Day by Day in Oahu

Saturday July 19 we arrived around 3 pm, after getting up really early. We picked up the car – there was a huge crowd but we got lucky at the Alamo kiosk (next time check-in online). We stopped in Mililani for supplies at Wal-mart, new flippers for Rex, and ate fresh grilled fish plate lunch at Zippy’s (we were starved – not much to eat on the plane since they don’t serve real meals anymore, and only had snacks). We drove up to Waialua on the North Shore (just west of Haleiwa) – and settled in our little 1 bedroom apartment in time for a walk on the beach and the sunset. We were real party animals, we stayed up until 8:30 (11:30 Pacific Daylight Time!)

At least we were up early on Sunday and walked on beach at low tide. We saw a small eel and fish and crabs in tide pools.

A little later we went to church, where everyone was very friendly. We got a call from our girls in Paris, so skipped Sunday school to talk to them (keeping up the theme of avoiding the block). It was great to talk to the girls, they called for my birthday. We changed clothes and drove west as far as we could go on North shore. We saw a glider get going and watched polo practice a while. We drove into Haleiwa and bought fresh BBQ kitchen & rice. Later we went snorkeling off our beach (a couple of short blocks away, at a little park with playground and grassy areas. There was great coral, but not very many fish. It’s nicely protected by a reef where the small waves break.

Monday morning Chris had arranged for us to golf at 10 am at Turtle Bay (Palmer Course). On the way we checked out a new housing development that Bianca didn’t want built. (It was just an empty subdivision back then).

We had a bit of a rain delay, huddled in the cart under a tree, but it passed. After a few holes, Rennon (retired military) & Wanda (retired school teacher, his wife who didn’t golf) caught up with us and we played in together. Very nice people, who live in Awia.

Back at the shop we asked Carrie about snorkeling, and she recommended turtle cove, and told us how to find it – across from the horse stables. We picked up some food and chocolate haupia pie at Ted’s, We found the spot and it was really fun to see several big green turtles just sleeping on the beach, or coming in and out of the water. They were roped off for protection, and there was a docent of some kind there. Then we went in snorkeling with the turtles and fish. Nice time.



Rex had called to make arrangements for us to golf at industry rates on Tue at Ko’olau on the windward side. It has the hardest slope rating of any course in the US, and he has wanted to golf there for a long time. The first 9 holes were really beautiful and dry, the next 9 not so much (dry – still beautiful). But it was an amazing opportunity to be in a gorgeous rain forest. I played horribly and didn’t really finish all the holes, but it was still beautiful. Afterwards we retreated from the rain by going over to Mililani and watching a movie (Journey to he Center of the earth – don’t bother unless you do it in 3D) and another great dinner at Zippy’s, followed by more pie from Ted’s.

Wed. we golfed at Ko-olini Resort west of Honolulu. It is the driest part of the island, so rain didn’t come into play. We were paired with Barney & Sue, who turned out to be 86 & 89 ½. A little embarrassing, but they out-drove us at times. Very nice people, Japanese descent, born in Hawaii, also from Aiwa. The course was in great condition, very wide fairways, fancy waterfalls, and lots of nice condos. Lovely resort, but I preferred the other course experiences.


Afterwards we drove all the way west on the south shore, to Yokohama bay. But there were lots of squatters, in tents with long term residential look, but it was scary looking, and we heard it’s a high crime area, and it’s not surprising. We stoped at the Dole Planation on the way back north, then back in Haleiwa we had a great dinner at the Grass Skirt Grill.

Thursday Rex’s podiatry seminar started. So Rex dressed warmly for the cool indoors and had to do the work thing, while I went sight seeing… I dropped Rex off at the convention center and went downtown to Iolani palace, took a guided tour and got the history and flavor of Hawaii’s last king and queen, then went to see the old Christian mission home, old church, state capital and other civic buildings, the state art gallery, etc.


I bought gas (some of which must have been siphoned off one night, since some of it mysteriously disappeared and I didn’t drive that far. (gas costs about the same as in Oregon, and less than in California - $4.36). So i shopped a little, stopped at a waterfront park, then went back to Ala Moana, but to the park, not the shopping center, and read under a tree watching the yacht harbor until Rex got done. Since we already by Waikiki, went to the aquarium and walked down to Waikiki to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner and treats, and back along beach at sunset. Rex bought me a pulmaria lei from a kid on the beach.

Friday I dropped off Rex, shopped at Hilo Hatti’s, went to the giant and very international food court at the mall for dim sum lunch then took it back to the park and read a book. At 3 Rex walked over and we drove over the Likelike hwy and up the windward side to Shark’s Cove and snorkeled. I’m pretty sure I saw fish I have never seen before, and lots of kinds. It was great, which is god for our last snorkel trip. Went back to apartment for dinner, with fresh fruit.


Sat. I dropped Rex off and did a long swap meet excursion. I wore out at the swap meet, but scored a couple of good things. Saturday at Ala Moana beach was really crowded compared to Friday. Tons of locals, parties, BBQ, etc. etc. I took some pictures just to show the crowds.



Rex walked over after his meeting and we went to Leilehua golf course (it’s military and we got the twilight rate of $32 (for 2) and played 14 holes before it was way too dark. The trees were magnificent – definitely worth the cost. On the way home we saw Buddhists honoring ancestors by buying little lamps with their names in and light them, allowing their spirits to soar (If I got that right). At home we ate leftover BBQ chicken and rice (and spaghetti).

Sunday packed and sat in sun to read books for a while, finished the last of the chocolate Haupia pie and mangos, then went to Zippy’s for breakfast and off to the airport. We had tons of luggage, but success with nothing over 50 lb. and we still got 2 free bags since we bought our tickets in January.