Is this Paradise - Part 1

"Is this paradise?" Well, if it isn't, this is probably the closest thing to it.

I enjoyed my first real vacation ever in honor of my 50th birthday with a 12-day visit to Hawaii. My traveling companions included my youngest child and my parents (later, my brother and his family joined us on the island of Kauai).

We arrived in Honolulu on July 29th to the most perfectly balmy and breezy day. Our accommodations in Waikiki on Liliuokalani Avenue were just a few short blocks from the glorious Kuhio beach park, where the swimming could not have been better for kids and those who don't like ducking waves. Just head toward Kalakaua Avenue, along Liliuokalani to get to the beach. 

Though Waikiki is very much like Rodeo Drive with ridiculous high end designer stores and towering hotels, there are delightful surprises to be found if you just keep your eyes peeled. We stumbled across a Farmers' Market at King's Village with incredibly delicious fruits and foods for sale. 
There are little shops with beautiful Hawaiian dresses & shirts, art work, and jewelry. It's nestled in between the tall hotels so just ask a local for directions if you can't find it. One of the best finds in Waikiki was the Moku Surf Shop on Koa avenue. Learning to surf was on my daughter's short bucket list for Hawaii and we happened to be talking about that when we wandered past on old surfer-dude from Vancouver, B.C. who directed us to Moku Surf Shop. It was late in the evening but they were still open and i booked her then and there for a private surf lesson the following morning. Kamalu was an amazing instructor and took her under his wing out in the surf. She was thrilled about conquering the waves and i got to watch the lesson from the comfort of a beach chair. Win-win! 

Our reason for coming to Oahu first was to visit Pearl Harbor. 
After some extensive research, I concluded that it was best to forego renting a car (thus saving ourselves the additional cost of parking and trying to get around a rather congested city), opting to bus it to Pearl Harbor instead. Though the trip took us over an hour, we hopped on the first bus of the day and paid our $2.50/pp fare  for a leisurely ride through Honolulu. Tickets to Pearl Harbor are free but they are handed out on a first-come-first-served basis with a set limit of tickets per day. By the time our bus reached Pearl Harbor at 7:30a.m., a long line of people had already queued up for tickets. We quickly ran to join the queue, only to be told that all purses & bags, except for cameras & wallets had to be checked into storage for a $5 holding fee (cash only!). I later noticed that many had opted to wear cargo shorts & pants with good reason - if it fits in your pocket, you can bring it in. We finally rejoined the queue and received our tickets for the 1p.m. tour of the memorial. Now what? We had over 5 hours to kill and it didn't make sense to return to Waikiki only to turn around and come back so we dropped the money on a tour of the USS Missouri - a retired battleship docked at the naval station (Tickets to the Mighty Mo are $27/adult; $13/child). Though this was no cheap excursion, I think that it was well worth the price. We opted for the self-guided tour which freed us to roam the ship at our own pace and linger to explore to our hearts' content. The Japanese surrender was signed on the deck of the Mighty Mo as it was anchored in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. There is a plaque designating the spot.
The fairly new Kamikaze exhibit was gripping to watch, contemplating the fate of so many young men caught in WWII's raging maw. The entrance to the exhibit is in the stern of the ship. 

Give yourself plenty of time to explore the bowels of the ship, from bow to stern. There is a lot to see from the mess hall and sleeping quarters of the navy guys to the officer's quarters and lounge. Take time to ask questions from the volunteers - they are a treasure trove of interesting facts and tidbits. Bring along a bottle of water and wear comfortable shoes. 

For best choices in dining, stop at the cafe in the Pacific Aviation Museum. There is a lunch wagon at the Mighty Mo with pizza slices etc., and a couple of spots at the Welcome Center too, but be prepared for limited choices like pre-packaged sandwiches, hot dogs, and soup. 

The visit to the USS Arizona Memorial is moving. You will queue up for a short movie at the Welcome Center after which you will board a ferry for a short trip to the Memorial. Resist the temptation to video and photograph everything, rather let yourself experience the moment and contemplate the fate of those who rest beneath the waves. There are postcards, magnets, videos, posters and more available at the Gift Shop for an affordable price which capture the experience better than your iPhone and free you to be present in the moment. And please, please, please consider your outfit. This is an active military base and a cemetery so take some pains to look respectful and decent. Please. 

Next blog - Iolani Palace. Till then, Aloha!