Last Day on Oahu

Im Flying!

Some Pictures from Waimanalo Beach

Today I am enjoying my last day on Oahu. Tomorrow morning I fly to the 3rd island of my trip, the Big Island! First on the agenda is to visit the Volcano Park at night to see lava flowing and GLOWING. Maybe I'll bring some s'mores stuff... :) just kidding... but maybe I will just in case...

For my last day in Oahu, Julia and I were going to surf but the water is rough and it was recommended not to go. So instead, I will FINALLY hike the Punchbowl. Then I will pack my massive beautiful suitcase (thanks Buffalo State Human Resources!) which when I was previously staying in the hostel my roommates nicknamed the pink whale. 

At around 5am I will probably be wheeling the pink whale down Kapahulu St. to catch the shuttle from Waikiki to the airport... Flight... New Island... Julia and I will be in the Hilo Bay Hostel for 2 nights. Then Julia will leave to go back to Germany, and I will continue exploring the Big Island, maybe with Sun Young's old roomie. We'll see :)

Bye for now! Or as they say in Hawai'i, ALOHA.

Back to Waikiki

Kelly and I booked dolphin swims for the day after we returned from Kauai. Here's some pics from the dolphin swim... oh, and a turtle which I was really excited to see!

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The next day, Kelly left to go back to Batavia, NY. I was sad to see such a great new friend leave, but I must press ahead for my hike to Diamond Head! I met some German girls and we hiked Diamond Head Mt. together and visited Pearl Harbor. 

PS. We aren't sweaty, it was raining. For real. 

This part with the stairs reminded me of the Statue of Liberty. ^

Part of a sunken ship, USS ARIZONA, at Pearl Harbor:

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My travel companion the next day was a new girl in my room at the Hostel. Lena is from the German city of Hamburg and had been traveling in Canada and the west coast of the US. We went to Bishop Museum (As I mentioned, yesterday had been cloudy and sprinkling so I had made rainy day plans, but it turned out to be sunny and beautiful--Oh lovely Hawaii!), stopped to see Iolani Palace (the only royal palace on US soil), stopped in Chinatown for lunch, got back to Waikiki to see the sunset and then the Friday night fireworks. It was a really fun day. 

Lava Rock Melting Demonstration at Bishop Museum:

Iolani Palace (and tiny little Lena):

Lena and I, as single adventurers traveling on a budget, can't help but like this law:

Can't Get enough of these Waikiki Sunsets:

Kauai

I had a great two days in Kauai, a very beautiful, very GREEN place. The flight from Oahu to Kauai only took about 10 minutes and I could see the sun rising while I was in the air. 

Kelly and I rented a car and covered the East and North coasts the first day, the South and West on the second day. We saw many various beaches, waterfalls, bays, and rivers. We also saw Waimea Canyon --called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. And we took a sunset catamaran cruise on which we saw whales and spots on the Na Pali coast only viewable by boat or sky. I took a ton of pictures but here are just a few of my favorites. 

The Tree Tunnel

Maui Dog: Hot dog with cole slaw and bbq sauce. Sounds kinda weird, but actually really good:

Imagine living in that white house: