Hawaii June-July 2014: Grand Circle Tour of Oahu

Up early to watch USA vs. Germany in World Cup. Had to leave it just into the second half to catch our tour bus for a day-long guided tour of Oahu. M&S had done it before, so they stayed in Waikiki to enjoy the beach.

Our first stop was a beautiful state park and Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve known for snorkeling. Just down the road was Sandy Beach, a popular surfing place. Then around Makapuu Point and heading north on Rt 72, around the city of Kane Ohe, for a stop at Byodo-In Buddist Temple, with interesting history about the Japanese and Chinese laborers who came here in the 1850s to work in the sugar plantations. The sugar industry was booming, but the population of native Hawaiian had been decimated due to diseases brought here from other lands. There were not enough Hawaiians.

Continuing north on Rt 83, we stopped at the Kualoa Ranch for lunch and a quick tour of the facility. Continuing north through the little town of Laie, location of BYU Hawaii and the LDS Temple. The northern most point of the island is called Kohuku Point, then heading down the western coast you come to Sunset Beach, known for serious surfing in the winter (Bonzei Pipeline). We are now on the "dry side" of the island, heading inland through the Dole Pineapple plantation, site of a pretty impressive gift/rip off the tourist store. Highlight of that stop was a delicious "Dole Whip". Also, a very cool grove of Rainbow Gum trees.

Back to the city of Waikiki by about 6:00PM. Total miles today was said to be 120. Our driver, Pablo, was great. He never stopped talking but he was a wealth of information about the island. The industry of moving tourists around the island is amazing. Very efficient.

Met up with S&M and had nice dinner at LuLu's, a few doors down from the hotel. Tomorrow we fly out to Hawaii, the "Big Island".