Holoholo Hawaii

March - April 2017

A 38-day adventure by Betty Read more

36footprints
2countries
38days
164photos
0videos
6.5kkilometers
6.1kkilometers

Follow Calendar Share Bucket list

Traveler Holoholo Hawaii
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Mar 14, 2017
- ☀️ 26 °C
- Altitude: 64 m
- United States Hawaii Kauai County Princeville Line Nine Golf Course 22.22125, -159.47878822°13’17” N 159°28’44” W
1
Day 11
Princeville - no ordinary neighbourhood
March 14, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Going for a walk in Princeville can't be beat. It is the most scenic neighbourhood with it's golf greens, flowers, birds, ocean vistas, and grove of rainbow eucalyptus trees. We did an 8 km walk and stupidly we picked the hottest, sunniest, and most humid day! JS had to have an $11 beer at the posh St. Regis Hotel before tackling the return trip. I did a second walk on another day but John wasn't interested!Read more
I'm sure John felt that beer was worth every penny!
3/17/17Reply
Garrett Samm Getting creative!
4/1/17Reply
1 like
Traveler Holoholo Hawaii
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Mar 15, 2017
- ⛅ 25 °C
- Altitude: 76 m
- United States Hawaii Kauai County Princeville ‘Anini Stream 22.21899, -159.47117922°13’8” N 159°28’16” W
Day 12
Flowers of Kauai
March 15, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
I can never resist photographing beautiful flowers.

* Plumeria - yellow, white and pink (which is used to make leis as they are the longest lasting colour)
* Hibiscus - plentiful in colours of orange, pink, yellow, red, and two-toned. The yellow hibiscus is Hawaii's state flower.
* Angel's Trumpet - poisonous if ingested but so fragrant at duskRead more
2 likes
Traveler Holoholo Hawaii
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Mar 15, 2017
- ⛅ 25 °C
- Altitude: 76 m
- United States Hawaii Kauai County Princeville ‘Anini Stream 22.21899, -159.47117922°13’8” N 159°28’16” W
Day 12
Birds of Kauai
March 15, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
So many birds but difficult to photograph. The least colourful bird, a solid dark grey, had the most beautiful singing voice and preferred perching on the highest tree branches!

* red-footed booby seen at the Kilauea Lighthouse Wildlife Preserve
* nene, or Hawaiian Goose, is the world's rarest goose and is the state bird
* red-crested cardinal is not closely related to the true cardinal and are plentiful, visiting us daily on our lanaiRead more
1 like
Traveler Holoholo Hawaii
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Mar 16, 2017
- ☀️ 25 °C
- Altitude: 42 m
- United States Hawaii Kauai County Kupolo Lihue Airport 21.982933, -159.34308121°58’59” N 159°20’35” W
Day 13
Lihue
March 16, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
We were fortunate to have such good weather but today was our final day on Kauai and it was cloudy with occasional drizzle. That didn't stop us from renting bicycles and cycling along the Royal Coconut Coast. The Kapaa Path is 8 km long and we turned back just before the trail ended as we had only rented the bikes for one hour (at a very reasonable rate of $5 each). It was very different peddling a one-gear cruiser with pedal brakes! Such a beautiful area and we would have had perfect views if the sun had been shining.

Our flight to Honolulu wasn't until 11 pm so we explored the area and shops at the Nawiliwili Cruise Port, stopping for a drink at the oceanfront Kauai Marriott. The 2 singers were excellent and their stage setting couldn't have been prettier. We had dinner at the BBQ Inn, a local's favourite restaurant in business for 75 years, that had been recommended to us by the bike shop owner. Although it was very flavourful, I learned that I didn't like the texture of sea bass. Our rental car was then dropped off and we were on our way to Honolulu.Read more
2 likes
Traveler Holoholo Hawaii
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Mar 20, 2017, 10:04pm
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Altitude: 37 m
- United States Hawaii Honolulu County Waikīkī Helumoa (historical)21.280494, -157.82936721°16’50” N 157°49’46” W
Day 17
Waikīkī
March 20, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
For our very late arrival we had a one-night reservation in a timeshare studio for an amazing $56 per night. This was just to fill in until we could check into our 1 bedroom condo at the Imperial Hawaii. In the morning we hauled our luggage down the street about 6 blocks to the Imperial. We're located in the centre of Waikiki just one block from the beach and are very pleased with our accommodation.

Waikiki continues to attract Asian travellers and I'm estimating that they outnumber visitors from any other country, including mainland USA. Everything here is bilingual....English & Japanese. They obviously have money to spend because they are the only ones in the expensive designer shops, of which there are many. In contrast, I've been shopping at Ross Dress for Less where there is always a bargain!

Day one we walked to the Ala Moana Centre, the world's largest open-air shopping centre with 340 stores and 80 restaurants. It was a pleasure to walk by all the luxury shops on our way to Walmart and Sam's Club to restock our food & wine supplies. The 5 km return trip was too much for John so we took a trolley home and he hasn't returned. He did enjoy going for lunch at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. where he feasted on 20 shrimp prepared 4 different ways. I've been walking to the Centre daily, mainly for the exercise, and have learned that lugging a bag full of groceries plus 2 bottles of wine 2.5 km is just too much!

Every Friday night the Hilton Hotel has a 5 minute fireworks display that can be seen from the beach.Read more
0 likes
Traveler Holoholo Hawaii
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Mar 20, 2017, 11:33pm
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Altitude: 37 m
- United States Hawaii Honolulu County Waikīkī Helumoa (historical)21.280494, -157.82936721°16’50” N 157°49’46” W
Day 17
Waikīkī
March 20, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
The beach is far more impressive than I remember from previous visits. The fine sand and turquoise water makes for a very enjoyable beach walk. The clear, warm water was refreshing although I heard on the news today that there was a box jellyfish warning. So maybe I won't be so quick to jump into the ocean this week! Oahu is John's least favourite island but on this trip he seems to be taking it in stride and is actually enjoying himself. Can you find him walking along the beach in the photo below? After a long afternoon walk I lingered on the beach to wait for the sunset. The beach was alive with people, music and an expressive hula dancer!Read more
0 likes
Traveler Holoholo Hawaii
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Mar 21, 2017
- ☀️ 27 °C
- Altitude: 14 m
- United States Hawaii Honolulu County Pearl Harbor Waipi‘o Point 21.344506, -157.97483121°20’40” N 157°58’29” W
Day 18
Pearl Harbour
March 21, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
We took a one hour bus ride to Pearl Harbour today. This had been on my "to-do" list for my past 2 visits to Honolulu and I was determined to make it happen this time. I had to get up at 7 a.m. to reserve free tickets on their website. The tickets were gone by 7:10. The Memorial gets 1.8 million visitors a year. First we went through 2 small museums which covered the history of the war and the effects it had on both the Armed Forces and the Hawaiian people. There were videos of survivors who described their first hand experience after the attack and it left me teary eyed. This is followed by a 20 minute movie with actual footage of the attack. So much carnage in a 2 hour attack. Then the Navy operates a shuttle boat which takes you to the USS Arizona Memorial.

By this time the mood was sombre except for a few tourists taking smiling selfies. The memorial was partially funded by private individuals, Elvis being the largest contributor. The Memorial is built over the remains of the sunken battleship and is the final resting place of 1177 crewmen. Oil continues to trickle from the ship, about a litre a day, and is referred to as "black tears". Since there has been no evidence of environmental damage from the oil, it was decided that it would be disrespectful to disturb the remains. The message the Memorial wants you to leave with after your visit is.....Remember, Honour, and Reflect.Read more
I'm glad you were able to get tickets, it was defn worthwhile. And I left with tears also. I felt awkward as there were so many Japanese tourists on the tour, but all were respectful.
3/22/17Reply
1 like
Traveler Holoholo Hawaii
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Mar 24, 2017
- 🌧 26 °C
- Altitude: 29 m
- United States Hawaii Honolulu County Waikīkī Grays Beach 21.278574, -157.83155621°16’43” N 157°49’54” W
Day 21
Adjustment Day
March 24, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 26 °C
This morning we had to move out of our nice one bedroom, 2 bathroom condo and into a studio unit with 1 tiny bathroom but in the same building. Ugh! There is a double murphy bed that folds down from the wall so I'm sleeping on the sofa instead of fighting for space on the small bed. No stove (microwave only), dishwasher (John will have to replace the automatic dishwasher), or fridge (bar fridge only). We've been spoiled by our other spacious accommodations. Should be an interesting week. On a positive note, the view from the 9th floor is much better than the 5th and we're still in Hawaii!Read more
0 likes
Traveler Holoholo Hawaii
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Mar 25, 2017
- ⛅ 27 °C
- Altitude: 20 m
- United States Hawaii Honolulu County Waikīkī Helumoa (historical)21.279474, -157.829721°16’46” N 157°49’47” W
Day 22
Prince Kuhio Day Parade
March 25, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
John decided to sleep in today (suffering from vacation fatigue!) while I went to see the Prince Kuhio Day Parade. It was held one block away on Kalakaua Avenue and started at 10. Prince Kuhio Day celebrates the birth of the prince and is a state holiday. The parade was only one part of the long weekend festival of celebration. Schools and government offices are closed but it is business as usual in Waikiki. It was an excellent parade, complete with marching bands, horses (one of which came very close to where I was sitting on the curb!), hula dancers, and dignitaries. A great way to start my day.Read more
0 likes
Traveler Holoholo Hawaii
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Mar 26, 2017, 9:44am
- ⛅ 25 °C
- Altitude: 187 m
- United States Hawaii Honolulu County Woodlawn Lua‘alaea Stream 21.336068, -157.80005621°20’10” N 157°48’0” W
Day 23
Mānoa Falls Trail
March 26, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
It was time to explore the island beyond Waikiki. We rented a car for the day....a whopping $71 plus $8 gas for 10 hours usage. This was the best "deal" I could find.

Our first stop was the Manoa Falls Trail, about 30 minutes north in a residential area of Honolulu. This is a filming location for Jurassic Park, Lost, and Hawaii Five-O. The 2.5 km trail is very popular with tourists and locals. The 100 foot Manoa Falls was not the highlight of the hike but getting there was unbelievably beautiful, a true rain forest. The elevation gain is 784 feet and the rocky sections of the trail were muddy and slippery. It was hot and humid so John finished the hike well ahead of me as he was anxious to get back to the air conditioned car. I loved this hike!Read more
1 like