December 7, 1941

We had to go to Pearl Harbor of course...educational opportunity remember?

Along with the famous USS Arizona, there are four more historic sites for you to explore at this National Historic Landmark:  Battleship Missouri Memorial, USS Bowfin Submarine & Park, Pacific Aviation Museum, and USS Oklahoma Memorial. Each exhibit commemorates their participation in the December 7, 1941 battle. These four historical sites are not free (like the USS Arizona) so tickets must be purchased to enter. Literally, you can spend a day or two exploring all of these exhibits.

We only visited the Pacific Aviation Museum which showcased the airplanes that flew in WWII (American and Japanese). The museum is located in the hangers that survived the Japanese attack on December 7,1941 on Ford Island. We were able to see the hangars still in battle condition riddled with bullet holes from the attack.

In Hangar 37:

A painting of Ford Island before the attack. Emily is pointing to the USS Arizona. Hannah is pointing to the USS Oklahoma.

Actual size of the bombs the Japanese used to bomb Pearl Harbor

The Japanese warplane named 'Emily'

My husband spent a long time admiring these incredible fighting machines. His favorites included the SBD Dauntless and a pair of F-86 and MiG-15.

Douglas SBD Dauntless (dive bomber)

In Hangar 79:

McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle Jet Fighter

Bell UH-1 Iroquois (utility) Nickname Huey

After the museum, we headed to the USS Arizona Memorial. After watching a very informative 23 minute film explaining what happened on December 7, 1941, we were shuttled onto a ferry that delivered us to the Memorial. We could not stay very long on the Memorial (maybe max 15 minutes) since the next boat load of tourists were coming on board. Due to its touristy feel, I didn't really feel the somberness and reverence it deserved. 

Names of the deceased that are under this Memorial; One the far left there is a separate memorial for survivors that have since passed on after Dec 7.

There was also a really nice mini museum detailing what happened on December 7, 1941 and the events that led to that fateful day. What was most impressive for me was not being on the actual Memorial but viewing the model of the USS Arizona and the Memorial.

It clearly showed how big the battleship was compared to the Memorial and how it lay in the waters.

When you're on the Memorial you can't see very much on the surface and have to imagine what it looked like below.

A "I Wonder"...
My first impression of Hawaii (when we stepped off the airplane) was ...boy... there are a lot of Japanese tourists ...everywhere.  I mean the public signage all over the city is written in 'English and Japanese' for heaven's sake.  I did not see as many of them at the Memorial but a significant amount were there.

I wonder... how do they feel when they visit the Memorial and view the pro-American film and literature all around the premises? Honestly, the Japanese were quite successful in their attack on Pearl Harbor. Tactically from a military stand point, they did a great job. But from a moral standpoint, Japan, at that time, was not a friendly country. The Emperor wanted to expand his reign on new territories. Conquer and control was what he wanted which was a bad thing. A very bad thing. I'm just curious about how the native Japanese (tourists) feel when they come to a Memorial like Pearl Harbor where thousands of lives were lost by their country's vicious attack. Food for thought...

If you plan to visit for the first time, note this:  even though the tickets for the USS Arizona Memorial are free, it's best to make reservations online for your assigned time slot. They do not allow any bags, purses, backpacks, diaper bags, shopping bags, camera bags nor strollers with pockets onto the premises. You can rent lockers to safe keep your things. They don't recommend locking valuables in your car due to high theft.  I was praying that no one breaks into our rental car! (Too cheap to pay for a locker!)

Still much more to come...

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Mahalo Disney

Since we were on Oahu, we had to check out the new Disney resort, Au'lani. It's on the west side of the island. A very quiet and uncrowded side of the island.

My first impression was that it looked very similar to the Grand Californian. Its very rustic-looking and tropical at the same time. You get the Disney service: cast members are ready and available to help you answer any question you may have.

Disney created their own lagoon and it's really nice. The beach has rows and rows of lounge chairs and a Disney cast member will bring an umbrella to where you are sitting to shade you. The hidden ticket is that in order to get an umbrella and sit in the lounge chairs you need to have a wristband from the resort. Of course... we, with our big green Hilton Grand Vacation tote bags filled with our Hilton towels, stuck out like sore 'Hilton non-Disney' thumbs.

But my husband insisted that all beaches are public in Hawaii. So we settled on the grass with our Hilton towels and the girls ventured into the water while I sat and read my book. (I was determined to finish at least 2 books during this trip and I did!)

Parking was astronomical! $5 for 30 minutes or complimentary if you spend $30 at an Au'Lani restaurant. After two hours on the beach, we were starving so we headed to Ama Ama for a delicious lunch of...

Three pulled pork buns with three different kinds of sauce and sweet potato fries...

Salmon poki in creme of corn chowder...

House-made Macaroni & cheese and fries with...

Create-Your-Own Kebab (chocolate brownie, pineapple, marshmallows with warm chocolate sauce and a Mickey straw) for dessert.

The straw was the only 'Mickey' we ever saw at the resort (other than the gift shop).

Yep there's much more to come...

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Rooftop Luau

As a part of the promo package, we were able to go to a luau. Now Matthew and I have already been to one the last time we were in Hawaii but the girls have not. Emily was only one at the time so she doesn't remember it at all.

Usually a traditional luau gives you a bit of the true Hawaiian experience with music, dance, fire and food. You get to try the poke, poi and pulled pork that comes from the pig that is cooked in the ground. They have a big ceremony that showcases the pig getting pulled out of it's 'underground oven'. It's pretty entertaining.

Before the eating festivities, you usually get to experience different Hawaiian activities. Canoeing, throwing spears, making leis, making carvings, or getting a temporary art tattoo even. It's lots of fun and a great time learning about native Polynesian culture and history against a beautiful sunset against mountains.

A painted mural of the mountainside to give the luau 'ambiance'

Now this luau was the 'Waikiki Starlight Luau' which was situated on the rooftop of the conference center of our resort. You can guess that many of the 'normal' luau activities would be quite impossible to do. But since it was free and we didn't have to drive over an hour to it, I was okay with it.

We were greeted with a shell lei. Orchid leis were for 'premium' ticket holders. I found out we had 'general admission' tickets at $95 each and sat way back towards the side of the stage. I guess the more you pay the better seats you get and of course you get the better lei. We sat next to another family of four: mom and dad with their two daughters. They were from the SF area. What a small world.

The emcee welcomes the guests, gave a quick hula demonstration and skirt wrap demonstration. Then we feast on the buffet.

Lots of food to chose from and I must say I enjoyed this food better than the previous luau we attended. But the pageantry and ceremonial aspects were missing which I enjoyed from the first one.

Veggies, fish, chicken and pulled pork

Hawaiian fried rice

Prime rib

Fruits and salads

After all the eating, the show started with various dance numbers with hunky polynesian guys and gorgeous Hawaiian gals. It ended with a dramatic fire dance with was pretty nice.

Honestly, I enjoyed the other luau which was at Paradise Cove. I also thought that paying $95 a ticket for an adult and $49 for a child was too much but since it was free I'm not complaining... too much.

Yet still more to come...

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Strange Eats

Other than eating and laying out poolside, we went shopping.

Crack Seed Stores,... What the heck was this? Something for birds? No!!!!

My dear friend,  E. says that it's the ultimate place for muis and other delicious snack foods... Asian style!! She had me go get her a bag of 'li hing mangos'. Apparently, 'li hing' is a famous type of powder that is a little sweet and a little sour. 'Muis' are dried fruits that are seasoned with this powder.

Rainbow Crack Seed was filled with all sorts of bagged snacks...Hawaiian and Asian style of course.

My goddaughter, Mandy wanted me to get her Iso Peanuts.. so I hunted for them and eventually found them.

No CVS here... It's still good ol' Longs Drugs, a great place for us to get the hurricane popcorn everyone was asking for us to bring back for them. I even got SPAM Macadamia nuts for E's husband.

And check out what we found in a Japanese grocery store..

These remind me of the crabs in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest..

Not sure what this says anyone know how to read Japanese?  It looks like dried baby crabs..I texted a picture to E. and she admitted that she had them before... apparently good with beer so she says. LOL!

Looks like fish...anchovies perhaps?

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Eating on the Road

So the eating continues. We hit the road and just ate and ate.

Our first stop was at the Dole Plantation. We didn't do the world's largest maze but we did stop to have some of the pineapple soft serve and checked out their gift shop. We even got to watch a pineapple cutting demonstration.

Did you know that after you cut your pineapple, you need to rinse it with water first before eating? That way you get rid of the acid that collects on the pineapple.

Now I've blogged about the mobile food trucks in our area but in Hawaii, these food trucks still serve food from the trucks but they also stay pretty permanent in one place, not very mobile anymore.

The second stop was Giovanni's Famous Shrimp. Very messy, expensive but delicious. This garlic shrimp platter was $13. 

Our third stop was BBQ Corn (Island style-tons of salt pepper and some other type of seasonings). Delicious... until after my first bite I found a worm. But I just flicked it off and kept on eating. Yep... so unlike me but hey.. I'm in Hawaii! It changes people!

Delish!

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Sit Down Eats

Here are some the places friends have been telling us to try...

Genki Sushi... like sushi boat but not... it's actually sushi on a conveyer belt.. cheap and the sashimi was good per my husband. I don't eat raw fish so I could not agree. Overall I thought the sushi was okay... nothing spectacular ... too much rice in the pieces sometimes.

Top right was the 'California roll' ...Not much California if I say so myself

Side Street Inn was recommended as a place where Hawaiian chefs would go eat after they finish work. It's good down home cooking...which I agree. Huge portions and it gets crowded very quickly.

House fried rice with chasu

Boneless short ribs

Baked Fish (forgot what kind it was)

Goma Tei is a ramen place at Ward Centers (shopping area). Matthew says it was good but not great. But of course he is quite picky about his noodles.

Chicken donburi with egg and rice

Tonkatsu ramen

Soy ramen

Seaweed ramen

Zippy's was their version of KFC/Jollibee fast food. It was quite good though. We ordered fried chicken, chili rice, spaghetti, spam masubi and of course can't forget the macaroni salad.

All of this fed our family of four!

Leonard's Bakery for the must-have malasada's (Hawaiian donuts) filled with rich sweetness. We got six and they should be eaten while they are warm! We got original sugar, li hing powder (sweet & sour powder), custard and chocolate filled. The custard was to die for. Not too impressed with the li hing one. Had the chocolate one the next day and it was not so good not because of it being chocolate but because it was cold and one day old.

Chomping down in the car

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