Our visit to Waikiki, Hawaii 2009

Sunday 12 April

Caught a Qantas flight from Brisbane Airport on Sunday morning, spent three hours in Sydney waiting for the Hawaiian Airlines connection, and arrived in Honolulu on the island of Oahu after a very bumpy flight 12 hours later in the afternoon on the same Sunday. The seats were narrow and uncomfortable, and we were stuck two rows from the toilets, there was a lot of traffic. Caught the shuttle bus from Honolulu airport to our hotel in Waikiki, and were able to get into our room a couple of hours early after a very long day.

1. Everyone wants and expects a tip, even if they don’t deserve it.
2. There are lots of houseless people living rough (some are employed but can’t afford the rent or to buy, others are mentally ill).

The room was large enough for both of us, as was the bathroom, but no separate toilet, and no fan in the bathroom. This room, and the next one we were allotted were very dusty, which seemed to aggravate the cold I had caught on the plane.
The street noise, particularly the tour buses and the coaches, was so loud in both apartments we had to close the balcony door to have a conversation or watch TV, particularly in the first room which was on the 7th floor, not quite so bad in the second room which was on the 12th floor.
Still, from both rooms we had a view of the ocean from one side of the balcony, and the mountains from the other, albeit framed by the width of the street and the taller buildings in the street. I was quite happy with the size of the room because there was adequate space to allow me to do my yoga practices without getting in the way.
The kitchenette was adequate, however the hotplate didn’t work, I had to ask for a replacement, and the only cooking utensils were a large pot and a frying pan. Also provided were a jug, a toaster, small microwave, some cutlery and a small cutting board, and mugs. We were given one free sample of tea and coffee, and that was it. Bench space was very limited. There was no freezer or crisper in the fridge, and barely space to hold enough food for more than a few meals.

Monday April 13
Took the bus to Diamond Head crater. Missed the first bus, online timetables are unhelpful. Bus out to Hanauma Bay only runs every 50 minutes, and if they are full you must wait until the next, and put up with the taxi drivers touting for business from the kerbside – they know the bus service is inadequate to meet the number of tourists. Enjoyed a short but difficult walk to the lookout, except that Bernadette nearly concussed herself climbing out to the lookout from the gunner’s concrete pillbox. The view was worth the climb, taking in all around Diamond Head and surrounds, out to the ocean, and across to Honolulu. There is a fee to go in, and fast food and drinks were available but no toilets are provided. My advice - take your lunch and some water, and go pee pee before you leave home!
We opted to walk back to the hotel, and had an opportunity to take in some of the local suburbia.


Tuesday April 14
Went to Honoloulu Zoo, a short walk from the hotel.
Nice walk a round the displays, some evidence of the lack of money/resources, unfilled enclosures etc.

Thursday 16 April

Friday 17 April
Packed some sandwiches and visited Foster Botanical Garden in Waikiki - one of Honolulu Botanical Gardens – very enjoyable, spent half the day wandering around the garden, also had a look a the Foster Community Garden where eggplants are the plant of the day. Also saw some very healthy Ceylon Spinach there, but the plots seems to be governed and ruled by hard line conservatives, three warnings and you’re out.

Saturday 18 April

Sunday 19 April
The second room (for four people) we had, which was allocated to us by Sun Tours (the World Vintage Softball Carnival organisers), was obviously not set to accommodate four people. We were bitterly disappointed at the size and sleeping arrangement in the room, as we had paid Sun Tours more then double the amount we paid for the first room, and so expected at least separate sleeping arrangements for couples. There was barely enough room on the towel rail for the four towels and facewashers provided, the bathroom was half the size of the previous one, and once again the toilet was located in a bathroom with no exhaust fan. Furthermore the floor space was minimal. There was no storage space to store the luggage of four people, so it was left on the bedroom floor, only three “dining” chairs (which were really lounge chairs) were provided inside at the “dining table” (which was too high to eat from), and two outdoor lounge chairs on the balcony.
the bench space was smaller, the coffee dripolator didn’t work, the fridge was the same size as in the previous room (ie not big enough, where would we put our beer, let alone our vegies) and there was still only one pot and a pan provided. Fortunately for us, those we shared with opted not to prepare any meals at home.
And the snooooooring!
The floor was even more full of dust than in the previous room, and even the air seemed dusty at the twelfth floor.

Monday 20 April

Bernadette played 3 games. No shade, no seating, no water or food, no first aid.

Took the bus to Hanauma Bay to try some snorkelling on the famed coral reefs, paid the entrance fee to the park and attended the compulsory introductory video. Looking at the number of visitors, even on days as the ones of our visit, I can see why the intro is necessary. Beautiful views from the top of the Bay, lots of fish in the shallows, the deeper water was clearer but very cold.
That night we attended the Welcome Dinner for the World Vintage Softball Carnival, arranged by Sun Tours at the hotel on the corner. Mai Tai were served that looked and tasted like weak cordial. Availed myself of the Guinness on tap instead. Very poor catering, no real meals, finger food with a queue a mile long, no dinner convenor or master of ceremonies so no one appeared to know who or what was being served, or when it was available. The venue was obviously unprepared for so many people, and although there was a ticket collector, and a band, there was little in the way of a welcome.

more to come...