We are ready to go!
We have a full day ahead of us. I was worried about whether Mary was up for another day of sightseeing, so I asked her, and her response was somewhat unexpected!
We walked next door to the Aloha Landing Garage, the only place big enough for the large tour buses to get close to the hotel.
Mary has settled down now, so we can proceed.
Megan and Mary await the arrival of our tour bus.
“Hurry up, bus, before Nana Mary breaks out in another dance!”
We hit Interstate H-1 on our way to downtown Honolulu. Traffic was light at 10:00 am.
Interstate H-1 (H-1) is the longest and busiest Interstate Highway in the US state of Hawaii. The highway is located on the island of Oahu and runs 27.16 miles (43.71 km). Despite the number, this is an east–west highway; the ‘H’-series (for Hawaii) numbering reflects the order in which routes were funded and built.
Our driver/tour guide was magnificent.
He mentioned that Chinatown was safe during the daylight, but he recommended staying away during the evening. Honolulu’s Chinatown, established in the 1840s/50s, is one of the oldest in the US and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Known for its resilience, it survived devastating fires, including one in 1900 that burned 38 acres, and it was used to combat the bubonic plague. Today, it is a bustling, multi-ethnic hub of markets, temples, and art galleries.
Chinatown is two blocks by four blocks.
The driver made his own video to help explain things. We were surprised by eggs being $12.99 a dozen.
The driver’s preparations were great!
In 1795, the Kingdom of Hawaii was formed. From 1795 until 1874, the Kamehameha dynasty reigned over the islands. However, it wasn’t until the reign of Kamehameha I that Honolulu became the capital. Like any good king, he needed a good palace. He commissioned the construction of Iolani Palace, but died before it was completed. Today, it houses the Supreme Court.
In the building’s courtyard stands the famed gold-leaf statue of Kamehameha the Great.
Meet the Motley Crew
Not too bad for a windy day!!
We are dressed for the occasion.
Our ride awaits us.
It was a comfortable ride.
Back onto the freeway for a trip to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
High-rise buildings are everywhere.
I am helping.
I refrained from making bus sounds, even though my “backfire” sound is well known!
The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (informally known as Punchbowl Cemetery) is a national cemetery located at Punchbowl Crater in Honolulu, Hawaii. It serves as a memorial to honor those men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces, and those who have been killed in doing so.
It is administered by the National Cemetery Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Millions of visitors visit the cemetery each year, and it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hawaii.
Next stop was Pearl Harbor, where we visited three museums before taking the shuttle boat to the memorial. We walked through the “Preparing for War” and “The Attack” museums.
The girls walked ahead to the submarine museum while I rested my back.
It was a windy but beautiful day!
Megan was here once with her school, but this is a more leisurely paced visit.
That’s my girl, RED, WHITE, and BLUE!
The USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, spans the sunken battleship, serving as a tomb for over 900 of the 1,177 crew members kDecember 7ecember 7, 1941. Dedicated in 1962, the 184-foot-long structure features a dipping center, symbolizing American loss, and remains a top tourist site, accessible only by boat
The memorial is built to straddle the wreck, allowing visitors to look down directly onto the submerged deck and the rusted barbettes.
Above the waterline at the USS Arizona Memorial, visitors can see several parts of the sunken battleship and its ongoing, symbolic presence:
Barbette #3 (a fixed armored housing at the base of a gun turret on a warship or armored vehicle.): The most prominent feature visible is the massive, rusted, circular steel ring that once held gun turret #3. It is constantly above water and clearly visible near the memorial.
“Black Tears” of the Arizona: Small, consistent droplets of fuel oil rise from the submerged wreckage, creating a rainbow-colored sheen on the water’s surface.
The Flagpole/Mainmast: A flagpole is attached to the remains of the ship’s sunken mainmast, where the US flag is raised and lowered, marking the site as a national cemetery.
Turret #2: Depending on the tide, the top of the rear #2 turret can sometimes be seen, though it is usually mostly submerged.
Remains of the superstructure: Various rusted parts of the deck and damaged structural supports, which were not removed during post-attack salvaging, are visible just beneath or barely breaking the surface.
Inside the memorial are all the names of the 1137 people who died that morning, December 7ber 7th, 1941. It is a very sobering experience.
USS Missouri (BB-63) is an Iowa-class battleship built for the United States Navy in the 1940s and is now a museum ship. Completed in 1944, she is the last battleship commissioned by the United States.
The USS Missouri (BB-63) battleship is permanently berthed as a museum ship at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, specifically on “Battleship Row” at Ford Island. It sits near the USS Arizona Memorial, located at 63 Cowpens St, Honolulu, HI 96818, and is accessible via shuttles from the Pearl Harbor National Memorial Visitor Center.
Our water taxi gave us a swift ride back to the dock.
On the way back to the hotel, I picked up a lot of interesting factoids about life in the city.
It’s one of the most expensive places to live in the United States. In Honolulu, the cost of living is 88% higher than the national average. It’s the third most expensive city to live in the United States, after New York and San Francisco. Utilities are notably pricy, costing residents a hefty 102% more than the national average. Groceries are expensive too, weighing in 70% above the national average. Surprisingly, average wages are not much higher than the US national average.
Honolulu means ‘Sheltered Harbour’. Honolulu means ‘calm port’ or ‘sheltered harbour’. ‘Hono’ means port, and ‘lulu’ means calm or quiet. Sandy Island shelters the natural port.
The ‘sheltered’ part has nothing to do with the weather, though. In fact, Honolulu averages 90 rainy days each year, more than the US average. The rainiest time to visit is December, with an average of 10 days of rain, while the driest is August, with just 6.
First things first, we hit the bar while Megan returned to school for her gym practice.
We tried several Mai Tais; they were all good.
Then it happened. I decided to go to the beach and put my tootsties in the sand, but all I had on was my blue thong. What was I to do?? I made a mad dash to the water but was caught by the hotel security staff.
Oops!
I was immediately ordered to go to my room without dinner. The hotel security guards had a good giggle.
BTW, I checked the newspapers the next morning, and I was NOT featured.
