" and a depressing "Three Identical Strangers".  After retrieving my suitcase, I caught the Shuttle to the Waikiki Resort Hotel, 2460 Koa Avenue.  The hotel is well located in the heart of Waikiki, half block away from Kuhio Beach section.  I checked into my room on the 16th floor at the end of the hall.  I had a view from the balcony of the hills.   I had a Filet-O-Fish and Sr Coke at McDonalds at 3:00PM.  I wandered over to the International Marketplace where I photographed the Don Ho Statue, a sculpture in bronze.   I found a geocache.  I purchased food at Starbucks for an evening meal back at my room.  I purchased a $39.00 hat at Nordstrom Rack for $15.00.  I bought a 6 pack of bottled water at ABC Store.  I returned to my hotel room about 7:00, ate a light dinner and went to bed.

Sunday, Jan 6 - Following a very early breakfast I took Lyft to my Event at the Honolulu Coffee Experience located at the corner of Kalakaua Ave and Kapiolani Blvd.  It was a great location to hold an Event.  There was even a cache in the Coffee Shop.  About 14 cachers attended.  Lee Chung (Cache_Lee) gave me a Turtle Marine Figurine.  Afterwards I had a great time geocaching with Katie (K8Ydd) and Kristie (NativeAirman) part of the day and then Kristie until sunset.  I found 12 caches, and a benchmark (TU0289 TIDAL 14) on top of balustrade of Iolani Palace.  I had a light dinner and went to bed.

Monday, Jan 7 - After breakfast at the hotel I rode TheBus on a 1-Day Pass to the park next to the United States Postal Service on Saratoga Road where I did an Earthcache.  I rode TheBus to the Ala Moana shopping center.   I found a cache in the parking structure.  I had lunch at the terrace at Nordstrom at noon.  I had a cuppa Earl Grey tea at Starbucks at the Ala Moana Hotel.  I wandered over to the Halekulane Hotel where I had a lovely Classic Afternoon Tea on the Veranda at 3:00PM.  I had Earl Grey tea however I should have tried Silver Needle for something out of the ordinary.  Sweet highlights included homemade Kula strawberry preserves and clotted cream to pair with currant scones.  Afterwards I went to the nearby seating area to hear live Hawaiian music.  I chatted awhile with Toshino Uraoka from Japan.  I found a cache while walking to the 1927 Royal Hawaiian.  I checked out the lobby and then found a location to watch the stage show.  Afterwards I wandered over to the Moana Hotel where I wandered through the hotel lobby and then sat for awhile on a rocker on the front porch.  It was getting late so I walked back to the hotel. 

Tuesday, Jan 8 - After breakfast at the hotel I decided to ride TheBus on a $2.00 1-Day Pass entirely around Oahu.  I caught the No. 8 bus on Kuhio Avenue.  I got off at the Ala Moana Shopping Center.  I caught TheBus through central Oahu to the Dole Pineapple Plantation where I found a cache. I had planned to get an ice cream sundae however it was so expensive and I am not that fond of pineapple.   I continued on via TheBus to the scenic North Shore where I had lunch at McDonalds.  I took TheBus along the coast back to the Ala Moana Center.  During the circle bus ride I saw a white heron, white butterflies, roosters, black cats, and hen with baby chicks.  I saw several wind turbines.  I saw the Emerald Princess at the dock at 4:00PM.  I had a light dinner at the Terrace at Nordstrom.  I took TheBus back to Waikiki. 

Wednesday, Jan 9 - After breakfast at the hotel I caught TheBus on a 1-Day Pass to downtown Honolulu.  I visited the 1879 Iolani Palace at 10:30.  The Iolani Palace was the royal residence of the rulers of the Kingdom of Hawaii.  I explored the palace for an hour and half or so.  I learned that the ocean originally came up to the front yard of the palace.  I caught TheBus, stopping at McDonalds about 12:15PM for lunch.  I found a Virtual (Maui Warrior GC6A60 Placed Date: 06/30/2002).  I caught TheBus again to travel to the Bishop Museum about 2:00.  I saw the exhibits for a couple hours.  I caught TheBus back to Waikiki.  I had a light dinner at Starbucks on Kuhuo Avenue.  I wandered back to the hotel along the beach road.

Thursday, Jan 10 - After breakfast at the hotel, I found a cache.  I was picked up by the PCC shuttle about 10:30AM.  The Polynesian Cultural Center is a Polynesian-themed theme park and living museum located in Laie, on the northern shore of Oahu, Hawaii. I got the popular Ali'i Luau Package. I visited a couple villages. The food was great - I had a huge scoop of rainbow sherbet ice cream on fruit during the show by the lake and the food at the Alii Luau was simply delicious.  I had a front row seat at the Luau dinner/performance.  I had fairly good seat for the Evening Show: HA: Breath of Life.  However, by the end of the evening I did not want to hear any more Polynesian music or see any more Polynesian dances for a very long time!   I returned to the hotel via the PCC shuttle about 10:45PM.  It made for a very, very long day.

Friday, Jan 11 - I had an early breakfast at the hotel and packed to return home.  I was picked up by the shuttle at 9:30 AM and taken to the Honolulu International Airport.  I checked my suitcase.  I ate a parfait that I purchased at Starbucks.  The flight left at 12:40PM for Portland.  I watched the film "Ready Player One" directed by Steven Spielberg.  I arrived at PDX about 8:10PM.  I got my suitcase.  I rode MAX light rail/CTran to downtown Vancouver, Washington where my daughter Catherine gave me a lift home.  I had a great time but it was good to be home!