Two weeks in Hawaii -56K warning - Part I

HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
edited January 5, 2008 in Journeys
Hi Y'all,

I first visited Hawaii in 1968. Unfortunately I was on a military flight headed for Vietnam. During our two hour layover we were surrounded by MPs whose job was to keep us from having to decide whether or not to continue on to Vietnam or to see Hawaii instead. Ever since then I have wanted to go back and see what the army didn't want me to see.

Linda and I decided to visit Hawaii for our 10th anniversary. Now vacations for us are not easy as Linda wants porcelain and I want nature. So we decided that she would plan the first week and I would plan the second. Linda wanted Waikiki for her week and I opted for Maui for the second week.

During our Wakiki week we stayed at the Royal Hawaiian (aka The Pink Palace of the Pacific). It was built in 1927 and was the third resort on Waikiki beach. Staying there is like going back into time.

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From the air you can see how the hotel has been surrounded since 1927
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the beach was lovely
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Linda arranged for us to attend a luai and of course they had entertainment. Initially I felt that the entertainment was the usual tourist stuff but after speaking to some of the dancers I found that they took their craft and their culture very seriously .
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This dude was the "chief" so he got to play with fire
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around the island
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The Byodo-in Temple, a replica of a 900 year old Japanese temple
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this dude from Oz had a real affinity for the temple's doves
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After hearing my folks talk about what they were doing when Pearl Harbor on 12/7/41 for years a stop at the Arizona Memorila was almost mandatory
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the banyan tree in the Royal Hawaiian's courtyard
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the hotel is a popular spot for weddings
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the hotel also had a fine breakfast buffet
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I'll be back later to bore you with some more vacation pics.
Harry
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"

Comments

  • SystemSystem Registered Users Posts: 8,186 moderator
    edited November 28, 2007
    Wonderful pictures. Thanks for sharing. :D
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited November 28, 2007
    sarahcsu wrote:
    Wonderful pictures. Thanks for sharing. :D

    Thank you.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • schmooschmoo Registered Users Posts: 8,468 Major grins
    edited November 28, 2007
    Looks nice, Harry!

    So were these photos porcelain or nature? The only birds there are the doves. headscratch.gif
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  • eenusaeenusa Registered Users Posts: 186 Major grins
    edited November 28, 2007
    Looking forward to seeing more. The two times we went to Hawaii were quick weekend jaunts, traveling Space-A on Air National Guard flights - once on an air refueling aircraft - out of Salt Lake City. Needless to say, we didn't have time to see much, except to cover the tourist highlights - but hey, for $10 R/T, can't complain. Hope to go back for an extensive vacation someday soon.
    http://eenusa.smugmug.com/
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited November 28, 2007
    schmoo wrote:
    Looks nice, Harry!

    So were these photos porcelain or nature? The only birds there are the doves. headscratch.gif

    This was porcelain time during our first week on Oahu. There actually isn't much wildlife (not counting the drunks) on Hawaii.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited November 28, 2007
    eenusa wrote:
    Looking forward to seeing more. The two times we went to Hawaii were quick weekend jaunts, traveling Space-A on Air National Guard flights - once on an air refueling aircraft - out of Salt Lake City. Needless to say, we didn't have time to see much, except to cover the tourist highlights - but hey, for $10 R/T, can't complain. Hope to go back for an extensive vacation someday soon.

    Its definitely worth a week or two.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • The Curious CamelThe Curious Camel Registered Users Posts: 943 Major grins
    edited November 28, 2007
    Beautiful photos, love the rich, vibrant colors.

    Peace, gail
    www.curiouscamel.net
  • ChrisJChrisJ Registered Users Posts: 2,164 Major grins
    edited November 29, 2007
    Enjoying the trip, Harry. Oahu is the one island I haven't spent much time on. You almost make it look appealling! The Byodo-in temple is beautiful. Looks like you had some good weather, too.
    Chris
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited November 29, 2007
    The Curious Camel wrote:
    Beautiful photos, love the rich, vibrant colors.

    Peace, gail

    Thanks Gail, the colors and weather were fantastic in Hawaii.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited November 30, 2007
    ChrisJ wrote:
    Enjoying the trip, Harry. Oahu is the one island I haven't spent much time on. You almost make it look appealling! The Byodo-in temple is beautiful. Looks like you had some good weather, too.

    Thanks Chris. Waikiki was made a 100% better by staying at the Royal Hawaiian. The traffic is astounding, made NYC look like a cakewalk.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • kitvankitvan Registered Users Posts: 243 Major grins
    edited November 30, 2007
    wow. some really nice shots- thanks for sharing!
    "Time is an illusion. Lunchtime, doubly so."
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 1, 2007
    kitvan wrote:
    wow. some really nice shots- thanks for sharing!

    Thanks, glad you enjoyed them.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Ann McRaeAnn McRae Registered Users Posts: 4,584 Major grins
    edited December 1, 2007
    The Royal Hawaiian looks spectacular, Harry. My experience in Waikiki left me never want ing to return. But for finding this great restaurant called Chacha, and climbing Diamond Head, I foudn nothing redeeming while there. Clearly, I missed soemthing because you have great shots! Where did you find an isolated beach?

    Looking forward to your Maui shots!

    ann

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  • ed_hed_h Registered Users Posts: 191 Major grins
    edited December 2, 2007
    two weeks in Hawaii
    223450361-L.jpg

    Nice picture of the beach, it reminded me very much as a young kid (mid 50's) leaving near the Pipeline. I also enjoyed your pictures of the Royal, as a very young person I recalled the Royal was used during the war as an R and R base for soldiers at 25 cents a night.

    Aloha, Ed
    A dog is for life, not just Christmas
    http://www.dogshome.org.au/
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 3, 2007
    Ann McRae wrote:
    The Royal Hawaiian looks spectacular, Harry. My experience in Waikiki left me never want ing to return. But for finding this great restaurant called Chacha, and climbing Diamond Head, I foudn nothing redeeming while there. Clearly, I missed soemthing because you have great shots! Where did you find an isolated beach?

    Looking forward to your Maui shots!

    ann

    Hey Ann, the secret is getting out of Waikiki and seeing the island. The beach wasn't that isolated, I just shot it that way. :D
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 3, 2007
    ed_h wrote:

    Nice picture of the beach, it reminded me very much as a young kid (mid 50's) leaving near the Pipeline. I also enjoyed your pictures of the Royal, as a very young person I recalled the Royal was used during the war as an R and R base for soldiers at 25 cents a night.

    Aloha, Ed

    Thanks Ed and those shots were taken at the Pipeline.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • flygirlflygirl Registered Users Posts: 177 Major grins
    edited December 8, 2007
    Those are really beautiful Harry! The scenery there is really something else!

    Nancy
    All the best:thumb
    Nancy
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  • bfjrbfjr Registered Users Posts: 10,980 Major grins
    edited December 9, 2007
    Let's see some more thumb.gif
    Benjamin
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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 10, 2007
    flygirl wrote:
    Those are really beautiful Harry! The scenery there is really something else!

    Nancy

    Thanks Nancy it was nice to see some hills and mountains after Florida.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 11, 2007
    bfjr wrote:
    Let's see some more thumb.gif

    Not to worry Ben more are coming.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • TommyboyTommyboy Registered Users Posts: 590 Major grins
    edited December 11, 2007
    Really nice shots, Harry.

    Don't ever think Hawaiians don't take their culture seriously. They're serious like a heart attack.

    Always wondered about the pink palace--thanks for the insiders view.

    OK, I'm ready for my favorite island, Maui.

    :lurk
    "Press the shutter when you are sure of success." —Kim Jong-il

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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 12, 2007
    Tommyboy wrote:
    Really nice shots, Harry.

    Don't ever think Hawaiians don't take their culture seriously. They're serious like a heart attack.

    Always wondered about the pink palace--thanks for the insiders view.

    OK, I'm ready for my favorite island, Maui.

    :lurk

    Thanks, I found out that the Hawaiians are dead serious about their culture.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • davevdavev Registered Users Posts: 3,118 Major grins
    edited December 17, 2007
    Great shots so far Harry.

    Seeing as I hate to fly, I'll enjoy Hawaii through your lens.
    dave.

    Basking in the shadows of yesterday's triumphs'.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 17, 2007
    davev wrote:
    Great shots so far Harry.

    Seeing as I hate to fly, I'll enjoy Hawaii through your lens.

    Thanks Dave. Linda hates to fly too but the thought of shopping in Waikiki got her on the plane.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • ehughesehughes Registered Users Posts: 1,675 Major grins
    edited January 5, 2008
    Great stuff Harry, I'm heading back to Maui at the end of the month, now I really can't wait..
    Ed

    www.edhughesphoto.com
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