Blake and Deb in Fiji: Hawaii

As we did last year on our trip to Australia, we wanted to break up the long transpacific flight with a stop in Hawaii for a couple of days, again just staying in the Waikiki area. This strategy presents us with a more endurable 6 hour flight to Fiji from Honolulu, as opposed to a 10-hour flight from L.A. Priceline gave us a reasonable rate at my parent’s favorite Waikiki lodging – the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, fondly referred to as the “P.K.”

We really only had one full day in Hawaii and the one thing I most wanted to see was the Honolulu Academy of the Arts, which we had to rush through on our visit last year. But after taking a bus out to get there, then hanging out in a nearby park with the homeless people while we waited for the museum to open, we walked over and found a note at the front door informing us that the museum was closed in preparation of some special event. Bummer. So it was back on the bus to Waikiki where a crusty old local gave us his opinion on the best budget eating and entertainment options in the area. We ignored his restaurant suggestions and instead opted for the international market near our hotel where we ate more Thai food than we really should have.

We walked a bit on the crowded beach where Deborah managed to use the number four toe on her left foot to find a large and unyielding bolder lying partially submerged in the sand. Her afflicted toe promptly turned red and later ripened into the color of a concord grape. I should mention that she also now has a burn mark on her shoulder from an unfortunate encounter with a curling iron.

We walked (and hobbled) over to the aquarium, which, though small, is quite nice. Later we made our way over to the water’s edge at the other Sheraton in a fruitless attempt to spot some large fish nibbling on the algae, as was suggested to us by the before-mentioned bus-going local. All we saw were a couple of crabs. Never mind; we were just happy to be walking around in the warm evening wearing shorts and sandals again. It was an early night for us as our flight the next morning was at 7am.