hawaii Keyword
USS Arizona
One of the more sobering experiences I’ve had in Hawaii (apart from losing my thongs) was visiting the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbour.
The memorial, situated above the rusting body of the Arizona stands as a headstone to the shipwreck and the 1,177 sailors that were killed on her during the December 7th 1941 surprise attack by Japanese forces on the US forces stationed here in Oahu. Many of the men killed that day still lay inside the Arizona, and the site is an active military cemetery.
The white platform built above the site offers visitors a place to remember the sailors killed that day and to look over the hull of the Arizona that lays just below the surface. The prominent gun turret that rises above the surface and the hatches nearby leak “the tears of Arizona”, oil that still seeps from the hold. It pools below the monument, seeping out from the wreck and staining the posts.
The memorial was very interesting to see, and really does make one think about not only the men killed on the boat that day, but the fact that on that day the lives of an entire nation of people changed with the US entering the war. I could not help but wonder how I would feel if I was the radar operator that day who dismissed the incoming blips as “nothing to worry about”.
This is my last post from the US, because I right now I am sitting looking over Honolulu airport, waiting for my boarding call. I’ll be travelling into the future by crossing the International Date Line soon and landing in Sydney before heading to Perth. Hawaii has been amazing and a fitting end to a pretty amazing adventure. I’m sure there will be a couple more debriefing posts from Sydney and Perth but, for now at least, I say farewell and thank you to the United States.
A View from the Top
A few days ago I ventured to the east of Oahu and went on a little hike up Diamond Head Crater.
The crater is actually the cone formed from a volcanic eruption. Seen from Waikiki beach Diamond Head looks like a mountain. It is not until you enter the cone through a tunnel that you realise the actual shape of the land formation. Inside the bowl it is dusty and dry and the fairly easy walk up the inside of the cone to the lookout on the lip feels much more difficult in the heat.
Reaching the top rewards hikers with a ridiculously beautiful view of Oahu. While the summit is only 230 or so meters to the west you can see Waikiki and Honolulu, to the east the coast of Oahu with it’s bays and beaches. To the south the great expanse of the Pacific seems to disappear forever over the horizon. Looking back over the crater facing north gives you a good idea of just how big the volcano must have been.
After sweaty and hot climb back down from the lookout I headed to Hanauma Bay. This bay is a Nature Preserve giving visitors access to some spectacular coral formations. While a little costly (an entrance fee of $7.50 is required if you don’t live in Hawaii) a visit to the bay is a must. The beautiful sheltered bay is like paradise and snorkelling in the bay is easy, safe and the sea life is amazing. I ended up going twice to Hanauma Bay I enjoyed it that much.
The end of my adventure is fast approaching, something that is filling me with a huge level of apprehension. I am not looking forward to leaving my travelling life and going home to debts and work but I’ll enjoy my last few days while I can.
Chinese Cemetery
Sometimes my one travel rule of “Never Refuse an Invitation” produces some great experiences. An invitation to a BBQ from Rob, one of the people I have met at the hostel, was one of these.
Rocking up to the Chinese Cemetery caretakers house in Manoa I had no idea what to expect. I did not know anyone except Rob and his friend Alessa, and Rob didn’t know anyone except some guy John. We had no idea of the occasion and with great trepidation we moved into the party. Taking a look around, and deciding I really needed a drink to deal with the situation we setup shop and went about making a rum and fruit punch, underneath a projector running family photos. In short time we found out it was a childs 1st birthday party, which made things even more awkward but it wasn’t long before we had fit comfortably into the party and became famous for our punch.
It was strange having such a lively party against the backdrop of the cemetery. The Chinese Cemetery in Manoa is the largest and oldest of its kind in Hawaii. It’s position in the valley is amazing with mountains rising up on three sides and a view right out past Waikiki and out to the ocean.
The Party was rocking, with around 100 people milling around and more food than I care to mention. We stayed for a few hours, but unfortunately left before the firetwirlers and musicians were due to arrive. All in all a fantastic day out of nowhere.
Waikiki Beach
Ah Oahu, you are beautiful. Touristy, but beautiful. Dominated by Waikiki Beach the area is teeming with life. Waikiki means Spouting Fresh Waters in Hawaiian and at “The grove” you can see a recreation of the area as it would have been when the Hawaiian royalty would have seen it when they held the area sacred.
Today the grove is surrounded by Oahu’s biggest and most luxurious hotels, all suprisingly very open and welcoming to everyone. All day long you’ll find people from town mixing with those using the hotels, just wandering through to the beach or eating and drinking at the hotel bars and restaraunts.
Waikiki beach is massive, and curves in a cresent along the south of the Island. To the east is Diamond Head, which I hope to climb soon.
Aloha
I arrived in Hawaii, the United States only Island state on Monday. Hawaii is the 50th State, making it the newest of all the US states, with it being added to the union in just 1959.
The hostel I am staying at is on the Southern side of the main island of Ohau in Waikiki. It is very touristy and built up, but yesterday Dustin a dentist from Texas offered us a lift in his car to go check out the North Shore.
The drive took around an hour, through a surprising amount of traffic. Following the highway up through the middle of the island we headed North west to meet the shore. Along the North Shore are some of Hawaii’s best and less populated beaches. While jumping from beach to beach we saw basking turtles and swam in beautiful coves. We floated in the deep clear water of a cove that fed an inlet to a national park and we watched the sunset at Sunset Beach. On the way home we followed the coast east around the Island.
The islands volcanic nature of Hawaii makes for some pretty breathtaking scenery. Huge mountains rising immense and sudden from the edge of the water. Absolutely spectacular.