Wish Trip – Day 6

Eddie said today was his favorite day of the entire week.  It was the day he had most looked forward to and it lived up to his expectations.

We started the day at Hanauma Bay for snorkeling.  This is a state park, marine conservation area, and nature preserve.  It was named the best beach in the US for 2016.  It sees more than a million visitors per year.  During the two weeks of Christmas and the New Year, it has more visitors than Disney World AND Disney Land combined!  To find out more about this must visit spot in Oahu, click here.

I realize when you think of Hawaii you likely think of hot weather and warm water.  That may be the case certain times of the year, but not exactly now.  This is the wet season here.  The water temperature is in the 70s.  While at Hanauma Bay, that was the lower 70s and the air temperature was in the low 70s/upper 60s.  It was very comfortable …. while on the beach.  The water, however, was very cold, in my opinion.  Eddie and I got snorkel gear.  I got to waist deep water and could not handle anymore.  I was just too uncomfortable, but Eddie was not about to let a little cold stand in his way.

He saw a variety of tropical fish and coral in the bay.  I enjoyed watching Deacon play in the sand.   This area, located in a volcanic cone, was so pretty.  There were rocky edges, sandy beaches, palm trees…..just as you would expect.  It was beautiful.

After leaving there, we traveled across the island to the North Shore which is world famous for its surfing.  This was a priority for Eddie.  It took us around an hour to get there and we traveled through part of the interior of the island.  We passed by the stadium where the Aloha Bowl is played and the Pro Bowl used to be played.  We saw a number of military areas and the Dole Plantation.  We wanted to stop by Dole on the way back, but we spent too much time at the North Shore.

We traveled through the “historic town of Haleiwa” as the sign says.  Locals have fought against commercialization in this town so it is so quaint and filled with local shops.  In some ways, it reminds me of the Outer Banks.  There are food trucks everywhere many of which have been featured on television such as the Travel Channel and Food Network. However, it was challenging to find a parking spot and a place all of us would enjoy so we ended up eating at a local restaurant that had a great view of the ocean.  Then we headed down a small highway called Hamekameka Hwy. which seems to go around a big portion of the island.  We made our way to Waimea Bay which is known for its enormous waves this time of the year.  They did not disappoint.

The beach was filled with locals who are experienced surfers.  Nobody was in the water above the knees without a board of some sort.  I’ve been on the Carolina coast as a hurricane barreled in and during a tropical storm and never have I seen waves and power like this.

We had heard that Obama stops in this area for shaved ice when he’s in Hawaii, so we wanted to do it, too.  After all, if it’s good enough for the president, it’s good enough for us!  🙂  So on the way out of town, Eddie got shaved ice, Deacon got ice cream and I got a pineapple bowl.  Perhaps it’s a bit melodramatic but my life is now measured in terms of before the pineapple bowl and after the pineapple bowl.  Yum.  It’s a concoction of pineapple shaved ice, fresh pineapple, vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream (and a cherry but I threw that nasty thing out).

A deliciously wonderful day that Eddie proclaimed was a highlight.