We spent most of time on the capital island of Oahu but made a day trip to the island of Hawai'i (The Big Island).
Hawaii '11
First View of Hawaii
After a 10h40m flight direct from Newark, NJ, Hawaii revealed itself below the clouds.
Home
On Oahu, we stayed with Theresa and Andrew, two excellent medical researchers from Louisville University, with whom Anne is collaborating. Their condo in Hawaii Kai (near Honolulu) is perfectly situated near many great sites. The view from our balcony was of the Koko crater, up which we hiked one evening.
Kayaking Off Kailua
Off I went on a little paddle to a couple tiny remote islands about 45 minutes away from shore (Na Mukulua). About 20 minutes into my journey, a violent rainstorm surrounded me for about 15 minutes. The waves got bigger, the wind blew hard, but I paddled on. After the sun returned, I was able to make it to the island, where flora and fauna abounded.
Submerging the Atlantis Submarine
For a “small” fee, one can take a little submarine ride a mile off the coast of Waikiki. Sites include a downed WWII fighter, a sunken tanker and various artificial reefs with fish and turtles play.
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
Hamauna Bay lays inside a collapsed and sunken crater near the western tip of Oahu. An elaborate education system, including a mandatory 15-minute movie, underscore how fragile the oceans are and how it’s bad to bother corals and turtles. A $12 snorkel rental allowed me to see many fish and chase a green turtle around!
Sandy Beach
A violent shore break makes this beach one of the best in the summer for bodyboarding and surfing. The power of the 3-5 foot waves in astounding. Lifeguards periodically warned {tourists} that “inexperienced beach-goers” should stay out of the water completely, lest they be swept away by the whitewash.
Waimanalo Beach
A peaceful, beautiful, calm and uncrowded beach where Anne conquered the waves. About 5 miles up the windward side of the island from Sandy Beach, the atmosphere here was much different from the surfer beach.
