130824 Hiking Koko Head Point and dolphins

Honolulu 130811-130902
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© NF Photos 130824 Saturday

I was asked if I wanted to join the gang at Ala Moana again. New girl needed shopping and my grandson and one of the girls wanted to dig into new computer games. As everyone knows by now that is not my idea of spending a day in a short visit in Honolulu.

I decided to hike to Koko head Point instead, trying to find the Spitting Cave. Bus 22 and a walk for 1.6km sounded like a great thing so I got started. The bus was crowded with people going to Koko Head Beach for swimming so the lady driver was a bit confused when I said I wanted to go off earlier. But she was nice and noted me when I was due. The bus did not take the closest way of course so I, kind off, got a sightseeing too.  I was going out there, to the far point of land.

The walk went well through Portlock's nice residential neighborhood . I ended up in their beach area, Koko Kai Mini Beach Park. I did not find Spitting Cave that I was looking for.  I did not go far enough I think as the edge of the rocks were slippery from seawater. The cliffs was very beautiful and wild also. Spent a few hours there and found a wader and a few Ruddy Turnstones. I also met some Swedish girls that joined a group of American guys. There were quite a few people swimming and surfing on the rocks.

Then I walked back. I was pretty tired when I came back to the Hostel, so I took a nap but was woken by the phone. Johanna and the gang was coming to pick me up to see a dolphins show. It would be a free of charge show it

was said, but when we got there it was already over. Nothing to do about that but  we could at least walk around and watch the dolphins, turtles and rays that was in the hotels garden.But then we had to sit down and order something to eat or drink for $ 25 instead of paying $ 35 for parking . As all girls except one was there there were two cars. So it took some time before we could take the cars out of the garage and get going. How about that, dolphins right outside your window. Must be an expensive room.

Anyway , I came home to the Hostel eventually. The room was nearly full , among others there was  of a newlywed couple from Denmark who slept in the same bed. The man told me they got married the same day and wanted to go to North Shore the next day. How on earth can you spend your first night as a married couple in a Hostel? With lots of other people? I don´t get it!

Here is a video of The Spitting Cave of Portlock from haolejuice


Travel Photo Thursday      Sky Watch Friday

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130823 Hawaii Pacific University and fireworks

Honolulu 130811-130902
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© NF Photos 130823
130823 Friday  Hawaii Pacific University and fireworks

Spent the morning at the beach as usual. There was a man on the pier feeding the doves. A boy noticed a bird with a string on it´s feet. It turned out to be Asian black hair. The man was used to it and had a scissor to cut it off. He told us the long black hair often get stuck on the doves feet and when they try to rid themselves from it it tightens and can actually cause a lost foot. It is because the black hair is so strong :(

Bird sculpture to the left.

At 10.30 I was at Bishop Street and met my daughter and grand daughter. My daughter looked different as she had cut off her hair. It looked great. Then my grandson arrived too and we took visited the school shop. I bought myself a backpack but not the color I wanted. I wanted one with the colors of the rainbow but my daughter said, NO, you can´t buy that one everyoen will think you are a gay person. :( .  Then it was time to take the bus to Hawaii Pacific University. We had a short tour in the building and then spent the time in the surrounding area while my granddaughter took her final test for the summer classes she had taken.

It is a beautiful place with nice views over the mountain range and forests. Nice garden areas and sports arenas. I found two more birds I had not seen earlier too. A great place for a school and well tended too. Somebody small wants to go to school. To the right.

Back in town I took the bus to the Hostel and there the room was turned upside down. Again! They had been spraying about everything. Even my nametag on the bed was gone. Guess they took the opportunity to do a good job while there was not that many guests in the room. Most of the guys had gotten rooms now and was off to prepare for school.

 

After fixing the bed and whatever I had to do I went to the beach. Even the beach was almost empty. A bit spooky actually. At eight I sat on the stonewall at Waikiki Beach eating my Subway. And then the fireworks started. I had forgotten about it but it was soo timely. I just had to move a bit as people were standing in my way. I stayed there for quite a while as the hotel on the other side of the street started to play soft music. Quite a nice way to end the day.

Our World Tuesday    Travel Photo Monday 

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130822 Birding in parks

Honolulu 130811-130902

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© NF Photos 130822 Thursday

The plan for today was for my daughter to come and walk with me in the parks and watch people and birds and plants. She also wanted to do her nails as they are not good. Then we should go to the house in the evening for dinner. But sometimes things does not go as planned and I spent the day on my own.

At first I took a swim after breakfast and then I walked in the parks and found two new species of birds I had not seen before.  One was the beautiful Golden Plover.

Another interesting thing I noted was this shadow of a palm tree. Lots of small birds, Java Sparrows probably, in the shadow. A row of birds in the shadow of the trunk as well as the leaves. But on this image they flew up. I was too close.

In the evening I took the bus to the house as agreed, but it was empty when I arrived. But I did not have to wait for long. The car arrived with all the girls and lots of food in it. Two of them was in the back with all stuff around them. They started to cook and served rosted potatoes and fried meet. Tasted great. But then after that the girls had to rearrange the furniture and rooms as they expected a new roommate to arrive the next day. So, I figured I´d better get my but out of there. I was back at the Hostel at 23.00h. Just in time for bed.

Tomorrow my granddaughter has  final test at the school on the other side of the volcano range and we will accompany her to see the facility while she is doing the test.

Travel Photo Thursday   Shadow Shot Sunday   Bird D´Pot
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130821 Duke festival

Honolulu 130811-130902
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© NF Photos 130821 Wednesday

Woke up at 7 and switched bed as the Scottish guy left this morning. And then I spotted two of the bloodsucking bedbugs in the opposite bed. I crushed them and took them to the desk. So, the bug man got more work to do. But I was out of the room. I had a discussion with the man so after his advice I had everything locked up and in. Making it harder for bugs to get into my suitcase. I was promised as well to get all my stuff cleaned up and washed before leaving the hostel.

After breakfast I headed for the parks to watch birds and people for a while. Lots of doves in the area. But this one to the right has not read the sign. NO DIVING!

And this is obviously a bus stop for doves.

My daughter and grandson was late and by that time they arrived I knew where on the Waikiki beach the Duke Festival were held so we went straight to the place. It was a very hot day and my grandson developed a headache.   

Quote: "Duke's OceanFest is held each summer in Waikiki in honor of Hawaiian Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, who is remembered as the greatest waterman who ever lived, and Hawaii's ambassador of Aloha. Among his many accomplishments, Duke Kahanamoku was an Olympic gold medal swimmer; a surfer; an esteemed canoe steersman; a Hollywood actor; and the Sheriff of Honolulu."

Seems like a great man and there was several statues of him as well.

We watched some of the games on land and on surfboards.

A pair of nice boots in a window.

 After that we went to check out computer shops instead. My grandson needs a new computer. And I amused myself watching photo filters on a Mac computer. :)  This is me, above, with the filter Light tunnel. Nice, don´t you think?

Then my company took the bus back to the house and I went to another part of the beach. At the beach I got the company of a talkative woman with Norway- Swedish heritage. She just moved in and felt a bit lonely. Arriving back at the Hostel I saw the 5 person bike looking for riders. Really crazy!

To finish the day I had a discussion with Anton who is to study communication in Honolulu. Told him what I think of GOOGLE among other things.

Travel Photo Thursday   Travel Photo Mondays   NF Winged 114  

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130820 Hike to Maunawili Falls o Kailua Beach Park

Honolulu 130811-130902

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© NF Photos 130820   Tuesday

 

130820 tuesday

Maunawili Falls Trail and Kailua Beach Park is on the menu today.

No breakfast on the hostel today. Brought something and took the 8 a´clock bus up to the house.

 We left the house at 9.45. At first we drove to Maunawili Falls. It was not too hard as we took it easy just enjoying ourselves. My granddaughter was free from school today so it was all 4 of us. It reminded me of Costa Rica rain forest without the ants. Old trees, roots everywhere to watch out for. The stream we were following and here and there wet mud to walk through. And crossing the stream twice.  Close to the waterfall we had to remove the shoes and walk barefooted in the stream. And that was a bit slippery. Had to be very careful carrying my photo equipment. Considering we did not see many people on the path it was a lot of them at the fall.  Some of them bathing and diving. My grandson joined in. I could not do that with all my stuff. :(

 

 

Back at the car at 12.30 some of us were hungry so we headed for a hamburger bar. The food is a problem for me. There is no way I can eat all of the portions they serve. And it feels so bad having to throw half of it away.

 

After lunch we went to a beach. Kailua Beach Park. A very lovely one. So nice to go into the water and play around. Feeling how you are floating around in the waves. I was in twice and then walked around photographing alot. The only thing that was not fun was the sanitary facilities and dressing rooms.
  My family showing off the legs.

 

My family drowe me "home" to the hostel and then I went down to the beach. Where else? When the sun had set I went to grab a Subway and had my dinner at the beach. then it was time to go back to the Hostel to upload the images to the computer and take a shower before bed.  

 

Tomorrow there is some kind of celebration on the Waikiki Beach so my daughter and grandson will come down.

Kailua Beach Park

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