Pyramids in Polynesia: Activities - Part 1

It's been far too long since I sat down to write, and we've got lots to talk about (and lots of pictures!) so without further ado, let's get into some of the Pyramids' must-do activities in Hawaii!  If you want some background details on our trip, check out my first honeymoon post.

Surfing Lessons at Waimea Beach (Oahu)

One of the biggest reasons I wanted to go to Hawaii was to cross surfing off of my bucket list.  Even though I'm an unbalanced spaz, it's always been a dream of mine to try it out.

So, let me just say - it was awesome.  We were out on the water for at least an hour and a half, and we were both able to stand up to ride several waves.  If we were a competitive kind of couple, I'd mention that I stood up for a few more waves than my good-at-everything-athletic husband...but that would be bragging, right?

These photos were taken and sent to me by the mom of the family surfing with us. She stayed on the beach and caught us in some of her pictures and sent them to me in email.  So sweet!  Thank you!

Proof!

We did our lessons through Sunset Suratt Surf School (also called Uncle Bryan's), and I'd highly recommend them.  The class was just us and a dad with his three kids, and there were three instructors/helpers.  I liked that they were nearby directing and guiding us (and helping me when my arms got too tired paddling against the waves!), but allowed us to pretty much do it on our own.  They taught us the basics on the beach, lined us up for waves, and let us ride!

Look at that Sphinx go!

We chose the 11 AM session, because they were located on the North Shore (about an hour drive from our hotel) and the 8 AM session sounded way too early.  Technically, I think they say waves are better earlier in the morning, but for our very, very beginner purposes, the second class was just fine.  The beach we met at didn't have much wave action going on, so the instructors led us to another one to make sure we got a good experience.

That is the look of sheer terror and excitement.

Standing up on the board and riding a wave was really incredible, but we spent a good bit of time resting on the board waiting for our turn.  And that's when I really got a chance to soak it all in - sitting on the board like I knew what I was doing, peering into the clear water at the coral reefs below, and soaking up the sunshine.  We even got to see a few sea turtles swimming around us!  There were tourists on the beach trying to catch a glimpse of them, but we got an close-up view.  So overall, it was pretty much my favorite experience from Hawaii, and I'd definitely say to check it out!  It's not as scary as you might think!


Pearl Harbor Museum/U.S.S. Arizona Memorial (Oahu)

Sphinx and I are both pretty big history buffs, so the Pearl Harbor Museum was definitely on our list to do.  Our trip was a little extra special, because I have a cousin who works at the memorial as a historian/tour guide, so I got with her to coordinate our visit.  Cousin A - along with her Navy sailor fiance who she met at the memorial (everybody say "aaaw") - took us on a personal tour and shared some facts that she'd learned from interviewing survivors.  I really enjoyed learning about the state of the U.S. before entering WWII, what events led up to the attack, and the traditions that have been upheld since then to commemorate the lives lost. For example, survivors of the U.S.S. Arizona can be cremated and interred back into the ship, and many of the survivors and their families return to the island every year December 7th for a ceremony.  

The "Crossroads of the Pacific" sign used to stand in downtown Honolulu, and was a popular photo spots for sailors stationed on the islands.

Upon entering the visitor center, there are several museums to investigate before going into a theater for a twenty-minute movie.  After the film, you board a boat to head out to the memorial, which sits over the location where the Arizona was moored when she sank.  Be aware, once you get to the memorial, you only have about fifteen minutes there.  We easily filled up that time by visiting the shrine room with the names of the soldiers who perished, viewing the "tears of the Arizona" where fuel is still leaking out from the tanks, and observing how large and close together the ships were docked in the harbor.

Our awesome tour guides let Sphinx ride up in the front of the boat.  

It is a somber visit for a honeymoon, but there was also a peek into what life was like for the military and locals on Oahu back in the 30's and 40's which was very interesting.

After the memorial, my cousin and her fiance were able to take us onto Ford Island, the military base behind the harbor, which offered a different view of the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, and the memorials for the U.S.S. Oklahoma and the U.S.S. Utah.  If you have access to that yourself or through a friend, I'd make some time for a visit.

View of the memorial from Ford Island - it is so peaceful and quiet from the shore.

Diamond Head Hike (Oahu)

Our hotel had a beautiful view of Diamondhead, but our trip wouldn't have been complete without climbing it ourselves! Yes, it's a touristy destination, but it has beautiful views and some interesting history (the area was a military defense base in the early 1900s), so I'd recommend it.  For most sites in Hawaii, you'll see suggestions to go early in the morning because of crowds and heat (this is also the case for Pearl Harbor, but as you see above, we had some very undeserved VIP treatment there).

Reppin' the Tigers everywhere.

This is the one time we should have listened to that - but not because of the crowds on the trails or the heat, but the very limited parking available!  We ended up parking on a street at the base of the mountain, and that meant a climb before we even got to the start of the trail!  No worries, though, because the hike wasn't especially grueling.  Unless you're a bit terrified of staircases that look like this:

Sphinx climbing one of the 99-step staircasesto the summit!

Most of the trail was switchbacks cut into the side of the crater, and weren't too steep.  Trust us, we're from NOLA where everything is flat, and we were able to handle it!

Inside the crater is actually a very arid environment, which reminded me of the Serengeti or something.

And of course, once you get to the top, there are some spectacular views.

We had a picture just like this as a desktop background before going to Hawaii - so of course we had to take our own!

 Overall, Diamondhead took about two hours, and the only snafu was the parking problem. If you're more of a hardcore climber/hiker, it might be too simple for you, but it was just our speed.

I climbed that!

I'll cut it off here since this is getting pretty long, but stay tuned for Part 2 of our activities in Hawaii coming soon. Til then - hang loose, bees!

Pyramids in Polynesia
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