Koningsdam adventure, Honolulu, Hawaii, Day 1...

I was up early and out for the always lovely sail into Honolulu, Hawaii. My sister Lisa and her husband Jim, Ann Cathy and I went on a circle island tour. This morning, we started our tour with a drive up the Pali Highway to take in the breathtaking views from the Nuuanu Pali Lookout, with its dramatic cliffs and lush valleys. We returned to Waikiki, parked the car and walked to the beach with a view to Diamond Head as the backdrop. High-rise hotels line the shore in Waikiki, a vibrant neighborhood known for its popular beach. Designer fashion stores line Kalakaua Avenue and nearby streets, and the area buzzes with tourists. Leaving Waikiki, we traveled the east coast taking in the vibrant scenery and making a few stops like the Halona Blow Hole, Makapu’u Point and Makapuu Beach Park. Continuing our adventure, we passed Mokoli’i Island better known as Chinaman’s Hat. We stopped at the Valley of the Temples Cemetery…this is such a wonderful stop to see the magnificent beauty of the Ko’olau Mountains…on this visit, we took the time to stop by the Byodo-In Temple. Byodo-In is a stunning replica of a historic Japanese temple that symbolizes harmony and peace. Surrounded by lush gardens and koi ponds, it serves as a serene space for meditation and reflection, attracting visitors of all backgrounds. Reaching Waimea Bay on the North Shore, we stopped at Sunset/Ehukai Beach. This beautiful beach is the home of the famous Banzai Pipeline. This beach can be the most impressive, and the most dangerous in the world. The Banzai Pipeline Beach is an absolute must-visit for anyone who loves the ocean, surfing, or simply watching nature at its most powerful…This afternoon, the waves gave us a show, the likes we have never seen… barreling ashore, rising to 20 feet and very powerful.  It was just incredible!  I feel so blessed to have captured some surfers taking on these monstrous waves…  I think I got some pretty incredible photographs.  From here we headed inland towards Honolulu driving through the Dole Pineapple Plantation and dropped our car at the airport. Our circle island tour of Oahu had some charm…Honolulu/Waikiki is very developed, has lots traffic, and crowds…For Lisa and Jim getting out of town gave them definitely a different perspective on the island of Oahu with the beauty and charm of the picturesque landscape we encountered today…a great day with family and friends! This stop in Honolulu is an overnight and we are looking forward to our doors off helicopter tour of Oahu in the morning.