| Hawaii Diary 2001 | |
Sunrise Over Waikiki
Photo by John Fischer
Today was my last day in Hawaii on this trip. When we were on Oahu last week, I asked by fellow About Hawaii Guide Kathy Durham if she would like to accompany me on a drive to the North Shore. Always eager to drive around Oahu, Kathy agreed and we set off on our own circle island drive.
Our drive took us around southeast Oahu, past Diamond Head, Haunama Bay, Sandy Beach, and Waimanalo. We drove through Lanikai where the homes of the rich are nestled into the mountainside and then past Kailua Beach, Kaneohe Bay, Koolau Bay and Mololii Island (Chinaman's Hat).
As we drove around the north shore, we went through Laie, home to the Polynesian Cultural Center where we stopped at Laie Point. We then proceeded onward past the Turtle Bay Hilton Resort and the numerous beaches of the north shore that attract the top surfers in the world when the surf is high.
We stopped briefly at the lovely Pupukea Beach Park where snorkelers enjoy the waters of the ancient fishponds.
Our prime destination was the north shore town of Haleiwa where we stopped briefly at the Coffee Gallery of Hawaii to pick up some fresh ground Kona coffee. We then drove over to Haleiwa Alii Beach Park where we watched the surfers in what were moderate surfing conditions.
Surfer at Haleiwa on the North Shore
Photo by John Fischer
Lunch today was at Jameson's, the north shore's most famous restaurant. Kathy enjoyed a grilled ahi burger while I had the grilled ono. Both are two of the restaurant's top selections. If you make it to the north shore, Jameson's is definitely a place to stop for lunch or dinner.
Our return to Honolulu from Haleiwa took us past an area where once sugar cane fields could be found as far as the eye could see. The sugar is gone, but the land is now bringing forth new crops, such as coffee.
The pineapple fields of central Oahu still still exist. While fresh pineapple is no longer shipped from Hawaii, there is still enough demand from the visitor trade and local consumption to keep these fields active.
After a brief stop at the Dole Plantation where I picked up some pineapple candy for my wife, Eileen, back home, we drove to Kukaniloko, the site of the birthing stones.
Kukaniloko - Birthing Stones
Photo by John Fischer
At this sacred place, as many as 800 years ago, chiefs and chieftesses came here for the birth of their children. A child born at Kukaniloko was assured high-ranking status.
All too soon, the time arrived to head for the airport and my return trip to the mainland. As always, Kathy was great company and an excellent guide to Oahu.
This concludes our Hawaii Diary 2001. We have so many great folks to thank for showing us such a wonderful time. We certainly need to thank Ken Phillips of Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays and all of the great folks at the Sheraton Hawaii Hotels and Resorts for making this trip possible.
Especially for the first time visitor, there is no better, convenient or economical way to arrange your Hawaiian vacation than by utilizing the services of Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays, the industry leader in arranging travel for individuals and groups to Hawaii. Once you use their services you may very well decide to use them again...and again.
For more information about Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays, you can visit their website or call 1-800-2-HAWAII and as for a copy of their excellent sixty-seven page 2001 Hawaii Guide.
The Sheraton Hotels and Resorts of Hawaii have something to offer every type of visitor ranging from their historic properties in Waikiki to the recently reconstructed Maui Sheraton Resort. More importantly, however, the staff and management of the Sheraton properties are some of the best and most friendly that we have encountered in our travels to Hawaii.
For more information about the Sheraton Hotels and Resorts of Hawaii, be sure to visit their website which contains links to each of their properties in Hawaii.
Note:
Neither Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays nor the Sheraton Hotels and Resorts of Hawaii have requested nor paid for links to their sites in this Hawaii Diary 2001. It is my policy that I will tell you straight-out how I feel about a resort, restaurant, tour operator/travel agent or any company offering services to those who visit Hawaii.
