How did they find this place?
The first time I visited Hawaii my mind was blown. The idea of being on a tiny, volcanic island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean really left an impression on me. There I was, standing on this rock, with deep, blue water surrounding me for thousands of miles. How did those Polynesian seafarers find their way to this remote land? They say the stars, but those have never even helped me find my way back to the hotel.
Polynesians rowing boats across great expanses of seawater is history now, but Hawaii is still an exciting place. Many people start their Hawaiian travels in the big city of Honolulu. The tourist hot spot of the area is Waikiki Beach. Every hotel is a block from the beach, and many have towering views of the ocean.
Diamond Head Crater looms in the distance. Also known as Le’ahi, it is volcanic in origin and when climbed has beautiful views of the Island. For those that don’t mind getting a sweat up, it is a reasonable walk from Waikiki Beach to Diamond Head. Along the way there is an artist’s market. When I visited, I bought a black and white drawing of rowers in a race on the ocean. One of the artists complained verbally that no one was buying his stuff.
Beach bums
If a long walk to Diamond Head isn’t in the cards, no worries. Most people prefer to hang around the beach anyway. There is white sand, palm trees, and according to Google Maps, a pickleball court. It’s crazy how often I visit Google’s website every day. One of the tour guides in Hawaii ironically called it “The Oracle”.
The water at Waikiki is like a bathtub. I floated around in the waves for a solid hour, that’s how much I enjoyed it. Swim a little further out and one enters the surfer’s territory. They can be seen all hours, from dawn to dusk.
Hawaii is the center of surfing culture. In fact, ancient Polynesian cave art is the earliest recording of surfing in history. James Cook wrote about it in his exploration diaries from the 18th century. Finally, I can’t talk about surfing without mentioning Duke Kahanamoku. He was an Olympic swimmer, and legendary surfer, born near Waikiki. Widely revered by Hawaiians, he revived the sport of surfing and brought it worldwide attention. He also served as Sheriff of Honolulu.
I haven’t surfed yet, but it’s on my bucket list. Anyway, one place northwest of Waikiki that also brought my attention was Ala Moana Park. This is more of a local beach, and less commercial. Think more anglers and picnics, and less young people sunbathing. One guy with headphones walked around with a bag of seeds, spreading them to the pigeons. He jammed out the whole time, and the birds were eager to join in his dance. I really wanted to get in the water and cast a fishing line but didn’t feel like going through the hassle of getting a license. Instead, I just walked around and soaked up the sun, Sheryl Crow style.
