Category Archives: Hawaii

Returning to Paradise – Hawaii

03 Friday Jul 2015

Posted by in Hawaii

≈ 22 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

Yes I am going back to Hawaii

DSCF7912

I enjoyed Hawaii so much last November that I am returning.

The flight over from Australia to Honolulu is so easy. It is only just over 9 hours flying time which is a pleasure compared to the 26 hour flight to Europe. It is a direct flight, Brisbane to Honolulu. For us Aussies, that is so nice.

So here is a little reminder of what I will be seeing again very soon.

Waikiki Beach
Waikiki

This time I am adding San Francisco to the trip. San Francisco is actually the main reason I am going. When my Hawaii friend Linda learned that I have never been to San Francisco she suggested that we go together some time. Well, now is some time.

So of course you will be hearing from me from Hawaii and San Francisco, with lots of photos.

 

Advertisements

Magical, Amazing – North Shore, Oahu

02 Tuesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Hawaii, Pupukea North Shore Oahu

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

On this trip to Hawaii I had a “bucket list”, and on the top of this bucket list was a visit to my favourite beach on the North Shore, the beach is at Pupukea.

DSCF7919

The first time I visited the north shore was in the month of June. I was expecting to see the huge surfing waves that I had seen many times on the tv back in Australia. Imagine my surprise when I saw Waimea bay for the first time.  People were diving off the big rock into the smooth mill-pond type water.  There were no big waves at all, not even a swell.

When I lived in Honolulu and house guests stayed with me a special day out was to take them for a drive around the island.  Of course, Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach and Haleiwa were regular stops.

Situated between Sunset Beach and Waimea is Pupukea which  is about an hour drive from Waikiki. Pupukea Beach Park is a marine life conservation area with several great spots to play. I have spent many good times on Pupukea beach.  Lounging on the beach is always popular but my favourite activity is exploring the rock pools and many times I have donned snorkelling gear and lost myself in the beauty of the water and all its hidden treasures.

This place is a hidden gem. The water is so clear and there are plenty of fish, live coral and other creatures to see. The water is very calm and reasonably safe so you don’t need to be a great swimmer like at other snorkelling locations. There are restroom facilities with showers, so it is easy to change in and out of swim clothes . There is also plenty of parking up the top from the beach either on the side of the road (Kamehameha Hwy) or in a parking area.

Be sure to take swimming shoes because the rocks are very sharp. It would be very difficult to walk across the rocks bare footed to reach the actual swimming area. There is also a tide pool area good for little kids.

You could easily spend a full day here. There are not many places to eat at Pupukea but it is not far to drive to Haleiwa, Sunset or Waimea. There is a Foodland supermarket across the highway from the beach.

The drive to the north shore is interesting with many spectacular sights along the way.  There are several ways you can go. We drove from Kailua however from Waikiki driving along the coast around past Diamond Head, Koko Head, Hanuama Bay is very scenic.

As with most days here in Hawaii I saw many beautiful rainbows while driving out to the north shore and this day was no exception.

20141128_093812

Pupukea beach is truly heavenly.

DSCF7927

Aloha from Hawaii

25 Tuesday Nov 2014

Posted by in Hawaii, Honolulu

≈ 23 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

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.

DSCF7873

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.

2014-11-21 09.30.15

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

DSCF7874

 

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.

20141121_102050 20141121_105246

 

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.