Day two started with a jolt of light. Literally.
My brother woke me up as he returned from his morning run at 4 (!!!) in the morning. What a crazy guy.
It was just as well, since I had planned for an early morning visit to Diamond Head Crater Park in hopes to see the sun rise above Honolulu. Those who know me knows I'm a frantic planner when it comes to trips. I don't take vacations, I take trips, hence the 5:30am start.
We arrived at Diamond Head Crater, so called due to the glittering calcite crystals (Darn! There goes my get rich scheme) embedded in the rocks, and with our head lamps on, started our ascent in the dark.
The path was long and winding, complete with lots of stairs and a tunnel to boot (who doesn't like a good tunnel?) Finally, we emerged at the top where a surprising number of people have already gathered, including a group of Japanese tourists, McDonald's in hand.
You can just make out the faint glow of Honolulu in the dusk.
As we were leaving, one of the elderly Japanese ladies fainted and had to be air-lifted out of the park. Poor lady, she probably got light-headed from being made to do this hike before having any breakfast.
Someone give her some fruit cup. Stat!
After a hearty breakfast at the hotel (yummy pineapples), we headed out to Costco and a local drug store for supplies.
No lie, I really enjoy going to grocery stores/drug stores when I travel. It's such a pedestrian thing to do, but there are nearly always neat new things to discover.
We stocked up on bottled water, granola bars, and local goodies like marlin jerky (mmmh!) Marlin jerky isn't exactly healthy (Marlin, being a top predator, is high in mercury - a concept known as bioaccumulation. Take that, high school biology!) but I have such fond memories of it from this trip. It got us through some hungry times.
Our next destination: Makapuu Point Trail - rated #11 on Tripadvisor.
The trail is located at the easternmost point of O'ahu, which gave us a chance to drive along the eastern coast of the island. The great thing about O'ahu is the many scenic stops along the coastal roads. The bad thing is the shifting weather - perpetual cycle between sunny and rainy. They don't call Hawaii the Rainbow State for nothing.
We stopped by the Halona Blowhole. While we didn't get to experience first hand the record 30 ft ocean water jetting out of the thousand-year old lava tubes, we did see some jetting action. You will have to take my word for it since my camera finger wasn't quite fast enough to capture the moment.
Makapu'u Trail
3.2 km of prime whale-viewing coastal trail. Even though we were too early in the season, I still had the fervent (and completely unrealistic) hopes that we would see whales performing tricks and jumps a la Seaworld.
People, be warned. This is exactly what happens when you watch too many Discovery/National Geographic shows, your expectation of "grand gestures" from the wildlife start to get out of hand.
Finally, we reached the iconic lighthouse, which marks the end of the trail. Unfortunately, the lighthouse is closed to the public so we could only admire from afar. (The fence blocking the entrance path to the lighthouse was pretty mean-looking and heavily padlocked. Looks like I'm not the only one who wanted to pay a close and personal visit to the lighthouse).
Note to self: Always have a bathing suit with you in Hawaii, even when you don't think you'll need it.
We then had a wonderful dinner with our relatives. I may be severely biased but my nephew and niece are simply adorable. What can I say? Good genes run in the family.
My brother woke me up as he returned from his morning run at 4 (!!!) in the morning. What a crazy guy.
It was just as well, since I had planned for an early morning visit to Diamond Head Crater Park in hopes to see the sun rise above Honolulu. Those who know me knows I'm a frantic planner when it comes to trips. I don't take vacations, I take trips, hence the 5:30am start.
The path was long and winding, complete with lots of stairs and a tunnel to boot (who doesn't like a good tunnel?) Finally, we emerged at the top where a surprising number of people have already gathered, including a group of Japanese tourists, McDonald's in hand.
You can just make out the faint glow of Honolulu in the dusk.
Alas, no sunrise that day. Still, a beautiful viewpoint, no?
Just imagine a clear blue sky and deep blue ocean.
A souvenir from the railings.
Clearly, white was the wrong colour of choice that day.
And I'm leaning against the rails in the photo. Good grief, what was I thinking?
As we were leaving, one of the elderly Japanese ladies fainted and had to be air-lifted out of the park. Poor lady, she probably got light-headed from being made to do this hike before having any breakfast. Someone give her some fruit cup. Stat!
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The promotional aerial photo for Diamond Head Crater Park.
Nature in all of her geometrical beauty. Doesn't it kind of look like a giant, delicious pie?
After a hearty breakfast at the hotel (yummy pineapples), we headed out to Costco and a local drug store for supplies.
No lie, I really enjoy going to grocery stores/drug stores when I travel. It's such a pedestrian thing to do, but there are nearly always neat new things to discover. We stocked up on bottled water, granola bars, and local goodies like marlin jerky (mmmh!) Marlin jerky isn't exactly healthy (Marlin, being a top predator, is high in mercury - a concept known as bioaccumulation. Take that, high school biology!) but I have such fond memories of it from this trip. It got us through some hungry times.
Our next destination: Makapuu Point Trail - rated #11 on Tripadvisor.
The trail is located at the easternmost point of O'ahu, which gave us a chance to drive along the eastern coast of the island. The great thing about O'ahu is the many scenic stops along the coastal roads. The bad thing is the shifting weather - perpetual cycle between sunny and rainy. They don't call Hawaii the Rainbow State for nothing.
We stopped by the Halona Blowhole. While we didn't get to experience first hand the record 30 ft ocean water jetting out of the thousand-year old lava tubes, we did see some jetting action. You will have to take my word for it since my camera finger wasn't quite fast enough to capture the moment.
The impossibly beautiful coastline of O'ahu.
Makapu'u Trail 3.2 km of prime whale-viewing coastal trail. Even though we were too early in the season, I still had the fervent (and completely unrealistic) hopes that we would see whales performing tricks and jumps a la Seaworld.
People, be warned. This is exactly what happens when you watch too many Discovery/National Geographic shows, your expectation of "grand gestures" from the wildlife start to get out of hand.
Koko Head Crater, we'll be seeing you soon.
Wild dragonfruit and bizarrely awesome cacti. If only mine grew (even half) so well.
The rich volcanic soil + humid climate = tropical plant heaven.
All the different shades of blue-green of the Pacific ocean.
Finally, we reached the iconic lighthouse, which marks the end of the trail. Unfortunately, the lighthouse is closed to the public so we could only admire from afar. (The fence blocking the entrance path to the lighthouse was pretty mean-looking and heavily padlocked. Looks like I'm not the only one who wanted to pay a close and personal visit to the lighthouse).
Instead of having a proper lunch like regular human beings, we ended up having the aforementioned marlin jerky and granola bars (which ended up happening more frequently than my brother would have preferred). It was all worth it though.
What a view!
What a view!
There is truly something mystical and surreal about the Hawaiian isles.
Since all beaches in Hawaii are considered public land, we decided to relax for a couple of hours at the little stretch of golden beach just peeking out from the cliffside we spied from the hilltop.
Note to self: Always have a bathing suit with you in Hawaii, even when you don't think you'll need it.
Sans bathing suit, my only recourse was the ever popular sandcastle construction (and taking photos).
The white island in the mid-foreground is Manana Island. Popularly known as Rabbit Island. It does look like a rabbit swimming in the ocean. Do rabbits swim?
Due to its proximity to the ocean, the city of Old Castletown (ingenious, I know) was wiped out moments after this photo was taken. None of its inhabitants survived.
New Castletown may or may not have been destroyed by its creator in an act of pure clumsiness.
It scares me that you don't take vacations but trips. How do you get any down time? Or are you like Amanda and downtown is akin to some horrible punishment inflicted on you by others?
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful colours! Almost seems unreal.
So is Old Castletown a city or a town?
You know I love my downtime/naps as much as any one (moreso, even!) That being said, I'm a firm believer that downtime is for at home.
DeleteOld Castletown is a settlement so I guess it would be a town?