12-30-14 Wednesday, Honolulu lights and Mission Houses

I scheduled a rental kayak for 2 in the afternoon so I could use my bus pass while it was still good to get up to Haleiwa. The plan was for Harry to come pick me up and take me to see the boat he wants to buy. I got on the bus to downtown Honolulu to catch the bus to Haleiwa. I had a big, heavy bag with me with everything I might need for the day. On the bus I got a call from the kayak  rental saying the wind was picking up and since I knew the forecast was for heavy winds and rain, we agreed to cancel and try again next week.

Since I was already on a bus that would stop where the Honolulu holiday lights display was, I decided to get off there and spend some time looking at everything and getting some photos. Harry keeps saying we will go see it at night, but he is always too tired, or maybe he's not as interested as he tries to sound. I was able to get off in just the right spot and spent a happy morning looking at everything. There was a whole building full of trees decorated to the theme of enchanted forest. I hadn't brought my good camera and I haven't been very happy with regular photos taken with my underwater camera, so I took photos with my Galaxy phone. The outdoor photos turned out well, but the indoor ones were not as good as I hoped.

After I got done there I crossed the street and had a look around the mission houses. I decided not to take the $10 tour, and was glad when it started raining hard as I headed towards the bus. I spent the rest of the day in the room.

12-29-14 Monday, Snorkeling at Waikiki Beach

 My plan for the day was to take the bus to Hanauma Bay to snorkel. I got ready and out to the stop by 10:30, joining a large group that got larger as I stood there. When the bus finally arrived, it drove right by us, apparently full already. Since it was an hour until the next bus, and since I knew they would stop admitting people to the beach once 3,000 people got there, and since this is a top occupancy time for tourists, I decided to scrap the Hanauma bay excursion and just walk on down the beach to my favorite snorkeling spot and enjoy the time in the water instead of trying to get to Hanauma Bay.

I was more practiced at getting into the water this time.
1. Stop at the shower and shed my cover up and put on my water shoes while my feet are dry and sand free and where I have a bench to sit on.
2. Use the shower to get my hair wet so I don't have to get salt water in my eyes to get my hair out of the way of the mask.

I had the new Go Pro camera with me as well as my Fuji underwater camera. I put a floaty wrist strap on the Go Pro and found that very convenient for taking photos. It kept the camera handy, didn't interfere too much with swimming with my hands and arms and was comfortable to hold the camera with my finger on the shutter switch.

Waves were splashing up over the sea wall

I saw plenty of fish and took lots of photos with the Go Pro. It was easy to use and pretty easy to scroll through the menus and get from video to photo, but I missed having a dedicated video button where I could start video quickly when the action popped up. With fish, you have to move fast, because they can be gone so fast.

With the Go Pro set to wide shots the photos of the fish did 't turn out too well. they are dwarfed in the scene and didn't reflect at all how close I was to them or the detail I could see with my eyes.

Eventually I went back to shore and exchanged the Go Pro for my Fuji camera. Later when I looked at the photos I had to admit I like them better. Maybe if I change the wide setting on the Go Pro I might see better results with it.

There were plenty of other snorkelers in the water and a boat paddling by

The low surf was perfect for a large class of newbie surfers to be taught the basics of surfing. 

The Fuji gets a much closer up view

Large groups of fish look as close as they were when I saw them.

Trigger fish

My most unusual sighting. A spotted trunkfush.

Milletseed Butterfly fish

Moorish Idol

Yellowfin Surgeon fish. These are really large

Hawaii state fish, the wedge trigger fish Humhumunukunukuapua'a. I love these, they are like a modern painting.

Eventually I tried again to learn how to use the fins that came with my snorkel and mask. I managed to get them on and get deeper into the water, but they were still so awkward I gave up and put them away for good. Unless I'm in deep water where I never have to stand up, I won't wear them again.

The good news is that in the two plus hours I spent in the water I got a lot more comfortable with the whole process of snorkeling. I was more comfortable in different depths, less nervous, standing up less and less, and got better at expelling water from the mask while still staying prone in the water. I'm improving on keeping my face still so I don't create leaks around the bottom of the mask too.

The bad news is that in spite of doing my best to spray enough sun screen on my back and re spraying it again while I was on the beach, I managed to get a painful burn on my back. Dang. I should have worn a shirt...

12-28-14 Sunday, Haleiwa, Kings Birthplace

On Sunday Harry wanted to go to Haleiwa again. We thought we would also go to the King's birthplace on our way back because we would be passing by Dole Plantation which is very near the grove site.
After a lengthy conversation again with the owners of the kayak and etc. rental we had a picnic in the nearby park and then went down to the beach. Harry waded in a bit but got out again when the water splashed up on him. There was a surfer competition going on there, but none of the surfers were out while we were there. I did get some video of a rescue jet ski going out to check on various surfers and giving one a tow out to the breaking waves.

Nearby wind farm in Haleiwa

Picnic in the park. Ham sandwiches from our Christmas ham, clemintines and Christmas cookies

At the Kings Birthplace near Schofield Barracks and the Dole Plantation

12-27-14 Saturday North Shore, Haleiwa

We got a slow start to the day and decided to go back up to the North Shore to Haleiwa. Harry wanted to talk to the people there who rent things on the marina there. I started out the morning while Harry was getting going with making our reservations for using the Go Oahu card for the coming New Year's day and the following weekend. It turned out there was not a lot available for New Year's day, so I ended up reserving a catamaran ride from Honolulu and planned to use the Cheesecake Factory gift certificate for dinner that evening.

Harry was trying to get word about a boat for sale up at the Haleiwa marina. Ever since we found out we have to go home three weeks earlier than planned, he has been trying to come up with a scheme where we can come back and stay for two months at a time for little or no money. We like Haleiwa, and he visualized that we could live on a 20-22 foot sailboat moored at the public dock there and then keep it in dry storage the rest of the year. It is financially very feasible, but the marina is neglected, there is no harbormaster, and few amenities, such as any place to get a hot shower or get off the boat and indoors anywhere. He visualized sailing to other islands in the state and spending our days on the beach, snorkeling or kayaking. He was also thinking about coming over and bringing camping equipment and camping out for two months at a time, so we also planned to check out the camping and minimal cabins at Bellows Air Force station further down the windward coast. To say I have reservations about these plans is putting it mildly, but he has difficulty hearing any objections to a plan in progress and any concerns or opinions I put forward were met with reasons why whatever plan he has will work and be wonderful, so I was trying to get in the spirit of things and enjoy whatever he wanted to do with the weekend.

I took some photos with my phone at Haleiwa of people learning how to use stand up paddleboards.
This is somewhere I want to come back to and rent a kayak for a couple of hours so I can explore the cove and the river and maybe see some sea turtles.

From Haleiwa we headed south along the windward shore, stopping at the Giovanni's shrimp truck for their famous shrimp. Harry had the scampi, marinated in olive oil and cooked with garlic, similar to what we had at Macky's. I had the plain boiled shrimp with a lemon butter dipping sauce. The shrimp are fresh from the ponds and taste so good.

The line for Shrimp at Giovannis'

Waiting to order shrimp a the Giovanni shrimp truck

Harry's Shrimp Scampi with garlic and olive oil

My boiled shrimp with lemon butter sauce

We got a funnel cake after that from a couple who are members of our church it turns out. We had a nice visit with the brother, who has written some children's books and goes by Pappi Nui. We sat back in the sheltered area at a table to eat the powdered sugar laden funnel cake. It was really good.

Then we headed all the way down the coast past Kanaohe to Bellows where we talked to someone about rates and reservations and looked at where the cabins were and got a look at the beach. We learned that the Obamas had been there earlier in the day to go swimming. The beach had to be blocked off for security and a wedding had to be moved from their chosen spot to accommodate the first families' plans. I gather the President apologized personally to the bride and groom for the inconvenience, but a lot of people have been very critical of it just the same.

Late afternoon on the Bellows AF beach

Friday, December 26th Last day in Laie, Visit to Haleiwa

Laie Temple

I needed one more trip up to Laie because the temple was closing for maintenance and wouldn't be open again until after I go back home. Harry got off at 12:30 and came up to meet me there. We thought we would go find a shrimp truck for lunch, but when he got there I suggested we take the chance to grab some fast food and finish off with ice cream or shave ice at Angel's ice cream, a favorite of the first family. Michelle Obama and her daughters had been there on the 23rd when I was there at the temple, and when I posted that on Face Book, a friend who used to live in Laie commented that I should make sure to stop by and try the ice cream there.

Outdoor eating area in front of Angel's Ice Cream

Many leave their mark...

We ate at L&L. I had teriyaki beef sandwich with french fries, then at Angels I had a Shave Ice bowl, Pineapple, blue raspberry, and pina colada with condensed milk and coconut gel and whipped cream. The coconut gel is coconut flavored gelatin pieces the size and shape of lozenge shaped vitamin pills, It was very tasty, the shaved ice in such minute bits it was very pleasant to eat. The whole was very sweet though, and I couldn't finish it, but instead spent time taking photos of the place and the chickens and roosters wandering around.

My shave ice bowl with coconut gel on top

The prettiest rooster we've seen so far. 

 We headed to Haleiwa on the North Shore next where we spent some time watching the waves, the surfers, and in a more protected area, paddle boarders and kayakers. We really like this historic little beach town. Even though it is crowded with tourist traffic and shoppers, it has a backwater feel to it and the beach and park are quiet and out of the way. Harry decided this would be a great place to have a boat so we can come and stay for extended periods without hotel bills. He is now searching for a small boat at a good price. It is doable.

Beach at Haleiwa

Wind Farm at Haeliwa

Finally we asked a local about the road to the airfield that leads to a great spot on the point for photos. The guy at first thought we were searching for the Honolulu International airport and was incredulous at how far lost we were, but when Harry explained in detail he realized we were more in the know for local places than he had expected.

The waves and the view at the point were breathtaking.

Another beautiful rainbow!

Photos at the point