The Gathering Place: Oahu (February 6, 2019-February 10, 2019)
- Bridget Rackley
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 8 hours ago
So, our first stop in Hawaii was the island of Oahu, the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands. Oahu means "the gathering place." To me, Oahu was like Manhattan with palm trees, very bustling and people everywhere. As your plane starts to land, you can see Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach.
Once we landed and received our lei, we were transferred to our hotel. We stayed at the Sheraton Waikiki, and our room had a partial ocean view and a private lanai with table and chairs. Our room was on the 26th floor, and the view really was amazing, even though it was considered "partial." This hotel had restaurants and shops along with an infinity pool. I really liked this hotel and would highly recommend staying here.
On our first full day on the island, we had reservations for a tour of Pearl Harbor. We chose the "Pearl Harbor Historic Sites' Passport to Pearl Harbor" tour so we could tour all the sites. At the time of our tour, each ticket was $72. I'll say this was one of the most humbling experiences I've ever had. At the beginning of your tour, you watch a video, and I walked out in tears. This tour was essentially all day, and we learned so much about the aerial attack on the world's largest naval command center in 1941. We saw all of the historic sites: USS Arizona Memorial, USS Bowfin Submarine Museum, Battleship Missouri Memorial, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.
Our ticket included an audio tour and the boat ride that takes you around the USS Arizona Memorial, which memorializes the 1,177 men who lost their lives during the attack. At the Aviation Museum, you can see the hangar riddled with bullets that were fired there on 12/7/1941, and 45 aircraft exhibits. Tour the USS Bowfin (Pearl Harbor Avenger) and learn how 288 submarines sank more than 5 million tons of enemy shipping goods. I'll admit, I was a little claustrophobic in the submarine. I really don't know how people survive in those things, but I am glad we got to experience it. There is also a waterfront memorial at the USS Bowfin that pays tribute to the officers and crew aboard the submarines. We walked on the USS Missouri or "Mighty Mo" as it is affectionately called. This was where the document was signed officially ending World War II.
One highlight of our Pearl Harbor visit was getting to meet one of the last remaining veterans of Pearl Harbor. Al Rodrigues was a petty officer on board the USS Washington, where he served for 24 years. Al was celebrating his 99th birthday on February 7th, 2019. Sadly, I learned that Al passed away on February 26th, 2019.
If you don't do anything else during your time, you have to go Pearl Harbor. You do have to get a ticket from www.recreation.gov in advance to visit the USS Arizona Memorial. I believe you can obtain them 60 days in advance. When we went, it $1.50/person.
That afternoon, we went back to the hotel and spent time in the infinity pool where we could see humpback whale out in the ocean. You could also see Diamond Head while lounging in the pool. Try a "lava flow" drink! For dinner, Bobby, Karmen, and John went to Side Street Inn. It was family style, and the fried chicken and pork were amazing! It was not cheap, but I actually did not think it was crazy outrageous for family style. Note: nothing is cheap in Hawaii, so be prepared!
The next day, we rented a Suburban and off we went! We drove around the island making stops at Makapu'u Lighthouse, Koko Head, the Dole Plantation, the North Shore and Banzai Pipeline, and Nu'uanu Pali Lookout. The Koko Head Tuff Cone is over 600 feet high, and you can hike up to the top if you can make the steep trek up. We also stopped at the Halona Blowhole and Sandy Beach Park. The Makapu'u Lighthouse is considered Oahu's eastern-most point, and if you are a movie fan, we learned that one of the kisses from "50 First Dates" was filmed here. If you are a fan of surfing, then the North Shore is the place for you. The waves were crashing the day we were there. We had lunch at Local Grindz food truck and we couldn't pass up a Dole Whip from the Dole Plantation. That is, except for daddy, who stopped at a 711 and bought chicken noodle soup, a loaf of bread, and ham!!! You can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy! Daddy wasn't having all the expensive food-give him something he's used to and he was fine! That evening, Bobby and I took an Uber over to Uncle's Fish Market and Grill at Pier 38. We had a short wait, but the food was worth it. The poke was amazing.
On our last day in Oahu, we kept it low key. We walked around Waikiki Beach and watched a group of Natives do the hula on the beach and street performers making music. We saw the huge Banyan tree in the park. Mom, dad, Bobby, and I had lunch at Hula's Grill and then we went back to the infinity pool at the hotel. I tried a Mai-Tai, and it wasn't my favorite. It cost me $16!!!! That evening we watched a hula show on the beach and had pizza from Happa's.
Mahala, Oahu...until we meet again!
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"We've got to live no matter how many skies have fallen." ~ Unknown
The below photos are from our visit to Pearl Harbor.
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