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Honolulu’s High Spots

Day-Trippers in Paradise

By Chris Millikan

Many vacationers ‘hang loose’ around Waikiki’s legendary resort zone, tanning or surfing by day and partying in glitzy clubs by night, but my husband, daughter and I explored Honolulu another way, embarking on several day-trips.

Within walking distance of our central Waikiki hotel, we wandered through Kapiolani Park beneath spreading100-year-old trees. King Kalakaua had named this green refuge after his wife in the 1870’s, establishing a popular park along Waikiki’s extensive sandy shoreline. Amenities include free Sunday concerts at the bandstand, hula shows and cool grassy areas. Nearby, we stopped in at Waikiki Aquarium. Part of the University of Hawaii since1919, today’s interactive exhibits give up-close looks at marvelous reef residents and Hawaiian marine-life, including a Mahi-Mahi hatchery, remarkable jellyfish and personable endangered monk seals. Fronting the park, San Souci beach’s quiet golden sands and gentle waters attract lots of families…and lots of bikinis as well. Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island) stayed around there cherishing views of historic Diamond Head.

Across the street, Gandhi stands under an enormous banyan tree in front of Honolulu’s Zoo. Established by King Kalakaua’s land grant to the people in 1876, the Hawaiian state bird (nene), native forest birds, tropical birds and exotic animals from all over the world ‘roam free’ in 30 beautiful reserve habitats.

Hopping an open-air Waikiki Trolley another day, we explored several historic downtown sites. At Kawaiahao church, built in 1836 from quarried reef-coral, services still inspire devotees in the Hawaiian language. Nearby, King Kamehameha’s striking black and gold statue commemorates his visionary leadership in unifying the islands.  Dozens of fragrant 18-foot leis often drape his arms and neck. Behind him, the remarkable Judiciary Building was first commissioned as a palace in1872. The USA’s only true royal palace was a short walk away.

On the veranda at the Iolani Palace, we pulled cotton booties over our sandals to protect vintage hardwood floors inside. The graceful residence of Hawaiian kings and queens featured artifacts, original chandeliers, carved thrones, swords and crown jewels in restored grandeur. Completed in 1882, the dazzling Victorian palace boasted up-to-date amenities: indoor plumbing, electric lights and telephones. This was THE social and political center of a glorious Hawaiian kingdom, especially during David Kalakaua’s reign. The Merrie Monarch, who reinstated hula dancing in the islands, entertained heads-of-state from around the world.

At Foster Botanical Garden my husband raved about the exotic cyads (ferns) in the Prehistoric Glen. Among manicured displays of 4000 rare plants, palms and orchids, the vintage trees most enchanted ‘ the girls’, some planted by the original owners in 1855.

A towering ceramic-tile mosaic ‘ rainbow’ identifies Hilton Hawaiian Village, famous for flourishing gardens. At feeding time, ‘ jackass’ penguin antics held us spell-bound. Though agile in water, these sub-tropical fellows staggered and toddled clumsily on land, entertaining with donkey-like braying. We later mimicked those little penguins, floating and flipping in tranquil lagoon-waters at the edge of the hotel’s wide sandy beach.

On an astonishing snorkel-picnic day, we jammed onto the beach-bus to Hanauma Bay, a marine-life conservation area10-miles from the city. We immediately understood why Hawaiian royalty had been attracted to this spectacular turquoise bay. An ancient crater protects a shallow bay-floor with a large reef teeming with rainbows of fish and green turtles. Stately palms shade an extensive crescent of white-sand beach. Even Dr. Beach declared it the US’s best! We hiked the coastal trails, achieving magnificent ocean panoramas. In lava tide-pools along the way, my hubby pointed out tiny butterflyfish and demonstrated how to stroke a sea cucumber’s tummy.

Daily escapades around Honolulu provided delightful encounters… and kept us from shopping the many malls!!

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