Having been warned about the terrible traffic in Honolulu we decided not to hire a car on this island but do some day tours instead. This was a wise idea as the island is huge to get around and it was great just sitting back, listening to the history of all the places we stopped at, and we didn't miss a thing. Our first tour was the "Majestic Circle Island Tour" which covered most of the island from Kahala (the Beverley Hills of Hawaii) at the bottom of Diamond Head Crater to the Waimea Valley.
Punchbowl National Cemetery
A statue of the first self proclaimed Hawaiian King - King Kamehameha I, outside Parliament House. This shot is also seen in the opening credits of the new TV version of Hawaii 5-0
At the entrance of the first lookout of the day (yes, there were many)
Amazing views and extremely windy, we had to hold onto the kids so they didn't fly away.
Our tour bus for the day, Cousin K was our driver and she locked out anyone who was late and last back to the bus. To get back in you had to do the hula, lucky for me it was Lyndon bringing up the rear by taking this photo.
Pineapples are no longer processed in Hawaii (they go to the Philippines) but there are still plenty of plantations along the coast.
Of course we had a stop at the famous Dole Plantation for a Dole Whip, only problem was we weren't there long enough to eat it all before we had to get back on the bus. I managed to purchase a beautiful handbag from one of the market stalls (as you do).
One of the many waterfall stops along the way. This one was in Waimea Valley National Park (parts of the movie "Battleship" were also filmed here) on our way up to Sunset Beach
This shot is for you Mozzy - us on Sunset Beach
Roadside shrimp shacks are everywhere along the highways and apparently Fumis is one of the best, they weren't wrong
This is a roadside stop outside of a cattle ranch on the windward side of the island. It takes up almost 1/5 of the island and it includes the Ko'olau Mountains. Many movies have been filmed here including Jurassic Park and King Kong. Those amazing trees are huge and found all over the island.
An outer island called Chinamans' Hat
Afternoon tea stop at a macadamia nut and coffee plantation. These statues are made out of the wood of the macadamia nut tree. Just up the road was the art gallery of a Tongan carver with beautiful works on display along the roadside, unfortunately we were driving past too fast to get a picture.
They always have to have their fingers in the pond, feeding the Koi at the Buddhist Temple
This is an amazing Byodo-In Temple, totally hand built with a huge bronzed Buddha statue inside. There is a large bell on the far left side that you can ring 3 times for peace and good luck. I tolled the bell for a peaceful after life for my Nana and lit an incense stick inside for her.
This is the beach where they filmed the movies "From Here to Eternity" (where they were rolling on the beach in the waves) and "Pirates Of the Caribbean 4" (the bit where they capture the mermaids)
This is Halona, "Blow Hole" Lookout. With signs everywhere saying DO NOT ENTER, of course someone had to. These Japanese tourists were really unaware of just how dangerous blow holes can be. This is also a popular green sea turtle watching spot (from the safety of a barricade of course)
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