April 9

Awoke to partly sunny, warm and nice trade winds.  The news says a surfer ran into a shark and got away without a problem.  The island info tells everyone to be safe; they do not sugarcoat the accidents and deaths that have happened to visitors  from surfing accidents and taking risks going off trail on the rocks.  There is a large homeless population.  They move among the crowds during the day and then they bed down in the parks and on the beach at night. We have one fellow who yells out ‘sermons’ on the street below our window.  He quiets down after he finishes and doesn’t bother anyone.  There are street protests between the LGBT community and fundamentalist Christians; lots of yelling and signs no physical stuff.  It’s not a long term or invasive activity but noticeable.  Everyone is in fantasy land while they’re here, no one wants to think about hard stuff!   Hawaii is a very liberal state and have made laws that give full equal rights to all citizens.  A local commented last night that the volcanic gas from the big island comes over and clogs Oahu’s air; we haven’t seen it or smelled it.  Maybe that is why the sunsets are so breathtaking!  So much of what Oahu is about is very basic, ocean, constant warm temps and winds, mountains aka nature.  Stir in food and drinks and voila!  Although we have not had any particularly good food, passable, not great.  And we have eaten at some higher level hotel restaurants.  Maybe the independent restaurants are better.  Our one Burger King meal did not disappoint!  The hotel buffet breakfasts have been good with lots of variety and an omelet station.  The pineapple is so different when it is fresh and eaten where it is grown. The papaya is okay, not very sweet.  But they make cinnamon rolls that are ridiculously good. We have seen tour groups coming and going and know the drill, same as ours.  Put on our suits and take our new inner tube headed for the ocean beach across the street.  We invented the Midwest Snorkel; taking turns we pushed each other along on the tube and were able sneak up on the fish.  Good thing we are among strangers.  But we see even more fish than we saw the time before.   Breakfast at the hotel and were able to Skype Brenna to catch up.  She is feeling better with the URI but has pain in her ribs.  She has to get more help from the chiropractor and find a way to sleep at night.  The baby is feeling fine, getting sleep, exercising and getting nutrition. It’s his mama who needs help!  They picked up their new SUV, a very nice used tricked out Highlander.  Then we walked over to the Honolulu Zoo about two blocks away.  A very pleasant smaller zoo with Hawaiian and African animals.  Next to the Zoo is a beachside park established in 1877.  We walk around a big Thai festival that is going on.  Both the zoo and the park sit under Diamond Head Crater so there are great views for pics.  We stop off at the Tiki Bar and have a couple Happy Hour drinks and an appetizer.  Then stop off at our hotel lanai for a happy hour drink and appetizers and dessert.   Meanwhile the sun is getting ready to set.  The windward side of the island is in heavy rain and cloud but we stay sunny with occasional cloud.  Other sunsets we have had were partly cloud sunsets but tonight it will be a full sunset.  We return to the room for the full vista of the setting sun over Waikiki Beach and out to the western headland..  Can’t stop taking pics of it and as the water turns to liquid silver.  We can hear people clapping all around, clapping down the sun.  We change into our bathing suits and go to the hotel warm salt pool for a night swim while the duet sings in the lanai bar.  We didn’t get the car out today but we have plans to go out tomorrow. Last day in Honolulu.  We have had such a great time all along the way since leaving nearly 2 months ago and Hawaii has not disappointed us.  We hear there is cold and snow off and on when we get home, so we’ll enjoy this as long as it lasts.  Chuck can actually start his retirement once we get home and prepare for his golf summer.  And we are excited to meet our new grandson and see Brenna return to her old self!