Day 2 in Hawaii: Honolulu

November 12, 2010

We awoke the next morning VERY early, due to the time difference. We headed downstairs to the breakfast buffet at 6:00am. The buffet was wonderful. The food was hot and you had plenty of options to choose from. Some options I was unaware of what they were. There was a high population of Asian folks, and Korean Airlines has an office in this hotel. I believe it was a local food to them, as I saw many gobbling it up! I was afraid to try it, especially for breakfast. I choose scrambled eggs, which were cooked perfect... I do not like when eggs are runny; wheat toast and some bacon, which was crispy and well done. Orange Juice was self serve. Coffee  and Tea were butlered around by the servers, who also were busy clearing and cleaning the tables. After breakfast we headed out front. Included in our package, we had a Honolulu City Tour. We were told to meet out front at 6:45am to be picked up. Right on time, the bus arrived. We headed onto the large tour bus and off we went to our first stop, Pearl Harbor.

There was some traffic on our route to Pearl Harbor but the tour guide did an excellent job of talking about what we were going to see and explaining the day. It made the time pass fast. We arrived at Pearl Harbor around 7:30am. We were explained the rules, which is ABSOLUTELY NO BAGS of any sort!!! Do not argue with the tour guide, just follow the rules! Of course we had a few fellow tourist arguing, he didn't make the rules he is just in charge of explaining them to us! It was short walk from our tour bus parking lot to the entrance, due to construction at Pearl Harbor. The grounds, even with construction, are beautifully maintained and well kept.

Entrance of Pearl Harbor

We stay as a group until we reached the entrance. Our tour guide gave us our tickets to go on the ferry to the USSA Arizona. We had a ferry time of 9:15am. Off we went to explore Pearl Harbor. I am NOT a history buff and usually this type of place would BORE me. However, I found it amazing. We walked around looking at it all. Next, we watched the movie that explained in detail the events of Pearl Harbor, much more than your History teacher in high school told you. The theatre is currently under construction, so they have an outdoor one set up. Not enough seating for everyone, but we were okay with standing for the 25-30min video. After the movie we walked around for a little more than got a drink. Food and drink are sold at a concession stand. You cannot take the food or drink, UNLESS it's WATER on the ferry with you so give yourself enough time to enjoy your purchase before your scheduled departure time. We walked over to the ferry around 9:00am and waited in the area. There is a lot of people but it is very organized and there was not a wait. Exactly at 9:15am, our time was called and we headed onto the ferry. Once on the ferry, we began our adventure across the harbor to the memorial for the USSA Arizona. When you arrive at the memorial you only have 14 minutes to view what you want then the next boat comes over. 14 minutes does not seem like long but it is plenty of time to view the memorial.

Anchor from the USSA Arizona

Beautiful flowers

Arriving at the memorial was quick and calm. No sickness. It is about a 5 min ride from start to arrival at the memorial. You enter the memorial through a ramp from the ferry. As you walk through the first archway, flags line the walls. Next you head through the archway and you are in the main area. All of the sides are open and you can view the remains on the boat that are above the water. As you walk toward the back of the memorial, there is another viewing area but this is to see the remains under the water. If you keep walking back you will get to the wall of all of the fallen from that day. It is beautifully done but it is so depressing when you see how many names are etched into the wall. As you walk back out of that room, you will be on the left side of the memorial, where you can view the oil that is leaking into the harbor from the USSA Arizona. It has done so since 1941 and as each year passes, the fuel levels are increasing. The environmentalists want the government to go in and stop the leak, however they said they will NOT do that until the last survivor from Pearl Harbor is gone.

USSA Arizona Memorial

Battleship Missouri

Fuel leaking into the harbor

Wall of the Fallen

We returned back from the ferry and did some more walking around for about 10-15mins. We headed back to the entrance as our time at Pearl Harbor was almost finished. As we did, we saw a table with older gentlemen signing books and taking pictures. We found out that they were three survivors from Pearl Harbor and they volunteer their time to visit on certain days of the year.

Our last stop was the souvenir shop, where Mr. H purchased a "Philadelphia Inquirer" from the day of the attack. He LOVES history so he was very excited for this purchase.

Our time at Pearl Harbor was over and we headed back to the bus. Our next stop was Punchbowl Cemetery or officially known as "National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific." Unfortunately, tour bus groups are no longer allowed to get out and explore due to tourist damaging the cemetery.

Next we drove passed the eternal flame, which is the memorial to the men & women of Hawaii who have served in the armed forces of the United States; the governor's house and office which are directly across the street from one another, and we drove through Chinatown.

Eternal Flame

Our next stop was the Iolani Palace. Hawaii is the only state in the United States to have palaces. We also saw the King Kamehameha Statue. We took some pictures and then we headed back to bus. This was our final stop.

It was about 12:30pm when we returned to the hotel. We went to Cheeseburger in Paradise and had some lunch. Of course we both had cheeseburgers, I had a turkey burger and it was delicious.

The 2nd one created

Blue Hawaiians were on special

Next we went to beach for a few hours. The water where we went was very calm, no waves. We went into the water and it only came up to our knees, which was okay with me because I was not in the mood to get drenched. We relaxed on our towels for a little on the sand.

Even their beaches are beautifully landscaped

The beach

We actually headed back to Cheeseburger in Paradise for a few Happy Hour cocktails.

Cheeseburger in Paradise Happy Hour

After leaving Cheeseburger in Paradise the second time we headed back to the hotel, showered and changed. We were going to dinner at SANSEI Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar, which had great reviews! The restaurant is located inside the Waikiki Beach Marriot Resort and Spa. It was very easy to find. We did not have reservations for dinner and we did not have to wait for a table. Our server was attentive and friendly. They had a large sushi menu as well as other options. We choose our sushi and enjoyed a Sapporo, a Japanese beer. Dinner was served quickly. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner. 

Our table for dinner

Sake

Sake

Sapporo, Japanese beer

Sake Bombs

Sushi

After dinner, we walked around the streets of Waikiki. I love to people watch and BOY are they many options to watch!! After a while, we came to Yogurt Land. We decided to try it. It is a frozen yogurt place. You go in, pick a cup and you self serve your frozen yogurt. There had to be at least 10-12 different flavors to choose from. You can mix the flavors, fill up your cup or only put in a little. It's up to you! Next, you choose your toppings. Again it is self serve so you can put as little or as much as you choose. Finally, they weigh your yogurt cup and that is how you pay. No one is the same! I choose peanut butter yogurt and french vanilla....with some chocolate sprinkles and crumbled oreos. It was yummy!! 

We headed back to the hotel again around 9:00pm. We were tired and we had plans to get up early again tomorrow!!