Andrew and I recently went to O'ahu, Hawaii to celebrate his birthday. It was such a wonderful trip learning about the history of Hawaii, and exploring the island. Vacationing in Hawaii can get expensive, but there are plenty of things to do that are budget friendly. Here are a few of the things that we did. Aloha!
Diamond Head State Monument
Diamond Head was created by a single explosive eruption of steam and ash
approximately 150,000 years ago. The crater is an almost perfect circle with a
diameter of 3520 feet, and a floor area of 175 acres.
The 0.8 mile hike from trailhead to the summit had
an ascent of 560 feet!
Koko Head Crater Railway Trail
The railroad tramway was built during WWII to provide military personnel
and supplies to the top. Even though it's only 1.5 miles to the summit, it had an elevation
increase of 1,200 feet! This hike was extremely brutal, and made Diamond Head child's play.
Dole Plantation
The Pineapple Garden Maze was recognized in 2008 by the Guinness Book of World
Records as having the world's largest maze. It encompasses 3.15 acres,
with 2.46 miles of pathway made of 14,000 local Hawaiian plants.
It took us 1 hour 4 minutes to complete the maze!
I'm a big fan of pineapples!
World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument (Pearl Harbor Memorial)
The USS Arizona Memorial, the USS Oklahoma Memorial, and the
USS Utah Memorial commemorate those who died as part of the December 7, 1941 attack.
The Polaris A-1 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile was developed by
Lockheed in the late 1950's, and was the first submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
Its sophisticated guidance system was capable of delivering a nuclear warhead "on target"
1,380 miles way. This particular A-1 is one of the oldest SLBMs in existence.
Hawaii Army Museum Society
The U.S. Light Tank, M24 was used for scouting and reconnaissance in the late days of WWII.
It mounted a 75mm main gun and 3 machine guns behind 1'' of armor. Two Cadillac V-8
engines drove the 19 ton tank and its crew of four at speeds up to 35 MPH.
Manoa Falls Trail
Even though the trail was really muddy from the rain, the 100ft Manoa Falls was
worth it! Also, scenes from the TV show LOST and Jurassic Park were filmed here.
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
The Memorial was erected in 1964 to honor the sacrifices and achievements of
American Armed Forces in the Pacific during WWII and the Korean War.
In 1980, it was enlarged to include the missing of the Vietnam War.
Iolani Palace
The Palace was built in 1882 by King Kalakaua to enhance Hawaii's
status as a modern nation.
Foster Botanical Gardens
Foster Gardens is the oldest of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens.
The 14-acre garden has lots of tropical plants that date back to the
1850s. Don't forget to wear lots of mosquito repellent!
Mount Tantalus Lookout
Tantalizing views of Diamond Head, Punchbowl Crater, Waikiki, and Honolulu!
Byodo-In Temple
The Bell House contains a 5 foot high, 3 ton brass bell cast in Osaka, Japan.
The bell is customarily rung before one enters the temple to spread the eternal teachings of Buddha.
The Buddha is thought to be the largest figure carved since ancient times.
The 18 feet figure is an original work of art carved by the famous Japanese sculptor, Masuzo Inui.
Olamana Trail
Olamana consisted of scrambling, and a 15 foot vertical section.
It didn't help that there were ridges with drop-offs on either or both sides!
We made it to the top!
Elvis Aloha Statue
The Elvis statue marked the World's First Satellite TV Concert in January 14, 1973.
Pineapple Float
Ingredients (serves 2)
1 cup pineapple
1 cup milk
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup orange juice
Vanilla ice cream
Directions
- Put all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.
- Pour into glasses.
- Spoon a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
- Serve with straws and spoons.
So refreshing!
