Oahu, second leg

After several fun filled and packed days on the Big Island, I had two days on Oahu, to catch my breath before flying back to California.

Considering my intention of this overall retreat / vacation is to rest down and relax, I really needed some down time. I told my Dad this fact, and he did his best to accommodate my need.

We stayed at the Prince hotel, which is quite fancy. Upon landing and arriving in Honolulu, we ate at a 24 hr Hawaiian restaurant in Waikiki, add name later, which is very very popular. We ate there twice and fortunately there was never a line out the restaurant. However, every seat was occupied. You can tell they are popular though, because they have menu items you will not see elsewhere- spam, viennese sausage, and many foreign to me Chinese names for sauces and sea food. I ordered different omelets both times and enjoyed them. Although, the Irish breakfast is a ton of food (corned beef stuffed omelet).

Later we went to the Waikiki beach, which has been dredged in some places making for pleasant swimming conditions. I wore my rash guard, not wanting to take any chances with sun burn. In the past, my Dad led a very busy life, so it was nice to have some quality time for meaningful conversations with him.

Waikiki is basically an enormous three mile shopping mall with many hotels breaking up the lines of shops. Needless to say, I spent the middle day on the beach. I wonder if there is something to the theory that ocean water, being loaded with negative ions, is rather healing and / or rejuvenating. I did not want to leave, for one reason or another.

That night, we ate with another friend, at the Surf rider Moana beach cafe (at the Hotel). This is one of the older hotels in Waikiki (it is one of the original two hotels, back when Waikiki was a heavily wooded area). Their cafe almost goes out to the waves, which perfect for watching the sun set.

Then, the next morning I took a cab to the airport. My Hawaii chapter was finished (for now).