Hawaiian Islands dep. USA – My Brother Traveler

This post is part of a series called Oceania

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Kauai Waimea Canyon_2007_P1140226

Maui – Haleakala_2007_P1130359

Maui Lahaina_2007_P1130266

Maui Lahaina Hongwanji Mission_2007_P1130762

Maui Lahaina_2007_P1130980

Oahu Honolulu_2007_P1130014

HAW-78 Hawaii (part of USA)
Date of travel: Jan 31 – Feb 9, 1978

ITINERARY:
In the morning Jan 31, 1978 I leave Vista in my Mustang 67 driving to Sunnyvale in northern California, where lives Aramis (a Czech childhood friend).Next day we take a United Airlines plane from San Jose airport to Honolulu, Hawaii. After 5.5-hour flight the plane lands in Honolulu on the Oahu Island. We get a car from Budget and drive to Pearl Harbor. There in a boat to “Arizona Memorial.” Then throughHonolulu to Waikikiand our hotel. In the evening we take a walk along the main street, Kalakaua.
The following day, Feb 2., we plan sightseeing of the eastern and northern coast of Oahu. From Waikiki past Koko Head and along the southeastern tip of the island. One stop is at “Palin Lookout.” Next stop is at “Byodo-in Temple” (a replica of a Kyoto temple). Then we drive along the ocean north to “Polynesian Cultural Center.” It belongs to a Mormon University. Its areal is divided in 7 Polynesian section and in them we spend several guided hours. Midafternoon we continue driving in northwesternpart of Oahu among sugarcane fields with a stop at Waimea Waterfalls, which is dry now. Then we return through the center of the island back to Waikiki and our hotel by evening.
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In the morning of the next day we walk along the Waikiki beaches and past beautiful hotels. After that we drive our rented Toyota to “Hawaii Capitol,” which is a modern building. Then we go to the “Iolani Palace,” where Hawaiian kings used to live. From here to the “Royal Mausoleum.” Both the Palace and the Mausoleum are not open due repairs. Next stop is at “Soto Zen Buddhist Temple.” Few miles further there is a “Bishop Museum.” We visit a show in its planetarium. In the afternoon we drive to the western part of the island. When returning we stop at the Pokai Beach for swimming in the Pacific Ocean. In Honolulu we visit Aloha Tower before coming back to our hotel.
On Feb 4 we take an Aloha Airlines plane from Honolulu on Oahu to Lihue on the Kauai Island. There we also rent a car, this time VW Rabbit. After a short stop at our hotel, we drive along the eastern and northern coast to the beaches at the end of the road. Back in our hotel we spend rest of afternoon on the hotel beach.
On Feb 5 we explore the southern and western part of Kauai. In the town Waimea we take a road inland into the mountains to “Waimea Canyon State Park” in the center of the island. The nature formed almost a copy of Grand Canyon here. Back on the southern coast we drive west to “Polihale State Park.” Up to now it was I who was behind steering wheel, but here Aramis takes over.
On Feb 6 we take a plane from Kauai via Honolulu (Oahu) and Maui landing in Hilo on the Big Island. After renting anotherToyota we drive clockwise around the island and to the crater of Kilauea volcano. Here we go to the visitor center and drive around the crater. We also visit the nearby Mauna Loa volcano. Then we continue around Big Island. We make a stop at “City of Refuge.” Polynesians could hide here and purify themselves from broken taboos. There is also a place where local people killed Captain James Cook. After dark we come to Kona Coast and our hotel “King Kamehameha.”
On Feb 7 we drive from Kona Coast to the eastern coast of Big Island. First stop at Waimea at Parker Ranch, second biggest ranch in USA. Aramis buys a bag of Kona Coffee here. While western part of Big Island is covered with volcanic lava, the eastern part is covered with sugarcane fields. Near Hilo we see Akaka Waterfalls. Later we see Rainbow Falls. At both falls is a hot tropical jungle. Then along the coast south to the Black Sand Beach with black volcanic sand. Few miles further the road ends under a lava flow. After some time in Hilo we return to Kona Coast the same northern road we drove to Hilo. In the evening we do some walking in the town near our hotel.
Next day we return the car and board a plane from Kona to Honolulu. Because we have several hours in Honolulu before the next plane, we take a local bus and go to Ala Moana Park with its beautiful beach. Here we take last pictures and by bus back to the airport. Later in the afternoon we take a Western Airlines plane to San Jose, California. The plane lands there late at night. The following day, Feb 9, I drive 440 miles home to Vista where in the evening.

Travel office: Aramis used a travel office in northern California
Who took part: Aramis and I took part

HAW-98 Hawaii (USA)
Date of travel: Feb 4 – Feb 10, 1998

ITINERARY:
Aramis flew from San Jose to San Diego last night and I took him do Vista. In the morning on Feb 4, 1998 we drive my Mustang 67 to San Diego airport. We leave the car at long term parking. Then we take a United Airlines plane to Los Angeles and another one from Los Angeles to Kahului airport on Maui Island, Hawaiian Islands, USA. There is lunch on the plane. After almost 6 hours flying from Los Angeles our United plane lands on Maui at 2 PM local time. We get a Flower Lei Greeting on the airport.
We pick-up a car (Chevrolet Cavalier) at Alamo and drive to our hotel, “Royal Lahaina Resort.” After 4 PM we go to see the town. The following day, Feb 5, we drive to Haleakala Volcano which dominates Maui. After driving about 65 miles we reach the 10,023-ft. summit at noon. There is a Visitor Center there. An hour later we drive down and stop at town Kahului for lunch. Then we drive counterclockwise around the western part of Maui with occasional photo stops above the ocean. Back to our hotel at 6 PM. Next day our plan is to drive along the northern coast of the eastern part of Maui. And we do it. We get as far as Hana at the easternmost Maui and have lunch there. It is a very nice area. Then we return the same way back to Lahaina and our hotel.
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HAW-07Hawaii (part of USA) and KARIBATI
Date of travel: Apr 14 – Apr 25, 2007

ITINERARY:
On Apr 14, 2007 my sister, her husband and I drive an AVIS car from Vista to San Diego airport. From there we fly 5 hrs. and 20 min. on a Hawaiian Airlines plane to Honolulu on Oahu Island in the American state of Hawaii. The plane lands at 1PM of local time. A taxi takes us to our ship “Norwegian Wind” (55k tons). While I take care of shore excursion, Mirka and Karel explore the ship. Soon the ship leaves Honolulu.
Next morning our ship docks in Hilo on the Big Island. It is far the biggest island of the Hawaiian Islands. Our today trip is “Volcanoes National Park Odyssey.” During the trip there is a stop at Macadamia Nut Company. Then the bus takes us to Kilauea Volcano. Later, we circumnavigate the crater, do some walking on lava from 1982 eruption and in 500 years old lava tube. The last stop is at a shopping center v Hilo. After 3PM we are back on our ship. In the evening we see a good magician show.
On Apr 16 we reach another Hawaiian Island. It is Maui and our ship anchors off the coast of Lahaina. We use tenders to get to shore. We are taking a trip to Haleakala Volcano. It takes more than 2 hours to get to the place we can see the crater of the still active Haleakala Volcano. We are some 3,000 m above the sea level. Before noon our bus goes downhill. We see number of cyclists following the same downhill run. Then we return to Lahaina and in a tender back to our ship. Mirka and Karel go to Lahaina later in the afternoon. In the evening I browse Lahaina with Mirka.
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The following day we are still off the coast of Lahaina and we have a walking tour of the place. By a tender to shore. The first stop at Houola Stone, where Hawaiian women had children. Close by there are foundations of a house built by American ship captains for the king Kamehameha the Great. This is followed by a museum, an old prison, Buddhist Temple, and a cemetery with royal tombs.
At night our ship sails to the island of Kauai. It docks in the harbor of Nawiliwili in the morning. We have a bus tour of the island. We see a “Spouting Horn” shooting water through a lava tube on the shore. Driving west we see coffee fields grown for harvesting by machines. Other fields are covered by sugar cane. Then we go uphill and stop at the Waimea Canyon Lookout. During the drive there is a smaller island Niihau visible south of Kauai, where only pure blood Hawaiians live. Last stop is at large Mariko store in the town Hanapepe. We leave our bus in the town Lihue some 20-min. walk from our ship.
Next 2 days we are on the ocean going south. There are some lectures to attend and shows in the evenings.
On Apr 21 in midafternoon our ship anchors off the coast of Fanning Island which is part of island country KIRIBATI. a new country for me. A tender takes us to the island. The Fanning Island is only few feet above the waves. A group of local people welcomes us on the shore. There is a line to get a stamp to our passports and another one to buy postcards and stamps. Then I walk around, do some photos on the shore, and buy few souvenirs. At the coming darkness we are back on our ship.
The following two days “Norwegian Wind” is on the Pacific Ocean returning to the Hawaiian Islands. We watch flying fish of various sizes flying above the waves and take part in interesting lectures. The second day a large wave hit the ship as high as the 10th deck. I and my sister were at a lecture, but her husband was outside on deck 7 and took the whole brand of it. Then he tries to dry his camera.
On Apr 24 in the morning our ship anchors at Kona Coast at the Big Island of the Hawaiian Islands. A tender gets us to the shore. We take a bus tour of thewestern part of the island. The first stop is to taste Kona coffee. Next stop is at “Refuge,” where in the past local people could hide after they broke a taboo. Lastly, we see a “Painted Church” from 1903. While Mirka and Karel take a walk of the town, I return to the ship.
On Apr 25 “Norwegian Wind” docks in Honolulu harbor on the Oahu Island. We leave our ship in the morning and take a taxi to the Royal Iolani Palace, then through the Chinatown to “Pearl Harbor.” Here we take pictures and video. We see Arizona Memorial and a battle ship Missouri. There is a submarine there. After that we continue to the airport. In the afternoon we take a Hawaiian Airline plane and after 5 hours it lands in San Diego in the evening. Rented car from Hertz takes us to Vista where at midnight.

Travel office: I arranged the trip for all 3 of us directly with the “Norwegian Wind.”
Who took part: My sister, her husband and I.