Up early yet again. Learnt our lesson from yesterday and got to IHOP earlier. Got in without having to wait. I had a waffle. Ann had something. Back to the room and packed everything. Although we were leaving the hotel/room, we weren't leaving Hawaii. Our flight tomorrow is at stupid o'clock so we are relocating to be near the airport. Carried everything down to the lobby and deposited Ann there with it.
I went out into the morning sun and walked to the same Enterprise we had used on Tuesday. Collected our car for the day. Drove out and then had to navigate back to the hotel in the one way system. Parked up and Ann brought all our stuff out. Loaded it in the car and then set course for our first stop. It took about fifteen minutes to arrive and then another twenty for us to circle three times trying to work out how to get to the onsite parking. Eventually we worked out how to get in and finally arrived at Iolani Palace
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| Crystal |
We hadn't booked a tour as we weren't sure if we would find time to get there. I went and checked but they couldn't get us a tour until 1.30pm. It was 9.30am. They did say we could do the basement tour for $5 each. Bought tickets for that and went back to report to Ann. There was also a fifteen minute video we could watch so we did that too. Hawaii used to have a royal family. This was their palace. In 1893 it was overthrown with the help of the USA as they wanted to annex Hawaii, which they did five years later. The palace was then used as a government headquarters and then when that moved to a new building, the palace was restored. We got to see the basement which held an exhibition about the history as well as seeing some of the lower rooms.
Bought a magnet. Went back to the car. Next we decided to heed the advice of the Uber driver who picked us up from the airport on our arrival. He said there was this overlook which gave a great view of the city. We made our way up the side of the mountain via some hairpin bends and arrived at the Tantalus Lookout Point. Gave the car a quick photoshoot.
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| Wrangler |
Then went to look at the scenery. He was right. It was a great view over Honolulu.
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| Diamond Head Crater |
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| Panaroma |
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| Look at the blueness! |
The Roffe-Knightley Effect™ came into play again. It was empty when we got there and then a bus load arrived. Once we had spent time taking in the great view we set off for the next stop. We cut across the island heading through a tunnel under the mountains and ended up on the far side where we had been on Tuesday. Eventually ended up here: Kualoa Ranch
With planning this whole trip we made one error. This place runs a massive variety of trips and experiences each day but it books up well in advance. We planned to go but by the time we decided on the tour we wanted to do it had sold out. It runs every 20 mins but every time slot had gone. When I tell you it was three weeks ago we tried to book it, it shows you how popular this place is. Nevertheless, despite our devastation we decided to go and just so we could say we had been there, not that that helps with the disappointment we both felt. With the fact it is unlikely we will ever make it back here our one chance to see the real Jurassic Park in all its glory had gone. The tour goes around some of the locations and sets from the film/s plus some other big movies that have been filmed here. You get to see the log from the 'Gallimimus are flocking this way' scene, the Indominus Rex Compound from the more recent version, King Kong's footprints. We went in the shop and bought a magnet. Took some photos of the scenery. Didn't help.
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| Large |
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| Bet it smells good! |
Drove back to the airport and arrived at the Best Western Plaza. Parked up and unloaded the cases. Checked in, dumped the stuff and then drove back to drop off the car. The guy who took the keys seemed interested in the name Knightley, asking questions about it.
Walked back to the Ala Moana shopping centre. It is the largest open-air shopping mall in the world apparently. It seemed very much like a tourist trap, full of luxury retailers like Prada, Rolex, Armani, Chanel, Cartier, Tiffany, etc. Didn't seem like there were many locals shopping in there. Eventually got bored of wandering so we got an Uber back to the new hotel.
Went out to a different IHOP for dinner. Mainly because it is the closest place to eat to where we are and we could walk there. Had exactly what we had for breakfast again.
Came back to the hotel to organise our packing properly. Realised I have left my book in the other place. Don't really know how I managed it but I have. Another devastation for the day but not a lot we can do about it as we have to catch the airport shuttle at 5am to catch a 7am flight to San Francisco. Of course Ann is asleep! Why did you even have to ask!
States visited - 3
Books lost - 1
Dinosaurs seen - 0
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