16 August 2013 Honolulu, Oahu

We docked in Honolulu this morning.  The port is close to the city centre  We did not have a tour booked as we pretty much wanted to go to the beach.  We left the ship about 9.30ish,  took a shuttle bus to one of the stores, bought a few things to add to my collection, we then caught the free bus down town, our driver a very nice chap he gave us directions to the International Market and then we went to Waikiki beach.  We hired an umbrella and sun lounges, it was about 2.00 then so we took these for 3 hours and pretty much spent the afternoon, swimming and sunning ourselves on Waikiki Beach, it was as you would imagine it.  Our table buddies Dallas and Don wandered by about 4.30 so we all went swimming again until about 6.30 when we put some clothes over our bathers and went into Dukes Bar at The Outrigger to listen to a band and have a cocktail, after this Don sussed out the bus situation and we caught a bus back to the ship, we had a little walk which was fun talking about our day etc, we arrived back about 7.45 then went to see the show.  A group of little girls doing their Hawaiian dancing, they left the ship and we sailed about 9.30pm. 

I am sure no one needs this info but I will put it in anyway.

Honolulu -  evidence suggests that Polynesians first populated H as early as 1100AD.  First documented in 1794 when Captain William Bowen of the British navy sailed into Honolulu harbour.  It is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and is situated just below the Tropic of Cancer, 2390 miles west of San Francisco, pop of 905,266 (2011) average temp 75 to 85 degrees F.

It would have been great to do Pearl Harbour but too difficult in a day, when we come back we can do this.  Lots of our buddies did different tours etc, lots and lots did lots and lots of shopping, how they will get it home is beyond me.  The general feeling that evening as we were sailing away (and it was quite beautiful) was no one wanted to leave as everyone had had such a lovely day.

All the best Sabine and Sam  XXX