Hawaiian Holiday 2016: Circle Tour

Circle Island Tour

Waikiki Beach

This is what we got to see of the famous Waikiki Beach. This place was packed out. We had zero chance of getting a parking spot to get out and walk on it.

In the picture below is a statue of the Duke Kahanamoko aka " The Duke" or " The Big Kahuna". The Duke is responsible for making the sport of surfing popular, previously only known in Hawaii.

Learned about a most awesome Hawaiian treat from the famous Leonard's bakery. Malasadas are deep-fried dough covered in sugar and served warm! Oh my goodness great stop!!!

Downtown

We were pretty fascinated by these trees looked like a pine tree at home but the "leafs" were like palms instead of needles. Finally found out these are called Norfolk Pines aka "poor man's Christmas Tree"

Dole Pineapple Plantation

beautiful stop, got to see lots of plants and we each got to eat fresh pineapple and dole whip ice cream! Yummmy!!! :)

We took a ride on the Pineapple Express and learned some about what dole does and grows there on the plantation. also learned that it takes 24 mos to grow a pineapple. Kinda crazy how time consuming that process is.

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?

Laie Point

Waimea Bay Beach Park

Heiau Viewpoint

Our good friend Gypsie ( an app for the circle island tour) Tells us make this stop called the Heiau Viewpoint says it is a beautiful view of the Waimea bay and it will only take a few short minutes. Just go to the end of the parking lot and follow the trail. So we walk to the end of the parking lot and took the trail. Which seems to be a very well traveled path this has got to be where we are supposed to be right?!?!?

After about ten minutes walking our trail became very rocky with lots of roots in the path we ended up in the jungle with this little bitty path. That eventually turned into nothing. So we decide not to venture this direction anymore and head back. Feeling we should have turned left instead of right at the fork.

Us in the Jungle

Below is a pictorial of our adventure.

We turn back and headed to the fork and proceeded on the other trail and we come upon this little break and end up at this clearing an additional 10-15 minutes later. We all thought very pretty but not worth all of the walk/hiking we just did. There was about a 2ft x 4ft section where you could wiggle into to get the picture. So now the decision has to be made. Do we proceed in the direction we are going or go back to the fork. We decided to proceed forward. It kinda felt like it was taking us back the direction of our car.

Glad we did this our car was only about 10 minutes from where we were at this clearing and we came to another clearing pictured below and look across from the clearing and see our car just on the other side of the sacrificing grounds a whole 3 minute walk from this clearing. This was a giant fail on Gypsy's part. He should have been a little more clear on his directions to the clearing. This is the beautiful view looking towards the Waimea Bay nice open path no rocks, limbs or jungle.

Sacrificing Grounds

Pu'uo Mahuka Heiau
Pu'uo Mahuka means Hill of escape. Heiau means place of worship this is the largest place of worship on the Island encompassing over 2 acres of land. The pad closest to us in the picture on the right hand side is the luakini - "The Sacrificial Temple"

Banzai Pipeline

Hollywood Extra -Producer Bruce Brown was driving past Banzai Beach and stopped to film a surfer. (Phil Edwards). On the other side of the road there was a pipeline being put in across from the Kamehameha Highway. So the producer name the surf break a pipeline. The name of this wave was used in the movie Surfing Hollow Days.

Morman Temple

This is the first temple the Morman's have built outside of the continental United States. It is also the oldest operating temple outside of Utah. This temple is know as the Laie Hawaii Temple.

Byodo Temple

This is a non denominational temple located in the valley of the temples. It is a half size replica of a 900 year old Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. The temple was built to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the arrival of Japanese culture to Hawaii.

The main structure is called the Ho-O-Do which translates into Phoenix Hall.

Before entering the temple you are invited to ring the bon-sho. It is said that if you ring the bell it will cure your mind of evil spirits and temptation prior to your meditation. It is also supposed to bring the ringer happiness, blessings, and a long life.

Inside the Hall is the home of a two-ton Amida statue ( the Buddha of the Western Paradise) this Buddha represents the infinite life and light surrounding all beings.