Thursday 29th January
Early breakfast on the open air terrace. Even at 7.15 people were swimming in the sea.
We spent the morning lazing on the beach. It was extremely hot.


People who were snorkelling saw an octopus and a sea horse. There were yachts in the distance and lots of people went out on surf boards.

In the early afternoon we walked up into the town.

On the way we passed Waikiki Beach which was very crowded but there was little surf.

We strolled to the harbour where there were hundreds of yachts, from small to very large.

A very early flight to Fiji tomorrow. We have to be at the airport for 04.30.

Wednesday 28th January
Congratulations to Russell and Christine who got in touch with us this morning to let us know that they got engaged while on holiday in Zanzibar.


This morning we set off to hike up to the summit of Diamond Head, the topmost point of the volcanic crater that we can see from our balcony. On the way we walked through the local weekly fruit & veg market. The produce was superb.


Part way up the road we turned to see this view of the high rise buildings in downtown Honolulu.

The entrance to the State Park is the beginning of the hiking trail. You can see the summit in this picture. The route starts with a concrete path which becomes a stoney trail, leads through two tunnels, two sets of steps and, finally, a long spiral staircase to the summit platform. It was built by the military as a battery and then served as a fire control station.

About half way up was a viewing platform from where you could see the distant bay and hills.

When we eventually arrived at the top there were magnificent views all around like this one showing Waikiki Beach and downtown Honolulu. In all it took us just over 5 hours to hike from beach to summit and back again.

After our exertions we spent a couple of hours on the beach beside the hotel enjoying the views and the warm late afternoon sunshine. People were swimming, snorkelling, boarding and boating until dark.

Tuesday 27th January
We spent the morning looking around Hilo. We watched one cruise ship leave last night but this was still tied up today.


Behind the hotel is an island in the bay where people were paddling out on surf boards.
We only saw one fall in.


The hotel in Hilo is on Banyan Drive and down the whole length are these enormous banyan trees that were planted in the 30's by Hawaiian royalty or famous Americans like Babe Ruth and Cecil B de Mille.

Alan under one of the beautiful trees at the edge of the Japanese Gardens.

In one of the local parks is the statue of a famous Hawaiian King who eventually united all the Hawaiian islands.

We were able to get an earlier flight to Honolulu which only took 35 minutes. This is the view as we were landing. The tower blocks are just behind Waikiki Beach which is where we are staying.

Our room is on the top floor and this is the view from the balcony.

Later in the afternoon we walked past the beach and into the town centre. Although it was overcast it still felt warm to us.

Monday 26th January
Last walk down the corridor at the hotel that is full of copies of Pacific artefacts.


These fans made of feathers are a traditional Hawaiian craft.



Snow on Mauna Kea as we drive past with temperatures in the high seventies. Locals go 'Truck Skiing' which involves driving skiers up the mountain in 4x4's and then collecting them at the bottom and repeating it - there are no ski lifts. They also transport snow down to the beach to build snowmen there.

The World Botanical Gardens and Umauma falls were very impressive.

http://www.wbgi.com/

This bark on this tree looked painted but it wasn't.

We walked the mile long Rain Forest Walk.

The bamboo in the arboretum was huge and very noisy.

Jack Fruit is a local plant.

Chocolate beans on this tree had little seeds inside but didn't smell of chocolate.

There were lots of beautiful orchids in the trees.

Tomorrow we fly to Honolulu.

Sunday January 25th

First thing we explored the other side of the hotel complex and arrived at the dolphin pool just as they were being fed.

A bit further along we were looking out to sea when had several sightings of a whale leaping out of the ocean just a few hundred yards offshore. We were more interested in watching it rather than getting a photo, this is the view.

Traditionally visitors leave names outlined in coral on the black lava - here's our 'Hawaiian grafitti'

We walked down the coast and found a small secluded beach, with beautiful clear warm water. We spent most of the day here; sunbathing, paddling and exploring the rock pools.

The beach is covered with pieces of pink and white coral and minute shells.

Part way along the coastal walk was this driftwood swing, perfect for sitting and watching the ocean.

Saturday 24th January
This morning we drove to Hilo, on the other side of the island, to see the farmers' market.
There was lots of produce, flowers, gifts and clothing.

A few miles south if Hilo is Kilauea, an active volcano, which we went to see. We drove around the crater rim and were amazed by the steam vents and the way we could go right up to them.

http://www.nps.gov/havo



Further around we visited The Jagger Museum where we got an even closer look at the crater. Some of the rim road further on was closed because of increased volcanic action.

At one part of the rim we walked down through rainforest jungle to reach the Kilauea Iki Crater.

We were able to walk across the active crater floor as the lava has cooled sufficiently.

Around the floor there are active steam vents but plants are gaining a foothold here.

Nearby was a short trail through protected rainforest where you are able to walk through a lava tube.

Water was dripping from the ceiling and some ferns and epiphites are growing near the entrances.

Friday 23rd January
We opened the curtains to discover one of the gardeners climbing a palm tree just outside our balcony. He climbed up using spikes on his shoes and a rope round the tree. He used a big machete to trim it back, then abseiled down.

We spent the morning relaxing by the pools in the sunshine - 85 degrees.

In the afternoon we drove to Hapuna Beach, one of the top 10 beaches of the world and spent an hour or two paddlind in the ocean, watching the surf boarders and enjoying the afternoon sunshine.

Later in the aftetnoon we walked over part of a 150 year old lava flow to view some petroglyphs created by Hawaiian islanders.

Just before dinner in the local square we watched a Lion Dance to welcome the Chinese New Year.

At the end of day, the sunset was the most amazing shade of pink.

Thursday 22nd January
Lovely hot day in the 80's but a bit windy - the foyer in our section is open air and has fountains and full sized trees.

We walked round part of the complex passing the hotel lagoon and bay just outside.

We found a good place for Glenys to relax by the ocean.

Guests travel from place to place in the hotel by boat, on footpaths by the lagoon or by covered walkways decorated wirh Oriental artwork.

After picking up a hire car we drove South to get a feeling of the island - the roadside is amazingly colourful with lots of exotic flowers and palm trees.

We spotted several gardens with oranges growing on trees.

Wednesday 21st January
Good flight from Houston to Denver where we had a 3 hour wait. There was a good view of the snow on the Rocky mountains in the distance

San Francisco was cloudy with rain but once we got out over the Pacific, the weather changed for the better and the view above the clouds was beautiful.

Glenys won the competition on the plane to guess the time it would take to get half way to Hawaii - she was 7 seconds out, and won a box of Macademia nuts and some applause in the plane.

Aloha! The temperature was in the 80's when we landed at 8.30pm - the baggage claim was in the open air.
The hotel complex is huge and after checking in we took a boat to our reception area.