Honeymoon Hawaii Introduction While in Italy are a bit out of fashion in recent years, remain a dream that we made. We stayed in the archipelago for 18 days and we visited three of the most representative islands: Big Island, Kauai and Oahu.
BIG ISLAND, besides being the largest is also the most varied in it you can find a little of everything that Hawaii can offer you: relax, natural landscapes (from the lava to the rain forest), and both sea for snorkelling. Ideal for those seeking a holiday in the sun and sea. For photos of the island go here
Oahu, the most tourists and the less beautiful landscapes. Excellent if you want to visit the islands quickly. The beaches are beautiful and safe. For photos of the island go here
Kauai, the most beautiful, but also smaller and less diverse. Ideal for those seeking a quiet contact with nature. Here the sea can be very dangerous. For photos of the island go here
Route
September 9, 2005 "Leaving New York is never easy", now the bright lights of New York are behind us, it's time to Hawaii!
The Newark-Honolulu flight (Continental, too) takes eleven hours, but we think a child possessed (furiously determined to undermine the seat of those who stood in front of the aircraft, or my wife ...) and an Indian petomane (even though he laughed at each stink!) to enliven the flight ... As soon as we put foot in Honolulu
breathes new air now: here the atmosphere is more calm, relaxed, and the local motto (Valid on Maui, but not only ...) is "EAT, DRINK AND BE MAUI" translates to a nice "eat, drink and fuck me." No more police and angry people gone crazy, so common in New York, everyone here take it easy without tiring too.
September 10, 2005 after spending the night in Waikiki, the next morning we take an internal flight and landed in Kona on the west coast of the Big Island, rent a car: for some strange reason we saddled Hertz types in a monstrous and ingordissima Pontiac Grand Prix GT sedan, petrol, of course, from 3800 cc (yes, 3800 cc) and 260 horses (yes, 260 horsepower), why rent a missile similar to an island where the speed limit is 80 per hour (Yes, 80 per hour) is still a mystery ... mah!
Aboard 'I'm drunk as a monster truck we head towards the hotel, the Outrigger Beach Resort Keahou in the town of Kona.
Along the way we have our first taste of Hawaiian nature: we spend a few kilometers from the expanse of green to the lunar landscape of lava flows more recent advancing southward on our right we see a 'hill' perpetually shrouded in clouds, the volcano Mauna Loa that with its 4000 meters and passes dominates this part of the island.
stoned by the time we spend the rest of the day sunbathing and strolling along the seafront where we have chance to see many cottage-style room ("eat-drink-and ...") literally drowned groves of coconut palms (with lots of signals to be careful to "falling coconuts," it seems that here peck a coconut on his head is a major cause of death!).
In the afternoon we witness, among other things, a couple of Hawaiian-style weddings: those with a ceremony on the beach, amid the palm trees, where the spouses have a series of orchids and the guests are seated on white chairs, really seems to be one of the TV series Magnum PI!
September 11, 2005 Tomorrow is another day, as they said once. Our September 11 begins with a quick visit to see Holualoa coffee plantations that actually does not tell us much of a girlfriend ... and then we head to the Pu `uhonua or Honaunau National Historical Park (easy name to remember it? yes, be prepared for a series of unpronounceable names and miles ...).
The park is charming: the entire structure (complete with indigenous temples) lies on an ancient lava flow and all the rocks are black as coal. It is a spectacle never seen before, white beach, backdrop of black lava, palm trees and sea from the intense color. Inside the park, the remains of a sacred area that once provided shelter to anyone who was the victim of a kapu (anathema, curse) which, reached the area of \u200b\u200bthe temples, was acquitted by the priests of all the sins committed and was no longer punished. In addition to archaeological remains and reconstruction of the original setting (with lots of ancient idols), we have the opportunity to meet the sea turtles that come ashore to rest and reproduce.
After visiting the park, we stop at a public beach near the entrance where we do a little snorkeling (colored fish galore and even some nettle jellyfish me his wife!). Remittances on the way, let's get to the Captain Cook Monument, but we have to give up as only accessible by sea.
We visit the Painted Church, a jewel of church shrouded in tropical vegetation. Here, for the first time we find the moa, a kind of feral chickens brought there by the first Polynesians. After
lunch in a Coffe Rostery in the middle of the forest (where we offer 3 different types of coffee, all delicious!) we move north to Kailua and beyond until Kehaha Kai State Park: The road is impossible for our Pontiac, and then continue to walk in the midst of a great expanse of black lava (of the type known as "Pahoehoe", ie very smooth) with a lot of writing with white pebbles that make a big impact. Every so often emerges in the midst of a bush green lava.
At the end of the road (a good half hour walk in the midst of desolation), we find a car park near the beach with a lot of signs indicating that the beach is not safe especially at night. We walk among the palm trees and come out in a beautiful beach of coarse sand gold and black, call it salt and pepper.
now it's getting late and retrace our steps. In the background stands the majestic grandeur of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and twin equally immense.
September 12, 2005 The next morning at 6 we are up already like two crickets, here at this day is already full (do not use daylight saving time here, the day, being at low latitudes, is 12 hours and at seven night is pitch dark already).
Today we plan to visit the northwest coast (the Kohala District). First visit Puako, a picturesque town surrounded by greenery in the middle of ancient lava flows, although here the sea has gorgeous colors and houses shrouded in green near the shore are very suggestive. The next step is Hapuna Beach, a beautiful beach of fine white sand and blue blue blue sea and palm trees all around.
allocated in Pontiac, and we head towards the Pu'ukohala Heiau, an archaeological site located a few miles from Hapuna on Hw 13. Pu'ukohala the temple was built by King Kamehameha to honor the god of war (Kaili-Ku-moku) and obtain the favor to gain dominion over the archipelago. The temple was built by thousands of men who carried the stones from volcanoes of the interior to the coast where the temple was built (all information acquired at the park visitor center, where for a dollar We have presented an explanatory movie). The waters near the temple, a lot of dirty, very dangerous because they are also haunted by sharks near the shore.
After the visit continue to the north, destination Hawi, on Hwy 270. On the way we report our Rough Guide to Lapakahi State Park north of Kawaihae.
Through a path of red soil is down to the beautiful beach of white coral Lapakahi made of large rounded rocks in the middle of jet-black lava. This is the area of \u200b\u200ban ancient Hawaiian natives and old houses have been lovingly restored. He pulls a lot of wind and the light makes the perfect place particularly suitable for photo-style sea of \u200b\u200bthe tropics. "
continue then on our way to Hawi, a small, sleepy town that should be characterized by craft shops, art galleries and some restaurants, but in reality was a disappointment for us: a few houses that overlook the street mock western. From there we move toward Waimea, going high, the landscape changes, grazing cows and a horse paniolos (local cowboys, so called because the first were English vaqueros, Espanoles precisely where the distortion Anglophone) on green meadows on the slopes of old volcanic cones and filed off from the elements make the landscape vaguely Alpine to make this surreal majesty of Mauna Loa lying lazily in the distance like a sleeping giant.
passing through the city of Waimea without stopping to visit the ranch even though we see many sides of the road. Finally, we return to Hapuna Beach to take a nice bath.
September 13, 2005 Today is the day of the visit to Kilauea Volcano, although the bad weather we will ruin the show in part. Early in the morning we say goodbye all'Outrigger Keahou Beach Resort and head south on hwy 11. The road is not that good and our 260 hp (!) Remain in the stable ... better that way because the show is amazing: it goes from green expanses of woods and bushes in the seas of lava black as pitch.
One important stop on the way to Volcano (the only town dell'Hawaii near Volcanoes National Park), is the beach of punaluan, also called Black Sand Beach, the jet-black sand that characterizes it and that makes crystal clear water of the sea as black as oil. The last piece of road before crossing the Volcano Ka'u Desert, a rocky stretch of bushes in the middle of a sea of \u200b\u200bsharp lava rocks, and is literally dotted with signs from "Nene Xing" that warn us to pay attention to Nene , ducks native of Hawaii, in danger of extinction.
find accommodation at Volcano Once in My Island Bed and Breakfast Inn. The room is not great, but reasonable price (120 USD). Fixed spending the night, we enter the park and begin our tour. Now entrance of the park is the Visitor Center (very organized and full of very friendly ranger, other than Italy!) where you can retrieve information on the state (and danger) of the volcanic eruption.
The Kilauea caldera is open to the road (the crater rim drive) that runs around the volcano for several kilometers on foot or by following a similar path to the crater rim trail. Personally I think the choice of walking path is valid only if you have so much time, also the emissions of sulfur, present everywhere on the volcano, are not pleasant to breathe. The Crater Rim Drive allows you to see all the major attractions of the park.
The first meeting is with the Steam Vents, the cracks in the soil from which the steam comes out of the water heated by magma. We move then to the first scenic point where we look for the first time, the caldera of Kilauea.
The first contact is truly impressive dimensions are from 'Grand Canyon', a huge circular hole with a diameter of a mile or two hundred meters deep. The fund is composed of solidified magma and now gives the impression of a huge 'cap' ready to explode. This cap is nothing more than the old 'lake of fire' solidificatosi years. Throughout the area the soil is warm so that your feet sweat profusely inside the shoes. Then we continue our tour by looking at the caldera from other points including the Jaggar Museum where we see, inter alia, a 'small' in the caldera caldera: the Halema'uma'u Crater (see map of the park for more details). The sulfur
outcrops are everywhere: large patches of yellow that really make the caldera saturnine, even the breathing is labored, and after a little throat burns. We also do a tour around Crater all'Halema'uma'u: here the landscape is if possible even more from another world: a vast expanse of black made up of many 'blob' vitrified, from horizon to horizon a hellish vision, color These are the white and black, with yellow sulfur.
Once the car around and go back off again. Without a few miles we are immersed the Amazon rain forest with its one hundred green spots! Our first goal, 'the Thurston Lava Tube tunnel dug from a molten magma on a previous casting of years ago. Here the lava is not visible, the whole is covered by patches of green, palm trees, flowers and various plants. The colors are beautiful and very deep green, drops of water falling from the trees and we are wrapped in a fine drizzle.
Also along the crater rim drive we arrive at the Kilauea Iki Crater Overlook, where we observe the crater of the small (iki, in Hawaii) Kilauea Theater in 1959 of one of the most spectacular eruptions and that they remember. Here too the bottom of the crater is shrouded in smoke from several cracks in the ground. You will also cross the Devastation Trail (a trail through the area devastated by the eruption of 1959 that created the Kilauea Iki): here the landscape is particularly impressive and gives great peace.
After the tour of Crater Rim Drive Chain of Craters Road continue on, 20 miles of paved road easily passable with a wonderful view of the ocean and several volcanic craters (some now drowned in the tropical forest, other recent ones) that crosses the road.
arrive at the end of the road all'Holei Sea Arch, with the intention to take some photos of the cliffs and gullies to peak and then wait for the sunset on the beach to watch the 'glow', the glow of lava that thrown into the ocean. Unfortunately the weather ugly ruin us all: it rains and soaked to the bone, we can only see the lava from a distance, coming down the mountain to jump into the sea. What rotten luck to have forgotten the tripod in Italy! ISO 1600 also managed to photograph the lava plunging into the sea, but no lava flows down from the mountain, that anger!
Without the photos, back in the car and off again for Volcano, we are wet as chicks and spend an hour's drive from the lunar landscape of lava flows in the heat of the humid rain forest (among the many gems of our 'truck' are the heated seats: very useful at this juncture! and I that I do not capacitance of such an option on an island where the minimum temperature in January is 18 degrees!). The rented cottages nestled in the jungle in the morning, now it seems far less comfortable: we find him cold and wet!
September 14, 2005 The morning after the sun returns and we decided to park and walk quickly back into the Crater Rim Drive to take some pictures of the caldera with no rain. Today no rain and no wind so the smell of sulfur is much heavier and sometimes breathing is difficult. After the tour of Crater Rim Drive we move to Hilo on the Big Island's east coast. This part of the island is much more rain and the tropical forest is practically everywhere. Meanwhile the weather gets worse and starts to rain again, even if only in flashes. We lodge
at Dolphin Bay Inn and visit the picturesque Farmer's Market, the local market held every Wednesday and Saturday. Always look at the Hilo Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots.
Then we head on Hwy 19 to visit the east coast, Hilo begins immediately after the 8 miles long scenic drive that leads directly to the Tropical Botanical Garden, all defined as enthusiastically as beautiful. Unfortunately it started to rain a lot and we can not visit them. A little disappointed we continue our visit at a time of Akaka Falls, which, fortunately, we can see the sun (yes, here it goes from clear skies to torrential rain in a few minutes!)
The path through the jungle to see the Akaka Falls is very impressive and leads us to admire the Falls Kapunata passing through a beautiful rain forest with huge colorful flowers bouquet intense, mangroves, bamboo and invisible singing birds of all kinds.
pleased to be at least able to complete the visit without rain going north at a time of Waipi'o Valley. The scenic drive that leads us to the north offers views of the basalt cliffs really striking and the color of the rough seas really puts the willies! As we head
Waipi'o starts to rain profusely (what a nuisance!) And even if it stops fairly quickly when we get to the scenic image "classic" Waipi'o is corrupted by low cloud! The cliffs stand on the left finding their feet to the beaches of black lava while behind them lies a valley very lush, with the river in the middle that divides the beach and fields of crops with Taro.
now is getting dark and decided to return to Hilo after a brief visit to the semi ghost town a few miles from Honoka'a Waipi'o Lookout. The rain became more insistent after a couple of hours drive coming back to Hilo, where we have dinner at a Japanese restaurant just spending a few dollars.
We are tired, the day was hard, we fall asleep to the sound of rain ...
September 15, 2005 ... and the sound of rain we wake up. Worried turn on the TV to listen to the weather: risk of flash floods until noon, then the situation seems to improve. So we decide to leave the east coast and back on the west coast where the weather is much better. We are therefore forced to give up visits to the tropical gardens, too bad! everything here is already including the tropical rain! We have breakfast with
caffettone, papaya and red bananas harvested in the garden that prove delicious so much so that we do an encore! The hotel's owner informs us that on the night have fallen 4 inches (10 cm) of water, a really good downpour, and we should move with caution. In the middle of streets already flooded enough we head towards the southeastern corner of the island to the city of Pahoa, which seems to be one of the last refuges of the hippies who actually see! The town seems just a small town in the American West (vaguely reminiscent of Sedona) with his (now vintage men) hippies.
then continue towards the Lava Tree State Park (a forest of petrified trees from a volcanic eruption centuries ago), but when we get near the park the rain is so intense that we decided to let it go again. Then continue along the coastal road up to Isaac Hale Beach Park where, despite the inclement weather and rough seas, there are a lot of surfers who wallow in the water in search of the perfect wave!
A little amazed at the temerity of the premises to continue along the coast for a few more miles. To continue to transmit radio messages from the end of the world is imminent and therefore, even if skeptical about the actual danger of the rain, we decide to go on the west coast, to go over and spend the night in Volcano without stopping at the Kailua Kona Seaside Hotel. We have dinner at the Rio's where we taste two excellent fish dishes.
Today was our last day in Big Island, tomorrow we leave for Kauai!
September 16, 2005 Today is the day of the flight from Big Island to Kauai, this morning there's a bright sun and the rain of recent days are gone, you get to Kailua patiently await our flight to Kauai with stopover in Honolulu. A Kailua airport is 'outdoor' in meaning that the waiting room is simply a series of chairs under the palm trees!
The flight (40 minutes to Honolulu and then only a quarter of an hour to Kauai) is quiet, we landed in Lihue and immediately retrieve the car for obscure reasons (well, the undersigned is not very nice to the clerk to say the true ....) we are given a light brown Toyota Corolla (now renamed "Merdolla" for his performance ...) instead of the monstrous and powerful GT Pontiac Big Island. Taking your car and you slip on hwy 50 in search of our hotel: the Aston Islander on the Beach hotel in the heart of Coconut Beach (so named for the towering palms, which abound). Reached the hotel starts to rain and our mood goes underfoot ... turn on the TV room and discover that September 2005 will go down in history as the wettest of the last twenty five years. Vabbuò, we just have to wait!
September 17, 2005 The next morning the sun shines at last!
excited, we have breakfast and depart to visit the Waimea Canyon, the famed "Grand Canyon of the Pacific. The island is small and we get there in half an hour. Unfortunately, the road to Kauai is a real ball (even worse than the streets of Big Hawaii where we were now accustomed) and to cover the distance of 40 miles that separates us from the Canyon took me an hour and a half!
arrived at our destination, the first stop is at Waimea Canyon Lookout from where we can see in the canyon in all its vastness: remarkable, it has the majesty of the famous older brother, but the red color of the Grand Canyon adds a green very willing to live on the most humid spots. The Waimea Canyon is the largest in the Pacific region, is ten miles long, a mile wide and passes a thousand meters deep in places, and is the result of erosion and flooding that occurred over millions of years. On the slopes of the canyon you can see layers of ancient volcanic eruptions. The canyon is bordered by the Koke'e State Park and the Alakai Swamp, the rainiest place in the world.
Take photos (tante!) we move towards the Koke'e State Park still stopping in the various lookout we offer further glimpses of the Canyon. Here too we encounter the feral chickens (the Moa) that we had met in Big Island, but there are very many! and it's really funny to walk in the rainforest (reminiscent of both Jurassic Park shot, as it happens, right here on Kauai!) and constantly hear the crowing of cocks! Entering the
Koke'e State Park until we reach the final viewpoint (Kalalau Lookout) to over 1200 meters above sea level and from there we see the first glimpse of the Napali Coast: the colors are amazing, the blue sea and sky and Green here invades whatever emerges from the sea are gorgeous! Also meet the head of the colorful finches red (called Apapane) and photographed some. After lunch at
Koke'e Lodge (also rents rooms and is great as a base for hiking in the park) we decided to follow a trail around the canyon. We walk along the Canyon Trail that runs along the Canyon on the side opposite to that seen in the morning and arrive at the car Waipoo Falls, a real "pristine falls, waterfalls, primeval, as they call them here. The path in the woods is very beautiful and we are now enveloped by the scent of undergrowth very intense and pleasant (almost spicy!).
After wandering around in the afternoon we return the car (after we almost lost the forest for the lack of information!) And walk down to the sea at the earliest again after we stopped at Waimea Canyon Lookout, where he eventually encounter the Nene, the endangered Hawaiian goose.
go down the coast and then we head to the Barking Sands at Polihale State Park, the beaches, so broad as to seem endless, are so named because it is said that the grains are no cables and, when rubbed, emit a sort of bark, mah ! From here we can see the cliffs of the Napali Coast first. Now it's late and retrace our steps (and we still expect a couple of hours driving 40 miles to do ...).
September 18, 2005 Today we visit the northern part of Kauai. Our first stop is the Kilauea Point Lighthouse, a park for the protection of birds Native Hawaiians (gulls, albatrosses, frigates and nene). Then we move on to visit the famous Secret Beach, also close to the Kilauea Point. Also visited this beautiful beach we move even further on Hwy 56 towards the town of Princeville, resting and taking the road meets often with small wooden bridges of the type "one lane, single lane where the transit can be difficult. The last part of the way also includes the ford of a stream.
The mountains in the background, green and terrible, rise steeply to the interior of the island and entice us. Princeville Hanalei continue to overcome, another nice town suitable for surfers. Even today, the day is ruined by instant showers, the real showers affecting small areas and literally soak in a few moments everything.
A digression: when you get down the road branches off the Kalalau Trail, the path that allows you to drive along the Na Pali Coast, up and down along the great ridges up to the Kalalau Valley, under the Koke'e State Park Lookout. For those who know him, is something like the path on the Calanques French links Marseille to Cassis. The path is long with 11 miles (one way, another 11 to add your own back ...) and may present some difficulties and dangers present in case of rain, when it can get quite slippery. Go down its whole course it is not feasible in a single day and a tent for the night is a must. You must also inform the ranger of his intention to follow the path to its own security.
We unfortunately do not have the time to throw in such an undertaking (although we'd like) and we simply get to Kee Beach before returning back. The rest of the day goes by without infamy and without glory, trusting that the best time still book a boat tour of the Napali Coast for the next day (leaving from Port Allen and moving in the opposite direction to the Kalalau Trail).
September 19, 2005 Today, finally, the sun is shining, the day is really rather wonderful. After taking all the sun the morning in the hotel's beach and have quickly moved up the road along the river until Opaeka'a Wailua Falls Near Lihue (photo taken from the lookout on the way), we move in the car to Port Allen where she awaits the Lucky Lady, the catamaran that will take us to the foot of the Napali Coast. The excursion program includes sailing off the cliff with a lot of dinner at sea to watch the sunset.
We leave the port behind us, and we move quickly towards the Napali Coast, leaving the Barking Sands on our right we had visited two days before and on the right side of the island Nihau (the forbidden island, where the past seems to live a few hundred Hawaiian, kept isolated under a strict regime of isolation of the island by the owners, the Robinson family).
The sea is big enough and the catamaran jerks violently, like being on a roller coaster, very funny but in a few moments we are, once again!, Soaking wet.
And here it is the Napali Coast! stands before us in all its majesty. The cliffs overlooking the sea and washed by waterfalls coming out of the rock in impossible positions are indescribable. We find even a sea cave with a waterfall inside. The Lucky Lady continues its journey until last fall over the sea with lots of rainbows and then we start our way back that will lead us to admire the sunset at sea.
The tour ends in the best way (except the dinner that serves food made with a vomiting of Captain Nemo, yuck!). The night tivvu 'look (the cases of life!) Own Jurassic Park where we find some views seen on the afternoon boat.
September 20, 2005
Today wake up early and a couple of hours of sunshine on the beach.
the TV for days announcing the possible arrival of Hurricane Jova (the first since Inika that devastated the island in 1992 and was immortalized in the movie Jurassic Park), reports that the hurricane, if you will come to hit Kauai, is a category 3, and then it's no joke. It seems to us that local television is slightly alarmist (the week before the rains in Hilo were described as a flood, even if it does not really have done great damage if not ruin our vacation). The trajectory is still not safe and all that remains is to wait. However
the day today is sunny and we decided, after a sunny morning, going to eat Saimin (noodle soup derived from the Hawaiian soyu Japanese) all'Hamura Saimin, a local Lihue known for this specialty. The soup, soon discover, it's really tasty, even if the room itself is almost a kind of tavern.
In the afternoon we plan to achieve the Spouting Horn and the botanical garden of Lawa'i, unfortunately we get to visit the garden when the time is already over and we have to give up. We reach the beaches of Po'ipu, populated by dozens of snorkellisti. The bottom will not be to the Red Sea but there are all kinds of fishes: small and gray with blue ears of the species, Pescioni streaked with black, yellow and white coral fish.
Tomorrow we leave early for our third (and final sigh!) Island: Oahu. The evening dinner at the American-style "The Bull Shed, a restaurant with the windows open on the beach.
September 21, 2005 Here we go! at 11 it expects a flight to Honolulu, we still waiting for a little sun on the beach of the hotel, took some souvenir photos of the hotel and head to the airport in Lihue.
landed in Honolulu (20 minutes of flight, without problems), take the Airport Waikiki Express which stayed at the Radisson Waikiki. The town of Waikiki, even if chaotic, usually packed with tourists and Japanese tourists are quite fond After two weeks of nature (or almost) a little bit of chaos, crowds and smog do not mind at all. For Oahu
do not rent a car to which the rest of the day pass giving free rein to our desire for shopping along Kalakaua Avenue, the favorable exchange rate, the abundance and quality in clothing available leaves us very happy (it seems to be in one huge outlet ours!).
September 22, 2005 Today the weather is beautiful (now the threat of Hurricane Jova seems diminished: it has changed course and will rise to almost even the islands) and begin to visit the island. Our first goal is the Byodo-in Temple on the windward coast about thirty miles from Waikiki. As I said we rented a car and it immediately reveals an error: The service bus (TheBus) organized and efficient even if we lose at least a couple of hours, oh well! At the
Byodo In Temple, located in a beautiful natural amphitheater formed by the Koolau mountains entirely covered by green vegetation and a hat with the clouds. It seems a little one of the scenes of the Last Samurai ... and in fact the temple, Buddhist temple is a replica of the real Byodo What is in Japan. We spend the entire
afternoon wandering around the valley. After the visit back to Waikiki (using a couple of hours!), Now the day is gone: our choice not to rent a car is really proving to be a big mistake. In the evening we have dinner in a local Japanese on Kulakaua Avenue where we taste the Ramen to Soyu.
September 23, 2005 Today the goal is Pearl Harbor, Arizona Memorial destination. This time we are lucky with The Bus, we leave the hotel immediately and find the right bus takes you directly in front of the Arizona Memorial (taking an hour and still pass).
The visit is a disappointment, the waiting time to get there by boat, the area where the USS Arizona sank are long and the crowd is remarkable. Moreover, the nationalist rhetoric seems to us a little too heavy after 64 years. Inside the Museum of History Channel video on attachment to the highest volume of Pearl Harbor, a chance to see many remnants of war (the Japanese and the war in general) and buy souvenirs (including the DVD of "Pearl Harbor "the film with Ben Affleck a few years ago) and a 30-minute documentary introduction to the boat trip to the wreck of Arizona (the speaker strongly patriotic, self-celebration and a little warmonger ...).
rather impressive (and somewhat hypocritical) the presence of the last survivors who recount the attack and respond to questions from tourists, and meaning wounded pride is very much present in many Americans and it contrasts a lot with the fact that a good half of Japanese tourists and you take photos with the 'V' for victory, mah!. However, significant and interesting to visit the wreck.
After the visit back to Waikiki and after a couple of hours until we arrive at Sea Life Park, at the extreme southern edge of the island, after Hanauma Bay. The park, although a little messy, it allows us to see up close many turtles, dolphins, seals and sea lions some Piccola. It is almost sunset on the beach and admire other surfers struggling in the waves.
September 24, 2005 This morning we expect
Diamond Head, the point high and famous Waikiki, named for an ancient misunderstanding: two centuries ago, the calcite crystals that abound on the slopes were exchanged, the first European explorers, for rough diamonds!. It is a volcanic crater several hundred feet high created by the explosion of the Ko'olau volcano.
Today is very hot, we go up the road to the entrance of the park, located in the center of the ancient caldera of the extinct volcano, and then begin a hike of about fifty minutes on a dirt path under the scorching sun and in the middle vegetation withered plant. Puffing like bellows arrive at the top (the last three pieces are endless flights of stairs, puff puff!). From the top
(crowded sfiatatissimi American tourists size extra large) we enjoy a beautiful view of Waikiki and take some photos.
After the visit we go down and have lunch, the afternoon we move further south and we are devoted to visiting Hanauma Bay, where the caldera of an ancient extinct volcano has been eroded by the sea to create a creek really fantastic!
The bay is populated by swimmers that make snorkelling Before entering the beach, which is part of a protected marine park, we are instructed by rangers through the screening of a movie about the beauty of the bay and don'ts for non- disturb the aquatic fauna.
September 25, 2005 It's a beautiful day, and Today we plan to visit the northern part of the island's North Shore so famous for surfing. Unfortunately, today there is a race cisclistica (you want to laugh? Tenderers must comply, see the lights ... 'sti poor bastards ride like hell in the sun and then catch his breath at every red was really crying with laughter!) And Our bus takes a couple of hours to get to Turtle Bay, the last spurs north of Oahu, then we continue and arrive at Waimea (yes, there is every island in Waimea here ...), where we go to visit the Waimea Falls (location of some scenes from the film "The Rundown") in a very nice botanical garden. After visiting
tracing back the valley and we head towards the Waimea Beach Park, a beach with a stretch of golden sand and blue water that no longer can. This is (together with the Banzai Pipeline), one of the most famous beaches for surfing during the winter months. In summer the waters are calm and a haven for swimmers.
September 26, 2005 Last day. After a hearty breakfast of pancakes we spend the few hours that separate us from start to walk to Waikiki. In the evening we look forward to the flight long! Honolulu to Newark and then from Newark to Milan.
