A VERY full day!

Aloha!

 

Normally I really try to post daily once I start a blog, as it gets way too difficult to remember things … but yesterday was SO full of adventures, and we were SO exhausted by the time we got back to the apartment last night, that we basically just collapsed and went to bed early!  So … to try and summarize all that happened.

 

Up yesterday to a very overcast day.  We knew in advance that it was going to rather cooler than previous days, but as we already had the Polynesian Cultural Center tickets, out we went.  Actually, first though, R and Debby went downstairs for their obligatory cups of coffee (which they both say is quite good) at the little coffee/pastry shop in the lobby.  We then breakfasted upstairs in our dining room, greatly enjoying the morning view out our windows.  Debby had her leftover mahi sandwich from the Royal Hawaiian lunch the day before, and R and I had Costco croissants with Bonne Maman raspberry jam with pineapple slices; delicious!  Out the door around 9:15 am.

 

Through the jumble of Waikiki and Honolulu traffic up to the Likelike Highway and across the island toward K-Bay (Kane’ohe Bay) and our first stop, Valley of the Temples, to see Byodo-In Temple.  Situated at the foot of the Ko’olau Mountains, this is a non-practicing Buddhist temple built in 1963 – and it is beautiful!  It was a rather misty and cloudy morning, and the mountains above were all shrouded, which was somehow appropriate to see this lovely temple.  

Beautiful valley of the temples

Debby ringing the bell!

 

Coi in the stream

You walk across a small bridge to the temple, and it is sited beautifully; very peaceful – notwithstanding the huge Bon Sho (sacred bell) three tons of brass that was cast in Osaka, Japan by the Japanese government for the temple in Hawaii.  It is apparently revered for its distinctive shape, and the tone of the bell sounds a message of deep calm and peace, “cleansing the mind of evil and temptation.”  Hmmm…certainly sounds like a good idea in these violent days, doesn’t it??  One strikes the bell with a soft wooden log, which Debby and I both did, as R took our photos.

 

The temple itself houses the Amida Buddha statue, which reflects light as it appears to hover over golden lotus leaves.  The replica was designed by the Japanese sculptor Masuzo Inui and weighs two tons.  Really large!  

 

The entire effect, tourists notwithstanding, is indeed very peaceful and made a lovely beginning to our day – especially after navigating our way through traffic to get here!

 

From the temple, we then set our sights on getting to the PCC - as it is known here - the Polynesian Cultural Center, up the Kamehameha V highway. [Note on our GPS.  Emmy (as we have named her) does a pretty good job with Hawaiian – up until now.  Kamehameha should be pronounced: Ca-May-Ha-May-Ha.  In Emmy’s case, though, she is saying:  Camie-hamie-Ha, and it is driving me CRAZY.  However, she is a good GPS…  Added note from R: Actually, though, Emmy’s Hawaiian is much better than her Spanish.  Her pronunciation of place names in Arizona can be quite a shock.]

 

Along our route, we did happen to pass a macadamia nut farm with shop, which did attract Debby’s attention … so, we turned around and discovered a great place to stop!  It was very similar to our Alamogordo, NMpistachio shop where we three visited this past summer – an entire variety of flavored nuts – only this time, macadamias!  Wow!  We all fell in love with their onion and garlic nuts – they were fabulous … suffice to say we all bought some, but if any of them make it back to the Mainland, I’ll be surprised … YUM!  R also bought me a teeny tiny flip flop decorated with rhinestones on a chain (which will probably turn my neck green) but it’s very cute and I love it!!  After all, it was just Valentine’s Day!

 

Beautiful beaches and parks along the ocean

Now, on our way to the PCC.  Robert spotted a parking spot that was actually in the first row of parking (how it wasn’t occupied, I’ve no idea!) which did come in handy, as we were VERY tired on our way out!  The PCC opens at 12:30 pm every day.  Debby kept wondering why so late, but I explained that almost all the “employees” there were college kids from BYU-Hawaii, and that was how they were working their way through school.  They did have to have time to physically attend classes, after all. 

 

We got there a few minutes early, but they were ready for us.  They do a great “opening” show, talking about the six “lands” that make up the park – Hawaii, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Tahiti, and Aotearoa (New Zealand) and singing and dancing and getting the audience involved.  Once the park opened up, we all made our way in.  

 

Our plan, as usual, was to start at the far end of the park, where there would probably be the fewest people, and work our way back toward the entrance … and once again, I’m happy to report, it worked really well!  (Works GREAT in museums like the Uffizi, let me tell you!)  Kids from each of the six “lands” populate their particular place and are all dressed in native garb.  The good thing, though, is that once you’ve identified one color or style of dress, all of the staff in that land are dressed alike, which makes it easy to ask questions.  And truly, they are all unfailingly polite and trying to be helpful, which makes it so nice!  There are guides, there are performers and there are “hands on” activities everywhere you go!  You can learn how to twirl “poi” balls in Aotearoa, or weave coconut fronds in Samoa, or do the hulu in Hawaii – the list went on and on!

 

Our first stop was Tahiti for their “Introduction to French Polynesia” and as we were the first people there (surprise!) we sat in the front row.  What made it really enjoyable was that they asked for volunteers – a man and a woman, and Debby stepped up!  She was GREAT!  She got to model a lovely piece of cloth, and then helped teach the rest of the women in the crowd how to do a Tahitian dance!  And then she was rewarded for her efforts with a lovely crown with flowers!!  Way to go, Deb!!!

 

From Tahiti, we followed our plan to work our way back to the entrance – I’m not sure now the exact order – Hawaii, Fiji, Aotearoa and Samoa, I think, and as the shows were either on the hour or half-hour, we weren’t able (unfortunately) to fit in Tonga … but we saw a Haka in Aotearoa and more dancing with stories in Fiji, where the war clubs were very much in evidence … some of these peoples were, from what we could see, fair to partly aggressive in their takeovers of smaller islands or less aggressive or well-armed peoples!  Interesting… Oh!  At some point in the afternoon, as we hadn’t had any lunch yet, R and I settled for delicious grilled hot dogs and chips, while Debby settled for a bar that she had brought with her.

At the entrance, the Opening Greeting

Debby about to be draped in Tahitian cloth!

Her "reward" for being such a great sport!

Robert doing the "gentleman's" dance!

Debby and instructor leading the ladies!

Fiji and their canoe

Hawaiian dancer doing the Hulu

Would he fit in the luggage?

Maori dancers

Maori doing the Haka!

We were all drooping at the end of the day!

By this time, we had been walking quite a bit and it was getting on for 5 pm and we decided that enough was enough … time for Giovanni’s!  Now, Giovanni’s.  For years we had passed by Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck every time we had driven around Oahu, and never even thought of stopping … it didn’t look … well … like a place we’d like to stop.  But Lisa and Jon Walters, our Dear Friend Anne’s daughter and son-in-law, heard that we were going to Oahu, and said:  YOU HAVE TO STOP AT GIOVANNI’S!  Well, Lisa and Jon (and Anne!) all know good food when they find it, so we said, why not? And on our next visit stopped … SO glad we did!  It may not look like much – in fact, the truck has been signed in markers by people visiting from all over the world, so there’s not much original white truck paint left – but the food is just as good as it has always been!  So, about 10 minutes down Kamehameha Highway, there it was, as usual!

 

We pulled in and, as it was only about 5:20 pm, there wasn’t too much of a line.  We each got their shrimp scampi dinner plate – two scoops of rice with lots of shrimp and garlic sauce on top; VERY messy and VERY good!  Sat at a picnic table and devoured everything!  Only wished (as I’m sure most people do…) that they had a HOSE available to clean up!  As it was, had to make do with using some of our drinking water to clean our hands as best we could in order to get back into the car!  

Would you think this is a great place for dinner?

But it is!

However, our tummies were now nice and full with good food, and we were ready to make the hour’s long drive back to the apartment.  Got here about 7-ish after a very long but lovely day.  And while it did rain around us, and we had a drop or two along the way, we never got rained on, even though Deb had her rain jacket, and we had our umbrella’s.  Great timing?!

Some amazing waves along the North Shore!

 

Collapsed once we got back to the apartment and I think we were all in bed by 9…at least I know I was, speaking only for myself!  Not exactly sure what we’re doing today, as everything pre-scheduled has been done.  Looking at the weather, I’m thinking we may head back into the center of the island and tour the Dole Pineapple Plantation, R wants to see the Aloha Tower downtown Honolulu, and I also want to take Debby to Hilo Hattie’s, which she says she has never visited in all her trips to Hawaii!!  Then, tonight at 7:45 pm, apparently there will be fireworks from the Hilton Hawaiian Village, which according to our landlord, we will have an excellent view!

 

So, more later and much love to all!

m

xxx