Saturday 10th February 2018
The Hawaiian Islands, annexed to the U.S. in 1898 and a U.S. state in 1959, is an isolated 16,000 mile long chain of 162 volcanic islands that form the archipelago in the Central Pacific. The modern history of the islands began in 1778 when Captain Cook landed and they became a British Territory, the Sandwich Islands, the state flag still includes the Union Flag. The islands are renowned for their rugged landscapes of cliffs, waterfalls, tropical foliage, Dole pineapples and beaches with gold, red, black and even green sands. Of the 6 main islands, Oahu has Hawaii’s biggest city and capital, Honolulu, home to crescent Waikiki Beach and Pearl Harbour's Arizona Memorial.
This morning woke up berthed just by the Aloha Tower in Honolulu.
Weather just about perfect. We went ashore and caught the shuttle bus into town to the Ala Moana Shopping Mall. Mostly the usual designer label stores, but also one of our old favourites the ABC Store. Even here not much for us but managed to find a couple of bits, including some Macadamia nuts. Time for a morning coffee and a Cinnabon before setting off back to the ship.
View Across to Diamond Head
Along the way stopped in Ala Moana Beach Park for taking photos of exotic local birdlife and Banyan trees before taking time out for paddling and swimming.
Continuing back toward the ship lots of very pretty flowering trees
and just by the harbour wall alongside the Maritime Museum (closed!) lots of corals, urchins, crabs and various colourful fish.
Time to sit out in the sun for a while before sailaway and a buffet dinner followed by time to relax before bed.
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