More Fun in Waikiki

While wandering around Waikiki we kept seeing advertisements for the local Shooting Club. I loved how prim and proper the shooter looks. I got a hand-out about their special rates, and it was only $25 for an hour of shooting practice! Maybe next time I go into town I'll have to try it out... :)

The International Market, where there are a lot of stalls of people selling souvenirs. There was also a psychic reader in there, but when we peeked in, the psychic on duty was a very large grumpy looking man, so we decided it was best to leave our futures unknown for the time being...

I faced my fear of fish at the koi pond. But they still grossed me out.

We snooped around The Royal Hawaiian Hotel a bit.

It had great views of the ocean

I loved how glam this couple was, taking their wedding photos.

Aaaand finally, we celebrated my first week at work by popping open a bottle of the finest Pineapple Champagne. I love pineapple and I love champagne.... but no.

Dole Plantation

When Momma Kate got to the island, almost the first thing we did was go to the Dole Plantation. This was mostly because I had heard about a wonderful frozen treat called "Dole Whip"...



While we were eating lunch, some stray kittens came to beg for food. They definitely found a sucker in me, as I continued to feed them my teriyaki chicken throughout the meal :)




The grey one just kept giving me the squinty-eyes-love-look, while the orange one meowed non-stop, and would pat my leg. I'll admit it, I took more photos of these kittens than of anything else at Dole Plantation.



Then we took a tour of the gardens, led by a little man named Ray. We were accompanid by a huge family group of about 20 people, who liked to repeat every plant name that Ray said.





For example, Ray:"This is called a 'Rainbow Tree."
Group: "Ohhhhh, Rainbow Tree...."



"This is an apple banana tree."
"Ohhh, apple banana tree..."

You get the point.


Momma Kate enjoying the flora.

Lots of hibiscus plants...




Then we took a little train ride out to see the pineapple fields. Not the most exciting ride, I must say.




Then we finally got our Dole Whip, and it was amazing. It's basically a pineapple flavored soft-serve, that's topped with fresh chopped pineapple.
Just a warning, I will be dragging anyone who visits me here to Dole Plantation simply so that I can get Dole Whip again...

First Day in Hawaii!

This was my first full day in Waikiki, when I went in search of the beach. I was pretty sure I'd get lost, but luckily ran into a family carrying inflatable rafts just outside my hotel, and followed them the whole way.

There's a giant statue of Duke Kahanamoku, aka "The Big Kahuna," who introduced surfing to the rest of the world. I thought the old dude in the Gidget movies was The Big Kahuna...who knew? :) Everyday people come and drape the statue with fresh lei.

Then I just wandered around in the lovely weather and looked at all the pretty flowers...