Cousins 4/9

Saturday we spent the first of 2 days as guests in the home of Chris's cousin, his wife and their nearly 2 year old daughter, Grace. We had not yet met Grace and she was unpleasantly surprised when Chris appeared out of the guest room unannounced. She spent the rest of the weekend varying between suspicious and adverse to her second cousin. Luckily this did not transfer to me and we were fast friends. 

The crew did not let the rain stop them from getting out. We took a nice long walk on the beach of Pacifica, CA where we saw crabs and learned about goose neck barnacles. Note the resemblance to the creatures on Oahu. 

It was a beautiful shoreline with nature reserve and nice overlook. 

It made me think of some place like Ireland. 

After the walk we had one of our favorite activities, napping. 

Dinner was enjoyed at the local sushi resturant where Grace added edamame to her diet. 

All good things come to an end 4/10&11

 Sunday we had a second day in the industrial city (previous steel city) is South San Francisco. We enjoyed a cool and moist hike among redwood trees and lush green moss. 

Grace enjoyed the time outdoors perched in her backpack. 

We only got turned around twice on the trail. Thanks to google maps trails we made it out without eating each other. 

Massive old stump. So large and deep you could have slept in the bottom. 

The giant banana slugs of the west coast are always a treat to see. 

The team headed home for dinner and baby back rubs. Grace has an intense focus on properly covering and patting her family and friends on the back until they are relaxed. It was amazing to watch but more amazing to receive. She is her own baby message and relaxation center and less than 2 yeas old. I highly recommend a treatment. 

Chris and I made a safe return flight back to Asheville Monday. So glad to have had such a great experience and now to be tucked back in my own bed.

Goodbye Hawaii, hello California 4/8

For our final day on Oahu and in Hawaii we decided on an early morning hike to the diamond head crater. This is a mountain abs crater formed from a single explosion. It has a long history of being used for defense. The US military made a base there in 1910 cutting tunnels and staircases right into the walls. 

Even with what I knew about the volume of tourist on this island I was shocked by the numbers of folks already there at 730. But this is one of the iconic Honolulu events. 

The climb up is a bit of a psychological test. One is confronted with the possibility of acrophobia, claustrophobia, and agoraphobia to name a few. 

This is the spiral staircase but there is a 6 foot tunnel that you can't see the end and a stair wit 97 steeps so steep it is almost a ladder. 

Benchmark at the top. 

Here you can see the levels cut into the crater wall. 

Interior view of the crater

View of "town" from the top. 

From here we drive through Waikiki beach. It looked like New York City. High rise buildings, designer stores and people everywhere. The actual beach had only small waves when we were there but the magnitude of the buildings was surprising. 

We then headed to the airport accidentally stopping at a military gas station to fill up the car. That did not get us very far. But boy was the gas a good price. Service comes with a few benefits. 

The travel to San Francisco was harrowing. I came down with some mysterious illness hours before we left. It was a rough flight. 

We were picked up by Chris's cousin Jesse and I went directly to bed. 

Lost in paradise 4/7

We woke up in our campground with our friends Agnes and Eddie and their 2 kids. 

We made a quick departure as the rain was getting agressive. 

Our first stop was the state park kahana for a very wet hike. We learned about fishing with the aid of a scout up on a mountain. This was a new concept for us.  

View from the fishermans guide post. 

And another stunning beach. 

Crazy sea creatures living on a float 

Chris joins a grip of tourists from Korea for calisthenics. I think it was because of a dare but it was very cute.  

Buddhist temple modeled after a temple in Japan that is over 950 yrs old. This was a serene spot.  

It was at this point that we realized we had been to several sites from the show LOST. and we confirmed that Chris was right when he said that the YMCA camp we passed yesterday was the site of the Others. And the beach we camped on2 nights ago was the site of the beach where they crash landed. 

Shave ice take 2. This time with beans. But sadly we already had the best ever shave ice at Aloha on the big island. Life plus hard were you have had the best and then you are stuck eating the rest. 

More destination napping. This one caught him midsentence. 

We hiked to the top of one of the smaller mountains. There are old gunner boxes there. Again stunning views of water and mountains. 

Many boys body surf in the giant waves pounding into the beach. It looked fun but scary like a rollercoaster ride without a harness.  

The famous blowhole. The waves crash below and then come up from below. A real show. 

We found a classic Hawaiian resturant. There were certainly new flavors here. The poi is the original staple brought by the Polynesian.  It is purple and tastes like an unsweet applesauce with the texture of yogurt. The green is chicken, spinach and a very strong coconut flavor. Also squid with a very new kind of sea weed.  

Cash only! Risky business on the last night of the stay. 

Last night in Oahu. We splurged for the bunk house. Like a community house. Makes me feel like I'm at Rachel's house. Comes with laundry facility! 

A day at the beach

We started at our beach side camping and headed out after breakfast for a hike to Kanea point. The believed launching point for souls into the next life. There was once a paved road but it washed away and now it is a bird and monk seal sancutary. 

The hike is on a dirt road with Green lava 

Mountains on one side and Pacific Ocean on the other complete with smashing waves. 

Many of the plants are indemic and endangered. They have built a huge fence to protect the many fragile things living here. 

The laysan albatross nests here. It is protected by roped off areas. 

The whole place felt like a living zoo.   

Graffiti on a fallen concrete structure. The only refuge from brutal wind and sun.  

Chris at the western horn of the island. The endangered Monk seal could be seen on the beach but not likely to be seen in the photo. 

 Our only look at the western side of the island. It is considered prettier and in more pristine shape but there are many homeless and much crime in the area. 

 

A string of kukui nuts found in a car is at the point. Famous as oil for burning, skin conditions, wood stain and earring- not raw we learned the hard way after we both suffered "mild poisoning". GI distress. 

View of mountains and surf. 

We next visited the Wimia valley botanical garden and waterfall. Exquisite property with world class plant collection including many endangered species. 

It was varied and beautiful. 

 

We then watched surfing at the famous north shore. The waves were daunting to even look at. 

Then to Teds bakery for famous chocolate coconut pie which was not anything worth noting. 

We have landed at a state beach park campground which is only open on weekends. We were invited to stay by a homeless family of 4 who live here during the week. They also invited us to their table for soya chicken and rice. And gave us coconut water to resolve the mix up with the Nut poisoning. Very kind and generous folks. 

A Disney land

So the night at the Airbnb was another story. We were hoping to obtain some visit guidance or at least have some cultural experience. Instead we all ended up tiptoeing around each other barley speaking the same language in more ways than one. Chris had to ask how to flush the toilet if that gives you any idea if the situation. 

There is a cultural readjustment in general when transitioning between Hawaii and Oahu. Honolulu is a Very big city. With big city traffic. 

Our first objective was Pearl Harbor monument. This was an impressive combination of education and memorial to fallen men. 

The names of the men entombed in the USS Arizona. Interestingly surviving members of the crew can be cremated and placed in the ship upon their deaths. 

The remaining visible above water ship. The wreck like so many others is a great habitat for sea life despite the constant outflow of oil from the now 70+ year wreck. 

A beautiful rainbow crane collection in the museum for peace. 

From there we headed north and stopped in at the Dole pineapple farm and tourist trap. 

Pineapple whip - a frozen treat is all the rage. 

There is a display of different varieties of the fruit. Apparently Dole experimented with what would grow in Hawaii and find this and the American public loved it. 

It was here that we realized that Oahu is one big, over crowded Disney land. 

We continued north to the popular tourist town of Haleiwa. We visited an old 1800's mission church, cemetery and enjoyed the flowers. 

 

These graves are 130 years old yet look unweathered. 

Chris in a field of flowers. 

The line for the food truck. Ugh. We decided to forego. 

We watched an out rigger competitive team practice. 

Tonight we are camping near the beach in fierce wind. Hoping the tent holds up to it.