Oahu

In Hawaiian Oahu means gathering place. Oahu is the main island that most people come to first. Honolulu is the main city. It is also the capital of the State of Hawaii. It is not the largest of the Islands. In the past the major income for the island came from pineapples and sugar cane. Today there is little of this raised on the island. The major income for Oahu comes from tourism and government installations. All branches of the military have large installations on the island. Waikiki Breach in Honolulu is a big tourist center.

When we arrived in Hawaii we were met by our Vantage Tour Directors who would be with us for the trip. They were great!
		We stayed in the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani right on Waikiki Beach. Our view from our room is at the left and above.
Here I am with Bob on Waikiki Beach. The beach was beautiful
	Many sun bathers were enjoying the beach. To the right is the Royal Hawaiian, the first hotel on the beach.
We got a good view of Honolulu from The "Punchbowl", the National Memorial Cemetery built on an extinct volcano over the city.
This is the Iolani Palace, the only royal palace in the US. This was the palace of King Kalakaua the last King of Hawaii. From 1893 until 1969 it served as the capitol building.
	In the evening we walked along the beach. Hawaiian singers and hula dancers were entertaining.
We saw the USS Arizona Memorial to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the USS Missouri Memorial. The Japanese surrendered on the USS Missouri at the end of World War II.

	We drove around Oahu which is an island. There was a beautiful view (above) from the Pali Overlook (in Hawaiian pali means cliff).
We saw mountains and beautiful beaches. Surfing was good on the North side of the island.
	Shallow lagoons offered a place to hunt fish and shells. Pineapple grew in fields as we crossed the center of Oahu.
In the evening we boarded our ship to see the other islands.		It was night as we left. Here is the famous Aloha Tower in Honolulu as we leave Oahu.