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Hawaii, pt. 3
(Continued from here, full trip log here, photo album here.)
On Thursday, we went to Hanauma Bay, recommended by everyone for snorkeling. Formed by volcanic activity (an eruption or collapse, I'm not sure), it's full of coral and sea life and is now a protected "marine life conservation district." Visitors are required to watch an orientation video about the bay's history and protection before entering. About 100 feet out are rocks, beyond which the waves were too rough for swimming, so the available area was limited. We started snorkeling in the middle area and didn't see much - the coral was gray, there were some fish but nothing amazing. We got out and sat on the beach for a little while, then went back in on the left side, and this time there was a lot more to see. Overall I was disappointed with the coral, however: my mental image of coral is of many colors and shapes, but the Hanauma coral was all gray and uniform. Other snorkelers reported seeing turtles but we didn't see any. It was still very nice underwater, though, and I got some more good photos (also coming soon).
(I learned an interesting tip there for de-fogging a diving mask. The usual suggestion is to use spit, but that didn't work with these masks, so a park guide suggested I break off a leaf from the bushes there - I don't know what the plant is called, but the leaves are slightly thick, bright green and moist inside - grind up the leaf, and apply the liquid to the inside. It worked!)
For dinner Thursday night, we went to the Cheesecake Factory, always delicious, and with huge portions so every meal there basically includes another meal to bring home. I had one of their off-menu specials, salmon with a ginger crust top, and it was delicious. (Incidentally, we didn't get cheesecake.)
Friday morning we woke up very early and took the bus to Diamond Head, also the result of volcanic activity (like all of the Hawaiian islands, in fact), and with a peak that gives an amazing view of Honolulu. It's necessary to go early because by afternoon it's too hot to hike. There's a good walk from the bus stop to the start of the trail, and then another half hour or so to the top, including a long tunnel that was only recently fitted with lights, and several staircases and ladders. Around World War 1, I think, the site became part of a sea targeting system, and the concrete watch tower with its narrow viewing window overlooking the sea is still there. (I stitched together a 360° panorama of the city, which I'll post soon.)
Friday afternoon, we went to the Bishop Museum, reputed to have one of largest collections of Polynesian artifacts in the world. It's actually several museums in one: an interactive science museum for kids, another science pavillion with a planetarium, a Polynesian art/history/culture museum, a Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame, a pavillion of Hawaiian royal lineage, and a kids' science exhibit (probably temporary) called "Grossology," which we got a kick out of.
On Saturday we planned to check out before noon, go to the airport, check in our luggage and go back to Waikiki for last-minute souvenier shopping. I had called US Airways and they assured us we could check in any time on the day of departure. So we get there at noon, and find out (after being directed back and forth across the terminals) that the US Airways terminal doesn't open until 8 PM. Of course there is no more airport luggage storage ("post-9/11" and all), and we hadn't thought it necessary to use the hotel's. So we were stuck with three heavy suitcases outside the airport for the whole day, and airport food is such a ripoff. The weather was perfect, though, and we got a lot of reading done, so it wasn't a total waste. It was also good we got there early because we discovered that our flight - scheduled for 10:55 PM - was delayed til 1:30 AM, possibly later (due to maintenance, same as the first leg of our flight going there). Anyway I was on the phone with US Airways' horrible customer service people - in the Philippines, of course - and while they wouldn't compensate us for being wrong about the checkin time (lying about frequent-flyer mile rules and probably lying about first class being full), they did move us to the earlier 10:30 PM flight, which was on time.
Long story short...Honolulu to Phoenix to Washington D.C. to Boston...basically two days in airports or airplanes, and we got back to Boston. Home sweet home. Of course they had to lose one of my suitcases somewhere - another point for US Airways - so I'm hoping they'll find it and deliver it tomorrow. After a week of essentially perfect weather, the weather back home will take some getting used to again, (and I'll surely lose my tan before the summer). Tomorrow classes start again, with a giant pile of reading and work that I mostly neglected on vacation awaits me, but I feel quite refreshed.
Check out the full photo album here.
(I learned an interesting tip there for de-fogging a diving mask. The usual suggestion is to use spit, but that didn't work with these masks, so a park guide suggested I break off a leaf from the bushes there - I don't know what the plant is called, but the leaves are slightly thick, bright green and moist inside - grind up the leaf, and apply the liquid to the inside. It worked!)
On Saturday we planned to check out before noon, go to the airport, check in our luggage and go back to Waikiki for last-minute souvenier shopping. I had called US Airways and they assured us we could check in any time on the day of departure. So we get there at noon, and find out (after being directed back and forth across the terminals) that the US Airways terminal doesn't open until 8 PM. Of course there is no more airport luggage storage ("post-9/11" and all), and we hadn't thought it necessary to use the hotel's. So we were stuck with three heavy suitcases outside the airport for the whole day, and airport food is such a ripoff. The weather was perfect, though, and we got a lot of reading done, so it wasn't a total waste. It was also good we got there early because we discovered that our flight - scheduled for 10:55 PM - was delayed til 1:30 AM, possibly later (due to maintenance, same as the first leg of our flight going there). Anyway I was on the phone with US Airways' horrible customer service people - in the Philippines, of course - and while they wouldn't compensate us for being wrong about the checkin time (lying about frequent-flyer mile rules and probably lying about first class being full), they did move us to the earlier 10:30 PM flight, which was on time.
Long story short...Honolulu to Phoenix to Washington D.C. to Boston...basically two days in airports or airplanes, and we got back to Boston. Home sweet home. Of course they had to lose one of my suitcases somewhere - another point for US Airways - so I'm hoping they'll find it and deliver it tomorrow. After a week of essentially perfect weather, the weather back home will take some getting used to again, (and I'll surely lose my tan before the summer). Tomorrow classes start again, with a giant pile of reading and work that I mostly neglected on vacation awaits me, but I feel quite refreshed.
Check out the full photo album here.