Fenlason - Pineda: Honolulu - Oahu

View of SDCRAA from I-5 North.

Our plane to Paradise.

Paradise.

Some scary birds, just waiting . . .

Synonymous with Waikiki, the two-sided Rainbow Mural was known as the World's Tallest Mosaic when it was first revealed in 1968. Designed by the iconic Millard Sheets, the two mosaics adorn the sides of the Hilton Hawaiian Village’s 31-story Rainbow Tower.

They measure 286 feet high by 26 feet wide, and originally consisted of more than 16,000 hand-painted ceramic tiles. The focal point of the mural is 2.5 miles away, which on the ocean side provides a warm welcome for visitors flying to Oahu.

Flora and fauna . . . HAHA!

Immediately went to breakfast at Goofy Café & Dine. Highly recommended by us. Great food, great staff. Even talked with several nearby diners.

Bibimbap with gochujang sauce and seaweed soup for me!

Hawaiian's French Toast with papaya, pineapple and banana for Rafa.

Fort DeRussy Beach on Waikīkī Bay.

Sightseeing suggestions.

We had no towels. Should I tell him about his sand head?

DELICOUS ice cream from Lappert's Hawaii.

Pagoda at Rainbow Bazaar.

The AKALĀ Chapel.

Huge koi with HUGE mouths.

View of the Hale Koa military hotel seen from the 24th floor of our hotel.

Sushi dinner at Hatsuhana. Avocado roll topped with avocado for Rafa (I'm not kidding.)

Ume-kyu (pickled plum and cucumber) roll for me.

View of the moon over Honolulu.

Day two starts at the Waikiki main post office.

The first of MANY banyan trees.

Just there. Abandoned.

HAD to have a Spam and green onion omelette.

See the photobomber?

View to Diamond Head.

Bodhi, Lawrence (Patrick) and Jun.

Tim and Rafa.

LPP.

The first of MANY servings of shave ice.

The boundary between our hotel and the military hotel.

Reminiscent of Korea.

Snorkeling tour boats.

View of the ocean from our hotel balcony.

An outrigger made from a coconut shell.

One piece of a great collection of wood furniture at the hotel.

View to the hotel pool and hot tub from the balcony.

Panorama.

Fruit sandwiches at the Asian market.

Made me think of Boston's Prudential Tower.

Rafa wanted to see turtles, but didn't want to go snorkeling. So Patrick and Bodhi got turtles for him to watch.

Mmmmmmmmmmm. Escargot at Hy's Steakhouse.

Start of the trail at Diamond Head.

I am so happy to have found my favorite electrolyte water. I discovered it in Korea and didn't realize that it's from Japan!

Diamond Head is a volcanic tuff cone on the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu and known to Hawaiians as Lēʻahi. The Hawaiian name is most likely derived from lae plus ʻahi because the shape of the ridgeline resembles the shape of a tuna's dorsal fin.

This broad, saucer-shaped crater was formed about 300,000 years ago during a single, explosive eruption that sent ash and fine particles in the air.

As these materials settled, they cemented together into a rock called tuff, creating the crater, and which is visible from the trail in the park. Most of the vegetation and birds were introduced in the late 1800s to early 1900s.

The trail to the summit of Lē‘ahi was built in 1908 as part of O‘ahu’s coastal defense system. The 0.8 mile hike from trailhead to the summit is steep and strenuous, gaining 560 feet as it ascends from the crater floor.

The walk is a glimpse into the geological and military history of Diamond Head. A concrete walkway built to reduce erosion shifts to a natural tuff surface about 0.2 mile up the trail with many switchbacks traversing the steep slope of the crater interior.

The ascent continues up steep stairs and through a lighted 225-foot tunnel to enter the Fire Control Station completed in 1911. Built on the summit, the station directed artillery fire from batteries in Waikiki and Fort Ruger outside Diamond Head crater. At the summit, you’ll see bunkers and a huge navigational lighthouse built in 1917.