Welcome to Hawaii

It is not so rare occasion for us to have family or friends over on the island and play tourguides. Well, we had been anxiously awaiting for our family to come for a while now. Maria and Bernie with her family were to come on Tuesday and thus we woke up early - got everything together to fill up the fridge in their apartment and went on to check it out.

It is in Waikiki - right in the middle of everything and a view so gorgeous - I had a hard time leaving for the airport. :-)

Me checking out the place. Then off to the airport.

Maria - mingled with all the other tourists / travelers... still got some energy left to smile after 12 hour plane ride. :-)

Keith with the family. In the apartment settling in.

Then off to the beach to get wet!!!

Welcome to beautiful island of Oahu and Honolulu!

After long day off flying and swimming and playing - little Dalton well deserved an icecream.

The next morning we got there early to head off for full day of adventure.

The boys are up and excited for the day! The girls are hiding from me with camera in hand!

The men in the kitchen - wonderful sight, isn't it? I got it made.

Keith - taking care of everyone as usual.

Then, once everyone got ready - we headed off to Arizona Memorial. Note of interest to all who wants to go there in the near future - due to the construction, the boats are leaving in 30 minute increments t 15 - so unless you get there at 0700 hrs, you might wait a long time. And of course, the tickets are given out by the USS Bowfin, not at the front of the memorial.

The kids with the memorial sign.

Then it's our turn.

Since we couldn't get in till noon, we spent the time visitng USS Bowfin, USS Missouri, and the memorials for USS Utah and USS Oklahoma.

Children under 4 are not allowed on Bowfin. Poor Dalton. So, I stayed with him to play outside. he was super good - lucky me. So we got us a pony to play with and had cherry snacks to munch on and visited all the torpedoes and macine guns and what not in the area.

I was worried I might drop him - thus the up close picture on the machine gun seat. Then, I learned he goes horseback riding. :-) How paranoid was I - I guess he was babysitting me. :-)

Then to Utah memorial for a quick stop.

USS Oklahoma visit.

Then off to Mighty Mo. - USS Missouri.

Now, time for our movie and a ride to USS Arizona memorial. Need to be there 10 minutes or so before your assigned time and there is about 23 minute long movie to watch - then a short boat ride to the memorial.

Dalton took a power nap during Arizona trip and woke up ready for lunch. Off to Schofield foodcourt.

Then to Dole Plantation.

Gotta try the pineapple icecream.

Fish got fed too.

After some goofy pictures, took the pineapple express train to learn about pineapple, Dole company and Hawaii.

Banana trees

Pineapple shaped garden.

Then, we had a nice long drive around the island stopping at Laie Temple, Lair Point, and Kualoa Park (Chinaman's Hat island).

Supposed to be an umbrella... ?! :-)

That is it folks for one long day's tour. More tours and fun to follow.