World Tour Stop 3- Oahu, Hawaii

We flew into Honolulu from Kona on Hawaiin airlines, it was a quick thirty minute flight and essentially just gave us a hopping off point before our international travel started. We only planned 36 hours in Oahu and were very fortunate to have another friend to stay with right in Ala Moana.

The evening we arrived, we went to Ala Moana Park for the perfect sunset and then walked to Highway Inn and had authentic Hawaiian food - (pork laulau, pippikalua, purple sweet potatoes, mac salad, bread pudding).

The next day we tried to pack a lot in to a short time period. Definitely would suggest more than a day in Oahu if you have the time. We got up early so we could visit Pearl Harbor with the early risers and avoid some of the crowds. They only provide a certain number of walk up tickets so purchase in advance if you want to have a secure time slot. It was an emotional visit reading through all of the people that lost their lives. We did not do the full tour to save a little time but I think I would suggest taking the ferry and going to see the USS Arizona memorial as even just the visitors center and memorials were profound on their own.

Afterwards we headed across the island to the east side to do the Lanakai pillbox hike, then went to Lanikai beach to cool off and enjoy the crystal clear water. The hike takes about 45 mintues to and hour and is almost directly vertical, but is so worth the view. (highly recommend wearing sneakers instead of being less intelligent like myself and wearing flip flops)

From here we headed back south towards Honolulu and stopped by Makapu'u beach park to see the tide pools and Halona blow hole before grabbing lunch and beers at Kona Brewing.

We wrapped up the fun day with snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. Hanauma Bay is a goregous nature preserve that probably is well over used by tourists, but for really good reason. We saw so many species of fish and coral and sea turtles have been known to frequent the bay as well. The admission is $4 and then paying for snorkel gear (unless you areable to bring your own) is another $20. We swam out beyond the surf and it was so vibrantly colorful.

In the evening we went to Mai Tais Bar in Waikiki and enjoyed a couple of drinks while watching from the background of a luau and then ended the evening with dinner of loco moco (rice with a hamburger patty on it and a fried egg - Hawaiian local dish that was soooo good). Bye USA, on to the other side off the world!