December 7
We were just going to tour the island using the city bus, but several people recommended that we take a circle island coach tour first. The city bus trip takes about 4 hours and because of the surfing competition and the big waves on the north shore, we knew it would take longer than that. The highway is quite narrow as it goes through the surfing beaches and it was very congested.
We started at the viewpoint at Diamond Head then drove past the really expensive houses.
Next was Hanauma Bay, a nature preserve. We could only see it from up above, but it looked so beautiful we decided we’d return on the city bus.
Then on to see the blow hole and some islands just off shore. On a clear day you can see the mountains of Maui, but it was cloudy so no view. (Some of the photos make it look as if it was a really nasty day, but it wasn’t – just cloudy.)
Stopped at the Valley of the Temples and toured in and around the Buddhist temple.
Then we stopped at Kualoa ranch for lunch and a tram ride up to a viewpoint where we could see the island called Chinaman’s Hat.
Then on to the Big Waves! At Sunset Beach, Pipeline and Waimea. There were surfers out in the water and that competition going on. Lots of interesting sights as we travelled slowly along the narrow road. Even found my favourite place!
Stopped at the Dole Plantation – another place we knew we would return to on the city bus.
Last stop was at the Pali lookout. By now we were about an hour behind schedule so it was getting dark and the view from the lookout was limited. We did see where the old highway went. Reminded me of the highways in New Zealand. SO glad we weren’t on it!
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