February 9th Honolulu

Friday, February 9th. At approximately 10.00pm last night we past over the Tropic of Cancer as we sailed over the Molokai fracture zone towards the Hawaian Islands. This morning we arrived in Honolulu, which brings our total number of n. miles sailed since January 2nd to 20,233 and our 39th day. We arrived at 7.00pm to an overcast sky and temperatures in the low 20 degrees. We took the opportunity to ‘phone home’ and succeeded this time, wishing Mark a happy birthday for tomorrow. Our circle tour of the island began at 10.45am and we had an excellent driver who told us a great many very interesting historical facts as we travelled along. Driving through the city and along the Waikiki Beach area we were able to view the many elegant and expensive properties en route to our first stop, Hanauma Bay, located in Koko Head Park. Its rugged grandeur was created by volcanic activity 10,000 years ago and this beautiful sandy cove with palm trees on the beach is now a popular spot. Over the centuries the sea eroded the outer crust of the volcano and gushed in forming a delightful bay. Here we were able to look back and view Diamond Head, one of the many volcanic cones in the Honolulu area and where humpback whales frequent these waters. Of course we had our usual tourist stop for shopping, where we bought a sandwich for lunch, and Alan found another barber shop where he spent ten minutes and ten dollars! The next bay, Halona, was where Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr made history kissing on the beach in the film ‘From Here to Eternity’, (Alan’s favourite.) This bay has a submerged lava tube that when tide conditions are right, waves surging through, erupt in a spectacular geyser of sea water, but it didn’t happen for our visit! Motoring on we travelled through the tropical rain forests and up 1200 feet to Pali Lookout at Nuuani State Park for the amazing views over the island. Our next stop was at Punchbowl Veterans Cemetery, which has been developed in the crater of a volcano and where all those who died on the USS Arizona are buried. The last survivor was buried there last Monday and so now the cemetery is closed except for visitors. This was a very moving experience and our driver, a war veteran himself, told the history well. It was surrounded by the most beautiful Banyan trees in regimental alignment with the gravestones. We did not go to see Pearl Harbour, site of the USS Arizona memorial and haunting reminder of the tragic events of December 7th 1941 because of the amount of walking involved. It had remained overcast most of the day with the odd light shower, but it was very comfortable for our day of sightseeing. We returned to the ship to prepare for our departure at 7.00pm and set sail for Pago Pago, one of the American Samoa Islands some 2270 n. miles south east of the Hawaiian Islands, which will take us across the equator and into the Southern Hemisphere again. We set our watches back last evening and so we are now 10 hours behind the UK.