Pearl Harbor

What an amazing day.  The tour starting with a Pearl Harbor survivor welcoming everyone and telling his story - I could have listened to that all day!  I love history, and am drawn to WWII history especially.  I wish I could have spent more time talking to him.  But the Memorial itself was amazing.  I had a lump in my throat all day and couldn't keep back the tears.

The Arizona Memorial is the white building on the right.  The USS Missouri is the ship on the left, it was on this ship that the Japanese surrendered to the United States.

The Shrine Room in the USS Arizona Memorial.

The names of all the sailors and marines who died on the USS Arizona on 7 December 1941.

900 of these men are entombed in the ship. To date, twenty survivors have chosen to be buried with their shipmates upon their deaths.

Gun Turret of the USS Arizona.  One of the few things visible above the water.

There is still oil seeping from the ship.  It is referred to as black tears.

An amazing picture of our flag!

This flagpole is actually connected to the mast of the USS Arizona.

One of the anchors from the USS Arizona that was retrieved after the attack.

Haleiwa - North Shore

By far our favorite place on the island was the North Shore.  It is considered the "country" part of the island.  No big buildings, a slower pace of life, lots of local flavor, massive waves and killer sunsets!

Sea turtle sunny himself on the beach, very cool!  On our last day there we saw 6 sea turtles playing in the surf at Haleiwa Beach.

Andy eating his world famous Matsumoto's shave ice!  It was very yummy but didn't change my life.  You can get it with soft vanilla ice cream and/or Azuki beans in the bottom and sweetened condensed milk on the top.  I did NOT like the beans and wasn't so keen on the sweetened condensed milk but the ice cream was great!  See the line behind Andy, it's like that all day long every day!

More of Hawaii

We spent the entire day in Laie ... we visited the LDS Temple and went to the Polynesian Cultural Center.  The PCC was good, it made for a long day, but we enjoyed it! And of course we can't go anywhere without Andy running into someone he knows! We came around a corner at the PCC and ran right into the McNeil's from our Stake - Andy coached their son Logan in track and cross-country - what a small world!

This picture is for my friend Mrs. Robinson ;) 

(Not a good picture, he has a dorky look on his face - this picture does not do him justice!)

This guy was really funny - he did an amazing fire dance at the show later that night.  During this particular presentation he made a fire with 2 sticks and a coconut husk, opened a coconut with a pebble and his bare hands and made the poor kid in the picture below climb a palm tree! They were both very entertaining and were my favorite presentation of the day!

He pretending he was going to jump to the next palm tree and made jokes about not looking up his skirt.

Me at the Luau that night - I was worn out and ready for food!

Andy at the Luau - he said this about the Luau "the food was very authentic ... maybe a little too authentic!" So true!

Hawaii Day 2 - Evening on the North Shore

Finished the day with some Pineapple ice cream... at the Dole Pineapple plantation.

At the North Shore at sundown...

Andy playing in the water...
Surfers at the North Shore...

Spectacular Sunsets!!!

Hawaii - Day 2

Pictures from along the coastline!!!

Light House and Crazy guy paragliding!

This small patch of beach is where the kissing scene on From Here To Eternity was filmed. It was also in Madonna's music video "Cherish"... Yes I am the queen of useless information!!!

A great shot of Andy getting too close to the dangerous cliffs ... The rock was 15-20 feet above the ocean ... and the water was crashing against the rock making a huge splash!!!

Another picture from the cool rocky lookout...

Hawaii - Day 2 (Morning Hanauma Bay)

This morning we went to Hanauma Bay. Me, the girl, that does not like open water managed to snorkel in the reef. And although I had a few panic attacks, really enjoyed it! Me, the girl that doesn't want fish nibbling on her bum actually swam in the water with the fishes! Some very big fishes!

Here is a view from the beach!

and a view from the top...

Hawaii - Day 1

We woke up to a great view from our room!

A waterfall at the international market near our Hotel.

In front of the water fall at the shopping center... the biggest Koi fish we have ever seen.

Andy and Camie on the beach at Waikiki...