Only a 9 hour direct flight from Brisbane is Honolulu.

Yes, I am back in beautiful Hawaii.  As many of you know this is where my passion for travel began. I came to Hawaii on a vacation and stayed 11 years. Yes, many years ago I fell  in love with these beautiful islands which was Very easy to do.

It has been a very long time since my last trip and certainly well overdue. Although I am now a tourist, this trip is not about being a tourist but in fact catching up with friends and doing the local things.

The weather is simply perfect. The sun is just as hot as ever but with the trade winds blowing the climate is just right.

Since arriving a few days ago my feet have barely touched the ground.

My first day included lunch at a local style restaurant where we enjoyed the very famous Mahi Mahi which is a local fish. Although it has been many years since I lived here,  I felt quite at home sitting in this little restaurant.

From  there it was a walk along Kailua beach looking over to Kaneohe.

 

I spent a morning on my favourite beach on the south side of the island, Sans Souci, which is just along from Waikiki. Sans Souci Beach is paradise at the foot of Diamond Head.  There is plenty of free parking if you get there early enough. I always enjoyed the walk along the wall on the waterfront which leads to little private beaches where you can swim in crystal clear clean clean water. There is a park for picnics or barbeques, lots of space for playing etc and also showers and toilets right by the beach.

I spent a day at my favourite shopping centre, Ala Moana, which is a shopaholic’s paradise with many different types of retailers and a great selection of eateries. You can easily catch a bus to here from Waikiki beach.

 

Another special day was church with my friends. This church, in Kaneohe,  I thought, was very unique as it is on a golf course, and so very picturesque with the Ko’olau mountains as the back drop and views of the ocean in the distance.

Kailua and Kaneohe are on the windward side of the main island Oahu and about 30 minutes drive from Waikiki  or Honolulu via the Pali highway. A delightful escape from the hustle and bustle.