'The best snorkeling on Oahu' - that was how the brochure described Hanauma Bay, so we booked ourselves on to a bus. At 7am we waited for it to turn up. And waited. At 7:30 we went back to the room. At 8:30 we were finally picked up and we were off!
Hanauma Bay was formed after sea levels rose flooding an extinct volcanic crater. It became a tourist destination in the 1930s and hit a peak in the 1990s. Overuse had a negative impact on the bay, and from 1991 visitor numbers have been limited and must attend a video briefing before entering the water.
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| Hanauma Bay |
After the mandatory video which told us not to step on the coral or feed the fish, we trekked down to the beach.
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| Should have gone to Specsavers |
The water was freezing and quite choppy, so visibility wasn't the best. It was also low tide so the levels were low, but the fish were about!
And after the disappointment of not seeing a turtle at the Great Barrier Reef, we finally saw one! Amazing!
After the excitement of the Turtle, we headed back to Waikiki and practiced our laying around by the beach skills!
After being so lazy all week, an overcast day gave us the opportunity to have a little wander around town.
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| Hawaii Five-0 |
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| The locals 'car' park |
We came across a statue that was decorated with leis. The statue was Duke Paoa Kahanamoku (1890-1968), who was born and raised in Waikiki, and is seen as a representation of the Hawaiian culture. Duke was an Olympic champion winning three golds, two silvers and a bronze metal in four Olympic games between 1912 and 1922. He is also known as the Father of International Surfing having introduced the sport to Hawaii. During his lifetime, the Duke was a movie actor, political figure, and true hero, the reason why many Hawaiians decorate him daily.
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| The Duke |
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| Diamond Head from the breakwater |
Although we were ultimately lazy in Hawaii, we had a great time.
Long live the Aloha Spirit!
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