Hawaii: Photographs and Memories

Climbing wet, slippery steps up to Akaka Falls at the State Park, North of Hilo, Big Island Hawaii

We have experienced five adventurous days in Hawaii. 

KONA

On the first day, we visited Kona, located on the western side of the Big Island. In hindsight, there were other things I would have liked to have seen there, like  Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, a spiritual place of refuge. We heard from other travelers that it was a highlight of their trip. 

Instead, we wandered around the pier in the historic Kailua Village,  bought an Aloha shirt and matching shorts for my new grandson, and some flower hair clips for my granddaughters. We also walked along the shore by Kona Inn and took pictures of Hulihe'e Palace. 

It was a vibrant town but also hot and congested. We did enjoy some famous Kona coffee over ice, and later, we took a catamaran ride and saw beautiful sights from the water, including the monument where Captain James Cook met his violent end. 

A Hula dancer at the pier in Kona. Notice the swimmer in the water

KAUAI

On day two, we visited Kauai, one of my favorite places. The highlight of this trip was a helicopter ride around the island. We saw many beautiful scenes from the air, including waterfalls, green mountains, and jewel-colored waters. Thanks to our friends and their rental car, we visited waterfalls nearby in the afternoon. 

My husband and I, after our hour-long tour in the air

View of Kauai from the air

Another view of mountains/water (the pictures don’t do it justice). I was taking photos through the helicopter window.

One of the many waterfalls in Kauai (notice the rainbow near the base). Hawaii is known as the rainbow capital of the world, and I can see why. 

HONOLULU

We spent days three and four in Honolulu; usually, the fourth day would have been in Maui, but the itinerary was changed after the tragic fires in August 2023. Lahaina is working to rebuild and expects to fully welcome tourists again, hopefully within the next two years.  

Again, we traveled with our friends in their rental car, far away from the usual tourist spots like Waikiki Beach and the downtown shopping areas. We are so glad we did! Honolulu is very diverse.

 Our first stop was one of my favorites: Waimea Valley Botanical Park and Waterfall, a gorgeously stunning park to walk around. Afterward, we had lunch on the famous North Shore at a fabulous, open-air restaurant called The Beach House. I had a delicious Shrimp Po Boy while watching surfers and free-roaming chickens. That doesn't happen every day. 

The Waimea Valley is a gorgeous, serene place to stroll and see flowers and trees of all kinds. I wish we had more time here. 

Waimea Falls at the end of the park. 

A view from the room balcony of Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa 

It is far from a natural landmark, but I was practically giddy that we visited Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa on the first afternoon. Our friends are DVC members (Disney Vacation Club), and since our ship was docked overnight in Honolulu, they decided to stay at the resort and invited us to check it out with them. So, before we took an Uber back to the ship, we explored the hotel and its amenities. What fun we had!  

My husband rode around in the lazy river as I took pictures galore and found exclusive gifts for our family in the shops. I enjoyed watching the multitudes of families by the pools and snack areas and stopped to look at the outdoor aquarium, which contained a real-life “Dory” and “Nemo.”  I marveled at the Hawaiian shaved ice in the shape of Mickey’s head and met Goofy and Pluto posing for photos along the way.

Ah…but back to the peaceful, natural scenery of Honolulu…

Day two found us at Diamond Head National Park, where we walked through a tunnel to see hikers heading straight up the volcano. We had a full day ahead, and it was already looking windy and overcast, so we decided to forgo the hike and settle for some photos. Our friend had hiked the volcano several times before, so she wasn’t too disappointed to pass it up this time, though I know the views would have been spectacular. 

Diamond Head National Park. If you zoom in, you’ll see hikers near the top. 

The next stop was Halona Blowhole Lookout Oahu

Pali Highway's Lookout was cold and windy with pelting rain. It's still worth seeing. 

We drove all over Honolulu to a spot I called “the end of the earth,” where the two-lane road abruptly stopped. The view of the Pacific Ocean, the small islands, and the waves crashing over the rocks was memorable. Different locations offered varied weather, from wind and rain to comfortable beach temperatures.  

HILO

Our last day in the Hawaiian Islands was in Hilo, located on the east side of the Big Island, opposite Kona. Even though it rained nearly all day as we explored, we enjoyed it immensely. The town was charming, and the waterfalls were breathtaking. 

After picking up the rental car, our first stop was at Volcano National Park and the Thurston Lava Tube. We were excited to learn that it was National Park Week, so our admission was free.  

(above)  At the top of Volcano National Park

                                                                                                         

              In the Thurston lava tube

Geodetic Survey Marker for Volcano National Park 

The next adventure was a bit unexpected: We found ourselves walking very steep, slippery stairs in a steady rain up to Akaka Falls. About halfway up, I thought this hike would give Diamond Head a run for its money, but we persevered. (see the first picture in the post.) The falls themselves were impressive, and in hindsight, after living to tell the tale of the climb, they were worth the initial scare, time, and effort. 

Akaka Falls in the rain

On our way to our last stop, we had an opportunity to snuggle up to a cow to alleviate any lingering anxiety left over from the slippery climb, but we decided to keep driving. We did wish the livestock well. 

To close out our tour in Hawaii, we traveled to Rainbow Falls, which was much easier to access and equally beautiful.  

Rainbow Falls in Hilo

And that concludes our tour of Hawaii.  

We certainly appreciate our friends' allowing us to ride along in their rental car. Without them, we know we would not have seen all that we could pack into a few short days. 

Thank you for reading and letting me share my travel diary and favorite memories with you!  

We have five more days at sea and one day in  Victoria, BC, Canada, before returning home.  

Even if I hadn't taken so many pictures, I am confident this was one trip we will never forget, from the total eclipse to two days in Mexico on land and sea, the gorgeous sights of the Hawaiian islands, delicious food onboard, new friends, and entertaining shows and events.

Bye for now

I wish for you all to experience equally exciting adventures very soon, even if only vicariously.

Next week,  I won’t be writing while looking out at the Pacific,  but I’ll be happy to be home again in familiar, albeit 90-degree surroundings. My family, friends, and even my cats, who wake me too early in the morning, have all been sorely missed. 

Still, I am so grateful to have had this experience. 

It’s good to change things up now and again. 

Keep smiling! 

xx