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Hawaiian Cruise
By K. Kemper

We boarded on a Tuesday in San Pedro. Saturday morning, "LAND HO", we spotted the big island and began paralleling it as we aimed for a southern port, Hilo.

We spotted the port of Hilo as our ship slowed to a crawl. The smart port planners of Hawaii had created a water breaker and our ship bent around this one and poked ahead. A shore patrol came whizzing by and made sure that all fishing boats kept their distance!

From Hilo, we were set to visit a crater and an almond factory's store.

Our bus arrived on time and we loaded up, perhaps 45 of us. In 10-15 minutes, we stopped at a highway interchange and crossed over as if returning to the port, but instead, drove a few miles between Almond trees and wound up at the store. We bought 2 boxes of nice almond candy, at $2.95 a box! After 20 minutes at this store, we re-boarded and returned to the intersection and instead of returning to the ship, went back across the street and continued on the freeway to our left, up many miles to the beginning of the crater area with steam rising from the ground in fields-very TWILIGHT Zonish!

This crater is one of the biggest in the world, and is inactive-but it could go active without much effort. Its [yellow chemical] sulfur was very obvious.

AFTER visiting the crater, our driver took us to a tunnel area that related to the old route the lava took-a bit mysterious. Frankly, I did not understand this part of the tour but the green was very pretty-especially how the plant life evolved from this part of nature's power.

We also toured an almond factory's store, a volcanic crater and subterranean fern grotto [tunnel area and its surrounding area caused by the volcano in some way].

Perspectives of Hilo; From the ship-Hilo's international airport is less than 1 mile from the port. The one thing that stands out in dramatic contrast here to anywhere else I have ever been, including Seattle, WA., is the GREEN-- in- your- face- green. I love green, thank goodness or it would become overwhelming.

After leaving the orchid "farm and store", back on board our ship, we were on our way to Kona, around to the north side of the island. We crater visitors had been told to watch off the port side of our ship for an active volcano's lava flows into the ocean.

The next day, at mid-morning, the ship began slowing down. Four shuttles were put in the water to take us to Kona's port and our next visit.

After "landing" we walked for 1 hour just visiting local merchants [dozens of them] and I found a fine discount equipment rental place that had fins, masks and snorkels. Before I rented anything, I wanted to check out the water temperature. When I walked to the applicable beach area and sat in the water to test things out first, the water was 15 degrees colder than I had expected. And while in the water, I painfully stepped on or stubbed my toes on many rocks. I decided not to go further or stay longer in this water for free diving or even for just swimming.

There were SCUBA divers 30 yards off to my side and their activities made me envious. Regardless, we hunted for soap and found the closest supplier 4 blocks up the hill. With the humidity, Karen was very uncomfortable. We also experienced first hand, racism practiced against us--when she tried to buy a soda. With an unofficial line in a snack shop, with Karen being 3rd, and 5 Hawaiian teen boys behind her, the cashier helped them all first and we left. That was a first. [I could have gone to the manager but felt it was a waste of time].

We walked back down to the port area and along the beach to our left, facing the ocean and visited most every shop that existed. In time, we returned to the ship, via a water shuttle.

Our next stop was Honolulu.

We moved on. It took 20+ minutes to find the bus "terminal" which was not a bus terminal at all. It was a standard bus stop. Oh well. After another 25 minutes waiting, a bus came along that matched data that we had [that said it want to the Pearl City area and stopped at the memorial]. So, instead of paying $30+ for a taxi to go to the memorial, we took this bus. It zipped here and there, and after another 20 minutes, passing this freeway and that airport area, it arrived at the memorial.

We and a few others dismounted and could see obviously where to walk. This bus had stopped less than 150 feet from the entry to the memorial. While many of my relatives have visited the Memorial, many of the readers of this travelogue have not, so a few explanations are appropriate. The COMPLEX refers to a retail store, museum, toilet facilities, central floral area with fountain, and on the other side of the central floral area, two theaters. Beyond the complex building, [other end of the entrance] a mini park area.

Naturally and respectfully, EVERYTHING relates to the sunk Arizona and its sister ships both sunk and survivors of the December 7, 1941 attack on the US Naval forces at Perl Harbor by the Japanese Navy. Artifacts, pictures and maps are well laid out on display, protected appropriately. Guards are their for both the store and the museum. Immediately beyond the museum's lawn park area with trees is a continuation of the port and of course, visible a few hundred yards away; the memorial itself.

The "memorial" primarily means [a visit to] the sunk USS Arizona battleship via an "overhanging" people supported, stationery holding place, reachable by Navy launch. This memorial is located perhaps 700 meters across from the memorial complex. This holding place easily holds 200 people. A launch visits it every 15 minutes throughout its operational day.

You can return on the one you came on or return on another one coming shortly thereafter. This holding place sits atop the battleship-thus, parts of the ship are visible on the far end of the holding place, and to either side, just feet away. So, pictures of the visible parts of the ship are very each to take and the parts underwater are as visible as your eyes can see and your camera equipment "capture". As it is a very solemn place, it is not advisable to take children or rambunctious people. I saw no bathroom nor any place to get a drink of water. It is assumed one can wait till they return to the complex, 3 minutes away-- by the return launch.

As we approached the guarded entrance, Karen was told "no purses" and we were told to follow arrows which led across a street near another memorial and to the "purse" storage station. We signed their ID book, got a receipt and returned to the guard and were easily passed through. About 100 feet beyond the guard's station, is the doorway to the memorial COMPLEX. We needed a FREE ticket/pass and I procured two of them. I did not understand how the ticket system worked initially but after being told a few times, I finally figured it out. By noon, the memorial would have given out enough "passes/tickets" so no one else could get in that day. We noticed about 600 people mulling around or sitting on the large, central fountain [and flower arrangement] stuccoed inner perimeter.

I doubt any of the footage was new to me but my reaction WAS. I started silently tearing within 5 minutes. At the end of the movie, I was wiping my eyes, casually. I did not notice anyone else as emotional and tried my best to be unobtrusive.

Within 2 minutes, we were inside the water taxi [Navy Launch] and off to the memorial, minutes away. Within 50 yards, my emotions were greater than they had been in the theater though again, I was able to be silent while tears RAN down my face. I was stunned, sad and amazed by my actions and reactions. I focused on thinking positive, "glad to be alive" thoughts-however, I kept crying silently for 2 more minutes. WOW. I do not remember even thinking of the movie or where I was but the tears did what they had to do. By the time I got off the boat at the memorial--where I expected a flood of moisture, I was actually dry. What a relief. NOT One sound from anyone; HOW RESPECTFUL to the memorial!

At the appropriate time, with Karen having taken her film pictures, we joined the line to leave the actual memorial. I saw 2-3 kids and was pleasantly surprised to hear not one word from them! [And no angry parents.]

We walked the 250 feet back to the purse station and then, the 200 feet to the bus stop-- we had to walk another 200 ft across the street and to the left up a hill to get the out-bound bus. That sounded absurd. I walked back to the guard at the memorial line and he confirmed this. VERY ODD! Finally, with a map in hand, I determined the bus would stop or turn at a specific corner on the far end of the beach--so we got out there at the far end. The beach was only 200 feet away-- so, with towel in hand, we were one minute from swimming.

We put down my towel, camera, and misc that we carried and I aimed like a 5 yr old boy directly to the water-- 25 feet away. Having previously stepped on several small rocks and hurt both feet at Kona the previous day, I decided to leave my shoes on. I was already wearing my tan Bermuda shorts, so I simply entered the water as I was-having left my glasses on the beach.

It was a mistake leaving my shoes on as it made swimming nearly impossible and I should have gone back to remove them and re-enter the water, but I figured, maybe it will be the right move afterall. It never did become a good decision.

Waikiki, beach has a barrier and is reasonably clean and shallow and guarded, thus, safe and consequentially, enjoyable. I was intrigued watching the breaker stop the incoming breaking waves. One swimmer, obviously smarter than I, was enjoying the waves closer to the barrier and was swimming very fast. I was briefly jealous.

After my "Impression" of Johnny Weissmuller's stroking through the waves, I had enough and returned to our towel. Figuring it was time to enjoy the tourist shops along the street adjacent to the beach, we begin plodding along, anxious to go nowhere in particular, not in any hurry, in one shop and out another. Even grinning at the sheriff's sub station right at the edge of the beach! I sure felt secure! Soon, we were the recipients of the first of a dozen mini rain clouds/storms that lasted about 5 minutes. To keep us dryer, I gave Karen my Kona hat to wear and I wore, like Laurence of Arabia, our beach towel. I nicknamed my self "Dork of Arabia, or Waikiki", I forget which.

Exiting Honolulu was no different than leaving any other harbor but visually, the port of Honolulu is an evening light lover's paradise.

Onwards to Kauai [and dancing ladies!!! did someone say HULA HULA?] Cruise line ships visiting Kauai dock at the port of Nawiliwili. What a cute and long name. Again, we got close to the dock and used both front and stern side motors to SLIDE into port. I swear it is the oddest sensation and sight I have ever experienced on the sea!

The winds were blowing very hard and the rains were not helping but we met our group in the monster warehouse at the dock and when the appointed cruise director helpers arrived, we all showed our tickets and were taken to a bus, just outside. On this excursion, the driver went up this way and that and around and forward and side to side and we twisted up the side of a mountain and stopped. Break time after 20 minutes of bus ride. OK. We were going on a river ride and visit a huge cavern and experience a hula dancer on a modified barge. But for now, we were hundreds of yards above the river. Ok. We looked around and were pointed at the main water fall feeding the river below. This was supposed to be one of or the wettest spot on earth or at least the US. Over 400 inches a year. We lucked out, no rain right now.

The water fall was a few hundred yards ahead but our phalanx of cameras clicked away and I got a very nice shot of it with its describing sign [though the sign was near us]! Ta da!

After 10 minutes of taking pics of the waterfall, and walking across the street and aiming our cameras down at the river and its little boats hundreds of feet below us, the driver aimed the bus down towards the little boats-another 5 minute bus ride.

When we got to the river boat dock, we saw 7 boats appearing like flat bottomed barges, modified for passengers with their respective engine's hidden. These barges were about 50 feet long, with discretely visible life preservers.

The skipper of the boat worked alongside entertainers-our troop compromised a shapely gal in her 20's, her aunt, [about 50 yrs old] and 2 male singers, in their 40's and 50's. The Master of Ceremonies steered the boat-it was done so casually and subtlety.

We soon got underway. Our boat had 4 rows of seats for the 50 of us, one row on either side of the boat and back to back rows in the center. The shapely dancing girl performed on the left "dance way" inside of the boat.

The lead male offered funny jokes and intro's of the other members of the "band". The girl danced perhaps 6 dances. I had never seen this type of dance- perhaps HULA-without the grass skirt. After 20+ minutes [as the boat sauntered along at about 5 knots speed], we reached our destination; HANGING gardens and grotto.

There were two paths- one for those who were coming from and another for those going to the "cave-grotto" and GREEN, green and more green. And with ferns, plants and trees with more green than I have ever seen in my life!

About 300 feet up the winding path, we came to a mini "sitting station?" with 6 rows-enough for most of our group.

WE did not fall or get wet on our return towards the mini stadium and "zipped" past it and easily found the path way to return to the bottom boat dock. While this trip lacked wow, it made up for it in GREEN.

The dancers had vacated the area and the very courteous barge driver guided us safely back to our dock of origin-trying his best to point out "places of interest" that included some spots/scenes he claimed were from movies focused on "Indiana Jones" as Indy swung on a vine and wound up in a river-with natives after him with bows and arrows [and 2-3 other movies that our barge captain claimed used this river and its banks]

The excursion had been "Ok" though why were we taken there and what was that for" seemed to fill much of the day's touring.

Soon, our ship was headed for our final Hawaiian island, Maui.

While at Kauai, our focus was on the grotto area and this family song and hula dance routine, at Maui we had paid for and prepared to enjoy our first ever, outside LUAU with dancers. Maui was our last shuttle island stop-meaning we took our own ship's shuttle boats to get to the dock/port-located just one mile from where the ship had stopped.

The dock area was awash in tourists and stores. I liked it for that reason if no other. It was also obvious that the ship's tour [responsible person] had not done her job but that did not irritate me. Within 20 minutes, one, then another bus, arrived and we boarded for our ride to our event. We handed over our tickets and enjoyed a rather short 5 mile ride past some famous resort hotels before we arrived at our own. The bus even passed, just off the road at our turn-off, a dormant hotel that had been badly damaged during a hurricane and we were told it currently did not pass building code and also had no immediate buyers. What a waste. 60+ rooms sitting rotting. "Don the Beachcomer's" restaurant/night club was also just off to our side. I seemed to be the only one that knew this place [that we did not visit] was more famous than the Marriott hotel where our dance event was to take place.

We unloaded and were pointed in the "correct" direction. We met some "door guard/dancers" and accepted their "invitation/schedule". We were further shown to the side of the hotel and our bus load of visitors funneled in while an outside band played. There were also unlimited Mai Tai cocktails. This was my first Mai Tai-had it solo and with another drink. One was like clear ice tea and the other like liquid light blue sky. Ok. I was not impressed with neither drink in any form. Inside, instead of outside [what a downer for everyone!!!] was our buffet lunch and tables to sit at, eat and wait for our dancers. I saw and tasted POI and it was neither gross nor wow. I even put it on top of different dishes just to be different. Oh well. [grin].

The buffet was fine and the crowd was pleased though it was not outside as we expected. We also visited the 4 arts and crafts "tables" that seemed totally out of place but as they were not offensive, no one seemed to care [and no items had price tags]. Later, when I inquired about the arts' tables, the MC told me "they were just allowed to set up, we know nothing about them" was the answer given. Ok.

I also visited the beach, touched the water at the shore line 40 feet away and returned to the tables for our music/dance show. It was pleasing especially since I had no idea what to expect. I did like the fire handler. Took gobs of pics. The only facility in Maui, in the town park had not been cleaned in 5 yrs. Oh well--at least it worked.

She bought some clothes and I bought my brother a special bag of coffee. Seems like some special coffee is grown here. I don't like the taste myself but buying gifts is ok with me.

Since we had finished our tour of Maui, according to our itinerary, we were now to reverse course and head for 4 days towards Ensenada [No offense to anyone, but I have more Mexicans near my home than live in Ensenada so I had no desire to visit this city. I have already lived and worked in Mexico 8 yrs ago-it is not ITALY] and San Pedro, home-another day away! Still lots of time for more ship fun!!

The last day on the water, nearing Ensenada, the ship was escorted to port by a shore patrol boat/military guard with automatic weapons protruding! Off to our left about 3 blocks distance the biggest damn flag I have ever seen! Guess national pride was not lacking in this city! logical priorities were lacking when one noticed a ½ sunk ferry boat 100 yards off our port bow that had been there at least a year. Oh well. The next morning, we were back in our home port area.

When we were "you may go" passed through by the INS guard, we were informed where to find our luggage. We found it easily and began moving things around to make the final walk to the shuttles, easier.

Nice trip. We will go on another trip soon, to Alaska and then, Europe.

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