Aloha!,

Another warm and mostly sunny day on Oahu.

Yesterday we left Seattle just as it started in to deep freeze. We had an early morning flight out of Sea-Tac and the streets sparkled in the headlights. I drove causiously. It was warm at the airport and we packed away our coats and boarded the plane. It was what seemed like a quick five hours. Our last few flights have been 10-14 hours or more so this seemed easy.

A little confusion exiting the plane and we were off and into our car rental. We had a couple of hours before we could check in so we headed downtown to pick up some plant books at Native Books. We decided to eat at Kona Brewery which was north of Honolulu so we took the opportunity to drive through the main Waikiki area – just so we could say we saw it. It was definitely not our style. The street was lined with designer stores and hotels. In between we could see the beach which was crowded with people.

We continued and drove around the base of Diamond Head and through a residential area before heading towards KoKo Crater. The brewery was at KoKo Marina. We had a nice waterside table where we could watch trigger fish under the marina pier. The beer was good and cold. I had a Marlin sandwich and G a Greek Pizza.

We took the opportunity to drive around the South shore past Koko Crater, the Halona Blowhole, Makapu lighthouse. The late afternoon light was stunning on the hillside above the blowhole. We continued on past Sandy Beach and on to Kailau and finally to the area of Ahuimanu where we turned in towards the foot of the Koolau Mountains, the green spine that runs along Oahu. We drove up towards the end of the road where our rental was set below the cliff.

It is a nice large studio with a well equiped kitchen and a nice sized main bedroom and bath. The deck outside looks over a well kept garden with the green jungle hillside towering above. We relaxed a little and then made a run out to stock up for breakfast.

Soon we were feeling worn from the travel, humidity and heat. We went to sleep to the sound of the bubbling creek in the jungle beyond our door.

Waiting for the blowhole

There she blows!

Shadow self portrait