Category: Trips

Mokulele Airlines

Flight out of Honolulu

After two nights in Kaua’i and five on Oahu, we now head for the island of Moloka’i, one of the least visited of the Hawaiian islands. Moloka’i has a very small airport, so we had to fly on Mokulele Airlines in a Cessna 208. It was a short flight, but we got some pretty good photos from the air.

Mokulele Airlines destinations.
Our plane, a Cessna 208.
Both pilots were women! Here, the co-pilot reads the safety instructions.
This is a nine-passenger plane!
Port of Honolulu.
Aerial view of Honolulu.
Great shot of Diamond Head crater.
Makapu’U Lookout and the islands of Manana and Kaohikaipu. We were there on Sunday afternoon.

Last day in Waikiki

Honolulu HI

Our last day

We had to go to famous Leonard’s Bakery, home of the best malasadas in Honolulu.
Yum!
The famous banyan tree.
This is the base of the banyan tree.
Statue of Duke Kahanamoku. He is known as the “Father of International Surfing”, between 1912 and 1932 in four Olympic Games he won three gold medals, two silver and one bronze in swimming. Surfing in 1929, he rode an enormous wave for 1.128 miles at Waikiki – likely the longest ride in modern times. He also was a movie actor from 1925-1933, and was elected Sheriff of Honolulu from 1934-1960.
Waikiki Beach.
Our last night in Waikiki, we had dinner at Duke’s.
The view from Duke’s.

Manoa Falls

Honolulu HI

Manoa Falls is a 100 foot waterfall with a 0.8 mile trail to access. The trail is pretty steep, and it is a jungle out there!

Lush jungle on the way up the trail.
Lush and green, and a little rainfall to complete the scene.
Bamboo.
Even at 100 feet tall, the falls are a little underwhelming after the steep walk to get there.

Oahu South Shore by boat

Honolulu HI

Honolulu skyline (partial). Honolulu has a very long skyline, along the coastline.
This marina was featured in the opening scenes of Gilligan’s Island TV show.
Rainbow Tower, the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort.
Rainbow Tower.
Waikiki Beach. Even dark clouds and rain do not keep the devoted people from the water!
Humpback whales, mother and baby.
Mama humpback.
Fish followed our boat, hoping we would feed them. We did.
Green Hawaiian Sea Turtle.
Spinner dolphins.
More spinner dolphins.
Looking through the glass bottom, coral reefs on the sea floor.

Oahu North Shore

Island of Oahu

The other side of these mountains is Kualoa Ranch, where much of Jurassic Park, and several other movies, were filmed. There are tours available there now. The rides are very bumpy so we did not take a tour.
Mokoli’i Island, also know as Chinaman Hat Island.
Kualoa Beach, also a campground. I never was able to find out what made all these holes on the beach.
Lāʻie Point State Wayside and Kukuihoolua Island.
We don’t see these on the East Coast!
Sunset Beach.
Surfboards for rent at the Banzai Pipeline
Wild chickens everywhere on all the islands. Here they were scavenging our lunches.
Banzai Pipeline, considered the best surfing waves in the world.
The waves were not very high this day.
This was about the best pipeline I saw.
Waimea Bay Beach.
Laniakea Beach, also known as…
Turtle Beach. Here are two Green Hawaiian Sea Turtles. They are protected by law. It is a crime to even get close to them or touch them.
Dole Plantation. Tours and lots of overpriced souvenirs.
And pineapple ice cream! Expensive, but it was delicious!
Pineapple plantation.
Close up of some very young pineapples. They are smaller than a baseball at this stage.
Our second luau – at Paradise Cove.
Sunset at Paradise Cove.
Fire eater at the luau.