Fleeing from the colder mainland weather, we absconded to Honolulu where we were surrounded by friends and family.  We are richly blessed with an open invitation to stay in a sun-filled home  overlooking the city and the Koolau Mountain Range with a  live-in 5 star chef in one of the world's most beautiful places- thanks Ma!  We spent most of our time ensconced in the bustling activity of daily family life.  With Chinese New Year fast on our heels, many family dinners were held at fabulous (non-touristy) restaurants, crowned by a celebratory feast at home on New Year's Eve.  Our trip coincided with rainy season, but that sounds worse than it really was.  Early morning clouds and rain usually burned off by midmorning, leaving the landscape refreshed and cool.  The best part: RAINBOWS... everywhere, even elusive double rainbows. 

Having missed the USS Arizona Memorial  (above) on previous trips, we set out early to Pearl Harbor.  We arrived in time to secure tickets for the second to last tour of the day, three hours later.  The waiting area was a shaded outdoor pavilion with a central fountain flanked by a gift shop and museum on one side, and a theater on the other.  Giving way to the harbor, the pavilion ended with steps down to a manicured, grassy, coconut tree-bedecked  park (left).  From there Mighty Mo and the memorial could be seen in the distance (below left).  Docked outside the back doors of the theater, navy boats waited to take visitors to the memorial (below right).  Before heading to the memorial, we watched a quick movie about the attack on Pearl Harbor.  At the memorial, the first thing you notice is the silence, then the stark white angularity of the whalebone-like ceiling (two below left).   We proceeded to the other end where a marble wall bearing the names of the fallen was guarded by a velvet rope and solemn orchid leis (two below right).  Large black letters in the center of the wall reminded you that below your feet were 1177 men entombed in the Arizona.  The shuffling of shoes and whispered prayers of thanks were the only noticeable sounds.

As our time on the memorial concluded, a cold drizzle began to fall and a rainbow arched over the city.  Another rainbow floated lazily on the water's surface.  The iridescent rainbow caused by the oil tank slowly leaking about 1 quart of its remaining 500,000 gallons of fuel a day.  Concern mounts over the environmental impact of a sudden fuel spill here as the hull deteriorates.

On a particularly sunny day, we drove out to the eastern coast of the island, passing Hawaii Kai, Sandy Beach, and Hanauma Bay along the way.  We stopped at Blowhole where huge waves created impressive plumes of salt water accompanied by thunderous claps (two above, left and right).  Further down the road, we parked in a small  lot hugging the base of a cliff and started down the  Makapu'u Lookout Trail.  Walking toward the Ka Iwi coast we were treated to increasingly dramatic views of the landscape (above, left and right).  Almost at the end of the trail, we came to an outcropping that overlooked the red-roofed lighthouse (right).  A short walk later we reached the end.  Views of the entire coastline (below and two below), Molokai,  and Rabbit (Manana) Island (so called because it looks like a rabbit and rabbits actually live there) greeted us.

Soon, the sunny weather began fading fast; storm clouds were blowing in from the ocean.   The distant rain and our waning patch of sunlight produced a faint rainbow (two left).  Making haste down the cliff, I paused only briefly to examine an odd looking plant (left).  Further down, we spotted a moth the color of milk thistle with a 4" wingspan (no picture, too fast for us).

Taking advantage of a warm sunny day, we hiked Diamond Head starting at the interior base of the crater.  The grassy fields soon gave way to more mountainous terrain with paved switchbacks (above center), then a steep staircase and long dark tunnel (above right)).  After emerging from the steep uphill climb, the light at the end of the tunnel yielded another steep set of stairs (right) followed by a spiral staircase.  Once the last stair was climbed, we climbed a short ladder through a short opening (two right) that looked like a toadstool (three right) and at last emerged from the bowels of the crater.  The views were beautiful.  On one side, a lighthouse could be seen at the exterior base of the crater and, on the other, another lookout tower and Waikiki (below).

Iolani Palace (above left, left, and below), the only royal palace on US soil, is situated on beautiful grounds with a gazebo (above) in the downtown Honolulu.  Before entering the palace, we covered our shoes with tissue-like booties.  Since I was wearing heeled sandals I was asked to remove my shoes, and given socks and cloth booties to keep my feet warm (right).  After donning our booties the hostesses presented us with "non-floral talking leis" a.k.a. the audio tour wands.  Designed by King Kalakaua, the grand interior was filled with the latest technology of the time, like  electric chandeliers and indoor plumbing.   After the overthrow of the monarchy, the palace was used for government offices; its fine furnishings and decor were auctioned.  The Friends of Iolani Palace are seeking to recover these artifacts and have found pieces scattered throughout the world.

Honolulu's Chinatown crackled, sizzled, and drummed in the Chinese New Year.  As they blessed homes and businesses, jiggling and parading lion dancers were cheered on by huge crowds (right and below).  In search of good luck, spectators eagerly "fed" the lions a bit of money (below right).    Note: No children were harmed or fed to the lions as part of this celebration.