Pearl Harbour

The Lone Sailor

We arrived back in Honolulu early this morning disembarked the ship, dropped off the luggage and we were off to Pearl Harbour.  We felt that to be so close and not go would just not be the thing.  So we went and visited all the free offerings that were available here.  I was not interested in the submarine that you could walk on!

Pearl Harbour, while hot and sunny, is also a very peaceful place despite the hordes of people.  You were constantly reminded that this is a memorial and to be respectful. 

The memorial is a beautiful tribute to the horrors this place experienced December 7, 1941.  

The Memorial Park begins with the Lone Sailor as the greeter.  The plaque gave the following description.

"The Lone Sailor signifies the men and women who have served, are serving, or will serve in the Navy. He’s called the Lone Sailor, yet he is hardly ever alone. He is about 25 years old, a senior second class petty officer who is fast becoming a seagoing veteran. He has done it all -- fired weapons in war, provided humanitarian assistance in far-away lands, been attacked by the enemy, and defended our freedom. He has made liberty calls in great cities and tiny villages where he was a tourist, ambassador, adventurer, friend, and missionary to those less fortunate. His shipmates remember him with pride and look up to him with respect"

 As we meandered around we found many monuments that told the stories of ships and submarines and the bravery of the sailors.

As you walked along this water front memorial there were many stories of the submarine sailors and their many missions. 

The Bowman submarine in the background

of the waterfront memorial to the submarine missions and their sailors.

Partial view of the Harbour

There are a number of these "platforms" all named and numbered with the ship that was moored there during the attack

Partially submerged bits of the Arizona can still be seen.  The watery grave for over 1000 sailors.  A special bomb made to penetrate her armour hit in the armory where all of her ammunition was stored.  The explosion sent her 30 feet into to air, her sailors on board had no chance of survival.   She burned at 8000 degrees over three days.  These bits protrude the water and have a beautiful monument built around her

The wall of names of all the sailors lost with the Arizona.  A somber place to stand knowing that just underneath they are entombed in the remnants of the ship.

All I know as I stand here today is that there are no winners in war and the human cost is far too high.  This only tells part of the story.  There is also the cost to locals,  civilians and communities.  History is our great teacher but somehow we never seem to grasp some of those lessons.

Hang loose on Kauai

 

For the last two days we were on the island of Kauai.  The last island of the tour.  Free range has a whole new meaning on the island where you found poultry running around the streets, parking lots and under growth.  Our tour guide said there are no natural predators and even the cats don't bother them.    So I could not resist snapping a picture of this handsome rooster.

Our tour was supposed to take place in an old fashioned trolley, but alas it rained and we were driven in a lovely modern van.  Two local indigenous guides provided us with fabulous information,  legends and even some political insight!  

This tour took us to what was the original port, the falls, the river, ancient fish ponds and sacred sanctuary sites.  The guide was a wealth of information as well as super entertaining.  She tried to teach us the Hawaiian equivalent of the ABC song, but with the Hawaiian phonetics.   She taught us Hang loose in Hawaii (with the hand gesture) sang the song from Gilligan's Island and told us us several movies that had been filmed on this island.  It wasn't all seriousness and history.

Enjoy a few of the pictures of our sites on beautiful Kauai. 

These sacred sites are highly respected still.  They provided sanctuary for people who managed to make it to them and saved them from their punishment.   The catch,  however, if you made it here you were never allowed to leave.   

Opkeaa Falls

Which refers to the once abundant shrimp that used to tumble over the falls

Wailua River

Valued for its fertile soil, fresh water, abundance of fish and sandy beaches for launching and landing the canoes

The fish ponds.  

Constructed years ago, early fish farms, are being rebuilt.  

These mountains overlook the fish ponds.  Legend has it when the people were working on the fish farms you were not supposed to look.  The prince and princess did not listen to the elders and watched anyway.  The result they were turned to stone and you can see their form here in the mountain.

Just hang loose, just have fun
Sippin' on a drink or lying in the sun.
Don't try to fight it, there ain't no use.
When you're in Hawaii you should just hang loose.            (Written by Ron Tish)

Paradise in Hawaii

Hawaii-five-0, Jake and the Fat man, Magnum PI (the one with Tom Selleck not the new version), all watched more years ago than I like to think about.  The scenery was always beautiful in the shows and of course growing up in a small town it seemed like a whole other world away.  

Fast forward many years later and my DH and I thought if we were going to try a cruise then perhaps it should be Hawaii.  This would give us a chance to see several islands and cities as opposed to being in one place for a week.  It is beautiful here, just like in the shows!  

We have taken in a few of the sites.  Hilo being our busiest day when we hopped in with a local tour guide and got more than he advertised. He was entertaining,  knowledgeable and most giving of his time adding the extra stop of the beach with the black and green sand.  We had a hoot with him as we whizzed along in his van. Tried fresh farmed pineapple and checked out the BIG chocolate store.  

These beautiful pictures are of the Japanese Gardens in Hilo. The first stop on the tour of the day.  From here we headed to the old town, basically buildings that survived the tidal wave in the 1940s.  And if the waves are not enough to cause concern then this island also boasts an active volcano, those pictures will follow shortly!

On we traveled to Rainbow falls, beautiful but for most Canadians hardly impressive.  The legend attached to Rainbow Falls however, was quite fascinating.  Nothing I like more than a good story.

The flowers were beautifully placed as a Thanksgiving. 

And after about fifteen minutes we were off again.  This time on to the site of the volcano.   It was puffing a bit but no ashes and because it was during the day you could not see the red glow of the hot lava.  However, you sure could smell the sulphur.  The place was fascinating.   Of course some tourists,  much to the dismay of the tour guide, were away from the rails taking selfies and given the holes along the rim, the potential unsteadiness of the rim I had to agree it was not a wise move on the part of the tourists there.  We managed to get some equally nice pictures and no rule breaking or danger involved!

It looks like Mordor, from the Lord of the Rings!!

And onwards we went again to where the steam vents from the volcano were letting off...well steam!  At a mere 1400 degrees Fahrenheit there was no problem getting your glasses fogged up!  We all had partial facials for a few seconds at a time!

The Lava Tunnels were a highlight.   Walking through what is essentially a cave of lava was fascinating.  

From here we were off to the chocolate factory and I managed to snag a stocking stuffer for my DH as well as some peppermint rocky road to bring home.  YUM, the sample should have been bigger!!!

Back into the city we had a chance to check out the local market before heading on to our final stop of the beach.  Here we saw black sand which consists of the lava and it is course on the feet!  And there was green sand as well which results from the minerals in the lava. And yes these feet have been in the cold north Atlantic,  the Atlantic in the south, the Caribbean sea, the Mediterranean Sea and now the Pacific Ocean. (I expected it to be warmer!)

And last but not least the fresh picked pineapple.   According to Elwood, our tour guide, there is a way to prepare that pineapple and it is like undressing a woman.  Ok, he has a salty sense of humour, perfect for a Newfoundlander!!

First you take off the top

And then the bottom!!!!

Have a great day with this tour.  We sure enjoyed ourselves and all that this guide had to offer on the Big Island.