2009-Feb. 21: Waikiki beach, Marina reflections

Today was my last full day on Oahu. I had finally decided to take the bus to the "Swap meet" at the stadium, but after waiting over 30 minutes for a completely full bus, I decided to abandon that idea. I also thought about going to Hunauma Bay and snorkeling, but decided I didn't want to go there alone and I'd have plenty of time to snorkel for free on Kauai. So I walked around Waikiki some more. Ended up sitting with my feet in the water and making a few phone calls. It was also the day my daughter and her husband were arriving in Kauai, so I wanted to be around to hear how their flights went and make sure everything went ok with their car rental and condo check in. All went well for them. Here's my view from the pier I was sitting on dangling my tired feet in the water.

It was the clearest day so far and less wind. So when I was tired of sitting in the sun, I went to Fort Derussey Park and sat on the hill by the Army museum and gazed out at the ocean from there.

 

At sunset, I walked to the boat harbor and took pictures of reflections. The sunset wasn't that spectacular because of the clear sky, but the reflections were pretty awesome. Here's the pond by the Hilton on my way to the marina.

 

Lots of photo ops by the marina!

There was even color in the sky for a short while.

 

 Heading back up the beach to the Wyndham Beach Walk.
On the way back to my condo, I stopped into an ABC store and picked up a pre-made salad for dinner. The ABC stores in Waikiki are great. I was able to get all the groceries I wanted from them and there's one right on the ground level of the Wyndham.

It was also the night to pack up again for tomorrow's flight to Kauai.

2009-Feb. 20: Foster Gardens, Waikiki Aquarium

What to do?! Why not head to Foster Garden's? I love gardens and could never interest any of my other travel companions to go there with me. So I walked up to Kuhio St. and caught the #4 bus to the gardens. Upon boarding the bus, I asked for a transfer which was good for 4 hours from the time I stepped onto the bus.

 It was about an hour ride to the gardens, but it was interesting seeing the parts of Honolulu that the bus took me through. The garden's are beautiful and I easily spent about 2 1/2 hours wandering around them. It's not a huge garden, but for a photographer, it had a lot to offer---like this---

 and this---looks like scraps of builders concrete to me, but I'm sure it's someone's art piece.

 Most of the gardens were different types of green trees,

but there was an orchid garden, too, and a small butterfly garden.

 

After running around the garden, I used my transfer ticket to hitch a ride back to Waikiki. But instead of getting off by the condo, I road to Kapiolani park and got off there. I walked through the park and to the Aquarium. I love sealife and, again, noone has been interested in going to the aquarium with me before. I thoroughly enjoyed the aquarium!  I'd definately be a member of the Aqaurium if I lived here!

I have a special fondness for these cute little yellow tangs. I saw tons of them while snorkeling around the Big Island, but very few on Kauai or Waikiki beach.

 

 Stripeys---the only place I've seen these guys other than at Lydgate on Kauai.  Wonder how they got there.

 I've seen one of these guys in real life, but it was green---frog fish

 I was even fortunate enough to be there at the time they feed the 2 monk seals they have there, so I got to watch that and listen to the trainers speak about them. Here they are anxiously awaiting the trainer.

 She even had them trained to let her look at their teeth

 

From the aquarium, I walked back up to my condo and rested until near sunset.

 Then it was time to head to the beach again. To my surprise, there were tons of sailboats out. Made for some fun watching.

 I sat on the grassy hill by Ft. Derussy park and watch the sail boats and sunset.  Both were really interesting!

Not a dud!

 

After the sun set, it was time to head back to the condo and rest the weary feet again. Dinner was take out from the pizza place below the resort. It was very good---Round Table.  We don't have those in the midwest, unfortunately! 

It was a fun day!

2009-Feb. 19: Walking around Waikiki, Beach, and Sunset cruise.

The first day I spent a lot of time just walking around Waikiki streets and the beach.

 The famous Royal Hawaiian---It originally opened  on 1 February 1927, with a black tie gala attended by over 1,200 guests, and quickly became an icon of Hawaii's glory days.  During the depression, it was a US military R&R Center.  After the war it was sold and became a hotel again.  It closed on 1 June 2008 for renovation. It had just reopened on 20 January 2009 as a member of The Luxury Collection division of Starwood Hotels.

 The International Market Place---It first opened in 1956 as a commercial retail and entertainment center.   (On August 25, 2016, the International Market Place reopened as a modern shopping, dining and entertainment center)

 On to the famous Waikiki Beach.

 I was just chilling and sitting on the sand enjoying everything, when a guy came around drumming up business for a sunset cruise.  At a price of $20, I decided why not and splurged.

 the Royal Hawaiian from the water side

 more of Waikiki as we were shoving off.

 heading up towards Diamond Head.

 The clouds were getting pretty dark off to the East.