Los Angeles, CA and Oahu, HI

Just put Hawaii Islands sticker on Wanderlust Map.  Working our way back thru Southern States starting August 27th (after San Diego visit).  We will be bypassing Oklahoma and Arkansas.   Plan to be back in Virginia Beach by February.   😀

 

We are coming to the farthest point West with our flight into Honolulu, HI but first we did stop in Los Angeles at Santa Monica, Venice Beach, and Hollywood sign. 

Not sure what our expectations were especially since we have heard from other campers about the homeless "epidemic".   WELL, Los Angeles exceeding our expectations on the issue at hand.   We stopped at three locations and were going to do the Hollywood Walk of Fame but the area was dirty and "littered" with tents.  We turned around and went back to the campsite and got ready for our flight the next morning.    LA is the first time we heard people tell us not to leave anything in the truck that is visible or it will get broken in.   

Santa Monica has a cliff with hotels that oversee the beach/ocean.    The beach itself is very large and wide with concrete boardwalk that connects Venice Beach.    So for the younger folks, the Santa Monica pier is the end of Route 66 that connects to Chicago.   Literally, you could drive your car on the pier back in the day.   There was a song that come out....get your kicks on Route 66.   Unfortunately, with the development of interstates, Route 66 has become a history lesson in American family travel and the relationship with the automobile.   

We did walk the boardwalk down to Venice Beach and honestly I had certain image in my mind. Unfortunately the area is filled with homeless and businesses that look cheap and shady.   I was even looking forward to Venice Muscle Beach, but surprised only skinny dudes working out ( I was assuming Arnold Schwarzenegger look alikes would be there working out....at least Kami was).   Okay, enough of LA.

Hawaii is still the paradise I have had the opportunity to grow up for 3 years ('69 to '72).   Oahu is the most commercialized of the islands.  I booked a Hostel 2 blocks from Waikiki Beach for 5 days to enjoy the island (with tax the hostel was $100 a day, not bad).   The Hostel offered free KONA Coffee every morning and we would go up on the rooftop and enjoy with a cool Pacific breeze.  Every morning I would tell Kami how much I enjoyed that breeze.  

 Kami and I have been to Maui three times but I haven't been back to Oahu since Dad was transferred to Norfolk in 1972.   Hard to remember some of the things we did when I was 6-9 years old but my mom said our Navy housing has been redeveloped since then.   Anyway, Waikiki Beach is big money.   I am not up to speed with high end boutiques but Kami let me know they were there.   The hotels are fantastic with open lobbies that allow the breeze to come thru 24/7.    The strip was busy but very clean.  Speaking to my parents that know a lot about Oahu said back in the 90's the Japanese were buying up property and Waikiki put high end boutiques on the strip to satisfy their high dollar taste.   We saw quite a few Japanese visititing on the strip.   

We rented a car and traveled around the island for a couple of days.   We started by taking the KoKo Head trail which is an old military railroad track used to take soldiers and supplies up the mountain during WWll.   The railroad trail is now kept in tack by volunteers.   There are 1048 railroad ties to the top.   We had to stop several times to catch our breath and as we got higher the railroad got steeper.    The views from the top were beautiful and glad we did it.   

We did take the eastern route around the island to the North Shore to snorkel at Shark's Cove.   The route took us along the oceanside with many beach parks to stop and enjoy ( I was told Oahu has the most accessible beaches in the island chain).   The route was nice and similar to Route 1 in California.   Since we were on the eastern side of the island the vegetation was lush and almost jungle like (the other side of the island gets the Pacific wind and has a more prairie/dry look).  Shark's Cove as with everything we did in Hawaii was crowded with tourist.   I wish I had an underwater camera to show pictures of all the beautiful colored fish we saw.  

So we were told by local that if your in the North Shore area you have to check out this small historic town, Haleiwa, to get Hawaiian Shaved Ice.   As we drove thru the town the line was out the door and about 100+ deep.   We did hesitate but felt if you're  in Hawaii you have to "Just Do It".    The line did move quickly as the store, Matsumoto, is a machine and does 1500 shaved ice a day (we asked at the counter).   We got the one with ice cream in the middle covered with shaved ice and flavored with Mango, Banana, and Coconut.   Delicious and only $5!   Kami wanted to get another one in Waikiki but it wasn't even closely the same.    I'm thinking about opening a food truck and selling Hawaiian Shaved Ice like Matsumoto.  😏  Speaking of food trucks, I bet if you checked the Oahu population there are more food trucks per capita than anywhere else in America.   They are EVERYWHERE!

Second day with the car, we went to the eastern side of the island to check out Mermaid Caves.   Got to the beach park and starting walking around looking for the area when a local assisted us on where to enter the caves.   You have to be very careful inside as its volcanic rock that has sharp edges.   You also have to enter at low tide or the waves could push you into the cave walls.......ouch.   Kami was reluctant to go in, with good reason as I described, but she was a champ and took a few pictures from inside.  

Other than going to Waikiki Beach to enjoy the water and sun, we did hike along Diamond Head Road that lead us down to secluded beach with only surfers and a lighthouse.   It was a nice walk along the beach.   

I WISH HAWAII WASN'T SO FAR AWAY.    

Santa Monica view from the cliff.

Santa Monica Boardwalk 

Pier where route 66 ended from Chicago.  Amusement park, shops, and restaurants at the end.  

Hiking towards the Hollywood sign.

The Hostel was located in alley 2 blocks from oceanfront.   Diamond Head off in the distance.  

KoKo Head Trail, doesn't look that daunting from here!

BUT once we reached the start of the railroad trail, it was a physical challenge....straight up!

Kami doing the crab crawl thru this part that didn't have bottom.   This area was about 30 road ties long.   Hence the Danger Sign.

Beautiful views from the top.

From the top of the trail you can see Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach off in the distance.

Snorkeling Shark's Cove North Shore

Hawaiian Shaved Ice after snorkeling.  

Beach park next to Mermaid Caves.   Every beach park was beautiful around the island.   

Started decent into Mermaid Caves once the local showed us the right hole.   There where quite a few holes so finding the right one to go down was imperative.   Especially with the tides.   At high tide the holes blew out mist.

Kami was game enough to go down in to the cave.  

This was part of the cave entrance but I didn't go any further.  I had to hold on to the ceiling when the waves came thru the cave to keep me from being pushed.     

Last day we had the car we went up to Tantalus Lookout towards sunset.  

Hiked along Diamond Head road (literally beside Diamond Head) and went down to beach trail.  Came across Lighthouse on our way down.  

Diamond Head Beach was a nice hike along the water.  Secluded with only surfers.  

Kami beside a huge Banyan Tree.  These are scattered throughout Oahu with many in hotel courtyards.   Great shade!  This was in the park next to the Zoo.  We were only a few 100 yards from the Hostel to the Park.  

  

Had dinner one night on the Hostel rooftop from Thai food truck in the alley.   There could be as many as 5 food trucks in that alley every night.   Kami loves Pad Thai and said this is some of the best she's  had.