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Published: October 26th 2005
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The Beach
It never got much more crowded than this September 17th part 2 Oahu, Hawaii
Car hire firm at Honolulu is off airport and once there we are told hire does not include CDW, Collision Damage Waiver, despite what the web site says.
We are not pleased and in a fit of pique we refuse CDW. This means if we crash the excess is the value of the car. Steve will have to drive carefully.
Take the freeway through red earth and pineapple ranches. The vegetation is lush and varied. There are many plants new to me.
The North Shore is a surfer's paradise but is still relatively quiet and today there is no surf so we pass by.
The coast road turns southwards. We drive through a couple of villages and manage to miss the campsite entrance.
We turn round and keep our eyes peeled for telegraph pole 43.
Seriously that is one of the directions we have been given.
Once we find number 43 it's a breeze.
The office at Malaekahana State Park is closed but there are some instructions and our permit pinned to the door.
The park is right alongside the beach, full of mature trees and only a few other tents.
Pitch and send
Look No Hands
Steve showing how easy body boarding can be Rory and Steve to fill the boot with essentials. We only have the car for 24hours, the idea being to get us here and do heavy shopping.
There are good, cheap buses on Oahu and indeed one stops at the entrance to the campsite. But they will not take large bags as luggage. A taxi would have cost a bomb.
Wind picks up and the tent poles bend inwards so that one 'side' is touching the floor.
It's not meant to do that.
Owen and I resort to sitting in the tent holding the poles vertical.
Well we are on the Windward side of the Island.
Luckily wind drops after half a hour or so.
Walk on one of the best beaches we have ever seen; 90 seconds from our tent.
The sand is soft and clean, there is no seaweed, the sea never goes out too far and is a constant 70F, the sweeping bay is fringed with palm trees, there are waves to play in and not more than a handful of other people in sight.
The scene is topped off this evening with a full Harvest moon.
September 18th sunday
Woken early by a cockerel
The Campsite
It never got much more crowded than this outside the tent. Clear up the rubbish bag that has been attacked by something and have breakfast.
Trip to supermarket at Sunset Bay. stock up on everything but alcohol. It's not allowed on the campsite. Treat the boys to a boogie board between them.
The supermarket has the worst store detective. He is instantly recognisable as one even in plain clothes.
Steve drops us back at camp and he returns the car.
As we are unloading the manager of the camp appears with 2 boogie boards that have been left and makes us a present of them. That should cut down the squabbling!
We swim, surf, laze, sunbathe etc for the rest of the day. It can be a hard life at times.
Steve gets back with the good news that he didn't damage the car.
Noodles for tea as the sun goes down...no moon tonight.
September 19th
Cockerel does his work again. He and a group of chickens have the run of the place.
Some things missing off the washing line. Steve and Rory's speedos, my sarong and a pair of lacy unmentionables. Thought it might be the work of the wind or the chickens but it
Our Facilities
The showers were colder than the sea but still pleasant could just be a weirdo.
Stroll to nearest shop, about 1 mile away, for milk. Quite a rural area and a pretty walk.
The man in the next tent is having beer for breakfast! so much for the rules.
Another day of beach amusement.
Birthday cake from a little boy in another tent. He is 6.
No moon again.
September 20th
Morning of swimming and surfing. It is quite tiring in these waves but exhilorating.
After lunch Steve, Rory and I visit the Polynesian Cultural Centre. Bus fails to appear and we get a lift in the back of a pick up...great fun.
The Centre has exhibits from several Polynesian Islands and is well laid out. Gives a view of lifestyles and traditions of each culture.
Taste Poi (some kind of mashed root, exceptionally nutritious) in the Hawaiian section, learn to weave a fish from a palm leaf in Samoa and try our hand at Poi (the fluffy ball kind) twirling in New Zealand...it's not as easy as it looks.
Heavy rain on and off but soon dry in the hot sun that follows each shower.
Imax film about Coral Reefs stunning photography and very informative.
Walk to
next village (Laie) for supplies and pizza. Great timing for the bus and pizza is still hot when we get back.
Tea in the gathering dark, there is no moon again tonight. At least not a visible one.
September 21st Wednesday
Beach pursuits today.
Boys make friends with the birthday boy of the other day and his 3 siblings.
They are from a local village but staying here for a few days.
Great for them to have playmates but the youngest are a bit wild.
Noodles again. I am getting to like them.
Given up on the moon.
September 22nd Thursday
Owen and Rory manage to go and fetch the milk by themselves.
Swimming etc and cards.
Beautiful weather.
My contribution to the day is the use of my homemade washing machine.
September 23rd
Up early and ready for the bus to Kailua where we hope to go kyaking.
Odd discussion at the bus stop with a man on a mission against ants.
As bus takes to the highway with no stops until Honolulu we realise we should have got off at the last stop.
The weather is not good so we decide
Pals
The local family the boys teamed up with to spend time in Honolulu instead.
Large modern crowded shopping centre Ala Moana full of tourist targetted stuff.
Have fun window shopping and browsing in the bookshop.
Picnic on parkland behind the beach.
There are a noticeable number of homeless people wandering around here and sleeping on benches.
The beach here is OK but nothing special.
Trip back on the bus is through very heavy rain.
Luckily the tent is still dry inside. We are warned by the manager that there is going to be a storm tonight and if we have anywhere else to go we should. We don't so we move things away from the sides and put everything we can in bin bags and prepare to sit it out.
Nothing much materializes although the wind was up for an hour or so.
September 24th
The playmates are not at school today so the boys have company.
Nothing strenuous today after yesterday's long trip.
Swimming and surfing are the most we do all day.
September 25th
Steve catches bus to Waikiki to pick up the car for return journey. We are using a different hire firm this time.
(Waikiki is another world.
Beachcombing haul
A selection of things collected (and left) on the beach While waiting for the car I found my way to the beach only to find it coated with tourists and towels, and boarders, boogie boarders and swimmers strictly segregated ... not what we have been used to. And for breakfast from one of the ubiquitous ABC shops I had the worst egg sarnie I've had in a long time. Steve.)
I amuse the kids and keep order.
Car firm have run out ordinary model that we ordered so we have a 7 seater Honda for the same money. It's great and this one does have CDW so I dont have to worry too much.
same cost.
We all pile in and go exploring the surfing beaches on the North Shore.
Surf is not'up' again.
Stopped at Hale'iwa for a shave ice. This was a large mound of shaved ice with flavoured syrup poured over. Better than an ice cream I think.
Bought a new sarong and did some window shopping.
Planned Pizza for tea but the town was not open. Could be because it is Sunday.
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